Chapter 4 — After Taking Mother Away, We Changed Our Lives

Mom still hesitated.

“But I don't have money and I don't have a store, how can I sell it?”

“We can make some first and sell them at the night market.”

"There's no need for a store. A small cart is enough."

"And the capital... haven't I saved more than 5,000 yuan? Taking part of it as capital is enough."

The more I spoke, the more excited I became, as if I saw the future right before my eyes. Finally, under my persistent insistence, mother was convinced. She was both uneasy and looking forward to it.

“So… let's try it?”

Say it and do it. The next day, I immediately went to the second-hand market to buy a used stroller. Then go to the wholesale market and buy a few dozen identical glass jars. And mom is in charge of the most important part... Cooking chili sauce. She was so serious that she almost poured her heart and soul into it. From choosing the plumpest chili... To grinding the spices... Then controlling the fire to stew slowly little by little. She does each step by hand, with utmost care. All afternoon, our tiny rented room was filled with the strong scent of soy sauce. For the first batch, we only made 20 jars. Looking at the filled jars, labeled with my handwriting on the outside:

“Mother's That Ly Huong Chili Sauce”

Mother and daughter were both nervous and excited. In the evening, I pushed that small cart, took my mother with me, and entered the night market for the first time as a "seller". We found a small corner and laid out each jar of soy sauce. I followed the small businesses next to me and loudly proclaimed:

“Selling chili sauce!”

"Exclusive recipe! Mom's That Ly Huong chili sauce!"

“Not good, no money!”

The night market is bustling with people. But most just glanced once and moved on. An hour passed... Couldn't sell a single bottle. I started to get discouraged. Mom was also stressed and constantly rubbing her hands. Just when I was about to give up, a young girl stopped in front of our stall. She picked up a bottle of soy sauce and asked curiously:

“Can I taste it?”

"Okay!"

I immediately regained my composure, quickly opened the jar to try it, used a clean bamboo stick to take some and gave it to her. As soon as the girl tasted a piece, her eyes lit up.

“Wow, this taste is really good!”

“Sister, get me a bottle!”

It was our first order! I was so excited that I almost jumped up and hurriedly packed her. When I held the first 20 yuan bill in my hand, my hands were shaking. After the girl left, it was like someone flipped a switch. Gradually, more people started coming to ask and to taste. The sample meals we prepared quickly ran out. And 20 bottles of chili sauce... Arrived before the night market was sold out, but not a single bottle was sold out. While packing, I counted the 400 yuan in my hand and thought I was dreaming. Minus the capital, in just one night we made a profit of more than 200 yuan. I earn more than I do in a day as a waitress. I turned to look at my mother. Her eyes sparkled with light under the darkness, both happy and incredulous. I squeezed her hand.

“We succeeded.”

On the way home, I pushed the empty shopping cart, my steps felt lighter than ever. This is just the beginning. A completely new beginning... Belongs to us and our mother alone. Success at the night market is like a small spark... But it ignites a burning ambition in our hearts. But very quickly, reality poured cold water on the mother and daughter. Our output is too low. The rented room has not arrived yet Those ten square meters are both a sleeping area and a "production workshop". Every afternoon, when my mother started cooking soy sauce, the whole room was covered with a suffocating, spicy smell. The mother and daughter were kissed to the point of tears. We had to open the door wide. But that made the neighbors start to feel uncomfortable. The entire hallway smelled of chili sauce, to the point that other people didn't even dare to dry their clothes outside. The fat homeowner came to see us several times while holding a cigarette, his face becoming increasingly unsightly.

“I said, what are those two doing?”

“If this continues, please leave immediately!”

We can't continue here anymore. If we want the chili sauce business to continue to grow, we must have our own place. A place that can truly be called a “kitchen” or “workshop”. I told my thoughts to my mother.

“Mom, we have to rent space.”

Mom is sitting and counting the profits she has earned in the past few days. She smoothed out the loose bills over and over again. Hearing me say that, her hands immediately trembled.

“Rent space?”

“Nguyet Nguyet, how much does it cost…”

“It was very difficult for me to save this little bit…”

I understand your concern. 5,000 yuan in savings… Plus more than 2,000 yuan earned recently… That was our entire support. It's what helps mother and daughter stand firm in a foreign land. Betting that amount of money is like gambling. The sky is high and the sea is wide. There is no way to live.

“Mom, you believe me.”

I squatted in front of her, holding her calloused hands.

“We can't sell street food at the night market all our lives.”

"In the wind and rain on the streets, being chased away by urban management every day is not a long-term plan."

“Think about it, Mom, if we had a small store…”

“Even if it's just a very small area.”

“I can make soy sauce during the day, sell it at night, and even sell it during the day.”

"Customers will feel more secure when they see our place is clean."

“‘Mother's That Ly Huong Chili Sauce' cannot remain just a small stall.”

“It could go even further.”