053 – Warning
When the ox cart drove into the village, Qin Mian took the rope from Lei Tie’s hand and said to him: “Go invite third and fourth brothers to come home together. I’ll tell them in detail.”
Lei Tie nodded, lifted his long legs, and jumped easily from the still moving ox cart.
Several villagers followed him with curious eyes. The news about Lei Tie knew kung fu had been spread widely. Such a person made them felt both respect and fear.
Every day when he got home, the first thing Qin Mian did was to boil water for washing. When the firewood in the hollow of the stove just burned up, Lei Tie came back.
“Third and the fourth brothers also went to dredge up the river. They are having dinner, so they will come soon.” Lei Tie took the firewood from Qin Mian’s hands and sat down in front of the kitchen stove.
The weather was becoming chilly and everything was ice-cold. Qin Mian happily allowed him to help and put his hands back into his pockets.
“Did second brother go?”
“No.”
He knew it would be like that. Qin Mian disdained this person, Lei Xiangren.
“You didn’t say anything to the third and fourth brothers, did you?”
Lei Tie said: “Just said there is something important to look for them.”
“That’s good.” Qin Mian turned to open the cupboard and took out the tangerine peel, cinnamon and other things to be ground later, weighed them one by one and put them aside. These ingredients should be ground before going to bed, to be used for the next day.
The two did their own things respectively. Although there was no conversation, the atmosphere in the kitchen was quiet and warm.
“Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, we came.”
Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli walked in one after another, both were shrinking their necks and hands in their sleeves.
“This damn weather is getting colder.”
“You two came.” Qin Mian was blunt with them, “The water hasn’t boiled yet, so I won’t serve you tea. Go sit in the living room.”
Lei Xiangyi sat down on the soft settee, felt it quietly before he sat upright and asked curiously, “Eldest brother said you are looking for us for something. What is it?”
Qin Mian sat on the settee. “I heard your eldest brother say that you’ve been to the Six Bends River to dredge it up these two days? Are there many people going there?”
Lei Xiangyi said: “Today is the third day. There are a lot of people. Eldest sister-in-law probably doesn’t know. The Six Bends River is wide and long, so the local authority hired many people to dredge up the river every year.”
“It must have been hard work.” Qin Mian asked again, “How are so many people’s lunches solved?”
“Basically, they bring their own dried food. The section of the river we are in charge of is a little far away from the town; the upstream is very close to the county town, but most people still bring their own dried food.” Lei Xiangli vaguely guessed something, “Why does eldest sister-in-law ask so?”
Qin Mian gave a wee of smile, “I suddenly thought of an idea to make money while in the town today and wanted tell you two about it. If you two are willing to do it, you can earn more than dredging up the river and it will be easier than that.”
Lei Xiangli’s eyes lit up and immediately said, “Of course willing. What’s the idea?”
Lei Xiangyi also looked happy, “It’s arduous standing barefoot in the water. Of course it’s good to have a more effortless work.”
Qin Mian didn’t beat around the bush. “My idea is that you can cook some hot soup and sell it at Six Bends River. Those workers stay in the water for so long every day and can only eat dried food at noon. There is nothing more comfortable than drinking hot soup. You can borrow a cart, just bring a pot and firewood, and then buy some bones, radishes or potatoes in the town and stew them in the large pot. If you want to be generous, you can add some minced meat. Even if a bowl of soup is sold for only a Wen, you can earn a lot of profit in a day.”
“That’s a good idea.” Lei Xiangyi clapped his hands as he applauded and wished that it was dawn now, so he could drive the cart to the town right away. “Bones are cheap, won’t be worth more than a few Wen. At most, it costs for some firewood, so the cost of making this soup isn’t high. It’s profitable.”
Lei Xiangli couldn’t help but be overjoyed. “There are at least 400~500 people dredging up the river, even if only 100 people are willing to spend money, we can still earn 100 Wen. We still have 60~70 Wen left after removing the cost, right?”
Between the two of them, one wanted to save private money to provide for his wife and daughter, and the other wanted to save money for his marriage. Qin Mian’s idea was nothing more than a timely help.
Qin Mian said with a faint smile, “I told you two the idea. As for whether to tell others or not, it’s up to you two.”
Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli were very clear that he (QM) was disgusted with certain people in the old house, so they did not take offense.
Lei Tie came out of the kitchen and sat down beside Qin Mian, “One cart is not enough, borrowed another one. Go together with us every day, the ox cart can be lent to you. Just send it back before the shop closes.”
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“Many thanks, eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law.” Lei Xiangli and Lei Xiangyi said thanks in unison.
Lei Xiangli hesitated for a moment and looked at Qin Mian, “Now there is no one selling soup by the river, but I think that once we go, it’ll be hard to ensure others not to follow suit. By then, the soup will not sell unless it is better in taste. I know that there is a secret recipe for eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law’s soup. Is it possible for eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law to sell some of the prepared soup ingredients for us to add to our soup?”
Qin Mian was a little surprised that Lei Xiangli could think of such a far away. He got a bit of a businessman’s mind.
Lei Xiangyi also looked at Qin Mian with hope.
Qin Mian looked at Lei Tie.
Lei Tie said with hesitation, “You call the shots.”
Qin Mian gave him a satisfied smile.
Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli looked away from them in embarrassment.
