In the Tutu Temple, a group of people sat in a circle. This was their first collective discussion. Cao Xi told everyone about the idea of weaving baskets, hoping that everyone would work with her to escape from a life of hunger and fullness.
After hearing her thoughts, everyone subconsciously looked at Li Feng. Li Feng was the leader of the group. Although everyone relied on their ability to eat and drink, when faced with problems, they would subconsciously rely on Li Feng.
Li Feng "We will work with you" With experience in straw knitting, Li Feng became keenly interested in doing business.
"I will join too" Dayong and Dazhuang are brothers
Dayong weaved baskets with them first, while Da Zhuang continued to beg in the town. The two boys were growing taller, and all the money they got from begging was used to buy food, and there was no savings at all.
"I'll join too," Buffalo said with his hands raised, and he wanted to follow Li Feng's footsteps.
"My sister and I will not join. My sister is still young and we have no money. I will join in after I save some money." Xiaochuan wanted to make money with everyone. He saw the abilities of Cao Xi and Li Feng. , but his sister is still young and needs to eat.
Cao Xi understands those who did not participate. They have no savings or food, and they cannot go hungry for a whole day.
"You can participate whenever you want." Cao Xi mainly wanted to teach them to be self-reliant, as a reward for their kindness to her and Qin Zhao.
The basket-weaving team consists of five people, and they do what they say. Li Feng takes them to the mountain to collect willow branches, while Cao Xi and Qin Zhao process the bark of the branches by the river, and put the skinned branches into the river for soaking.
After soaking in the river water for a night, Cao Xi restored the basket weaving method bit by bit according to the memory of his previous life. The first finished product looked a little awkward, but the second one was more mature. Li Feng had straw weaving experience, and the basket weaved was the best.
Because of his young age, Qin Zhao could only do some work of peeling bark off trees, and his little hands were red from scratches at the end of the day. Everyone worked very hard, working from dawn to dusk for two days, and weaved a total of fifteen baskets. Cao Xi divided the baskets into two piles according to quality and took them to the town to sell them together.
Cao Xi and others were selling baskets, and Qin Zhao was led by Da Zhuang to continue begging. Cao Xi was worried about letting Qin Zhao stay too far away, so he asked them to beg near the stall and call out loudly when they encountered danger.
Li Feng: "Don't worry, Da Zhuang is very responsible and will not lose your brother."
Cao Xi smiled and said helplessly: "A few words of advice calmed my mind."
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As soon as they set up the stall, they met a woman wearing a headscarf: "How can I buy this basket?"
Cao Xi smiled: "Eighteen cents each, two thirty-five cents."
Li Feng looked surprised, but it was quickly covered up by his smile. I criticized it in my heart, didn't I agree that it would cost fifteen cents each? No matter how you say the price goes up, the price goes up.
Woman: "This is too expensive. Can it be cheaper?"
Cao Xi: "Mom, look at the quality of our baskets, which are among the best in town. The surface is very smooth and the shape is regular." She picked up the basket made by Li Feng and showed it to the woman.
The woman looked at the basket in her hand and saw that it was indeed well woven. "Then take two."
There are more and more people on the street, and a group of people gathered in front of the basket stall. Good-quality baskets are almost always sold for thirty-five cents each, while poor-quality baskets cost ten cents.
Just when Cao Xi was busy, he vaguely heard the noise of children, because he was worried about Qin Zhao.
Cao Xi put down what he was doing and said to Li Feng: "Brother Li, take care of me first. I'll be right back." After that, he squeezed out.
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Qin Zhao has not eaten candy for a long time. He has not eaten candy since he sold candied haws at the last temple fair. Today, when he came out to beg, several children surrounded him and Da Zhuang and shouted, "Little beggar, it stinks, there is no one." If you don't have any candy," he said, gesturing at Qin Zhao with the candy in his hand.
Qin Zhao's little face was tense, his eyes were staring at the children like a cheetah, as if he could pounce on them at any time, while Da Zhuang was close to Qin Zhao, ready to run away with Qin Zhao at any time.
As soon as Cao Xi squeezed out of the crowd, she saw six children surrounding Qin Zhao and Dazhuang. She quickly stepped forward to block Qin Zhao and Dazhuang behind her, glaring angrily, "Damn kid, stay away from my brother, or I'll tear you apart." Mouth"
Perhaps frightened by Cao Xi's words, the children who were still making noises stopped, looked at each other, made faces at Cao Xi, and then dispersed.
Cao Xi turned around and turned Qin Zhao around. When he found that he was not injured, his eyes fell on Qin Zhao's face. Qin Zhao was no longer as tense as before.
He looked at Cao Xi with a smile, "Cao Xi, I'm fine, they don't dare to do anything."
As he said this, he raised his arms and said, "I'm not a vegetarian either."
Cao Xi was amused by his actions and words, "Well, I can't even eat vegetarian food for you."
Qin Zhao blushed slightly, reached out and took out a dozen copper coins from his arms, and handed them to Cao Xi, "Here you go."
