Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 211: Straw Hat Stall Owner

Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Straw Hat Stall Owner

Nanzhi became choked up and said nothing. Mother Lin’s eyelid twitched with a sense of ill-omened anticipation.

Sun Cui unconsciously looked towards her husband, considering that it had been him and his older brother who accompanied his sister-in-law to make the purchase.

Receiving his wife’s gaze, Lin Ercheng also grew a little uneasy. After swallowing and stuttering for a while, he finally croaked out: "One... one hundred and fifty copper plates per pound..."

As his words fell, Nanzhi felt the collective gaze of the room converge on her.

"I-I bought this to use for business..."

Nanzhi’s voice was faint. Although the money was hers, she still lived in the family home. She had invested the money before even formulating a complete plan. The outcome remained uncertain.

Mother Lin didn’t say much, but subtly pinched Father Lin’s arm, trying to prevent herself from reacting impulsively.

"Can so many spices really be stored properly?"

"I’ll only keep some for my own use. I intend to sell the rest."

While cumin made up the bulk of the barbecue spice mix, other seasonings were needed. A precise blend would require more than two hundred pounds of ingredients.

Furthermore, if properly stored, cumin could last over a year. But the longer it’s stored, the weaker the fragrance becomes. She only plans to keep one hundred pounds for herself and sell the remaining hundred pounds to other restaurants.

The restaurant’s expenses will certainly differ from those of the snack stalls. She wasn’t intending to monopolize the market.

Even though Shen Wenchen was now the lord of Yan City, his position was not secure. The fewer problems he encountered, the better.

"Can you really sell spices that cost one hundred and fifty copper plates per pound?"

Chen Qiulan looked worried.

"Yes, I can," Nanzhi nodded. Although her situation was a fake historical setting, and many things didn’t align with her knowledge, cumin was not native to this country. Even if the spice didn’t fetch a high price, the rule of "the rarer, the more precious" should ensure a fair return.

"What type of business are you planning to do?"

As the head of the household, Father Lin felt he must have a say, so he asked in a solemn voice.

While the money was their daughter’s and whatever she used it for was none of their business, if the family could be of help, he certainly wouldn’t decline.

"Dad, Mom, brother, sister-in-law, how do you feel about the dish I made today?"

Nanzhi watched her family, seeing expectation in their faces.

Everyone in the Lin family looked at each other, and all agreed that it was delicious.

Who among them had ever had such a gastronomic experience before while living in Stone Village?

Even after moving to Yan City and getting accustomed to good food, the barbecue Nanzhi had served was something they hadn’t tasted before.

They had previously tasted similar meat dishes when Lin Fu took the whole family to Zuitingxuan. However, despite looking more attractive and tender, the taste didn’t match up to Nanzhi’s barbecue.

"If you intend to sell this at a snack stall, with spices costing one hundred and fifty copper plates per pound sprinkled on top, you might not sell much if you charge too much. If you price it too low, wouldn’t you be operating at a loss?"

Lin Yicheng scratched his head, looking perplexed. With such high costs, wouldn’t Nanzhi make a loss?

"I have adjusted the recipe today, and the cost can be significantly reduced. Don’t worry, I’ve considered all these factors," Nanzhi reassured, not wanting her family to worry unduly.

Chen Qiulan and Sun Cui stood up to clear the dishes, while Nanzhi started to unload the goods with her two brothers.

She decided to keep some onions for planting. Being a vegetable that was currently unavailable in Yan City, if she could grow them it would provide extra income.

In the evening, Yuanbao, as always, curled up in Nanzhi’s lap, listening to her stories.

The boy in white sat quietly on the rooftop, his face filled with increasing worry.

Did this mean he was destined to fail?

Under the starry night sky, Shen Wenchen sat on a rooftop, staring blankly at the Lin residence, lost in thought.

He was missing Nannan.

But there might be too many things to do tomorrow.

He held his throbbing temples. Deep fatigue was etched under his passionate peach blossom eyes.

Chi Sheng sat by the window, lost in thought, a hint of confusion in his phoenix eyes.

He had dreamed of that woman again just now.

In her red dress, loudly calling his name.

But every time he wanted to get closer, she would suddenly disappear.

Because the market would start early on the morning of the 27th, Gu Lang tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

He just held the pearl and smiled stupidly.

Such a beautiful pearl, when made into a dowry for his sister, would undoubtedly look good!

He now only had a hundred pounds of aniseed and more than fifty pounds of leather left. Once he sold these, he could go home.

By then, his sister would be married, and he could take a girl he liked home.

Unable to sleep all night, the rooster in the inn yard had just crowed, and Gu Lang had already dressed neatly and was heading towards the northern city with his goods.

It was still dark, but the number of pedestrians on the road had gradually increased.

The young man led two camels into the stream of people.

As dawn broke, Yuanbao had already woken up.

Seeing that Nanzhi was still deep asleep, the little girl obediently followed the steps she had learned from Nanzhi to dress herself haphazardly, then went to wash up in the yard.

Mother Lin saw her wearing her clothes all twisted and helped the little girl dress properly, then braided two small braids for her.

When Nanzhi suddenly woke up, everyone in the Lin family was already neatly dressed and sitting in the hall, giving pocket money to the children.

Each child had a purse containing twenty copper plates, and Mother Lin carefully instructed them again. By then, Nanzhi had also changed clothes.

As the large family group was just coming out of the lane, they saw the people of the Shen family standing there.

Aunt Guihua, who they hadn’t seen for two years, looked even more haggard, and Shen San’s back was slightly stooped.

Only Shen Miaomiao was still as lively as before.

"Sister Nanzhi!"

"Miaomiao?"

The two voices echoed in unison, paused for a moment, and then they both chuckled.

The two families greeted each other and then walked together.

Shen Miaomiao spotted the chubby little girl in Nanzhi’s hand, recognizing her as the one from the mountain village, and winked at Nanzhi.

"Sister Nanzhi, when did you get a daughter?"

"You naughty girl!"

Nanzhi laughed and reprimand, but she didn’t argue much.

By the time the two families reached the entrance of the North Market, they were all stunned by the bustling crowd.

The shops on the street at the entrance of the North Market were all closed today, and the roadside had been occupied by various traders from the street entrance.

A variety of goods were placed on pieces of cotton cloth, and the street was filled with laughter and haggling.

Fortunately, both families were large, with Lin Yicheng and Lin Ercheng each leading their wives in front, Nanzhi and Shen Miaomiao in the middle, and Father and Mother Lin, along with Aunt Guihua, following behind with the four children. They were not crowded in the throng.

Looking at those unusual items, Yuanbao didn’t cling to Nanzhi to hold her hand, but followed closely behind Shen Zhiyu, looking around curiously.

Before they even entered the market, Nanzhi was attracted by a small stall in the corner.

The stall owner sat on the ground in a grey robe and a bamboo hat, with some broken and unclear items in front of him.