The two of them then hurried to the butcher shop where Su Chi had bought meat before, and discussed with the shopkeeper the daily supply of over ten catties of meat to their shop, with delivery included, and whether they could get a lower price.
Over ten catties was the amount Su Chi had calculated from today’s opening. Today, the shop had used several catties of meat and still hadn’t had enough to meet demand.
Once the shop’s business stabilized, the meat for the saucy meat filling and wonton filling would require at least over ten catties per day. And this was just the amount needed for a newly opened shop—going forward, it would certainly be even more.
The butcher shopkeeper had never received such a large order before. She figured that with a steady daily delivery of this much meat, she’d earn a little less per catty, but with the larger volume, there was profit either way. Besides, her daily customers mostly bought in small quantities—rarely did anyone buy over ten catties of meat at once. This was a deal with only profit and no loss.
So she agreed almost immediately, reducing the price by two wen per catty, afraid they might change their minds and not do business with her.
With the daily ingredient prices all settled, the two headed home together.
Once home, Xie Yushu was worried Su Chi might be too tired and told him to go rest in the room while she made lunch.
But Su Chi wasn’t tired at all at this moment. He went to the room and changed into clean clothes. After changing, he looked at Xie Yushu with bright, smiling eyes.
Xie Yushu leaned down and couldn’t resist rubbing the tip of her nose against his: “What are you so happy about?”
Su Chi tilted his head up toward her, his voice full of joy: “We made money! In no time, we’ll be able to buy back the family’s land. Dad will be so happy then.”
When Wang Wen was sick, they’d sold off as much land as they could. Now they had only one mu left. Wang Wen had been heartbroken at the time, but there was no choice. Su Chi had set up his stall every day, rain or shine, always hoping that one day he’d buy back the land his mother had left them.
Now he could see the dawn of hope, and it was right before his eyes—of course he was in a good mood. Even if he was exhausted, he’d gladly bear it.
After speaking, Su Chi brought out the coin basket to show Xie Yushu. Looking at the thick stack of copper coins lying obediently inside, Su Chi’s eyes curved into crescents with his smile.
This palm-sized coin basket, small and square, had been bought by Xie Yushu on the main street. She’d thought it would be just right for holding his copper coins.
Su Chi carefully counted them at the table—they’d earned quite a lot today.
They’d sold over thirty bowls of wontons, at least sixty saucy meat buns, and over one hundred thirty of the other vegetarian and red bean buns combined. All thirty tea eggs were sold out.
Today they’d earned nine hundred copper coins—that is, nine qian. After subtracting the cost of ingredients like vegetables, meat, flour, spices, and seasonings, their profit margin was over sixty percent. That meant he’d made over five qian of silver in pure profit from just this morning alone.
This was far more than he’d earned from his stall, and without the wind, sun, and running around.
The more Su Chi thought about it, the more satisfied he felt. Tomorrow, he’d definitely need to make more of the saucy meat and wonton fillings.
With over a catty of meat and one and a half catties of flour, he could make about twenty saucy meat buns. Today alone, he’d used over four catties of meat just for the saucy meat filling.
One catty of meat could make over fifty pure-meat wontons. Wontons had the highest profit margin—a bowl warmed the whole body, and customers loved them most. Especially as the days grew colder, no one could resist piping hot soup and broth. By winter, the daily sales volume would definitely be much more than today.
He’d adjust the other varieties after a few more days.
It was nearly noon and neither of them had thought about eating. Seeing her husband looking so adorable after making money, Xie Yushu felt happy for him too.
It turned out her husband was just as money-loving as she was.
·
After they’d eaten, Xie Yushu had a moment of free time. Looking at the several bolts of fine fabric placed in the room, she told Su Chi she was going to find an embroiderer on the street to make clothes for him.
Their father was skillful with his hands and could have made them, but Xie Yushu didn’t want to keep having him make their clothes now. They could just spend a little extra to hire someone, and let their father rest properly for a while.
“I’m going out for a bit.”
“Mm… okay.” Su Chi struggled to open his eyes and look at her, giving a vague reply.
He was utterly exhausted from the shop’s opening today. After eating, he was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open. Lying on the bed, he looked like he was about to fall asleep any moment.
He’d said he wasn’t tired, but before long he was sound asleep on the bed—so silly.
Xie Yushu placed a kiss on Su Chi’s forehead, then tucked the blanket around him and went out.
Looking up at the bright, clear sky, Xie Yushu suddenly let out a long sigh.
She’d only been in this world for a little over three months, and she was already married young. In her previous life, she could never have imagined that she’d end up marrying a man in a place like this.
A virtuous one, and adorably silly at that.
But the person was Su Chi—just thinking about him, the corners of Xie Yushu’s mouth couldn’t help lifting. Sigh though she might, she was still very happy about it.
As soon as she stepped out, she spotted the little girl Fang Kui, who had come to their door last time trying to sell preserved fruits. She was still carrying her basket, with a jar in hand, hawking her wares along the street.
“Where is the young lady headed?” Fang Kui had sharp eyes and spotted Xie Yushu as soon as she came out.
