Chapter Thirty-Three: The Jiang Family

Chapter Thirty-Three: The Jiang Family

Sun Shi didn’t quite grasp what Aunt Zhao meant. She sold *baozi*, while the Xiao family sold *mantou*—how could selling *mantou* possibly affect the *baozi* business?

Sun Shi, ever good-natured, replied, “Aunt Zhao, how can that be? I sell my *mantou*, you sell your *baozi*. Our stalls are so far apart; how could I possibly affect your business? That doesn’t make any sense.”

Aunt Zhao put her hands on her hips and retorted, “How can it *not* affect me? You’re selling *mantou* here. The people who used to buy vegetables from your stall and then come to me for *baozi* are now buying *mantou* instead, and they’re not interested in coming to my place anymore. If you sell *mantou*, what happens to my business? It’s already mid-morning, and I’ve only sold a dozen or so *baozi* in over two hours!”

It was indeed mid-morning, and more than two hours had passed. Due to the cold weather, the Xiao family’s business was booming—their *mantou* were almost sold out.

With a hundred *mantou*, they must have served fifty or sixty customers—all of whom would have originally come to her stall to buy *baozi*!

Xiao Dashi frowned. This woman was being utterly unreasonable. But as a man, he couldn’t stoop to arguing with a woman. If he spoke up, she would just accuse him of ganging up on her.

How utterly preposterous.

Sun Shi finally understood—Aunt Zhao was claiming all her customers as her own. She had never noticed this before, nor had she kept track of whether customers who bought vegetables from the Xiao family would also stop by Aunt Zhao’s stall for a couple of *baozi*.

And some went to buy other things too—how could anyone keep track of all that?

Sun Shi was always thinking about Lin Qiuran being home alone and wanted to finish selling quickly so she could return sooner and not worry her.

Sun Shi didn’t mind if her business brought customers to others. They were all on the same street, and harmony brought prosperity. But she couldn’t possibly be expected to avoid selling *mantou* just to accommodate someone else’s business. Besides, her family wasn’t even selling *baozi*—if they couldn’t sell *mantou* for fear that customers would stop buying from the Zhao family, what kind of logic was that?

The young man selling sesame flatbread nearby couldn’t stand it any longer. “Auntie, aren’t these the Xiao family’s customers? Isn’t it natural for them to buy a couple of *mantou* after buying vegetables? What’s it got to do with you? You’re acting like a tyrant—why don’t you just tell the whole street to stop selling everything and only buy your *baozi*?

Aunt Sun, how about this—I’ll switch spots with you. Let’s see if she still has anything to say then.”

Moreover, the Zhao family made over two hundred *baozi* a day, while the Xiao family only sold about a hundred *mantou*. Some people who didn’t want *mantou* would still go buy *baozi*. If she was really waiting for the Xiao family’s customers, then she could just wait.

How could she have the nerve to act so entitled?

Who would want to set up shop next to someone like that in the future?

Sun Shi looked at the young man—tall and strong, with an ordinary appearance but a kind heart. He often helped out and supported their business, and she felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

She nodded, and the young man said, “Auntie, I’d be happy to set up next to you. Who knows—maybe customers buying vegetables will pick up a couple of pancakes too.”

Originally, the pancake stall was next to a young woman selling bean cakes, which were snacks and not closely related to vegetables. But because the Xiao family’s stall was doing so well, setting up next to them was advantageous, so she helped move the stall over.

With several people working together, the spots were quickly swapped.

Aunt Zhao watched as they switched places and was dumbfounded. “Hey, Sister Sun, I never said you had to move. I just said your family should stop steaming *mantou* from now on…”

Sun Shi said coldly, “What my family sells is none of your business. Stop meddling in things that don’t concern you—just focus on selling your *baozi*.”

The Xiao family’s stall was originally a bit further back, but now it was moved closer to the front.

