In the early morning, Cao Xi's arms were pressed and she couldn't turn over. She struggled to open her eyes and found Qin Zhao sleeping in her arms. She rubbed her eyes in annoyance. The story was in vain, and she didn't know if he understood it.
Cao Xi moved his arms, pulled them out gently, and tiptoed back to his bedroom. After getting dressed, he started to prepare breakfast.
When Qin Zhao woke up, breakfast had been set and asked, "Why didn't you wake me up?"
Cao Xi tapped Qin Zhao's nose with his hand: "Look at how soundly you sleep, how can I bear to wake you up." Qin Zhao was a little cute when he woke up, and people couldn't help teasing him.
Qin Zhao glared at her sleepily, "Wake me up when you get up tomorrow." He wanted to help Cao Xi with the housework.
Cao Xi: "I know, let's go wash up and eat."
Qin Zhao followed Cao Xi's instructions and squatted obediently by the well to wash up. Since his sleeves were a bit too long while squatting, he had to squeeze water on his face. The action was so funny that Cao Xi held back a smile and handed him a towel.
I cooked eggs and porridge for breakfast, and also made soy sauce pickles.
Qin Zhao: "I will go to the academy by myself today, you don't have to send me off." Cao Xi has a lot of work, and he can't bear to let her run back and forth.
Cao Xi: "No, what if you are so beautiful and abducted by a kidnapper?" It's not easy for a child to have big ideas. He still wants to go to school by himself. If he really meets a trafficker, he won't be able to cry.
Cao Xi thought for a while, "I'll go there by myself when you are twelve or thirteen years old."
Qin Zhao cracked the eggs in his hand, peeled off the shells carefully, and put them into Cao Xi's bowl. "If you pick them up and drop them off, it will delay your departure from the stall."
Cao Xi picked up the egg, bit off most of it, and said vaguely: "You are much more important than business."
Qin Zhao was so sweet by Cao Xi's words that his face gradually turned red.
After breakfast, Qin Zhao changed into the uniform of the academy and walked around in front of Cao Xi pretending to be nonchalant.
Cao Xi's eyes were instantly attracted, "Who is this young boy? He's so handsome." He couldn't help but want to hug him. He was a miniature version of an adult student, so cute no matter how he looked.
"Humph" Qin Zhao glared at Cao Xi, picked up his special small schoolbag, turned around and walked out of the door. His arrogant look made Cao Xi's heart itch.
Cao Xi followed closely behind and tried to hold Qin Zhao's hand, but he avoided him. The small figure bumped along the aisle. The two of them came to the academy chasing each other.
Because he came earlier and there were not many people in the academy yet, Cao Xi pushed Qin Zhao into the courtyard, not forgetting to tell him: "Wait for me to pick you up after school in the afternoon. Don't leave by yourself, I will be worried."
"I know." Qin Zhao smiled and moved forward with Cao Xi's strength.
Qin Zhao was carrying a small schoolbag, humming children's songs, and walking on the tree-lined path with small square steps. He was in a happy and cheerful mood, but before he could feel refreshed for a long time, he heard a mocking voice.
"Oh, I didn't realize you still have so many faces." Qi Qige suddenly said this out of nowhere. Qin Zhao was frightened and subconsciously took half a step back.
Qi Qige was holding a book box in her hand, her face almost pressed against Qin Zhao's, looking straight at him.
Qin Zhao stretched out his hand to push him away, and continued to walk forward with an upright posture and an expressionless face, but his steps were not as brisk as before, and he no longer hummed a tune.
"Tsk, tsk, look at those people who are not what they seem." Qi Qige shook his head and walked forward side by side with Qin Zhao, glancing at him from time to time.
Qin Zhao was a little upset when he saw him, "Are you here by yourself again today? Poor little boy." Although his voice was soft, Qi Qige still caught his attention.
Qi Qige burst into tears: "I knew you remembered me. You didn't recognize me yesterday, it was on purpose."
He almost believed Qin Zhao's blank and ignorant expression yesterday. This country bumpkin dared to play tricks on him. It was so irritating.
Qin Zhao: "What do you want to do?"
He couldn't figure out why Qiqige always circled around him, couldn't fight with her when talking, and didn't see him hit anyone. It was really puzzling.
Qi Qige was stunned by Qin Zhaowen. What didn't he want to do? He stood there confused and thought about the reason. By the time he came to his senses, Qin Zhao had already gone far.
Qi Qige stamped her little foot angrily, "Looks like he's not a country bumpkin, but a country fox."
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After Cao Xi sent Qin Zhao off, he turned around and returned home. He washed the vegetables and made them into skewers for later use. Li Feng took back the custom-made grid pot.
"I made some signs with the buffaloes last night. It should be enough for today."
Li Feng took out two bundles of bamboo sticks from the basket. A very thick bundle was enough for today.
Li Feng lit the fire, Cao Xi cleaned the grid pot, and the two of them prepared for the stall together.
Cao Xi: "Brother Li, put the stove on the cart. I'll be ready soon."
She poured the prepared base ingredients into the grid pot according to different concentrations.
