Chapter 10: Finding Ways to Make Money

“Sister, Father used to say that no one will be kind to you without reason—either they want your power or your profit.”

Schemes against girls are even more detestable.

Chun Ning was only young, but not foolish.

“Sister, how about I return these things to the Zhao family?”

“No rush.”

Xiao Chunnuan didn’t have time to worry about their intentions right now. There had to be some gain for any interaction to occur, and at least for the moment, Zhao Minghua seemed friendly.

She needed these items for immediate use.

Especially when she saw so many ingredients and seasonings in the basket, an idea immediately sprang to her mind.

“Chun Ning, do you remember the flowers blooming on that mountain we saw on the way home?”

“Yes, pink ones. Luo Xiaogang said they’re called ‘Wangchunhua.’”

“That’s right, Wangchunhua, also known as Magnolia biondii. Go call Luo Xiaogang over—I have something to ask him.”

When Luo Xiaogang heard Chunnuan was looking for him, he came running quickly, mainly because Chun Ning had given him a tasty pancake.

“Chunnuan sister, what do you need?”

“Xiaogang, do you know whose mountain that patch of Wangchunhua belongs to?”

“That mountain belongs to the Xiao clan. Sister, do you want to pick some flowers? Nobody minds; every year the flowers bloom and fade without anyone managing them.”

The Xiao clan again! Chunnuan couldn’t help but laugh angrily.

But Luo Xiaogang’s “nobody minds” brightened her eyes.

“Good, Xiaogang, do me a favor,” Chunnuan beckoned, then gave him instructions.

“Really?”

“Really. If you help me with this, Chun Ning will teach you to read, and I’ll even give you a share of the profits.”

“What does ‘share of the profits’ mean?”

Children don’t understand such things and have to ask.

“It means if I earn ten coins, you get one; if I earn a hundred, you get ten...”

Luo Xiaogang lost track counting on his fingers, but he knew he could make money—just by picking flowers, and then going with Chun Ning to the dock to sell them. As long as there’s money to be made, that’s fine!

“This has to stay secret. You can’t even tell your parents, okay?”

“Okay, I swear I’ll keep it secret. Pinky promise.”

Chunnuan linked pinkies with Luo Xiaogang.

“Pinky promise, hang for a hundred years, no changing; if you do, you’re Pigsy.”

Chunnuan laughed immediately.

“Chunnuan sister, you’re so pretty. Even if you turned into Pigsy, you’d still be a beautiful Pigsy,” Luo Xiaogang said, dazzled by her smile. “My aunt says you’re the prettiest girl she’s seen for miles around.”

What?

“My aunt is a famous matchmaker within ten miles. She says she’s very good at arranging matches—every match she makes is successful. Chunnuan sister, what kind of husband do you want? I’ll ask my aunt to find one for you.”

Is that something a child should worry about?

“Xiaogang, don’t talk nonsense. My sister is still in mourning,” Chun Ning said, thinking this “disciple” he’d taken in was a bit foolish, blurting out anything.

“Oh, okay. Then I’ll tell my aunt to wait until your mourning period’s over before suggesting a good husband.”

Chunnuan couldn’t help but laugh and cry—this kid was truly eating at the Luo family’s table but worrying about the Xiao family’s affairs!

It was reasonable to suspect that Aunt Luo’s fame as a matchmaker was a family effort.

The next day at dawn, Chun Ning and Luo Xiaogang carried a small basket and headed up the mountain to pick flowers.

“Sister said the petals should be big and fresh.”

“Okay, wait here. I’ll climb the tree to pick.”

Luo Xiaogang spat on his hand, rubbed it a few times, then gripped the tree trunk and jumped up to the branches.

Watching his agility, Chun Ning felt a pang of envy.

“Xiaogang, teach me to climb trees.”

“What? You don’t know how to climb trees, Brother Chun Ning?”

“No.”

Indeed, from the capital to Sichuan, Chun Ning realized there were many things besides reading that he couldn’t do.

He could read, but it was useless—not helping him survive or protect his family. No wonder some say a scholar is good for nothing.

So now, he had to learn everything.

“Okay, I’ll teach you.”

Luo Xiaogang spoke and jumped down from the tree.

“Come, spit on your hands.”

Chun Ning used to find that rude and dirty.

Now, he was learning very seriously.

“Wrap your arms around the tree trunk, and use your feet to push upward.”

“If your legs aren’t strong enough, clamp the trunk with both legs to make sure you don’t fall.”

Climbing was really hard for Chun Ning.

He tried over and over but couldn’t get up.

“Forget it, Brother Chun Ning, you won’t learn today. Let’s just pick flowers.”

“Okay.” Though he didn’t learn it today, Chun Ning was not discouraged: “I’ll learn to climb trees sooner or later.”

Luo Xiaogang climbed up again, picking flowers and tossing them down one by one.

“Brother Chun Ning, catch them!”

Chun Ning gathered the flowers under the tree, putting them in the basket. Soon it was full. Luo Xiaogang quickly climbed down, the whole process smooth and effortless, as if climbing up and down were as easy as walking on flat ground.

“Among three people walking, there’s always something to learn from each other,” Chun Ning whispered.

“Brother Chun Ning, what did you say?”

Chun Ning smiled and explained.

“It means I can also be your teacher?”

“Yes, you have excellent qualities I want to learn.”

“That’s great!” Always envying Brother Chun Ning and the others for being literate, he now saw they had things they couldn’t do, like climbing trees.

“Climbing trees is fun. Sometimes you can find bird eggs in nests. Last time, I found three. My mother cooked them for me and my siblings—it was delicious.”

“Delicious” made Chun Ning swallow hard without realizing it.

He was determined to learn to climb trees.

Chunnuan was pleased to see Chun Ning and Luo Xiaogang return with so many flowers.

“Chun Ning, Xiaogang, I made some porridge. You two eat first, rest a bit. When the work is ready, you’ll go sell at the dock.”

Chunnuan mixed bean flour, cracked an egg, added various seasonings, and stirred evenly.

The seasonings Zhao Minghua had sent were complete, plus ten eggs. That morning, Chunnuan boiled one egg each for her sister-in-law and grandmother. But the sister-in-law shared half with Chunxin, and grandmother shared half with Chunqiang. Those who ate and those who didn’t alike had tears in their eyes.

The servants of the Xiao household used to eat better than they did now. Truly, fortunes rise and fall over a lifetime.

“Sister, what will you do with these flowers?”

“Fried flower cakes.” Chunnuan told Chunyan, who was tending the fire: “Make the fire smaller, don’t put so much wood in.”

“Okay.”

Many from the Xiao family gathered around in layers, watching how Chunnuan would fry the flower cakes.

Without any kitchen enclosure, this was risky. Outsiders would come to watch.

Chunnuan hurried to disperse them. After finishing the flower cakes, she had important matters to attend to.

She poured oil into the pan. Xu Shi gasped, “Chunnuan, are you not planning to live frugally?”

Goodness, she poured a whole large bowl—at least half a catty.

“Mother, fried flower cakes need plenty of oil. Don’t worry, I’ll earn back the cost.”

In truth, Chunnuan wasn’t sure if she could make a profit.

She coated each cleaned, dried petal in bean flour, then dropped them into the oil. Soon, a fragrant aroma filled the air, making the Xiao family swallow their saliva.

Chunnuan herself held back her own hunger. Finally, she finished frying.

“Chun Ning, did you bring back the banana leaves?”

“Sister, here they are, all washed and dried.”

“Good. Watch carefully. Wrap about ten flower cakes per bundle. As for the price…” Chunnuan pondered, “No, I’ll go with you to set the price later.”