Chapter 426 - Chapter 426: Warmth, Cold
Chapter 426: Warmth, Cold
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Li Yu glanced at Zhou Jia and smiled smugly. “What do you think? Can we do this profitable business?”
“Yes.” Zhou Jia pinched some powder and whispered, “Is this what’s left from
Yunzhou?”
Li Yu nodded. “I heard from Ji Xiang that Chu Sihai returned to the capital yesterday. Let’s still go look for him and tell him not to set the price high.”
Zhou Jia thought for a moment and understood what Li Yu meant. “If It’s cheap, we’ll sell a lot of it. That’s right! There are so many commoners in the capital. If a basin of ice is only sold for ten copper coins or a few copper coins, everyone wouldn’t mind buying it back to cool down and making some ice bowls to eat.”
Li Yu recalled the various cold drinks in her previous life and gulped. She smiled and nodded. “Yes! Make watermelon ice bowls and fruit ice bowls. However, you have to filter the saltpeter first before the ice can be used. When the time comes, sprinkle the ice on the cut fruits or use pulp or milk. That taste might be better.”
“Yes! Look at how hungry you are.” Zhou Jia saw Li Yu slurping and hugged her as they walked to the bed. “You can’t eat too much cold food. It’s too late today. Have a little tomorrow.”
Li Yu looked back at him with a smile. “Alright! I’ll listen to you. We’ll eat in the carriage tomorrow.”
Zhou Jia kissed her on the lips and said gently, “Lie down and let me see if your feet are swollen.”
Li Yu nodded. “They’re a little bloated.”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu’s feet and realized that they were slightly swollen.
“I’ll rub them for you. Remember to get Xing Hua to rub them for you at the manor so that your feet won’t feel uncomfortable,” Zhou Jia instructed as he gently massaged her legs.
Li Yu smiled at him. “Yes! You sleep too! Work in the government office must have been tiring.”
“I’m not tired. Let’s talk for a while.”
Li Yu smiled and nodded. “Sigh! I’m getting more and more greedy now. I’ve thought of a lot of ways to eat that ice…”
The couple cared about each other. Zhou Jia told Li Yu about some interesting things in the government office. Seeing that she was snoring softly, he lay down beside her and fell asleep.
In the small courtyard beside the Tongzhou Guild Hall, Laidi looked at Li Fengqi, who had gone home to eat and wash up before sleeping soundly. She wanted to tell him that she might be pregnant. She called out a few times, but there was no reply. She was filled with grievance. She pinched Li Fengqi angrily and saw him mutter twice before turning around and falling asleep again.
Laidi looked at the sleeping Li Fengqi and wondered if it was really that tiring to teach the two children to study. He did not even have the energy to speak. She turned around gloomily and walked to the oil lamp. She touched her abdomen and thought that she had to find a physician to take a look tomorrow.
The next morning, Laidi called out to Li Fengqi, who was about to go out, “Fengqi, I’m not feeling well. I want to find a physician to take a look at me.
Can you accompany me?”
“Why would a woman like you ask me to go? Let the old woman accompany you.” Li Fengqi turned to look at Laidi and left without looking back.
Laidi watched as Li Fengqi left without looking back. She was so angry that she threw the handkerchief in her hand on the ground and went into the room to lie on the bed with a grievance.
For some reason, she thought of Zhaodi and remembered that when she said that she was not feeling well, her brother-in-law was anxious to see her sister’s sweet appearance. Tears flowed out of her eyes.
Just as Zhou Jia’s family was about to leave, Ji Xiang came to report that Headshopkeeper Chu had come to visit the two of them.
Zhou Jia asked Ji Xiang to bring him in. Soon, he saw Chu Sihai coming in with a follower carrying a bamboo basket.
Zhou Jia smiled and cupped his hands. “Head Shopkeeper, I was still thinking of looking for you when you came.”
Chu Sihai cupped his hands in return and joked, “Lord Zhou, don’t tell me you miss me!”
Zhou Jia smiled and said, “I do miss you. I thought of you for something good.”
Chu Sihai pointed at the bamboo basket placed down by the long attendant and said with a smile, “I just came out of the palace. His Majesty sent me to bring you some lychees, so I brought the ones I prepared for you.”
Zhou Jia bowed happily. “Thank you for your gift, Your Majesty!”
Chu Sihai looked at Zhou Jia’s happy expression and smiled bitterly. He sighed and said, “Sigh! This thing is not easy to transport. I used a lot of ice on the way and spent a lot of money to buy ice. I still can’t make it in time. A lot of them are spoiled.”
Zhou Jia walked to Chu Sihai’s side and said with a smile, “I said that I have something good to look for you. I was referring to this.”
Chu Sihai looked at Zhou Jia curiously. “Are you talking about lychees?”
Seeing that Chu Sihai did not think about the ice at all, Zhou Jia smiled at him and said, “You’re too unimaginative. Come with me. I’ll show you something good.”
Chu Sihai saw the smug smile on Zhou Jia’s face and thought to himself that he had been traveling everywhere for so many years. What hadn’t he seen?
However, with Mrs. Li around, there might really be something rare to see.
With this thought in mind, Chu Sihai nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll take a look at Lord Zhou’s surprise today.”
Zhou Jia brought him to the study and personally went to get half a basin of water. He stirred it with saltpeter and looked at Chu Sihai, whose eyes were about to pop out. He smiled proudly and asked, “Head Shopkeeper, do you think this thing is a rare and profitable item?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Chu Sihai said repeatedly. He circled the ice basin excitedly and tried to feel the coldness with his hand. He then bowed deeply to Zhou Jia. “Aiya! Lord Zhou, you’ve helped me a lot. You also know that His Majesty’s intentions towards the north are like burning money.
His Majesty doesn’t want to increase taxes for the people. I’m about to go bald. Even when I’m sleeping, I’m thinking of new ways to earn money. You really saved my head that’s about to go bald!”
Zhou Jia smiled and helped Chu Sihai up. “Head Shopkeeper, we should be glad to encounter an emperor who is diligent and cherishes the people. Just wait! We can see the day Great Yong prospers!”
“Lord Zhou is right. I have to take care of His Majesty’s money bag so that His Majesty doesn’t have to worry about anything. Lord Zhou, you have helped me a lot!”
Zhou Jia smiled and said, “Other than selling ice to cool down, this thing can also be sold as snacks. However, when you eat something, you have to filter the saltpeter first. There are other ways. There are so many rich young masters and young ladies in the capital. When the time comes, money will flow into your pockets.”
“Tell me quickly, what kind of novel eating method is there?” Chu Sihai looked at Zhou Jia with shining eyes.
Zhou Jia told Chu Sihai about the ice bowls, ice drinks, and iced cheese that Li Yu had mentioned. He smiled and said, “My wife likes to eat them after she got pregnant. She came up with these when she had nothing to do. As for how to make them, ask the chef to think of a way.”
“Alright,” Chu Sihai replied. After taking a pen and recording it seriously, he bowed to Zhou Jia and said, “Lord Zhou, thank you. I’ll go to the palace to report to His Majesty and give you a share.”
Zhou Jia smiled and waved his hand. “There’s no need to give too much. Just give it to my family according to the stocks of the rice seeds. This thing is simple and easy to make. You know how to keep it a secret without me telling you.”
Zhou Jia recalled what Li Yu had said about low profits and high sales. “Also, don’t set the price too high. We can earn more if everyone can afford it..”