The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 531 - 529: Background

Chapter 531: Chapter 529: Background

Before Wang Yongzhu stepped out, she reminded everyone at home to lock all the doors and windows properly, to prevent the Sun Family from sneaking in.

Especially the kitchen, they had to keep a close watch on the meat, fish, and eggs. Only then did she hurried to the town to fetch some alcohol.

Once in town, she naturally headed to Shopkeeper Wu’s tavern first. These past two days, all they had been eating at home were radish stewed with pork and assorted fish stewed with tofu. It was fine for a day or two, but eating the same thing every day got a bit tiresome.

Wang Yongzhu took out the recipe book she had exchanged before and pondered over a few dishes. She feared that some ingredients could only be found at Shopkeeper Wu’s tavern, so she didn’t bother looking elsewhere and went straight there.

Given her current relationship with Shopkeeper Wu, buying directly from the tavern was the way to go.

Luckily, Shopkeeper Wu was also at the tavern that day. When he saw Wang Yongzhu, he immediately smiled and greeted her, "What a rare guest! A few days ago, I ran into the Song Brothers who mentioned that your family is building a new house. How come you have time to come to town today, is there something you need?"

As he spoke, he ordered the waiter to serve some hot tea and snacks.

Wang Yongzhu sat down without ceremony, took a sip of hot tea, and ate two pieces of steaming hot snacks fresh from the oven. After warming up, she then spoke, "I’ve come today to ask for Shopkeeper Wu’s help with something."

Shopkeeper Wu was taken aback and lowered his voice, "Is it because you’re short on silver for the new house construction? No problem, I can give you an advance on your dividend—"

Wang Yongzhu quickly waved her hands, "It’s not that. Our family’s mountain goods business is doing well this year. Although we don’t earn much, it’s enough to cover the new house construction. Mainly, we’re having people over to help and need to provide three meals a day. It’s a rural area, and now that the weather is cold and there’s not much to eat, we can’t have them nibbling on flatbreads all the time. So, I want to buy some vermicelli, potatoes, and the like..."

Once Shopkeeper Wu heard this, he understood immediately and laughed, "Such a small matter, why the need to ask for help?"

He motioned to the waiter to call the head chef from the kitchen.

Shortly after, the head chef came out. They were already acquainted, so they exchanged greetings.

After Shopkeeper Wu explained the situation, the head chef got the point, "How much does Miss Wang need? I’ll pack it up for you in a moment."

After some thought, he enthusiastically recommended a few simple, hearty, and appetite-rousing pot dishes to Wang Yongzhu, briefly explaining how to make them.

Wang Yongzhu busily expressed her thanks.

With the reminder from the chef, she felt even more confident.

She bought a big bundle of vermicelli, about thirty pounds’ worth, along with a hundred pounds of potatoes. Wang Yongzhu went to settle the bill.

Shopkeeper Wu, used to Wang Yongzhu’s principle of keeping transactions clear, promptly named a price. Wang Yongzhu paid the money, then thought it over and shamelessly suggested that she might as well buy the alcohol too.

Shopkeeper Wu laughed and cried at the same time, pointing at Wang Yongzhu, "You really are something. What am I to say about you? Don’t you know that our tavern’s alcohol is the best in town? The stuff you get from the grocery stores is diluted with water, fine for the everyday drinker. But what do you need the alcohol for if you’re taking it back with you?"

Wang Yongzhu didn’t hide the reason and said it was to warm up the workers who were helping make mud bricks.

Shopkeeper Wu hadn’t expected that this was why Wang Yongzhu wanted to buy alcohol. After thinking it over, given their relationship, he decided not to beat around the bush, "Our tavern has three types of alcohol: the top-grade pure stuff, the kind diluted with water, and another kind that is mostly water with a bit of alcohol added—that last one is specifically for those who crave alcohol but don’t have much money. They come to our tavern, drink a bowl for two coins, and then leave."

"If it’s for your own use, naturally, I would sell you the top-grade stuff. But if it’s for others, the second kind is suitable enough—it warms the body and doesn’t get you drunk. It avoids trouble if someone drinks too much and affects the work at your place."

Wang Yongzhu hadn’t anticipated there would be such intricacies and looked at Shopkeeper Wu with a bit of surprise.

Shopkeeper Wu was both annoyed and amused, "What are you still looking at me for? I’ve even given up my trade secrets."

Wang Yongzhu also smiled, expressed her thanks, filled a jug with ten jin of good unwatered alcohol, and another fifty jin of average quality diluted alcohol, paid the money, and bid farewell beamingly.

Shopkeeper Wu didn’t hold her back, had his assistant fetch some steamed buns and half a hot, steaming chicken wrapped in greased paper from the kitchen, and stuffed them into Wang Yongzhu’s hands, "Nowadays, it gets dark late, so I won’t keep you. Once you’re done with your shopping, you should head back early. When the new house is built, just send someone to let me know, and I’ll come to warm up your new place for you."

Wang Yongzhu didn’t refuse, took the food, and waved goodbye.

Passing by a butcher’s shop, she saw half a side of pork, some rib bones, and two pig livers left on the chopping board, thought it over, and simply got down from her carriage, cut a small portion of the pork, and rounded up the bones and livers.

The butcher, rarely encountering such a generous customer, not only rounded down the total charge but also threw in almost half a pig’s head into the basket at the end.

By the time she reached the Wang Family residence, it was nearly dark.

The Sun Family had eaten their lunch and left.

Today, with everyone on the lookout, the losses were smaller than yesterday, with only a few eggs and two fish gone missing.

When she arrived home, a few old grannies were discussing the matter, "Those eggs are understandable, you can just pocket them and take them home without messing up your clothes. But the fish, so fishy and bloody, how do you carry them home? If you put them in your pocket, can you even wear those clothes after?"

Everyone felt puzzled.

Old Granny Zhang saw her daughter return and asked, "Have you eaten? Do you want me to steam an egg to tide you over?"

Wang Yongzhu shook her head, "I’ve had my lunch. Shopkeeper Wu packed some buns and roasted chicken for me, mother, I saved a chicken leg for you." As she spoke, she took out a greasy, shiny chicken leg wrapped in oily paper.

Seeing her daughter hadn’t forgotten her while enjoying something delicious herself made Old Granny Zhang extremely happy. She took the chicken leg, "Mom won’t eat it, I’ll heat it up for you tonight!"

Meanwhile, she called for others to unload the items from the carriage.

A few old grannies gathered around and were stunned to see a carriage full of goods.

Old Granny Zhang also gasped, "My girl, you’ve bought so many things, how much money did that cost you?"

Wang Yongzhu started by setting aside the ten jin of marked, high-quality alcohol, then took Old Granny Zhang aside, "Eating meat and stewed radishes every day gets tiresome, so today I sought advice from the head chef at the restaurant and learned several dish recipes. Tomorrow we can switch things up a bit."

Upon hearing that her daughter was tired of the food, Old Granny Zhang felt extremely distressed, "It’s all mom’s fault for being busy and not noticing you weren’t enjoying the food. Tonight, I’ll cook a couple of dishes just for you."

The other old grannies listening in couldn’t help but smack their lips; this mother was truly indulging her daughter.

Once all the goods were unloaded, Wang Yongzhu had Jinguan lead the mules away to feed.

She then arranged for the potatoes to be stored in the kitchen pavilion, the vermicelli and thirty jin of alcohol to be put in the main house, and the half side of pork, pork bones, and pork head were also moved to the kitchen pavilion.

The helping old grannies all busied themselves. It was getting late, and they couldn’t clear the hair on the pork head since it was too dark, so they decided to deal with it tomorrow.