The cook is very busy

Chapter 8
After dinner in the evening, Mrs. Zhang really came, carrying a basket of fresh apricots, and yelled before entering the door.

It is said that Jia Erkui went to the mountain to chop bamboos at noon and picked them by the way. They tasted quite sweet, so they brought them over without being sour.

Ziqing was washing the dishes in the stove, and Jia Shouwang picked up a dozen of them to let her wash them after the busy work.

And in such a short time, Mrs. Zhang actually convinced the old couple.

Anyway, when Ziqing came back to the main room, he saw his old lady holding her back with a smile and explaining why he had to listen to her cousin when he got to town.

On the contrary, his father was squatting on the threshold, puffing out smoke rings one after another, showing no sign of happiness or anger.

The next day, everyone packed up and went out together. Jia Erkui went to borrow a bullock cart from a good brother in another place, and said that he would take a light one today and find a replacement.

Jia Shouwang and Mrs. Zhao were overjoyed, they couldn't stop praising Jia Erkui, and carried the oil can, iron pan and flour bag up.

The old couple sat down with Ziqing squeezed together, so they could spare some space to put the baskets and bamboo baskets that Mrs. Zhang had woven.

On the way, Ziqing really wanted to ask Mrs. Zhang, how did she understand her parents last night.

But there was only so much space in the car, and when she opened her mouth, she guessed that even the old scalper who was driving ahead would have to talk to her, so she just endured it.

Besides, Mrs. Zhang held back all the way. Yesterday, sister Qing only uttered half a sentence, so that she didn't know what to do with the remaining bamboo pieces.

After about half an hour, they arrived at the market. Jia Erkui and Mrs. Zhang wanted to fight for the stalls, otherwise there would be no seats left.

They helped Jia Shouwang unload the oil pot at the intersection, and then separated from his elder brother.

Jia Shouwang refused to let Ziqing do anything, and moved the noodle bag to the side of the road by himself.

There was an earthen stove as tall as half a person, and the one next to the wall was blackened, obviously left over from the smoky fire all year round.

Ziqing and Mrs. Zhao took the oil tank and so on, while she crouched on the side of the road and looked back and forth.

At this time, the bazaar was already noisy and lively, and the stalls on the left and right sides were full, selling everything.

However, although the street that goes all the way to the end is complicated, it is not chaotic. If you look carefully, it is orderly.

There were no stalls at the entrance of the town, only some leisurely men sat and chatted there, and Jia Shouwang and the others were at the bottom, and there were a few small stalls selling food.

There is also a table for writing letters in the corner, and a scholar in common clothes is laying out pens, inks, papers and inkstones.

Jia Shouwang took a look and muttered sourly, saying that if he knew that he was baking onion pancakes now, it would be better to use the ten taels of silver he earned from selling tiger skins in the early years to pay the tuition.

Look at that young man, you can get money with the stroke of a pen, and you can get a dozen coppers with a few swipes on paper.

Mrs. Zhao only said that he would be sour if he couldn't eat apricots. He was an old scum in his twenties at that time. Which school would dare to take him. Squeeze the drums!
Ziqing looked at the old couple with a smile and shook her head, then looked back one after another, she just passed a few vegetable stalls and butcher shops, and she couldn't see what was behind, she could only look hard with her neck raised.

Jia Shouwang thought that his daughter had never seen such a lively scene, and seeing everything was fresh, he felt sorry for her, so he told his wife, and let his daughter and Erkui's daughter-in-law go around.

Mrs. Zhao thought the same way, promised the old man, groped in her arms and walked to her daughter.

She handed the money bag to Ziqing, saying that there were about a hundred coins in it, and she would go out with her second cousin in a while, and buy it when she saw a good one.

Ziqing wondered for a while, what is her mother doing, where does she want her to go with her second cousin?

Mrs. Zhao didn't say anything, just pointed her in the direction and told her to go straight down to find Erkui's wife.

Ziqing wanted to stay and help, but her father kept nagging, saying that the stall hadn't been opened for the past few days, and the place was so dirty that it had to be tidied up quickly so that the pancakes could be cooked.

But the second elder kept pushing her away, saying that she didn't know what to do, and stood aside instead of blocking the way.

Ziqing couldn't resist the old couple, so he went down this road.

After passing a few stalls, the guys from the tea shops on the side of the road kept urging her to come in and have a rest.

Ziqing looked at Xinxin with a smile on her lips, she just looked at the street and didn't pay attention to anything else, until she heard Mrs. Zhang calling her from behind, she hurriedly turned back.

Mrs. Zhang moved a basket to let Ziqing come over, handed her a small stool beside her, and said with a smile, "What's up, girl, you must be fooled."

Ziqing smiled embarrassedly, and asked Zhang why this town was so lively.

