Chapter 76: Selling Buns at Dongzhimen
Li Licai certainly knew that he couldn't afford to offend Luan Xuetang, but that didn't stop him from bragging in front of the guests.
We can’t say Fengze Garden,

Why not just talk about Master He from Fengze Garden?

Anyway, as long as you keep your words vague, outsiders won't delve too deeply into the difference.
Just get the balance right.

However, he would definitely not reveal his little tricks in front of He Daqing.
"Yes, yes, Master He, you are right.

Even if it is not Fengze Garden,
With your skills, Master He, you can only make mutton offal soup with one set of internal organs.
This is big business for me.

So, if you really want it every day, you can just give me 20 gold yuan coupons for a pair of internal organs, and I will take it as a small profit but quick turnover."

He Daqing calculated that 20 gold yuan coupons were equivalent to 9 jin of rice, and a pack of sheep's offal that no one wanted was about the same price.
"Then it's a deal. I'll take everything from you from now on."

"Okay, thank you, Master He."

After leaving the market with the lamb offal they had bought, the father and son quickly returned to the courtyard.

The neighbors of the courtyard have all gotten up by now.
Yan Bugui, Xu Fugui and other children, Xu Damao, were shoveling snow in the yard with brooms and shovels, preparing to build a snowman.

Jia Zhang and Bai Guafu were making breakfast in their respective homes.

Seeing the sheep entrails in the hands of the father and son, Yan Bugui dropped his shovel and came over.
“This is because I didn’t buy any meat.

This is your first day making mutton offal soup, would you like us to give you a taste?”

"The market is crowded. If you go too late, the meat will be gone.
I have to let you guys try it and give me some advice. I have to open the stall in the afternoon and I don’t want to make a fool of myself.”

Upon hearing what He Daqing said, Yan Bugui's eyes lit up.

"That's a good feeling,
Don't worry, Lao He, we promise to give you constructive advice.

How about we start now?"

Looking at the rather impatient Yan Bugui, He Daqing laughed.
"Don't worry,

I'm not letting you eat for free.

You have to help me make the dough for the buns first, and then make some cabbage filling, pickled cabbage filling, etc.

We can start after I deliver the pillars to Dongzhimen and come back."

He Daqing's words implied that He Yuzhu should go to Dongzhimen alone to sell steamed buns. Not only Yan Bugui but also Xu Fugui's eyes widened.

"It's not Lao He,

There is chaos outside, and the pillar is only a small one, why did you let him go to sell buns alone? "

"Yes, you are being too hasty."

Hearing what they said, He Daqing smiled.
"Zhu Zi is almost 14 years old. How can he be small? When I was 14, I was already selling food on the street with my father.

Besides, Zhuzi had been hanging around in Peking since he was a kid, so he was familiar with the streets.
If you don't run away when you encounter danger, what can happen?
Relax. ”

Yan Bugui and his friends just mentioned it, it is not their place to interfere in other people's family affairs.

Seeing He Daqing's attitude, he began to urge him,

"Then hurry up, while it's still early, hurry up and prepare the bun skins and stuffings that Zhuzi wants.
Zhuzi can also go to Dongzhimen to catch a late market.

When you come back, we will make mutton offal soup and fried tripe at home."

After saying that, Yan Bugui patted his head and hurried to several courtyards to call the women who were making breakfast at home.

When Jia Zhang and the others heard that there would be mutton offal soup and fried tripe today,

He quickly put away the steamed bread and sweet potatoes he was making, and ran to the He family excitedly to help. There is strength in numbers.
With the help of Yan Bugui and others, everyone quickly rolled out the dough and mixed the stuffing.

He Yuzhu also carried a big black pot on his head and followed He Daqing, who was carrying a load, towards Dongzhimen.

The closer we got to Dongzhimen, the more troops came and went.

When we got out of Dongzhi Gate and reached the city,
He Yuzhu saw from a distance that there were a lot of trains parked at Dongzhimen Railway Station.
Teams of soldiers were busy unloading a large number of trucks, tanks, and artillery from the trains like industrious ants, and sending them to the city defense works that were being built at a rapid pace.
He Yuzhu was so envious of these heavy equipment that he stopped subconsciously.

He Daqing didn't think of anything else.

Seeing He Yuzhu stop and look at the tanks and cannons with envy, I thought he just liked these things.

He urged,

"The pillar has been moved. Don't look at it anymore. If you are late, you will miss the trip."

Hearing He Daqing's call, He Yuzhu quickly sipped his saliva and followed him.

"Here comes Dad."

Arriving at the Dongzhimen Wholesale Market, He asked He Yuzhu to light a fire and boil water, while He Daqing went to greet the vendors at the nearby stalls.
After the stove was lit, he came back with the table he rented from the side.

He Yuzhu washed his hands, wiped the table, grabbed a handful of flour from his pocket and sprinkled it on the table, then started making dumplings quickly.

Looking at He Yuzhu's skillful movements, He Daqing nodded with satisfaction.
While packing up his things he said,
"Zhu Zi, just sell the buns here. If you have any questions, ask the uncles around. Dad has already made arrangements.

I'll go back and make the mutton soup first."

"Okay, you go back first, I can do it alone."

Soon the buns were put into the steamer, and He Yuzhu, who was free now, had time to look around.

Dongzhimen at this time is very different from what it was two months ago.

Into winter,

The beggars, women and children rummaging through the garbage in groups were now clearly invisible.
The coolies and rickshaw drivers who gathered here waiting for work were either drafted or volunteered to work on the city defense fortifications to earn a living.
Plus the heavy snow.
So He Yuzhu did not encounter any child standing in front of his bun stall and refusing to leave.

Just when he breathed a sigh of relief, he heard the uncle opposite calling him.
"Your name is Zhuzi, right?
You looked quite skillful in making dumplings just now, is this what you do at home?"

Knowing that this was the reason why He Daqing had greeted him, He Yuzhu was not afraid of the stage and walked over with a smile.

"Yes, uncle, my name is He Yuzhu,

My family is a cook, but now that I have no work, I come out to sell buns, which is at least a way to make a living."

After hearing He Yuzhu talk about this, the uncle also felt the same way and started to curse and complain.
"This damn world simply doesn't allow people to survive.
I didn't do this before.

This is the gold yuan reform. It has caused me so much trouble that I can no longer make my original living, so I have to start selling buns.

But don't think this is a bad job, it's still pretty good.

You came late, so you didn't see it. Some time ago, every morning, truckloads of corpses were being taken to the mass grave. It was terrifying to see.

Fortunately, the city was conscripting men and repairing city defenses a few days ago.
Although it's not a good thing,

But they could still have a full meal, which was better than freezing to death or starving to death, so everyone went. "

Just when I said this, I saw the uncle sigh again.
"Hey, I don't know when this kind of day will end. I hope the enemy will attack me soon so I can die soon and be reborn soon."

(End of this chapter)