Chapter 76: I’m Addicted to Making Money

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Feng’er opened the door, and the wealthy residents of Tianshui Town streamed into her home. They all cried out when they saw the sugar-coated hawthorns in the courtyard.

“Are these for sale?”

“Yes, they’re a hundred coins per skewer.”

“Give me ten skewers!” Instantly, they were surrounded.

Some who hadn’t managed to buy any were anxious. Eventually, Feng’er and his siblings reluctantly handed over their own skewers.

Seeing this, Qiao Mai consoled them, “I’ll make more for you later.”

Hearing this, the children became happy again, and the townspeople quickly placed orders.

“Give me another ten skewers. I have many kids at home.”

“I want ten skewers too.”

“These can only be picked up in the afternoon.”

“Is it okay to have them after lunch?”

“Yes.”

The people bought some more snacks and left satisfied. Just as Feng’er was about to close the door, Chen Hao arrived.

“Aunt, Happy New Year! My mother and I visited my grandparents’ house yesterday, so we didn’t come to wish you a Happy New Year. Please forgive me.”

Qiao Mai smiled, “Happy New Year, Hao’er. Here, this is from Aunt.” Chen Hao politely accepted it. “Thank you, Aunt.”

“Feng’er, quickly take your Brother Hao inside and bring out the delicious food.

“Yes, Mother!”

Yuan Jiaqi took baby Ling’er from Qiao Mai. “You’re working hard again.”

“It’s not hard at all. I have an addiction to making money. Look, in a short time, I’ve earned over a dozen taels of silver. It’s almost New Year, and everyone has money. If we don’t make money now, when will we?”

Yuan Jiaqi held Ling’er and laughed, following her into the kitchen.

Sitting in front of the stove, preparing to light the fire, Qiao Mai went to the storeroom and started shaving wooden sticks.

After half an hour of preparation, she began to cook the sugar.

“Madam Chen and her son are back. Should we go over and wish them a Happy New Year?”

“No. If she’s sensible, she should come over. After all, you’re her son’s teacher.” “Whatever you say.”

“Making these sugar-coated hawthorns is quite easy. Just string some fruits together. The key is the sugar syrup. Dip the fruits in the syrup, place them on a board, and the sugar will set as it cools and hardens. Once it’s cold, it’s ready.”

“It sounds easier said than done. Your version seems simple.” “It’s easy once you get the hang of it. Everything takes practice.”

“It seems like you’re making money quite easily.”

“Just like how you easily copy books with your knowledge. It’s easy for you, but if I were to do it, I wouldn’t know how. What do you think?”

“That makes sense.”

In the time they talked, all the sugar-coated hawthorns were done. Qiao Mai also found a wooden stake, shaved and pierced holes in it.

They made a hundred in one go. In addition to the pre-orders, there were still dozens left, enough for the children to eat.

Seeing that it was almost noon, Qiao Mai cleaned the pan and decided to prepare some fresh food for everyone. She went to the storeroom, used it as cover, and took a dozen pieces of steak from the frozen cabinet in the space.

These steaks were marinated and were well-known brands from the supermarket.

After the pan dried, she didn’t add any oil and put the steaks in directly. She cooked three pieces at a time, placed them on a plate after frying, and held Ling’er as she had Yuan Jiagi taste them.

“These are medium-rare steaks. Give them a try.”

“Steaks?”

“Yes, beef tenderloin. I named them steaks.

Yuan Jiaqi tasted a piece. “They taste good and tender, unlike anything we’ve had before. Cattle are a vital workforce in the fields of our Great Ming Dynasty.

The court doesn’t allow their casual slaughter.”

Worried that she might not understand, Yuan Jiaqi explained further.

“Yeah, I know. These were purchased legally from the Capital. I have all the proper documents. After you finish, call the children to eat. Steaks are best eaten hot. They’re not as good when they’re cold.”

Yuan Jiaqi finished three pieces in a few bites. Qiao Mai shook her head in disbelief. At this rate, each person would need at least five pieces. With Chen Hao included, they would need thirty pieces.

