Chapter 91: Zheng Tu Fu Without Worries

  Lunch was still the leftover spicy pork mixture from yesterday, plus some braised meat that had been intentionally left over. Since they sell braised meat at home, it's not a waste of money to leave out this much meat every day - at least half a catty or so, plus bone soup and pig offal. Their family's diet has been improving dramatically, and the kids' appetites have also increased a lot. No choice, these things are great with rice...

  Shen Sisi looked at the pancake in her hand, sighed silently. No matter what, this pancake must be exchanged for rice to eat, however... even the cheapest coarse rice costs eight cents a catty, and she didn't dare ask about fine rice.

  She must become a rich woman as soon as possible, with money, she can have nutrition, and slowly make up for herself in the back, she doesn't want to become a flat-chested dwarf, wooo... And her skin is also very black, yellow and rough now, in short, when she goes out, if she doesn't say anything, who knows she's a young lady?!

  Becoming a beauty is a daunting task, she has a tomboy's heart but that doesn't mean she wants to look like one too. Everyone loves beauty, and as an otaku girl, she's no exception.

  After dinner, because they were going to buy 100 catties of meat today, Shen Sisi was afraid that Da Bao couldn't carry it alone, so she went with Zhong Gensheng to Zheng Tufu's house.

  Zheng Tutu saw them and said a little embarrassed: "Sorry, Tuniang, my wife gave you trouble yesterday..."

  Shen Sisi just smiled and said, "Aunt Zheng has indeed gone a bit too far this time, but I'll let it go this once for Uncle Zheng's sake. I don't want things to get too awkward between our two families..."

  "Ah, yes, yes, I'll definitely say something good about her..."

  Shen Sisi smiled and didn't think much of it, but once someone has a greedy heart, it's hard to dispel the idea. It seems that their family won't be buying meat from Zheng Tufu for long either.

  "Gen Sheng, are you still short of 50 catties today?!" Zheng Tufu said with a smile, his tone slightly flattering, without even realizing it himself.

  "Today it's one hundred catties...!" Shen Sisi laughed and said, "Uncle Zheng, is there enough meat at your house?!"

  Zheng Tutu was really surprised, saying: "One hundred catties! Tuniu, your family's braised meat is really selling well... Of course, there are one hundred catties of meat, hehe, but if you increase the quantity in the future, be sure to tell me in advance..."

  "Uh, of course..." Shen Sisi smiled slightly, but Zhong Gensheng remained silent. He rarely spoke in front of the villagers either. Zheng Tufu didn't mind his dull demeanor and just thought to himself that the one truly in charge of the Zhong household now was this little girl, who wasn't simple at all.

  Zheng Tufu, in a gesture of goodwill, not only gave Shen Sisi the pig's internal organs and bones after weighing out 100 jin of meat, but also threw in half a jin of meat as an apology. Shen Sisi didn't stand on ceremony either, letting her father take it, paid up and left.

  Zheng Tu Fu held the money in his hand, feeling a bit complicated. He was really grateful for this kind of customer who paid every day without delay and bought meat in large quantities. Some villagers would even ask to put an account on just half a catty or one catty of meat, but thinking that these meats became 40 cents per catty after going through their hands made his mood more complicated. He sighed: "People with skills can make a lot of money, the Zhong family is really going to get rich now..."

  Zheng Niangzi was hiding in the house listening to the commotion, and as soon as she heard his sighs, she let out a cold snort and said: "You're so incompetent! If you have any skills, you can sell it for 40 cents. If we get the recipe, won't we be able to make money?!"

  "Let's just forget about it, we can't do anything about this prescription. Let's just earn some practical money honestly. Yesterday, you went and made the butcher uncomfortable, if you don't buy meat here again, it'll be troublesome. What's the point? Wife, our family may not be very rich, but we're comfortably off, let's be content with what we have. I won't let you and the kids go hungry..."

  Zheng Niangzi pouted and said: "Who would be afraid of burning their hands with money? I won't take the initiative to go to the Zhong family to investigate again, but I still can't help feeling a bit resentful..."

  She rolled her eyes and said, "I didn't sleep well last night, thinking about this all the time. It made me think of a solution. If Tian Guihua can buy out their family's fried chestnut recipe, why can't we buy out their braised meat recipe?!"

  "How is that possible?! They would sell such a lucrative business?!" Zheng Tutu said: "This is not the same as roasting chestnuts..."

  "What's the difference?! Even if we can't buy it outright, we can at least buy a share! With this recipe, our business will be even more profitable. You raise some pigs and slaughter them, you sell the meat, I'll sell the braised meat, and our family will have two sources of income. Life will be better, won't it? Although our family is still okay now, the kids need to study and take exams, and in the future, they'll need money to get married. Which one doesn't require spending money?"

  "Besides, if he passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, although he will have status and fame, it's unlikely that he can marry someone from our village again. He'll have to find someone from a good family in town, which means we'll have to spend even more money! Even if he is a scholar, others may look down on him because of our poverty. If we don't have the money for his marriage, his in-laws will look down on us too... For his future prospects, it's natural that he should marry someone good, but if his wife looks down on us because of our poverty, where can we even cry? Having some money by our side, they'll be more polite to us..."