Although Songwan Town was small, it did have a private school of modest scale. Xie Yushu didn’t understand why Fang Kui didn’t go to school, instead spending her days wandering the streets selling things. After all, the families living on Qingshui Lane weren’t so poor that they couldn’t make ends meet.
Xie Yushu crouched down in front of her and asked this question out of curiosity.
Fang Kui, who was usually all smiles, wilted at the pretty young lady’s question. She scrunched up her little face: “Father does laundry and mending for the neighbor aunties and uncles every day, and makes clothes too. At night he lights a lamp to make preserved fruits, and he still has to take care of me. Father gets very tired.”
Xie Yushu understood—their family was struggling, which was why this child went out every day to help her father sell food.
“What about your mother?” Xie Yushu asked the key question.
“Mother… passed away a year after I was born.”
Xie Yushu patted her head. She’d been too nosy.
Hearing the words “makes clothes,” Xie Yushu perked up and immediately asked: “Your father also makes clothes for people?”
“Yes! Father’s clothes are all wonderful. Father is the most skillful father in the whole world!” Fang Kui nodded happily.
She was still a child at heart, and once the topic came up, she couldn’t stop chattering. She waved her arms and told Xie Yushu that all the clothes she wore were made by her father, and they were prettier than any other child’s clothes. She generously let Xie Yushu feel the fabric.
Xie Yushu had a good idea now. She bought another portion of preserved fruits and said: “Then go back and ask your father for me—how much would he charge to make a few garments?”
The pretty young lady had bought her fruits again and wanted to help her father’s business too. Fang Kui said gratefully: “Young lady, wait a moment for me—I’ll go ask right away.”
With that, she added a few extra round apricots to the portion Xie Yushu had bought, handed it over, and dashed off home.
Fang Kui ran fast and didn’t keep Xie Yushu waiting long before she was back in front of her, reporting the price her father had given.
That cheap?
Seeing Xie Yushu frown, Fang Kui grew anxious, afraid she’d lose the business. She hurriedly explained: “Father’s prices are very fair, and his work really is excellent. Young lady, please consider it again.”
She wasn’t good with words and couldn’t properly describe how skilled her father was—she could only fret. Was the young lady worried that such a low price meant her father wouldn’t do a good job? What if she decided not to give the work to her father?
Recently, two tailor shops had opened in town, and fewer and fewer people were coming to her father for clothes.
“Then have your father come here later to take my husband’s measurements. Is that alright?”
“Alright!”
By late afternoon, Su Chi had woken up. Finding Xie Yushu not beside him, he figured she’d gone out to take care of something.
Before long, the courtyard door was knocked on. Who could be knocking at this hour?
Su Chi was a little puzzled, but went over and opened the door anyway.
When he opened it, he found a plain-looking husband outside, holding a little girl by the hand.
Su Chi recognized the little girl at the door—it was the one who’d sold them preserved fruits last time.
Fang Kui held her father’s hand and said cheerfully: “Good afternoon, husband. This is my father. Young Lady Xie asked my father to come take your measurements and make you new clothes.”
Tao Qiu wasn’t one for talking, but his daughter had a lively nature. He stroked his daughter’s soft hair, full of affection.
Only then did Su Chi realize that the embroiderer Xie Yushu had found was her father. He’d been half-asleep when she mentioned it, so it was only natural he hadn’t fully understood the situation.
“Come in,” Su Chi said warmly.
When Xie Yushu returned, she saw Fang Kui playing outside the yard by herself—touching the big willow tree, or talking to the pile of firewood outside the kitchen.
Then Su Chi and Tao Qiu walked out of the house together. Tao Qiu was carrying a bolt of fabric in his hands. He said a couple of words to Su Chi, then called out for Fang Kui to come home.
“Xiao Kui, it’s time to go.”
“Coming!”
When Tao Qiu came out and saw Xie Yushu, he realized she was the head of this household who’d done business with his daughter. He nodded toward her gratefully.
Before leaving, Fang Kui cheerfully waved goodbye to Xie Yushu and Su Chi.
Before bed.
Su Chi lay beside Xie Yushu and discussed with her: “Fang Kui is adorable, and her father seems like an honest, hardworking person. What do you think about having him make all our clothes from now on?”
Xie Yushu looked at him with curiosity—they’d only met once, and her husband already knew what kind of person Fang Kui’s father was?
But thinking about it, it made sense. They were both men, and men were much more sensitive and perceptive than women. They would naturally empathize with each other. Besides, her husband had a soft nature. Knowing that Fang Kui’s father had raised her alone all these years, he must have felt for his hardship and wanted to help however he could.
“Mm, whatever you say.” Xie Yushu had no objections—as long as the work was good.
Just before falling asleep, Xie Yushu told Su Chi that she was worried about him managing the new shop alone in these first few days, and that she wanted to come help him for a while.
To her surprise, Su Chi pushed gently against her chest and said no: “You’ve already kept me company for several days. Now you should go do what you need to do. I can handle the shop on my own.”
“My business isn’t urgent—someone’s keeping an eye on it for me. But you—the demands of a shop are nothing compared to a stall. I’m afraid you’ll wear yourself out.”
“I’m not tired at all. I’m happy, really.”
“Alright then. I’ll be busy tomorrow and might come back a little late.”
“Okay.”
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