While Yuan Jiaqi called everyone to eat, she used her mental power to check the freezer. There were fifty pieces in there. She took fifteen pieces, so there were still thirty-five pieces left. Yuan Jiaqi had eaten three, so there should be thirty-eight remaining.

After counting, Qiao Mai felt relieved. The food he consumed was quickly replenished by the space.

With the replenishment taken care of, she no longer needed to worry about running out of steaks.

“Mom, what are you cooking? It smells so good.”

“Get your plates and chopsticks ready. I’ll place a piece on each plate as soon as I fry them. We have plenty of meat today.”

The children’s mouths watered. “Mom, why are you serving the meat like this? Aren’t you going to stew it?”

“No. It tastes best this way.”

As she fried the steaks, Qiao Mai placed one piece on each child’s plate. She kept frying until she lost track of how many pieces she had cooked. The children were full.

“Mom, this meat is so delicious.”

“Go to play if you’re full. There are sugar-coated hawthorns in the courtyard to whet your appetite.”

“Mom, you’re too kind. You’re the best mother in the world.”

Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. Children thought highly of their mothers only when they had something to eat or drink.

Qiao Mai fried a few more pieces for Yuan Jiaqi and took over Ling’er. “You can carry her once you’re full.”

“You haven’t eaten yet.”

“I had this before you all came. It’s nothing special.”

“You’re really skilled. If you don’t find a man in the future, can I stay in your home forever?”

After saying this, Yuan Jiaqi blushed.

Qiao Mai didn’t think much of it. “Sure, if I don’t find another man in the future, you can all stay in my home forever. I don’t mind. Having someone do the work for me will save me a lot of trouble.’

Yuan Jiaqi nodded unconsciously, feeling a sweet sensation in his heart.

Starting from the second day of the lunar month, the Qiao family had been busy every day. People came to buy things from them daily.

Qiao Mai cleared a corner of the living room, set up a shelf where they used to sun-dry firewood, and displayed their goods there. Yuan Jiaqi and the twins knew the prices. Qiao Mai only prepared the goods. The rest was up to them.

They earned almost twenty taels of silver per day, and Yuan Jiaqi even lost interest in copying books.

He worked hard all day, copying half a book, which took three days for a book. In a month, he earned merely a few taels of silver. For more demanding books, he earned only two taels after copying one book. On the other hand, Madam Qiao made more daily than he made in a month.

Life was indeed unfair. Yuan Jiaqi’s expression showed his dilemma, which left Qiao Mai amused.

“Brother Yuan, don’t forget that I have costs too. Even though I earn so much daily, why aren’t you subtracting my expenses?”

“That’s true. Your goods are all of high quality, so the costs must be higher.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t be jealous. Although I earn over twenty taels a day, I’m only making a few taels of profit.”

“Well, it’s still quite a lot. It’s not that I’m jealous. I think that in this world, scholars are valued less than they should be. We spend ten years studying, but apart from becoming an official after passing the imperial exam, the rest seems rather pointless. People say scholars are noble, but what does that mean? A peddler on the street earns more money than us. What use is a noble reputation? It’s better for us to have money and let our families live comfortably.”

“That’s not necessarily true. While it’s true that studying costs money, those who succeed in the imperial exam become prominent. Even if you don’t, being a scholar can be a profession, like a bookkeeper or a county office clerk. At worst, you can do something like copying books, which isn’t as hard as working in the fields and doesn’t require enduring the weather. Take you and Feng’er, for instance. You don’t need to work in the fields like the farmers, and your lives are better. This is thanks to your education. What do you think?” Yuan Jiaqi sighed, “You make a good point. I was overthinking it.”

Qiao Mai smiled. “Brother Yuan, haven’t you noticed? Among the peddlers, my business is the best. That’s because I have good products. As for other peddlers, earning a few taels a month is considered good.”

“True. You’re a capable woman.”

“However, I won’t tell anyone where my goods come from. This is my source of

income. If I tell others, I’ll lose it..”

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