Chapter 321: Rebirth in the Nineties: The Overbearing Flower Chapter 322 Opening for Business

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Chai Mi

The tractor went "putt-putt" back to Sanjiacun, the truck bed piled high with wood, and Song Qingshan's few young men squeezed in the gaps between the logs, laughing and joking. Chai Mi jumped down and waved at Song Qiushui and Liu Zhijing: "Qiushui, you take Da Zhi and the brothers to my courtyard to rest first, have some water. I'm going to prepare some hard dishes."

"No, unload the wood first." Song Qiushui went straight to his own courtyard.

Then she waved her small hand: "You few, unload the truck quickly. After unloading, go eat."

These few young men, either of Song Qiushui's brother generation or nephew generation, listened to Song Qiushui's words and truly went to work.

They got off the truck and worked swish-swish-swish, finishing in a short while.

By the time unloading was done on this side, Song Qiushui's father Song Qingshan had finished eating, saw everyone unloading, and helped tidy up a bit.

After all, this group wanted speed and threw things in chaos.

Song Qiushui looked: "Dad, I'm going to eat."

Song Qingshan wiped his sweat and waved his hand: "Got it! You go do your thing!"

Song Qiushui then turned and went with everyone to Chai Mi's home.

On the other side.

In the courtyard, Su Wan was holding Old Third, Chai Xiu leaned against the room door, her small eyes darting around. Chai Mi ignored her and started cooking nimbly.

She scooped out the dried pickled mustard pickled for New Year from the back of the bowl cabinet, then pulled a large chunk of rock-hard frozen five-flower pork from the freezer and threw it into cold water to thaw.

Water was added to the big pot and set to boil, then she turned and brought out a free-range chicken bought from the market.

Killing the chicken, bleeding it, scalding the feathers—her movements were three parts more deft than usual.

Song Qiushui came over: "Wow, really going all out? Both chicken and meat?"

"Nonsense, her brothers worked for me without eating, how could I be perfunctory?" Chai Mi didn't raise her head, chopping the chicken into pieces, "Pickled mustard stewed pork, chicken stewed with mushrooms, stir-fry two vegetable dishes, steam a pot of white flour steamed buns. Is that generous enough?"

"Enough enough enough!" Song Qiushui laughed, "Chai Mi, you're so generous!"

Chai Mi directed: "Stop yapping, tend the fire! Scoop out the pickled mustard and wash it, rinse several times, wring it dry!"

Chai Xiu squeezed in and said softly: "Sister, I have something to tell you…"

"Got gas? Let it out." Chai Mi was slicing the thawed five-flower pork.

Chai Xiu swallowed her saliva and spilled everything about how Wang Huirong came, how she fought the dog over chicken bones, how Liu Zhanggui handled it, and how she herself gave her a bag of rice and a bag of flour, pouring it all out like beans from a bamboo tube. Finally she added: "I didn't let her in! The grain was given in front of the Village Chief, I said just this once! If she goes hungry again, I can't control it!"

The kitchen knife in Chai Mi's hand went "thud" onto the cutting board, the blade sinking half an inch in.

The room fell silent instantly, only the gurgling of boiling water in the pot and the crackling of firewood burning remained.

Chai Mi narrowed her eyes, stared at the meat slices on the board for a few seconds, then slowly pulled the knife out and kept slicing meat, the sound of the blade cutting through skin cold and hard.

"Got it." Chai Mi's voice had little inflection, "Given is given, better than her making trouble again. Next time she comes, don't let her in at all. If she dares to force her way in, set the dogs on her."

Chai Xiu let out a breath: "Sigh!"

"Those two bags of grain, I'll put them on your account." Chai Mi added.

Chai Xiu's little face fell: "Huh?! Why?!"

Chai Mi glanced at her: "Wasn't it your idea? Wasn't it you who decided to give the grain? If not your account, then whose? Or do you want to go to the old house and take it back now?"

