Chapter 177: The Joy of Earning Money

Chapter 177: The Joy of Earning Money

The joy of earning money lingers for days, bringing a smile to one's face whenever it's recalled.

Ningshui Town.

The sky was a clear blue, and the wind was gentle—a rare day of beautiful weather.

Outside the town, Chen San'er's car-watching business suddenly boomed. Normally, he could manage alone, but today, his family came to help him attract customers and watch over the vehicles.

Gu Lanshi and Fang Honghua waited by the roadside while Pei Yan paid five coins for half a wooden token. Afterward, the three of them walked together toward the entrance of the town.

It was their first visit to the market since winter began, and the elderly lady was delighted.

It happened to be the fifth day of the month, a day for the regular assembly, but unlike the bustling pre-New Year gatherings, it wasn't as lively yet. The stalls hadn't spread outside the town; they were all within its streets.

There were many people today, mostly because it was morning, and most had just arrived in town. As such, more people were entering than leaving.

Stalls lined the streets, their vendors' calls echoing continuously.

Fox furs, sable coats, brocades, cotton fabrics, earthenware pots, jars, soy sauce, vinegar, oil, tea, dried fruits, mountain goods, live sheep, deer, and wild birds dazzled the eyes with their variety.

Fang Honghua stopped in front of several tethered sheep and observed, "These don't look like domesticated ones. They seem like wild sheep from the mountains, Brother Lan, Little Yan, come take a look."

Across from a birdcage vendor, Gu Lanshi paused. Some cages still held birds that hopped around inside, occasionally lowering their heads to drink water.

Pei Yan stood a few steps away, his gaze sweeping over the nearby stalls before settling on a tea stall some distance away.

He thought about how their home only had wild tea they picked themselves. It was fine for everyday use, but during the New Year when relatives visited, they should have some good tea for hospitality.

Their relatives were only the Gu family, no others, so getting some quality tea was appropriate.

Just as this thought surfaced, he heard Fang Honghua calling out. Both of them looked away and headed toward the sheep seller.

The sheep seller was an old man squatting there smoking. Hearing Fang Honghua's words, he put down his pipe, recognizing that these three were merely looking around. He didn't stand up or call out, but he couldn't help talking, saying, "They're wild sheep, caught and raised at home. You can say they're domesticated now."

"Ah, that explains it. They do look different," Fang Honghua said, smacking her lips. "And they're not small either."

Lamb was expensive, let alone an entire sheep, but although they couldn't afford it, they would soon be eating lamb.

That morning, Pei Yan, having nothing to do, realized it was the fifth day of the month. There was a big market in town, so he discussed with Gu Lanshi that they should go out for a stroll and have lunch in town afterward. During previous visits to the Lucky Wine Building to deliver items, he had chatted with Chef Wu and learned that the building sold lamb soup, mutton broth, offal soup, and trotters during winter.

Although Wu Shengwen's words contained a hint of pride and exaggeration, Pei Yan often came to Ningshui Town and had heard that the Lucky Wine Building's lamb was neither gamey nor fishy, a true specialty.

When it's cold, a bowl of lamb soup warms the body, and many townspeople enjoyed this dish at the Lucky Wine Building, which was why the restaurant did well in winter.

Although the Spring Wine House was small, it had been open for several years and was gradually gaining a reputation, thanks to its famous braised pig's trotter, which was fragrant without being greasy, juicy, tender, and rich in flavor. At the end of the meal, even the remaining meat juice in the plate would be soaked up with soft, warm white steamed buns, making the buns oily and fragrant.

Both dishes were meat-based and naturally more expensive.

Today, they had come to town mainly to try the lamb. They didn't eat lamb often, making it more appealing than the pig's trotter.

A bowl mender sat on a thick cloth, his head lowered as he pulled a bow drill and tapped with a small hammer. Many people held bowls and jars in front of his stall, waiting for repairs.

Further ahead, between the tea stall and the mountain goods stall, there was also a mirror polisher, with several people holding bronze mirrors in wait.