"Okay" Li Feng fixed the stove on the car and made a baffle to hold the pot with skewers.
Finally, Cao Xi put the grid pot on the stove, and the two of them worked together to push it to its usual stall position.
"Sister Xi, Brother Li, you are here." Xiaorui saw Cao Xi and the others running over from a distance.
She hadn't seen Qin Zhao for several days and missed him a little. She thought she would see him today, but she walked around the car and didn't see Qin Zhao. She asked Cao Xi doubtfully, "Why didn't Brother Zhao come over?"
Cao Xi lowered his head and said with a smile, "Qin Zhao has gone to school."
Xiao Rui eagerly grabbed the corner of Cao Xi's clothes, "He went to school? Then he won't do business with you?" If Qin Zhao didn't follow him out, she would never see him again.
Cao Xi: "Well, I will come to help during the holidays." The academy gives students three days off every traditional holiday.
Xiaorui's eyes were a little gloomy, but thinking about it, it was better than never seeing him again. The buffalo pulled Xiaorui's sleeve beside him.
Buffalo: "Xiaorui, don't delay Sister Xi's business." He pushed Xiaorui back to Xiaochuan, while he helped Li Feng secure the car.
The charcoal fire in the stove was burning red, the grid pot began to bubble, and the fragrance slowly spread out, making them all unable to help but salivate.
"Sister Xi, how do you sell these skewers?" Buffalo looked at Xiaorui swallowing her saliva with a somewhat unbearable expression.
Cao Xi: "Five cents a string"
Buffalo: "That's not expensive." As soon as he heard the quotation, he wanted to taste the skewers.
There are more and more people on the street. The aroma entices people to look into the pot, and each grid is filled with skewers. A burly man walked over following the aroma and said, "Brother, what are you selling? It smells so good."
Li Feng: "Oden, it's spicy and delicious. Brother, would you like one?" He is warm and polite, making people feel good about him unconsciously.
"How to sell it?" The big man stared at the pot, smelling the aroma, and couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
Li Feng looked at Cao Xi, and Cao Xi understood and said: "Five cents a string."
The big man raised his head and glanced at Cao Xi, then turned to look at Li Feng: "Bring me ten skewers to try."
Li Feng: "Brother, there are many kinds of strings. What kind do you like?"
The big man thought for a while and said, "Just take some of the same, enough for ten skewers."
Li Feng picked out a bunch from different grids and handed them to him, and took his money. The big man ate very boldly. He held it with his big hand and put it into his mouth. All that was left of the small vegetable skewers was the skewers. In the blink of an eye, ten skewers were wiped out.
Big man: "Bring me twenty skewers, and I want the spiciest one. Do you have a bag?"
Li Feng was slightly embarrassed, "I haven't had time to do that on the first day of setting up the stall." After saying that, he handed the twenty skewers to the big man.
Li Feng: "It's a small business, thank you for your care."
The big man took the skewers in his hand and frowned. Because he didn't have a packing bag, he walked a little hastily. It was obvious that he was bringing them to others to eat.
As soon as the big man left, people who wanted to buy began to rush in. The small car was surrounded by more and more people. From the outside, you couldn't see what was being sold inside. You could only stand on tiptoe to peek inside.
From time to time, someone squeezes out of the circle, holding a stick full of vegetables in his hand. Passers-by will curiously ask, "What kind of food is this? There are so many people?"
The people who came out explained while eating, "Oden, it's spicy and delicious."
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Business was particularly good today. The entire pot of skewers was sold out in less than a morning. I originally planned to buy some buffalo for Xiaorui to eat. Looking at the empty pot, I felt depressed, "If I had known it, I would have bought it as soon as you came. Now, Well, not even a stick is left.”
When Cao Xi saw the tall and strong boy, he felt aggrieved and comforted him like a little daughter-in-law: "When you bring me firewood tomorrow, I will cook it for you alone."
When the buffalo heard that he was cooking for him alone, he immediately smiled and said, "Then I'll chop wood when I get back in the evening."
There was garbage around the stall. Cao Xi and Li Feng cleaned it up before pushing the cart home. After returning home, Cao Xi counted today's income, and Li Feng checked the remaining ingredients.
Li Feng: "I still need to buy some charcoal."
Because I didn’t know how effective the stall would be on the first day, I didn’t sell too much. It seemed like I had to buy more today.
"Okay, let's go together in the evening. Food is cheap in the evening. I need your help to buy more today." Cao Xi carefully organized his small ledger.
"Okay, I'll go back first. I'll come over in the afternoon and I'm making some lottery tickets for later use." Thinking of today's heated scene, Li Feng couldn't sit still.
Cao Xi put down the account book in his hand, and when he saw the meal, he said, "Let's go after lunch."
Li Feng: "Okay, I'll do it with you." Thinking about it, it would be better to stay and cook first when you go back.
The two of them made some simple meals in the kitchen. Li Feng hurriedly took a few bites and then went to prepare the picks. That was the only thing good about cooperating with him. She only needed to make suggestions, and Li Feng was responsible for the rest.