After Qin Mian thought about it, he nodded, “Sure. But the seasonings are not easy to prepare. I can only sell you a small jar every day. You can pay me the cost price, which is 10 Wen.” Friendship was friendship; interest was interest. Assuming an attitude of brothers settling accounts today could avoid future disputes between the two families over money. He and Lei Tie had a good relationship with Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli, so he didn’t want to appear petty because of interests issue in the future.
Although he offered to pay, Lei Xiangli didn’t expect Qin Mian to accept the money without even saying evasive pleasantries[1], he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart. On second thought, the two families had been separated, thus they had better be clear when dealing with money so as to avoid future conflicts and broke the bond between the brothers. Besides, the idea of making money came from Qin Mian. Thinking such, he felt relieved.
The two brothers were anxious to go back to discuss the details. They once again expressed their thanks to Qin Mian and Lei Tei, and made arrangement to go out together the next morning.
After dawn, Qin Mian was not in the slightest surprised to see that Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli appeared together with Lei Xiangren, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi.
Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli’s smiling expression looked a little reluctant. It was impossible for them to hide such a big move from the others and they had to get money from Du Shi to buy firewood and ingredients. Therefore, all the people in the old house knew that they are going to sell soup at the Six Bends River. Lei Xiangren and Zhao Shi –husband and wife– were fond of eating, averse to work and liked to take advantage of others. Both Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli didn’t want them to go together. However, Lei Daqiang and Du Shi gave them a tough attitude; they couldn’t do anything about it.
Qian Shi’s expression looked even worse. She could see that between Lei Xiangren, her husband, Lei Xiangli and Lei Xiangzhi, eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law preferred her husband, Lei Xiangli and Lei Xiangzhi. The elder sister-in-law’s idea was obviously to help her husband and fourth brother. Lei Xiangren and Zhao Shi’s participation made her angry. At this time, the idea of separation in her mind was becoming stronger. If they were separated at this time, the money earned would only be shared between Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli.
It was unknown what Zhao Shi was thinking as she secretly glared at Qian Shi and Lei Xiangyi from time to time.
Qin Mian turned a blind eye to their secret thoughts and handed Lei Xiangli the small pottery jar that had been prepared for a long time. There was no spiritual spring water in the seasoning jar, only ten kinds of seasoning, but it was good enough.
Qin Mian jumped onto the ox cart.
Zhao Shi wanted to sit with him in the same cart to worm her way into being friends and then secretly see what’s in the big jar on the cart.
But Qin Mian had been on guard. As soon as he sat, he let Lei Tie drive away.
Zhao Shi cursed secretly. She could only give up and return to the borrowed donkey cart. There were pot, stove, two baskets of bowls and chopsticks, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and other items on the cart.
The two carts left the village in the morning light.
Qin Mian took out two hot bamboo tubes from his portable bag and handed one to Lei Tie, “For you.”
“Use it to warm your hands first,” said Lei Tie.
“I’m not cold; I put on a lot today.” Qin Mian twisted off the lid of the bamboo tube and handed it to him. He got up early today and cooked a small pot of batter soup on a charcoal stove. When the water boiled, he poured in flour and stirred with chopsticks. The mixture was brought to boil before adding minced meat and tender leaves of green vegetables. Then, the mixture was brought to boil again to pour the eggs and lastly added oil, salt and a bit of hot pot seasoning. The method was simple, but the taste was delicious. As soon as he took a sip, he tasted the rich flavor and his stomach also warmed.
The two men held the same bamboo tubes as they drank the soup. When they got to the town, they could eat three or four steamed stuffed buns and that would be enough.
Lei Xiangren and the others in the back saw it and also smelled the delicious aroma. They felt incessantly envious.
Perhaps, it was not bad for eldest brother to marry this male sister-in-law. Lei Xiangli was deeply moved in his heart and inexplicably thought that his future wife would also treat him well. His face then turned hot and he let out a dry cough to shake off the charming thoughts.
“Fourth brother, what’s the matter?” Lei Xiangren glanced at him and asked casually.
“It’s nothing.” Lei Xiangli perfunctorily answered.
Lei Xiangren wormed his way into being friends with Lei Tie, “Eldest brother, how’s your business recently?”
Lei Tie dully responded: “Satisfactory.”
Lei Xiangren said with a smile: “Eldest brother, why be modest? I heard that in your shop are full of customers every day. You can earn at least 2~3 silver taels a day, right?”
Qin Mian grinned: “What can our small shop considered as? I heard that Tasty and Satisfactory Vegetarian Restaurant in the town is making a fortune every day. It’s a pity ah, no matter how much others earn, it’s theirs. Bystanders can only envy them.”
Lei Xiangren recognized the implication of his words. He choked and glared at the back of Qin Mian’s head. Despite that, Qin Mian was right, thus he could only laugh dryly.
Lei Xiangyi helped to resolve a dispute, “Second brother, when we arrive in the town, we take separate action. You go to buy firewood, fourth brother and I go to buy ingredients.” Firewood was cheap, so it was not cost-effective to drag firewood all the way from home to the town and then from the town to the river. Therefore, they planned to buy it directly in the town.
Note:
[1] General meaning is that QM didn’t even bother to be evasive about it (it’s a kind of cultural things like the ritual refusals) [too lazy to explain much]
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