"Since there are passengers on the boat, including helmsmen and even merchants, why not set up some eateries on the plank square or along the riverbank?"
"These are just snacks for the boat workers to occasionally fill their stomachs. Most merchants still order food in the town and have it delivered to the boat or come ashore to purchase."
The painted boat sailed into the shallow river channel between the sugarcane fields and the opposite main road. Several figures were waiting by the field. After Cheng Mo came out and gave a few instructions to the people at the back of the boat, they started moving bundles of sugarcane upwards.
Xiaobei's heart stirred, and she quickly walked to the bow of the boat, approached the field, and blocked the glances from the back of the boat. With a swift thought, she moved several sugarcane pieces into the vast sugarcane field in her mental space. Perhaps due to artificial planting, this piece of land, like other farmlands, had crisscrossing paths, and the soil was dark and oily, but nothing grew on it. Carefully trying to cut out small sections with her mental power, she planted three sections in each field, occupying about eight or nine hundred square meters. Stopping, she returned to the seat, picked up the tea, pretended to savor it, and quietly felt her physical condition. It seemed that there was no dizziness. Could it be that she had moved a new type of plant into it? Since there were no issues, she decided to continue and added some earthworms to loosen the soil.
Before she could act, Cheng Mo had returned. Lost in thought, she continued with hot tea, and they remained silent until the boat was properly anchored at the plank road. Xiaobei looked over at Cheng Mo several times, and he seemed to avoid her gaze, mysteriously evading her. Most likely, he's up to some mischief again. Without any explanation, she took the lead, went ashore, and entered Fuhai Restaurant.
Cheng Mo caught up and hesitated for a moment before speaking, "If you're not tired, we can have some pastries and try the sugar-cooking method you mentioned."
Xiaobei almost choked. No wonder he forcibly dragged her onto the painted boat but didn't stay for long. He returned to cut sugarcane, and it was for this. Looking pretty good, but turned out to be thinking about deceiving a little girl with his own recipe. Who said that ancient people were simple and kind? Come out, and I promise not to beat you into a state of spring flowers. "I'm already full. You can eat by yourself. I want to find someone to sell this sugar recipe for silver. Tomorrow, I have to get up early to go to the pharmacy, so I'm going back to rest." With that, she didn't wait for a reply and swiftly went up the stairs, all the way to the end of the second floor, without stopping.
Cheng Mo stood bewildered in place, feeling both embarrassed and awkward. In frustration, he turned around, thinking of finding Zhong Shu to see how the refined salt was made. Then he remembered that Xiaobei had gone to listen to the menu introduction for dinner. She only tasted a few bites of each dish, hardly enough to fill her stomach. Just now on the boat, she only had two bowls of tea soup. She was about to buy some fisherman's flatbread. It seemed she had been hungry for a while, so he, still uneasy, followed her.
The door wasn't closed, and at a glance, he saw the petite figure crouching in front of several grass baskets by the wall. All the medicinal herbs were neatly arranged in the basket underneath, separated by a layer of grass cushion. On top, there were paper, pens, and bamboo joints for pancreas. Two dark green small wooden boards hung outside the basket through the holes at both ends of the copper corners. She was ready to sell things early tomorrow.
"How short are you of silver that you're afraid you'll need a lot of cash for these? I'll give you a 30% profit. You don't have to engage in those cheap business dealings," Cheng Mo said sarcastically, emphasizing the words "cash" with a bite.
Humph, cheap business? Dealings? It wouldn't be a deal if it was given to him for free. "Hmm," Xiaobei completely pretended not to care, making a sound as if responding. "By the way, when you meet Uncle Zhong later, please tell him not to use that bamboo tube rice and clay-baked chicken recipe for now. Tomorrow, when I go back, I'll prepare some seasonings and braised water pouches for him. I'll have my family send them over. I'm going to rest now; I have to get up early tomorrow." With that, she got up and prepared to close the door to sleep.
She would leave early tomorrow, going straight back. Even the new dishes would be sent by her family. In fact, she didn't want to see herself, angry and unwilling to bother with herself anymore. Cheng Mo felt a sudden panic, his emotions all in a jumble. "I'll give you money. Let's go shopping, have some snacks. You don't have to teach me that sugar recipe. Don't be angry," Cheng Mo thoughtfully remembered how his grandfather used to take her out to make her laugh when his grandmother was angry. So, he took a few steps forward, took out a few banknotes, and stuffed them over.