Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 106 You help me push the cart, I'll pay you

When Li heard that Shen Yu could make it, she immediately became interested and said excitedly: "If you can really make something better than this, the ladies I know will buy some."

As if remembering something, he added, "Yesterday, Madam Lin said that although small reunion cakes are more expensive than ordinary cakes, every Mid-Autumn Festival, they always buy a few boxes to give as gifts, and the ladies will also compare whose small reunion cakes are more beautiful and delicious."

Shen Yu nodded with a smile on his face and said, "Then let's give it a try. It will only cost some money to customize the molds. I will go and order the molds tomorrow and make a few sets of small reunion cakes with carved patterns as samples."

Li confidently guaranteed, "From now on, you only need to mix the fillings every day. In recent days, Yutao and I have been doing a good job in kneading the dough and making the dumplings, but we are slower than you. You don't have to go to deliver the lunch at noon. Yutao and Yucheng know the numbers you taught them, and they can check the accounts. When the three of us deliver the lunch, you can free up your hands to make the small reunion cakes. If you do well, you can make as much money as you do with the dumplings."

Shen Yu thought about it over the past few days and realized that it was just as Li said. As long as the broth and oil were cooked correctly and the stuffing was prepared, the rest could indeed be left to Li and the other two. So he nodded and agreed.

In the following time, Shen Yu finely honed the charcoal pencil and carefully drew three sets of mooncake mold patterns according to the patterns of mooncake molds in his memory, preparing to find a craftsman to customize them tomorrow.

As for the box of small reunion cakes, Shen Yu took them out and shared them with everyone. They tasted good, with a crispy crust and sweet taste, but there was nothing new or special about them. They tasted similar to the five-blessing flower cakes in the restaurant.

When setting up the stall on the second day, Shen Yu asked the old couple running the porridge stall next door where there was a shop that could make custom cake molds. The old man pointed in the direction of the east of the city and told Shen Yu that there was a shop called Qiaozuoju over there, which had a very famous master named Song who had the best carving skills.

Shen Yu kept it in mind, thanked the old couple, and planned to go to Qiaozuoju after closing the stall.

Just as he was thinking about the custom-made mold, Li poked Shen Yu lightly with his elbow, raised his chin, and motioned Shen Yu to look over there.

Shen Yu looked in the direction Li pointed, and saw the boy named Dun Dun who had stolen their family's buns that day.

The boy was pestering a man who looked like a shop owner. He was saying something and looked pleading.

Shen Yu sighed unconsciously, thinking of the child and the woman in tattered clothes, supporting each other, and felt a little bit sorry.

Li whispered, "This is the second time I've seen this kid. Last time, I heard a shopkeeper say that he wanted to help load and unload goods, but because he was young, no one wanted him, so he went around pestering the shopkeepers nearby. Alas, he looked so pitiful."

Shen Yu's heart moved, and he discussed with Li: "Mom, how about asking him if he is willing to help out at our bun stall?"

Li immediately shook her head and refused: "How can that be possible? He looks about the same age as Yutao. What can he do? He is just eating for free."

Shen Yu insisted, "This kid looks very pitiful. We should help him if we can. He seems to have repented. He didn't continue stealing when he had no food to eat. Instead, he wanted to find a job. If we take him in, he will definitely do a good job. There is no heavy work at the bun stall. We just want him to have a meal first and not be forced to go astray again. When he can find a more suitable job, we can let him go."

Li was still not very happy, but Shen Yu had already put down the bamboo clips in his hand and walked over.

Li wanted to call her back to see how skinny the child was. She opened her mouth and then closed it again.

"Dundun"

Shen Yu smiled slightly and stood still, calling the boy.

Dun Dun was begging the shopkeeper desperately when he suddenly heard someone calling him. He shuddered violently and wanted to run away.

He ran two steps, turned around and saw that it was the owner of the steamed buns stall. He stopped as if relieved, raised his head and said, "Why are you calling me young master? I didn't steal your steamed buns today."

Shen Yu smiled indifferently and said gently: "I heard that you are looking for a job. Would you like to come to my house and help me for a while?"

Dun Dun looked at the sister with a kind smile and said hesitantly, "Your family has such a small bun stall, what can I do?"

Shen Yu thought, "How can I put this into words? I can't just say I pity you and want you to have a full meal."

She rolled her eyes and said with a smile: "My mother twisted her waist while chasing you, and she still doesn't dare to use force..."

Before he could finish his words, Dun Dun rushed to say, "You can't blame me for that. It was she who ran so fast and chased me."

Shen Yu couldn't help but laugh, waved his hand and said, "I don't mean to blame you, I just mean that my car is carrying a lot of equipment and it's quite heavy, I need someone to help me push the car and load and unload the equipment."

When Dun Dun heard this, his eyes lit up and he said quickly, "Really? I can do it. Don't look at me as thin, I'm very strong."

Shen Yu smiled and nodded, "Yes, I can see that, so I want you to help me for a while. When my mother's back injury is healed, if you don't want to stay, you can go."

Dun Dun happily responded, "Okay, it's settled then. When you close your stall, I'll help you move the equipment and push the cart."

Then he said a little embarrassedly: "Then will you pay me enough for me and my mother to eat?"

After getting Shen Yu's affirmative answer, Dun Dun asked: "When will your stall close? I want to tell my mother if I find a job."

Shen Yu said: "It will take a while. Where is your mother now?"

Dun Dun pointed toward the market and whispered bitterly, "A Niang is at the market, see if you can get some food."

Shen Yu felt a pang in his heart, and he forced a smile, and discussed with Dun Dun: "Dundun, go call your mother over, and help me push the cart home after closing the stall, and your mother can come with us too."

Dun Dun looked at Shen Yu in surprise, as if he didn't understand what Shen Yu meant.

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Help me push the cart, and I'll pay you. Your mother must be hungry too, so you can have a meal at my house first."

Dun Dun was silent for a while, then stood up seriously, raised his hands flat, bowed and saluted solemnly, saying, "Thank you, sister."

After saying that, he stood up and ran towards the market entrance.

Li, who had been paying attention to this place, saw the little thief talking to Shen Yu, then he bowed and ran away. When Shen Yu came back, he asked, "Why did this little thief run away?"

Shen Yu simply told her about how she asked Dun Dun and his mother to push the cart and take them home for dinner. After listening to this, Li sighed and said, "Ah, it's not easy for them. The brat is young, and the goods that need to be moved in these shops are heavy. There is no suitable work for him to do. Just help if you can."