After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 125 Stable Income
They now raise cattle, sheep, and donkeys, as well as fifty or sixty chickens. They don't need to buy fish. The only expense is the pork needed to make guokui (a type of flatbread) every day. Now that they've earned money, they still have to buy pork, which is a bit uneconomical.

With something on his mind, Shen Yi bought a few pounds of pork and took a stroll around the town. He found that there were quite a few people selling fruit, but they were all wild fruits from the mountains, which didn't fetch much price. This gave him a better understanding of the situation.

When he got home in the evening, he immediately went to find Ms. Xu.

Xu knew that Shen Yi had asked Huang Xinghua's children to help make guokui (a type of flatbread) today. She had seen him take four large wicker baskets out this morning, but now the baskets were all empty, which meant he had sold out. She couldn't help but feel envious. "Ayi, business is booming!"

Shen Yi chuckled and scratched his head modestly, saying, "I sold a bit more at the market today, but I didn't actually make much money. That's why I came here to discuss this with my second uncle and aunt."

"What?" Madam Xu looked puzzled and asked Shen Yi to sit down and talk.

Shen Yi plopped down on the stone bench, panting, and said, "It's because my family needs a lot of pork to sell guokui (a type of flatbread). We have to order pork from the butcher every day, which costs hundreds of coins. It's a lot of capital. Rather than letting others earn this money, we'd rather let my second uncle and aunt earn it."

"Second Uncle and Second Aunt, you can talk to the villagers and ask them to take any pigs they're willing to raise. I'll order some pork from you every day, and I'll also ask around at the inns and restaurants in Dahe Town to find you some buyers. What do you think?"

Xu was somewhat tempted, but dared not readily agree, and tentatively asked, "Is there really anyone willing to buy our pork?"

Shen Yi chuckled, “Today, Manager Li of Jixiang Inn discussed buying guokui with me, and other restaurant managers also came to ask. I was thinking of agreeing, as it would save a lot of trouble. If I really agreed, we would have to supply a lot of goods every day.”

We might consume fifty or sixty catties of pork a day. Xiaotai likes bone broth, so we can buy some more, sell some more in the village, and I'll take the rest by boat to Dahe Town for you. It shouldn't be a problem."

Xu became more and more excited as she listened. In a moment of impulsiveness, she slapped her thigh hard and said, "Great! I'll go ask around in the village if anyone is willing to raise pigs. Let's buy some half-grown pigs to raise first."

Xu ran off happily, disappearing from Shen Yi's sight as quickly as a gust of wind.

Shen Yi shook his head helplessly and went home to tell Su Tai about the situation. "Second Aunt has already gone to discuss pig farming with people. There should be quite a few people coming to inquire these past two days. You can handle it if you can, but if you can't, then forget it."

"I plan to take on the business in Dahe Town. That way, we can earn more without working so hard, and it will also give the villagers more ways to make money."

He always believed that there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. No matter how high the wall is, it cannot stop those with ulterior motives from coveting it. But as long as everyone's interests are tied together, and they get the meat while the villagers get the soup, no one will dare to openly covet their family.

Most people are still timid and afraid of death.

Su Tai thought for a moment and understood. "Okay, let's do it your way. Please ask Shen Dagou and his sister to continue to come and help. From now on, you can deliver goods once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Deliver more in the morning and do less in the afternoon. Raise the wages for the two children to thirty coins and see if they are willing."

"Okay, I'll go tell them now."

Shen Yi then explained the situation to Huang Xinghua, who had come to collect the money.

Huang Xinghua felt like a windfall had fallen into their family's lap, and she cried all the way home because she was so excited.

Shen Mu was startled, thinking she had lost her job, and quickly comforted her, "If you lose your job, you lose your job. Our family has always managed to get by. This year is much better than in previous years."

“Yes, Mother, we’ve already saved more than an ounce this year,” Shen Xiang added, trying to persuade her. Huang Xinghua realized her family had misunderstood, so she quickly wiped away her tears and said, laughing and crying at the same time, “My job is still there, I haven’t lost it! That’s a good thing! Shen Yi and his wife just told me that they’re thinking of having Da Gou and A Xiang work there long-term, for thirty coins a day, the same as me.”

Think about it, the three of us can earn ninety coins a day. If it's windy or rainy here, I can't go to the fields, and I can't earn money every day of the month. But it's different for you. Even if the weather is bad, you still have work to do and money to earn.

On the way back, I did the math. Our family can earn more than two taels a month, and by winter we can save about fifteen taels. Plus, there's the income from the land—I never even dared to dream of such a thing!

Shen Mu and the others were so shocked by Huang Xinghua's words that they couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

It wasn't until a few cheers did they come to their senses, and they were all so excited that they lost their composure.

Granny Chen chuckled and said, "It's a good thing that Shen Yi and his wife are willing to help us. You two must work hard, learn more and talk less. When the villagers ask, just say you don't know. Don't offend our family's god of wealth with your mouth!"
Also, Shen Yi's second aunt just came over and mentioned raising pigs. She said they'd take anyone willing to raise pigs at a fair price. I guess it's because of Shen Yi's family business. I was a bit hesitant at first, but now that my eldest grandson and granddaughter have work, I might consider it.

"Mom, what are you waiting for? Just say yes! Don't worry, I'll raise the pigs, you don't need to worry about it." Shen Mu took full responsibility and was full of energy, a stark contrast to his previous numb and dull demeanor.

Old Mrs. Chen could hear the joy in her son's voice and smiled from ear to ear. "Good, good, good. You all go about your business outside. Leave the little one at home to me. With the help of the third, fourth, and fifth sons, I can manage."

If she grits her teeth and perseveres for another two or three years, and her youngest grandson grows up, the family should be able to get better and better.

Granny Chen was filled with endless anticipation.

The next day.

Shen Yi carried four large baskets of guokui (a type of flatbread) to Dahe Town. It wasn't market day, so he didn't plan to sell them individually. He delivered the goods to Dahe Town first. Shopkeeper Li took two baskets, and he took the rest with him. He sold half a basket to a teahouse, half a basket to a restaurant that made wontons and buns, and split the remaining basket between two restaurants.

This is only the first day of delivery, so we don't know how things will go.

For the next two days, he continued to deliver the same amount of goods. The situation improved day by day, and he gradually received several more orders, which added up to more than a large wicker basket. He could deliver all the goods in one trip, but he had to leave a little later, which drew complaints from some people who were in a hurry to cross the river.

He had no choice but to start working earlier, at 1 a.m., and go to bed at 5 p.m.

Su Tai was worried that he wasn't sleeping well, so she specially made him a thick curtain.

As her belly grew larger, she frequently got up at night and, fearing it would disturb Shen Yi's rest, wanted to move to the next room to sleep.

Shen Yi was not happy.

After discussing it, the two decided to add an extra bed to the bedroom, which finally made Shen Yi reluctantly agree.

The guokui business gradually stabilized at a profit of about one or two ounces per day, which was already excellent for a farming family like theirs. It was neither eye-catching nor small, a steady stream of income.

Shen Yi can deliver goods during the day and return around noon. He can even go into the mountains to get some wild rabbits and pheasants for Su Tai to enjoy, or ride a donkey to Dongmen Village.