mtl008 Chapter 165 Drying Vegetables
Chapter 165 Drying Vegetables
Because Xinghua Village is far from the northern desert, the journey is long and transportation is inconvenient, and many fresh vegetables begin to rot and spoil en route. As a result, the various vegetables that Su Yuning carefully cultivates in her garden can only be sold locally. However, frustratingly, even in inland markets, the sales of these vegetables are unsatisfactory. Meanwhile, the demand for vegetables from the northern desert remains urgent and pressing, constantly urging for prompt delivery. Faced with this difficult situation, Su Yuning felt helpless and unsure how to respond.
Just then, Ye Beichen appeared beside her like a savior, and asked her with great interest about the recipe for instant noodles: "Wife, how exactly do you make instant noodles? And also, are all the vegetables used to cook them really dried vegetables?" Ye Beichen's casual remark was like a flash of inspiration, instantly waking Su Yuning from her deep thought. That's it! She excitedly realized that she could use a special processing technique to turn the diverse and colorful vegetables from her garden into easily preserved and transportable dried vegetables, and then sell them all over the country. This would not only effectively solve the problem of preserving vegetables during long-distance transportation, greatly extending their shelf life, but also make it very convenient and quick for consumers to eat them.
Su Yuning became more and more excited as she thought about it, and immediately pulled Ye Beichen to run to the vegetable garden. She began to select varieties suitable for making dried vegetables, explaining to Ye Beichen the taste and nutritional value of each vegetable after it was made into dried vegetables.
"Carrots can really be made into dried vegetables? This is the first time I've ever heard of this," Ye Beichen asked in surprise.
Su Yuning nodded repeatedly, "Of course! The dried carrots are sweet and delicious!"
Meanwhile, Su Muyang's situation at the Princess's residence was different. Although his previously weak body had fully recovered, the young man who had replaced him was performing exceptionally well and was highly capable, leaving Su Muyang facing the predicament of being laid off. He used to be surrounded by a group of like-minded brothers, laughing and fighting side-by-side; but now, he could only stay alone at home, and this huge contrast left him feeling somewhat lost. Therefore, after careful consideration, Su Muyang decided to take the initiative to suggest to Princess Wan'er:
“Honey, how about I keep running the shop in the capital? That way, my life will be full of energy again! Besides, if we make money through business, our lives will be more comfortable, won’t they? It will not only improve our current living conditions, but also keep me busy so I won’t be bored all the time.”
Hearing her husband's words, Princess Wan'er simply smiled, her beautiful face as warm and gentle as the spring sun. Then, with a calm and elegant demeanor, she replied, "My dear, even if we do nothing, we will never lack clothes or daily necessities. After all, the amount of gold and silver bestowed upon us by my brother and sister-in-law is so vast that we can buy all sorts of delicious, beautiful, and useful things as we please."
"A tall building rises from the ground, and brilliant achievements can only be created through one's own unremitting efforts! We are both in the prime of our youth, full of vigor and ambition. How can we live a lazy life where everything is done for us? Only through our own continuous struggle and perseverance can we achieve something!" Su Muyang replied with a serious and solemn expression.
Upon hearing his words, Princess Wan'er couldn't help but smile and said sweetly, "In my opinion, you're probably feeling down because you lost your job, right? If not, how about I go and discuss it with my brother, the Emperor, to find you a new position?"
Upon hearing this, Su Muyang's face flushed red, and he looked somewhat embarrassed and awkward. He quickly waved his hand and explained, "Not at all, Princess, please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean it that way at all. I just felt that it was too wasteful to do nothing all day, so I wanted to find something to keep myself busy."
Seeing this, Princess Wan'er gracefully reached out her jade-like hand and gently patted the back of Su Muyang's hand, saying softly, "Alright, alright, since you're so enthusiastic about doing things, then so be it. But I wonder if you have any specific plans in mind? What kind of shop do you intend to open?"
Upon hearing this, Su Muyang's eyes lit up with excitement, and he replied enthusiastically, "After careful consideration, I think it would be great to open a general store. The store could sell everyday necessities, along with some unique little trinkets. This would satisfy the basic needs of the surrounding residents while attracting customers with those distinctive items. What do you think, Princess?"
Princess Wan'er nodded slightly in agreement and replied with a smile, "Hmm, that's a good idea, it sounds quite novel. You'll have to make some preparations now, and if you need any help, just let me know."
Su Yuning enthusiastically began preparing to make dried vegetables. She meticulously selected the finest, most vibrant, and flawless varieties from among the many vegetables, each one seemingly having undergone rigorous inspection and selection. Then, she carefully placed these vegetables in clear water, meticulously washing away the surface dirt and impurities to ensure they were spotless. After washing, she neatly arranged the vegetables in a well-ventilated, sunny spot, allowing the warm sunlight to evenly cover them and slowly evaporate any excess moisture.
Ye Beichen watched all this with great interest, accompanied by the adorable little baby. The little one stared with wide, round eyes, full of curiosity about his mother's every move, occasionally making "ee-yah" sounds, seemingly trying to express his excitement. Ye Beichen, with a smile on his face, quietly stayed by their side, promptly handing over any tools Su Yuning needed whenever she asked, and occasionally gently asking if she needed any help.
