Chapter 38: Who doesn't like to eat?

Shopkeeper Lu only then learned the ins and outs of the matter. No wonder Qiao Mai's complexion wasn't good.

Encountering someone like this was a bit of a headache. It should have been that when she was in the prefecture city last time, she was saddened by this little fellow, Wang Zihan.

What Lu Sanniang didn't expect was that Qiao Mai could get to know the young lady and young master of a local prominent family just by going to the city. It was truly a blessing. She hadn't mentioned it at all after returning; it was really something.

The fruit was loaded onto the carriage, and Qiao Mai hung her face as if someone owed her money.

"Twenty-one taels in total; give me twenty taels."

"Are there any other rare items?"

"No."

"Really none?"

Wang Jiaru didn't believe it. She felt that this person in front of her needed to be pressured to discover her potential. Looking at the young lady's appearance, she should still have goods, right?

"We've known each other for a while, and I still don't know Big Sister's name?"

"Qiao Mai, 'Mai' as in wheat."

"Big Sister Qiao, look, I ran here from so far away; it wasn't easy. Have pity on me and get me some more rare fruit?"

"There really isn't any. If you don't believe me, you can go home with me and take a look."

"That's truly a pity. When are you going to the prefecture city?"

"You go back first. Three days later, I'll go to the prefecture city and make a special trip to deliver them to you. Just have enough silver notes ready."

"Then it's a deal. Three days later, I'll wait for you at my door, just like last time?"

"From my home to the prefecture city, it will be noon at the earliest."

"Why don't you stay at my house for the night?"

"No need. Once the money and goods are cleared, I have to rush back. If I don't set up the stall, I'll lose a lot of silver in a day."

"I'll just give Big Sister some more silver."

"Not necessary!"

Young Lady Wang had her maid pay the silver and wanted to say something else, but was urged by Qiao Mai to get on the carriage. She sat on the carriage and still clung to the window, reluctant to part.

"I'm leaving. You must be punctual. And this Big Sister Lu, when you have time, come to the prefecture city with her; I'll take you out to play."

"Okay, okay."

Finally, she sent the people away. Shopkeeper Lu poked her arm.

"You have a deep blessing. You can even get to know such a family, and you didn't tell your sister after returning. This is a top-notch connection; our embroidery manor really needs such figures."

"It's just a relationship between a buyer and a seller. Besides, isn't it better to let her chase after us?"

"As a young lady from a wealthy family, she has no airs at all. Such a girl is truly rare. This is the first time I've seen such a girl."

"They are just a pair of foodies, that's all."

"Who doesn't like to eat? Food is the heaven of the people. No matter how high the family status, one cannot not eat."

"Are you going to the prefecture city with me in three days?"

"I'm not going. Business is quite busy during this period. However, you can give me a ride to the county town, and I'll take your carriage back in the afternoon."

The quail eggs were completely bought out by Young Lady Wang. When some people heard the news and came to buy, they were already sold out.

Hearing that there would be more tomorrow, they left happily.

The goods prepared today were gone just past noon. Qiao Mai closed the stall early and went home to count the silver.

She didn't notice that in the distance, an old couple was staring fixedly at her back. They had been there for a long time, but because Shopkeeper Lu was also there, they hadn't dared to come over.

"Mother of the child, do you think this girl is lying to us? Is this stall her own?"

"That can't be, right? She hasn't told a lie since she was small. Besides, to set up this stall, how much capital would it take? Is there anything she has that we don't know about?"

"Hmph, if she dares to lie to me, see if I don't beat her to death. Let's go, let's follow her and see where she lives."

The two followed her from afar and saw her enter a beautiful new residence. They didn't rush over but asked the people around whose residence it was.

It was fortunate that they had this heart; otherwise, Qiao Mai would have avoided a disaster.

Of course, Qiao Mai wouldn't be afraid of this disaster.

After the couple learned that this residence belonged to Shopkeeper Lu, the intention they originally had to find Qiao Mai to make a scene vanished by more than half.

"Old man, I told you, the daughter wouldn't lie. She really sold herself to Shopkeeper Lu. Let's go home. This is the residence of the Lu family's master; if we come to make a scene and she finds out, we won't end up well."

