The business at Yiming Pavilion was booming as the New Year approached.
Grandma Su and her staff were so busy they barely had time to breathe, and their braised delicacies were starting to suffer.
The little ones were eager to help with the business, but they were too small to handle the large-scale production of braised items, lacking the necessary strength.
The spice packets for the braised dishes were prepared in advance, but the actual braising process was extremely time-consuming.
It seemed like all that was needed each day was to purchase the ingredients, clean them, and then braise them in pots.
However, these tasks were beyond the capabilities of a few children.
Coincidentally, Xiao Liang, having trained in the army for several years, was strong and readily took on this part of the work.
"I'll handle all this heavy lifting, but I'm afraid I can't manage the heat control," Xiao Liang admitted, being clear about his abilities.
He was fine with manual labor, but technical skills were not his forte.
Su Xiaotian thought for a moment and said, "Instead of crowding the stoves at Yiming Pavilion and causing trouble, why don't we make the braised dishes at home!"
Su Xiaoliu nodded in agreement, "Exactly, the stoves at Yiming Pavilion are all busy, but our big pot at home is free."
After discussing it with Grandma Su, she agreed.
However, she was still worried about the children, so she asked Li Yunniang to help supervise.
Now, they had someone to watch the heat.
In fact, Grandma Su had a reason for asking Li Yunniang to help at home.
Although she had written to Qi Liangying asking her to help obtain a certificate for Li Yunniang from the neighborhood committee, the certificate had not yet arrived.
During the period before the New Year, inspections were strict. It was safer to be at home than to be in the restaurant, constantly worried.
Li Yunniang understood that Grandma Su's arrangement was the best, and she had no reason to refuse.
She had faced many difficulties, all of which the Su family had helped her overcome.
Now, as an old woman, her ability to help at the restaurant was limited, yet she received the same pay as everyone else. Li Yunniang felt quite embarrassed.
Making braised dishes at home, she would only be watching the heat, while the children handled everything else. She felt she should do more.
After thinking for a day, Li Yunniang approached Su Xiaotian.
"Xiaotian, I feel too idle just watching the heat every day, so I was thinking of making something else. After much thought, I thought about making jelly. What do you think?"
Su Xiaotian listened to Li Yunniang and after a moment's thought, replied, "Okay, we can sell it along with the braised dishes. It might even earn us quite a bit of money!"
In those days, the process of making jelly was quite complex, mainly because the initial grinding of the starch was very slow.
Su Xiaotian directly exchanged high-quality pea starch and mung bean starch from the system for Li Yunniang.
Li Yunniang had never seen such good quality starch before and wondered if it could really be used to make jelly.
"Don't worry, this will definitely work."
Making jelly directly from pea starch and mung bean starch was much simpler and easier than the traditional method. Li Yunniang quickly mastered it.
"This is really easy, but I wonder if the jelly will taste good."
Li Yunniang didn't dare to make too much the first time, making a basin of each to test the waters.
She thought it was a good plan; if it didn't sell, their large family could share it and eat it, so there would be no waste.
But when the smooth, translucent, and wobbly jelly was placed before her, Li Yunniang felt she might have made too little.
Unexpectedly, the jelly made directly from pea starch and mung bean starch was much better than that made by hand.
"Xiaotian, ours will definitely sell!"
Before Su Xiaotian could speak, Li Yunniang confidently declared, her spirit filled with determination.
Su Xiaotian strongly agreed.
In those days, snacks were scarce. Whether it was jelly or cold noodles, they should have a good market, not to mention that she was using high-quality starch, ensuring the jelly was of superior quality and guaranteed.
Indeed, when the children returned that day, all the jelly they had taken with them was sold out.
They separately gave the money from the jelly to Li Yunniang. The two basins of jelly sold for a total of thirteen yuan and two mao.
Li Yunniang was unwilling to accept it.
She felt that if she accepted it, it would be shameless, as she was already receiving a salary from the Su family.
"Grandma Li, please accept this money. It's what you earned from making jelly through your hard work," Su Xiaoliu said, feeling sympathetic towards the kind-hearted Li Yunniang and not wanting to take advantage.
He thought that Grandma Li was getting older, and in a few years, she wouldn't be able to work. If she didn't save money now, what would she do in her old age?
In the end, Li Yunniang accepted half.
The children disagreed, but Li Yunniang said, "You worked hard to sell it, much harder than me. If you don't agree to split it like this, I won't make jelly anymore."
Su Xiaomei smoothed things over by saying, "Then it's settled. After deducting the cost of the jelly, Grandma Li gets half, and we get half."
Xiao Gang looked at his sister with confusion.
He wondered when his sister had become like this.
Their intention in doing this was to help Grandma Li, as Grandma Li was truly pitiable.
Su Xiaomei understood the children's thoughts.
However, although Li Yunniang had been weak her whole life, she had her principles.
If they helped her without any regard, it would only burden her.
Subsequently, over the next many days, the jelly business grew better and better, selling thirty to forty yuan worth each day.
Li Yunniang's old face was beaming as she looked at the increasing amount of money in her hands.
She had never imagined that earning money in the capital was easier than in the county town.
No wonder everyone said that at the Emperor's doorstep, gold was everywhere.
She used to think that was just talk, but now it seemed not entirely untrue.
As long as one found the right method, wasn't it like picking up money?
Since Li Yunniang was receiving a share of the profits from the children, she refused to take a salary from the Su family anymore.
Grandma Su did not insist.
Later on, people started to proactively request wholesale orders for the jelly made by Li Yunniang.
Similarly, the braised delicacies were now mostly sold wholesale.
Although they earned a little less money, it was a case of small profits but quick turnover.
Su Xiaotian was not involved in these matters; she was busy with her translation work.
Her schedule was fully booked for this holiday, and her earnings would be substantial.
The older members of the Su family were out day and night.
In short, the entire family was busy making money.
The family worked like this until the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.
They were taking a train that evening to return to Hongxin Brigade for the New Year.
Su Taohua's family of five was also returning, making for quite a grand departure.
Li Yunniang was reluctant to go back, so Yu Ruiyuan invited her to celebrate the New Year with her family.
Li Yunniang initially refused, feeling it would be too much of a bother.
However, Yu Ruiyuan explained that neither of them knew how to cook, and inviting Li Yunniang was also to ask for her help in preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.
Furthermore, the Chi family grandparents and grandchildren would also be celebrating the New Year together, so with more people, it would truly be lively.
That evening, the entire Su family and Su Taohua's family boarded the train, and Professor Huo saw them off.
Watching the group leave with their bags and packages, Professor Huo felt a pang of sadness!
When would he finally be recognized and be able to return to the brigade with them openly?
Professor Huo had been having a tough time lately.