Chai Xiu pouted, not daring to make a sound, and went listlessly to help Song Qiushui tend the fire.

The food soon smelled fragrant. The rich aroma of chicken stewed with mushrooms mixed with the mellow scent of pickled mustard stewed pork, filling the small courtyard.

Chai Mi set up two tables in the courtyard, the men at one table, and she, Song Qiushui, Chai Xiu, Su Wan with Old Third at another small table.

Chai Mi personally poured bulk liquor from the consignment point for Song Qingshan's few young men: "You brothers worked hard today, the work was done beautifully! I, Chai Mi, remember it! No good dishes, everyone eat well and drink well!"

"Chai Mi Sister, you're too polite!" The young men were all simple and honest, lifting their bowls and drinking.

Big chunks of meat, oily pickled mustard, fragrant little chicken—instantly they were eating with oil all over their mouths, calling it satisfying.

Chai Youqing sat in the corner of the men's table, head down poking at the rice in his bowl, only occasionally picking up a chopstick of pickled vegetables in front of him.

Liu Zhijing nudged him with his elbow: "Uncle, eat! What are you spacing out for? Your family's Chai Mi's cooking is up to the state-run restaurant master chef level!"

Chai Youqing grunted, picked up a piece of chicken, put it in his mouth and chewed slowly, tasting nothing.

He was still worried about Wang Huirong's matter, feeling stifled.

Chai Mi held her bowl, her mind not entirely on eating either.

She saw the Song family brothers had eaten about enough, and gave Song Qiushui a look.

Song Qiushui understood, immediately went into the room and brought out a basin of golden yellow, crispy fried chicken legs—this was a batch Chai Mi had specially fried in advance as samples.

Song Qiushui said: "Let me add a dish for you, big fellows, try this! Chai Mi's new research, fried chicken legs! See how the taste is?"

Everyone took them, bit down, and there was a "crunch" sound.

"This thing is delicious! Better than the roast chicken sold at the market! Chai Mi Sister, your cooking is amazing!"

The few young men each got one, eating with endless praise: "Really good! This taste is right!"

"How much each? Definitely easy to sell!"

Chai Mi smiled and asked: "You say, three yuan each, if sold at the school gate at noon, when the kids finish class, grab and go, eat while walking, convenient or not?"

"That's too convenient!" Liu Zhijing wiped the oil from his mouth, "A hundred times better than chewing dry buns! Three yuan… saving up pocket money is enough to buy one to satisfy a craving!"

Chai Mi felt more confident, scooped a mouthful of rice, and quickly calculated in her head: fry to seven or eight percent done in advance, re-fry fast, sprinkle seasoning fast… small profit high volume, move volume…

Chai Xiu listened on the side, her small eyes also bright, and interjected: "Sister, what about the chicken frames, chicken necks and such? Fry them and sell too?"

"Chicken frames sold braised as snacks." Chai Mi had already planned it, "Chicken necks fried and sprinkled with seasoning, chicken heads and chicken feet handled cheaply. Sell them separated, no waste."

Song Qiushui slapped the table excitedly: "Let's do it! We'll test the waters tomorrow!"

Chai Mi nodded, about to say more, when the corner of her eye caught Chai Youqing put down his bowl, listlessly stand up, not greeting anyone, and shrink his shoulders toward the courtyard outside.

Chai Mi frowned, but didn't call out to stop him.

Chai Youqing didn't go to the Song Family construction site, nor did he go home. He wandered alone to the river bend, squatted on the earthen slope, and stared blankly at the Niuhe River water.

At home, the young men helping out ate and drank their fill, burped, said their goodbyes, and left for the construction site. Song Qiushui helped collect the bowls and chopsticks. Su Wan carried the third child back to the room to coax him to sleep. Chai Xiu was just about to take the leftover dishes into the kitchen when Chai Mi called out to her.

"Xiu'er."

"Huh?" Chai Xiu turned her head.