  Zheng Tutu listened and also deeply agreed, but still said: "You're just thinking too much, even if you pass the exam, marrying a relatively good one from the village is not bad either, why bother to aim high? High door marries daughter, low door takes wife, old saying you forgot..."

  "Hmph..." Zheng's daughter glared at him and said, "Easy for you to say, if my son were a scholar, could he even have a conversation with these village girls?!"

  "This isn't even a done deal yet, why are you worrying? Besides, you're not from the village either, if he doesn't mind you as his daughter-in-law, why would he mind the woman you bring home for him? Alright, alright, don't worry about it, we'll talk about it later..." Zheng Tufu said helplessly: "Forget about everything else..."

  "It's useless." Zheng Niangzi said with a scowl: "There's no point in talking to you, if you're not willing, I'll think of a way. It's just a matter of price, I don't believe the Zhong family won't sell..." Zheng Niangzi spoke with great confidence, but Zheng Tufu didn't share her optimism. That little girl Tuni was very stubborn, how could she possibly agree to sell? Moreover, their business had just started to take off, why would they give up profits to others?

  "I think you've been blinded by money these two days, wait till you hit a snag and you'll know what's scary......" Zheng Tufu ignored her and went out to sell meat.

  A pig weighing around 200 catties, now the Zhong family only wants 100 catties. Later, even if there are more than 100 catties, it's not necessarily enough to sell. If the Zhong family wants more, they can still slaughter an extra one every day. This business... makes a lot of money and is also easy-going, Zheng the butcher is very satisfied.

  Zheng Niangzi gave him a sideways glance, too lazy to bother with him. The good idea she had come up with last night had to be tried out, no matter how much money it cost, as long as she could get her hands on it.

  It's a profitable business after all.

  And not to mention Zheng Niangzi thinking about how to get Fangzi at home, Tian Guilai's family is even more gloomy and overcast. In the past two days, Tian Guilai has been very careful, speaking in a low voice, and eating with caution, otherwise, she would be scolded by her father-in-law. She felt wronged, angry, and unwilling to accept this situation.

  Especially thinking that the Zhong family must pay for this dowry, how can they not make a profit? Raising this girl, although no big money was spent, but eating and drinking, wearing clothes isn't free either?!

  We must earn it back!!!

  She had been thinking that when Niu Laogen went out, she would go to the Zhong family. Today finally gave her an opportunity, and Niu Laogen went out to work. Before leaving, he scolded her for a while, telling her to stay at home honestly, but Tian Guihua was not honest at all. She nodded and agreed verbally, but as soon as Niu Laogen turned around, she rushed to the Zhong family in a hurry.

  At this time, the Zhong family had just finished lunch. Dabao and Zhong Gensheng, as well as He Ashu, were responsible for washing the meat, cutting it into thin slices to prepare for braising. The cuts couldn't be too small, or they wouldn't look good; nor could they be too big, or too wide, so that the flavors would penetrate evenly. It was a meticulous task.

  Shen Sisi was in charge of supervision, as well as grinding and mixing seasonings. The more they sold, the more seasonings they used, and the harder it was to grind them. Shen Sisi was sweating all over and was worried that the Four Treasures wouldn't be finished soon to help her with the work. Just then, Tian Guihua came crying to their door...

  Of course, it's mainly because of the commotion. Before she even arrives, her voice can be heard, and the villagers who follow behind her are naturally there to watch the excitement. For two days, they've been discussing and waiting for developments in the matter. As soon as Tian Guihua starts shouting, they drop whatever they're doing - no more needlework or household chores - and all rush over to watch the commotion. Since it's not a busy farming season, as soon as Tian Guihua arrives, the courtyard is packed with people.

  Shen Sisi's face turned black.

  Tian Guihua came and didn't do anything, didn't quarrel, didn't fight, just wailed, sitting in the Zhong family's courtyard, slapping her thighs, "My poor daughter, if you leave, how can your mother live? Alas, my poor daughter..."

  The people of the Zhong family were all stunned, especially Dabao, who was now pale and at a loss for what to do.

  Shen Sisi reacted quickly and immediately pushed Da Bao into the room where Si Bao was, also throwing Er Bao and San Bao in. Only then did she come out.

  The courtyard of the Zhong family is still quite spectacular at this time, because their house is small and they can't spread out, so they cut and wash meat in the courtyard by the well. Now, what's presented to the villagers' eyes are pieces of meat that have been cut up, and suddenly there's a commotion, with everyone whispering to each other, their eyes shining brightly, some curious voices asking: "What is the Zhong family doing?! Buying so much meat?!"

  "You don't know?! Hey, recently the Zhong family has been buying meat from Zheng Tufu's house every day, several tens of kilograms at a time. I see the Zhong family leaving early in the morning and returning only at noon. It's said they're selling braised meat in the city..."