Business was very good today. Almost everyone bought two *mantou*, rarely just one. The *mantou* smelled wonderfully fragrant—a sweet, wine-like aroma wafted through the air. They were pale yellow, large and soft to the touch. Some bought them for breakfast and ate them right away, then asked if they would be available again tomorrow.

They couldn’t stock up too much at once, but if there were more tomorrow, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Sun Shi wasn’t sure yet but replied that they would make more. She had to admit, these *mantou* were a big hit.

Usually, the meat sold the fastest, but today it was slower because lamb was expensive. Most people bought half a pound, and few bought a full pound. Only one customer bought two pounds, saying he was hosting guests at noon and needed two dishes. He took two pounds of lamb, two pounds of vegetables, and bought up the remaining six *mantou*—a total of 118 *wen*.

By the time Lin Qiuran arrived, only the lamb was left in the pot. The vegetables were completely sold out, and there were still three or four pounds of lamb left.

At this point, sales had slowed down. The food had been sitting for a while and had cooled. In the cold weather, the fat had solidified, making it less appetizing than when freshly cooked—a downside of not being able to reheat it. Lin Qiuran had considered bringing a pot, but setting up a stove and bringing firewood would be too cumbersome for the two of them.

Sun Shi urged Lin Qiuran to go home first. “We’re almost done here—no need for you to stay. Hurry back and rest.”

Lin Qiuran said, “I just came to check on you. I brought something to drink.”

She had brought rice wine. They had brewed a lot, and there was more than enough for cooking. Drinking it would warm them up, so she brought some in bamboo tubes. She also noticed the stall had been moved. Lin Qiuran gave a bamboo tube of sweet rice wine to the person next to them. “Brother, sister, my parents are getting older. Thank you for looking out for them. This is homemade—please try it.”

If they had kept their original spot, she would have given one to Aunt Zhao too, but since they had moved, Lin Qiuran didn’t offer her any.

Aunt Zhao saw this and couldn’t help but grumble, “Being overly friendly for no reason—as if they’re really taking care of two old fools.”

It was only because the Xiao family’s business was good that everyone was cozying up to them. Even if it wasn’t directly related, being near a popular stall would bring some benefits over time.

Seeing that Sun Shi was good-natured, they had actually moved. But it was hard on her—out of over two hundred *baozi*, she had only sold a small portion by noon. Normally, she would sell most of them in the morning and finish up shortly after noon, but today she didn’t know how long it would take.

Aunt Zhao was fuming inwardly but held back from saying anything too harsh because she had her eye on Lin Qiuran. Once Lin Qiuran married her son, she would see who was in charge. Did she really think being able to cook a few dishes was such a great skill?

Aunt Zhao spent the whole morning fuming inwardly, but it didn’t change the fact that the Xiao family’s business was thriving, and they packed up early.

Some people who hadn’t bought anything were still watching, thinking the food looked delicious but was too expensive. They would rather buy two pounds of meat to satisfy their cravings. But when they tried making it themselves, it never tasted the same, and they lamented wasting their money.

They decided to wait and ask those who had bought it how it tasted. If it was still popular, they would try it too.

Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi returned home before noon. They had about a pound of lamb left, which they didn’t sell but brought back to add to their lunch.

They cooked some rice and reheated the lamb to eat with it.

Since Lin Qiuran hadn’t set aside any food that morning, she unloaded the items while Xiao Dashi went to wash the buckets. Lin Qiuran carried the lamb to the kitchen and casually asked, “Mom, why did you move the stall?”

Sun Shi explained briefly. “And this is just from selling *mantou*. If we really sold the soup dumplings you make, I can’t imagine how angry she would be.”

Lin Qiuran remembered there were two or three *baozi* sellers on the street, not just Aunt Zhao’s family. Why take issue with them selling *mantou*? Besides, if their business really was bringing customers to Aunt Zhao, shouldn’t she be more polite? Acting so entitled—who would want to be taken advantage of?

