Chapter 7: 7. Chapter 7: Double Postpartum Recovery

Chapter 7: The Second Month of Confinement

A wide cloth strap was slung over the mule’s back, with two jars of hot soy milk, wrapped tightly in padding, hanging from either end. Shutong carried a bamboo basket containing piping hot *youtiao* (fried dough sticks), which Er-niangzi had wrapped securely in a clean, thick cloth.

The *youtiao* and soy milk wouldn't go cold for a while, but Shutong was completely bewildered. He stared blankly at Er-niangzi, who sat perched on the mule’s back, bundled up tightly. "Er-niangzi, are you really going to do this?"

"If I don't go, will you be able to sell them?"

Shutong:...

When he was young, he was a study attendant; when he grew up, he escorted his master to work. Grinding ink, running errands, and serving his master were his specialties, but he had never done business! Ah, no—he had done it once; just a few days ago, he had sold two stone paintings!

At the thought of the eight taels of silver he had earned, Shutong’s confusion vanished instantly. His eyes lit up. "Er-niangzi, how much can we earn today?"

Su Ruojin didn't want to dampen his spirits, but she had to remind the excited and agitated Uncle Shutong that 100 *youtiao* and two jars of soy milk could only earn so much. "Uncle, our business today is about accumulating small amounts into a large sum. It’s going to be hard work for you!"

"It’s not hard... not hard at all..." It was just carrying a basket of *youtiao*; it was light as a feather.

Su Ruojin looked at the basket held high by Shutong and smiled slightly. This was only the beginning!

Shutong had never done business, but as Su Yanli’s attendant, he had run countless errands and bought many things for his master, including meals, snacks, and drinks from street vendors. Even if he hadn't seen a pig run, he had certainly eaten pork.

Su Ruojin got off the mule and reached out to take a *youtiao* to display for sale.

Setting aside the fact that Er-niangzi was his young mistress, even if she weren't, he wouldn't let a young girl of only a few years old sell things.

Shutong didn't feel embarrassed at all. "Er-niangzi, let me do the selling."

Forget about whether he knew how or not. Recalling how the vendors called out when he went to buy things, he gathered his thoughts for a few seconds, and the hawking words came naturally to his lips: "Fluffy, fragrant, and crispy *youtiao*, three wen each! Sweet and piping hot soy milk, three wen a cup... Come take a look... come see... eat it right in your hand, convenient, fast, and saves you the trouble..."

Su Ruojin had actually been worried that Uncle Shutong might be too shy to call out, but he had taken to it immediately. It seemed Uncle Shutong had a real talent for business! She had indeed given him a few pointers regarding the stone paintings, but without natural talent, no matter how much she talked until her mouth went dry, those who couldn't sell would still be unable to sell.

From her observations over the past few years, Uncle Shutong had a sharp mind, but he had never had the opportunity to develop it. But now, Su Ruojin’s little abacus beads were clicking away. Her father was a scholar, her mother never stepped out of the house, and if she wanted to do business to support the family, Uncle Shutong was the best helper. Otherwise, Su Ruojin wouldn't have taken advantage of her mother’s confinement to start the business.

The alley entrance Su Ruojin chose was perfect: to the south were the Imperial Academy and the Southern District; to the south gate was the city exit; to the east was the Martial Academy; to the north was the Imperial Street, the Three Departments, Five Directorates, and Nine Courts; and to the west of the alley entrance was a residential area. She had long coveted this prime business location.

Finally, she had arrived!

The Great Yin Dynasty was similar to the Song Dynasty, with a flourishing economy. Whether they were commoners, small vendors, or imperial civil servants, many people didn't eat at home in order to save time and would buy breakfast on the road to fill their stomachs.

Shutong didn't even need to waste his breath. People, drawn by the aroma of the *youtiao*, gathered around. "This breakfast is fresh. It’s not as thin as *sanzi*, nor is it a fried dough cake; it’s quite novel. Give me one. If it’s good, I’ll bring a few for my classmates."

