stingy landlady

Chapter 15 Selling Bean Sprouts

Guizhi begged Wang Yiyun to let her take the Three Character Classic back with her, repeatedly promising that she wouldn't damage it. She also explained that because she couldn't write, she had to take the book back to read. This way, it would be more convenient for her to learn with her eldest and second eldest sisters.

Daya and Erya didn't learn to read as quickly as expected. They found it difficult, so Guizhi had them memorize a passage first, and then learn each character one by one by comparing and contrasting them. Anyway, this was a slow and meticulous process, there was no rush, and no test was needed; as long as they could recognize the characters, that was fine. Siya was too young and might damage the book, so she didn't learn to read for the time being, but Guizhi intentionally or unintentionally let Siya memorize it as a nursery rhyme for fun.

Guizhi went to the old house to read every afternoon. She cherished this opportunity; her family was poor and couldn't afford books, nor did they have any to read. Wang Yiyun, on the other hand, was going to participate in the imperial examinations, so he had a wide variety of books.

Since Guizhi's family borrowed money from the old house to buy land, they have been very short of money.

The money from selling bean sprouts on the first day was used to buy a large vat. The bean sprouts on the second day were from jars, and they sold over thirty catties for 160 copper coins. Adding the copper coins from selling boxed lunches, after deducting normal expenses, there were still 400 copper coins left.

Last night, Dazhu found an opportunity to ask his grandparents about buying soybeans. His grandmother agreed to sell him two hundred catties for five hundred coins. That was exactly the profit he'd made from selling boxed lunches and bean sprouts that day. His grandmother opened the storeroom, and his fourth son helped Dazhu carry the soybeans out, weigh them, load them onto the oxcart, and then went to the east end of the village to store them in the outer room of Dazhu's new house. The outer room was cooler, less prone to spoilage, and more convenient to use; all they had to do was keep them dry.

On the third day, it was in a large vat, with ten catties of soybeans soaking. There should have been sixty or seventy catties of bean sprouts, twice as much as the previous two days.

Of course, these past few days, the three sisters, Daya, Erya, and Da Ya, have had extra tasks every afternoon: picking beans, soaking beans, and watering bean sprouts. Their main goal is to have bean sprouts to sell every day.

Every day after Dazhu took the three sisters away by cart, Li was busy taking care of the children and doing needlework at home. The weather was cold, and it was snowing heavily outside, so she was afraid of the children slipping and falling if she took them out. She usually did her work indoors.

Because there were a lot of bean sprouts today, we went to more shops. Da Ya was weighing bean sprouts for the shopkeeper at the grain shop. The shopkeeper had heard that Da Zhu's family was selling bean sprouts for the past two days, but he hadn't seen them until today, so he quickly asked Da Ya to weigh out three catties. The family could have some fresh vegetables, which would be delicious and inexpensive.

A shop assistant hurried over, accompanied by a man dressed in a blue long gown who looked like a manager. It turned out they were the young shop assistants at the oil shop. "Da Ya, Er Ya, how many bean sprouts are left?"

"Brother Zhang, are you not busy these days? We only have this much left. I estimate it's about five or six jin." Er Ya said, showing the bean sprouts to the shopkeeper called Zhang Er.

"Manager Qu, look, our manager was talking about their bean sprouts," Zhang Er said to Manager Qu.

Manager Qu had already seen the bean sprouts that Da Ya had weighed, but he still walked up to the bamboo basket, grabbed a handful, and examined them closely.

I asked the two sisters, Da Ya and her brother, "Are these all the bean sprouts you have? Do you have any more at home?"

Zhang Er said to the two sisters, "Da Ya and Er Ya, this is Manager Qu from Xiang Man Lou. Last night, I was drinking at our manager's place and ate your bean sprouts. They were delicious and fresh, so I came here specifically to find you today."

"Thank you, Brother Zhang! Hello, Steward Qu! All the bean sprouts that have grown today have been brought out." Daya replied politely.

"Hmm, girl, your bean sprouts are good. It's just that there aren't enough." Manager Qu nodded, then said with a hint of regret.

"Manager Qu, my father and third sister sell bean sprouts across the street. I wonder if they have any left," Er Ya said after thinking for a moment.

"Oh? That's great! Little girl, you're a fast kid, have your dad bring over whatever he has." Manager Qu said to Er Ya.

Er Ya agreed and ran off. She found Da Zhu and Gui Zhi, explained the situation, and the group took the remaining bean sprouts.

The bean sprouts from both sides weighed exactly twelve jin (about 6 catties) together. Manager Qu took them all, paid the bill, and had them delivered to Xiangmanlou Restaurant.

