Chapter 34: Things are valued for their rarity

Qiao Mai gave them a mysterious smile. "Come, Teacher will take you to see. This is the result of Teacher's work over the past two months."

She took Ruxin and Ruyi by their small hands and went to the door of the first room in the east side chamber. She opened the door gently and led them inside.

Both of them were dumbfounded when they saw the palm-sized quails running back and forth in droves on the ground.

"Teacher, you used all these rooms to raise these?"

"Yes, aren't they cute? Do you want to raise a few?"

The two swallowed their saliva. "Does my mother know?"

"No, but it doesn't matter if she knows. Anyway, I'm occupying this house for now. When I leave, she can find someone to tidy it up."

"These seem cleaner than chickens?"

"They are too small, so they eat little and excrete little. If you are diligent every day, the room won't smell at all. In winter, if you light a charcoal brazier in the room, they will still lay eggs."

"We'll go back and ask Mother. If it's okay, we'll raise some at home too. Just raising them in one room will do."

"It's enough to cover your own family's consumption. These eggs are more nutritious than chicken eggs. When making noodle soup, putting them inside makes them easier to eat than chicken eggs."

The two watched the quails for a while. Qiao Mai called them into the room and pointed to the boiled quail eggs.

"Eat. It's the same as eating chicken eggs. I boiled a pot of five-spice ones. If you can't finish them, take them to your mother when you leave."

"Hehe, following Teacher, there's always something good to eat."

"These things don't keep well; they can't be left overnight in summer. If you can't finish them, give some to the neighbors, and let your mother help me do some promotion."

"Teacher, are you preparing to sell these?"

"Yes, in two months when the weather turns cold, chickens won't lay eggs. These things can be raised indoors, and it won't hinder them from laying eggs. Selling these in winter will also be an income."

"It definitely won't be cheap, right?"

"One wen each."

"It doesn't sound expensive, but one chicken egg is worth several of these."

Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. "A chicken egg is a chicken egg, and this is this. Although the taste is similar, the nutritional value is different."

"What's different about it?"

"Eating these often can strengthen the brain, treat edema, and treat anemia. They have certain medicinal value. Of course, chicken eggs are also beneficial to the body, especially good for the liver."

"Wow, Teacher knows so much."

"Since I'm going to sell these, naturally I have to learn more about them."

"Eat. I'll get you some more good things."

"Okay." The sisters weren't pretentious and picked up the quail eggs to peel and eat.

Qiao Mai went to the kitchen, boiled a pot of water, took a dozen ears of corn from the space, peeled off the outer husks, leaving only a thin layer of inner skin, and threw them into the pot.

The space had already yielded a wave of corn ears from the four-fen plot, and they were all piled in the corner. She had to sell them quickly.

But not now; she had to wait until August or September when the new corn hit the market. She wanted to sell boiled corn a month in advance, so she should be able to get a good price.

Once the diners got used to eating her corn, they would know how delicious this variety of corn was.

She thanked her past life for buying those corn ears; otherwise, she wouldn't be able to eat this kind of sweet and glutinous corn at all.

Back then, this kind of corn was also a food item deeply loved by the common people among street snacks.

After the pot boiled, she could turn off the heat and fish them out in ten minutes.

A full basin of steaming corn cobs was carried by Qiao Mai to the kang table in the room.

"Teacher, did you go boil corn for us?"

"Yes, the corn in the south has grown. I saw it was good, discussed it with the people farming, and bought quite a bit back. I plan to sell these as soon as August arrives."

"Teacher, this corn looks good, but everyone usually uses this to make porridge. Who would still treasure this thing? I don't think it will sell well."

"Don't jump to conclusions. Wait a while until it cools down and have a taste."

"Wealthy families definitely won't eat it; they all say this is food for lowly people."

"That's because they don't have the fortune to enjoy it. Don't think that just because you're wealthy, coarse grains don't match your status. Actually, coarse grains have great benefits for the body. Let me tell you, anyone who lives a long life never picks and chooses among the five grains, while those wealthy people who pick this and that always pass away early."

