Chapter 120: The Lucrative Snack Business

"Is Dusong back?" Upon hearing Dusong’s voice, Grandmother Duyun, who had already retreated into the house, hurriedly bustled back out. Seeing that it was indeed him, a smile bloomed on her face. "You’ve barely been gone two days, why are you back already?"

"Grandma, it’s good news!" Dusong beamed. "Remember when I was here last time, I asked Xiao Yun about those pastries and took a big bag back with me? Our young master tried them and thought they were excellent. He wants to stock them in the shop and even gave me a deposit!"

Knowing the heavy burden that weighed on his family and what his grandmother worried about most, Dusong didn't beat around the bush and immediately explained the circumstances of his return.

"Really? The young master actually wants to do business with our family?!" Hearing this, Grandmother Duyun felt as if a giant windfall had fallen from the sky and landed right on her head. She was so overjoyed she didn't know what to do, her legs even wobbling slightly.

"Grandma, take it easy, don’t get too excited," Duyun said, rushing over when she saw her grandmother’s face flush and her lips tremble with agitation.

The old woman was in good health, but she was getting on in years, and such excitement was a strain. With Duyun patting her back, offering words of comfort, and fussing over her, Grandmother Duyun finally managed to catch her breath.

"Is it really happening?" Once she recovered, Grandmother Duyun still couldn't help but confirm it again. Upon receiving Dusong’s firm affirmation, she was filled with jubilation. "This is wonderful! Tell me, how did it all come about?"

"Grandma, let’s go inside. It’s so hot out here, you’ll feel unwell standing in the sun," Dusong said, worried about his grandmother’s exhaustion, and helped her into the house.

"Yes, yes, do tell me!" The greatest concern on Grandmother Duyun's mind had always been the family finances. The debts they had incurred had dragged everyone down for over a decade, forcing them to live a life of scarcity, hunger, and hardship.

Now that the children were grown and the debts cleared, there were countless other needs—the children’s upcoming weddings, and their house, which was becoming increasingly dilapidated and cramped. As the head of the household, Grandmother Duyun worried incessantly, wishing she could conjure up money to solve these pressing problems.

"Grandma, sit down comfortably." Knowing his grandmother was impatient and seeing Duyun looking on with equal anticipation, Dusong cleared his throat.

"Grandma, after the young master at our shop tasted the pastries I brought back, he thought they were fantastic and wants to place an order with us. He wants ten pounds of pastries every day, at two and a half yuan per pound. He’s starting with a one-month contract; if sales go well, we’ll negotiate the price and quantity later."

Dusong relayed the young master’s words, explaining that he had happened to taste the pastries Duyun made while in town and had been impressed. The young master, possessing a sharp business sense, decided to test the market; if they sold well, it would lead to a long-term partnership, and if not, the money would simply be the cost of the pastries he had already enjoyed.

"What? Ten pounds a day?" Grandmother Duyun was astonished by the volume. "Two and a half yuan a pound—that’s twenty-five yuan a day! If we keep this up for a month, that’s over seven hundred yuan! Are these pastries really worth that much?"

"That’s what the young master said. Grandma, this is a golden opportunity. Even if we don't have other sales, this business alone will be enough to host Duzhi’s wedding in grand style," Dusong said with a smile.

Even if they only made half that as profit, it would still be over three hundred yuan a month. Even for Dusong, who had seen much of the world while working at the shop in the county seat, the thought of earning so much in such a short time made his heart race.

"Ten pounds a day is no small amount. But did your young master say how we’re supposed to deliver them?" Duyun, who had seen more of the world, soon shook off the excitement and asked the most practical question.

"It’s hot now, so the pastries won't keep long. I’ll either come back every two days to pick them up, or have them delivered to the county seat. The young master has entrusted this task to me," Dusong said, feeling a sense of pride in being given this responsibility.

"It’s so hot, you don't need to keep coming back. We have so many people here, surely someone can go to the county..." Grandmother Duyun started to object, but stopped mid-sentence. Realizing that despite having many family members, few had ever been to the county seat, she fell silent.

"Grandma, it’s fine. I’ll come back a few times, and once Huaizi or Yangzi learn the way, they can handle the deliveries," Dusong said, quickly smoothing over her embarrassment.

"Exactly, Grandma! Let Big Brother show me the way, and I can go to the county too. Who knows, maybe I can even buy some good things for you all while I'm there," Duyun said, her eyes brightening at the thought of visiting the county. She had her own ideas about selling her goods, and the county market might fetch a much better price than the town.

"All right, all right, I know you’re all capable!" Grandmother Duyun chuckled and waved them off to go play. The earlier excitement had left her feeling a bit lightheaded, and she decided she needed a lie-down.

"Right, Big Brother, stay the night. I’ll make the pastries tomorrow, and you can take them to the county," Duyun said. She didn't waste time, heading straight for the vegetable garden. Fortunately, the harvest was plentiful, so there was no fear of running out of ingredients for the month ahead.

It was sweltering in the summer, so Duyun spent the evening preparing sticky rice flour and various vegetables. The next morning, after breakfast, she began crafting the pastries with Duzhi’s help.

Red hawthorn, yellow corn, green spinach, white radish, orange carrot—she made plain soft cakes and multicolored ones. She prepared several pounds of each, spreading them out on large trays in the room; they were vibrant and beautiful.

"Twenty pounds in total—that's fifty yuan worth of pastries!" Looking at the trays lining the edge of the *kang*, Duyun felt a profound sense of accomplishment. To be able to make so many beautiful pastries and sell them for such a price—a smile tugged at her lips. This was truly a wonderful business venture.