Chapter 293: Reborn in the 90s: The Tyrant Flower Chapter 294 Refined

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

The group chatted for a while longer, and Su Hui's eldest son and daughter-in-law also came over to greet them.

Everyone was quite familiar with each other anyway, so they didn't say too much.

It was just polite small talk.

After another while, Su Hui's eldest daughter, who was also Chai Mi's eldest cousin Yao Lianhua, arrived.

Yao Lianhua had a round face and big eyes. She wasn't tall, but she looked very refined.

This refinement mainly showed in her better skin, her still large eyes, and her better clothes.

She was wearing a black trench coat...

Although it wasn't very hot this season anymore, the trench coat was obviously not quite suitable; it was a bit hot.

Her pants were jeans, very normal.

The high heels were very high.

Moreover, she had drawn on eyebrows, making Yao Lianhua's eyes look even better.

At a glance, she didn't look much like a peasant.

Of course, these few from Second Aunt's family all didn't look much like peasants.

After all, their family didn't have much land that could be farmed.

Although they also did some other work, such as weaving baskets, making curtain blinds, and the like, that work didn't require enduring wind and sun after all.

So, their skin was all maintained quite well.

And Yao Lianhua's skin was maintained the best.

As soon as Yao Lianhua arrived, Su Wan froze, hurriedly got up, and went to meet her: "Hua, why did you come too?"

You have to know Yao Lianhua had just given birth to her second child, and the baby was only a month old; generally at this time, one doesn't move around much, still doing the postpartum confinement indoors. Like Su Wan a while ago was also doing confinement indoors, and only recently started moving around.

"Aiya, isn't it because I heard Third Aunt... and Eldest Aunt came over." Yao Lianhua actually liked Su Wan's family more; she wasn't particularly fond of this Eldest Aunt Su Jin.

Mainly because back then there had been some matters, rather special.

Very early on, Yao Lianhua was introduced to someone by Liu San...

Cough cough.

This actually, if put in later generations, would definitely be unacceptable, but in that relatively backward era, aunts becoming in-laws with each other was also relatively common.

Cousins (male/female), also very normal.

But Yao Lianhua simply didn't look favorably on Liu San.

Because Liu San was ugly...

Liu San had big buck teeth...

Of course, these are all past matters now.

Yao Lianhua has already given birth to her second child now; the past is forgotten. She mainly felt that Eldest Aunt Su Jin these years, although her days were going well, they didn't interact much; not interacting naturally leads to estrangement.

"I've been muttering to my mom all along, hoping my Third Aunt and Eldest Aunt could come; that would be best." Yao Lianhua indeed thought this way.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yao Lianhua then looked at Chai Mi and Chai Xiu: "Chai Mi came too... getting prettier and prettier. You this... more fashionable than me."

Chai Mi was actually dressed very ordinarily, a white-and-red long-sleeved shirt, slightly faded jeans, carrying a small white bag, a pair of white sneakers.

But because Chai Mi's skin was especially white, whatever she wore looked pretty.

"Yo... Xiu'er. Hehehe..." Yao Lianhua looked at Chai Xiu: "Last time I saw Xiu'er, Xiu'er wasn't big yet, she was still shy."

Last time when Su Wan was doing confinement, Yao Lianhua didn't come because she was pregnant too long, so the last time Yao Lianhua saw Chai Xiu was still four or five years ago.

Back then, Chai Xiu was still too young to remember things.

Chai Xiu smiled bashfully, revealing two small dimples.

When Chai Mi came this time, she specially brought a little something for Yao Lianhua.

It was that badger oil she had picked up last time.

This thing, if doing postpartum confinement or whenever, if there are wounds or such, helps them heal a bit faster.

Moreover, this thing is a bit useful for people from Second Aunt's family's place who relatively need to hunt for a living.

So, Chai Mi brought two catties.

Afterwards Chai Mi handed it to Yao Lianhua, explained the matter, and also prepared two sets of small cups and small clothes for children's postpartum confinement for Yao Lianhua.

"Coming is enough, yet you bring so many things... your Second Aunt already prepared them for me."

Yao Lianhua took the things, her mood improving a bit more, and casually asked: "Chai Mi, what are you doing now?"

"Doing business. Chai Mi recently set up a stall, selling dumplings and such, earning quite a bit." Before Chai Mi could speak, Su Wan laughed and boasted for Chai Mi.

"I opposed it at first, didn't expect those dumplings at seven or eight yuan a bowl would sell incredibly fast, supply can't meet demand..."

The remaining few people stared blankly for a moment.

Yao Lianhua also praised: "Chai Mi showed promise since childhood, sure enough can earn money."

Yao Lianhua actually also wanted to go out and earn some money; the family was truly in difficulty, and with a second child, she couldn't leave.

It wasn't because her man didn't earn money or didn't work, but this place, it simply couldn't have money.

