After the Scholar Rejected Me, I Married the Rogue and Got Rich - Chapter 25

Old Li was feeding the cattle when he heard this and looked up in surprise: “Rent an oxcart? Old Lin, what big thing are you up to?”

Lin Laoda rubbed his hands together, his face showing a mixture of anticipation and embarrassment: “It’s nothing serious, it’s just that the kids at home are thinking of setting up a small food stall in town to earn some money to supplement the family income. There’s no other way, we have a lot of kids, and they’re all growing up. They’ll need money for things like building houses and getting married. We have to think of other ways to help them.”

Old Li nodded knowingly and praised, “Was it your eldest daughter’s idea? That child is decisive and shrewd! I think your family’s life will be good from now on! Alright, you can use the oxcart, just give me fifteen coins a day, and bring it back before evening.”

“Oh! Good! Thank you, Brother Li! I appreciate your kind words!” Boss Lin readily counted out fifteen coins and handed them over, which was a very fair price.

———

After renting the oxcart and returning home, Lin Sang had already prepared breakfast. She used scallions to make batter and then made several golden and shiny scallion and egg pancakes. She also quickly made a scallion and egg drop soup. With the crisp pickled vegetables she had made in the autumn, the family ate a warm and satisfying meal.

After finishing the meal, Lin Sang specially wrapped a few still-warm scallion pancakes in oil paper and said to Wang Shi, “Mother, I’m taking some pancakes to Brother Zhou. He has helped us so much, and we haven’t properly thanked him yet.”

Watching her daughter’s actions, Wang knew exactly what was going on. She sighed and muttered, “A daughter is like a tree that cannot be kept at home once she grows up…” Her tone was somewhat helpless, but she did not actually stop her.

———

The oxcart rattled towards the town and went straight to the dock.

Zhou Han was already waiting there, leading them to a corner that was sheltered from the wind and not far from the work area, where there was a simple but fairly sturdy little shed.

“You can put your things here from now on,” Zhou Han said, and took the lead in unloading the truck.

Lin Sang rolled up her sleeves, ready to help, but Zhou Han stopped her, his voice low but filled with undeniable concern: “We can handle these heavy tasks. You’re a young lady… just go and rest over there, don’t get your clothes dirty.”

Lin Sang watched his profile as he focused on moving things, and her heart warmed. She readily stood aside and watched as he and her father deftly carried two large pots, griddles, firewood, bowls, chopsticks, and other items into the shed and put them away.

After putting everything away, Zhou Han handed a brass key to Lin Sang: “From now on, you’ll be opening and locking the door yourselves. Keep the key safe.”

Lin Sang took the key, which still held the warmth of his palm, and thought for a moment before saying, “Brother Zhou, we can’t use this place for free, can we pay rent?”

Zhou Han shook his head, his gaze falling on her face: “No need, I’ve already told the head steward that he can have a bowl of hot mutton soup delivered to him every day for free.”

Lin Sang immediately assured him, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he’s well-fed! Brother Zhou, you can come and eat here next time, it’s all free!”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Han’s cold, hard lips twitched slightly, revealing a faint but genuine smile: “Alright, then I won’t stand on ceremony.”

As she spoke, Lin Sang took the opportunity to hand over the scallion pancake she had brought, her smile bright: “Brother Zhou, this is freshly made this morning, it’s still warm, please eat it quickly.”

Zhou Han looked at the pancake, but didn’t say anything to refuse. When he reached out to take it, his fingertips inadvertently brushed against Lin Sang’s slender fingers. The cool and smooth touch made him feel like he had been electrocuted. His ears turned red instantly, and he hurriedly turned his face away, not daring to look at her again.

Lin Sang took in his subtle reaction, and a secret joy and certainty welled up in her heart. Now that she had made her decision, she would not hesitate or back down. This man, though fierce on the outside, was as pure as a blank sheet of paper on the inside. She was determined to have him!

She watched his slightly hurried back, a determined smile curving her lips.

After handing the cake to Zhou Han and saying goodbye to him that she was going to buy ingredients, Lin Sang called her father and left.

Zhou Han stood there, holding the still-warm pancake, and took a bite. The aroma of scallions mixed with the fragrance of eggs filled his mouth. He could almost see Lin Sang’s slender figure busy in the kitchen, and his heart was filled with an unprecedented, swelling and burning emotion.

———

After leaving the dock, the father and daughter went straight to the lamb offal stall they had booked earlier.

Lin Sang found the easygoing owner and said with a smile, “Boss, we’re here! We’ll have three servings of lamb offal today, and as usual, a few extra lamb bones!”

Seeing that she was a big customer, the shopkeeper grinned from ear to ear: “Alright! Young lady, your business is booming! Three servings of mutton offal will be twenty-four coins in total, and the mutton bones will be included, as usual!”

Lin Sang paid the money readily and went to the spice shop to replenish her salt and pepper. She especially bought a pound of chili powder, spending fifty coins. This was her “secret weapon” to attract customers.

After finishing their shopping, the father and daughter didn’t dare to delay and quickly took the oxcart back home, as there was still a lot of preparation work waiting for them.

———

Back home, Wang immediately took over and began to clean the sheep offal quickly, while Lin Sang and his younger siblings made other preparations: Lin Bai chopped firewood, Lin Laoda carried water, and Lin Song and Lin Miao helped wash scallions and cilantro. The whole family was like a tightly wound spring, busy in preparation for tomorrow’s opening.

That evening, the family gathered together to do the final and most important task: settling the price!

Lin Sang used a charcoal pencil to write and calculate on the wooden board: “A set of mutton offal costs eight coins and can make about ten bowls of soup. Adding the cost of mutton bones, seasonings, firewood, scallions and cilantro, the cost of a bowl of soup is about two and a half to three coins. The cost of a flatbread is less than one coin. Let’s set the price: six coins for a bowl of mutton offal soup and two coins for a flatbread.”

Wang added, “On the first day of opening, we can do something special: buy a bowl of mutton offal soup and get a free flatbread! That looks like a good deal and will attract customers.”

Everyone agreed that this was a good idea. If they sold a bowl of soup and a free pancake, they could make a net profit of more than two coins. If they bought the pancake alone or added soup, they would make even more.

Thinking about the potential benefits, everyone was full of enthusiasm.