W Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Heartbeat Accelerates

Ling Xing planned to make two flavors of pickled radish.

He didn’t have any memories of eating pickled radish in the original body’s memories. As a “ge’er”, he was expected to know something about cooking.

According to the memories, because radishes and cabbages were stored properly, they could actually be eaten in winter, so pickle shops generally wouldn’t pickle these two.

They wouldn’t sell for a good price.

This wasn’t bad news for Ling Xing. If they didn’t, it meant there was a market gap.

As long as the taste was good, he wasn’t afraid of not being able to sell them.

For the first flavor, Ling Xing planned to make it a bit sweeter.

He would only use salt and sugar as seasonings. The radish pickled this way would not only be crisp and refreshing, but also have a sweet aftertaste.

Sweetness was rare in ancient times. Ling Xing had eaten this kind of pickled radish in his previous life. It was very palatable and popular with men, women, old, and young.

The other type was spicy, which required peppercorns, chili peppers, and red oil.

Because refining red oil required a lot of oil, and the pottery pots at home weren’t suitable for making it, Ling Xing temporarily put the spicy flavor aside.

He would make it after buying an iron pot later, and he could also make chili sauce at the same time.

The radishes were washed and shredded, or diced.

Ling Xing made both, and then taught Shen Gui step by step when to add the seasonings, and how much to add.

Yesterday, two large pickling jars were used for the pickled cucumbers. Today, the last two large pickling jars at home were also used up.

Shen Gui became more and more skilled at pickling vegetables. At the end, when sealing the jars, he was still a bit unsatisfied.

He put his hands on his hips and said, “We have to buy new pickling jars tomorrow.”

There were still a lot of vegetables in the field, so they really needed to buy new ones, and they still needed to pickle sauerkraut.

After the pickled radishes were done, Ling Xing went back to count the money.

Today, because he made more pig skin jelly, cold noodles, and soup dumplings, the profit was naturally higher than at the beginning.

Ling Xing held the obviously heavy money box and couldn’t help but be shocked after counting carefully.

There were actually one thousand nine hundred and seventy-four copper coins.

After deducting the money for buying raw materials yesterday, as well as the fixed stall and warehouse fees, today, because he sold for half an hour longer, he still charged ten copper coins per hour.

Therefore, the stall fee today was twenty copper coins.

Today’s net profit was one thousand one hundred and ninety-three copper coins.

This was the first time Ling Xing’s daily net profit exceeded one tael of silver.

It was a bit tiring, carrying more than ten pounds of things every morning, his shoulders weren’t his own anymore.

Shen Hui carried even more.

Extending the selling time and having more things to sell could indeed earn more.

Still, if he could have a place to live in town, that would be great.

Then he could have things to sell in the morning, noon, and evening.

But the capital wasn’t enough yet, he needed to save more.

In the following days, Ling Xing’s daily profit was maintained at around one thousand one hundred copper coins.

The family also made ten large jars of pickled vegetables.

Among them, the pickled cucumbers could already be taken out for sale.

The pickled cucumbers he had made for Xie Qingya before had already been eaten. Xie Qingya had specially come to tell Ling Xing that they were delicious, and brought soybean milk and tofu for Ling Xing.

This time, after the pickled cucumbers were made, Ling Xing still sent some to Xie Qingya.

After leaving some for the family, Ling Xing took most of the remaining jars to town to sell.

The pickled cucumbers plus the pottery jars were still quite heavy. Shen Hui carried enough things, and Ling Xing really couldn’t carry them, so Shen Gui carried them.

These days, the vegetables that could be sold in the field had been sold almost, so the weight of the vegetables he carried was much less, and he could carry the pickled cucumbers.

After setting up the stall, Shen Gui was still thinking about how to shout and sell pickled cucumbers.

His older brother-in-law directly took a pottery bowl and put some in the bowl.

Then he remembered that when selling cold noodles before, they had done something like taste tests. After the customers tasted the flavor, they basically bought cold noodles.

Ling Xing was busy wrapping soup dumplings, Shen Hui still had a cold face, so Shen Gui directly shouted out loud.

Whether the pickled cucumbers sold well or not directly affected the subsequent business, so Shen Gui was naturally anxious.

“Take a look at our family’s secret recipe pickled cucumbers. The cucumbers used are the most tender and unparalleled small cucumbers. The taste is crisp, and the aftertaste is sweet. Everyone, come and have a taste. Try it first, then buy it!”

This shout successfully attracted more people’s attention.

Ling Xing was a little surprised listening to Shen Gui’s words.

He didn’t expect him to be so amazing, learning sales talk without a teacher.

The pickled cucumbers were sold for one tael and two hundred copper coins.

He had inquired at the pickle shop in town a few days ago, and the cheapest one was three copper coins per tael.

They couldn’t set the price any lower, otherwise they were afraid that the pickle shop would cause trouble.