Lin Qiuran said, “It’s better this way. If she doesn’t want it, someone else will.”

Sun Shi nodded. “That’s right. Hurry and check the money—today’s money pouch is much heavier than yesterday’s.”

Returning home each day was Sun Shi’s happiest moment. She could see Lin Qiuran, rest, and count the money.

Lin Qiuran estimated they had earned about one *tael* of silver today. She and Sun Shi went to their room to count it and found 2,330 *wen*. After deducting various costs, their profit was 1,080 *wen*.

Lin Qiuran couldn’t help but smile. “Mom, we made a lot today.”

But it was also tiring. Lin Qiuran had gotten up early to prepare the dishes and *mantou*, while Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi had also risen early—one to fetch the meat, the other to wash and chop vegetables. None of it was easy. While doing all this, Lin Qiuran found herself rubbing her sore back, but for now, the sight of the money made her forget the hardships.

This was the most they had ever earned without cooking for others.

Sun Shi smiled too. In the past, who could have imagined earning so much in a single day? “It’s a good amount. If only we could sell lamb every day.”

Lin Qiuran agreed. “Mom, let’s temporarily remove the braised fish and just keep the red-braised pork and red-braised lamb. We can make some *mantou* daily—we’ll still earn plenty.”

She hadn’t yet thought of a substitute for green peppers, and sour fish soup was difficult to prepare now, so it was better to remove it. Fish was cheap, but to earn as much as they did from forty pounds of pork belly, they would need to prepare over thirty fish, each weighing two or three pounds. It was more labor-intensive—not only was buying and selling it exhausting, but Lin Qiuran found cooking it tiring too.

Originally, she thought fish would be affordable for all customers, but now the stall had both expensive and cheap options.

Cleaning fish in winter was also cold. They could add another dish later if they thought of something suitable; if not, it was fine.

Sun Shi nodded. “Alright. And there will be days with bad weather. On average, we can change the menu every three days.”

Lin Qiuran said, “Then let Dad go and inform them.”

She’d previously told the fish vendor that buying in bulk should get her a discount, but now that they weren't buying fish anymore, she needed to let him know. The tofu was purchased at the regular price, and they wouldn't need it later either.

Both vendors asked why, since they were considered big, regular customers. When they heard the cold weather made fish hard to work with, they didn't say much, just added, "If you need anything in the future, feel free to come back to us. We'll give you a discount."

The weather not only affected the Xiao family’s business but also impacted others.

Lin Qiuran was relieved that they had switched to using lamb. In the future, when she catered banquets, she could also ask if they’d like to add this dish. However, it had been a while since her last catering job.

In the afternoon, Zhao Shi came to the Xiao house, pulling a cart full of goods. The cart was loaded with all sorts of things, and Zhao Shi said, "Mrs. Lin, you choose first. After you’ve chosen, I’ll sell the leftovers to others."

Lin Qiuran bought the cheap dried cowpeas, along with potatoes, cured meats, and pickled vegetables—she bought nearly half the cart. There were quite a few items, and the Xiao house only had three rooms with no storage space, so most stuff went into Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi's room. Otherwise, leaving them outside would risk damage from rain. They also feared mice would eat them.

In total, she spent about four *taels* of silver. After buying these items, Lin Qiuran decided to stop buying for the time being, planning to start saving money instead.

She'd catered for the Zhao family on the second day of the month, but that order had been booked early last month. Aside from cooking for the Xu family afterward, that order for Mrs. Huang’s family fell through, and she hadn't gotten any catering jobs since. It wasn't like there were no events—since moving here a month ago, there had been three weddings and two funerals in the neighborhood. For things like baby celebrations, which don't get announced loudly, Lin Qiuran had no clue.

That was just in the immediate vicinity—other areas were unknown to her. She could only comfort herself with the thought that cooking at home was cheaper, and not everyone could afford to hire someone else to prepare a banquet.