"Coming right up!" Shutong quickly grabbed a small oil-paper bag and used chopsticks to place the *youtiao* inside. Throughout the process, his fingers didn't touch the food at all. The young man buying the *youtiao* nodded in satisfaction.

"Young master, would you like a drink to go with your *youtiao*?" Shutong didn't forget to introduce the soy milk. He quickly opened the jar, and a puff of heat rose up, suddenly releasing a sweet fragrance into the cold, oily air.

It enticed the young man to call out readily, "Give me a cup."

"Coming right up!" Shutong nimbly picked up a long-handled wooden spoon and scooped twice. *Swish, swish*, the oil-paper cup was full. "Young master, hold this carefully, watch out, it’s hot."

The young man took it and immediately took a big gulp. "Wow, this heat, it’s so comforting." The young man pulled out a handful of copper coins. "See how many more *youtiao* and soy milk I can buy?"

Shutong quickly counted the coins. "Young master, you can buy three more sets. This is the extra one wen, please take it."

Su Ruojin didn't even need to worry; Uncle Shutong was selling *youtiao* as if he had been injected with adrenaline, full of energy. She watched him sell with a smile, observing how people accepted the *youtiao* and soy milk.

They had set off at the beginning of the Mao hour (5:00 AM) and arrived at the alley entrance by about 5:30 AM.

There was an old saying—"Dian Mao" (checking the roll).

What was "Dian Mao"? Imperial civil servants started work at the Mao hour; this was called "Dian Mao." Generally, it referred to the end of the Mao hour, which was 7:00 AM.

Su Ruojin’s 100 *youtiao* and two jars of soy milk were sold out in less than a quarter of an hour, before the time for "Dian Mao" had even passed.

Those who came later were surprised: "It’s all gone already?" Probably in a rush, they shook their heads and walked away quickly.

Shutong looked at his young mistress by the wall and smiled helplessly. "Not enough to sell."

It was only normal that there wasn't enough! *Youtiao* and soy milk were the quintessential delicious breakfast for the people of this land. If they hadn't sold well, Su Ruojin would have been the one crying!

When Su Yanli woke up, the attendant Shutong and his second daughter were not at home. He assumed they had gone to the market to buy ingredients like the previous few days. He went to his two sons' room first, helped them get up, and then took them to the kitchen to have breakfast together.

He lifted the lid of the large pot. On the bamboo steamer, there was fragrant, sweet drink and fried *daguozi* (large fried dough). Seeing that his daughter had changed up the breakfast routine, Su Yanli smiled with a mix of happiness and heartache. He took out the steamer and called his sons to eat: "Dalang, Sanlang, sit down."

The two Su brothers had already smelled the fragrant *youtiao* and soy milk and had been swallowing their saliva. They quickly sat at the table, one hand holding a bowl, the other holding a *youtiao*, and took a big bite. *Wow, it’s so delicious!*

Fluffy, crispy, and with a great chew—after one bite, there was a lingering sweetness on the teeth. It was truly delicious, and the brothers couldn't stop eating.

Seeing his sons eating happily, Su Yanli took a sip of the drink to moisten his throat. *Eh?* It tasted like it was ground from soybeans, but it lacked the raw, fishy smell of soybeans; it was sweet and refreshing. It was delicious.

It wasn't until the evening, when Su Yanli returned from work and asked how the *guozi* from the morning had been fried so large and so tasty, that Shutong and Su Ruojin were stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter together.

Su Dalang already knew—this wasn't *daguozi*, but something called *youtiao*.

"*Youtiao*?" Su Yanli thought about it carefully. It was long; it could indeed be called a "strip."

Su Ruojin and the others burst into laughter again.

Since everyone loved eating them, they increased the quantity for sale every day. On the other hand, Su Ruojin began to buy stoves and pots and even ordered a handcart so that their equipment had a place to be stored and it would be easier to transport.

By the time these things were all set up, Cheng Yingzhen’s month of confinement was over. Perhaps because she had given birth many times, or perhaps because the weather was too cold, even though Su Ruojin had taken good care of her with confinement meals, tea, and snacks, she still didn't have much energy.

Su Ruojin decided she should have a second month of confinement.