Chapter 79 (1/2)

Xiaocao was now relieved. She nodded and smiled, ”I didn't expect that Steward Uncle is also a big eater! To be honest, my blood tofu is created using a secret method to braise the chicken blood. Although it doesn't look elegant, the taste is still pretty good.”

”Chicken blood? I didn't even smell a trace of blood when I ate it. Yet the tofu is still so smooth and tender. Wonderful! Wonderful!” Steward Liu didn't slow down his eating speed as he talked. He had heard that the people of Jinling used duck blood to make soup but didn't expect that chicken blood could also be consumed!

When the foreman saw that Steward Liu was happily eating the blood tofu, his heart settled back down with relief. He took out five copper coins and gave it to Xiaocao, ”Here, the remaining money is to reward you. In the future, will you still be selling blood tofu at the dock?”

Xiaocao also didn't act too formally. She smiled as she took the copper coins and said, ”In the future, I will still be selling meat dishes for one copper coin with my little brother. However, I might not be selling blood tofu. But foreman, don't worry. The taste of my meat dishes won't be worse than my blood tofu!”

”Xiaocao, your Eldest Aunt had told me that you were selling things here, so I came to find you.” Xiaocao's Eldest Uncle, Liu Pei, walked towards her in large strides. He asked with concern, ”Did you eat breakfast yet? Eldest Uncle found work today, so I came to invite you and s.h.i.+tou to eat white steamed buns.”

”Eldest Uncle, we already had breakfast before we came here. You didn't eat yet, right? Oh right, I still have half a portion of some braised food. Why don't you eat that with a flatbread?” Xiaocao knew that whenever Eldest Aunt came here to sell things, she would always bring food for Eldest Uncle. Therefore, she stuffed the remaining free samples of braised chicken into Liu Pei's hands.

”This is what you're selling? It smells very fragrant! I can just eat flatbread with pickles. Why don't you sell the rest of this?” When Liu Pei smelled the fragrant dish, he secretly swallowed his saliva. But he wasn't willing to take advantage of his niece.

Xiaocao didn't take back the paper pouch that the braised food was in. She blinked her eyes at her Eldest Uncle, ”My business was pretty well today. The braised food that I had brought here has all been sold out. How can I sell half a portion of a dish? It's not like I can split a copper coin in half. Eldest Uncle go do what you need to do. I will go to the market and have a look.…..”

After she finished speaking, she pulled her little brother's hand and ran away.

When the foreman saw the scene, he laughed, ”Brother Liu, she is your niece! The meat dishes she sells for one copper coin taste good. Even Steward Liu from the capital felt that it tasted good. If you don't want it, then you can just sell it to me.”

All the braised food that he had bought earlier had entered Steward Liu's stomach. He only had two bites of blood tofu. Now, he craved it.

”Ah! Foreman Sun, what are you saying? If you like it, you can just take it. Why are you talking about buying or selling?” In order to work at the docks, they must first be inspected by Foreman Sun. If they had a good relations.h.i.+p with Foreman Sun, then it would be easier to find a job in the future.

Foreman Sun was very pleased with Liu Pei taking the high road. He ate the rich and delicious braised food when he suddenly said, ”Didn't your nephew come with you a few days ago? Did he come with you today? The young man looks tall and strong. He seems like he has a lot of strength. Once he has eaten, let him help with unloading too.…..”

The person that foreman is talking about was the son of the second branch of the Liu Family, Liu Zhiwei. Because of his young age, the foreman usually didn't like to hire him.

It was common knowledge that a worker could earn twenty to thirty copper coins in a day from loading and unloading goods at the dock. When Liu Pei heard what Foreman Sun had said, he was overjoyed. He repeatedly said, ”Thank you Foreman Sun! My nephew has also come today! Don't worry, that kid is used to doing manual labor! He is very honest, and he definitely won't disappoint you!”

”What are you thanking me for? In the future, make sure your niece leaves a meat dish behind every day. Just eating a little isn't really satisfying. But don't worry, I will pay for what it's worth!” Steward Liu had left after eating and drinking his fill. Foreman Sun was now happily eating and drinking and felt very satisfied with the food.

The Tanggu Docks had a moderately sized market. On every 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 15th of a month, as well as New Years, the people from the nearby villages would come and sell their own products or buy goods that they needed.

Although it was called a market, it felt more like a street than a market. On both sides of the market, there were short houses made of gra.s.s. Occasionally there would be an eye-catching brick house. But whether it was a house made of gra.s.s or brick, it was only open when the market was open. Usually, their doors would be tightly closed.

Today was February 16th, and it was a market day today. Even though the market was small, there were still quite a bit of people here. On both sides of the street, the houses towards the front had become a simple vegetable market.

Some people carried their frozen radishes and cabbages for sale on their shoulders, while others carried varieties of chicken, duck, and eggs they had raised to sell. There were also street vendors who sold daily necessities. All of these vendors tried their best to attract customers.  The sounds of people selling their products, bargaining, and even the sound of gossipers talking all wove together and made it a lively scene. Xiaocao held her little brother's hand and walked through the crowd. But, from time to time, they would sway unsteadily from being squeezed by the crowd.

”Xiaocao? s.h.i.+tou? Did you come here by yourself? Is it because there's nothing to eat at home?” What a coincidence, before they walked very far, they met another acquaintance again. The person who had just spoken was Xiaocao's grandfather. Following behind him was her uncle, Yu Dashan, who was carrying a fis.h.i.+ng basket.

Although Xiaocao was dissatisfied with her grandfather and her inarticulate uncle, she didn't harbor any malice towards them. She gave them a faint smile and replied, ”No, s.h.i.+tou and I just came here to take a look.”