Chai Mi tilted her chin toward the grain sacks piled in the corner, clearly missing a section, and said in a voice not loud: "Not a precedent. If there's a next time, you and your grandma can both get out and drink the northwest wind."

Chai Xiu's hand holding the bowl stiffened: "Understood, Sister."

Chai Mi sighed: The village isn't big, but there's truly a damn lot of trouble.

The next day, while the sky was still pitch black, Chai Mi got up.

Only to discover Chai Youqing had gotten up even earlier, and afterwards didn't feed the cattle — the person was gone.

By the time Chai Mi finished cooking, he still hadn't returned.

Chai Mi frowned and asked Chai Xiu: "Did you see where your dad went?"

"He got up, squatted outside smoking." Chai Xiu pursed her lips, "Looking at him like that, I reckon he's still turning over yesterday's Big Tree Forest matter in his head."

Chai Mi let out a cold snort: "Let him turn it over. A person whose brain doesn't turn corners, he can turn it over till dark and still not figure out one, two, three. You keep an eye on him, don't let him stir up any more moths."

Just as they were speaking, Chai Youqing came in with his head drooping. He didn't look at Chai Mi, just went silently to the water vat, scooped water to wash his face, the gourd ladle clanging against the vat rim.

Su Wan shifted the basin she was carrying to the side, making room for him: "Youqing, today the warehouse raises its beam, you've got to be sharp, you're the main force."

Chai Youqing gave an "Mm," wiped his face with wet hands, water droplets dripping down along his chin. He hesitated a moment, shuffled over to Chai Mi's side, looked at the fried chicken pieces already piled high in the bamboo basket, his throat moved: "This... this can really sell for three yuan?"

Chai Mi's tone had no ripples: "Whether it sells or not, we'll know if we try. It's still better than rotting in the pot. Dad, on the warehouse side, Uncle Song is leading the work, you listen to him more, don't blindly direct."

"Mm, know." Chai Youqing answered, then paused a while longer, as if he'd made some resolution, "That... that purlin, Da Zhi and them did pretty well, it's enough. Chai Zhongming... he afterwards didn't again..."

"Dare he?" Chai Mi cut him off: "The Village Chief's words were laid down, he doesn't dare let out a single fart. You stop worrying about him, if he comes again, you tell him to go find Liu Zhanggui."

Chai Youqing didn't speak anymore, rubbing his hands standing to one side.

"These few are for them workers to taste fresh." Chai Mi pointed at those oil paper packages, "Divide them at noon mealtime. I'm getting ready to leave."

The Inverted Donkey had already been pushed to the courtyard gate, Chai Mi moved those several bags of fried chicken pieces up and placed them properly, then checked the stove and pot once more. Song Qiushui also came, carrying a small basket holding oil paper packages, and hopped onto the cart bed.

"Dad," Chai Mi mounted the cart, before leaving looked back at Chai Youqing once, "On the warehouse side, watch it tight. Foundation stable, then the wall builds firm. Noon meal, Mom and Xiu'er will handle, you don't worry."

"Aye, aye." Chai Youqing hurriedly nodded.

The Inverted Donkey creaked and squeaked out of the courtyard, the sky's edge just showing fish-belly white. Song Qiushui wrapped her clothes tight, shrank in the cart bed: "Chai Mi, what do you say we call these fried chicken legs? Just call them fried chicken legs? A bit rustic."

"Just call them fried chicken legs." Chai Mi rode the bike, her voice blown a bit drifting by the wind, "Real deal plaything, what it's called isn't important. Three yuan each, fragrant crispy tender, beats any name. Once sales open up, we'll talk then."

Arrived at the county big market, the sky just brightened.

Black Whirlwind Zhao Xiaojuan had already set up her stall, boredly staying there, saw the things on their cart, eyes lit up: "Yo! Really made it happen? Fast enough!"

"Ayo Eldest Sister, you're really early, taste fresh." Chai Mi hopped off the cart, handed over an oil paper package.

Song Qiushui also hurriedly gave a few portions to the neighboring stall owners she knew.