Fortunately, they were making money every day. However, half their savings were now tied up in goods, and they'd heard nothing from Steward Xu, which made Lin Qiuran feel uneasy.

She'd asked the Xus once, and Steward Xu said nothing yet. Lin Qiuran went to check some grocery stores and found that some shops were already selling Thirteen Spices. The jars were small, similar in size to barbecue seasoning jars—white porcelain containers, each costing two *mace* of silver for such a small jar.

This seemed cheaper, but what Lin Qiuran had sold to Chen Cang was equivalent to four of these jars. She had sold hers for five *mace*, and compared to Xu Yuanhang, she could hardly call this a business.

She had no idea how sales were, but whenever she passed by, these items were displayed front and center in the grocery stores. When she got no answer, she didn't press further and went about her life.

In the afternoon, Lin Qiuran had a nap. After waking up, she got the vegetables ready for the next day: soaking the dried cowpeas, washing potatoes, and brewing some rice wine for tomorrow.

After finishing these tasks, Lin Qiuran noticed the sky was growing dark. Since the weather had turned cold, the days had become shorter. Sun Shi went to prepare dinner, and Xiao Dashi locked the door. Smoke rose from kitchen chimneys everywhere as households settled in for the evening, marking the end of another day.

September saw little rain. By the middle of the month, it had only rained once.

They only missed setting up their stall on that rainy day; business was good on all other days.

After moving away from Aunt Zhao’s steamed bun stall, the vendors around the Xiao family’s stall were all very friendly. The young woman selling bean cakes was nice, and the young man selling baked pancakes was also kind, always willing to help.

Sun Shi often mentioned this to Lin Qiuran, who would then ask Sun Shi to give them some plain steamed buns without charge. In return, they would often receive a few bean cakes or baked pancakes.

Over time, they became familiar with each other. The young woman selling bean cakes was surnamed Shen, with the given name Yu, while the young man selling baked pancakes was surnamed Dong. Though his full name was unknown, Shen Yu often called him Brother Dong. The two had a good relationship, both unmarried, and it seemed there might be something between them.

They were kind-hearted people and didn’t constantly eye the Xiao family’s business. Sun Shi hadn’t mentioned it to Lin Qiuran, but Aunt Zhao often came by their stall to see how much they were selling.

In any case, after moving, life felt much more relaxed.

Since switching stalls with the pancake vendor, Aunt Zhao’s steamed bun business had not been doing well. Steamed buns weren’t expensive, and there were three bun stalls on this street alone. While the taste varied, people didn’t have high expectations for inexpensive food—as long as it was edible and filling, distance wasn’t a big issue.

Previously, people had been willing to buy from her casually, but now Brother Dong would call out, "Come buy some baked pancakes, folks! Look, freshly baked—so crispy! They’re great dipped in lamb or meat broth. Only two coins each, and some have meat fillings! Try the freshly baked pancakes!"

Before they could even reach Aunt Zhao’s stall, many had already bought pancakes. Aunt Zhao’s face turned darker than charcoal.

To make matters worse, a new stall had set up next to hers, selling savory pancakes, and business was quite good. Caught between two competitors, her business grew worse.

The person selling the savory pancakes was none other than Aunt Yu and her family.

Lin Qiuran hadn’t expected Aunt Yu and her family to act so quickly. They decided to start and, within a few days, had everything ready.

Living in the village, it was inconvenient to come to the county town to sell goods. Every day, they prepared the pancakes at home, wrapped them in cotton quilts to keep them warm, and brought them to town. The texture suffered a bit, but there was no other way. They sold and cut the pancakes on the spot, packing up once everything was sold.

On the first day, they didn’t dare make too many—only ten pounds of dough. After calculating the costs late into the night, they settled on a price of eight coins per pound of pancakes. One pound of dough could make two pounds of pancakes, and after accounting for other costs, they could roughly double their money.