Pickled cucumbers belonged to pickles, so buying only one tael was enough for several people to eat a meal, which was very cost-effective.

After some customers tasted it, they were conquered by the taste and couldn’t help but say, “Little stall owner, you sell so many things at your stall. All the money in my hand will be spent here.”

Ling Xing couldn’t help but smile when he heard this, and continued to wrap the soup dumplings skillfully, “What I sell here is cheap, you can buy several things with a few copper coins, and it’s delicious, isn’t it?”

The customers weren’t blaming him, they were just joking with a smile.

After listening to Ling Xing’s words, they also thought it was true.

It was indeed delicious and cheap, so it was no wonder they couldn’t control their hands and just wanted to buy.

This mouth can’t be wronged at all.

Because the pickled cucumbers were cheap and tasted good, and because they had never eaten this kind of pickles before, not to mention the customers of the soup dumpling stall, even the stall owners around came to buy them.

Even if cucumbers came out for sale in season, the price was on the expensive side among all the vegetables.

Not to mention that it wasn’t time to eat cucumbers yet, and it would take a while for them to mature.

Logically speaking, the price of this kind of pickles couldn’t be lower than five copper coins per tael. As a result, it was one copper coin cheaper than the cheapest pickles in the pickle shop.

The key was that they could taste it first before buying.

Everyone wasn’t short of these two copper coins, and they were happy to pay, and they could all eat it together as a family.

Pickles were basically bought by customers as an afterthought, sold by the tael. They thought there were still a lot, but after the soup dumplings and other things were sold out, they looked into the jar and only the bottom was left.

Shen Gui couldn’t close his mouth with joy, this business could be done!

Ling Xing divided the remaining ones into three portions.

They were sent to the bookstore owner, Wu Dali, and Xu Qi respectively.

When going to Wu Dali’s, he bought meat and pig skin first, and gave him the pickled cucumbers when he was about to leave.

Even so, Wu Dali chased after him and added half a catty of pork belly to Ling Xing’s basket.

The bookstore owner didn’t expect Ling Xing to still be thinking of him, and was also very moved.

He could see that Ling Xing was just thanking him for selling him low-priced paper last time, and came to thank him specially.

In the past, these papers would be left for some familiar scholars, but none of them remembered his kindness.

It wasn’t that he was greedy for rewards and petty profits, but the feeling of being remembered and cared for was really too good.

The owner’s heart was warm, and he repeatedly said that if there was any paper that was damp or had prints on it, he would definitely keep it for Ling Xing.

Ling Xing smiled and said, “Thank you for your kindness, shopkeeper.”

When he went to the city gate, he didn’t see Xu Qi, so he asked the petty official to bring it to him as before.

One jar of pickled cucumbers could pickle ten catties.

The first jar, after giving away and leaving some for the family, sold five catties.

The second jar was all sold.

The cost of the two jars of pickled cucumbers was eighty copper coins, and the net profit was two hundred and forty copper coins.

If the cucumbers in the vegetable field weren’t left to grow up to eat, they could pickle about ten more jars.

Shen Gui was very happy, if all twenty catties were sold, he could earn seventy more copper coins in profit.

He had also gone out to work as a handyman before, and thirty copper coins a day was a very good job.

The pickled cucumbers were also sold quickly, and they could be sold in three days.

Selling two jars every three days was equivalent to earning more than one hundred copper coins a day.

He was really making a fortune!

Although he only took 40% of it, there were other pickles behind. Little by little, the money in his hand would definitely increase.

With hope for the future, Shen Gui couldn’t help but hum a little tune on the way back.

But only he could understand what he was humming.

After the next batch of pickled cucumbers was pickled and sold out, the Dragon Boat Festival was also coming.

Dayu also had the custom of eating zongzi, but it wasn’t to commemorate anyone. It was just that someone started making it to eat from which dynasty, and it slowly spread.

Only families with some money could afford to eat zongzi, the glutinous rice wrapped in authentic zongzi was very expensive.

Poorer families would use brown rice instead of glutinous rice, and even poorer families would simply not eat it. They would use mugwort leaves to bathe and worship their ancestors, which was also considered as celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival.

In Xiao Liucun, not many families could afford to eat zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival every year. This year, there was one more, the Shen family.

The family had been busy for almost half a year, so they always had to eat a good meal.

The family members were all busy, and the reed marshes were near the river, so the family was worried about letting Shen Lai go, so only Ling Xing, who had finished his work, and Shen Hui went to pick reed leaves.

This was the first time Shen Hui went out alone with Ling Xing after Shen Gui started selling vegetables and pickles with him.

He was inexplicably nervous. Although his eyes didn’t look at Ling Xing, his mind couldn’t help but fall on him.

Ling Xing was completely unaware of this. He followed Shen Hui to a reed field. As far as the eye could see, it was all fresh green, and the leaves grew very well.

