Chapter 35: Chapter 035: Childhood friend Zhuang Wencheng
Translator: 549690339
“Rather than taking that route, it would be better to slowly make a name for myself selling tofu here. Then, I’d have some confidence when negotiating, and others wouldn’t be able to bully me easily. If there are some observant ones, they might even take the initiative to come and buy tofu from me before I approach them,”.
“That’s true. What you’re saying makes sense,” Mrs. Liu agreed wholeheartedly after listening. “That’s how people are. If you chase after them, they become suspicious. But if you seem not to need them, whether you’re good or bad, they’ll find you attractive.”
“Exactly,” Zhuang Qingning also laughed. “We need to approach it this way to be successful in this business.”
As Mrs. Liu looked at Zhuang Qingning, besides her approval, she also felt a hint of admiration. She found it impressive that Zhuang Qingning, despite her young age, had such clarity of thought and decisiveness. She resolved not to underestimate her in the future.
After selling all the tofu, the sisters didn’t pack up and leave as usual, but decided to stay a little longer.
As they remained there, others assumed that there was still tofu for sale and rushed over, only to return disappointed when they learnt that there was no tofu left to buy.
“I’m sorry, please come earlier tomorrow,” apologized Zhuang Qingsui, apologetically waving off another tofu buyer before turning to Zhuang Qingning with a furrowed brow, “Sister, aren’t we going home yet? If we wait any longer, I’m afraid my face will freeze in a smile.”
“Okay, let’s pack up,” Seeing that it was about time, Zhuang Qingning began to clean up the bamboo baskets and the cloche.
Meanwhile, she explained to Zhuang Qingsui, “We’re staying a little longer today to gauge the demand. So tomorrow we can plan how much tofu to grind to avoid having too little or too much.”
“So we’re staying a little longer?” Upon hearing that there was a practical reason to stay, Zhuang Qingsui immediately put down the bamboo basket she was carrying on her back.
She ignored the rising midday heat and the sweat trickling down her back.
“Let’s go,” Zhuang Qingning said with a smile, “I’ve gauged the demand by now, staying any longer won’t do us any good, only tires us out.”
“Speaking of which, I passed by that wonton stall yesterday. The wontons were generously filled and the skin was thin. As it’s almost noon, shall we have a bowl of wontons before heading home?”
“Great!” Zhuang Qingsui narrowed her eyes in glee, quickly gathered their things and accompanied Zhuang Qingning to have wontons.
The wonton bowl cost two coins and was filled to the brim. After finishing most of it, they even added some fresh broth to it. One bowl of wonton soup was enough to fill their hungry bellies.
The sisters went shopping after finishing their wontons.
In addition to everyday necessities, Zhuang Qingning also purchased some duck eggs and salt from the town market to try making salted duck eggs using the recipe she had obtained.
After returning home and putting away their purchases, they followed their routine and went to Mrs. Wen’s house to soak some beans.
As they arrived at the entrance of Mrs. Wen’s house, they noticed a figure coming out.
“Little Sister Ning.” Before Zhuang Qingning could see who it was, the person had already quickly walked up to her, “What are you doing here?”
Zhuang Qingning looked up and saw the surprised and delighted face of Zhuang Wencheng.
“Brother Wencheng?” Zhuang Qingning was also surprised.
Zhuang Wencheng was Zhuang Shengxing’s brother and Zhuang Shengfu’s grandson. He was fourteen years old and had been apprenticed at a medical clinic in the county town for almost five years now.
In theory, he had grown up alongside Zhuang Qingning, frequently playing together as children. They were quite familiar with each other, but distance and gender differences, along with changing circumstances—Zhuang Shengxing moving to the county town and Zhuang Qingning being entrusted to Zhuang Ruman’s care—had meant their interactions became few and far between.
However, perhaps due to their childhood camaraderie, Zhuang Wencheng frequently thought of Zhuang Qingning and always contrived to give her some snacks whenever he came back.
Therefore, Zhuang Qingning was very grateful to Zhuang Wencheng.
” I haven’t been back for a while, so I took leave from my master and came back to see my parents. Today is my third uncle’s death anniversary, so I came back to pay my respects,” explained Zhuang Wencheng.
Zhuang Qingning blinked her eyes.
So that’s it, today was Zhuang Shengxing’s death anniversary.
No wonder Mrs. Wen seemed lost in her thoughts last evening, and her attitude towards them had also softened considerably.
Maybe because her deceased husband’s death anniversary reminded her of past events and her children’s reluctance to live with her. Seeing the sisters must have stirred a motherly tenderness in her heart.
Zhuang Wencheng looked at Zhuang Qingning and said, “I heard after coming back that Little Sister Ning, you’ve set up a separate household? And you’re now living in Butcher Hua’s house?”
“Establishing a separate household is a good thing. Whatever you earn will be solely for your own use. Little Sister Ning, you’re diligent and talented, so you definitely won’t starve yourself. However, running a separate household means you’ll need to shoulder all the household responsibilities…”
As Zhuang Wencheng spoke, he lowered his eyes and reached for a small money pouch from his waist, intending to put it into Zhuang Qingning’s hand, “I work as an apprentice at the pharmacy in the county town, so I can’t earn any profit since I’m not allowed to see patients. I even have to pay an annual fee to my master, so life is somewhat tough for me and I can’t provide much help to you.”
“Over the past few days, I found some time to dig up some herbal medicine and exchanged them for some money at the shop. It’s not much, but you can keep it. You’ve just set up your household and are taking care of Sister Sui. Without any farmland of your own, money is needed everywhere.”
Zhuang Wencheng had initially planned to find Zhuang Qingning after leaving Mrs. Wen’s house and give the money to her. Since they met here, it saved him a trip.
“I appreciate Brother Wencheng’s kindness, but you should keep the money,” Zhuang Qingning politely declined with a smile, “Although Qingsui and I don’t own any farmland, we have rented Aunt Wen’s tofu workshop. We grind tofu every day to sell in town. Although our earnings are modest, they are enough for our daily expenses.”
“Meanwhile, Brother Wencheng, you’re living in the county town where expenses are higher. You should keep this money for emergencies.”
“So that’s why you’re here, you rented Aunt Wen’s tofu workshop,” Zhuang Wencheng chuckled, “Little Sister Ning, you’re quite capable, your tofu business must be doing well.”
The clothes Zhuang Qingning was wearing, though not of high quality, had no patches. Based on Zhuang Ruman and Mrs. Song’s character, it was unlikely that they’d provide Zhuang Qingning with such clothes when she set up her own household.
Furthermore, Zhuang Qingning looked healthier than the last time Zhuang Wencheng saw her, indicating that her tofu business must be earning her a decent income.
As she mentioned, even though the earnings might not be substantial, they would be enough to cover basic necessities..
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