89, Key Client (3 more updates)
He had been in the trading business for many years, yet he had never seen a girl like Xie Zhinuan who could bargain so well.
Big jars and small crocks, even if they were broken, she would take them if she could use them.
“Miss, you have come. I’ve gathered quite a number of broken large jars for you. Do you want to have a look at them first?” the shopkeeper asked with a smile.
“Sure!”
Xie Zhinuan responded.
She called out to Routuan, who wagged his tail and followed.
“Miss, you’ve raised this dog very well!”
Xie Zhinuan just smiled without saying anything.
Following him to the backyard, there were several large jars with broken mouths or missing a large piece. Xie Zhinuan thought of using them to plant green onions, garlic, cilantro, mint, and perilla, just put them in the yard, which would be quite interesting. It would also be convenient when it was time to eat them.
And these broken jars were free of charge.
“Thank you, shopkeeper. Today I want to buy some pickling jars, but I will need the shopkeeper’s help to deliver them later!”
As soon as the shopkeeper heard this, he promptly agreed.
Smiling happily.
Xie Zhinuan needed quite a number of jars, both large and small pickling jars, nearly thirty in total. The largest could pickle fifty jins of stuff, and she also bought several large jars and pots, spending nearly ten taels of silver.
The shopkeeper, knowing that Xie Zhinuan liked broken large jars, said, “I will help you look for more, and if I find them, I will directly send them to Xiaohe Village. What do you think?”
“Thank you so much!”
The shopkeeper kept saying it was no trouble at all.
Indeed, someone like Xie Zhinuan who bought so many things was really rare.
With the shopkeeper helping to deliver to Xiaohe Village, Xie Zhinuan went on to buy soybeans, mung beans, Hong Dou, sesame seeds, rice, flour, and salt crystals and brine.
As she was about to leave, she also bought about thirty jins of fatty pork.
“…”
Shaniu had been completely bewildered throughout the whole process.
Xie Zhinuan’s shopping was like a major haul.
Moreover, she spent silver without any consideration of thrift, just kept on buying without stopping, and even insisted on buying the best quality.
By the time they were heading back, the carriage was packed full. Xie Zhinuan and Routuan squeezed together, and Shaniu could only sit in the coachman’s seat.
“Miss, you have bought too much!” Shaniu whispered.
Xie Zhinuan smiled, “It’s rare for us to come out, so I bought a bit more!”
Xie Zhinuan didn’t think she had bought too much.
The town was very close to Xiaohe Village, and Xie Zhinuan was quick at purchasing. By the time she got home, it was still very early.
Some villagers had even started to harvest wheat.
Xie Zhinuan thought to herself that maybe she could make some maltose candy, and when the sweet potatoes were ready, she could also make sesame candy.
Her mind was too occupied with thoughts related to food.
When she got back home, they had already collected a lot of chili peppers.
Xie Zhinuan washed her face with water, brewed a pot of tea, found scissors, and started to cut off the stems and branches of the chili peppers, putting them into a dustpan.
Her movements were quick and focused.
Shaniu simply went to put all the goods into the storeroom next to the kitchen. The storeroom was filled with large jars of grains and there was more in the cabinets. Living frugally, they would have enough to eat until the New Year was not a problem.
Shaniu glanced outside, seeing Xie Zhinuan still cutting the stems and branches of chili peppers.
“Miss, are you planning to make chili sauce first?” Aunt Chen asked.
“I’m going to pickle some spicy peppers first. They can be used for stir-frying later, which will taste even better!”
“I bought quite a few pickling jars. I plan to pickle some cowpeas too, and when ginger comes into season, pickling young ginger!”
“…”
Aunt Chen nodded and did not dare to say more.
Xie Zhinuan was decisive in her actions, and it wasn’t Aunt Chen’s place to give instructions.
Soon, the jars were delivered, loaded on several ox carts. The coachmen helped to unload them. Shaniu quickly went inside the house to ask, “Miss, where shall we put this?”
“For now, put them under the eaves. Once they are pickled, we’ll move them into the house!” Xie Zhinuan said, her voice grave.
Chapter 91