Chapter 76: I'm addicted to making money

Feng'er went to open the door, and the rich people of Tianshui Town rushed into her house. When they saw the candied hawthorns in the courtyard, they all screamed.

"Is this for sale?"

"Yes, one hundred wen a string."

"Give me ten strings, I also want ten strings." They were instantly bought out.

Some who didn't buy them were anxious. In the end, Feng'er and the three of them painfully handed over their own two strings.

Seeing this, Qiao Mai comforted them. "I'll make more for you later."

Hearing this, the children were happy, and the people in town rushed to pre-order.

"Give me ten more strings, my family has many children."

"I also want ten strings."

"These can only be taken in the afternoon."

Qiao Mai fried a few more slices for Yuan Jiaqi. She took the child. "Eat your fill before holding Ling'er."

Sitting in front of the stove, preparing to start the fire, Qiao Mai went to the warehouse for a while, and shaved wooden sticks for a while.

Working hard all day, one can copy half a book, one book in three days, which is only a few taels of silver a month. If encountering books with high requirements, one book is only two taels of silver. Lady Qiao is good, one day is worth his income of several months.

"Brother Yuan, don't forget, I have costs too. Looking at me entering so much money a day, why didn't you remove the cost for me?"

Yuan Jiaqi was afraid she didn't understand, so he explained.

Almost twenty-something taels of income every day, making Yuan Jiaqi not want to copy books anymore.

It's really people comparing with people, making people angry. Qiao Mai wanted to laugh when she saw his struggling expression.

"No, if she were sensible, she should come. After all, you are her son's teacher."

"Okay."

Yuan Jiaqi ate the three slices in a few bites. Qiao Mai shook her head speechlessly. If he ate like this, one person would need at least five slices, plus Chen Hao, it would need at least thirty slices.

Taking advantage of him going to call people, she used her consciousness to look at the freezer. There were fifty slices in total, fifteen were taken away, leaving thirty-five. Yuan Jiaqi ate three, so there should be thirty-eight left.

"Not necessarily. Although reading books consumes silver, passing the exam is a success. If not, it's also a profession, like an accountant, a clerk in the county office, or at worst, like you said, copying. He doesn't need to be as hard as a farmer going to the field, and doesn't need to be exposed to wind and sun. Just take you for example, you and Chuan'er don't need to farm, and you live better than farmers outside. This is all thanks to you knowing how to read and write, don't you think?"

She was frying beef, putting one slice in the children's plate after another, frying slice after slice, not knowing how many slices she fried. The children were full.

"Yes, it's beef tenderloin, I gave it the name steak."

So they bought some snacks, and they went home satisfied. Feng'er was about to close the door when Chen Hao came.

"Actually, this candied hawthorn is the easiest to make. Just string some fruits together, the most critical is boiling the sugar, dip it in sugar and put it on the cutting board, one hot and one cold, the sugar fixes, and it's done." 【7

The children swallowed their saliva, "Mother, why eat meat this way? Are we not stewing it?"

"You haven't even taken a bite yet."

Qiao Mai simply cleared a corner of the living room and set up the rack she used to use for drying persimmons in the courtyard, arranging the goods on it. Yuan Jiaqi, Feng'er, and Yun'er all knew the prices; she only needed to prepare the goods, and the rest was their business.

It took half an hour of preparation before she began boiling the sugar.

"Go play once you're full. There are candied hawthorns in the courtyard; eat a skewer to whet your appetite."

Qiao Mai smiled, "Happy New Year, Hao'er. Come, this is from your aunt."

This time she made a hundred in one go. After setting aside the pre-ordered ones, there were still several dozen left, enough for the children to eat.

"Is it okay after lunch?"

Seeing it was noon, Qiao Mai scrubbed the pot clean, wanting to make something fresh for everyone. She went to the warehouse and, using it as a cover, took out a dozen steaks from the freezer in her space.

"Your craftsmanship is truly beyond words. If you don't find a man in the future, would it be alright if I stayed at your house for a lifetime?"

"Feng'er, hurry and take your Brother Hao into the room to sit, and bring out all the good things we have at home."

