Chapter 113: Haven

"If it can be snatched away, then it's not mine; we'll discuss it after he passes the imperial exam. Besides, he never takes the initiative—he wants me to, and that's out of the question."

"You know, when a man pursues a woman there's a mountain between them; when a woman pursues a man there's a veil. Chasing him is easy."

"No, I like it when he pursues me."

"Do you want me to help you?"

"No need, let everything follow nature."

"Fine, I came over and actually made a profit; it's still early, I'll take it to Xin'er."

Qiao Mai thought for a moment, "If she doesn't want it, take the recipe back. I don't give my recipe to others, and the Feng Family won't have it either."

Lu the Shopkeeper left; Qiao Mai got down from the kang and lifted the door curtain at the entrance to check the weather.

She turned, took her coat off the rack, and said, "You two keep an eye on Ling'er."

"Yes, Master."

Qiao Mai, worried about the warm greenhouse, bundled up tightly and went to take a look.

At one year and nine months, she could already run and even squat to pee by herself.

Night had just fallen when snowflakes began to drift from the sky—not large, but soon the wind picked up.

After everything was settled, they finally went to the shop.

"From today onward, each chicken egg will cost one Wen, and the price of quail eggs will also go up a bit; winter has raised the cost of feeding these poultry."

"Yes, Master. Hehe, now that you're here, we can add a few good things here."

At the sight of the newcomer, they hurriedly bowed to Qiao Mai.

When she had free time, she would braid all sorts of little plaits for her; she learned them online.

Clothes and shoes—Qiao Mai would make several sets for her each season.

"Yes, Master."

I have to admit, these flavored dumplings have won over everyone.

"How are the boiled goods selling?"

"No impact; they're all regulars. Let the traveling merchants rest a bit and have some free hot tea; that's fine."

So Ling'er's clothes have filled the wardrobe, and they bought another wardrobe.

In a while, set up a charcoal brazier in the greenhouse and do as I said; stay alert when you sleep at night, and if heavy snow falls, clear the snow from the greenhouse every half hour.

"Hmm, it's cold—how are the goods selling?"

"From now on, you'll brew the milk tea: fifty Wen per bowl, fifty bowls a day, no more than that."

Of course, Yuehong and Yuexia stay with her; Ling'er is inside, the two of them sleep in the outer room, and if there's any movement, it's easy to go check.

Ling'er snores on the kang, the room is truly warm, her little face is rosy and chubby.

Not long after, all the ingredients she needed were ready; she placed the pot on the charcoal brazier, tossed in two handfuls of sugar to stir‑fry, and after it melted, added a pinch of tea leaves and kept stir‑frying until the sugar turned caramel‑colored, then poured in fresh milk to bring to a boil, and finally strained out the tea leaves with a slotted spoon.

"Wash these pickled cabbage; at noon we'll have dumplings filled with it. Since the cabbage is salty, no salt is needed in the meat filling. Later, the shop's several assistants and the Shopkeeper will take turns eating in the kitchen, and we'll make a portion for them."

"The roasted snacks sell well, but their price can't go up much, so profit is thin. Persimmon cakes sell well; it's cold, so fruit doesn't move quickly, though some still buy. Candied Hawthorn Skewers sell best, so I had the assistants make an extra batch each day."

"That's fine; mainly it's cold, so fewer people go out."

"Doesn't that affect business?"

"We'll just make more next year; in a few days the fresh vegetables from the fields will be ready to sell."

"As for the fermented vegetables, I made few this year, so I won't sell them."

Then she went to the chicken coop, quail coop, horse stable, deer house, and cattle shed; each pen had a charcoal brazier, and all the poultry houses were warm.

Qiao Mai had someone clear out a large room in the East Wing Room, planning that after the New Year, once Ling'er turns two, she'll move there.

Qiao Mai kept the women's diligence in mind, inspected all ten greenhouses, and only then felt relieved.

"Yes, Master."

"Right, tell the diners that this can be eaten raw, used for dumplings, or stored with pork bones for a special fragrance."

