Yu Xiaolian reminded herself that life is short, and there’s no need to be too particular with it.
Although these numerous taxes and levies are overwhelming, they don’t only target their family; that’s just how the world is.
When there’s no fairness to be found, one shouldn’t take things too seriously.
Being overly serious does no good.
If you really think about it, even the 21st century, though considered a society governed by law, offers no absolute fairness.
Powerful and wealthy people break the law and yet go through years of trials with no results.
Plenty of innocent ordinary people, however, are wrongfully imprisoned for decades.
Actually, they’re all made for those without power and influence.
In the afternoon, after Yu Xiaolian and Zhao Erya placed the newly packaged daily care products on the shelves, Yu Xiaolian wrote down a recipe for spicy duck.
After finishing the recipe, she called her mother and Zhao Erya over and asked them to take a stroll to the market to buy some ducks and Sichuan peppercorns.
Besides the ducks and Sichuan peppercorns, they should also inquire about the prices, to see how much they’ve increased? ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel fire.net
Sun happily took her mother out shopping, dressed her in her newly bought dark green outfit, and they cheerfully set out.
Sun had just left when Xiao Huzi and Su Jingyue came back from school.
And they didn’t return alone; they brought several schoolmates.
At the academy, Xiao Huzi boasted that his family’s braised meat was the best in the world, even better than the meat from big restaurants.
It’s not like Xiao Huzi had never eaten at a big restaurant; during the southward migration, he really did try several times.
Xiao Huzi boasted so much about his family’s braised meat that some wealthy and credulous boys insisted on coming to try it.
Hearing Xiao Huzi had brought his classmates home to taste the braised meat, Sun Fengshou was quite upset.
This morning they had just paid their taxes, and everyone was already in a gloomy mood. Yet, his son brought back a bunch of freeloaders.
Sun Fengshou strode over to Xiao Huzi, thinking, "This kid needs a beating; he flaunts just like his mother!"
Seeing his father approach angrily, Xiao Huzi thought, "Oh no!" and shouted for his uncle while running towards Yu Changhe.
Yu Changhe shoved Sun Fengshou towards the backyard, saying, "It’s good for the child to bring classmates home, to make friends, after all. You don’t realize, during future exams like the imperial examinations, these classmates will vouch for each other."
If you don’t manage your relationships well, who would want to vouch for you?
Sun Fengshou raised an eyebrow, "Really? They actually vouch for each other? You’re not kidding me, are you?"
"Why would I kid you? My third and Zishu are both scholars, and vouching for each other is indeed a thing.
If a child is willing to bring classmates home, it shows he’s hospitable and willing to make friends, all good things. So what if they eat some braised meat? It’s not an issue at all. You go back to your work, I’ll have Xiaolian attend to these youngsters."
Yu Changhe pushed Sun Fengshou back to the backyard to work, then took over a platter of sliced braised meat and ribs for the table of kids to eat.
As for the pig intestines, because they cost less, they were priced cheaply too, ten coins less than the braised meat.
Yu Changhe never imagined that pig intestines could sell for thirty coins a pound, and they completely sold out. When he bought them, the whole intestine only cost him three coins.
Look at that profit; if there weren’t taxes, he’d be grinning ear to ear all day.
With a little over four taels of silver, the tax-collecting officer remarked that since their household registration was in Taohua Village, some taxes were cut by half; otherwise, it would have been over seven taels.
Yu Changhe felt incredibly fortunate about his decision back then.
Registering in Taohua Village, that was the right choice.
Yu Xiaolian and Zhao Erya had just learned to use the weighing scale, and both were not yet skilled. After selling a batch of fine rice, they were leaning together, checking the tiny markers on the scale.
Yu Changhe peeked in from the general store’s entrance, "Xiaolian, Xiao Huzi brought home classmates. See if you can get some candies and snacks to treat them."
"Got it," Yu Xiaolian replied.
She turned around, reached under the counter, pulled out a white porcelain plate, filled it with some fruit candies and five or six pieces of Sachima, and took it next door.
Xiao Huzi and the few buddies he brought home were eating the braised meat and ribs. When they saw Yu Xiaolian bring over another plate of food, they felt proud, "Pretty good, huh? At my place, there’s a lot of good stuff to eat. That general store next door is ours too, with plenty of treats in there.
If you don’t believe me, try it. Our candy is definitely sweeter than others and doesn’t stick to your teeth.
Next time you want snacks, remember to come buy from us."
"This candy not only doesn’t stick to your teeth, but each color also has a different flavor—like lychee, grape, apple. My favorite is the peach flavor." Su Jingyue chimed in as the little salesman, echoing every sentence Xiao Huzi said.
The two worked in perfect harmony, like in a comedic duo, with Xiao Huzi as the joker and Su Jingyue as the straight man.
The kids they brought home wearing slick silk, all with smooth and chubby little faces—clearly wealthy children.
After tasting the braised meat, they were full of praise. One little chubby kid immediately went out to the shop entrance and waved at a servant by a distant carriage.
Wrap up all the braised meat from this store, I love it.
The servant didn’t dare say anything; it’s rare for the picky young master to find something he likes. They must buy it!
So the big pot of braised meat Yu Changhe just cooked now had a buyer.
"Hey, Zhao Xudong, you can’t buy everything; we want to buy some too,"
The other kids protested; such delicious braised meat, they only got a piece each earlier and didn’t get enough.
"No way, no way. You all wait for the next pot. I have a big family; with just this pot, after dividing it among the family rooms, some still won’t get any!" The chubby kid waved his tiny fat hands, refusing to share.
"Zhao Xudong, you’re selfish, you’re not being friendly. I’ll tell the teacher on you!"
Xiao Huzi and Su Jingyue exchanged glances and immediately stepped in as mediators.
This big pot of braised meat probably weighs dozens of pounds. Buying so much and you won’t finish it all; it won’t be fresh. We sell it here every day. If you want to eat, you can buy it every day. I can also ask my dad to save the parts you like for you.
As soon as Xiao Huzi finished, Su Jingyue quickly echoed, "Yeah, buying so much braised meat to share with the whole family; it’s better to buy less braised meat and more candies, so you can enjoy it slowly in your room."
This candy not only has fruit flavors but also milk candy and crispy candy. There’s a kind of crispy candy called peanut crispy candy; it’s really delicious. Trust me, you can’t go wrong.
For such a trivial matter, it’s not worth damaging the friendship between brothers.
Under the persuasion of Xiao Huzi and Su Jingyue, the pot of braised meat was split up.
The youngsters had their servants carry the braised meat to the carriage and then asked Xiao Huzi and Su Jingyue to take them to Taotao Residence.