The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man

Moreover, the method to remove the bitterness from the stir-fried fern is so simple- just blanch it in water and then soak it in cold water. People didn’t pay much attention to fern in the past because it wasn’t popular. But if a skilled chef studied it for a few days, they’d definitely crack the technique. Next year, I surely won’t be making any money off selling stir-fried fern. It will probably just sell for one or two cents per jin.”

The villagers also asked me for the recipe, some were willing to pay money.

Some offered a few cents, the most being around three to four hundred cents. There were people in town who wanted to buy it too, and the price they offered was similar. I wouldn’t cheaply sell this recipe and have it disseminated from one person to ten and then to a hundred. Considering everything, I’d need to work hard for another month just to earn a little over four taels. I laughed myself silly when Manager Duan of Rich Source Tavern offered to buy it for a good sum, saving me from a month’s worth of hard work.”

The three men suddenly understood. Xiao Yuchuan praised, “I knew my wife was smart! Selling this stir-fried fern recipe for more than five taels is so much better than working hard for a month, struggling to make a little over four taels, and earning directly one tael more. Plus, a month’s worth of effort is saved.”

Xiao Qinghe and Xiao Yishan also agreed.

Su Qingyue laughed, “When did I ever say I only sold it for a bit over five taels? Wasn’t five taels just the money to buy the cotton quilt? I sold the fern dish recipe for fifty taels!”

The three men were now stunned.

“Fifty … fifty taels?” Xiao Yuchuan asked incredulously.

“Yes.”

“Yue’er, you sold it for as much as fifty taels?” Xiao Yishan was also surprised.

“Yes, Second Brother.”

“Did you sell it for too much…” Xiao Yuchuan was a bit nervous, “Is the boss of Rich Source Tavern a fool? Spending so much money to buy…”

“He’s not a fool, he just didn’t think too much about it.” She began to explain how she sold the fern recipe for fifty taels, “So, even if it’s fifty taels, the boss of Rich Source Tavern will not lose money, and may even make a profit.”

Xiao Yuchuan harrumphed, “How dare he find my wife’s face displeasing, he deserves to lose all his money!”

She smiled faintly, “You say my looks scare you and people can’t say the same?” “I never really found you scary,” he looked at her lovingly, “Wife, I was just joking with you, you absolutely must not take it seriously. I, your husband, can hardly find you distasteful…’

“Tut!” Su Qingyue waved her hand dismissively.

Xiao Yishan and Qinghe also disliked other people finding flaws in their wife. “Yue’er, I really wronged you…” Xiao Yishan looked at her with a tender gaze, guilt shadowing his formerly somber face, “Making a woman like you take such a risk, it’s my fault…”

“Second brother, you’re already doing so well.” She casually said, “What risk? There are a lot of women and girls selling things in the market. It’s normal. As long as you guys don’t mind. Even if you mind..

“My heart aches…” He extended his hand to hold hers.

She brushed him off, choosing to sit next to Second Brother instead. With a person between them, Xiao Yuchuan’s hand couldn’t reach her anymore and he could only wave his hand in the air at her.

Xiao Qinghe, who had stayed silent, moved his slightly pale lips as if he wanted to say he also ached for his wife, but swallowed back his words.

Xiao Yuchuan couldn’t help but express his admiration, “Wife, you’re so capable, earning so much money all at once… Fifty taels, that’s what many families can’t save in their entire lifetime!”

“Yue’er, you are truly capable.” Xiao Yishan couldn’t help but admire her. At the same time, he felt inferior. He was just a rustic man who knew how to hunt. His wife was just so capable, he felt really afraid of not being able to keep her with him..