A poor remote village; wanting to earn a bit of money, it was too hard.

This place, making ends meet is strenuous; wanting to get rich, one truly doesn't even dare to think it.

But, people always have to have some dreams; what if they come true.

Yao Lianhua didn't actually intend to live the way she does now, but she was helpless; some things couldn't be changed. Her own relatives were mostly very poor too.

Maternal Grandmother's Home was very poor.

Mother's family was even poorer, and her brothers' wives had two children each...

Her in-laws' family was especially, especially poor.

Among Yao Lianhua's husband and his two brothers, only her husband had married a wife; the remaining two were both bachelors.

This was still because Yao Lianhua took a fancy to her husband's good looks; otherwise all three brothers would have ended up as lifelong bachelors.

She leaned in closer, lowered her voice a little, with a hint of envy and probing: "Chai Mi, that dumpling stall of yours... really makes that much money? Seven or eight yuan a bowl, how many bowls can you sell in a day?" Her already large eyes seemed even brighter with eagerness.

Before Chai Mi could answer, Su Wan beside her jumped in, her tone full of unconcealed pride: "Of course! The first day she made them herself, I even complained they were expensive, but guess what? They sold out before noon! After that it was like that every day, lots of people came specially to wait. This child just has that fortune and ability."

Chai Mi was a bit embarrassed by her mother's praise; she didn't know what had gotten into Su Wan lately, she just liked praising her for no reason.

Of course, maybe Su Wan's mood has been good lately.

"It's just like that. Now with Reform and Opening-up, everyone goes out to do business and such, there are many ways to make money. Whoever goes to sell, the effect should be about the same. But you don't have the time... at least wait until the kids grow up a bit before talking about other things."

Hearing this, the small flame in Yao Lianhua's heart flared up with a "whoosh". Her family was in difficulty, but since Chai Mi could do it, she felt she could try too! It's just wrapping dumplings and selling them, right? Her cooking skills weren't bad either. And Chai Mi was willing to teach her — such an opportunity was too rare. Her husband was honest and simple, but minding the kids and lending a hand at the stall should be doable. This was far better than staying home weaving baskets, waiting for that meager income!

She grabbed Chai Mi's wrist, saying urgently: "Chai Mi! I can squeeze out the time! The kids... my husband can watch them more, if it really doesn't work my mom can help! Can you teach me, Sister? I also want... also want to earn some money to subsidize the family. Look, my hands aren't clumsy either, I wrap dumplings fast! Just... just don't know what flavors people outside like, how to prepare them..." She looked at Chai Mi expectantly, terrified of being rejected.

However, Chai Mi still refused.

Although Chai Mi knew Yao Lianhua wrapped dumplings quite well, Chai Mi felt Yao Lianhua's current situation simply left her no time at all.

Everything would have to wait for later.

The main purpose of Chai Mi's trip this time was to have Yao Lianhua get her some small pickled vegetables to eat.

That way the dumpling stall could be even better.

"Eldest Sister, like this..." Chai Mi pulled Yao Lianhua outside.

There were many people in the room; she didn't really want everyone listening.

"Eldest Sister, actually I do have a little something I need your help with this time. You can earn some money too. You pickle pickled vegetables, and those small dishes are delicious, so I thought you could prepare a few jars for me."

"A few jars?" Yao Lianhua felt she must have misheard: "What do you need that many for?"

"To sell." Chai Mi thought for a moment: "I'll buy at one yuan per catty. How does that sound?"

"Perfectly fine." Yao Lianhua accepted without the slightest hesitation.

After all, those spicy vegetable lumps and various small dishes only cost a few fen per catty; Chai Mi directly offered one yuan per catty, so Yao Lianhua couldn't have the tiniest bit of hesitation.

To hesitate would be disrespect to this price.

"How much do you need exactly? Have you eaten through it all?"

"How about two hundred catties?" Chai Mi asked tentatively.

"Okay, but probably not that much. I'll make some fresh. All the pickled vegetables at home added up are only forty or fifty catties."

"I'll use these first. I'll take them when I leave."

"Okay."

After Chai Mi and Yao Lianhua reached a preliminary agreement on the pickled vegetable business, the two returned to the room. The idle chatter inside continued, but the atmosphere seemed to have gained a trace of curiosity because of their private talk outside.

Yao Lianhua's face carried irrepressible joy; she walked briskly toward the inner room, calling out: "Mom, I'm going to the storage room to sort out our few jars of pickled vegetables, Chai Mi wants to take some away."

Hearing this, Su Hui looked at Chai Mi with some surprise: "Oh, Chai Mi likes our family's pickled vegetables? If you like them take more, they're not worth anything."

Su Hui didn't think too much; she just took it as an ordinary gift between relatives.