The pancakes smelled delicious and were very filling for lunch, often eliminating the need for other food. Half a pound might not seem like much, but the strong flavor and high oil content made people thirsty, and they wouldn’t feel hungry for half a day. It was much better than buying two meat buns and very popular among laborers.

Although their stall was at the back of the street, some customers came from that direction as well.

On the first day, they sold out by noon. On the second day, they made twenty pounds of dough and still sold out by noon. Gradually, they increased the amount until they were making fifty pounds of pancakes daily.

Lin Qiuran didn’t interfere with their business. If she meddled in everything, it would be unclear whether it was the Xiao family’s business or the Li family’s. She only asked if they needed money and suggested that, since pushing the cart back daily was tiring, they could leave it at the Xiao house and come early to prepare, making things easier.

Aunt Yu smiled and said, "No need. We plan to move here."

Now earning about two hundred coins a day, Aunt Yu was already quite satisfied. She planned to rent a house in the county town. Traveling back and forth daily wasted too much time. If they moved to the county, with more family members, they could sell in the afternoons and evenings as well.

The Xiao family had Lin Qiuran, who was pregnant, and Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi, who were older and couldn’t handle heavy workloads. But the Li family could.

With two sons and a daughter, she and Uncle Li weren’t afraid of hard work.

She said, "Qiu Ran, could you help Auntie find a broker? I’d like to take some time to look at houses."

That was easy. Lin Qiuran directly contacted Zhao Guangcai.

Renting a house was more straightforward, and within three days, they had settled on one. The monthly rent was three *mace*, totaling three *taels* and six *mace* for a year. It was cheap, but they had to pay six months’ rent upfront.

Fortunately, the Li family had some savings, enough to cover the rent. The house had three rooms, so the family would have to squeeze in—the two brothers sharing one room, and Peach Blossom having a small partitioned space in her parents’ room. Other than that, everything was fine, though the space was a bit tight.

Aunt Yu planned to make do for now and reconsider later.

The moving date was set for the nineteenth. The Xiao family took a day off from business. Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi wanted to return to the village to help, but Aunt Yu declined, saying, "We don’t have much to move, and with five people in the family, we can manage. Just come over at noon to join the celebration. You must come!"

Since it was a rented house, it wasn’t technically a housewarming, but being new to the county town, a celebration would help them avoid being bullied.

At 9:45 a.m., the three members of the Xiao family arrived with gifts. The Li family had already mostly settled in. Having more people made everything quicker.

Aunt Yu didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted the gifts, inviting the three inside to sit.

She served them sugared water. Before Lin Qiuran could finish drinking or see the house, Aunt Yu handed her a pouch, saying, "Qiu Ran, our family has been in business for thirteen days. Business was slow at first, but later we started earning about two hundred coins a day. In total, we’ve earned 2,430 coins. This pouch contains half a string of coins—consider it your share for contributing the recipe. The share might be small at first, but as we earn more, you’ll get more."

Lin Qiuran was taken aback. She truly hadn’t expected Aunt Yu to give her money. She had shared the recipe to repay a favor, not for payment. She said, "Auntie, these are common home-style dishes. The money you’ve earned is through your hard work…"

Before she could finish, Aunt Yu said earnestly, "It’s our work, so we’ve kept eighty percent and given you twenty percent. We have many children—we need to arrange marriages for the two boys and save for Peach Blossom’s dowry. Don’t think it’s too little; you must accept it."

Unable to refuse, Lin Qiuran was glad she hadn’t misjudged the woman.

Aunt Yu breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t mentioned sending Peach Blossom to the Xiao family yet. Having just moved, she was afraid it would only cause trouble for them.

In her heart, the Xiao family had shown great kindness to the Li family.

The three Xiao family members stayed for a meal before returning. Although Aunt Yu’s family had moved nearby, each household lived its own life. They lived far apart and didn’t visit often. They saw each other while selling goods but were each busy with their own work.

