CH 31

Ming Xu and Ming Chen cleaned up the shop by themselves, while Qiao Yuan rushed to the iron shop.

Several people had already gathered at the entrance of the iron shop. Seeing him arrive, they said, “Yu Fulang, you’re finally back. We came to buy pancakes.”

Yu Dameng whispered to him, “You’re not feeling well today. It’s better not to work. You should rest instead.”

Turning down money that comes to your door is foolish! Qiao Yuan pushed him aside and smiled at the waiting people, “Sorry everyone, I was delayed by something today and can’t make so many in a short time. If you’re in a hurry, you can come tomorrow. If you’re not, how about coming in the afternoon? I’ll give you one more for each order.”

The people were a bit unhappy when they heard that, but when they heard that they could get one more, they felt that it was not a big deal. They agreed on the time and quantity with Qiao Yuan and went home.

Seeing Qiao Yuan disregard his own health like this, Yu Dameng was a little unhappy, drooping his bear-like head.

Seeing this, Qiao Yuan held his head and said, “Oh, I seem to have a headache.”

Yu Dameng immediately forgot his unhappiness and supported him back to the backyard, saying, “The medicine is almost ready. I’ll bring it for you to drink.”

Qiao Yuan: “……”

He had lifted a rock and smashed his own foot!

“My headache is gone.”

“Be good and listen.”

After that, perhaps it was the words of Dr. Zhou that were spread around, more and more people came to buy pancakes in the afternoon. Qiao Yuan was so busy that he was dizzy. When he finally finished, his head really hurt a bit.

Yu Dameng massaged his head and said, “Why don’t we stay in the shop tonight?”

Yu Dameng would have trouble staying at Yu Qiao Ji tonight, and from now on he wouldn’t be able to easily go stay there anymore1Because MX and MC are both gers. Qiao Yuan sniffed and threw himself into Yu Dameng’s arms acting cute, “I want to go home.”

Coincidentally, Zhao Shuisheng also needed to go back today, so they caught a ride together.

Qiao Yuan sat in his lounge chair huffing in the hallway, while Yu Dameng brewed medicine and cooked in the yard. Yu Dameng asked him to go to their room several times, but he shook his head. He didn’t want to be alone.

When he was sick, he seemed to be especially fragile. He had to see Yu Dameng to feel at ease.

Lin Cuifen heard from Yu Laoda that he had caught a cold and hurried over to see him.

As soon as she entered, she saw Qiao Yuan sitting outside in the hallway, enjoying the breeze. She scolded Yu Dameng for a long time, “Is this how you take care of someone?”

“Mom, I wanted to sit outside myself.” Qiao Yuan quickly explained to her.

Lin Cuifen looked at his tired appearance and felt regretful in her heart. “I should have given you the two light padded jackets I made earlier. These past few days haven’t been as warm as before, you must have caught cold from the morning and night chill, and overwork.”

“Mom, I don’t usually feel cold.” He was wearing three layers of clothes inside and outside. Where did he need to wear a light-padded jacket?

Lin Cuifen was not convinced. She took him to the room and went back to the old house to get him a thin jacket. She repeatedly told him to wear it in the morning and evening from now on.

Qiao Yuan agreed, and Lin Cuifen finally felt at ease leaving to take over boiling medicine from Yu Dameng, chasing him back to the room to accompany Qiao Yuan.

Once she took over, the work was done faster. In a little while, not only was the medicine boiled, but the meal was also ready – millet porridge, flour cakes, and a small plate of pickled vegetables.

“You can’t eat greasy food when you have a cold. Just make do with this light food for now.” Lin Cuifen said to Qiao Yuan.

Qiao Yuan really didn’t have much appetite right now, the millet porridge was just right.

Lin Cuifen continued instructing Yu Dameng, “I’ve kept the medicine warm on the stove. After eating, you help Yuan Ge’er and make sure he drinks the medicine. Tomorrow morning, you just need to boil the medicine. Don’t cook by yourself. I’ll bring food over for you.”

Yu Dameng nodded and saw Lin Cuifen off.

After eating and drinking the medicine, Qiao Yuan lay down early. Looking at Yu Dameng still standing dazedly by the bed, he asked, “Aren’t you getting in? It’s cold under the blanket.”