Black Whirlwind wasn't polite either, picked up a still-warm fried chicken leg, crunch went a big bite.

She chewed twice, eyes narrowing: "Mm! Fragrant! Truly damn fragrant! This flavor works! Inside tender enough, flavor got in too! Three yuan? Definitely works!"

The neighboring stall owners who tasted fresh also nodded one after another:

"Not bad!"

"Better than the roast chicken shop's fried!"

"This price is fair too, student kids will definitely love it!"

Chai Mi's heart settled considerably. She and Song Qiushui pushed the Inverted Donkey to the old spot, set up the stall. Big pot boiled water to cook dumplings, to the side specially cleared a small stove, set up a small oil pot. Chai Mi took out a bag of fried chicken pieces, poured them into a clean bamboo basket beside it, covered with a piece of clean cloth to keep warm. Took out a small wooden sign, wrote a few big characters with charcoal pencil: Fried Chicken Leg, Three Yuan Each!

"Open for business!" Chai Mi clapped her hands.

Morning business same as usual, Curved Leek Dumplings still popular. But the newly hung "Fried Chicken Leg" sign also attracted quite a few gazes. Passersby adults and children, all couldn't help but peek at that cloth-covered basket.

"Girl, this fried chicken leg really three yuan each?" A middle-aged man in work clothes stopped his steps, pointed at the sign and asked.

"Mhm, Uncle, fresh out of the pot, fragrant crispy tender, want a taste?" Chai Mi lifted the cloth corner, revealing the tempting chicken legs inside.

That man hesitated a moment, fished out three yuan: "Give me one to taste!"

Chai Mi nimbly picked up a chicken leg, tossed it into the small oil pot beside it to re-fry. Just a minute, the chicken leg re-fried to an even crispier shell, fished it out, drained the oil, sprinkled some freshly ground cumin powder and chili powder, wrapped in oil paper, handed it over.

The man took it, blew on it, took a bite, burned so he sucked in air but wouldn't stop: "Mm! Fragrant! Truly fragrant! Worth it!"

With this start, the rest went smooth. Those tasting fresh, those drawn by the fragrance, especially a few half-grown boys, pooling money to buy one to share tasting, came one after another. Three yuan each, not cheap, but not too expensive either.

Song Qiushui responsible for taking money and making change, happy she couldn't close her mouth: "Chai Mi, nice! This business can work! Look at those student kids, eyeballs about to fall into the oil pot!"

Chai Mi cooking dumplings on one side, watching the oil pot's heat on the other, face no expression, but eyes bright: "This is only where to where. Wait till noon after school lets out."

Near noon, the dumpling stall as usual lined up a queue. But today, many people queuing, eyes all glancing at the side's small oil pot and the basket with not many fried chicken pieces left.

"Boss, give me a fried chicken leg!" A boy in school uniform squeezed over, slapped money on the cutting board.

"I want one too!"

"Save me one!"

A few student-looking ones also followed shouting.

Chai Mi answered, hands flying fast. Re-fry, sprinkle seasoning, pack. The small oil pot almost never stopped. A basket of chicken legs, visibly hitting bottom.

Song Qiushui collected money till her hands went soft, collecting while shouting: "Don't rush don't rush! Still have dumplings!"

The last five fried chicken legs instantly snatched up. At noon when packing up, Song Qiushui counting the bills in the money box, grinning ear to ear: "Chai Mi! Done! Fried chicken legs sold seventeen! Plus dumplings, revenue nearly three thousand! You today at least earned thirteen fourteen... my oh my!"

Chai Mi packing things, face finally showing a trace of smile: "Not bad. Tomorrow prepare more ingredients."

"Must!" Song Qiushui tucked the money away, helped pack, "Right, the warehouse side, today should raise the beam right? Don't know if smooth."

"With your dad watching, should be fine." Chai Mi tied things up, "Hurry back, afternoon still have to make a trip to the breeding farm, settle the chickens."