Xiao Er looks affront

Lin Ai woke up at yin hour ( around three to five in the morning ). After washing her face and arranging her hair, she slowly lit the fire in the stove so as not to wake the people in the house. She intended to make a simple breakfast for her husband and daughter before they set off to sell fish in Haidong County.

" Today, I have to make some rice porridge with fish so that I will have the energy to travel, " Lin Ai muttered to herself softly.

She cut the fresh fish into bite-sized pieces, then poured some fragrant soup into the pot, and took out the cooked rice she had prepared yesterday to boil. The sound of the boiling water in the pot, combined with the fragrant smell of fish and ginger wafting throughout the kitchen, made Lin Ai feel contented.

Only one ke ( about 15 minutes ) later, Lin Changyu and Lin Qing'an woke up. The sound of their footsteps was accompanied by the sound of warm conversation.

" Mother, you woke up early again ?" Lin Qing'an asked with a fond smile. She walked over to help her mother pick up the chopsticks and cups.

Lin Ai turned around and smiled back.

" I must prepare food for you to travel comfortably. You don't have to worry about getting hungry on the way ."

Lin Changyu, who had been following behind, put on his coat and said,

" The food smells so good. Why don't you and Qing'an wake me up? I'm afraid you'll be too tired ."

" Don't worry, I'm not that tired. Come sit down, I'll serve you some rice porridge ," Lin Ai said as he placed a pot of hot rice porridge on the table.

After finishing their meal, Lin Qing'an and Lin Changyu hurriedly went out to check the fish on the cart. They lit a small lantern and walked to the courtyard next door to see if the fish caught from the pit on the mountain were still fresh.

" Look, Dad, the fish are still struggling in the basket. I don't think we'll have any problems with freshness when we get to the market, " Lin Qing'an said, poking each fish with a bamboo stick.

Lin Changyu nodded.

" Hmm, everything looks fine. We should leave before dawn so we can reach the district in time before the market gets crowded ."

The two of them helped move the fish basket onto the cart, before going back to ask Lin Ai if there was anything else they could help with.

" Don't worry about the things in the house. I'll take care of them. You guys hurry up and go. Today will be tiring for sure, " Lin Ai said as he handed over the cloth bag containing steamed buns and water.

" Here are two buns, in case you get tired on the way ."

" Mother, you are always so considerate. Thank you. " Lin Qing'an took the cloth bag and smiled widely.

The sky was still pitch black when the father and son left the house. The sound of bamboo wheels grinding against the ground was rhythmic. Lin Qing'an held onto the handle of the cart tightly, while Lin Changyu walked ahead cautiously.

" We should definitely arrive in Haitong County on time today, if nothing goes wrong ," Lin Changyu said as he looked at the faint light that was beginning to appear on the horizon.

" Yes, Father. This time, I think we should try selling it to the inn. If they like it, they might become our regular customers, " Lin Qing'an suggested.

" This idea is not a bad idea. The inn has a lot of people coming and going. If we have a regular market, it will save us a lot of labor, " Lin Changyu agreed.

When they arrived at Haitong County, the sun had just risen. Lin Qing'an noticed the Yunlai Inn not far away, so she asked her father to go there and try selling fish.

" Father, why don't you check out this inn first ? It seems like there are quite a few customers. If they are interested in buying our fish, we won't have to go out and look for them anymore ."

Lin Changyu nodded. The father and son pushed the cart to the door of the inn, but as soon as they stepped in, the young Xiao Er who was wiping the tables turned to look at them from head to toe.

" What are you two doing here ? Yunlai Inn doesn't buy things from country bumpkins like you ," Xiao Er said with a sneer.

Lin Qing'an frowned.

" We bring fresh fish to sell. If you don't believe me, just look at the basket ."

Xiao Er pouted.

" Fresh fish ? Or do you mean the rotten fish dragged from the side of the road? I don't have time to waste any more time with you. Hurry up and leave before I tell the boss to come and chase you away ."

Lin Changyu's face was serious, he clenched his fists tightly but still endured.

" Don't judge a thing by its appearance. If you try our fish and are not satisfied, we will leave immediately ."

Xiao Er laughed scornfully.

" I told you, no need. I don't waste my time checking things from people like you. Villagers are villagers. Don't show off !"

The arguing started to attract the attention of the villagers passing by as they entered the county. Lin Qing'an looked at the surroundings with dissatisfaction before turning around to pull her father's arm.

" Father, don't waste your time here. If they don't appreciate what we have, let them waste their chance ."

Lin Changyu nodded, although he was still angry in his heart, he chose to follow his daughter's advice. The father and daughter pushed the cart out of the inn under the gazes of the people watching with interest.

After leaving the Yunlai Inn in disappointment, father and son Lin Qing'an and Lin Changyu continued to push a cart full of fresh fish along the main street of Haidong County. The sunlight was beginning to shine down on the street filled with shops and people, and Lin Qing'an looked around determinedly, unwilling to give up despite the rejection he had just received.

" Father, I think we still have a chance. This Haidong County, Yunlai Inn is not the only one that might need fresh fish. Let's try looking for other inns, " she said, looking for the inn's sign.

Lin Changyu, who still had a worried expression, nodded slightly.

" You're right. We shouldn't give up just because we're bullied. They don't appreciate what we have. Let's find a new one. Who knows? Maybe we'll find a better inn ."

The two of them pushed the cart along the increasingly crowded streets. Lin Changyu spoke up as he looked around.

" Qing'an, have you ever noticed what kind of inn would buy things from ordinary people like us ?"

Lin Qing'an pondered before answering.

" I think small to medium-sized inns that don't have a regular supply of ingredients would be more interested in fresh produce from locals than large inns that have big business partners who deliver the goods ."

Lin Changyu nodded slowly.

" Hmm, that's a good idea. Let's try a smaller inn first. "

As they walked through a small street, Lin Qing'an pointed at a simple but clean inn's sign. It had the words " Haitang Inn " written on it.

" Father, look at this inn. It looks small but it's clean and tidy. I think we should go in and talk to them ."

Lin Changyu followed his daughter's finger and nodded, " Mm, good. It won't hurt to try ."

The father and son pushed the cart to the door of the inn. A young man in ordinary Xiao Er clothing walked out to greet them with a smile.

" Hello, you two. What business do you have at my inn ?" he asked politely.