Chai Mi smiled, didn't mention the specific business or price, just went along: "Mm, Eldest Sister's pickling tastes good, I thought I'd bring some back to taste fresh, and by the way... see if I can add a small dish to the stall."

Su Wan listened from the side, recalling her daughter's recent business dedication, and chimed in with a smile: "That's right, this girl Chai Mi just loves figuring these things out. Her Eldest Sister has good skills, she's found the right person this time."

Just as they were talking, Yao Lianhua had already nimbly carried out two jars of pickled vegetables, placing them in the corner of the main hall, the jar mouths sealed tight. She dusted off her hands and said to Chai Mi: "These two jars look like a lot, but it's just over forty catties. You take them to eat first, I'll follow right up and pickle new batches — spicy vegetable lumps, snow cabbage, twisted small cucumbers, whatever — guaranteed to make up that two hundred catties for you! Whatever flavor you want, just tell me clearly later."

Chai Mi walked over to look, nodded: "Okay, Eldest Sister you handle it, flavors just go with what you're best at. When these are eaten up, I'll come get new ones." This business was a not-small subsidy for Yao Lianhua's family; for Chai Mi, having a stable and authentic source of pickled vegetables meant her dumpling stall could be more distinctive.

Yao Lianhua felt at ease, her smile becoming much more genuine, repeatedly saying: "Rest assured, rest assured, Sister will definitely get it done properly for you!" With a major worry resolved, she had the mind to pay more attention to other things, her gaze falling on Chai Xiu sitting quietly to the side, "Xiu'er has grown more and more lovely, these little dimples really make people cherish her."

As she spoke, Yao Lianhua checked the time: "Mom, that thing. Let's eat dumplings at noon."

Dumplings, definitely must eat.

Here in the Northeast, no matter what festival, solar term, or important guests come, it's uniformly dumplings.

Anyway, nothing tastes better than dumplings.

Eating dumplings is always right.

"Then it's definitely dumplings." Su Hui had actually kneaded the dough long ago, the meat filling was also chopped: "Eating mutton dumplings."

As Su Hui spoke she also muttered in a low voice: "Pure wild yellow sheep, picked up that day... don't let anyone know. I'll just say it's bought mutton..."

The Juren Zhangzi area has more wild animals, yellow sheep exist too.

But yellow sheep are wild after all, run like thieves, ordinary people can't catch them.

So, being able to catch a yellow sheep is purely luck.

Chai Mi also knew this mutton wasn't easy to come by.

Maybe Second Aunt's family hadn't been willing to eat meat for a long time, but relatives came, so they forced themselves to serve it.

This enthusiasm was really good.

"Wrapping dumplings? I'll do it, I'll do it, today just happens to let you taste, the dumplings I wrap." Chai Mi was in a good mood today too, volunteering.

"That thing, I'll remake the dumpling filling for you."

As Chai Mi spoke, she went with Su Hui to prepare the dumpling filling and knead dough.

Su Wan started praising Chai Mi: "Chai Mi's wrapped dumplings are much tastier than mine."

"Mm hm hm..." Chai Xiu nodded vigorously: "My sister wraps dumplings, awfully delicious. Delicious to the point of tears..."

"For real?" Su Hui laughed too: "You... you praise your Eldest Sister this outrageously. Delicious to tears. You little scoundrel, in a bit, if I don't cry what'll I do?"

Chai Mi said with a smile: "Second Aunt definitely won't cry."

After all, that group of dumpling-eaters cried because they remembered their late mothers...

And her own grandmother was still alive.

If her second aunt cried, that would truly be a bit improper.

"Second Aunt, you eat in a while. Eat one without making a sound." Chai Xiu said obediently: "My sister told me after she came back from setting up her stall that over a hundred people have cried eating her dumplings..."

Everyone in the house was dumbfounded: crying while eating dumplings?

That's bizarre!!!

The problem was, these bizarre words were spoken by Chai Xiu.

Chai Xiu was so young, she was unlikely to lie!!!

"Fine." Su Hui said without believing a word: "If I don't cry later, I'll go to your house to sit and eat dumplings. Eat for a year."

"Fine." Chai Xiu hehehe laughed: "Just right, I'll eat for a year too."

Anyway, Chai Xiu only knew how to eat, she couldn't do anything else.

As for whether her second aunt cried or not while eating dumplings in a while, it was unimportant.

Anyway, not crying was better, that way Chai Xiu could eat dumplings at every meal.

"You go tend the fire." Chai Mi pouted at Chai Xiu: "All you know is eating. Still causing trouble... not doing any work."

"I'll go, Xiu'er is so young, don't let her work." Yao Shoucai said as he went to get firewood to tend the fire.

Yao Lianhua hurried to tend the fire herself, letting Yao Shoucai stay put, so that others wouldn't say she was unfilial or the like.

It was better for her to do the work.