Chapter 22 Selling Food

  Just when everyone was having a great time, the door of the western house rang, and Zhao Shi and Chen Tianfa walked out of the room. Seeing the children who were still in high spirits, Zhao Shi didn't interrupt them either. The child is still young and shouldn't bear anything on his body. I really envy them. Chen Tianfa took a step forward, put his arm around her shoulder, and comforted her gently, saying, "Everything will be fine."

  Xī Méi saw her parents come out and didn't tease Xǐ Mèi anymore, running to the front of Zhao's family curiously asking "Mother, what is our family preparing to sell? Where are we going to sell it?" A pair of big eyes full of hope. This question actually stumped Zhao, she was only thinking about doing business but hadn't thought about what kind of business to do.

  Luckily, my sister reminded me. What to sell? My siblings and I thought about it too. "Mom, why don't we also sell buns? The aunties from the village market come every four days, there must be a lot of people at the market." Ruihao spoke up first.

  "No, no, there are already many people selling buns at the market, and besides, villagers who come to the market usually bring their own dry rations, so buns are just a novelty for kids, you won't be able to sell many." Xi Mei retorted first.

  Yes, Mr. Zhao thought about it and felt that Xi Mei was right. It's a bit difficult to set up a stall in the market, but wanting to rent a storefront to sell food is something that this family can't even dare to think about now. Alas, it's really worrying to death.

  At this time, Rui Xuan, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "Mother, look, not far from the town, there is an official road. Our village doesn't even have a government-run post station. Every time I go to the market and pass by that place, I see many people resting and eating dry rations there. Some of them are even shouting about how there isn't anyone selling things."

  Sister Xi's eyes lit up, yeah how didn't she think of that, there are things to sell, no worries about not having a consumer market, absolutely no worries about things not selling out.

  Who cares about the cost of meals when they are on a business trip, as long as they have some fast food every day, such as braised pork belly, braised pig's trotters, braised pig's ears, braised beef, and some roasted flatbread, accompanied by some wine. Wow, it's really great!

  It saves time and labor. Just as she was about to remind her mother, Rui Xuan spoke up first, "Mother, why don't we prepare some food in advance? When it's almost dawn, we can transport the things there. Isn't that saving both time and manpower?"

  Alas, this family is really unbearable to stay with. Big brother, are you still human? Thinking of her and her parents living together for so long, it's like no one in the family thinks as carefully as a 10-year-old child would. Looking at big brother who doesn't speak or react, I wonder if he's also someone who has crossed over from another world.

  She walked sneakily to her big brother's side, hooked one leg over him, and with both hands grasping, she climbed onto his body like a squirrel. Unfortunately, her legs were too short and her arms too weak, so before she could climb up, she slid back down, looking just like a little pig rubbing against a tree.

  Ignoring the smiling faces of Chen's family, Xi Mei continued to climb up persistently, forcing Rui Xuan to lower his body and put Xiao Yan's small arm around his neck before standing up.

  "Tell me, little girl, what exactly do you want to do?" Xi Mei looked at her brother suspiciously for a while, then whispered in his ear: "Tian Wang Gai Di Hu?"

  Rui Xuan's ears moved involuntarily due to the itch, "What?" Xi Mei repeated again, this time Rui Xuan heard clearly, and laughed as he patted Xi Mei's butt, "Where did you hear these things from to tease big brother? Now I'm busy, be good, wait for mom and dad to discuss it, then big brother will play with you."

  Upon hearing this response, Xi Mei couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. From the tone and expression, it didn't seem like he was pretending. Fortunately, her brother-in-law was genuine, otherwise, it would have been unbearable. However, slapping Su Nü's butt was still unjustifiable.

  The slap slid down from his body, "Big brother is bad, dare to hit the lady's butt, humph, I'm not talking to you today."

  Everyone in the courtyard looked at her with a smile, Zhao Shi and Xi Ju discussed that this thing is convenient to eat, easy to carry. Xi Mei pretended to be confused and said: "What's to eat? I like to eat big sister's braised pork belly, it's best to have braised beef too."

  Ruihao on the other side also nodded frequently, yes, braised beef, he still remembered that his sister-in-law made it when his mother came last time. It had a strong flavor and a spicy taste. Fresh, fragrant, tender, not like the ones served at the banquet which were tough and salty.

  Sizzling, can't think anymore, saliva is about to drip down. Zhao heard it and slapped his thigh "Right, just this one, bring some more buns and pancakes too. Now that the weather's hot, let's boil some mung bean soup, we won't charge for the mung bean soup. When you're away from home, nobody has it easy, right? Let's just consider it a good deed, whoever wants to drink as much as they want."

  Haha, success! I finally got her into the ditch... no, onto the right path. Next, let's go and find out more about her plans.

  "Pouting intentionally, 'Mother, if you and Father go to work, elder sisters will definitely go too. What am I doing at home? I also want to go.'"

  Xī Jú also said: "Mother, we're just preparing to sell some sauce beef, sauce pork shoulder and such, isn't it a bit too little? Can others look up to us? How about this, let's add one more thing. At that time, we'll all go help."

  Zhao thought for a moment, "It's indeed too little with just these few dishes. Then what do you think we should sell? We can't just put two dishes on the table like city people and expect to impress anyone. We only know how to make a few dishes, will others even bother to look at them?"

  "Mom, of course we can't compare with those people. We can get up early to make noodles and dough, and whoever comes, we'll directly make them a bowl of noodles to eat. Not to mention anything else, mom, your noodles are famous in our village and beyond."

  After listening, Zhao felt embarrassed, was what she made really that delicious? Being praised by her daughter like this made her feel a bit embarrassed.

  Really, Xi Mei rolled her eyes, sometimes feeling that her mother was just as immature as she was. Ah, got a bump on the head. "Don't think I don't know you're making fun of your mother, humph, at such a young age not studying well, and still dare to laugh at me. Go go, go play with your third sister, don't disturb me thinking." Zhao Shi ruthlessly pushed Xi Mei away.

  As expected, she's abandoned him after using him to get what she wanted. Xi Mei has packed up and gone to find her second brother. In any case, she'll be going tomorrow no matter what, and it won't work without her help.

  Zhao watched her run far away before turning back to discuss with Xi Ju the things they would use tomorrow. The dishes for the soup were easy to prepare, but this wheat flour was a problem. Alas, it's worrying me to death. Without flour, how can we make noodles?

  Don't misunderstand, the noodles here are not the same as what everyone used to think. The noodles here need to be warmed up with hot water first, and then they need to be kneaded with your fists, which will make them more elastic. After finishing this step, it's still not done, you need to let it rest (also known as letting the dough rest), after resting the dough, you need to roll out the noodles, similar to Lanzhou pulled noodles. When you've almost finished rolling out the noodles, you need to let them rest again.

  Finally roll out the dough and cut it into strips, then pull them apart one by one and throw them into the pot of water. Noodles made this way are both chewy and retain their original flavor.

  Finally, pour the well-stirred sauce over it, add scallion flowers, homemade bean paste, vinegar, garlic, and chili peppers. Stir everything together, and just thinking about that flavor makes me drool.

  A family was busily preparing for tomorrow's event, no one expected an uninvited guest to be rushing towards their home. Xiao Mei blinked her eyes and stretched out her chubby little hand pitifully asking "Can you give me a ticket?"