Chapter 35 - Preparing for the Birthday Banquet

When they went to bed at night, the family of three were covered with the blanket that Yu Wan bought (pulled). The blanket was very thin, and Yu Wan was worried that it was not warm enough, so she added another thick blanket for her family.

1

In the end, the family of three were heated into steamed prawns in the middle of the night and the mattress was drenched.

Breakfast was the leftover white steamed buns and braised food from last night. They could be eaten after heating up.

Yu Wan made a trip to the pigpen while the pot was steaming the steamed buns and braised food.

There were no more pigs in the pigpen. Yu Wan had cleaned the place thoroughly and was now using it to raise chickens. In order to keep the chicken warm, Yu Wan covered the outside with a cotton cloth. Although it was not as warm as the walls, it was much better than sleeping in the open. Furthermore, Yu Wan even lit a brazier beside the chicken coop.

The chickens were placed in different chicken cages. Yu Wan went over one by one. When she touched the third one, her hand paused. “You didn’t lay any eggs?” It hadn’t laid any since yesterday.

“Ah Wan.” Yu Feng knocked on the back door of the kitchen. He had come to take Yu Wan to town to buy groceries. He remembered that Little Bruiser and Third Aunt were still asleep, so he didn’t want to wake them up, so he came through the back door.

Yu Wan opened the door for Yu Feng.

Yu Feng saw the two eggs in her hands and said, “Are you collecting eggs?”

The cold wind that blew in made Yu Wan shiver. She hurriedly welcomed Yu Feng in and closed the back door. “There’s a chicken that can’t lay eggs. I was thinking if we should sell it in town later, we should be able to sell it for a good price.”

Just as she finished speaking, a crisp clucking sound came from the chicken cage!

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Yu Feng ran over to take a look. “Eh? It laid eggs.”

…

Yu Wan dipped her white steamed bun in the stew and ate it. Then, she set off with Yu Feng. As usual, they went to Shuanzi’s house to rent an ox cart. Unfortunately, the ox cart broke down and the two of them had to walk.

Yu Wan was used to it and did not feel that it was too far away. Besides, she could save money by walking there. Even though they could eat meat every meal now, that was only because they were in the braised meat business. After extracting the high cost of ingredients and salt, they didn’t have much money.

And they needed to gather a hundred taels of consultation fees. There was still a long way to go before they could reach their goal.

2

However, as long as they worked hard, Yu Wan believed that they would be able to earn it one day.

“There’s no need to buy vegetables. I’ve already told our fellow villagers. When the time comes, we’ll go to their fields to pick them. We’ll pay the market price.” Along the way, Yu Feng said with a cold wind.

Yu Wan nodded. Vegetables weren’t that important. It might not be easy to order in advance at the market. It would be best if they could buy from their fellow villagers. Moreover, benefits should stay in the family. Wouldn’t it be better to let them earn the money?

As for meat dishes, they had to be purchased from the market.

The two of them first went to the market where Yu Wan had sold live fish and winter bamboo shoots.

“How much is the streaky pork?” Yu Wan pointed at a beautiful long streaky pork and asked.

The stall owner said, “Twenty copper coins per pound.”

Yu Wan paused. “So expensive? Weren’t they only eighteen yesterday?”

The stall owner chopped off a pork trotter and said, “It’ll be twenty-two when you come tomorrow! One price per day since it’s the end of the year. Even if you go to other places to ask, you won’t get a lower price.”

Yu Wan didn’t believe him at first. She pulled Yu Feng around the market, but just as the stall owner said, there were no lower prices. “Big Brother, are there any other markets in town?”

“Yes. One more.”

The siblings went to another market. However, the most regrettable thing was that this market was closer to the entrance of North Town, so the price was even higher than the previous market.

“We still need to buy salt. The cost of ingredients is too high, so we’ll be making a loss.” Although Yu Wan didn’t plan to earn much, it didn’t mean she wanted to make a loss.

Yu Feng thought for a while and said, “There’s a market in Xitou Village. I heard that the food there is cheap, but it’s too far away.”

Heavy snow fell from the sky like goose feathers. The two of them had to walk for more than ten miles before they finally arrived at the marketplace of Xitou Village.

Yu Wan’s ears were red from the cold, her hands were stiff, and her face was numb. She couldn’t even speak properly. Unfortunately, the food here was not cheap at all.

“Why are you here?” A carriage stopped beside Yu Wan. The curtain was lifted and Bai Tang looked at the siblings.

Yu Wan said strenuously, “We came to… buy… groceries.”

“Why did you go so far to buy groceries? Is there nothing on the market?” Bai Tang asked.

“Buying. For. Old. Master. Bai’s. Banquet.” Yu Wan enunciated each word clearly. It wasn’t that she wanted to say it so slowly, but her cheeks were stiff.

Bai Tang widened her eyes. “Didn’t I make myself clear yesterday? I’ll buy the ingredients. You guys can just go over and cook!”

When she heard this, even the usually calm Yu Wan couldn’t help but be stunned. Miss Bai had promised them five taels of silver. Didn’t it mean that she wants them to prepare their own ingredients? They’ll go there to make braised food for a day, yet they could earn so much money?!

What a prodigal daughter.

Bai Tang saw that Yu Wan couldn’t speak properly and knew that she was freezing. She sighed. “Get in the carriage. I’ll send you back.”

It was inconvenient for Yu Feng to enter, so he only sat outside with the coachman. However, Bai Tang gave him a thick woolen blanket. He wrapped it around his body and felt as if he was on fire.

The carriage stopped at the village entrance.

Yu Wan thanked her sincerely.

Bai Tang waved her hand and said, “I’ll send someone to pick you up the day after tomorrow.”

Yu Wan said politely, “The town is not far. We can go there ourselves.”

Bai Tang raised her eyebrows. “Who said my house is in town?”

…

In the afternoon, the snow was getting heavier. Outside the house, the wind and snow were blowing, but inside the pavilion, it was as warm as the late spring.

The red coal burned brightly.

Mrs. Yan was only wearing a thin short jacket, but she didn’t feel cold at all.

In front of her, Steward Du, who was in charge of the kitchen, was asking for her advice. “…The deer meat has been ordered. Do you think we should prepare some fresh donkey meat as well? They all say that in heaven there is dragon meat and on Earth there is donkey meat. These are very suitable to serve our esteemed guests. But the price…”

As Steward Du spoke, he revealed a troubled expression.

Mrs. Yan stroked the lazy white cat in her arms and coldly snorted. “Does our General Manor look like someone who lacks money now? What is good should be used to serve the guests. You just have to do what you need to do. You don’t have to ask me about everything. You only have to remember that the Princess Consort and Young Master Yan are also coming to attend the banquet. Don’t neglect them!”

Steward Du trembled. “Yes, Madam!”

Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!

A deafening drumbeat sounded nearby.

The white cat in Mrs. Yan’s arms was frightened and jumped away with a meow.

Mrs. Yan frowned. “Who is so bold as to beat the drum in the manor? Don’t they know that the Young Miss is resting after traveling for so long? Go and beat that suicidal servant out!”

3

Steward Du rubbed his nose and said embarrassedly, “He’s not from our manor. He’s from the Bai Manor next door. It’s to be said that his master was going to celebrate his birthday so he specially invited an entertainer over.”