Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading-Chapter 400: The Old Lady Next Door Comes to Scrounge for Food

Chapter 400: Chapter 400: The Old Lady Next Door Comes to Scrounge for Food

Chen Guanghai raised his eyebrows. What could be going on this late at night? Could something have happened to someone?

He glanced at Chen Laoda, "Laoda, go open the door and see who it is."

Chen Laoda, now thirteen, was the most mature of the three children, like a little adult.

He nodded immediately and jogged to open the door.

As soon as the gate opened, he saw an old, wrinkled face at the door.

"Laoda, what delicious food are you making at your house? It smells so good it’s making my grandson cry."

The visitor was the old lady Zhang from next door, a shrewd old woman who would shamelessly show up at any house making good food.

She claimed it was for her grandson, but more than half of it would end up in her own stomach.

Since she was elderly, people in the village were reluctant to say much, mostly just hiding their food when she was around.

Chen Laoda didn’t want the old lady to come in. His father was easy-going, and this old woman often took advantage of her age to freeload at their house.

"Nothing much, my mom just stewed some leftover knife fish to satisfy the three of us."

Old lady Zhang spoke while peering into the house.

She had tasted knife fish—lots of bones, strong in smell—but it didn’t have such a nice aroma, so this kid was surely lying to her to avoid sharing.

"Grandma Zhang, if there’s nothing else, I’ll close the door now. Our village’s turn is tomorrow to go out to sea, so you should go back and get some rest..."

As he spoke, Chen Laoda moved to close the door, but before it could shut, a stick as thick as his wrist was thrust between the door, forcefully stopping it.

It was the wooden cane Old Lady Zhang used as a walking stick.

"Since I’m here, I’ll go in to say a few words to your mom before I leave."

The old lady ignored Chen Laoda’s protests, relying on her small frame, she slipped in with her walking stick.

Chen Laoda couldn’t catch up, as the old woman ran with surprising speed, like a resourceful monkey.

He could only shout into the house, "Mom and Dad, Grandma Zhang from next door is here."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiujuan slid forward like an athlete, grabbed a plate, and dashed into the inner room, leaving Su Xiaoxiao stunned by her agility.

When the old lady entered, she saw a group of people gathered around the stove, with a tempting aroma wafting from the pot.

She beamed and approached, "Guanghai, Auntie isn’t blaming you, but as neighbors, is it right to secretly eat such good food? It’s made my grandson cry with envy."

As she spoke, she stretched her neck to peek into the pot, and her facial expression stiffened upon seeing the contents.

In the pot was a mushy mix of bran and rotten sweet potatoes. It smelled good but looked more like pig feed than food for people.

This was what Wang Xiujuan had thrown into the pot when hiding the knife fish earlier.

Having hidden the food, Wang Xiujuan slowly approached, "Aunt Zhang, haven’t eaten yet? Come, try a bite. Lao San, get Grandma Zhang a bowl."

Chen Lao San usually rolled his eyes at Grandma Zhang’s visits.

Grandma Zhang, despite her age, always used it as an advantage to demand a taste from anything, even if it was just manure brew.

However, she might be disappointed this time.

"Okay."

He replied and quickly ran to the kitchen to get a bowl and chopsticks, returning with a smile to hand them to Grandma Zhang.

"Grandma Zhang, don’t be shy, eat as you like."

The old lady had mooched many times, but this was the first time Chen Lao San showed such enthusiasm towards her.

But this... she really couldn’t bring herself to eat it.

Seeing her hesitation, Wang Xiujuan immediately filled a bowl to the brim, "Auntie, don’t be shy, there’s more in the pot if it’s not enough."

Zhang Laotai: "..."

The more she looked, the more it seemed like feed for pigs, her entire demeanor was filled with resistance: "I’d rather not. I’ve remembered I have a pot on the fire at home. I’ll head back now!"

She quickly set down the bowl and chopsticks, hobbling away briskly on her old legs.

Once she had left, Wang Xiujuan instructed Chen Lao Er, "Lao Er, take out all the pig feed from the pot and feed it to the pigs."

Let’s see if the old lady dares to come freeloading anymore. Wang Xiujuan had been annoyed with her for a long time.

With the intruding person gone, everyone gathered around the table, in the center of which was Su Xiaoxiao’s freshly made spicy knife fish.

This time, after some polite refusals, Chen Guanghai, the head of the family, was the first to pick up his chopsticks, taking a piece of knife fish, and after biting into it, remained silent.

Su Xiaoxiao looked at him expectantly, "Brother Chen, how does it taste?"

Chen Guanghai finished chewing a piece of knife fish and finally spoke, "The piece just now was too small, and I couldn’t taste if it was salty enough. Let me try another piece."

As soon as he said this, four pairs of chopsticks began moving in unison.

No need to ask; it’s obvious the knife fish must taste great.

Chen Lao San even gave Chen Guanghai a disdainful look, as if to say that as an adult, he should be ashamed for wanting to hog it all.

Chen Guanghai was slightly embarrassed too; the knife fish had been so delicious just now that he hesitated to speak for fear of contesting with the kids for it.

The plate of knife fish wasn’t much; soon enough, everyone had two or three pieces each, and it was all gone.

Wang Xiujuan sighed, "Comrade Su, you’re incredible! This knife fish is delicious, with no fishy smell at all, just fragrant and spicy. Could you share the recipe with me?"

Before she finished, Chen Guanghai shot a disapproving look at his wife, "Comrade Su’s recipe can’t just be given away like that."

Normally, his wife was quite sensible; why was she being so tactless today?

Su Xiaoxiao, however, waved it off nonchalantly, "Brother Chen, I was already planning on giving you the recipe, but I do have one condition."

Chen Guanghai hadn’t expected her generosity. Such courage in a young woman—no wonder she became a manager at such a young age.

He immediately responded earnestly, "Sister, go ahead, just say it. As long as it’s within my power, I promise to do it for you."

Su Xiaoxiao actually had her motives for encouraging them to make seafood cans.

Right now, the seafood was all-natural, with no modern pollution or medication, definitely more delicious.

If she could sell these cans online, they would surely be popular.

This way, she could make money and help Chenhe Village, a win-win situation, so why not?

Moreover, she had plenty of recipes; even if she gave them this one, she could still create other flavors. Giving away this recipe was no loss to her at all.

To facilitate this, she spoke, "Brother Chen, I want to cooperate with you. From now on, I want priority access to the seafood cans you produce."

"Just that?"

Chen Guanghai couldn’t believe it, his eyes wide open. Wasn’t this just directly solving their market for seafood cans?

This wasn’t a condition but a blatant benefit for them.

Su Xiaoxiao nodded, "Yes, no matter how successful your seafood can business becomes in the future, my orders have to take priority."

As she uttered this, the room fell silent.

Could it be that her condition was too strict? If this didn’t work, ensuring she received at least half the orders would be acceptable too.

Just as she was about to speak, Chen Guanghai excitedly grasped her hand.