Yu Dameng had actually planned to fetch water and chop firewood, but seeing his little husband staring at him so intently, he decisively chose to get in bed and sleep.

Qiao Yuan happily pushed open his inner robe, placing his icy hands and feet on him, snuggling against him like a little warm stove, sighing contentedly, “Comfortable.”

Yu Dameng gently patted him and coaxed him to sleep.

……

Dr. Zhou’s medical skills really lived up to his reputation. After drinking a dose of medicine he prescribed, Qiao Yuan woke up feeling lively and energetic again.

Lin Cuifen was not at ease and brought a few kids with them to town today.

They had already told the customers who came to the door yesterday that today’s pancakes would be moved to the entrance of Yu Qiao Ji.

Ming Xu and Ming Chen have already pushed the small cart out and tidied everything up this morning. After changing into new clothes and tidying up neatly, they had smiles on their faces and looked much more energetic.

“Old Madam, Master.” Ming Xu and Ming Chen greeted Lin Cuifen and Qiao Yuan, and then greeted Yu Shanwen and the other kids. They had just called out “Fourth Young Master” when they were stopped by Qiao Yuan.

“It’s weird to call them young masters.” Qiao Yuan thought about it and couldn’t think of a suitable title. He said, “Anyway, they don’t come to the shop often. Just… just don’t call them anything for now!”

He added, “In the future, just call me the boss directly.”

Calling him Master and such was also weird.

Ming Xu and Ming Chen quickly responded. Then Lin Cuifen stir-fried vegetables while Qiao Yuan wrapped them and flipped pancakes, while the two of them watched on the side.

Qiao Yuan didn’t specifically teach them this skill. The business with Laike House was already settled. He finally had some free time and planned to hire someone today, so it didn’t matter whether Ming Xu and Ming Chen knew how to make vegetable pancakes or not.

However, Ming Xu, who was originally Lin Wen, watched for a while and said, “Boss, how about I give it a try? I think I know how to do it.”

Lin Cuifen was busy and told Ming Xu, “That’s good. Yuan Ge’er caught a cold yesterday. You can do it for him.”

Ming Chen wanted to help Lin Cuifen, but she didn’t let him. She thought he was thin and weak and still a child.

Qiao Yuan gave Ming Xu some guidance, and he did it very well. Qiao Yuan praised him, “You learn so fast!”

Ming Xu pursed his lips and smiled, feeling like there was hope for the future.

After selling the vegetable pancakes, Qiao Yuan taught the two how to make pancakes. This was something they had to learn, as they had made quite a bit of money just selling pancakes yesterday.

And Qiao Yuan also planned to sell the pancakes on the shelves of Yu Qiao Ji later. So, Qiao Yuan taught them how to make pancakes with millet flour, buckwheat flour, and sweet potato flour. He also specially wrapped some and asked Yu Shanwen to run errands and send them to Dr. Zhou of Baohe Hall, to thank him for the business he brought to the shop with his casual words.

Ming Xu and Ming Chen were both clever and making pancakes was not hard to learn. But how to mix the batter was tricky and it was not easy to master in a short time. This was also why there was no second pancake seller in the county. But this was not urgent. They just had to know how to make them for now. Qiao Yuan could mix the batter for them later.

Currently, what they need to learn urgently is how to make crispy rice crackers and mixed-flavored peanuts. With some practice, the techniques for making these two things are not difficult. The most important thing is the seasoning powder formula, which Qiao Yuan plans to keep in his own hands; after all, one can’t be too careful.

While they were practicing, Qiao Yuan thought about hiring someone. He had to find someone in the county town, so that he could take care of both the eggs and the vegetable pancakes.

Lin Cuifen thought for a while and said, “The ones we hire from outside, we don’t know what kind of temperament they have. At the autumn festival, your eldest brother told me that your Brother Qiu2This is Meng Qiu. I was thinking whether to use Qiu Ge’er, but since I used your when talking to Qiao Yuan, who is also a ger, I just used brother Qiu.‘s eldest brother almost had an accident when he was escorting the goods, and his sister-in-law cried and made a fuss and didn’t let him go anymore. Now he’s free, why don’t we hire your Brother Qiu’s eldest brother? He doesn’t talk much, but he has a good temper and he’s strong.”

