Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Chapter 59: Chapter 35: Selling Dishes in Erlipu (2)

The dark, thin man and the others around him turned pale, sighing one after another at how hard this money was to earn.

As they spoke, the breakfast crowd gradually grew. Usually, the country laborers would buy a few cornbread buns or steamed buns for breakfast, but now they would occasionally add one cent’s worth of pork offal.

Laixi, beaming, enthusiastically called out to everyone. ”Hey! Sir, one cent’s worth of pork offal, here you go! Uncle, you want a serving for one cent, too? A little more intestine? You got it! And you, sir, two cents’ worth, great! What can I get for you? Extra spicy sauce? Alright, I’ll give you a bit more, but not too much. It’s not that I’m stingy, but this offal is already plenty flavorful. You eat that much sauce, and you’ll spend the rest of your day drinking water and running to the outhouse!”

The crowd roared with laughter.

Yang Family stood to the side, constantly taking money, so happy her eyes crinkled into smiling crescents.

The men bought their food, and clutching steamed buns and cornbread buns, they headed to the riverbank. There they squatted or sat, eating and chatting away.

The spicy flavor, the smooth large intestine, the thick tripe, the firm heart, the tender lung—it all made the men break out in a sweat, and they couldn’t help but exclaim how satisfying it was.

As the sun climbed higher, the villagers who had gone to the market began to return.

They laughed and chatted loudly along the road, asking each other about the prices of their goods, the quality of their purchases, and where they’d bought them. Those who had bought a lot had even hired porters from the docks, who followed behind with carrying poles or wheelbarrows. Plenty of people had brought their wives and children along, and the kids all clutched inexpensive little treats, like fried dough snacks.

When this crowd reached Erli Village, Yang Family’s small stall was immediately swarmed by a new wave of customers.

The first to start clamoring to buy were the children, lured by the aroma and refusing to leave.

When the adults heard it only cost one cent, they were tempted, but still hesitant. They worried it wouldn’t taste good; after all, people rarely ate these ”unclean” parts.

However, anyone who had bought the pork offal in the past two days stepped forward without hesitation to buy a serving for one or two cents.

So, the people who had never bought it before started asking the returning customers. Hearing how good it tasted, they asked for a bamboo skewer to try a sample.

One taste was all it took for them to immediately pull out their money.

The only ones in a tough spot were those without bowls. Parents whose children were throwing a tantrum and refused to leave had no choice but to borrow bowls from the dockworkers, buy a serving to eat on the spot, and then return the bowls.

Then there were those who were a little better off, and a bit more gluttonous, who figured it wasn’t expensive. Following Laixi’s directions, they went to the Fuxi Grocery Store, bought some coarse porcelain bowls or clay pots, and came back to have them filled with pork offal.

The children ate with great gusto while the adults watched them fondly from the side. Smelling the aroma, they wanted to try some too. But since it was the children’s first time eating such a thing, they were naturally greedy, hogging their bowls and scraping them clean. Even after they were done, they licked their lips, still wanting more. The parent would take the empty bowl, see a little broth left at the bottom, and pour it into their own mouth, finding it incredibly savory. It really was delicious!

Those who could afford it would buy another cent’s worth. Those without the money would gaze longingly at the pot of pork offal as they pulled their children away, who themselves kept looking back over their shoulders.

And just like that, Yang Family and Laixi sold out of food completely, not even lasting until noon. Those who arrived too late to buy any could only stomp their feet and sigh in disappointment.

Some of the men told Yang Family she should make more in the future—they wanted to eat it for lunch, too.

Yang Family demurred, saying she was too busy at home and that there wasn’t enough offal for sale at the market anyway. In a small market town like this, they only butchered three or four pigs a day at most; any more than that wouldn’t sell. However, she added that come springtime, she would cook up some fish and shrimp to sell, also for one cent a scoop. Hearing this, everyone started looking forward to it.

Laixi deftly packed everything into the bamboo baskets, hoisted them onto his shoulder, and returned with Yang Family to the Fuxi Grocery Store.

As soon as he walked in the door, he proudly went to claim credit with Yang Defa. ”Dad, did some people come by earlier to buy bowls and clay pots? They all wanted to buy pork offal but didn’t have anything to carry it in, so I sent them here.” He finished with a self-satisfied grin.

Yang Defa chuckled and shot him a look, then said to Yang Family, ”They already told me. I never would have expected it. You selling pork offal actually drummed up business for me. They also bought things like baskets and sieves.”

Yang Family smiled. ”Brother, your goods are high-quality and cheap. It’s just that your location is a bit out of the way, so not many people know about it. In time, people will seek you out.”

Yang Defa nodded, looking pleased.

Yang Family went into the back kitchen, poured herself a glass of water, and then said to Yang Defa, ”Brother, pick out two large vats for me today, and six of the bigger earthenware jars. This evening, Old Cheng, the carter from our village, is coming to help me bring them back. Brother, let me know how much that will be!”

With that, she took out her money pouch.

Yang Defa was about to refuse, but Yang Family cut him off. ”Even brothers must keep clear accounts. I’m a paying customer! If I went to someone else’s shop, would I not pay? If you don’t accept my money this time, how could I have the nerve to come back and buy from you again?”

Yang Defa had no choice but to say, ”Then just pay the cost price. Look, ever since you started selling food at the market, Laixi and I haven’t had to cook. Isn’t that saving us money? I’ll just consider this me helping you get your supplies. Two large vats, forty cents each, that’s eighty cents. The large earthenware jars are eight cents each, so forty-eight for six. That’s a hundred and twenty-eight cents in total.”

Yang Family saw she couldn’t argue, so she had to count out one hundred and twenty-eight cents and give them to him.

Laixi ran over and said to Yang Family, ”Auntie, how about I help you deliver these things tonight? I haven’t been to your house in ages, and I can catch up with Qingmu and Juhua!”

Before Yang Family could answer, Yang Defa shot him an annoyed look. ”Catch up with Qingmu? More like you’re just a glutton hoping to get a bite to eat!”

Yang Family quickly stopped her brother from scolding him further. She said to Laixi, ”Well, your auntie will be waiting for you at home. Juhua asked me to buy some pig’s feet and a pig’s head to cook today. It’ll be a perfect chance for you to try something new.”

Laixi was overjoyed. He scratched the back of his head and grinned, but seeing his father’s sour expression, he quickly said, ”I’ll go with Auntie to buy the offal!” and hastily dragged Yang Family out the door.

This left Yang Defa in the store, fuming as he watched his son’s retreating back. ’This younger son of mine is undeniably clever and quick on his feet,’ he thought, ’but sometimes he’s still such a child. So immature!’