The cicadas on the branches were giving it all on making noises. The scorching sun was scorching the earth. In a blink of an eye, it had entered May. After the Duanyang Festival, each day was getting hotter than the previous. It had been nearly two months since Su Family moved to Wuliqiao.
In two months, Su Family's initial sallow and skeleton figure had gained weight. The children's nutrition had caught up. In addition, You Jin led the children on exercising every day. So they have sprouted a lot. Now the children's sleeves were a bit shorter. Although they were thinner than their peers, but it was a big improvement.
The few times Su Family caught fished with medicine had earned more than a dozen silver liang. In addition, Mrs. Su's health was getting better these days. She can cook up some cheap food for them to bring to the city to sell. Every day, vegetables could be sold. Fish selling was occasional.
Maybe Wuliqiao's environment nourished people. After taking the medicine for more than a month, Mrs. Su's complexion had improved a lot. Unlike before when a little chore could make her pant. Even sickly You Bao and You Chou were free from illness and pain for two months. The family's life here was quite nourishing.
Holding a bowl of cold sour plum soup, the sisters finished it in a few gulps. Even the youngest, You Chou drank half a bowl and sighed contentedly: "Oh! It's so delicious!"
Mrs. Su's sour plum soup was a secret recipe. Although the raw materials weren't as good as those of the imperial court, the plums and licorice were all collected from the mountain, dried, and stored by You Jin. The sweet-scented osmanthus bought were old ones stored from last year. The sour plum soup made from simple ingredients was the best.
In the courtyard of Su Family, the few children drank to their heart's content. In Luohe Prefecture, sour plum soup was selling hot.
Ever since the weather got hotter, You Jin sisters started to sell sour plum soup. Because she had to bring a lot of things into the city almost every day, she had discussed it with the old driver who couriered customers. He'll go to Su's house at a fixed time every day to pick them up and transport the goods. It cost seven cents a trip.
Ever since she was openly questioned by that uncle who drove the cart, You Jin changed to another older man with an ox cart. This old man didn't speak much. Every day, he just brought them over. Quite a happy cooperation.
Now the three sisters brought two large barrels of sour plum soup to Luohe Prefecture to sell every day. Since they weren't selling vegetables or meat, You Jin didn't sell it in the West Market. She only rented a mobile stall at the junction of the East and West Markets for five yuan a day to sell sour plum soup.
Mrs. Su's sour plum soup tasted wonderful. It was boiled at night every day and then hanged in the well overnight. It was nicely chilled and a perfect combination of sweet and sour. Naturally, it garnered a lot of repeat customers.
"You Jin, quickly give me a bowl of sour plum soup! This damn weather is blazing hot!"
A round-faced woman in her early thirties came over smiling with a basket full of meat and vegetables and asked for a bowl of sour plum soup: "I drank so many sour plum soup and yours is the best!"
With a grin, You Jin poured the sour plum soup into a big rough porcelain bowl. The bowl was filled to the max: "Sister-in-law Liu, please drink slowly."
Then she accepted the two pennies handed over by the woman. Su Family's sour plum soup sold for two wen per bowl. Although it wasn't expensive, it wasn't considered cheap either. Most of the people who come to drink it were the people in the city. Ordinary peasants were reluctant to spend two wen for a bowl of sour plum soup.
The woman came out of the hustling and bustling West Market. She was sweating all over. Now that she had a bowl of cold sour plum soup, her whole body seemed to be alive and comfortable. She smiled and wiped the corners of her mouth, "Why didn't your mother make sweet bean pudding today? My family's lass ate some and enjoyed it. She pestered me to buy some back this morning!"
"We didn't make too much yesterday. It's all sold out. How about I save some for you tomorrow?" You Jin smilingly explained. Su Family's sour plum soup was well made, and the pastries were soft and delicious. The price was cheaper than the snack shops. Every day, it sold out fast.
"Deal. Leave two for me tomorrow!" Seeing another customer coming to buy sour plum soup, the woman merrily bidded goodbye to You Jin.
While You Jin saw off the familiar guests, You Zhu had swiftly prepared sour plum soup for the next guest. You Yin was in charge of collecting money. The two sisters cooperated very well.
Su Family's sisters sold sour plum soup at the market every day. They can basically sell out everything every day. After deducting the money for the ox cart, the rent of the stall, and the base cost of sour plum soup, they can earn eighty to ninety yuan a day. Su Family's lifestyle did too well. It had attracted a lot of jealousy, such as now:
"Three bowls is six coins, thank you!" Three seventeen or eighteen-year-old young men, who gave off bad vibes at first glance, came to the stall. After drinking the sour plum soup, they refused to pay for the money. They directly smashed the bowl to the ground. The clang sound attracted the attention of many people nearby.
"Pah, what kind of rubbish is this! You dare to ask me for money?" Among them, the leader with a pockmarked face was the first to attack: "I have yet to say this stuff of yours can ruin my stomach and you to ask for money!"
"You!" You Zhu had a strong temper. Immediately, she wanted to rush up, but was stopped by You Jin's outstretched hand. She gave You Zhu a look to signal her to be quiet before turning her head to look at the troublemakers: "Young Masters, since ancient times, buying and selling is exchange of silver and goods. I didn't force Young Masters to buy my sour plum soup. Naturally, this isn't considered as a forced transaction. Please empathize with our small business."
"Oh? Forcing this Young Master? Give it try!" Another looked at how You Jin lower herself: "Maybe you empathize with this Young Master, then Young Master will empathize with you, right?"
