Chapter 14: Work Hard to Make Money!

Lu Weizheng gave her a smile. "Don't mention it. I have something to attend to, so I'll be heading off first."

Shen Yu quickly replied, "Alright, go ahead with your business. We're heading home too. See you later!"

"See you!"

Watching Lu Weizheng ride his bicycle away into the distance, Shen Yu took the two children by the hands and headed back toward the old family residence first.

In addition to inquiring for information from various external sources, she also intended to make full use of the local connections and networks within the village to strive to open her gourmet shop in the shortest time possible.

Upon arriving at the old residence, Shen Yu saw that the main gate was locked, realizing that her mother-in-law and the others must have gone out to tend to business.

She had no choice but to take the two children back to her own home first.

By the time she arrived home, she found her mother-in-law pacing around her front door.

Shen Yu called out to her, "Mom, what brings you here?"

The two children also called out in unison, "Grandma..."

Only when Liang Sanmei saw Shen Yu returning with the two children did she breathe a sigh of relief.

She reached out affectionately to pat the children's heads and replied with a smile, "Where have you two been? I didn't see you bring the children over this morning, so I was worried something might have happened and came to check on you."

While unlocking the door, Shen Yu replied, "I wanted to look for a storefront over at the old street. After breakfast, I took these two along to the old street. Mom, please, come in and sit down."

Liang Sanmei followed Shen Yu into the house.

Shen Yu told the two children to sit with their grandmother while she went into the inner room. She took three large watermelons out of the storage room; she placed one in the cupboard to be eaten when her eldest son returned in the evening, and took the other two out.

Shen Yu said to Liang Sanmei with a smile, "Mom, take this watermelon with you when you head back later so Dad, Big Brother, and Sister-in-law can have a taste."

Looking at the massive watermelon, which appeared to weigh over ten pounds, Liang Sanmei asked in surprise, "Where did you buy such a huge watermelon?"

In this era, watermelons were quite a rarity. Aside from some lychees and longans, most fruits were brought in from other places to be sold.

The watermelon Shen Yu had produced was naturally a high-quality variety from her farm, but she couldn't tell the truth.

She could only make up a source: "I bought it over at the old street."

It just so happened that while she was out with the children today, she had seen someone pulling a cart of watermelons to sell. Even if someone asked about it later, it wouldn't be easy to trace.

Shen Yu took out a fruit knife, washed it, washed the watermelon, and then sliced it open.

The watermelons she grew on her farm were all excellent varieties—crisp, sweet, juicy, and seedless.

Even in the modern era, having eaten countless delicious fruits, she still loved these crisp, sweet, seedless large watermelons.

They would taste even better if they were chilled.

However, people in this era did not have abundant resources; they were just happy to have something to eat, so why would they be picky about the flavor?

After taking a bite, Liang Sanmei praised it, "This watermelon is so sweet and juicy, and there are no seeds. It's delicious!"

Little Kang Kang, with juice running down his mouth, nodded vigorously beside her, echoing his grandmother, "So yummy! I love it!"

The little fellow ate very quickly. Among the four, he was the first to finish his first piece, and he immediately picked up another piece to keep eating.

Seeing the child with juice dripping from the corners of his mouth and onto his clothes, soaking them, Shen Yu hurriedly said, "Kang Kang, eat a little slower. Look, your clothes are all dirty."

Little Shushu was still very young, so Shen Yu had put a bib on her. The bib got dirty, but the clothes underneath were fine.

Little Kang Kang chuckled and said, "Mom, I'll change my clothes in a bit. I can wash them myself."

Shen Yu looked at him smilingly. "Alright then, you'll wash your own clothes from now on, okay?"

Little Kang Kang hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay! I'll wash them myself. I can definitely do it."

Shen Yu was charmed by his serious and adorable manner. She couldn't help but reach out to rub his head and praised him, "My second baby is so good~"

"Hehe..."

Little Kang Kang gave her a bright smile and continued to take big bites of his watermelon.

After finishing the watermelon, Shen Yu saw it was already past eleven o'clock and said to Liang Sanmei, "Mom, I'm going to cook. Please help me look after Kang Kang and Shushu. They can eat lunch here with me. After lunch, they can rest for a bit, and I'll head to the old street to set up my stall at three in the afternoon."

Liang Sanmei replied, "I won't eat here. I have to go back and cook for your father, your brother, and your sister-in-law. Before you head out this afternoon, just send Kang Kang and Shushu over to the old residence, and I'll watch them for you."

Hearing this, Shen Yu didn't press further. "Alright then, I'll drop them off this afternoon."

She picked up the watermelon again and had Liang Sanmei carry it home.

After seeing her mother-in-law off, Shen Yu let Kang Kang and Shushu play in the room while she went to the kitchen to cook.

Since she was alone in the kitchen, Shen Yu directly took a prepared steamed sea bass from the finished goods warehouse, along with a dish of stir-fried eggs with ham and green peppers that children liked.

Finally, she prepared a small plate of blanched crisp lettuce and a small pot of rice.

At 12:15, the eldest son returned home from school.

As soon as he walked in, he saw the meal already laid out on the table, waiting for him.

Shen Yu also said to him gently, "Chenchen, go wash your hands and eat."

"Okay!" Shi Zichen responded, quickly ran to the kitchen to wash his hands, and soon ran back.

Seeing that all three children were seated, Shen Yu picked up her bowl. "Let's eat!"

Shi Zichen felt that the food at home had been delicious these past two days. He ate very quickly, and accompanied by the tasty dishes, he finished two large bowls of rice.

Rice bowls in this era were not as small as those in later generations; one bowl now was equivalent to nearly two small bowls in the future.

The two younger ones had likely eaten watermelon before the meal, so they didn't eat much during lunch.

Kang Kang only ate one bowl, and Shushu only ate half a bowl before they both said they were full.

Shen Yu finished all the remaining dishes herself, eating everything clean.

In the modern era, Shen Yu had been an orphan and had experienced extreme poverty; at her poorest, she ate only one steamed bun a day.

She cherished food. Even after she became very wealthy and had massive amounts of food stored in her warehouse, she maintained the habit of cleaning her plate at every meal.

Even if she occasionally prepared too much food and couldn't finish it, she would carefully pack it away into her preservation warehouse or refrigerator to eat the next day.

Of course, it was best to finish food in one sitting; if it didn't have to be kept overnight, it shouldn't be, as eating fresh food was best for the body.

After the meal, Shen Yu took the three children for an afternoon nap.

When it was time for the eldest to go to school, Shen Yu woke him up. As she saw him out the door, she reminded him to be careful on the road.

As Shi Zichen was leaving, he suddenly asked her, "Mom, are you still going to the place from yesterday to sell soda this afternoon?"

(End of Chapter)