Shen Xiaoyan nodded in agreement, having also considered what Yue Qingxin had just said.
Shen Xiaoyan thoughtfully stroked Zheng Jiang's small hand. After a moment, she looked up at Yue Qingxin and said, "These girls at home don't usually have much to do. Why not let them help out?"
"That's a good idea," Yue Qingxin also agreed.
These girls mostly learned needlework and did odd jobs. In reality, they were very idle every day, so having them help would be beneficial.
"Then, once it's done, how will we sell it? We can't just set up a stall in town and sell it directly, can we?" Yue Qingxin asked again.
Shen Xiaoyan shifted her gaze to Zheng Wei. "That will require him to think of a way."
Yue Qingxin looked at Shen Xiaoyan with confusion, then at Zheng Wei with curiosity.
Did Shen Xiaoyan mean for Zheng Wei to use his charm to set up a stall in town?
"Yes, I'll have someone invite Lu Taobao over. His family has all sorts of shops, including pharmacies. It will certainly be more convenient than us, and we can split the profits with him," Zheng Wei explained to Sima Han and Yue Qingxin.
Yue Qingxin felt a slight blush. What had she been thinking just now?
Touching her hot cheeks, Yue Qingxin berated herself inwardly. She must have been influenced by what happened earlier, otherwise, how could such a thought have crossed her mind?
After lunch, Lu Taobao indeed arrived.
"Why did you come so early? It's quite hot at this hour," Zheng Wei said as Lu Taobao alighted from his carriage, walking with him towards the main courtyard.
"I had nothing to do at home, so I came to see if Big Brother's fruits were ripe. I'm craving them terribly," Lu Taobao said, laughing heartily.
As they spoke, they had already reached the corridor outside the main room. Shen Xiaoyan, seated in the main room, heard them clearly.
A knowing smile appeared on Shen Xiaoyan's face, and she couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She had known Lu Taobao for more than two years now, and she truly understood what it meant to be a foodie.
Lu Taobao had an incredible passion for food back then; if it was edible, there was nothing he wouldn't eat.
What impressed her even more was how he could eat so much without gaining weight.
If this were her past life, it would have been enough to incite envy.
While Shen Xiaoyan was lost in her own pleasant thoughts, Lu Taobao and Zheng Wei had already lifted the curtain and entered the main room side by side.
The curtain for the main room was woven from split bamboo strips and fine string. It was not only effective against mosquitoes and insects but also very breathable and beautiful.
Such handcrafted door curtains were rare in her previous life.
However, here, every household used them, so they weren't considered anything extraordinary.
Seeing Zheng Wei and Lu Taobao take their seats, Shen Xiaoyan asked Huo Fen, who was standing by, to bring some fruit.
It was the season for small cherries. The more than ten small cherry trees planted in the back were also laden with fruit.
Thanks to the immortal spring water, the small cherries were exceptionally large, comparable to the cherries of her previous life.
They were not only large and red in appearance but also sweet and juicy when eaten, with small pits and thick, sweet flesh.
Half a month ago, after Shen Xiaoyan and Yue Qingxin tasted them for the first time, they fell in love. Therefore, after discussing it, they decided not to sell these small cherries and keep them for themselves.
Lu Taobao was chatting with Shen Xiaoyan and the others when he saw Huo Fen leading two young maids into the room, all three carrying wooden trays.
Huo Fen's tray held only one plate, but it was larger than the two plates on the maids' trays combined.
On the ivory-white ceramic plate, a mountain of bright red small cherries was piled high.
The small cherries had presumably just been washed, and each one still carried a slight moisture that reflected the redness of the cherries, sparkling in the air.
"Gulp."
Lu Taobao's eyes lit up as he looked at the large plate of small cherries placed beside him and swallowed audibly.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others all laughed. Yue Qingxin's face was almost aching from laughing.
Because Lu Taobao visited so often, Sima Han and Yue Qingxin were already familiar with him.
Although everyone knew Lu Taobao was a foodie and had witnessed his foodie nature, they couldn't help but laugh every time they saw it.
Lu Taobao's ears had automatically tuned out their laughter. At this moment, his eyes and mind were solely focused on the small cherries before him.
He swiftly picked up a small cherry and popped it into his mouth. The moment he took a bite, his tongue was enveloped by the delicious juice.
"Mmm~"
Lu Taobao couldn't help but let out a hum, his face filled with an expression of intoxicated bliss.
He didn't even bother to praise it, finishing one small cherry in three bites, spitting out the pit, and then reaching for another.
Seeing him like this, Shen Xiaoyan and the others understood that any words spoken before he finished would be in vain.
Since there was no rush, they each began to eat.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at the small cherry in her hand. Although she ate them every day, each time she ate them, she found them incredibly delicious. It seemed the immortal spring water was truly a wondrous thing.
Considering the time, the peaches would be ripening soon. Thinking about it, Shen Xiaoyan smacked her lips.
She really wanted to eat them.
When a small pile of pits had accumulated on the table next to Lu Taobao, his hands and mouth finally stopped.
"Um, hehe, sorry," Lu Taobao said, withdrawing his hand from the now-empty plate and giving Shen Xiaoyan and the others an embarrassed smile.
"Well, you can't blame me for this. These small cherries are just too delicious. I wasn't paying attention and forgot about you all," Lu Taobao added, trying to salvage some pride.
"Then, by that logic, it's my fault," Shen Xiaoyan said, looking apologetically at Lu Taobao. "If I hadn't asked Huo Fen to bring these small cherries, you wouldn't have been like this. However, I've learned my lesson, so rest assured, there won't be a next time."
"This..."
Upon hearing Shen Xiaoyan's words, Lu Taobao quickly tried to explain that he didn't blame Shen Xiaoyan at all and actually felt there weren't enough cherries.
However, seeing Shen Xiaoyan's half-smiling gaze, Lu Taobao's words stopped at his lips. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get them out.
"Hehe..."
Yue Qingxin couldn't help but burst into laughter when she saw Lu Taobao dejectedly lower his head.
Lu Taobao was, after all, from a merchant family and had been helping manage his family's business for years. He usually seemed quite sharp, but when it came to good food, his mind seemed to go blank.
Hearing Yue Qingxin's laughter, Lu Taobao looked up in confusion.
When he saw that all four of them were smirking, he realized Shen Xiaoyan had been teasing him.
Shen Xiaoyan was satisfied that even if Lu Taobao wasn't angry, he would at least retort.
But who knew, he just blushed and grinned foolishly, "Since Big Sister knows I love to eat, why not pick more for me instead of teasing me here?"
"Hahaha..."
Zheng Wei and Sima Han couldn't hold back any longer and burst into loud laughter.
This Lu Taobao was truly something; he would abandon anything for the satisfaction of his appetite.
"Rest assured, after we finish talking, we'll go to the back and pick some together. You can take as many as you want today," Zheng Wei said after laughing.
"Does Big Brother mean it?" Lu Taobao asked skeptically, not quite believing him.
"Of course, I mean it," Zheng Wei nodded earnestly.
Lu Taobao looked at Zheng Wei for a moment longer before smiling with satisfaction.
"Alright, then let's hurry up and talk. We still have important business to attend to afterward," Lu Taobao said hurriedly.
"Important business? What important business?" Shen Xiaoyan asked curiously. "What's the rush for? If you have urgent matters, you can leave first. We can discuss this another time."
"The important business he's referring to is picking small cherries," Zheng Wei said, lowering his head and avoiding Shen Xiaoyan's gaze.