Ling Xing had experience in picking before, and he picked quite quickly. Shen Hui had never done it before, and he broke the leaves several times.

“You have to be fast and accurate when picking these leaves.”

Seeing Shen Hui failing, Ling Xing stepped forward and taught him hand-in-hand.

He covered his hand on the back of Shen Hui’s hand, and moved his hand quickly down as he spoke.

Snap—

The moment the reed leaf was picked, Shen Hui fell to the ground.

“Second Son, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

It was hard not to worry when someone suddenly sat on the ground for no reason.

Shen Hui’s throat rolled with difficulty. He was extremely flustered. He only felt that his heart was beating too fast, as if it was about to jump out of his chest.

The back of his hand seemed to be roasted by fire, and his whole hand couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

Before he had time to digest this emotion, Shen Hui suddenly saw something and couldn’t help but hold his breath.

His previously somewhat chaotic eyes became cold and stern, staring in Ling Xing’s direction.

Accurately speaking, behind Ling Xing.

“Be careful!”

A slender snake with patterns was spitting out its tongue and swimming in Ling Xing’s direction.

It was swimming at a steady speed, but seemed to notice that Ling Xing wasn’t paying attention, so its speed suddenly increased, wanting to strike in one hit.

Ling Xing heard Shen Hui shout something, but before he could react, his wrist was pulled forward by a huge force, and his whole body fell towards the source of the force.

Shen Hui reacted quickly, pulling Ling Xing away from his original position in time. Fearing that Ling Xing would fall, he used his body as a cushion.

The snake pounced on empty air, and instantly turned towards Shen Hui.

In a flash, Shen Hui exploded with amazing strength and speed. He held Ling Xing tightly in one hand, and quickly turned over to give Ling Xing another layer of protection.

The other hand seized the opportunity the moment the snake rushed over, and grabbed the snake’s head.

The cold and slippery feeling made him feel uncomfortable.

The muscles of the snake’s body mobilized and struggled desperately, and the snake’s mouth opened upwards, wanting to resist the man’s strength.

Ling Xing was still in a daze and didn’t know what was going on.

He only knew that Shen Hui suddenly shouted, and then grabbed him, pressed him into his arms, and rolled around on the ground.

He slowly raised his head, and saw a crazy wriggling snake in Shen Hui’s other hand from the gap, which scared him pale and made him stiffen a lot.

He couldn’t stand this thing, and quickly shrank his head back. His mouth seemed to touch something, but he couldn’t care about that much. He just wanted to stuff himself into Shen Hui’s arms, so he couldn’t see anything.

Crack—

With a strange sound of bone cracking, the snake that was almost twisted into an afterimage in Shen Hui’s hand stopped moving straight.

Blood slipped from his hand and dripped onto the grass.

Shen Hui’s whole body tensed up, his Adam’s apple rolled, and he was stunned for a long time before moving his neck and looking at the person shrinking in front of his chest.

The place where his cheek was unintentionally touched seemed to be on fire.

His voice was terribly low and hoarse, “Brother-in-law, it’s okay.”

Ling Xing turned his head sideways, and vaguely saw a straight thing, and couldn’t help but shiver.

“Second Son, take it away, I’m scared.”

“Okay.”

Shen Hui used his arm strength, and the snake corpse was thrown far away by him.

Ling Xing breathed a sigh of relief and got out of Shen Hui’s arms, and found that Shen Hui’s hands were covered in blood.

“You’re injured!”

Shen Hui glanced at it, thought of what happened before he crushed the snake’s head, and his eyes deepened a lot.

“No, it’s the snake’s blood.”

In order to prevent accidents, Ling Xing still grabbed Shen Hui’s hand and checked it several times.

There were many calluses on the wide palm, which were hard. Ling Xing accidentally touched them and felt that they scratched his skin a bit.

Shen Hui gripped the ground tightly with his other hand, clenched his teeth, and even bit his tongue, so that he could maintain his sanity and not directly grasp the hand in his palm.

After holding on until Ling Xing had finished checking and was completely relieved, Shen Hui withdrew his hand with a whoosh. Where Ling Xing couldn’t see, it was trembling non-stop.

Damn it, stop trembling, or you’ll be discovered.

Shen Hui paid attention to Ling Xing’s gaze, put the hand that had been gripped behind him, clenched it into a fist, and controlled the muscles. After a while, he finally calmed down and returned to normal.

There wasn’t much glutinous rice at home, so they didn’t plan to wrap too many zongzi.

After Shen Hui washed his hands with river water, he suddenly became enlightened, and the reed leaves were picked quickly and in large quantities.

Also, Ling Xing was afraid that there would be snakes appearing. He didn’t expect it today, and didn’t bring snake repellent medicine, so the two left the riverbank after picking almost enough.