Chapter 113 - 113: I Haven’t Drank It For A Long Time
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“If someone can snatch him away, he wasn’t meant to be mine. Let’s talk about this when he passes the Imperial Examination. Besides, if he doesn’t take the initiative, expecting me to do so is a no-go.”
“You know, when it comes to pursuing a woman, there’s a mountain in between, but when it’s the other way around, there’s just a thin veil. He’s quite easy to pursue.”
“No, I like it when he pursues me.”
“Do you want me to help you two?”
“No need. Let things happen naturally.”
“Alright, I didn’t expect to profit when I came over today. It’s still early; I’ll give Xin’er the recipe.”
Qiao Mai thought for a moment. “If she doesn’t want it, take the recipe back. My recipes aren’t for others, not even the Feng family.”
After Shopkeeper Lu left, Qiaomai got off the heated bed and checked the weather at the door.
She then retrieved her coat from the rack. “You two, take care of Ling’er.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Qiao Mai first checked the ten greenhouses at the back. There were five maids responsible for each one, each overseeing two plots of land.
“Later, light the charcoal stoves in the warm greenhouses. Do it as I told you. Be alert when you go to sleep at night. If it snows heavily, clear the accumulated snow from the warm greenhouses every half hour.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Next, she went to the chicken coop, quail coop, horse stable, deer stable, and cattle shed. Charcoal stoves were lit in each shed, ensuring all the animals were warm.
Finally, she went to the kitchen with two maids, picked some pickled cabbage from a large jar against the wall, tasted it to confirm it was ready to eat, and then scooped out more. She returned to the kitchen and instructed the maids.
“Wash these pickled cabbages. We’ll make pickled cabbage dumplings for lunch. This dish is salty, so no need to add salt to the meat filling. The shop’s staff and the shopkeeper will take turns having their meals in the kitchen. Prepare some for them.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
After giving all the instructions, she went to the shop.
Shopkeeper Niu was doing the accounts, and the two assistants were selling goods. In the backyard, three other assistants were roasting goods. As soon as their boss arrived, they quickly bowed and greeted her.
“Mistress, you’re here.”
“Yes. How’s the business in this cold weather?”
“Roasted goods are selling well, but the profit margins are not great due to the high costs. The buckwheat cakes are selling well. With the cold weather, it’s a bit slow for the fruits, but there are still some buyers. Sugar-coated haws are selling the best, so I instructed the assistants to make an extra pot every day.”
“Starting tomorrow, have the assistants go to the large jar by the west wall and fill containers with pickled cabbage. It’s fifty coins per pound.”
“Pickled cabbage?”
“Yes, tell the customers that it can be eaten raw, used for dumplings, or simmered with pork bones, which gives it a unique flavor.”
“Oh, by the way, the pickled vegetables in the southeast can be served now. Fill a barrel of each variety every day, and sell them at the same price as pickled cabbage.”
“As for soy-pickled vegetables, I didn’t make many this year, so we won’t sell them.”
“Hehe, Mistress, your soy-pickled vegetables are delicious. They go well with rice and get tastier with each bite.”
“I’ll make more next year. Soon, the fresh vegetables from the fields will be available for sale.’
“That’s great.”
“How are sales for cooked goods?”
“They’re decent, especially since it’s cold. Fewer people are going out.”
“Buy some coarse cloth and have someone make thick curtains. Enclose the outdoor tables and chairs with them, leaving a space for the entrance. Make sure they look nice.”
“Will this not affect business?”
“It won’t. These are all regular customers. Let the traveling merchants take a break and enjoy some free hot tea. It’s good for them.”
Speaking of hot tea, she thought of something delicious.
“Find a small pot for me, clean it, and place it on the charcoal stove. Also, fetch half a bowl of sugar, half a bowl of tea leaves, and have someone bring half a bucket of fresh milk from the house.’
“Yes, Mistress.”
In no time, the required ingredients were prepared. Qiao Mai placed the pot on the stove, added a couple of handfuls of sugar, stirred until it melted, added a pinch of tea leaves, and continued stirring until the sugar turned caramel brown. Then, she poured fresh milk, brought it to a boil, and used a strainer to remove the tea leaves.
