New Business Opportunity
In her memory, Homestyle Pickled Cabbage was Lily Evans's favorite dish as a child. Ever since Susan Evans married into the Evans family, she would make this dish every winter. Crisp cabbage stalks sliced into shreds, soaked in vinegar, salt, and chili powder in a jar for half a month—when served, the cabbage shreds were juicy, tangy, and delightfully spicy.
Sometimes, when Uncle Evans secretly slipped Lily and her mother some black bread, he’d also bring a bit of Susan’s Homestyle Pickled Cabbage. During those winters of hunger and want in Lily’s childhood, this was the most delicious dish she’d ever tasted.
Lily Evans stared at the Homestyle Pickled Cabbage, a little dazed.
“Last night, your grandmother came to my house,” Susan Evans suddenly spoke, recounting what Old Lady Evans had done the previous night.
“Oh? Did you deliver the meat to Grandma’s place today?” Lily asked.
“I sent half, kept half. Otherwise, the kids wouldn’t get a taste of meat at all.” Susan glanced at Uncle Evans, then turned to Lily, “Lily, I used to keep my distance from you, and that was my fault. Back then, I was blinded by lard and believed your grandparents’ nonsense, putting all my hopes on Stanley Evans, wishing to bask in his glory someday. But now I see things clearly—the folks in the main house have no heart. I don’t want those kinds of relatives anymore.”
Lily looked up at Susan Evans but didn’t respond. She had no real bond with Susan, and if she agreed with Susan’s complaints about her grandparents, word would get out and cause trouble.
Susan Evans looked a bit embarrassed and fiddled with her hair. “Lily, I know you’re not fond of me. But your uncle and your younger siblings haven’t wronged you—they’re your blood. Times are tough for us now. Besides the monthly rice and flour we’re required to send to your grandparents, they often come to take advantage. Look at your cousin Lana Evans—she’s so hungry she’s wasted away.”
Lily glanced at Lana Evans. The young girl’s face was sallow and thin—clearly malnourished.
“Aunt Susan, what are you getting at?” Lily was already prepared for Susan Evans to ask for money. She’d set her own limit—out of respect for Uncle Evans, she’d give their family ten taels of silver, just enough to get them through the New Year. As for anything more, she wouldn’t give a single coin.
“Lily, I want to buy vegetables from your family’s fields.” Susan Evans looked at Lily, her eyes full of hope.
“What?” Lily was startled. She’d thought Susan was here to ask for money.
“I mean, could you sell me some of your fresh vegetables and mushrooms from the fields? It’s just that we don’t have money right now—could I write you an IOU? I promise I’ll pay you back tomorrow.” Susan Evans rubbed her hands nervously.
“Aunt Susan, why do you want to buy vegetables from our fields?” Lily asked, her face full of suspicion.
Susan explained, “A few days ago, I visited my family. They’d all heard that my niece’s fields could grow vegetables in winter—everyone was amazed. My cousin works for a landlord, and the landlord’s mother is sick and craving fresh vegetables. The restaurants in town charge a fortune for fresh produce, and buying them to cook at home is out of reach. So I thought, if you’d sell me some vegetables, I could have your uncle and cousin carry them into town and sell them door-to-door. With the New Year coming, maybe we could earn a little extra to help the family.”
Lily’s eyes lit up at Susan’s words!
That’s right—her vegetables and mushrooms were all sold directly to the big restaurants, hundreds of pounds at a time. Ordinary families couldn’t even buy her produce.
If someone took her vegetables to sell retail at the market, there would surely be well-off families wanting a taste of fresh produce. Selling a few pounds at a time would let more people enjoy her greenhouse vegetables and open up new ways for villagers to earn money!