Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 60

“I’d love to sell it, but if those carpenters could make it themselves, would we even need you to suggest it?” Shopkeeper Li glanced at the carpenters in the shop, his voice cold.

The assistant chuckled slyly and whispered in Shopkeeper Li’s ear, “As long as we can find someone to teach us, how could we not make it? We just need to start with Wang the Cripple and Shi Fei…”

Shopkeeper Li’s eyes lit up, and he nodded knowingly. “I’ll leave this matter to you. As long as you can get it done, spending a bit of silver won’t be an issue.”

The assistant beamed. “Rest assured, Shopkeeper, I’ll see it done properly.”

That afternoon, someone came knocking, it was Shopkeeper Zeng, the one who had previously bought Ying Su’s preserved fruit recipe. Back when he accompanied his wife to look at furniture, he had recognized Li Dalang and his wife, learned the shop was theirs, and even sent a congratulatory gift. Ying Su had given his wife a discount when she bought furniture.

A few days later, Shopkeeper Zeng had invited Ying Su over to help set up a drying room and offer guidance on fruit preservation. Since he worked on a large scale, Ying Su had spent two full days instructing him. He had been very satisfied with the boxes Ying Su used to package the fruit and had been ordering them from her shop ever since.

After several dealings, the two sides had become quite familiar and cooperative.

In the back hall of the shop, “Shopkeeper Zeng never visits without reason. What brings you here today?” Ying Su asked directly.

Shopkeeper Zeng smiled. “Indeed, I do have business. Last time, under your guidance, the candied fruit turned out delicious, it’s already sold out. A few days ago, my brother-in-law from Tongzhou came to visit, tried some, and now he wants his shop’s preserved fruit business in Tongzhou to switch to this recipe as well.”

He took a sip of water, moistening his throat, and continued cheerfully, “I urgently need to rush out a batch to send to Tongzhou, and also keep some in reserve for mid-July sales. So I came to let you know in advance that I’ll need a batch of boxes made. I know your shop is busy, so I didn’t want to wait till the last minute only to find you have no time.”

Ying Su curved her lips into a smile and nodded lightly. “We’re partners now. Even if I’m busy, I’ll make time. Since you’re ordering a large batch this time, I’ll even design a few new box patterns for you for free.”

Shopkeeper Zeng’s eyes sparkled with delight. “That’s wonderful!”

Knowing that everything in the furniture shop came from Ying Su’s designs, he was naturally pleased at her offer to create new patterns. Thus, another deal was sealed. As more people came to order custom furniture, the carpenters in the shop became clearly insufficient, so Li Dalang hired another man.

This man, Shi Yuan, was introduced by Shi Fei. They were from the same village. Though Shi Yuan had no prior carpentry experience, he was young, eager to learn, and quickly took on apprentice work under Li Dalang and Liu Laosi.

With business in the shop running smoothly and Li Dalang and his wife managing it, Ying Su was at ease. All she needed to do was bring new designs each month and explain any unclear details.

Gradually, Ying Su stopped coming to the shop often. She and Li Dalang’s couple had agreed long ago, she provided the silver and designs, they managed the shop. Thus, her rare visits never caused any dissatisfaction.

Lately, Ying Su had been wandering around Shili Town, hoping to find other ways to make money. In just a few days, it will be July, the hottest month of summer. Now, more and more outsiders have begun to arrive in Shili Town for leisure.

The Dongjun, Xiling, and Yunwu Rivers converged into one, flowing into the Great Bian River. Logically, Tongzhou’s water transport should be well-developed, much better than road transport.

Yet gazing out at the Great Bian River, Ying Su noticed that ship traffic was sparse, the waterways had clearly not been well-utilized.

If goods from north and south of the river could be shipped this way, and considering that every July, nobles and officials traveled north to escape the heat, the traffic volume would be considerable.

If water transport could be managed properly, it would be a fat piece of meat. Not just profitable, but practically controlling the lifeline between north and south. But Ying Su had neither powerful backing nor capital. All she could do was stroll around the docks, observe, think, and honestly look for other business opportunities.

Food, clothing, housing, and transport, these were inseparable from people’s lives. As long as one focused on these, there was little risk of loss. Ying Su had already decided to start with food. In her past life, she had been a gourmet; in this life, it remained her strength. Once she received her next share of the furniture shop’s profits, she planned to open an inn, combining meals and lodging, like a modern hotel.

At noon, vendors by the wharf sold food. Ying Su bought two steamed buns, but they were terrible, barely any filling, tasteless to the point of being inedible. She couldn’t help but miss the street food of her past life. Whenever she was on leave, she loved to dive into a city, exploring street by street for snacks.

As the saying went, “The greatest hiding is within the city.” It applied to food too, many of the best eats were tucked away in unassuming alleys and night markets.

According to Liu Chuncao, by July, when nobles and officials came to Yunwu Mountain to escape the heat, Shili Town would host a night market. She could then try selling food there.

As she was lost in thought, a large passenger ship docked, instantly stirring excitement as people rushed to meet it. Ying Su glanced over and estimated it could hold about thirty people.

From the clothing of those disembarking, it was clear that only the wealthy could afford such a ride. No doubt, water transport had been poorly utilized. She could only sigh at the wasted opportunity.

Spitting out the grass stalk in her mouth, she patted the dust off her clothes and stood to leave, when a middle-aged couple with a child passed by her side.

Ying Su frowned slightly, watching their backs.

The couple’s clothes were not coarse linen but fine cotton, while the little girl in the man’s arms wore a brocade dress, clearly expensive.

As they passed her, Ying Su had clearly seen the little girl’s wide eyes brimming with tears, blinking desperately at her for help. The man had clamped a hand tightly over her mouth.

Though suspicious, Ying Su had no intention of meddling. Since the couple had just disembarked, and none of the other passengers seemed concerned, perhaps she was overthinking it.

Yet as the couple walked faster and faster, their urgency plain, Ying Su’s dark eyes flickered. Then, suddenly, she strode after them.