novelraw Chapter 195: Helping Buy a Sewing Machine
Chapter 195: Helping Buy a Sewing Machine
The two instantly turned their gaze to Su Xiaoxiao.
Zhang Yulan was filled with excitement: "Xiaoxiao, how are you so amazing? You have connections everywhere."
Not only does she have relatives who can get stainless steel cups and flashlights, but she can even get hold of something as rare as an electric sewing machine.
She held Su Xiaoxiao’s hand and said, "Tell me the truth, you aren’t the daughter of some big leader experiencing life incognito at our department store, are you?"
Su Xiaoxiao’s mouth twitched. She’s definitely not the daughter of a big leader; she’s just good at creating friends out of thin air. Otherwise, she’d have no way to explain the origin of those things.
Qin Shuang looked at her eagerly: "Xiaoxiao, how much is this electric sewing machine per unit? I want one too."
Su Xiaoxiao said, "My friend told me it’s about 200 yuan, and you don’t need a coupon."
Upon hearing it was just 200 yuan, Qin Shuang’s eyes lit up: "It’s actually so cheap? Can you ask for me? I want one too."
Just in time for her mom’s upcoming birthday, she could then present this electric sewing machine as a birthday gift.
Zhang Yulan’s family conditions weren’t as good as Qin Shuang’s, so she hesitated a bit.
But she only hesitated for a brief moment; you don’t need industrial coupons, and it’s not much more expensive than a regular sewing machine.
She had saved enough money just in time.
Immediately, she gritted her teeth and said, "Xiaoxiao, I want one too. Can you ask for me as well?"
"Sure, no problem, we’re all friends here, don’t be courteous with me."
Su Xiaoxiao agreed instantly, saying, "I’ll call tonight and ask, and I’ll reply to you tomorrow."
The three talked for a while more and then went their separate ways, each heading home.
Su Xiaoxiao only remembered when she got home that the bidding day for the canteen seemed to be set for tomorrow.
In the past couple of days, she had already noted down some simple and cost-effective dishes, and handed them over along with recipes to Liu Cuilan and Xu Zhaodi, encouraging them to study them together at their leisure.
During this time, the pair had basically learned all the dishes almost completely.
Their cooking skills were decent from the start, and Su Xiaoxiao felt that their cooking was no worse than that of government-run restaurants.
Because they had been practicing the dishes at home of late, the family enjoyed different stir-fried dishes every day, and the meals were particularly sumptuous, driving her two younger brothers crazy with joy.
In just a few days, the pair visibly gained a bit of weight.
Su Xiaoxiao pushed her bicycle in, and as soon as she parked it, she saw her two younger brothers eagerly waiting at the kitchen door, with an enticing aroma wafting through the air.
Su Xiaoxiao took a deep breath; the smell was unmistakably the scent of fish-flavored shredded pork.
Hey, the aroma is quite authentic.
Sure enough, Liu Cuilan soon came out of the kitchen with a plate of fish-flavored shredded pork, and upon seeing Su Xiaoxiao, she smiled and waved her over.
"Perfect timing, come quickly and taste how my dish turned out."
In the past two days, to perfect recipes, she had spared no expense using up all the meats they had been hesitant to eat at home.
Xu Zhaodi also came over with a plate, and Su Xiaoxiao peeked—a plate of vegetarian food, cabbage vermicelli stewed tofu.
Though they were all vegetarian dishes, the use of pork fat for frying made them smell particularly delicious.
As the two dishes were placed on the table, Su Xiaoxiao picked up her chopsticks to taste them, meeting two pairs of yearning eyes.
The little brothers were drooling, their eyes locked on her.
They looked like they hadn’t eaten in a lifetime.
Su Jianwu asked, "Third sister, is it tasty?"
Su Jianwen added, "It smells so fragrant, it must be delicious."
After speaking, both gulped down their saliva, their stomachs grumbling uncontrollably.
Su Xiaoxiao picked up a piece of fish-flavored shredded pork and put it in her mouth, their gaze following her chopsticks from the plate to her lips.
Su Xiaoxiao: "..."
This has happened so many times already; why are they still so unpromising?
Lately, every time she tested a dish, her little brothers always appeared as if they hadn’t eaten for days.
She was almost immune to their pitiful gazes.
After tasting a bite, her eyes immediately brightened: "Mom, you’ve made this dish so authentically."
Liu Cuilan, a bit embarrassed by the praise, snorted awkwardly: "How can it not taste good? With meat and sugar added, it’s hard not to be delicious."
After speaking, she sighed, "If we don’t manage to bid for the canteen, won’t all these efforts and ingredients be wasted?"
Su Xiaoxiao knew her mother was feeling guilty again.
During this time, to practice the menu dishes, they practically ate meat every day at home, living rather extravagantly.
Su Xiaoxiao laughed: "Mom, you can’t think like that. Even if we don’t get the bid, it’s still something we’ve enjoyed ourselves, right? How is that wasting? And I’m confident we’ll win the canteen contract."
She spoke while picking up a piece of tender tofu to sample, giving Xu Zhaodi a thumbs-up: "Sister Zhaodi, this cabbage vermicelli stewed tofu is also made quite authentically."
Xu Zhaodi blushed at the compliment: "It’s all thanks to your great recipe; I followed it precisely."
Su Xiaoxiao thought that even with the same recipe, some people could make it delicious while others couldn’t.
Liu Cuilan and Xu Zhaodi were clearly talented in cooking.
If it weren’t for this, she wouldn’t have suggested they take on the canteen contract.
The little brothers, hearing it was delicious, were already impatient.
Two pairs of eyes eagerly looked at Liu Cuilan: "Mom, our stomachs are really hungry, can we start the meal now?"
The enticing aroma had already made their stomachs start playing the "Empty City Stratagem."
They were just waiting for their third sister to finish tasting to start digging in.
Liu Cuilan glanced at her two sons, shaking her head in disbelief at their lack of self-control, and waved them over: "Alright, you can start eating."
Immediately, they picked up their chopsticks, ready to dig in.
Su Xiaoxiao, quick on her feet, smacked each on the hand: "Go go go, wash your hands first. Only then you can eat."
They grudgingly put down their chopsticks and raced off for a quick hand wash.
That night, the family enjoyed a delightful dinner and went to bed early to prepare for sleep.
After climbing into bed, Su Xiaoxiao found it hard to fall asleep.
Though she was confident about the canteen bidding the next day, she still felt a bit nervous.
Thinking about the two sewing machines reserved today, she hurriedly opened the game interface to find the merchant from whom she previously bought sewing machines.
Since she had bought so many sewing machines last time, the merchant had long considered her a regular customer.
When she mentioned wanting more machines, without hesitation, they offered her a 12% discount, saving Su Xiaoxiao quite a bit of money.
Feeling pleased, Su Xiaoxiao closed the interface and was just about to sleep when she suddenly heard a faint sound, seeming to come from the yard.