Cao Xi took his copper plate, rubbed his head, and held his hand, "Let's go to the stall first, and wait until the basket is sold out to buy sweet potatoes. I will make sweet potato candies for you tonight, and they will be so greedy."
Qin Zhao let her lead him with a smile. When Cao Xi came back, Li Feng's basket was almost finished. Cao Xi hurriedly joined the sales team, and soon all the baskets he brought were sold out. This time, he earned a total of 370 yuan, which was not much per person, but everyone was still very excited.
The first attempt at the fruits of labor greatly aroused everyone's enthusiasm. They believed that they would weave better baskets in the future.
Before returning to the Earth Temple in the evening, Cao Xi took Qin Zhao to the vegetable market and bought ten sweet potatoes. Cao Xi lowered his head and looked at Qin Zhao, "Let's eat roasted sweet potatoes tonight."
Qin Zhao nodded vigorously, and did not forget to reply "Yeah"
Back at the Tutu Temple, Cao Xi washed and peeled the sweet potatoes, cut them into small pieces, cooked them in a large bowl and took them out.
"If you are hungry, eat this first, and I will make sweet potato candies for you." Cao Xi pushed the cooked sweet potatoes to Qin Zhao and put two more sweet potatoes next to the fire.
Qin Zhao held a small bowl, picked up the sweet potatoes with chopsticks and fed them to Cao Xi's mouth, "Cao Xi eats"
Cao Xi lowered his head and took the whole sweet potato into his mouth. "Well, you can eat it too."
Seeing Cao Xi take it into his mouth, Qin Zhao smiled and ate a piece. The cooked sweet potato was no longer sweet, it was watery but very soft. For them who have no time to eat, it is good to be full.
Qin Zhao saw Cao Xi boiling the bowl of sweet potato water. Although he didn't know why she did this, he chose to believe her. As time passed, the bowl of water became thicker and thicker, until Cao Xi took it away from the fire and put it aside to rest.
She handed the chopsticks used to stir the water to Qin Zhao to "have a taste"
Qin Zhao took the candy-covered chopsticks, pursed his mouth slightly and blew some air before trying it carefully. The sweetness filled the tip of his tongue, and Qin Zhao's eyes lit up. He looked at Cao Xi "sweetly" in disbelief.
Cao Xi: "Hahaha, of course it is sweet. This is sweet potato candy. When it cools down, it will be yours."
Qin Zhao looked at the bowl next to the fire. There was a small half bowl of sugar. There were so many. Qin Zhao raised his chopsticks and put them to Cao Xi's mouth, "Cao Xi will eat too."
Cao Xi: "I don't like candy, you eat it."
She took out the small wooden sticks she had prepared in advance, put them one by one in a bowl and stirred them until they turned into the shape of lollipops, and then put them in a cool place to dry.
Qin Zhao licked his chopsticks and watched Cao Xi making lollipops. His eyes were full of joy, and he felt that Cao Xi was awesome. He had never eaten such delicious candies. He could hardly hold a handful of them. .
Cao Xi: "Go back to Tutu Temple and give Da Zhuang one."
Qin Zhao tightened the lollipop in his hand and asked doubtfully, "Why?"
Cao Xi smiled and rubbed his head: "Because he didn't leave you alone and ran away today."
Qin Zhao tilted his little head and thought, "Then give him one." He lowered his head and found the smallest one among the pile of lollipops.
Cao Xi wanted to laugh at him for being stingy, but she felt that he was doing nothing wrong. After all, they didn't even have enough to eat, and sugar was a luxury for them.
Da Zhuang was mysteriously dragged to the back of the room by Qin Zhao, and looked at Qin Zhao with a puzzled expression as he took out a lollipop from his arms.
Qin Zhao: "Brother Da Zhuang, this is for you. Thank you for not leaving me behind today."
Da Zhuang blushed and scratched his head: "Brother Qin Zhao, you don't have to thank me. I promised Sister Cao Xi to take care of you."
Qin Zhao saw that Da Zhuang was only blushing and did not take the thing in his hand, so he moved forward and gave it away: "Brother Da Zhuang, this is a lollipop."
When Da Zhuang heard that it was candy, he swallowed subconsciously, looked at the candy and then at Qin Zhao, and finally mustered up the courage to take it. He licked it carefully, and his eyes instantly lit up "Sweet"
Qin Zhao's arrogant little face raised: "Of course, this is candy, how can it not be sweet?" Seeing that his gift-giving mission was accomplished, Qin Zhao happily ran to find Cao Xi.
Da Zhuang stared blankly at the candy in his hand, licked it again to confirm, and found that he was right. He clenched the candy in his hand excitedly, and quickly ran to his brother. The two of them excitedly shared this hard-won candy.
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As time passed, the speed of weaving baskets became faster and faster with each day's practice. Li Feng could also weave straw animals during his break, which was considered as extra income.
Although they still live in Tutu Temple, they have the warmth of home. Xiaochuan and Xiaorui no longer beg. Da Zhuang also made baskets with Dayong. Seeing the change from begging to self-reliance, Cao Xi felt sorry for them from the bottom of his heart. feel happy.
