Chapter 27: Hiring Help

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Zhao Dong and Sun Mei worked together to pour the soy milk onto the filter cloth.

The milky-white soybean milk flowed into the large basin below through the filter cloth.

Zhao Dong thought of something and suddenly said, “Wife, I just thought about it. It’s indeed too tiring to make 300 to 400 catties of tofu a day now. It’s fine for a day or two, but no one can take it after a long time. Therefore, it’s time for us to hire a helper.”

Sun Me asked. “Hire a helper?”

Zhao Dong nodded and analyzed, “That’s right. I just calculated that the amount of tofu sold in the afternoon has increased. In that case, we can earn one tael of silver a day today. It won’t cost much to hire a helper. Moreover, it can reduce our workload. It’s very worth it.”

Upon hearing this, Sun Mei nodded in agreement. “It’s indeed not bad, but with a helper, our method of making tofu will be leaked. If we want to earn big money, we won’t be able to.”

Zhao Dong pondered for a moment and said, “That’s right. I had the same concerns previously. Therefore, in order to avoid this, it’s best if the helper we hired is one of us. He would be reliable.”

“One of us?”

Sun Mei began to think.

The father-in-law of a blood-related family and that stepmother’s family definitely couldn’t be trusted. It was already good that she didn’t come to snatch the tofu recipe.

As for Madam Wang’s youngest son, Zhao Qiu… Although he had always had a good relationship with the first and second branches, if he came to help, Madam Wang would definitely force him to hand over the recipe. He could not be hired either.

As for his sister-in-law, Madam Zhu, forget it. They could not look for her even if they were beaten to death.

Therefore, after thinking about it, only her family was left.

Sun Mei looked at Zhao Dong. “Don’t tell me you want to call me your family…”

“Haha, that’s right. Wife, you really have telepathy with me.”

Zhao Dong giggled and said to his wife, “Look, the uncles of my father-in-law’s family are all good people. There’s no need to worry about them leaking the recipe. Also, we can’t just focus on earning money ourselves. We have to pull my father-in-law’s family along to earn money with us. I’ve already thought about it. I’ll give them 30% of the shares. What do you think?”

“Not bad.”

Sun Mei was tempted when she heard that. Moreover, her maiden family was in the Sun Village, not far from Zhaozhai Village. It was only a village away, and it would not take more than half an hour to walk back and forth.

On the other side, Zhao Dong continued, “I’m going to the market the day after tomorrow. We have to pick some lotus leaves. Coincidentally, there’s a lotus pond in the Sun Manor. Let’s bring some tofu for the family and talk about this.”

Sun Mei felt that it was okay and nodded in agreement. Suddenly, she asked in confusion, “Why are you picking the lotus leaves?”

Zhao Dong was stunned for a moment before he smiled smugly. “Wife, look, look. You said you read a lot of novels. I’m going to the market the day after tomorrow. How can I wrap tofu for the guests? I have to use lotus leaves.”

In ancient times, oil paper and lotus leaves were used for dried food. Oil paper was more expensive and not worth it. Lotus leaves were cheaper. One copper coin could buy three to four pieces, and a lotus leaf could wrap two pieces of tofu.

Sun Mei slapped her forehead in realization and said with a smile, “Ah, I forgot. By the way, you don’t read novels. How did you know?”

“Hahaha, actually, I don’t know either. Butcher Zhao told me. He often goes to the market to sell meat…”

In the kitchen, the two of them chatted while busying themselves with work. They did not feel tired.

—-

The next day, early in the morning, after the villagers who sold tofu took the tofu away, Zhao Dong and the other two wrapped a large piece of tofu with a steamed cloth and a few bowls of tofu in a bamboo tube before preparing to go to the Sun Village.

Sun Mei carried the bamboo basket on her back. Seeing that Zhao Zhitong had not come out of the room, she stood in the courtyard and shouted, “Tongtong, let’s go. What are you dawdling in the room for?”

“Coming!”

Zhao Zhitong shouted in agreement and ran out of the house with a small bamboo basket.

This bamboo basket was made for her by Zhao Dong. It was very small and the size of a head. It was just enough for the little girl to carry.

After returning home from school yesterday afternoon, she heard from Zhao Dong that they were going to her grandfather’s house today, so she ran to the roadside to pick some wild flowers and decorated her own small basket.

However, when she woke up this morning, all the flowers were gone. She felt terrible for a long time.

Sun Mei locked the door of the main room and held Zhao Zhitong’s hand. “What are you doing in the house?”

Zhao Zhitong was overjoyed. “I’m preparing gifts for my cousins.”

At this moment, Zhao Dong had already pushed the cart out and was standing outside the door, urging the mother and daughter in the courtyard.

“Hey, are you two ready? Let’s go, let’s go. We still have to pick lotus leaves.”

“Coming, coming. It’s all your precious daughter’s fault for dilly-dallying.”

As Sun Mei spoke, she carried Zhao Zhitong onto the handcart and turned around to lock the door. The three of them set off in the direction of the Sun Manor.

Zhao Zhitong sat on the handcart and looked around along the way. She was extremely excited.

As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the Sun Village, Zhao Zhitong finally couldn’t sit still anymore. She shouted and was about to come down. “Father, put me down. I can walk by myself.”

Zhao Dong had no choice but to stop the car. Sun Mei carried Zhao Zhitong out of the car and kept reminding her to be careful not to fall.

“I’m already a child in the middle class. I won’t fall.” Zhao Zhitong shouted in her childish voice and rushed forward.

Sun Mei was helpless. “You ran so fast. Do you know where your grandfather’s house is?”

Zhao Zhitong shouted, “I know, I know. I have a good memory.”

Sun Mei’s family was on this street, so the two of them were relieved. They did not care about her and let her run alone.

Zhao Zhitong looked around as she ran. When she saw a big rock in front of a house, she rushed over. As soon as she reached the door, she leaned against it and shouted inside.

“Grandpa, Grandma, Tongtong is here to see you!”

At this moment, at her grandfather’s house, there was a good show that happened almost weekly.

At that moment, in the courtyard, Sun Kang was so angry that his beard trembled. He pointed at his sons in the courtyard and shouted, “All of you are so useless. Sigh! Is this technique of our Sun family going to be lost after me? How did I give birth to such unfilial sons!”

The three sons of the Sun family pulled their heads and stood in the courtyard to listen to their father’s reprimands. After their father finished reprimanding them, they turned to scold their sons, who were playing beside them. “Useless. Why didn’t you learn medicine from Grandpa? All of you are really useless.”

Sun Kang snorted coldly. “Don’t scold your sons. It’s all because you’re not capable enough. You’re not even qualified to study medicine. Why don’t you quickly give me a talented one? Otherwise, you can force out your talent and learn from me. Do as you see fit.”

The eldest son, Sun Youwei, looked up at the sky and pretended not to hear.

The second son, Sun Youli, was honest. “…Father, I’m working hard.”

The children’s descendants were smart. They smiled cheekily and avoided the topic. “…Hey, Father, the weather today is really good, right, Second Brother?”

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