A sneer appeared on the corner of You Jin's lips. This visit was to make trouble! Taking in the street vendors who had silently moved away a several steps and waiting to watch a good show, You Jin knew that no one would come to help them. She was still weighing her chances of winning against three grown men.
When the three of them saw that she didn't speak, they thought she was afraid. The three of them smiled at each other and turned their heads to frivolously look at You Jin: "How about it, little lass? Why don't you play with us brothers? Or just hand over your sour plum soup recipe and this Young Master will let you go?"
So they were targeting for their own sour plum soup recipe! It turned out that their business was so good that it attracted the attention of this group of ill-intentioned people! You Jin let out the slightest sigh: "Three big brothers, the street patrolling constables are coming soon. Are you sure it's okay to bully good citizen like this?"
"Little girl, you know that the constables are coming to patrol the streets soon? Then do you know who I am?" The man showed a detestable grin: "Little girl, if you don't give up something, today's matter won't end that easily."
"Where did these wild barking dogs come from!" Just as killing intent gradually appeared in You Jin's eyes, an arrogant and domineering boy's voice sounded: "It's really a remote place. Any wild dogs can enter the city!"
Turned out to be a beautiful white horse. However, it was a twelve or thirteen year old boy with fair jade who impatiently spoke with a stinky face.
"You ignorant brat! Who are you calling wild dogs!" As expected, a come-and-beat-me person immediately diverted the attention of the three ruffians. They turned around and pointed at the wealthily-dressed, half-grown boy and scolded: "Boy, if I don't give you some color to taste today, you don't know what is the height of heaven and the depth of the earth?"
"Oh? This is the first time a wild dog has dared to bark in front of me!" There was a sneering smile on the youth's pretty face: "You really don't know the heights of heaven and earth!"
Before the boy finished speaking, he was already surrounded by three ruffians. Then they threatened in a brazen manner: "Boy, if you crawl under my trousers and crotch today, this matter will be over. If not, haha!"
Originally, You Jin thought that she could sit on the sidelines and escape from the storm circle. Unforeseen, this young man was all talk. Big brother, if you want to put up a front, bring your underlings out with you!
The situation took a turn for the worse, Xiao Lin Feng didn't expect these three bums would actually dare to threaten him. A tinge of embarrassment appeared on his jade-like face: "You dare to stop this Young Master's horse! Do you know who this Young Master is!"
Looking at the three bums who were ready to fight, You Jin took a deep breath in. It was like a person who can't swim insisting on going into the water to save others! She crouched down and whispered to her two younger sisters: "You Yin, quickly take You Zhu and walk from the back. Directly head home."
"Eldest Sister?" You Yin and You Zhu panicked. What did Eldest Sister mean? Let the two of them go? What about herself?
You Jin shook her head: "It's okay. You guys go first. Besides, Eldest Sister still have a knife!" She took out the three-inch long dagger for self-defense from her waist and waved it: "Don't worry. I have a weapon. They are empty-handed. Eldest Sister will not lose."
Urging them, she pushed the two sisters away. Once the two's figures disappeared from her sight, You Jin turned her head to look at the noble young man who was already besieged and engaged in pushing and shoving. If he wasn't on a horse, he would have been beaten a long time ago, right?
She rushed forward with a stride. While everyone wasn't paying attention, she backhanded and threw one over the shoulder. Then conveniently landed a left uppercut to another's stomach before the other two could react. You Jin only used ten percent of her strength. The man cried out in pain. In the end, when the one who seemed to be the boss of the three-person gang rushed over, she made a feint and the dagger was placed on his neck. You Jin, who was panting slightly, looked at the ruffians who had already been put down. She couldn't help but lament how her small body was still weak. If they weren't unprepared, she might not be able to sort it so smoothly.
No one present expect three grown men to be knocked down by a thin eleven or twelve-year-old girl in a moment! Even Xiao Lin Feng on horseback opened his mouth in an extremely inelegant display: was this little girl so powerful?
"Little lass, no, no, Female Hero, please spare me!" The pockmarked bum who was held by You Jin with a dagger on his neck felt the sharp presence on his neck and his legs couldn't help shake in fright: "Female Hero , Female Hero, we were wrong. We have eyes but don't recognize Mount Tai. You're the bigger person, please, let us go!"
As for the other two, one was sore from being thrown over the shoulder, while the other was twitching from a punch in the stomach. The three of them never thought this little girl would be a stubble. Seeing the sharp dagger against their boss's neck, they immediately became cowardly.
Seeing the situation changed and this little lassy have the upper hand, Xiao Lin Feng arrogantly got off the horse and kicked the one who was still lying on the ground and pretended to be dead: "Holler ah! Didn't you holler so loud just now? A wild dog dared to bark in front of this Young Master! Seeking death!"
You Jin showed a helpless smile: "Thank you, Lord, for helping us out."
Many surrounding spectators knew the girl from Su Family who sold sour plum soup here. Hearing what she said, everyone groaned in their hearts- Miss Su, are you too modest? It was clearly you who saved this stupid rich lord, okay?
However, Xiao Lin Feng confidently nodded and accepted You Jin's thanks: "It's just a matter of lending a hand. Go, serve me a bowl of sour plum soup." It turned out that Xiao Lin Feng had tasted the sour plum soup bought by his little study attendant one day and had a sudden craving today. On top of that, he was bored in the entertaining court. So he secretly rode out. Unforeseen, he encountered this scene?