Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 102: What gift should I choose to give to others? Expensive and decent

Shen Yu began to rack his brains to think about how to prepare a thank-you gift. As for gold and silver, his entire family's assets only amounted to more than twenty taels of silver. Even if he prepared it, He might not be willing to accept it.

What to do?

clothing?

I don’t know how to make it, and if it’s not made by myself, I can’t express my feelings.

jewelry?

I can't afford the expensive ones, so I'll buy the cheap ones. Shen Yu thought of the warm white jade bracelet that He gave her, and quickly shook her head.

She sat there racking her brains but couldn't think of a suitable thank you gift. She sighed and stared blankly at the wall in front of her.

Yutao had been watching Shen Yu for a while. She looked at her sister with a distressed look on her face and muttered to herself. After a while, she just became dazed.

She walked over and waved her hand in front of Shen Yu.

Shen Yu retracted her gaze and saw that it was Yutao standing in front of her playfully, looking at her with inquiring eyes.

Yu Tao asked like a little adult: "Sister, I've been looking at you for a while. What's wrong with you? Is there something difficult?"

Shen Yu pondered for a moment, then told Yutao that she wanted to give a gift to express her gratitude. As for why she wanted to give it, she only mentioned it briefly. She didn't want Yutao to know the complexity of this world too soon, so she decided to let her be a happy girl for a few more years.

Yu Tao listened and said as a matter of course: "Sister is just worried about this, can't you just cook something? The food that sister cooks is delicious."

A word of advice can wake people up from their dreams. Yes, what can better express gratitude than making something delicious as a gift by yourself?

What should I do?

Desserts? Cakes, meringues, egg yolk cakes?

Meat? Roast duck, roast chicken, ham?

Shen Yu was in a dilemma. She didn't know what to give as a gift in this era.

Shen Yu silently went through the dishes that he could cook like a recital in his mind.

Seeing her sister frowning and not saying anything, Yutao offered an idea: "I think it would be best to make sweet cakes. It's almost August now. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone eats reunion cakes. Mom bought them before. Don't you remember? They are filled with sweet red bean paste. They are sweet and fragrant and delicious."

"Reunion cake?" Shen Yu repeated doubtfully.

A trace of sadness flashed across Yutao's eyes, and with a sweet smile on her lips, she recalled: "Sister, have you even forgotten this? When mom bought it before, you saw that I liked it, so you broke off half of your piece and gave it to me. You only ate half of it yourself, and you said that when you made more money from embroidery in the future, you would definitely save money to buy a few more pieces for me to eat."

Shen Yu could tell that this was the sisterly friendship between the original owner and Yu Tao, so she coughed to cover it up and said with a smile: "Well, we were so poor before that I couldn't afford to buy anything. Now it's different. We have money in our hands, so we can buy things and make things ourselves. This is so good. Don't think about the past. Those hard days are over."

Yutao nodded and smiled playfully, "I also think life is better now. Sister, can you make reunion cakes?"

Shen Yu said confidently: "Although the cakes made are different from the ones sold, they are definitely delicious. I just don't know what the reunion cakes in this county town look like. I will go to the cake shop tomorrow and buy a few pieces to try and I will know."

At night, Shen Yu and Li discussed making some reunion cakes to give away. Li said, "Oh, that's an exquisite dessert, very expensive. If you can really make it and give it to others, it will be decent."

Shen Yu's heart moved, and he asked Li: "Mother, will we not only eat these reunion cakes at home, but also give them to others?"

Li nodded, counting on her fingers, and said to Shen Yu, "Every Mid-Autumn Festival, in August, these reunion cakes are on the market. Not only do we eat them at home, we also give them to others, offer them to Buddha, and worship the moon. You are still children, so you don't need to worry about these things. Of course, you don't understand."

Shen Yu asked again: "It's not even August yet, so does the bakery have to start selling in August?"

Li said uncertainly, "In the past, we lived in the countryside. No matter how wealthy the farmers were, they would not buy expensive reunion cakes on weekdays. They would only make snacks when they were free. They would only think of buying a few boxes in August and bring them with them when visiting relatives and friends. It was very respectable. There are many rich people in the county town, so I don't know if this cake shop sells them on weekdays."

Shen Yu saw that Li was in a dilemma, and thought that it made sense. Li came from the countryside, just like himself. For things happening in the county town, only locals could know them clearly.

Shen Yu pondered, not knowing whether to go to the bakery first or ask someone. She looked at the newly pasted bamboo paper on the window and suddenly thought of her landlord Sister Liu and her neighbor Madam Qi. She smiled and said, "Mom, we are so stupid. We are guessing here. Why don't we go ask Sister Liu or Sister Qi and we will know."

After hearing what Shen Yu said, Li also laughed. Yes, how could she forget about them.

Ever since Shen Yu helped Sister Liu take care of the children for half a day during the Ghost Festival, Sister Liu has become noticeably more friendly towards their family. Although she was also warm before, that was just the courtesy of a landlord to a tenant. But ever since she listened to the sermons with Li, the two families have been visiting from time to time. Sometimes after Li finishes her work, she will count Buddhist rice with Sister Liu, Madam Qi and other ladies who live nearby to accumulate merit.

Shen Yu thought it was a good idea for Li to have companions to worship Buddha together. Each person could pool together a few dozen coins and buy Buddhist rice together. When a certain amount of Buddhist rice was accumulated, it would be sent to the porridge center to help the poor. It was a good thing.

He could also gossip and joke with the neighbors, and most of the new things in the county were heard from Li.

At this time, there was almost no entertainment. After finishing their daily tasks, Yutao and Yucheng would practice writing and arithmetic together.

Shen Yu would accompany them and teach them some simple Chinese characters.

After practicing the Li's Nine Nines Numerology for a while, he felt that he was pretty good at it, so he started to relax. He didn't know what to do in his spare time. Without any spiritual sustenance, life would be difficult indeed.

Shen Yu saw that Li was very enthusiastic about worshipping Buddha with the neighbors all day long, so he thought it was a good idea and encouraged Li to go out whenever he had free time.

Li also knew his limits. He would count the rice with the Buddha every now and then, but he was not obsessed with it and would never delay the task at hand just for the sake of offering to the Buddha.

Before going to bed, Li confidently promised: "Tomorrow I will find out everything about the county's Mid-Autumn Festival reunion cake sales."

This made Shen Yu giggle, and he playfully cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you, mother."

Li laughed, then blew out the oil lamp in one breath, and grumbled, "Go to sleep quickly. I've been talking to you for half a day, and I've used up a lot of lamp oil today."

Shen Yu looked at the suddenly darkened room speechlessly, thinking, "Mom, I haven't lain down yet, you blew out the light too quickly."

He shook his head helplessly, groped his way to his bed, lay down and fell asleep with a smile on his face.