Chapter 206: You Need Only Attend to Mother’s Comfort at Home

Chapter 206: You Need Only Attend to Mother's Comfort at Home

In particular, the patriarchs of the Zhao and Zhou clans were no strangers to such seafood delicacies.

A few years ago, a drought plagued the city of Yun, resulting in a significant decrease in crop yields.

Back then, even if one had silver at hand, it was exceedingly difficult to purchase grain.

Thus, many, driven by desperation, found themselves seeking out fishermen to purchase the very seafood that would normally go unappreciated, merely to satiate their hunger.

Upon bringing back the seafood, they were already famished. Such fare, however, demanded delicate handling and couldn't be devoured in large bites, making it feel like a punishment rather than a pleasure.

Moreover, they lacked the culinary skills of the ninth prince's wife. Their attempts at cooking seafood often resulted in dishes that were pungent and foul-smelling, barely edible, and on occasion, even caused some to suffer from vomiting and diarrhea after consuming them...

Now, things were different. These once-disdained seafood items, when handled by others, transformed into exquisite delicacies beyond their wildest dreams.

And what about those animal offal used for hotpot? How could they be so delectable?

Truly, these people from the capital were masters of gastronomy, never compromising on food and drink. They were in a league of their own, far beyond the reach of common folk like them.

Patriarch Zhao's face was flushed from eating, and he had even forgotten the restraint one should have when being treated to a meal by others.

"Ah Ninth, if you were to sell these dishes in the city, you'd surely make a fortune."

As they say, the speaker doesn't intend much, but the listener may take it to heart.

Patriarch Zhao's voice wasn't low, and the womenfolk heard him loud and clear.

When Second Sister-in-law heard that there was potential for great profit, she immediately became interested.

"Dear sister-in-law, what do you think about selling such delicacies in the city?"

Heg Zhiran was not opposed to the idea, but currently, the ingredients and seasonings for making hotpot could not be procured in large quantities.

Moreover, it was said that there weren't many wealthy people in Yun City. The cost of these ingredients and seasonings for making hotpot was already quite high. If the selling price was too low, they would certainly not make much profit.

If the price was set too high, few people could afford it.

Therefore, Heg Zhiran was not in a hurry to venture into the food business.

They had just settled in the village of Xiling, and their first priority was to get their household in order.

Though she wasn't well-versed in business, she had seen many things in her past life that didn't exist in this era, and with the aid of her spatial ability, finding profitable ventures wouldn't be difficult.

Moreover, Tang Mingrui had also relocated to Yun City. Once they were stable, she planned to start a small cooperative business with him, taking it step by step to avoid drawing unwanted attention.

After all, their identities were special, and even in exile, there was no guarantee that someone from the court wouldn't take an interest.

Without delving into distant possibilities, let's consider Meng Huaining. On the surface, he claimed to have come here at Fei Nanyu's request to take up a post and look after their family.

She refused to believe that Meng Huaining would not inform Fei Nanyu of their situation.

At present, Fei Nanyu did not seem to pose any threat to them, but who could fully fathom the thoughts of someone in power?

Thus, He Zhiran planned to carefully observe the situation before making any decisions.

Of course, with such a large family under her care, it was not appropriate to remain idle. After everyone had settled into their new home, she would devise a plan that would benefit all parties involved.

"Second Sister-in-law, I understand your eagerness to earn money for the family, but before we proceed, you must take a look at the ingredients we used today."

He Zhiran knew that her second sister-in-law was a straightforward person, so she didn't beat around the bush when talking to her.

Madame Mo, who seldom gave her opinions in front of her daughters-in-law, also spoke up.

"Xie, for the ingredients your ninth sister-in-law prepared today, let's not talk about others. Just this spicy seasoning that we can't obtain, how can we make money without the raw materials?"

After hearing Madame Mo's words, He Zhiran couldn't help but give her praise mentally.

It could be said that among all the women in the Mo family, Madame Mo was the one with the most foresight and calculation in her heart.

She could see at a glance the crux of the problem with this business.

"Mother's words are wise. I bought this chili pepper for seasoning from the foreigners. Although it seems like a large quantity, it's only sufficient for our family's consumption. If we were to use it for business, it would likely run out in just a few days."

Her second sister-in-law was clearly dispirited. "What a pity that we can't pursue such a lucrative business!"

"There's nothing to regret. I've purchased many seeds from the foreigners, including chili peppers. Come spring next year, we'll plant several acres. By then, we'll have ample chilies for our use."

Upon hearing this, her second sister-in-law's face instantly lit up with a broad smile.

"Is it true, Ninth Sister-in-law? I’ll make sure not to be lazy then and plant plenty of chili peppers."

Speaking of planting, He Han Yue became enthusiastic as well: "Elder Sister Ninth, while reading the pharmacology book you gave me, I found that some medicinal herbs are not only easy to cultivate but also quite valuable.

I was thinking that when I go to the city in a while, I’ll buy some seeds for these medicinal herbs. If we plant them next spring, it’s bound to add some income to our household."

The other sisters-in-law, seeing their younger sister-in-law had thought of a way to earn money for the family, were clearly anxious.

But they were all raised in pampered conditions in the capital, and aside from doing embroidery and other women’s work, they didn’t possess any other skills.

Eldest Sister-in-law sounded out Jingzhi, "Ninth Sister-in-law, none of us sisters-in-law have as much experience as you do. If you come up with any good ways to make money in the future, just let us know, and this Eldest Sister-in-law will certainly help."

Seeing this, the other sisters-in-law also expressed their stance, saying essentially the same thing as Eldest Sister-in-law.

In short, they would follow Ninth Sister-in-law's lead from now on. If she pointed east, they wouldn't dare go west.

He Zhiran enjoyed this atmosphere, where the whole family could unite like a tightly twisted rope for any task at hand.

"Alright, when I think of a good business opportunity, I'll be sure to inform my sisters-in-law first."

The ladies chatted openly, with no intention of keeping secrets; their conversations were naturally overheard by the men.

Although Fifth Brother had lost his memory, after these two days of interaction, he had wholeheartedly accepted this loving family.

Hearing that the women intended to earn money for the household, he felt even more compelled as a man of the house to take on the responsibility.

"The earning is our job as men; you should just focus on the household chores."

Eighth Brother echoed, "Indeed, we men can earn enough for food and clothing by hunting in the mountains every day. You should just stay home and honor Mother."

Logically, with both elder brothers having spoken up, Mo Jiuye should have made some gesture too.

However, he did not do so.

He knew his wife's capabilities; Ranran's potential earnings would likely surpass what they could make from a lifetime of hunting.

Liang Hao patted his chest in assurance: "From now on, us brothers will take turns hunting in the mountains, ensuring that the family has white rice and meat every day."

In the minds of these ancient people, a well-off life for an ordinary family meant simply being able to eat and stay warm.

Especially for Liang Hao and the others, who had been wandering orphans since childhood, they didn't have high demands for living standards.

It must be said that the words of these few men left Clan Leaders Zhao and Zhou envious.

Look at them, with such confidence in their abilities, their words held weight. The abundance of game they brought back from today's mountain trip alone was proof that their boasts weren't exaggerated.