Li Ying was also a bit worried about leaving her daughter alone at home.
Granny Sun found a clean bamboo basket and lined it thickly with a thin quilt. When Little Tuanzi lay in it, she stopped crying and excitedly waved her little hands and feet.
"A Ying, your daughter is really sensible! I think she's more intelligent than the kids in the village!"
As they chatted, they arrived at the seaside.
The fishwives saw her and greeted them warmly, "A Ying, Granny Sun, come quickly!"
Granny Sun took out a handful of sea salt and handed it to Li Ying, pointing at the small holes on the beach to explain.
"These holes that are narrow in the middle, wide at both ends, and horizontal are razor clam holes. Sprinkle some salt on them. When the razor clams pop up, just pick them up. The two connected small holes belong to white clams. Conchs usually stick to the reefs to eat oysters. It's dangerous over there when the tide comes in. Don't go there by yourself..."
Before her time - travel, Li Ying had watched a lot of seafood - hunting videos. Although she had never eaten pork, she had seen a pig running. With Granny Sun's guidance, she got the hang of it quickly. In a short while, she had dug almost half a basket.
Granny Sun still remembered the deliciousness of stir - fried conch meat. Uncharacteristically, she took Li Ying to the reefs to look for conchs.
"Conchs have heavy shells, which add to the weight. Only the big ones can fetch a good price..."
As she was gesturing the size to Li Ying, they heard Little Tuanzi in the bamboo basket suddenly babbling. Her little head was also stubbornly tilting backward.
What was going on?
Li Ying looked in the direction her daughter was turning her head. Her eyes immediately lit up.
Under the reef, there was clearly a conch even bigger than her palm!
She quickly picked it up and threw it into the basket.
Granny Sun had been going seafood hunting for most of her life. She could only pick up a conch this big once or twice when she was extremely lucky. She was completely stunned.
There was also a long kelp floating beside the conch. It was probably uprooted by the waves.
It could be used for making soup or cold salad... This kelp was enough for Li Ying and Granny Sun to eat for a few days.
"Ouch!"
Li Ying was busy folding the big kelp a few times and stuffing it into the basket. She heard Granny Sun let out a scream. She thought the old woman had slipped and quickly reached out to help her.
"A Ying, stop standing there. Hurry up and pick them up!"
On the reef covered by the big kelp, there were actually a whole bunch of big conchs clinging densely to it!
Although they were not as big as the one they had just picked up, they were still about the size of a fist.
Conchs of this size could be sold for five copper coins a catty. Compared to the clams that sold for two copper coins a catty, it was already a good price.
After picking up all these conchs, both of their baskets were full. Seeing that the tide was about to come in, Granny Sun took her back to the shore.
They had only walked a few steps when Little Tuanzi, who was sleeping in the bamboo basket, started to grunt and wriggle again.
This time, Li Ying had some experience. She immediately widened her eyes and searched around.
Sure enough, there was a bulge in the shallow water. Vaguely, it looked like the shape of a crab.
She quickly reached out and pressed on the crab shell. But after all, she had no experience. The big green crab that was putting up a last - ditch struggle clamped her finger tightly. She cried out in pain.
Granny Sun quickly helped her tie up the green crab. "A Ying, your daughter must be a little lucky star! First the conchs, and now the big green crab. Your luck is just too good!"
Li Ying gave her daughter a big kiss on the little face. Little Tuanzi giggled, and her big, black eyes were darting around.
This green crab weighed at least two catties. Even in modern times, it would be a rare find.
After they got home, they took a short rest. As soon as it was dawn, they hurried to the dock.
When the fishing boats returned from the sea, many wealthy families and restaurants in the town would come to pick out fresh catches. If the fishwives' seafood - hunting catches were fresh, they would also be bought.
Li Ying's big green crab was soon spotted by a restaurant's purchasing clerk. He also bought all the more than ten catties of big conchs.
"The green crab weighs two catties and two taels. It's twenty copper coins a catty. The twelve catties of conchs are five copper coins a catty. In total, it's one hundred and four copper coins. Sir, since you've taken such good care of our business, we'll round it down. Just pay one hundred copper coins."
The clerk paid the money, and immediately some porters carried the conch baskets onto the ox - cart for goods.
One by one, the ships docked. The porters unloaded boxes and boxes of various goods and then carried them onto the carriages of various merchants. They were sweating profusely from exhaustion.
As the sun rose higher and higher, these dock workers who were selling their labor didn't even have time to have lunch. They could only take out a black bread cake from their bosoms and take a few bites with cold water to satisfy their hunger.
The cakes were dry. And because of the hot summer, most of the porters lost their appetites after only a few bites.
Li Ying's eyes lit up. She suddenly had an idea.
When it was hot, the self - brought dry rations might go bad by noon. When it was cold, the cakes were cold and hard, making them difficult to swallow.
If there were delicious, affordable, freshly cooked hot dishes and hot soup, they would surely support the business!
Li Ying divided the copper coins from selling the seafood equally with Granny Sun. The old woman quickly waved her hands. "That green crab was originally yours. If it weren't for your daughter's sharp eyes, how could an old woman like me have picked up so many conchs? It's enough for you to give me twenty copper coins!"
Li Ying stuffed the copper coins into her hand without any room for argument, and then immediately told her the plan of selling boxed lunches.
Granny Sun had never earned so much money from going seafood hunting. Now, feeling the heavy purse, she couldn't stop smiling.
She had tasted Li Ying's cooking skills and was convinced that this mother - daughter pair were born lucky stars. Now, when she heard that A Ying wanted to open a place selling cheap and delicious big - bowl dishes, she nodded without hesitation.
The two of them packed up their stalls and entered the town. After taking Granny Sun to buy meat, eggs, and vegetables first, Li Ying went straight to the porcelain shop.
The rough porcelain bowls were all defective old goods that hadn't been sold out a few years ago. The shopkeeper was an honest man. He only charged her one copper coin for each bowl.
Li Ying took out the still - warm copper coins and slapped them on the counter. "I'll take thirty such big bowls!"
Yellow wine cost five copper coins a catty. It was so expensive that it made her heart ache. But cooking seafood required wine. And those dock workers were all men. Most of them couldn't stand the fishy smell. Li Ying gritted her teeth and still bought three catties.
Finally, she bought some homemade salty sauce and spicy dogwood. Then her purse was empty.
The two of them returned home fully loaded. After feeding the daughter and leaving her with Granny Sun, Li Ying quickly went to the kitchen to stew the bought chicken with coconut and stir - fry a plate of vegetables. Immediately, the delicious aroma filled the air.
Just as she was about to sit down for lunch, she heard a hearty voice outside the door.
"Ouch, Granny, Sister A Ying, what delicious food are you making at home!"
Most of the women in the fishing village were simple and enthusiastic. Li Ying recognized this as Sister Li, who had stood up for her on the beach. She invited her over to eat together.
Sure enough, Sister Li also praised her cooking skills. When she heard that Li Ying wanted to sell food in the town, she quickly asked, "If you want to set up a stall, you'll need some tables and chairs, right? My husband is a bamboo craftsman. Sister, wait. I'll go back and ask him to make them for you!"
Li Ying didn't expect such a pleasant surprise. She quickly thanked her repeatedly.