Villagers liked to cultivate vegetables that had a long shelf life like potatoes, beets, onions, and carrots, peppers and cabbages which lasted less fresh but still could be used even after a week of being harvested. However, they also used other resources to keep their vegetables for longer, and that was by pickling them.
Each house in villages had two or three pots full of pickled vegetables. Most used the typical brining or salting method, and the one that included vinegar.
Townspeople, due to their accessibility to more ingredients used more methods, or ingredients. Some added sugar to the vinegar to decrease the sour taste in their pickling. And there were others who even added spices when pickling.
As one of the only people she knew from Basin Town, Isabelle avidly heard David describe all the methods he used to pickle and even wrote down the ingredients and steps. By the side, Felix could only carefully listen to what the man said and ask for more details whenever a step was unclear or confusing to him.
The couple, though, agreed on one thing: they lacked lots of ingredients to start pickling their own stuff, because of course they wanted to try all the methods. Even if that left them with almost no money in their pockets.
Their needed big quantities of salt and vinegar to pickle vegetables. Then, more sugar and even honey to preserve their fruits, like the oranges. Though, the most important thing they lacked was the containers to do all that. The small vats back in the house were already used to preserve meat, so they needed more for the vegetables and fruits.
That was another thing they asked David: where to get the containers.
"I really wanna try makin' these honeyed lemon slice!" Felix enthusiastically piped up as he read Isabelle's notes. He was so engrossed on his reading that he almost bumped with someone; luckily, Lucas pulled him aside on time. The teen, though, still ignored his surroundings and had to be manhandled by his older brother to head to the shop David recommended.
Isabelle nodded as she carefully looked around in search of the shop. "It's been raining more and more lately. And with the day being hot and the nights chilly, colds are very common." Just the other day, Joseph had been sneezing a lot. Felix quickly made some chicken broth for everybody and the sneezes stopped, but she wanted to take extra precautions.
"We can also make jams! And this curd thing, syrup and even cider! All with just fruits…" Felix sighed, still marveling at the knowledge he had missed for so long. He kind of regretted but the feeling vanished and was replaced with excitement. All the things he could do! Everything could be pickled!
Isabelle and Lucas shared a look and smiled at each other, both relishing in Felix's contagious enthusiasm
They had good reasons to be excited. First, the selling of lemons and oranges went as good as expected and both Lucas and Joseph earned quite some money. Then, both brothers were lucky and the plum trees they found the mountains took root in the patch. When it happened, Joseph animatedly shared the news with the other brothers and Isabelle.
The piece of news was well-received by Isabelle who kissed them both for the pleasant surprise.
More than ever, they had to search for ways to preserve their own harvest!
And that was how the trip to town was organized.
Finally, the three found the shop and entered. Inside there were vats, jars and even glass containers of all sizes and shapes. It was the same shop where Corey bought the containers to sell her aromatic oils. Thirty containers for 50 coins. That was what the attendant who received them said when Isabelle asked for the offer.
Five big ones, ten were medium-sized, and the rest were small ones. The big ones were as big as pots while the small ones were like cups. All of them came with their respective lids. It was not a bad offer considering the variety and the material of the containers; it was quite the bargain, as most people still used clay or ceramic containers.
The big question was: did they need all those containers? Because the store, apparently, only gave that discount if customers bought them in that quantity; otherwise, they had to pay for the individual price: 2 coins for the small containers, 4 coins for the medium-sized ones, and 8 coins for the big ones.
Isabelle was of the thought that they would one day need all those containers. Lucas and Felix were more hesitant; their humble and poor heart could not accept spending such a big amount of money for containers they 'might' use in the future.
"Buy one of each..." Lucas quietly proposed after the silence stretched for so long. Even the attendant that had greeted them when they entered had left them to attend other people.
"Uh, yeah… maybe one of each to begin with." Felix agreed with his brother's words. Although he was eager to try all the new ways to preserve food, he was more considerate on their economic situation. Isabelle was still hesitant, yet the brother's expressions hinted that she would not be able to convince them to buy the thirty containers.
And on second thought, they also had to buy the ingredients to start their own pickling.
Isabelle had the money, but after a short discussion, she was only allowed to carry 10 coins from her own money. Then, Joseph gave her 12 coins and 5 dimes from what Lucas and him earned after selling lemons and oranges. And, there was also the money from the handbags, which she went to collect right after arriving at Basin Town.