And so, thanks to Su Yuning's hard work, several days passed, and her first batch of dried vegetables was finally completed! The dried vegetables were golden in color, emitting an enticing aroma that made one's mouth water. Filled with joy and anticipation, Su Yuning decided to first send a small batch to the distant northern desert to test the waters. Unexpectedly, this batch of dried vegetables was warmly welcomed by the locals as soon as it was launched. Customers praised its unique taste and rich flavor, and orders poured in like snowflakes.
Meanwhile, Su Muyang's general store opened smoothly amidst everyone's anticipation. Although small, the store was overflowing with a wide variety of goods. Su Muyang's rapid market penetration was due in part to his extensive network of contacts in the business world, and in part to his keen and unique business acumen. He consistently grasped market demands, timely introducing various novel and practical products, thus attracting a large number of customers. Moreover, when some high-ranking officials and dignitaries learned that the general store was run by Su Muyang, they flocked to it, generously donating to show their support. In no time, the store was bustling with activity, and business was booming.
As sales of dried vegetables soared, Su Yuning earned a considerable income. Without hesitation, she used this money to expand her vegetable garden. The once small garden became increasingly spacious and fertile, and she grew a wider variety of vegetables. Furthermore, to cope with the growing workload, she hired many villagers to help. Everyone worked together, creating a busy yet joyful atmosphere throughout the village.
Seeing his younger sister's business flourishing, Su Muyang naturally wasn't going to be outdone. He ambitiously planned to open branches in other cities, further expanding his business empire. To this end, he worked tirelessly day and night, traveling extensively and actively preparing for various matters. Although life was extremely busy, the brother and sister both felt incredibly fulfilled and happy. They knew that as long as they persevered and worked hard, their future would be even brighter and happier.
Back in the capital, besides diligently caring for and raising her two adorable children, Miss Chestnut also helped her mother-in-law manage the household chores. Life was uneventful, yet fulfilling. She had thought this peaceful and stable life could continue forever, but unexpectedly, Gu Wanfeng's heart changed.
Lately, Gu Wanfeng had been leaving early every morning and not returning home until late at night, which aroused suspicion in Miss Chestnut's heart. One morning, after seeing Gu Wanfeng leave in his usual hurry, Miss Chestnut resolved to find out why. So, she cautiously followed her husband's figure, all the way to a secluded place in the city. She saw Gu Wanfeng enter a small, exquisite house with practiced ease, and then the gate closed tightly.
Chestnut Girl hid at the street corner, her heart filled with unease. As night deepened, she saw Gu Wanfeng emerge from a house with a woman in his arms, but due to the darkness, she couldn't make out the woman's face. Filled with anger, Chestnut Girl suppressed the urge to rush forward and confront him, turning away silently. Back home, she couldn't sleep all night, the scene she had just witnessed constantly replaying in her mind, her anger growing ever stronger.
The next morning, after carefully dressing herself up, Miss Chestnut returned to the gate of the small courtyard. She took a deep breath, raised her hand, and knocked hard on the gate, determined to confront this shameless woman who dared to destroy another's family and teach her a lesson she wouldn't forget!
Before dawn the next day, Chestnut Girl hurriedly arrived outside the small and quiet courtyard. Like a startled fawn, she carefully hid in the corner of the wall, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on the tightly closed gate.
Time ticked by, and just as Chestnut Girl was growing impatient, the courtyard gate finally creaked open. A graceful, willow-like figure emerged. Chestnut Girl stared intently, about to rush forward angrily to confront the person, but upon seeing the face before her, she froze in place.
It turned out that this woman was actually the great benefactor who had helped Gu Wanfeng when he was destitute and living a life of hardship! In an instant, Chestnut Girl felt her mind go blank. All the anger and grievances she had felt earlier vanished without a trace, replaced by shock and confusion.
Just as Chestnut Girl was lost in thought, Gu Wanfeng quickly followed her out of the courtyard. When he saw Chestnut Girl standing at the gate, his face turned deathly pale, and panic flashed in his eyes. Seeing this, Chestnut Girl composed herself slightly and walked towards Gu Wanfeng.
Seeing this, Gu Wanfeng quickly stepped forward and began to explain to Miss Chestnut with urgency. Miss Chestnut listened quietly as Gu Wanfeng recounted the whole story, her heart filled with a mixture of emotions, like a jumbled mess of flavors.
After Gu Wanfeng finished speaking, Chestnut Girl took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and then slowly said, "Although you meant well, why did you keep such an important matter from me?" Upon hearing this, Gu Wanfeng quickly lowered her head and admitted her mistake, promising never to do it again.
After some discussion, the three of them came up with a suitable solution—the woman would temporarily live in the Gu family as Gu Wanfeng's distant cousin, and Miss Chestnut would personally help find her a suitable marriage so that she could remarry and live a stable and happy life. The trouble subsided, and Miss Chestnut and Gu Wanfeng's relationship actually deepened because of this incident. The family returned to its former harmony and peace, continuing their simple and happy life.