"Just come here for nothing?"

"Then what can we do? Didn't you see that girl close the stall early? She must have sold out. If there were still goods at home, wouldn't she have to go home and push another cart over?"

Qiao Shicheng gritted his teeth. "Let's go, go home. Give her some more time. Don't think that just because she took a piece of paper for severing kinship, she really dares to sever kinship with me. No way!"

At this time, Qiao Mai was in the courtyard adding forage for Date and changing its water to fresh water.

Then she went to the east and west side chambers to take a look, cleaned the floor for the quails, and after coming out, swept the courtyard.

Thinking of the basin of pork cracklings in the freezer, she carried a basket, locked the courtyard gate, and planned to go out to see if anyone was selling chives.

She happened to miss Qiao Shicheng and the others; otherwise, there would have been a good show to watch today.

Ever since the neighbors on the left and right helped her catch the bad guys that night, Qiao Mai had developed a good impression of them and would greet them politely when meeting them outside.

Whenever anyone came to her stall to buy things, she would give them a good discount.

It hadn't been long, but they were very enthusiastic when they met.

"Young Lady, not setting up the stall?"

"Sold out. Buying some vegetables to improve my meals."

"What are you eating tonight?"

"Making dumplings. I still have quite a bit of pork cracklings from rendering oil last time."

"Oh, dumplings, huh? Not bad, not bad."

Qiao Mai smiled and went to the embroidery manor. "Shopkeeper, making dumplings tonight. Are you coming to eat?"

"Coming, all coming, we're all coming."

"That's fine, then I'll buy more chives."

Looking by the roadside, the vegetable sellers seemed to have closed their stalls, so she ran to the Jingtai Restaurant. There were still customers who hadn't left yet.

"Greetings, Shopkeeper Tong."

"Oh, Young Lady Qiao, what wind blew you here?"

"Do you have chives here?"

"Yes, the vegetable delivery today sent quite a bit, and there's still quite a lot left."

"Sell me a big bunch?"

"Sell? It's not worth much. Take as much as you need; I've often benefited from your light."

"Then I won't be polite."

Qiao Mai followed the waiter to the back, and there really was quite a bit. She took the chives and came out of the restaurant.

"Shopkeeper Tong, what dish does your restaurant use these chives to stir-fry?"

"Stir-fried chives with eggs taste quite good. Many customers like this bite."

"You don't make dumplings?"

"It's too troublesome to prepare the filling and wrap them in hot weather. If it were cold, we could wrap them in advance and just boil them when customers order."

"Then you really should dig an ice cellar. Not only is it convenient to use, but you can also store ingredients."

"Let's talk about it next year."

Qiao Mai carried the basket back. Shopkeeper Lu happened to be not busy. "Little Sister, come, let's pick the chives together."

"I'll just go home and pick them myself."

"This is faster. Come over quickly; I'm not busy right now anyway."

The two picked the chives clean at the shop door, and Qiao Mai returned home.

She had looked up dumpling fillings online and remembered how to prepare each type. She had also tried it twice, so it should be no problem.

Arriving in the kitchen, she took the pork cracklings out of the space, poured them onto the cutting board, chopped them up, and put them in a basin. She washed the chives, dried them, cut them into small cubes, and put them into the pork cracklings.

She poured in soy sauce, salt, MSG, oyster sauce, and thirteen-spice powder and mixed them evenly.

Fortunately, no one was there; otherwise, if someone saw her make a seasoning appear with a flip of her hand and disappear with another wave, they would think the house was haunted.

She lit the fire, poured some vegetable oil into the large pot, and when the oil was hot, put in the minced green onion and ginger to bring out the fragrance. She turned off the heat, poured the oil over the filling, and mixed it again. The fragrance of chives and pork cracklings immediately drifted out.

The neighbor on the left was a widow, surnamed Chen, who brought an eight-year-old boy and had been renting here.

That night was when Qiao Mai could be considered to have just met her.

The neighbor on the right was a large courtyard house, a residence rented by three families together.

Yuan Jiaqi lived in the west side chamber of this place with his child.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 39 =====