RMCF: Chapter 55

 

Chapter 55

In the afternoon, Zhang Fangyuan returned rather early. He had left with an empty cart and came back with a full load of pork.

The tea stall had only a couple of people resting after the lunch rush. Xu He, being free, went to see how the livestock Zhang Fangyuan had bought this time turned out.

“Unload half of it. It's still early, I'll set up a small stall here and hang up a few pieces of pork. If anyone passing by sees it and wants to buy, we can sell some.”

Xu He noticed the pork was on the leaner side. But there were no major festivals or busy farming seasons coming up, and farm households in the village didn't buy much meat. Their main customers were in town, and leaner meat actually sold better there. He thought Zhang Fangyuan's suggestion was quite good and immediately helped set things up, also fetching some palm leaves from inside to twist into strings for threading the meat.

Zhang Fangyuan said, “I brought back half the pig's blood this time. We can use it for cooking at the stall.”

Xu He thought to himself, this man is starting to plan ahead. “Good.”

Zhang Fangyuan went into the kitchen and saw that the large vat, full of tea that morning, was now only a quarter full. The big pot of bean curd had only two blocks left. He was thirsty, but instead of tea, he used a dipper to scoop up some bean curd water and drank it.

“How was business at noon?”

“Not bad. Tea and bean curd sold best. Most passersby are villagers, so the affordable options sell better.”

Zhang Fangyuan nodded. It was true that villagers were reluctant to spend money. “Then make another batch of bean curd to sell tomorrow.” 

Xu He agreed, then added, “I plan to make some minced meat sauce later. With fresh pork, I can wrap some wontons. Then we'll also have some wheaten dishes* ready for tomorrow.”

* mianshi 面食 — wheat-based dishes, made from wheat flour; like noodles, wontons, buns, dumplings etc.

“Sounds good.”

Zhang Shiyue watched the young couple head into the tea stall. She went into the kitchen, boiled another pot of water, brewed a fresh half-vat of tea, and also made a large jug of sweetened water. Some passersby might be hungry but reluctant to spend money on food; they'd rather fill a flask with sweet water for the road. Not for the taste, but because the sweetness made them feel full. Of course, this sweetened water cost one wen more than plain tea.

Xu He fanned Zhang Fangyuan for a while, though under the banyan tree it was already quite cool.

At high noon, when the sun was scorching, dust on the official road rose high in clouds stirred up by carriage wheels. Even the wind felt cooked and searing. But in the shade of the trees, it was different: breeze after cool breeze, as if coming from a deep well. 

Xu He took out his small abacus and calculated their earnings. So far today, they had taken in less than two hundred wen.

Then he calculated the expenses for setting up the tea stall. Paying workers had cost over two thousand wen. The materials for building the stall hadn't cost anything—the timber was gathered from the communal mountain and cut from their own small hill—but buying pots, bowls, tables and chairs had cost nearly two thousand wen.

All together, with various miscellaneous expenses, it came to about five thousand wen. Xu He sucked in a breath. It was a lot, but having checked shop rents in town, he knew that getting a place up and running for five thousand wen was already very economical.

If they'd opened the tea stall in town, these costs would have been two or three times higher.

But with lower costs came lower foot traffic, and the daily revenue wasn't impressive. Looking at it now, it was far less profitable than selling braised dishes at a stall in town.

Yet he also knew not to look only at the present. Having experienced the hardships of street vending, he knew that kind of business couldn't last. It was best to quit while ahead.

Besides, he really liked the feeling of running this tea stall. Having their own shop was reassuring, and he didn't have to compete with other vendors in town.

After cooling down, Zhang Fangyuan said, “You can handle the pork sales. I'm getting drowsy just sitting around here doing nothing. I'll go to the fields to catch some fish and shrimp.”

Xu He put away his small abacus. “Be careful not to trample anyone's rice seedlings. It's almost time for the ears to form.” 

“I'll just go to Fourth Uncle's fields. If I catch a lot, we can add another fish dish to the stall menu tomorrow?”

“If you want to eat them, just say so. Don't pretend it's for the stall.”

Zhang Fangyuan laughed heartily, grabbed a bucket, and led Little Black, who had been grazing, off with him.

“That A-Yuan, so big yet still so playful. If he becomes a father, he'll probably teach the children to be just as mischievous.” Zhang Shiyue had just entered the stall when she saw him darting outside. 

Xu He was silent for a moment upon hearing this. He still didn't know when he and Zhang Fangyuan would have a child. If they had one, it would be lovely to watch it toddle around in front of the stall.

Zhang Shiyue seemed to read his mind. “Don't worry, you and A-Yuan haven't even been married a year yet. Xiao'e's father and I were married for many years before we had a daughter. Children depend on fate.”

Xu He, rarely one to ask questions, ventured, “Should I go to Guanyin Temple to pray? It's not far from here.”

Zhang Shiyue waved her hand. "A-Yuan is such a strong, robust young man, and you're healthy. No need to pray. If nothing happens after two or three years, it won’t be too late to consider it then.”

Xu He deflated a little. “But back in the village, many people said I was thin and didn't look like I'd be good at bearing children.”

“Who’s got this loose tongue talking nonsense?”

