CHAPTER 112: CHAPTER 112: DRIED KELP

The rice used for making porridge is still from the last purchase, and the cost had been calculated before, so it won’t be counted this time.

Although the seasoning for the base is a bit expensive, it can last for three to five more days. After that, we just need to account for Fifth Uncle’s wages, and the rest will be pure profit.

"Mom, today we sold a total of seventy-six bowls of spicy noodles. After subtracting all costs and Fifth Uncle’s wages, our net profit is two yuan and thirty cents."

Mrs. Lin pursed her lips, "Both your Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt said they were just helping out. You’re so kind-hearted, still giving them wages?"

And it’s fifty cents each time!

Even those working full labor points for a day only get a few cents or a yuan at year-end distribution, Lin Xiang is really generous!

It’s not that Mrs. Lin thinks Fifth Uncle and Chunya’s hard work isn’t worth the fifty cents wage, she’s just a bit stingy with the money.

Lin Xiang consoled her, "My brother will need another two or three days to come back. Until then, we need Fifth Uncle’s help. Otherwise, it’s just the two of us pulling the cart to the big market; we wouldn’t have the energy to do anything else. Once my brother returns, we won’t pay Fifth Uncle wages anymore."

Mrs. Lin thought for a while, "How about tomorrow we don’t let Chunya come? Just your Fifth Uncle alone, and we can save the twenty cents wages."

Lin Xiang: ...

"Alright, as you say!"

She handed Mrs. Lin one yuan, "This is your share of the profit, keep it safe."

This time Mrs. Lin didn’t refuse because her small stash of money was depleted after paying five yuan at the supply and marketing cooperative for Aunt Lin a few days ago.

Lin Xiang locked the money away in the drawer, washed up, and went to sleep.

Perhaps it was because Lin Yun wasn’t home these days, and Lin Xiang couldn’t see him, that her dreams no longer had that prompt telling her how much goodwill the male protagonist felt towards her, or when she could return to her large flat.

The next morning, at the same usual time, Fifth Uncle came knocking on the door punctually.

This time, Chunya did not come along.

Fifth Uncle did not explain why, and Lin Xiang didn’t ask, she just silently put the promised fabric for Aunt Ge on the cart.

Today’s market was at the next commune, not too far away, about an hour’s walk.

Upon arrival, as usual, Lin Xiang socialized with the person in charge using cigarettes and then paid the protection fee.

By the time the makeshift stove was set up and the pot was on to boil, it was almost ten o’clock.

After a busy spell, Lin Xiang finally saw Aunt Ge.

"Mom, I’m going to find Aunt Ge to trade some things, if anyone wants noodles, you just cook them first."

"Go ahead, I’ve got it here."

Lin Xiang carried a not-so-light bolt of fabric to Aunt Ge’s stall, just set it down when Aunt Ge handed her a freshly rolled pancake.

"Smells so good!"

Aunt Ge didn’t pay attention to her, carefully feeling the fabric.

"This is top-quality material, this bolt of fabric is not cheap. Even if it’s flawed fabric, trading for ten pounds of kelp is me taking advantage of you."

Aunt Ge knew her goods well, one touch was enough for her to know.

Lin Xiang was eating the rolled pancake without lifting her head, "Then just give me twenty pounds of kelp."

"Alright then!" Aunt Ge placed a piece of old fabric on top of the material, carefully set it aside, and took out the kelp.

When Lin Xiang saw the half-snake skin bag of kelp, she forgot to take another bite of her pancake.

"Dried kelp?"

"What did you think?"

In the future, there was a large supermarket next to her neighborhood. The cooking ingredients were all fresh and bought on the spot; she never bought ten pounds of dried kelp at once before and didn’t expect there would be so much.

A small handful can soak into a big bowl; these ten pounds of dried kelp would last her a long time.

"Auntie, those remaining ten pounds, please put them on my tab. I’ll come back for them when I need more."

Aunt Ge gave Lin Xiang a glance, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll default?"

"It’s just ten pounds of dried kelp, why would you default? I trust you."

She looked eagerly at the pan making the pancakes, "Can you roll me two more pancakes, please?"

"Come back during mealtime!"

Lin Xiang had just dragged the bag of kelp back to the stall when someone came to ask for the price.

Customers came and went, Lin Xiang didn’t get a break at all.

Today, without Chunya helping with wiping tables, Mrs. Lin suddenly had a lot more to do; she now thought the twenty cents paid to Chunya was well worth it.

At least the stall stayed tidy, with somewhere for customers to sit, and it looked clean and neat.

Maybe it was better to call Chunya tomorrow?

By two-thirty in the afternoon, seeing there weren’t many people left at the market, Lin Xiang decided to pack up.

Fifth Uncle: "Not staying a bit longer?"

Lin Xiang didn’t have the heart to mention she sensed Fifth Uncle’s restlessness, she just said, "The market is only seeing people leave, no new customers coming in, not worth waiting here, let’s head back."

"Alright, I’ll start packing things up then."

When the three got home, it was just about three forty.

Fifth Uncle parked the cart in the Lin Family yard, helped unload and put everything in order, took a sip of warm water, and hurried back home.

Soon after, Fifth Uncle came running back, looking urgent and tense, "Girl, your Fifth Aunt and Chunya are missing!"

"Searched everywhere?"

"Yes! I even went to the fields! Do you think they might have gone to the Red Temple Team?"

Zhao Chunshui’s house is in the Red Temple Team.

Lin Xiang downed the water in her cup in one go, "Fifth Uncle, I’ll go to the Red Temple Team with you."

Mrs. Lin also wanted to go with them, but after walking for over an hour, her feet had blisters and she really couldn’t walk anymore.

The Red Temple Team is quite far from the Li Hua Team. Lin Xiang had to borrow a bicycle from the team office.

Fifth Uncle rode the bike, carrying Lin Xiang, and the two of them reached the Red Temple Team in about ten minutes.

"I’ve only been to the Red Temple Team once, can’t quite remember where the Zhao house is."

"No worries, we can ask for directions."

Lin Xiang’s target was straight at those kids around fourteen or fifteen years old.

"If you take me to Zhao Chunshui’s house, I’ll give you this piece of candy, how about that?"

The child led the way in front while Fifth Uncle pushed the bicycle with Lin Xiang walking behind.

In no time, they reached the Zhao house, approaching, they already heard the sounds of arguing inside, and Lin Xiang vaguely heard Fifth Aunt’s voice.

Without thinking, she rushed towards the Zhao house.

"Sister, my candy..."

In the Zhao family’s yard, quite a number of people were gathered; though they were all from the village, most were just there to watch the commotion.

Fifth Aunt and Chunya, both frail women, stood facing several men from the Zhao family, looking very much outnumbered.

Fifth Uncle leaned the bicycle against a corner of the wall, then rushed over to stand in front of Fifth Aunt and Chunya.

"What’s going on? How did you end up coming to the Red Temple Team?"

Fifth Aunt glared at the people opposite with resentment, "You ask them! Midday, this family’s youngest son rushed to our house saying Zhao Chunshui’s grandpa, upon hearing his grandson was taken away by the police, couldn’t catch his breath and passed away."