Seeing the mirror polisher, Fang Honghua remarked, "My bronze mirror is a bit worn out. I haven't seen a mirror polisher around lately. Unfortunately, I forgot about it when we left."

Since Pei Yan had spontaneously decided to go, he called out to her at the ancestral home's gate, and she rushed out, remembering only to bring her purse.

Gu Lanshi smiled and said, "Grandma, next time we come to the market, I'll get my bronze mirror polished too."

Mirror polishers, bowl menders, and peddlers all roamed the streets and alleys, visiting rural areas as well. If you caught them, you wouldn't have to travel to town.

Pei Yan asked about prices at the tea stall. With many teas available, he casually grabbed a handful and sniffed it lightly. The stall owner was very attentive, claiming it was high-quality tea from the south. He then offered another handful of a different tea for Pei Yan to examine and smell, asking which one he preferred.

Gu Lanshi and Fang Honghua joined them. The aroma of tea was distinct from other things, and even dry tea, in such quantities, could be smelled standing close by.

"Do you want to buy tea?" Gu Lanshi asked.

Pei Yan returned the handful of tea to the stall and, following the owner's suggestion, looked at another type. "Yes, we only have coarse tea at home. It's time for a change."

Upon hearing the price, Gu Lanshi remained silent. It was expensive, but they had just earned a sum, and treating themselves was justified. They just needed to buy less.

In the end, Pei Yan chose two types of tea, one strong and one mild, each weighing a tael of silver. Although not much, it was enough for tasting and entertaining guests.

The three of them strolled along the street, stopping occasionally. When they saw a scale vendor, Gu Lanshi suddenly stopped and turned to suggest, "Why don't we buy a large scale? It would be useful for weighing pigs and grains, and also a balance."

A balance was commonly used to weigh silver and coins. Last time, after selling the snake, they had relied on their hands to estimate the weight of the broken silver pieces. Although it was roughly accurate, having a balance would be more convenient.

"Good idea," Pei Yan nodded, stepping forward to inspect a large scale.

Hearing their conversation, the stall owner knew a sale was imminent and smiled, assuring them of the quality of his products. He then handed a small balance to Fang Honghua, urging her to examine it closely.

Soon, as they continued walking, Pei Yan carried a large scale and a balance in his hand.

The sun was bright today, and after walking among the crowd for a while, the three of them felt warm, even breaking into a light sweat.

Gu Lanshi turned to Fang Honghua. "Grandma, are you hungry? Why don't we go have lunch?"

Squinting in the sunlight, Fang Honghua nodded happily. "Alright."

Thus, Pei Yan led them toward the Lucky Wine Building. Along the way, they passed food stalls and restaurants. With the market bustling, the owners and staff energetically called out to customers, their smiles growing wider as they saw more people eating.

The Lucky Wine Building was no exception. Pei Yan was familiar with the staff, and they were shown to an empty table. A server removed a cloth from his shoulder to wipe the table clean, then refilled their bowls with hot tea, asking what they wanted to eat.

Pei Yan ordered, "Three bowls of lamb soup."

"Coming right up," the server replied. Seeing that the neighboring table had finished eating, he quickly cleared the dishes and carried them back to the kitchen.

"A-Nai, is there anything else you fancy?" Pei Yan asked.

Fang Honghua had dined at restaurants before, even the larger ones. Upon entering, she showed no sign of intimidation, aware that the dishes here were expensive. She waved her hand with a smile, "I'm not the Buddha of Plenty; how big can my stomach be? A bowl of mutton soup will suffice."

At an adjacent table, another waiter led in some customers. The three men seated themselves and also ordered mutton soup, just like them, one bowl each.

In the short time they'd been inside, several new tables had been seated, half of whom also ordered mutton soup, a testament to the restaurant's popularity.

Pei Yan turned to look at the tables already eating, thinking that it was his first time bringing his husband and grandmother to dine at a restaurant, so he should order a couple more dishes.

