Ugly girl only wants to farm

Chapter 205: Setting up a stall

"My wife, why don't you rest with me a little longer? What are you doing going out so early?"

Xu Chaoyan sighed helplessly: "I told you last night that I was planning to set up a stall, did you forget? My older sister is also going to sell roasted sweet potatoes. Don't interrupt. It takes courage to get up in the dead of winter. I finally managed to get up, and if I lie down for a while, I won't be able to get up again."

Meng Jiuhe took her hand and rubbed it against his face: "It's the dead of winter, why don't you not go? I feel bad for you. It's not far from the end of the year, let's go when it's warmer in spring."

Xu Chaoyan broke free from his embrace, took the long coat from the side, and gently patted him a few times: "It's precisely because business must be good these days as the end of the year approaches that I plan to try my luck."

Meng Jiuhe immediately stood up as well: "Then I'll go with you, it's pitch black outside."

Xu Chaoyan didn't refuse because she knew his personality; even if he didn't agree to go, she would sneak over later.

"Okay, then wear another layer of clothing. It's probably frosty outside, and the water in the basin is frozen."

Before the two of them had finished tidying up and the fire was even lit, Zhang Yueniang came over with an oil lamp.

"Girls, you're up really early. I picked some sweet potatoes and roasted them over the fire. I also cooked some hot soup for breakfast so we can all have a bowl to warm ourselves up. Please don't mind."

He looked embarrassed after he finished speaking.

Xu Chaoyan quickly pulled her in and sat her down: "Sister, you got up so early and have already prepared breakfast. Hurry up and warm your hands. It's still early, no need to rush."

Meng Jiuhe quickly handed over a stool: "Wife, I'll go get you some charcoal. We can light a charcoal fire and put some in to warm your hands."

Meng Jiuhe boiled another pot of water, filled several hot water bottles, and took them with him. He didn't set off until it was quite light.

There weren't many pedestrians on the streets in the morning, and various shops were gradually opening their doors. There were also various stalls set up on the street. She had already asked around before setting up her stall and learned that vegetable stalls here all charge a stall fee. They put a stove on their wheelbarrow and placed a clay pot on it so they could sell their produce on the street.

There weren't many pedestrians on the road at the moment, so they chose an open space to wait. The sweet potatoes needed to be roasted for a while first. Because of the short time, they hadn't had time to book a cart to come back, so they simply set up a stove and put the sweet potatoes outside to roast.

The dried tofu they made before were also smoked next to the stove for a while, and they could be taken out to sell after a few days.

Xu Chaoyan had already thrown the radish chunks in to cook. The rich aroma, combined with the sweet scent of the radish, wafted far and wide. There happened to be a sesame seed cake stall not far from them.

An aunt wearing an apron saw a clay pot on their wheelbarrow and, seeing that they weren't doing much business, came over and asked curiously, "Young lady, what kind of business are you doing? It smells really good."

At this moment, the rich soup in the casserole was bubbling away. Xu Chaoyan put some of the vegetables she had skewered yesterday into the casserole one by one, and smiled: "Hello, Auntie. I was thinking of selling some hot food in the winter. Would you like to try this soup? It's made by me using pork bones and chicken carcasses. Drinking a bowl of soup in the middle of winter will warm you up and make you feel all warm."

After she finished speaking, she took a bowl, used a wooden spoon to scoop out a bowl of soup, sprinkled some chopped green onions in it, and handed it to her: "Auntie, please try my soup and see how it tastes. If there's anything that needs improvement, please let me know so I can make changes in time."

The auntie selling sesame cakes had only mentioned it casually, but who would have thought that this young lady would scoop her a bowl of soup? She was a little unsure of what to do.

Seeing her reserved expression, Xu Chaoyan directly shoved the soup into her hands: "Auntie, have a bowl of soup to warm yourself up! It's so cold this early in the morning."

Auntie Shaobing, holding the bowl of hot soup in her hands, smiled and said, "How much is this soup? I'll pay you. I can't break the rules so early in the morning."

Seeing that her hands were red from the cold and covered in chilblains, Xu Chaoyan brought over a small stool and handed it to her: "Auntie, there aren't many people on the street right now. Come and sit down. We've lit a charcoal brazier. This is just a friendly meal between neighbors, no need to worry about money. It's just a bowl of soup."

Zhang Yueniang carefully turned the sweet potatoes over with tongs. She had already roasted them at home, so now they only needed to be placed aside to roast for a little while. The sweet aroma of the sweet potatoes filled the air.

The aroma of their roasted sweet potatoes and hot soup wafted far and wide, attracting the attention of several nearby vendors. It was the first time they had ever seen this way of eating, and they couldn't help but crane their necks to look. They saw the auntie selling sesame cakes drinking a bowl of soup, and they were also a little envious.

Xu Chaoyan reached out and coaxed her hand beside the stove: "Auntie, how does my soup taste? Is there anything that needs to be improved?"

The aunt smacked her lips twice to savor the taste before praising it: "This is the best soup I've ever had. It has a rich bone flavor mixed with the sweet taste of radish. Drinking it warms you up from head to toe. Young lady, you're quite good at business. It's just that there aren't many pedestrians on the street as the year draws to a close. Why don't you change your stall location? There are quite a few students near the county school. You might as well try your luck there. However, those from well-off families all have maids bringing them their meals."

After she finished speaking, she suddenly frowned again, and Xu Chaoyan, thinking there was something wrong with her soup, also became nervous.

Then, looking flustered, he looked at her and said somewhat uneasily, "Auntie, is there something wrong with this soup? Please tell me, don't be shy, so I can improve it. This is my first time doing this kind of business, please take good care of me."

The aunt got up and put the soup bowl aside: "You've misunderstood. This soup tastes good and there are some radishes in it, but it doesn't seem like enough to fill you up. After several hours of classes, those students must be starving and need something to fill them up."

Xu Chaoyan breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Auntie. That makes sense. We just came in a hurry and didn't prepare these. We only ate a little bit of these snacks because we were craving them. Next time I'll make some hand-pulled noodles and pour this soup on them. They should taste pretty good."

She prepared several kinds of seasonal vegetables and meat dishes, as well as some crispy pork and fresh meatballs, yesterday, but she doesn't know how business is.

The auntie went to her stall and took a piece of dough that had been proofing. She smiled and said, "I happen to have some dough here. Why don't you try making some noodles? Put some dogwood in it and sprinkle some chopped green onions and coriander on top. The aroma is indescribable. Eating it in winter will warm you up and make you sweat."

Xu Chaoyan didn't refuse and took it directly: "Okay, Auntie, I'm not very good at it either. How about you give me a demonstration? Hearing you say that makes my mouth water."

Meng Jiuhe took a hot water bottle and put it in her hand: "Wife, warm your hands. I'll go to the bookstore later to get some books to copy. I've been free these days."

Xu Chaoyan's hands were ice-cold when she touched them, so she quickly rubbed them for him: "Why don't you rest for a bit? There's no rush. Come with me to the stall these days."

Fireworks light up the world, bringing boundless joy. Let's raise a glass to this year!

I let bygones be bygones, and the flowers will bloom again next year.

There is wind every year, and the wind blows year after year.

Slowly and gradually, the journey continues, and even in its long run, it shines brightly.

May all your wishes be fulfilled, and may all your paths be smooth. May you enjoy much joy and peace.