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“Have you calculated the costs? What’s your pricing strategy?”
Xia Wenyue pulled out a notebook. “I did some rough calculations. Excluding the cost of broth, gas for the cart, and other expenses, the cost of a single vegetable skewer is about five cents, and for meat skewers, about twelve cents. So I plan to sell vegetable skewers for ten cents each and meat skewers for twenty cents each.”
“If we can sell 500 skewers a day, we’ll make at least 20 yuan, which adds up to about 600 yuan a month. After deducting the costs of broth and gas, we should clear four to five hundred yuan.” That’s certainly much better than what she could possibly earn by getting a job. Once the income stabilized, Xia Wenyue was confident she could make a living for her family in this city.
Xia Mian smiled without saying much. Five hundred skewers? Xia Wenyue was definitely underestimating the appeal of skewered hotpot. In her previous life, the small stall that sold this dish outside her school ended up selling so well that within two years, the owner was able to buy an apartment unit. They were selling at least 2,000 skewers a day, and that was just at a junior high school. Furthermore, ingredient costs could be reduced even further over time.
But Xia Mian remained silent. The stall was ready to open, and she was confident that Xia Wenyue would learn how to run it properly once she gained some experience.
“Has the cart been ordered?”
Xia Wenyue smiled, “I did it today. They said it would be ready in four or five days.”
“I have to say, living in a big city sure is great. You can find whatever you need.”
“Now we just need a signboard,” Xia Mian said. “Second Aunt, have you thought of a name?”
Xia Wenyue asked back, “Do you all have any ideas? Let’s brainstorm together.”
“Isn’t it usually something like ‘Xia Family’s Skewered Hotpot’ or ‘Old Xia’s Skewered Hotpot’? Do we really need to think about it?” Mao Huilan pondered.
Xia Mian glanced at Xiao Feng. The boy had completely transformed—he was no longer skinny and dirty, and his eyes now sparkled with joy instead of quivering with fear. This gave her an idea: “How about calling it ‘Xinsheng (New Life)’?”
For her, it symbolized a rebirth;
For Xiao Feng, it meant a second chance at life;
For Xia Wenyue and her family, it represented a new way of living.
In short, this stall would be the start of a new life for their entire family!
Xia Wenyue, a person with intense emotions, quickly grasped Xia Mian’s intention and clapped her hands. “Great! Let’s call it ‘Xinsheng Skewered Hotpot’!”
Mao Huizhu enthusiastically clapped her hands in support, “Our Xinsheng Skewered Hotpot!”
Mao Huimei and Mao Huilan smiled as they looked at their youngest sister.
Ning Shaoyun suddenly felt inspired and said, “Xinsheng, a new life—how wonderful! Let me paint the signboard!”
“Wow!” Xia Mian immediately applauded and said to Xia Wenyue, “Sister Ning is going to be a famous artist in the future. If she paints our signboard, it could be worth a fortune one day!”
“Then I’m really getting a great deal!” Xia Wenyue laughed, and Mao Huizhu, as her mother’s ultimate supporter, started clapping again.
Chenchen was equally excited, “Mom, are you going to paint?”
Ning Shaoyun felt a warm rush of emotion flow through her, filling her with joy. “Yes, let’s paint!”
Xia Mian thought that this “New Life” should include Ning Shaoyun’s as well.
After announcing her intention to paint, Ning Shaoyun’s spirits were instantly lifted. She eagerly made some phone calls and placed an order for supplies, and Xia Mian overheard the names of many brushes and paints being mentioned.
Meanwhile, Aunt Wei and Xia Wenyue began tidying up.
Ning Shaoyun, full of excitement, went to the main building of the house, retrieved a key, and ceremoniously opened the door to a room on the eastern side of the main building. She smiled and spread her arms wide. “Welcome to my studio!”
As the long-closed room was opened, a surge of joy seemed to burst forth from Ning Shaoyun, breaking free from its confines. The room was about forty square meters, with a large table in the center and various paints and brushes of different sizes neatly arranged along the wall. Dust covers hung on the walls, and one by one, Ning Shaoyun removed them, revealing a world of gentle yet vibrant colors.
“Wow!” Everyone gasped in admiration.
Xiao Feng’s eyes suddenly sparkled with a peculiar light, and Chenchen proudly announced to them, “My mom painted all of these!”
“Thank you, Xia Mian,” Ning Shaoyun said softly, her voice tinged with emotion. “Ever since that painting was taken away by the Huo family, I haven’t been able to pick up a brush.”
Xia Mian suddenly understood. No wonder she had never seen Ning Shaoyun paint before. Normally, it was unimaginable for an artist to go weeks without creating anything.
“Every time I tried to paint, I couldn’t help but think—even if I did, who would appreciate it? Who would understand? Pouring my heart into a painting only to have it trampled on—what’s the point?” Ning Shaoyun had never shared these thoughts with anyone because she knew no one would understand. But somehow, she knew Xia Mian would. “I even wondered if painting was just a way to pass the time for me. Is it my lack of dedication that allows others to dismiss and belittle my works??”
“Sister Ning…” artists tended to have sensitive souls, and Xia Mian, unable to fully empathize, didn’t know how to comfort Ning Shaoyun. Instead, she quietly linked their arms, offering a silent comfort.
“But today, I found my answer,” Ning Shaoyun suddenly smiled—passion filling her bright eyes. “Right now, I’m so eager to pick up a brush, truly. Painting is such a wonderful thing. Its beauty lies in the beginning, in the process, and in the legacy it leaves behind.”
“Maybe when I’m old, I’ll often reminisce my feelings today, recalling the joy of starting anew together… And after I’m gone, when someone sees my paintings, they’ll know that I once encountered a group of people full of vibrant life and that I lived such a lively and fulfilling life.”
Artists truly are romantics—Xia Mian thought with a smile. “Looks like Sister Ning is about to create a new masterpiece.”
Ning Shaoyun laughed heartily. She retrieved an easel and a stack of paper from a nearby cabinet.
Xia Mian was surprised. “Sister Ning, do you also paint with watercolors?”
“Just occasionally,” Ning Shaoyun replied with a smile. “When I don’t have any ideas for traditional Chinese painting, I often switch to watercolors. I think this medium is perfect for painting the signboard.” She immediately got excited, set up the easel and paper, and pulled out a box of watercolors from the cabinet, ready to start painting.
Seeing this, Chenchen ran over and hugged Ning Shaoyun’s arm. “Mom, paint me and Xiao Feng!”
Ning Shaoyun chuckled, explaining to Xia Mian, “I’ve painted Chenchen many times. Once I bring those paintings back, you’ll all get to see them.”
Xiao Feng, already intrigued, ran over and stared intently at Ning Shaoyun’s brush, as if trying to figure out how those vibrant, warm images came to life from her hand.
When Ning Shaoyun noticed the look in Xiao Feng’s eyes, she was reminded of the first time she saw her teacher effortlessly sketch a lively pear blossom grove. She recalled the awe and longing she felt back then. Her teacher had said it was because of that look in her eyes that he decided to take her on as a disciple.
“Xiao Feng, would you like to try?” Ning Shaoyun offered him the brush.
Xiao Feng looked up at Xia Mian, his eyes bright with excitement.
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I’m filled with heartwarming emotions 🥹🥹
Oh right, I almost forgot OG Xiao Feng was a painting goblin