"Brother, go and familiarize yourself with the place first. Starting tomorrow, send over thirty catties of bean sprouts every day," Manager Qu said to Dazhu.

"Good job, Manager Qu! Tomorrow won't work, the bean sprouts aren't long enough yet. We can start attaching them the day after tomorrow!" Guizhi quickly replied.

Manager Qu was slightly surprised that a five or six-year-old girl dared to interrupt.

Dazhu hurriedly explained, "Well, Manager Qu, we've only just started sprouting bean sprouts, and it's been the sisters who've been doing it all along."

Manager Qu finally looked at the girls and said, "These girls of yours are really good. If not tomorrow, how many can you send out the day after?"

"We should have over 90 jin (45 catties) of bean sprouts by the day after tomorrow, but after that, we'll have bean sprouts every day. We've just started selling, so we don't know how well they'll sell," Guizhi said honestly. They soaked 15 jin (7.5 kg) of soybeans in the large vat and the small vat they bought, which should yield about 100 jin (50 kg) of bean sprouts.

“Starting the day after tomorrow, whenever you have bean sprouts, deliver them to our restaurant first, and then you can sell them to others. Brother, our restaurant business has always been very good, and we use a lot of them, which is much better than you running around doing this,” Manager Qu said.

"Yes, yes, yes! Manager Qu is right! We'll send the bean sprouts to your restaurant the day after tomorrow." Da Zhu was a little nervous in front of Manager Qu.

"Then come with me, brother! Zhang Er, you go back and get busy. Tell your boss to come drink with him when you have time." Manager Qu was also busy at the restaurant and was in a hurry to get back. But he didn't forget to call Zhang Er, the oil shop assistant.

That day, the bean sprouts sold for 350 coins, bringing the total income from the boxed meals to 750 coins. The earnings from the past few days had been used to buy other things, so they hadn't given any to Li. They quickly scraped together the money and bought two large vats, which they then placed on the oxcart.

The whole family, including Li, probably has less than two hundred coins left, and the pressure is immense.

The next day, there were no bean sprouts for sale, only boxed lunches with a profit of four hundred coins. Gritting his teeth, he bought another large vat. Now there were exactly five large vats in the house, crammed between the two heated brick beds, one on the north and one on the south, completely full. There was barely enough room for a small child to walk through and water the plants.

There are only two weeks left until Chinese New Year. Dazhu has developed blisters on his lips. He promised to pay back the money owed to the old house before the New Year. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be able to keep his word. He can't rest, he can't waste money anymore, he has to keep working hard.

They started delivering goods to Xiangmanlou. The restaurant is especially busy at lunchtime and in the evening! When Dazhu led the children over in the oxcart, Manager Qu was anxiously waiting for them. He was worried they wouldn't have enough bean sprouts and would be scolded by the chef and the manager.

Whether you're rich or poor, fresh bean sprouts are always a delicious treat in the dead of winter. They're great in stir-fries and soups. Even with today's abundance of modern goods, bean sprouts remain a popular dish.

What's more, Guizhi's bean sprouts were growing very well and tasted crisp. That noon, they didn't even have enough bean sprouts to sell.

The waiter saw the oxcart stop in front of the restaurant. It wasn't mealtime yet, but the restaurant's kitchen was already bustling with preparations.

"What are you doing here? Why is the oxcart parked here? It's almost lunchtime, the oxcart can't block the gate!" the waiter shouted.

"We're here to deliver bean sprouts!" Dazhu quickly explained.

"Why are you delivering bean sprouts to the front? You need to go to the back kitchen and back door!" the waiter shouted.

"Oh! Brother Wang, you've finally arrived! Why are you so late?" Manager Qu heard the noise in the hall and strode out.

The waiter called out "Manager Qu," then stepped aside and remained silent.

"Quickly! Little Li, take them to the back door to weigh the bean sprouts!"

Without allowing Da Zhu and the others any pleasantries, the waiter led them to the back door.

Manager Qu was already waiting at the back door, and he instructed the waiters to wait at the front to greet the guests.

"You don't need to worry about this, Little Li. Go to the front and take good care of the guests!"

"Hey!" Little Li returned to the front.

"Manager Qu, I came to you first thing as soon as I arrived in town. I hope I didn't delay your business?" Da Zhu asked, rubbing his hands together.

"Thank goodness! I say, brother, it would be better if it were earlier next time! We should at least give the kitchen time to wash and prepare the vegetables!" Manager Qu expressed his opinion.

"Yes, yes, yes! We'll try to start earlier tomorrow!" Dazhu replied.

"Bring the bean sprouts down and weigh them!" Manager Qu then called someone over from the kitchen.

