145 Feeling the Warmth
Old Madam Su hurriedly got off the brick bed as she spoke.
The older couple and Su Fengchen were accustomed to having visitors at night. When they heard Su Binglan’s voice, they quickly stopped what they were doing to welcome her, expressing their enthusiasm.
Old Master Su said, “You stay here while I go to the door.”
Su Fengchen also got up to follow his father. Before they reached the living area, Su Binglan had already entered with her basket. “Hello, everyone.”
Old Master Su said smilingly, “Binglan is here. Hurry up and warm up the brick bed.”
Old Madam Su said, “I will do it. Binglan, come and sit on the bed. It’s colder than usual today. You’re not freezing, are you?” She took Su Binglan’s hand and warmed it in her palm as she spoke.
Su Binglan felt the warmth in her grandmother’s hand and felt touched. She smiled, placed the basket at the edge of the bed, and said, “I’m not too cold, Grandma, but the brick bed looks nice and warm.”
Old Madam Su gently pulled her granddaughter inside and said, “It’s warmer in the room. Don’t sit outside.”
Su Binglan could not reject her grandmother’s kind offer and removed her shoes to enter further into the house.
At that moment, she noticed the nest of duck eggs near the brick bed. She revealed a curious expression and said, “Hmm, are you trying to incubate these eggs, Uncle Fengchen?”
Su Fengchen explained, “I was thinking of making more salted and preserved eggs, but we don’t have many ducks at home. Buying duck eggs from others is more expensive, so I might as well incubate some myself. Then I won’t have to spend too much money.”
He also had a habit of saving as much money as possible and was used to living frugally. He thought it was best to save wherever he could and that it would all add up.
Su Binglan nodded and said, “You’re good at that, Uncle Fengchen.”
Then she removed the money bag from her basket and continued, “Right, this is the money you guys earned from the eggs and small gift baskets. Eighty-two coins are from the baskets we sold, and 710 are from the eggs. Here’s the account book too.”
The trio was stunned when they heard how much they had made in a day. They remained silent for a long while. Old Madam Su was the first to return to her senses and say, “W-We earned that much? Are you mistaken, Binglan?”
Su Binglan looked at the trio’s expression and felt a sense of accomplishment from helping her family become wealthier. She could feel how happy they were. She said, “The eggs are very popular. We sold them all before the afternoon even arrived. The dessert shop did well too, and we had no trouble selling the gift baskets.”
Previously, she had told her grandparents to make small gift baskets. After preparing them for many days, Su Binglan helped them sell dozens. Although she could not sell all of them, they still sold twenty to thirty gift baskets.
Some customers bought the baskets alongside the desserts, while others thought the gift baskets looked good and bought a few.
After a while, the trio finally believed what Su Binglan told them and became excited.
“Binglan, you truly are our family’s lucky star! I never imagined we could earn that much in a day. B-But why did you bring the account book along? We’re family, and we trust you.”
Su Binglan said, “I know, but we are doing a business, and this will help it last longer. We have to be organized and split our earnings.”
The older couple’s children lived in separate areas, and only Su Fengchen lived with them. Still, Old Madam Su was helping him manage his earnings, so she understood what her granddaughter meant.
Old Madam Su said thoughtfully, “Binglan, please take some of the money we earned from the gift basket and eggs. Others would take some too if they helped us sell our goods.”