Mrs. Zhang's subordinates were busy setting up stalls, and told her that there is only one town in this area of ​​ten miles and eight villages, and there are several official roads outside.

Like those men nestled beside the town gate, they just carried goods and burdens for passing merchants.

"Also, girl, our street gets bigger and bigger. That area is full of top-notch inns and restaurants. It's the busiest place in the town. When it's the New Year's Day, red flags are hung. Lantern-colored silk, that's pretty."

"Yes, just behind this street?"

"Yes, but there is a shortcut, it's at the place of the second uncle and the others... Hey, what do you want, ma'am, these baskets are all made by yourself. Try putting the fruit in your hand."

Mrs. Zhang was talking to Ziqing when a few women surrounded her, and she began to solicit them to do business.

Ziqing didn't ask any further questions, and was helping Mrs. Zhang to take care of the stall. Mrs. Zhang probably managed the business in the village these days, and she didn't take the price back. Those women all looked at it more and bought less .

Not long after, Jia Erkui arrived with an ox cart, his face was not very good, and there were a lot of things on the cart, all of which were carried by his brother, who asked him to borrow someone else's cart.

"Shunzi, that bastard, borrowing his car is like borrowing his wife. He treats me like a mule, and I've traveled half the town to carry these soy sauce, vinegar and salt buns..."

Mrs. Zhang gave a "tsk", glared at her man, and said in a low voice, "Sister Qing is still here, why doesn't she have a doorkeeper!"

Jia Erkui took a look, coughed in embarrassment, and led the ox cart to the open space beside him.Ziqing was helping an auntie to fasten the straps of her pannier, but she pretended not to hear.

"Hey, Yingzi, sister Qing, both of you, stop busy and eat the pancakes quickly."

Jia Erkui brought three warm scallion pancakes from the car, saying they were given by the second uncle passing by.

Ziqing saw that the pancakes in his hand were slightly steaming, and the oil on the crust had seeped into the parchment paper. They looked good, but it was not until noon, so why did they eat them?
Mrs. Zhang took a bite out of the oiled paper, and told Ziqing that when you go to town to eat, you can't watch the time, you have to watch the business, and you have to eat quickly when the business is free, otherwise people will come soon, and you won't be able to eat even if you want.

Jia Erkui turned over the basket and sat down, stuffed a mouthful of pancakes, and beckoned Ziqing to eat quickly.

Ziqing was not hungry, so he only ate half of a pancake, and said he thought about it.

Mrs. Zhang pulled her sleeves and wiped her mouth after eating, and then she wanted to go with her, but a few women gathered around, and they seemed to be regular customers.

She hadn't come for a few days, and this time she brought Jia Erkui with her. While picking and choosing from the baskets on the stall, the women joked with her.

Mrs. Zhang was a little overwhelmed, so she had to let Ziqing go first, but one thing was not to go far.

Ziqing went back along the original road, and there was less yelling on the road now, most of the stall owners and vendors were having lunch, and a couple of women and aunts who were shopping at the stall came up to talk to each other without saying hello.

She came to a vegetable stall and stood there, poking her head and looking forward.

This time, a lot of carriages came from outside, and the men who were sitting idle gathered around early to solicit work, and then began to unload things, or move or carry things towards her.

Ziqing paused, and hurriedly stepped aside. The men all turned a corner at her side and walked into a small alley beside her, followed by the hired workers.

After they had passed by, Ziqing looked forward again, and saw that the food stalls around her father were busy, and each one was crowded with people.

Only her father's place was empty, her mother was kneading dough aside, her tired temple hair was loose, and she was still soliciting business.

Her father watched the fire and the pot, while turning the pancakes, he was also yelling.

But the old couple yelled hard, but they just watched others sell hotly, but they themselves were very deserted, a little helpless, a little envious, but more anxious.

It's meal time now, and it will be even more difficult once it's over.

Ziqing frowned slightly, at this moment Jia Shouwang looked over, she hurriedly turned around, not sure if she had seen her, and went straight to the side alley.

After leaving the alley, Ziqing randomly found a place to sit down, calm as expected, not too surprised, just feeling sorry for the old couple.

After a long while, she sighed softly, raised her head and paused suddenly, she was no longer in the noisy market just now.

The alley we walked just now seems to lead to another street, there are buildings and wine shops on both sides, and there are many people coming in and out.

The horses are buzzing and the traffic is thriving. The people here are all dressed in bright clothes and walking around, which really complements the people in the market.

This place seems to be "the most lively place in the town" that Mrs. Zhang said earlier.

Ziqing just took a glance and then looked away, thinking it's better to go back to Mrs. Zhang first, so as not to worry them.

But when she got up, a pair of father and son not far away attracted her attention...

(End of this chapter)