"This is Brother Wang Dazhu, and this is Li Tangbao, who is in charge of purchasing. Get to know each other. In the future, just go directly to Li Tangbao when you deliver bean sprouts."

"Hello, Mr. Li!" Dazhu nodded and bowed.

"Brother Dazhu, don't be so polite! Just call me Tangbao from now on! Let's take the bean sprouts in first!" Li Tangbao said, carrying a bucket of bean sprouts into the kitchen.

Since the steward brought it personally, Li Tangbao was very hospitable and kept forty catties, paying two hundred coins. He also instructed that it be delivered earlier next time.

There were about 60 pounds of bean sprouts on the oxcart. The group of people were happy to go sell boxed lunches and promote the bean sprouts at the same time.

Passing by a small food stall, Er Ya suddenly had a whimsical idea: "Should we go and ask them if they want bean sprouts?" She pointed to the food stall as she spoke.

"Second Sister, I'll go with you!" Guizhi jumped off the oxcart after Dazhu stopped the car and went inside with Erya. They didn't see any waiters, only a middle-aged woman who came over to greet them: "Would you like to eat, ladies?"

Er Ya and Gui Zhi waved their hands repeatedly, saying, "We're not young ladies! We're not here to eat."

"And who are you?" the woman asked, puzzled.

"Our own home-grown bean sprouts are very good. I was wondering if your food shop would like some?" Guizhi quickly explained.

"What kind of bean sprouts are they?"

"Soybean sprouts." Guizhi felt there was a chance, so she opened the door and called to Daya, "Big sister, bring the bean sprouts over so the master can take a look!"

Daya carried a basket of bean sprouts into the food shop. The woman grabbed a handful and looked at them: "Your bean sprouts are so long, they're growing well! Keep ten catties for now! How much is it per catty? Too expensive won't do, we're a small business."

"Five coins a pound, boss, that's the price we pay everywhere," Daya said honestly.

"Okay, I'll reserve ten catties for now. If it sells well, come back tomorrow." The woman readily paid for the copper wire and told him to come back the next day.

"Hurry up! The lunchboxes will get cold! We're not going anywhere else, let's deliver the food first!" Dazhu urged as soon as the three sisters got in the car.

Before they knew it, it was the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, the day before the Lunar New Year, and the cleaning began. These past few days, they'd earned about 900 coins a day, and after seven days, they'd saved over six taels of silver. They didn't rest on the day before the Lunar New Year, but instead of selling boxed lunches, they took 100 jin of bean sprouts to town to sell. That evening, Dazhu took five taels of silver ingots to the old man, feeling a great sense of relief after paying off his debts.

After the Little New Year, every household begins to sweep the sheds, take apart and wash quilts, and slowly tidy up. Guizhi's family is no exception. Li Di takes turns taking apart and washing the quilts and hangs them to dry in the yard.

Zhao saw the brand-new quilt covers and linings on Li's clothesline, without a single patch. Turning to look at the fourth son's family, she thought that since they were newly married, their quilts must also be new. Then she looked at her own quilt covers and linings, patched upon patched, ready to tear open with the slightest pressure.

Zhao was filled with jealousy and resentment. Thinking back to how she had cried and begged the old couple just a few days ago for only a tael of silver to make new clothes, she felt even more aggrieved! Her son, Erzhu, had done his share of work, yet all the money was managed by the old lady, and she had even given birth to two boys for the family!

After Dazhu and the others separated their family, they bought an oxcart, a house, new clothes and quilts, and even a new kangqin for Lao Si! They also wanted to separate their family! This time, they were determined to separate! After separating, they went into business and sold boxed lunches, and they could spend the money they earned however they wanted!

Not to mention that Zhao was envious of Dazhu's family's increasingly better conditions and was determined to find an opportunity to separate the family.

On the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Dazhu told Li Tangbao, the purchasing agent for Xiangmanlou, that he would not be delivering bean sprouts from the 28th onwards. They also agreed that deliveries would begin on the 8th day of the first lunar month after the New Year.

This afternoon I started preparing to buy New Year's goods. I bought two bags of flour, 100 jin each, for 500 wen; I plan to send one 50-jin bag to the old house. I also bought two jin of candy, since there are many children in the family, and we'll need to give some to the children who come to visit during the New Year. I bought five jin of roasted melon seeds and two jin of roasted peanuts to mix together; it'll be good for our own consumption and presentable for guests. I bought two bottles of hawthorn preserves, two boxes of cake, and two jin of liquor, which are for my parents.

I asked the children what they wanted, and the girls all sensibly said that this year's Lunar New Year was already much better than in previous years, so they didn't need to buy anything. Life goes on day by day, and we can't waste money now.