Just as he was about to ask the waiter about the menu, Liu Erquan, the waiter who had led them in, brought over a small dish and placed it directly on their table.

Seeing Pei Yan's confusion, Liu Erquan grinned, "The owner sent this over. It's just a small dish; he said to eat up without worry."

As he spoke, Pei Yan saw the restaurant owner, Jin Youfu, emerge from the kitchen. Hearing someone call for the bill, the owner hurriedly responded. Pei Yan gave a bow, expressing his gratitude.

The owner, noticing this, returned the gesture with a smile before returning to his duties.

Doing business in town wasn't just about reputation. Jin Youfu was known for his integrity and never looked down on others, whether they were lowly kitchen staff or regular customers. He enjoyed a good name in the area.

When Liu Erquan went into the kitchen to report the orders, he casually mentioned to Chef Wu that the three bowls of mutton soup were for Pei Yan and his companions. Hearing this, Jin Youfu instructed him to send over a small dish, considering they were all acquaintances, and a small dish didn't cost much.

"You have to admit, no wonder their business is thriving," Fang Honghua sighed.

"Indeed," Pei Yan nodded with a smile, picking up the chopsticks and first handing them to the two, inviting them to taste the appetizer.

Gu Lanshi took a bite, recognizing the thinly sliced Chinese cabbage leaves. He tasted it; crisp and refreshing, slightly sour with a hint of spiciness. It was indeed different from what they had at home.

"It's truly delicious," Fang Honghua praised after finishing her mouthful. Since the dish was complimentary, every bite felt especially sweet.

Soon, Liu Erquan arrived with a tray carrying three bowls of mutton soup, each accompanied by a piece of baked flatbread, perfect for dipping in the broth. After placing the last bowl, he gave Pei Yan a meaningful glance, seeing Pei Yan nod slightly, he smiled and went to attend to other customers.

Pei Yan flipped the contents of the bowl with his chopsticks, noticing the generous slices of mutton. He had heard that Lai Fu Restaurant's mutton soup was plentiful and hearty, but the amount in the bowl exceeded his expectations. Looking around at the neighboring tables, he understood even more.

Gu Lanshi picked up his bowl and took a small sip of the hot soup. The aroma was rich but not gamey, leaving a pleasant warmth in his belly. Just as he put down the bowl, intending to fish out a piece of meat to taste, his leg was gently bumped under the table. He looked up in confusion.

Pei Yan smiled but said nothing, merely using his chopsticks to flip the meat slices in the bowl, indicating for him to look, then shook his head.

Gu Lanshi immediately understood, turning to see his grandmother loading her chopsticks with a large portion of mutton, her eyes wide with surprise. He quickly placed a finger to his lips and shook his head at the elderly lady.

Just as she was about to comment on the generous serving of mutton, finding more beneath the surface with each bite, Fang Honghua noticed her grandson and husband looking at her. She quickly swallowed her words, changing her tune, "Eat, eat while it's hot."

The trio fell silent, indeed hungry, each holding a piece of flatbread in their hands, heads bowed as they ate.

The restaurant was bustling with business today. Even after they had finished their meal, their bowls and plates empty, customers continued to stream in, most ordering mutton soup.

Knowing that Chef Wu was busy, Pei Yan did not disturb him. He simply settled the bill with Liu Erquan and left, making room for other diners.

With full bellies, after leaving the street where Lai Fu Restaurant was located, Gu Lanshi laughed, "Good thing we didn't order any other dishes. After that bowl of mutton soup, I'm feeling quite full."

Fang Honghua, still delighted from her meal, agreed, "That's right, such generous portions."

Pei Yan, equally satisfied, chuckled, "It must have been Uncle Wu's doing. The owner probably doesn't even know."

Fang Honghua lowered her voice, "Shh, we mustn't let on about their kindness."

"Absolutely," Pei Yan agreed with a smile.

The three of them had come happily and now walked back to their carriage with joy, their bodies warmed by the meal, less fearful of the cold wind.