Cheng Loanloan stood at the gate of her house.
She looked at Zhang Shi in front of her. Like the original owner, Zhang Shi was also a widow in the village.
However, the original owner’s reputation in the village was extremely poor, while this Widow Zhang was different. Her voice was gentle and soft, and she was amiable to everyone. When the villagers mentioned Widow Zhang, they couldn’t help but praise her.
“Sister Zhao, you know my family’s life. Three daughters and one son, all waiting to be fed. My family has no man; I rely on myself to support everyone. I’m a few years younger than you, but I actually look older. This life is truly difficult.” Zhang Shi sighed, “Sister, can you take me with you to sell food? I can just help out. Three or five copper coins a day is fine…”
Cheng Loanloan’s expression was indifferent. “Three or five copper coins a day? You might as well pick more *longdeng* grass. Two *jin* of *longdeng* grass is already four copper coins. What do you want to do by helping me?”
Zhang Shi’s face stiffened. “Am I not just trying to make a living?”
Cheng Loanloan coldly refused.
The original owner and this Widow Zhang had no dealings with each other, let alone her. How could she let a stranger help out?
She turned and went inside, closed the gate, and then closed the main door, blocking all gazes. Zhang Shi angrily gritted her teeth. She offered to help for three or five copper coins a day, but Sister Zhao didn’t agree, and her tone was too arrogant.
Isn’t it just a little food? Isn’t it just making a little money? Does she really think she’s about to become rich?
She turned and walked away. After only a few steps, an arm from the corner pulled her behind a large tree. She looked over and saw it was Zhao Fugui.
She struggled free and cursed in a low voice, “What are you pushing and pulling for? It’s not dark yet. What will people think if they see us?”
“What are you pretending for? Didn’t you seduce me in the first place?” Zhao Fugui pinched her chest. “Up the mountain or just find a random spot?”
Zhang Shi reached out her hand. “Pay up, otherwise forget it.”
Zhao Fugui grumbled and took out a copper coin from his waistband, then pulled Zhang Shi to a patch of wasteland. Soon after, heavy breathing could be heard.
The sky gradually darkened.
Cheng Loanloan and the children were all busy working. Two days ago, making three barrels of ice jelly kept them busy until the *xushi* hour (9-11 PM). Today’s workload was double that, so they probably wouldn’t finish until before the *zishi* hour (11 PM-1 AM).
A torch was lit in the room. She carefully filtered the ice jelly. Zhao Ergou also worked with her. Mother and son working together made it a little faster.
Zhao Sanniu helped Zhao Dashan rub the *shihua* seeds.
Zhao Sidan and Wu Huiniang peeled *longdeng* grass together to extract the *shihua* seeds.
They kept working until suddenly, they heard Zhao Sanniu cry out in alarm, “Big Brother, what’s wrong with your hand?”
Cheng Loanloan put down what she was holding and walked over. In the torchlight, she was suddenly startled. Zhao Dashan’s hand was peeled white. Because he used too much force, the skin on his palm was rubbed off, revealing the flesh underneath, which was soaked white. The only good thing was that it wasn’t bleeding.
For these two hours, his hand had been soaked in the *shihua* seed water, yet this boy hadn’t uttered a single sound.
Cheng Loanloan pursed her lips.
The imagination was beautiful: selling hundreds of bowls of ice jelly a day, the income could be one or two times more.
But the reality was, the more they sold, the more tired the whole family became. Today was only the first day, and Dashan’s hands were almost crippled.
Zhao Dashan chuckled foolishly, "Mother, I'm fine, it doesn't hurt at all."
Zhao Sanniu spoke up, "Big Brother, you go do something else. Just leave this to me, my skin is thick, I can handle it."
Cheng Luanluan glanced at the wooden bucket beside them. There was still half a catty of stone flower seeds that hadn't been scrubbed clean. In the buckets in front of Dashan and Sanniu, there was half a catty that they were currently working on.
If these tasks weren't completed, they wouldn't be able to deliver the goods on time tomorrow. She had never been a merchant who broke her word.