She carried the pot and had a sip.
“Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve had this. It’s still as delicious as ever and never gets old.”
Hearing her words, everyone in the room started salivating.
She addressed the group, “Everyone here today gets a share. Come on, each of you take a bowl and help yourselves.”
She sipped while the people rushed to get their bowls and tasted the milk tea. “Wow, it’s tasty. I didn’t expect milk and tea leaves to go so well together.”
Qiao Mai glanced at the assistant who had been watching her every move.
“Have you learned it?”
“Yes, Mistress.”
“From now on, you’ll be responsible for making this milk tea. It’s fifty coins per bowl, and you’ll make fifty bowls a day. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Mistress. Hehe, with you here, we can introduce some great new items.”
“Starting today, eggs will cost an extra coin each, and the quail eggs will also go up a bit. Feeding these poultry in winter is more costly.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
“Alright, I don’t have any more instructions for now. Manage the sales yourselves. You can have the kitchen prepare the pickled cabbage as a finished product for customers to taste. After all, it’s a new ingredient, and people need to get a taste of it to become familiar.”
Having said that, Qiao Mai left the shop. At noon, the whole family gathered at Old Mister Wang’s courtyard, enjoying a warm meal of pickled cabbage dumplings.
This flavor of dumplings conquered everyone.
Old Mister and Mistress Wang praised them while eating, and with the addition of the freshly pickled garlic, each of them had a big bowl and even planned to have another feast in a few days.
Since they moved to the Qiao family, they had never been tired of eating. The Qiao family’s food suited their taste perfectly.
Even a simple bowl of plain congee, accompanied by a few small dishes of pickled vegetables, tasted delicious in the morning. After finishing their meal, they would stroll to the backyard where they had a vegetable garden, and visit the poultry they were raising. Their days were so comfortable that words couldn’t describe it.
When there was a market in town, they would often take some people with them to go and explore. If they came across interesting items, they would buy a few as well.
Their life was never dull, and they always found something new.
As night fell, snowflakes began to drift down from the sky. The snowfall wasn’t heavy, but the wind picked up soon after.
Qiao Mai was worried about the warm greenhouses and went to check on them, wrapped up warmly.
The greenhouses were securely tied, and the grass curtains were thickly woven from top to bottom. The maids had tightly secured them with stones, ensuring the greenhouses were completely sealed.
Qiao Mai appreciated the maids’ attentiveness, and after inspecting all ten greenhouses, she felt reassured.
As she was about to leave, a few maids approached.
They had come prepared with bedding rolled up in mats and planned to sleep in the greenhouses tonight. Qiaomai didn’t stop them. After all, it was warm and clean inside the greenhouses.
After giving some instructions, she headed back.
Ling’er was sleeping soundly on the bed, her cheeks rosy and plump.
She was one year and nine months old now, able to run around and even squat to urinate.
Ling’er had her own wardrobe, shoe cabinet, toy cabinet, and baby food cabinet, all filled to the brim.
Qiao Mai made several outfits for her every season.
Whenever she came across new children’s clothes in the market, she couldn’t resist buying them.
As a result, Ling’er’s wardrobe was overflowing, and Qiao Mai had to purchase an additional wardrobe for her.
Whenever she had free time, Qiaomai would style Ling’er’s hair into various cute braids, a skill she had learned online.
Yue Hong and Yue Xia had also learned how to do it, so they often took turns styling Ling’er’s hair.
Qiaomai had someone clean up a large room in the eastern wing of the house. She planned to have it ready after the New Year, and once Linger celebrated her second birthday, she would move into that room.
Of course, Yue Hong and Yue Xia would accompany her. Ling’er would stay inside while the two would sleep in the outer room. This arrangement would allow them to respond quickly if they heard any noise and needed to check on Ling’er.
Ling’er was incredibly well-behaved, always greeting everyone with a smile.
Such a child was genuinely adored by everyone.
Old Mistress Wang loved having Yue Hong and Yue Xia carry Ling’er to play, and sometimes, she would give Ling’er lots of jade ornaments.
The pearl flowers on her head, the necklaces around her neck, and the little bracelets on her wrists were all gifts from the old lady..
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