Zhang Shiyue looked Xu He over carefully. His bone structure wasn't very large, his face was handsome, his eyes were big, and his features were regular. Though his skin wasn't pale, it was a light wheat color that radiated health. That was far more spirited and clever-looking than those pampered young ladies and gentlemen. Clearly, he was excellent.

She hadn't been in the village during those years, but she knew about the foolish, reckless things Zhang Fangyuan had done after his parents passed away. When she returned and met Xu He, she was a bit surprised that A-Yuan had managed to find such a ger to marry. 

Good-looking, capable, able to manage a household, and not gossipy or talkative.

After spending some time with him, she realized Xu He had no confidence in his own appearance or qualities at all.

Now she understood it was because of the villagers' gossip.

She said patiently, “Things are different now. When life gets better, people change. Look at you now—you're excellent.”

“Back when I was doing well in the other county's village, I was full of spirit and looked good too. People from the village would come asking which county and village I was from, thinking all the girls from our village must be beautiful, wanting to propose marriages.”

“Later, when life got hard, I withered and aged. Look at Xiao'e—she was a lovely little girl when she was small. After suffering hardships with me, now people who see her say she doesn't look like she could bear children easily.”

Zhang Shiyue's eyes softened. “Fortunately, we came back and found you two, and your Fourth Uncle.”

"So you see, whether someone looks good or not, has little to do with natural-born beauty. It depends on how they live, how they're nurtured.” Zhang Shiyue smiled. “I don't know what you were like before, but now you look exactly like the kind of ger every village within ten miles would want to marry.”

The tips of Xu He's ears reddened. He had only ever heard such words from Zhang Fangyuan, who was full of nonsense. He felt embarrassed, thinking Zhang Shiyue saw him as one of her own, so of course she thought he was wonderful. 

Still, hearing such words made him happy.

“Aiya, look at me chattering away. A melon farmer has arrived outside—I’ll go ask if we could buy some melons.”

Xu He followed her out. Summer fruits were abundant. An old farmer wearing a conical hat carried a shoulder pole with watermelons and crisp-skinned sweet pears.

“Watermelons are three wen per jin. Buy a couple to store and when guests come, you can serve a plate.” The old farmer hugged a watermelon and patted it for Xu He to hear. “All ripe, very sweet.”

Zhang Fangyuan had a real sweet tooth and ate everything. He had bought watermelons to share at home before, paying five or six wen per jin. Hearing the old farmer's price, Xu He knew it was a genuine offer, the wholesale price. 

“No haggling needed. I'm from Hongshi Village, two villages over. I'd like to do long-term business with you, young master. If your tea stall needs fruits, I'll deliver them, always at the lowest price. The village also has peaches, plums, and even red bayberries!”

Xu He glanced at Zhang Shiyue. They were both tempted. Selling sliced watermelon at noon would definitely attract customers.

“Let's start with a dozen jin or so. When it's sold out, we'll buy more. But how should we contact you, uncle?”

Seeing the deal made, the old farmer's eyes crinkled with smile lines. “Easy. I go to town to sell melons almost every day. When I pass by here on my way back, I'll ask. If the tea stall needs some, I'll go home and pick fresh ones to deliver.”

Xu He saw the old farmer had his own oxcart, easy for transporting fruit, so he agreed on the spot. If they sold, good; if not, they'd just take less. The profit margin was thin, but it was another source of income. A small business like theirs relied on accumulating these few wen at a time..

As he carried the melons inside, Xu He also had the old farmer drink a cup of tea.

Fifteen jin of watermelon cost another forty-five wen. Xu He looked at the dwindling copper coins in the money box and sighed inwardly. They weren't earning much, but money sure went out fast.

He was realizing that buying things by the official road was actually very convenient—spending money was even faster than in town.

Before he could dwell on his worries for long, more customers arrived. This time, a few peddlers needed to stock up on dry rations.

While they rested and drank tea, Xu He quickly baked several large flatbreads and wrapped them up.

When the peddlers received their dry rations, the flatbreads were heavy and substantial, like a quilt pressing down on them—reassuringly solid. They were somewhat surprised that this roadside tea stall was so honest.

“What's this tea stall called?”

“Rongyi Tea Stall, under the old banyan tree.”

The peddlers nodded, called out to each other, and continued on their way.

Few people came to the tea stall for dinner in the evening. Unlike an inn, they didn't offer lodging. As it grew late, passersby were all hurrying home, so business was sparse.

Most of the people passing by were villagers returning home from nearby. Xu He planned to make some tofu to sell in his spare time. Sometimes villagers would buy a block to take home for a treat or to cook with.

In the afternoon, Zhang Fangyuan only sold two jin of meat. Seeing it was getting late, Xu He packed up the remaining meat, planning to cook a meal for the family right there at the stall before heading home.

Then Xu He spotted a familiar figure in the distance—his mother, Liu Xianglan, carrying a basket on her back.

From afar, he could see it seemed to be filled with vegetables.

Xu He knew his mother wouldn't be heading this way for no reason. She must be coming to the tea stall.

“Your father said it's your opening day, so he had me pick some vegetables to bring over.”

She had come once while the stall was being built, but this was her first time seeing it finished. She set down her basket and started looking around.

***

T/N

and trouble has came knocking

>.< 

  

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