The old lady and old gentleman praised while eating, pairing it with pickled green Laba garlic; each ate a big bowl and said they'd have another proper meal in a couple of days.

The charcoal brazier was taken away, and she scooped a bowl of milk tea with a spoon.

"Pickled cabbage?"

"Got it."

She first went to check the ten large greenhouses behind; five women were in charge here, each overseeing two plots.

"Wow, it's really delicious; I didn't expect milk and tea leaves to pair so well."

Even at early dawn, a simple bowl of porridge with a few plates of small pickles is so tasty; after eating, strolling through the back garden's vegetable patch and the poultry area makes this simple life indescribably comfortable.

When they encounter the town's big market, they take people out to look around, and they'll buy some fresh items if they find any.

She has her own little wardrobe, shoe cabinet, toy chest, and snack cabinet, all packed full.

She addressed everyone, "Everyone present gets a share today. Come, one bowl each, serve yourselves."

"Master, you're here."

Niu the Shopkeeper is bookkeeping, two assistants are selling goods, and three assistants in the backyard are roasting snacks.

"That's great."

She carried a bowl and drank as she went; they quickly fetched bowls, scooped milk tea, and started drinking.

Just as she was about to leave, a few women came over.

"Yes, Master."

"Go find a small pot, clean it and place it on the charcoal brazier, then get half a bowl of sugar, a small half‑bowl of tea leaves, and have someone bring half a bucket of milk from home."

Life is never boring; every day feels fresh.

"Yes, Master"

She tried taking a sip, "Wow, it's been ages since I last drank this; the taste is still this good, never gets boring."

After giving a reminder, she left.

Finally, she went to the kitchen, took two Kitchen Maids, scooped a few pickled vegetables from the large jar by the wall, tasted them to see if they were edible, then scooped out more, and after returning to the kitchen she instructed the Kitchen Maids.

Not to mention this, she often went to Fucheng to "stock up" at a Ready-to-wear Puzi; when she saw new little clothes, she couldn't help but buy them.

"Hehe, Master, the sauce you made is really delicious, perfect with rice, the more you eat the more fragrant it gets."

Yuehong and Yuexia, basking in the glory, both learned a lot.

"Buy some coarse cloth, have someone make thick door curtains, enclose the outdoor tables and chairs on all sides, leave a space in the middle for the shop entrance, and make it look nice, not ugly."

"Hmm, I have nothing more to instruct, you handle the sales yourselves; the pickled vegetables can be turned by the kitchen into finished products for diners to taste. After all, they're a new ingredient, and to get people to accept them you have to let them taste the sweet side first."

After speaking, Qiao Mai left the shop; at noon the whole family gathered in Old Man Wang's house, warmly eating a dumpling meal with pickled vegetable filling.

Qiao Mai glanced at the assistant who had been watching her work, and asked, "Did you learn?"

They brought bedding rolled on mats, planning to sleep in the warm shed at night; Qiao Mai didn't stop them. The shed was warm, and after tidying up, sleeping there was fine.

Since moving into the Qiao Family, the two have never grown tired of food; the Qiao Family's meals suit their tastes perfectly.

"Starting tomorrow, have the assistant each day go to the large jar by the west courtyard wall, fill a jar with pickled vegetables to sell, Fifty Wen per catty,"

"Oh, right, the pickled vegetables in the southeast can also be eaten; each day fill a jar of each, and sell them by weight at the same price as the pickled vegetables."

The warm shed was tied tightly, the grass curtains woven thickly, hanging from top to bottom; the old woman pressed them down with stones, sealing the entire shed securely.

When mentioning hot tea, she recalled a tasty thing.

Everyone in the house, hearing her say that, swallowed their saliva.

Ling'er was especially well‑behaved, and following Yuehong and Yuexia she was also very obedient, rarely heard crying.

Whoever she met, she would smile first; a child like that is especially favored.

The old lady, when she had nothing to do, liked to have Yuehong and Yuexia hold her and play, sometimes giving Ling'er many Jade Ornaments for her to fiddle with.

The bead flower on her head, the collar around her neck, and the small bracelet on her hand were all gifts from the old lady.

(End of Chapter)