The two looked at Qiao Mai and laughed. "Teacher, you are so funny when you talk, but it also makes a lot of sense."

"Listen to Teacher, you won't go wrong. How are the quail eggs?"

"In terms of taste, it's about the same as chicken eggs. As for the nutrition you mentioned, this is a step above. Especially this five-spice flavor, which covers the blandness of the egg. It's very delicious."

"These eggs are small and exquisite; children should like them the most."

"Yes, after getting used to chicken eggs, tasting these is also quite fresh."

Anyway, Ruxin and Ruyi didn't think highly of this business. After the corn cooled down a bit, Qiao Mai peeled off the outer layer of skin and handed one to each of them.

"Eat!"

As soon as the two took a bite, they knew it was different from ordinary corn.

"Teacher, this corn is so delicious! It's glutinous and sweet. This will definitely sell well."

"How about ten wen each?"

"Isn't that expensive? Cornmeal is only three wen a jin."

"You two are really naive. Why does our double-sided embroidery sell for a high price?"

"It's beautiful, rare, and takes effort?"

"Right. So this corn is rare, delicious, and others can't easily find it even if they want to eat it."

Regarding Teacher's guidance, the two little disciples quickly understood.

"Things are valued for their rarity, for their refinement, and for their quality, right Teacher?"

"That's right, a child worth teaching."

When the two girls left, she packed a small basket each with quail eggs and corn cobs for them to take away.

Actually, when August arrived, it wasn't just these two things that could be sold; there were also boiled peanuts and boiled edamame, all of which could be sold at the stall.

When the weather got colder, she could set up a charcoal brazier with a pot on top, which could both provide warmth and keep the food from getting cold.

Thinking of warmth, she had to prepare for winter now.

Although she really wanted to stay warm and cozy at home, she was still willing to see the world outside. After all, on the surface, she was a servant of the Lu family.

She had debts to repay; she couldn't just never show her face.

Thinking of this, she locked the courtyard gate and went to the carpenter's shop. She wanted to order a movable board room—small, windproof, and wouldn't block the embroidery manor behind it.

The general design had already taken shape in her mind. Besides this, she also had to order several large pots from the iron shop. They couldn't be like the pots on the stove; they took up too much space. They needed to be round, like the ones used for steaming mantou in modern homes.

She also had to go to the general store to order a special oven; she wanted to sell roasted sweet potatoes in winter.

Although she hadn't planted them in the space yet, she wasn't in a hurry. As long as she had seeds, they would ripen every five days—very fast.

Thinking about winter, with ice and snow outside, herself sitting by the official road in a beautiful windproof shed, sitting in the middle with several charcoal braziers around her, a small table in front, and a sign in front of that introducing the delicacies at her small stall—what kind of feeling would that be?

She gave a hehe laugh and waved her hand, sweeping away the longing in front of her.

She had to let the people in town see how diligent she was, how hard she was working to repay her debts, and let them see her hardships.

After finishing these few things, she just waited to pick them up when the time came. Seeing that the sky was about to turn dark, she hurried home.

When she walked into the alley, she saw a person standing at her door.

Walking closer, it was a man, about one meter seventy-five tall, looking quite good, not like a farmer.

Seeing Qiao Mai return, he hurriedly lowered his head slightly and cupped his hands at her.

"Greetings, Young Lady. I am your neighbor, surnamed Yuan, given name Jiaqi."

Qiao Mai frowned. "Something the matter?"

"I would like to ask, Young Lady, does your home still have watermelons?"

"You want to buy melons?"

"Yes, my child at home has a fever and can't eat anything. I just want to eat a bite of watermelon."

"The weather hasn't been good these past few days, so I haven't set up the stall. I can't sell them individually; I can only sell them whole."

"A whole melon is fine too."

"Then wait here; I'll go get one."

"If there is anything else tasty, I would like to buy some too."

"There are berries, sweet melons, and quail eggs that I plan to sell soon."

"Quail eggs?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 35 =====