Chapter 34

Qiao Mai smiled mysteriously at the two of them. “Let’s go. I’ll show you. This is what I’ve been doing for two months.”

She held Ruxin and Ruyi’s hands and went to the first room in the east wing. She gently opened the door and led them in.

The two girls were dumbfounded when they saw the palm-sized quails running around on the ground.

“Master, are you using these few rooms to raise this?”

“Yeah, aren’t they cute? Do you want to raise a few?”

The two gulped. “Does my mother know?”

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I’ll occupy this house first. After I leave, she’ll get someone to clean it up.”

“This seems cleaner than a chicken.”

“They’re too small, so they eat less and poop less. I cleaned more diligently, and the house didn’t stink at all. In the winter, if you make a charcoal basin in the house, they’ll still lay eggs.”

“Let’s go back and ask Mother. If it’s possible, we can also raise some at home.”

“It’s fine as long as you can eat it. This egg is more nutritious than a chicken egg. It’s better to put this in the noodle soup.”

The girls looked at the quail for a while. Qiao Mai called them into the house and pointed at the cooked quail eggs.

“Eat it. It’s like eating eggs. I cooked a pot of five-spice. If you can’t finish it, take it for your mother when you leave.”

“Hehe, there will always be good food if we follow Master.”

“This thing can’t be put away. It can’t be eaten overnight in summer. If you can’t finish it, give some to the neighbors.”

“Master, are you going to sell this?”

“Yeah, the weather will turn cold in two months, and the chickens won’t lay eggs anymore. Quails can be raised indoors and still lay eggs. Selling this in winter is also an income.”

“It won’t be cheap, right?”

“One for a coin.”

“It doesn’t sound expensive, but one chicken egg is worth several of these.”

Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. “These eggs are different. Although the taste was similar, the nutritional value was different.”

“What’s the difference?”

“If you eat this often, it can strengthen your brain, and treat swelling and leukemia. It has a certain medicinal value. Of course, chicken eggs are also good for the body, especially the liver.”

“Ah, Master really knows a lot.”

“Since I want to sell this, I naturally have to understand more.”

“Eat, I’ll make you some good stuff.”

“Okay.” The sisters didn’t try to be courteous and started to peel the quail eggs.

Qiao Mai came to the kitchen and boiled a pot of water. She took a dozen corn from her space and peeled off the outer skin, leaving only a thin layer of inner skin. Then, she threw it into the pot.

Her space had already collected many corns and was piled in the corner. She had to sell them quickly.

But not now. She had to wait until August or September when the new corn would be on the market. She wanted to sell the boiled corn a month in advance. That way, she should be able to sell it at a high price.

When customers got used to her corn, they would know how delicious this variety of corn was.

She was thankful for the corn she had bought in her previous life. Otherwise, she would not have been able to eat such sweet and sticky corn.

Back then, this corn variety was also a type of street food popular among the people.

After the pot boiled, she could take out the corn in ten minutes.

Qiao Mai carried a basin full of steaming corn cobs to the table in the room.

“Master, did you cook corn for us?”

“Yes, the corn in the south is growing. I think it’s quite good. I discussed it with the farmer and bought a lot. I plan to buy this in August.”

“Master, this corn looks good, but everyone usually uses it to make porridge. Who would want this? I don’t think it will sell well.”

“You can’t conclude now. Try it after it cools down.”

“The wealthy won’t eat it. They all say that this is for the lowly.”

“That’s because they don’t have the fortune to eat. Don’t think that coarse grain doesn’t match their status just because they have money. Coarse grain is great for the body. Let me tell you, those who live a long life will never be picky about their grains. Those rich people who choose this and that will pass away quickly.”

The girls looked at Qiao Mai and laughed. “Master, you’re really funny, but you also make a lot of sense.”

“Listen to Master. How are the quail eggs?”

“In terms of taste, it’s about the same as chicken eggs. But you said they are richer in nutrition. Especially the five-spice taste, which covers the dullness of the eggs. It’s delicious.”

“This egg is small and delicate. Children should like it the most.”

“Yeah, I’m used to eating chicken eggs. Trying this feels quite fresh.”

Anyway, Ruxin and Ruyi were not optimistic about this business. When the corn cooled down a little, Qiao Mai peeled the outer layer of the corn and handed one to each of them.

“Eat!”

The moment the two girls bit into it, they knew it was different from the usual corn.

“Master, this corn is delicious. It’s sticky and sweet. This will definitely sell well.”

“How about ten coins each?”

“Isn’t it expensive? A pound of noodles is only three coins.”

“You guys are inexperienced. Why is our double-sided embroidery so expensive?”

“It’s good-looking, rare, and time-consuming?”

“That’s right. This corn is rare and delicious. It’s hard for others to find it even if they want to.”

The two little disciples quickly understood their master’s advice.

“Things are precious when they are rare, precious when they are refined, and precious when they are good, right, Master?”

“Yes. Smart girls.”

When the two girls left, Qiao Mai put the quail eggs and corn cobs in a small basket for them to take away.

In August, not only these two items could be sold, but also boiled peanuts and boiled edamame at the stall.

If the weather was a little colder, she could put a charcoal stove and a pot on top to keep warm and keep the food from getting cold.

Thinking of warmth, she had to prepare for winter now.

Although Qiao Mai wanted to be warm and harmonious at home, she was still willing to see the world outside. After all, on the surface, she was a servant of the Lu family.

She couldn’t stay hidden forever to pay her debts.

At the thought of this, she locked the courtyard door and went to the carpenter’s shop. She wanted to order a mobile plank house to block the wind. It must be small enough to not block the embroidery workshop behind.

The general design had already taken shape in her mind. Apart from this, Qiao Mai also had to order a few big pots from the iron shop. They couldn’t be like the pot on her stove, which took up too much space. They had to be round, like the ones used to steam buns in modern homes.

She also had to run to the grocery store to order a special drone. She wanted to sell roasted sweet potatoes in winter.

Although she had not planted it in the space yet, there was no hurry. As long as she had seeds, they would mature once every five days. It would be quick.

When it was winter and freezing outside, she would sit on the side of the official road in a beautiful wind shelter. She will be in the middle, surrounded by a few charcoal stoves, a small table in front of her, and a sign introducing the delicacies in her stall. What kind of feeling would that be?

Qiao Mai chuckled and waved her hand, sweeping away her longing.

She had to let the townsfolk see how hardworking she was and how hard she worked to pay off her debts. She had to let them know her suffering.

After doing these, she only needed to wait for the time to go and get her orders. Seeing that the sky was about to turn dark, Qiao Mai hurriedly walked home.

When she walked into the alley, she saw a person standing at her door.

When she got closer, she saw it was a man about 1.75 meters tall. He was good-looking and did not look like a farmer.

Seeing Qiao Mai return, he lowered his head slightly and cupped his hands at her.

“Greetings, young lady. I’m your neighbor, surnamed Yuan, name Jiaqi.”

Qiao Mai frowned. “What’s the matter?”

“Do you still have watermelons at home?”

“You want to buy melons?”

“Yes. My son has a fever and can’t eat anything. He only wants to eat a mouthful of watermelon.”

“The weather has been bad these days, so I didn’t set up the stall. I can’t sell in pieces.”

“Whole melons are fine too.”

“Then wait here. I’ll go get it.”

“If there are other delicious foods, I would like to buy some too.”

“There are berries, melons, and quail eggs about to be marketed.”

“Quail eggs?”

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