By the end of the month, Lin Qiuran was at home doing accounts. She had first learned the necessary characters and found keeping a ledger very useful for future reference.

That month, without any banquet orders, they had recouped the cost of buying cowpeas and stocking up solely from selling braised pork and vegetable dishes. They still had plenty of dried cowpeas and potatoes—the cowpeas would last until spring, and the fifteen hundred pounds of potatoes would last another two months. They could always buy more if needed.

The braised lamb had brought the Xiao family significantly more income. Lin Qiuran exchanged the copper coins for silver, totaling twelve *taels*. Not counting small change, the family now had twenty-two *taels*.

This was enough to rent a suitable shop before winter.

There was still no news from the Xu family. If they could make enough money, they might even be able to buy a shop. By doing business through the winter and saving up, they could hire help. She had already ruled out the idea of taking Peach Blossom.

Peach Blossom was only eight years old—far too young. In Lin Qiuran’s eyes, she was still a child. Taking her as an apprentice was one thing, but making her wake up early every day to wash and chop vegetables—not only would Aunt Yu, as her mother, be heartbroken, but Lin Qiuran couldn’t bear it either.

Moreover, the Li family has now come to the county town to do business, and they also need help at home. They receive a monthly dividend, so why bring up the matter of sending Peach Blossom to the Xiao family again?

If there aren’t enough people, they can either hire someone or buy a servant.

Lin Qiuran preferred buying one. In the future, when she has children, having a bondservant would be much more convenient. If they hire someone, there’s also the worry that recipes might be leaked.

However, the house was full as it was; adding another person would mean there wasn't enough room. Everything will have to wait until they have a shop.

The last few days of the month had been sunny, but October is approaching, and the weather has turned much colder. Getting out of bed to cook was a chore, and there were fewer people on the streets, so sales weren’t as fast as before.

Folks laying low during the cold months were reluctant to spend money. Currently, Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi had to keep their stall open longer around noon, so Lin Qiuran brings them meals.

Today, Lin Qiuran made stir-fried "gold coin" eggs and mixed grain rice. She saved a few pieces of lamb from the morning meal for the two of them. After finishing her own meal first, she went to the street to deliver the food.

As for the others, they either make do by buying steamed buns or eat from their own stalls. Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi are more than satisfied to have Lin Qiuran bring them meals. The food is still warm when it arrives, and most importantly, it tastes great.

Yesterday, Lin Qiuran made hand-shredded cabbage stir-fried with pork cracklings, seasoned with chili. It was incredibly fragrant, cooked just right—the cabbage was crisp and sweet, and even the stems were delicious.

Lin Qiuran thought today’s dish was also quite good. The "gold coin" eggs were pan-fried until crispy and crumbly. Since the family often makes braised pork, they never lack oil, and she isn’t afraid to season generously. Cooking over high heat, the flavor is no worse than meat.

At first, Lin Qiuran would also bring meals for Aunt Yu’s family, but after a couple of times, Aunt Yu said it wasn’t necessary. Although they share the profits, which is only fair, as Lin Qiuran's pregnancy advanced, making an extra portion would be an extra worry.

She’s already tired enough as it is, so why bother?

Lin Qiuran went to South Street but didn’t see Sun Shi or Xiao Dashi—only their stall. Not only were the two of them missing, but Shen Yu, who sells bean cakes, was also absent, along with Aunt Yu and Da Hu.

Fortunately, Brother Dong, who sells baked pancakes, was there. But he had two dark bruises on his face. Before Lin Qiuran could ask, he said, “Madam Lin, Aunt Sun and the others were invited away by someone.”

“Invited away? By the authorities?”

Brother Dong raised his arm, accidentally tugging at his injury, and sucked in a sharp breath. “No, it was the Jiang family in the county town. They said their elderly lady has no appetite and invited everyone who knows how to make pastries or cook.”