"That makes sense."

"Hmm, I know that. These were bought in the prefecture city and have legal documentation. Go call the children to eat once you're done. These must be eaten while hot; they won't taste good once they go cold."

Yuan Jiaqi held Ling'er and followed her to the kitchen with a smile.

He picked up a slice to taste, "The flavor is truly excellent, and it's especially tender, completely different from what I've eaten before. Cattle are the main labor force for farming in our Great Ming Dynasty; the imperial court doesn't allow them to be slaughtered at will."

"I feel like you make money way too easily."

"I had eaten this before you all came to the house; it's nothing rare."

Yuan Jiaqi took Ling'er from Qiao Mai's hands, "I'll have to trouble you again."

"Mother, you are truly wonderful. You are the best mother under heaven."

After saying this, Yuan Jiaqi blushed.

While the two were talking, all the candied hawthorns were finished. Qiao Mai found a wooden stake, whittled it, and poked holes into it.

"This is medium-rare steak, have a taste."

"That's not a small amount either. I'm not jealous, but I feel that 'poor scholars, rich martial artists' is true. Scholars spend ten years in cold windows; aside from the one day they pass the imperial exam, the rest is truly worthless. Everyone says scholars are noble and pure, but what is that nobility worth? Copying books doesn't even earn as much as a street peddler's stall. What's the use of a noble reputation? It's better to have money in hand so the family can live comfortably."

After the pot dried, she didn't add oil and placed the steaks directly in, putting three slices in at once. After searing them, she placed them on a plate. Holding Ling'er, she let Yuan Jiaqi taste it first.

Qiao Mai didn't think much of it, "Alright, if I don't fancy any other man in the future, you all can live at my house for a lifetime. I don't mind; besides, having someone to do chores for me makes things much easier for me."

"Aunt, Teacher, Happy New Year. Yesterday my mother and I went back to my grandparents' house and didn't come over to pay our respects; please forgive us."

"Steak?"

She counted them and finally felt relieved; what he ate would soon be replenished by the space.

"That's right, your goods are all high quality, so the cost is naturally high."

The man heard this and nodded unconsciously, feeling sweet inside.

From the second day of the New Year, the Qiao household was never idle; every day, many people came looking to buy things.

"The Chen mother and son are back; should we go over and pay a New Year's visit?"

"Not stewing it, it only tastes good eaten this way."

"Just like the books in your head, it's easy for you to copy books, but if you asked me to copy them, I wouldn't know how. What do you think?"

It's good that it gets replenished; this way she won't have to worry about the steaks running out in the future.

"Yes, Mother!"

"It's easy to say but hard to do; watching you do it makes it look so simple."

"You'll get the hang of it once you start; everything requires more learning and practice."

"Mother, this meat is really delicious."

"Mother, what are you making that smells so good?"

"I'll listen to whatever you say."

Yuan Jiaqi returned and took Ling'er, and the four children surrounded Qiao Mai.

"Everyone grab a plate and chopsticks. In a moment, I'll sear a slice and put it on your plates. There's plenty of meat today."

"It's not tiring at all. I'm addicted to making money. Look, in just this short while, I've sold over a dozen taels of silver. Once the New Year arrives, people have money in their hands; if I don't make money now, when will I?"

These steaks were already marinated and were from a very famous brand sold in supermarkets.

Chen Hao politely went up to take it, "Thank you, Aunt."

"So don't be jealous. Out of twenty-some taels, I only make a few taels of profit."

Qiao Mai curled her lip. As expected of a child, whoever has milk is their mother; as long as there's something to eat, they say it's good.

Yuan Jiaqi sighed, "What you say makes sense; I was the one who was narrow-minded."

Qiao Mai smiled, "Brother Yuan, haven't you noticed? Among the many peddlers, only my business is good. It's because I have the ability to get good things. As for other peddlers, it's already good if they can earn a few taels a month."

"Yes, you are a capable woman."

"However, I won't tell anyone where my goods come from. This is my livelihood; if I tell others, mine will be gone."

(End of chapter)