The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 109: Start Preparing (1)_1

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Start Preparing (1)_1

Following Si Ya’s idea, with the five taels and two coins of silver in hand, she thought to buy up grains and seasoning so even if they couldn’t earn money in the next half a year, they wouldn’t go hungry. Remembering waking up hungry in the night and always hearing the rumbling sounds of hungry stomachs, her idea became even more resolute, "Mother, why don’t we buy half a year’s worth of food! That way, at least for the next half a year, we’ll have something to eat!" She definitely did not want to experience famine again. Moreover, once they stocked up on grains at home, her eldest sister wouldn’t be able to squander money so easily, since she wouldn’t be able to sell the grains they bought.

Pei Qin gave her a sideways glance, "There are still two months before the end of the year. If we set up a stall, we could cover the food for the upcoming whole year!"

After the last scolding, Si Ya was a little resentful, but she still had some fear in her heart. She looked to Lady Fang, hoping she would agree.

Lady Fang also knew that digging up winter bamboo shoots, catching bamboo rats, and wild rabbits was not a long-term solution, just a temporary one. If they really set up a stall and managed it well, they as mother and daughters could make a living and scrape by day after day.

As for showing their faces in public, she had lost her reputation since the day Jian Xiao shamed her, and over the years, after hearing so much, she felt regret but had also become numb. She couldn’t let the heavy burden of the family rest solely on her Qinqin’s shoulders! She was only just under fourteen and not yet grown!

In the end, Lady Fang agreed to Pei Qin setting up a stall.

Si Ya’s expression darkened. Silver was so hard to earn, and they had scraped by miserably for so long, only to accumulate a little.

However, both San Ya and Pei Wendong believed in Pei Qin, and even if Mother disagreed, San Ya had decided to support her eldest sister. All the silver they used at home was earned through the eldest sister’s schemes. If she said setting up a stall would work, she must be certain of it!

Pei Qin’s spirits lifted, "Let’s discuss what to sell at the stall! I’m thinking we choose between noodles and sesame cakes. For noodles, we can make rolled and cut noodles, and for sesame cakes, we’ll make sesame paste cakes. Neither Taiping Town nor Yuanyang County has these for sale. We could set up a stall in either place at will."

"Rolled and cut noodles? Is that making pulled noodles?" Lady Fang asked puzzled, as making pulled noodles was something she knew how to do.

"It’s rolled and cut noodles," Pei Qin explained, describing how to make them, "The method is very simple: just press out the noodles and cook them."

San Ya couldn’t help asking, "Eldest sister! What are sesame paste cakes like?"

Pei Qin smiled, "That’s simple too: just make some secret-recipe sesame paste and bake it with the dough to make the cakes!"

"It does sound simple, but the most important thing is the taste. With a good taste, we can attract customers," Lady Fang mused.

"Now that it’s getting cold, we should buy flour first and sell sesame cakes when spring starts next year," Pei Qin decided, then went to sleep early. At dawn the next day, they had breakfast and set out for the town.

Pei Wendong insisted on coming along, "I don’t want to eat! I just want to look around the town!"

Pei Qin carried two taels of silver and called him along, the siblings stepping out together.

It happened to be market day, and the two wandered around the market. They saw Pei Houli setting up a stall selling medicine, but Pei Qin only glanced over and walked by.

Pei Houli was busy calling out to customers and didn’t notice them.

Upon reaching Sun Tiezhu’s house, Zou Xing brought over several steaming hot pork buns, beckoning them, "I’ve got fresh buns hot from the oven, come and have a couple!"

"We’ve already eaten," Pei Qin declined, "I’m here to ask for your family’s help with something!"

Zou Xing, seeing her forthright request for help, felt pleased and his tone softened, "Whatever you need help with, I’ll definitely assist!"

"Your family is in the blacksmith trade, right? I’d like to have something made," Pei Qin said while Lady Zou had already turned to fetch paper and pen, a habit by now.