Qiao Yuan’s eyes lit up when he heard that. An escort would be great, he could rely on him to handle the eggs!

Lin Cuifen immediately took some rice crackers and mixed-flavored peanuts and got two jin of meat from butcher Zhang to bring to Meng Qiu’s home.

Meng Qiu’s parents passed away early, so he was raised by his older brother Meng Bei and sister-in-law Li Xiumei.

Li Xiumei was overjoyed when she heard Lin Cuifen’s intention, and immediately suggested to go with Meng Bei to the shop to see Qiao Yuan.

Meng Bei was a bit reluctant. He was not good at talking and really couldn’t do business.

Li Xiumei said, “I’ll go with you then!”

They came to the shop to find out the situation, and Qiao Yuan asked a few questions and settled the matter. The person was recommended by Lin Cuifen, and he was Meng Qiu’s elder brother. He could be trusted.

“There are two things that Elder Brother Meng needs to do. First, you need to come to the store before sunrise every day to beat eggs. Second, after beating the eggs, you need to prepare dishes and then push a small cart to the docks to sell vegetable pancakes. After lunch, you have to beat eggs again at the store before finishing work. How about I pay you sixty wen a day for now?”

Sixty wen a day, there will be one tael and eight qian of silver in a month. Although it is not as much as earning from escorting, there is no danger. Meng Bei’s face showed a bit of a smile, and he said, “There is no need to specially offer a high salary because of family relations.”

Qiao Yuan imitated Yu Laoda’s insistence, “No, no, I’ll teach you how to deal with the eggs.”

The baking pan that Yu Dameng made before could bake fifteen at a time. According to the ratio of making six egg cakes with two eggs, Qiao Yuan first asked Meng Bei to beat five eggs.

Then Meng Bei realized that this money really was not easy to earn!

His arms were so sore!

Qiao Yuan then taught Meng Bei how to wrap vegetables and flip pancakes, but he couldn’t manage these delicate tasks well, and was slow to learn.

Li Xiumei said upon seeing the situation, “Yuan Ge’er, can I go with him? You just need to pay for one person’s salary.”

This wasn’t a big deal to begin with. It would be even better if Li Xiumei joined in, otherwise Ming Xu and Ming Chen might feel a little intimidated facing this big guy every day. Qiao Yuan immediately agreed.

Li Xiumei learned quickly. After watching for a while, she succeeded on her first try.

Qiao Yuan let them practice on their own first, and then went to teach Ming Xu and Ming Chen how to make egg cakes. Everything else was fine, but the main issue was the temperature of the oven, which Qiao Yuan couldn’t estimate accurately. The three of them could only experiment first.

At first, no one noticed anything, but gradually the fragrance of the egg cake began to waft out, with a very rich egg aroma.

The customers drinking tea in the next-door Yuhuchun also gradually smelled the fragrance, what scent was this? So mouthwatering.

“Boss, what are you making that’s so delicious? Bring me a plate to this table.”

“Our table wants some too!”

Boss Zhu sighed: “It must be Yu Qiao Ji next door making something delicious again! The fragrance has been lingering all day, and I don’t even know when they’re opening for business.”

Someone gave the waiter3跑堂的伙计” (pǎotáng de huǒji) – the buddy who runs around the hall a tip of two wen and said, “Please go and inquire when Yu Qiao Ji will open for business.”

The waiter happily took the two wen and went.

“It is set for the day after tomorrow.” This was an auspicious opening day calculated by someone Lin Cuifen found.

Qiao Yuan casually wrapped a handful of peanuts and rice crackers in oil paper for the waiter, who was overjoyed and went back. He had to praise Yu Qiao Ji well to the customers when he went back.

The first batch was a bit burnt due to poor control of the heat and timing, but the inside was still delicious, soft and sweet. Several people shared it and praised it endlessly.

When the second batch came out, Qiao Yuan learned his lesson and used an hourglass to time it, and also noted down the amount of firewood he added, as experimental data.

This batch turned out very successful, so Qiao Yuan quickly packed a few and asked Yu Shanwen to take them to their father and Yu Dameng.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. If you want to show your support, you can buy me a coffee. It would make my day! For every five coffees I get, I will release a bonus chapter.