Zhao Jiaqi saw them worrying and smiled, "Don't worry, the dishes and flower rolls made this way are delicious!"
She pointed to the meat in the pot. "Normally, stewing meat takes fifteen minutes, and steaming flower rolls also takes fifteen minutes. So, if they're in the same pot, they'll cook just as quickly. Plus, the rolls will absorb the meat flavor, making them even more delicious!"
The few matrons heard her explanation and, though a bit confused, found it logical. Since she insisted, they assumed she knew what she was doing and didn't interfere further.
However, they couldn't help but drool as Zhao Jiaqi used a generous amount of oil while cooking.
The food was ready, and they were seated. The remaining task was much simpler.
So, Liu Qinshi picked up the topic from the previous day. "With twenty days left until the New Year, should we try to embroider more baby bibs and shoes to sell in town?"
Wang Zhangshi calculated, "The three of us have limited energy. After cooking and eating each day, there isn't much time left. Even if each of us makes five baby bibs a day at most, how much can we earn in copper coins?"
These novel baby bibs, made from fabric bought with money, would fetch at most ten copper coins each, which was still a considerable sum.
"Aunties, are there any wealthy families in our town?"
"Yes, what town doesn't have some rich households? Our village is far from the town, so our conditions are much poorer. I imagine other villages are richer than ours!"
The implication was clear: other villages were wealthier. If that were the case, it would be easier.
"Aunties, I have an idea that can earn more silver than selling baby bibs and shoes. Do you want to hear it?"
As soon as the topic of making money came up, the aunties' eyes widened. Even Granny Li looked over with curiosity.
"Tell us, tell us, of course we want to hear!"
Zhao Jiaqi saw Wang Zhangshi's eagerness and smiled. "Look, we can make some cloth dolls. We can make them in the style you drew, some like boys, some like girls, or even the twelve zodiac animals. Selling them as sets will earn much more. Selling just one or two sets might earn more than you make in a year!"
The twelve zodiac animals?
Granny Li became interested. "Are the twelve zodiac animals as cute as the monkey and snake you drew?"
"Of course. If they look fierce, children will cry when they see them, and who would buy them?"
That was a crucial point.
"Look, for the fabric inside the dolls, we can use scraps from silk shops. The outer fabric, however, needs to be better quality. I'll cover the cost for this part, but the embroidery must be meticulous. We're selling to children of wealthy families or those with disposable income. Meticulous craftsmanship will make them feel they're getting great value for their money!"
Granny Li, who often dealt with fabric shops, understood the nuances. She said, "That makes sense. Madam Fan is absolutely right!"
With this, everyone's spirits were lifted, and they started discussing it on the spot. Liu Qinshi, with her keen sense of smell, exclaimed, "Oh dear, the food is burning."
Her shout startled the others. The four women scrambled to lift the pot lids. Granny Li, instead of joining the commotion, began to remove the fire from the stove.
Everyone worried that such good food would be ruined if it burned. However, when they looked, it was fine. Only a piece of chicken was slightly burnt; the rest was okay.
There was no broth left, but a layer of oil at the bottom of the pot. Seeing this, Liu Qinshi nudged Zhao Jiaqi. "Let's not wash this pot tonight. Tomorrow, we'll add water and boil some dough drop soup or noodle soup. It'll be delicious!"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded with a simple smile. She admired how the villagers were so resourceful, already planning the next meal before finishing the current one.
Inside the house, they divided into two tables: one for the men and one for the women, which was more convenient for conversation and dining. Primarily, the large table couldn't accommodate everyone.
Granny Li ate a flower roll. It was soft and had a savory aroma. "I must say, Madam Fan is truly skilled at cooking. These flower rolls are delicious."
"Granny Li, try this cabbage. Oh my, it tastes like meat! It's so good!"
Meng Sunshi handed Granny Li a piece of meat. "No matter how good the cabbage is, it can't compare to this meat!"
"What's meat compared to anything? And what about cabbage? Don't you realize who made it? If you made it, it would be watery soup!"
They say three women make a stage play; with five, they could almost put on two.
The men at the other table found the women's chatter amusing. The village chief called out, "Even such delicious food can't shut your mouths. You could have eaten two more pieces of meat with the time you're spending talking!"
Liu Qinshi, hearing her husband's reprimand, suddenly realized, "That's right, let's eat!"
Eating was important, but making money was even more so.
"Madam Fan, could you please tell us again what these cloth dolls look like and how big they should be? We'll find some scrap cloth tonight to try!"
Speaking of cloth dolls, Zhao Jiaqi thought for a moment. "They're similar to the cloth dolls sold outside. The size can vary. Bigger ones will cost more silver, and smaller ones will cost less."
As soon as she mentioned cloth dolls, they understood how to make them.
"This is simple. First, embroider the pattern, then cut out a template according to the pattern, sew the pieces together inside out, leaving a small opening, turn it right side out, stuff it with fabric, and then sew up the opening, right?"
My goodness, as soon as she said it, Granny Li had already explained the entire process. It was delightful.
"Yes, yes, that's the idea!"
Meng Sunshi sighed lightly. "I thought it was something difficult to make. This is easy enough!"
What she considered easy was quite difficult for Zhao Jiaqi, especially the embroidery and sewing, which could be frustrating for her.
That's why she had never made them herself. Little did she expect to earn money from something she wasn't good at.
Fan Zehao, at the next table, listened to their conversation and smiled. His wife could always find ways to get rich, no matter where she was.
He guessed that his wife would next teach these aunties about profit sharing, as she had done before.
But this time, he was mistaken.
Zhao Jiaqi had no intention of taking a profit. She simply wanted to help them, at least so they could eat their fill and not worry about having meat, or even just enough to eat every meal.
That evening, the older women, not feeling sleepy, gathered at Granny Li's house and started working on the dolls. By the end of the night, they had made three small ones, with attractive designs and colors.