The handbags had sold surprisingly well, none of them remained in the counters. Mrs. Priddy had actually asked Isabelle to make more the moment she appeared in the store. It greatly relieved Isabelle that she could find a way to earn her monthly salary, plus having clarified some vague information from her contract.
The total amount of money she earned from the handbags was of 24 coins and 5 dimes after Mrs. Priddy took the 30% for the shop. The purses were sold at the shop's price, 1 coin, and taking out the 30% then she was left with 7 dimes for each sold, which were only three, so 2 coins and 1 dime were added.
All those numbers meant that she surpassed her monthly salary, that yes, came from the wares sold. Isabelle had to keep earning money for the shop so Mrs. Priddy would pay her the 10 coins. She was still unsure how much she had to sell in a month so she could be given the 10 coins salary, but in the face of how much she earned from selling the wares, then those coins were a side thought.
Either way, she had more than 50 coins in her possession at that moment as Lucas had also earned 8 coins from the game he sold to Monthe.
All in all, they had the money to buy the thirty containers. However, their plan was to buy honey, more sugar, more salt, vinegar, and seeds or saplings to start the patch once again.
14 coins would be spent in the shop if they bought one of each container. Isabelle pursed her lips and came to a decision.
She waved at one of the attendants that seemed to be keeping an eye on them. "I want to buy six of these glass containers; one big, one medium-sized and four small ones, please." She quickly told the attendant, so she would not regret her decision.
"Would you like to choose the style?" The attendant asked.
"You choose." Isabelle told Lucas and Felix, who seemed to be more decisive in some matters. Felix was the one who was going to use them more often, so it made more sense for him to choose. Meanwhile, Lucas simply acted as the decisive factor as Felix hesitated between one or the other
"I'll wrap them up for you. Give me a moment." The attendant picked the chosen containers and took them to the counter.
As the attendant wrapped the containers, the three moved to the counter. As Isabelle placed the money to pay for their purchases on the counter, a voice suddenly sounded in the shop. Rather loudly at that.
"It's the lemon loser!" By the way the voice cracked, it was obviously a teen. A teen Lucas immediately recognized.
"Taigho, don't point." A woman off-handedly admonished as she barely glanced at the people her son pointed at.
Isabelle bristled at the rude comment from the teen and the dismissive attitude from the woman. As she was about to saw a few words to the pair, Lucas placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her, shaking his head to hint that the teen should be ignored.
"Heh! Without the other loser, you're a coward." Isabelle startled, as the teen jeered right behind them. From the corner of her eye, she could see that the teen looked like the typical bully who thought himself superior for having good clothes and parents with money. The people that was best to ignore as Lucas suggested.
"That'll be 20 coins." The attendant was also a professional at ignoring spoiled kids and quickly wrapped the containers.
"Can you afford that, lemon loser?" The teen once again spoke up. And, realizing the trio was ignoring him, he turned to the attendant. "Don't be deceived. This guy is poor." Sneering, he pointed at Lucas. He had not forgotten what happened that day, the embarrassment he went through and the faces of the two guys responsible for it.
He was not able to see them again, which angered him. However, he was finally given the chance to let off some of his frustration. And he was not going to stop, even if ignored.
Isabelle felt her stomach churn in rage, but still kept still until the teen's hand reached for the money on the counter. Only then she had enough and slapped the hand away. "Are you trying to steal my money?" She turned and questioned the teen.
"That hurt, you ugly fatso!" The teen glared at Isabelle, rubbing his slapped hand. Fighting with women was not something he tended to do, but when they were ugly he had no qualms. However, before he could even continue on his tirade, a huge hand came down and slapped the teen's head, even making his head bow down. "AH!" The teen painfully cried out.
The sound and the teen's cry made the whole store fall silent before Isabelle and Felix let out ugly snorts. Isabelle covered her mouth, thinking it was not appropriate to laugh. Felix had no qualms in letting his laughter spill as that was how he usually reacted whenever Lucas hit Joseph.
"You beast! What have you done to my son?!" The woman who had let her son do whatever he wanted yelled, stomping towards the counter's direction.
"Nothing your son does not deserve." With Lucas having done his job to defend her, Isabelle thought it was her time to defend his actions. Straightening up as much as she could, she stepped in front of the older woman. "He comes insulting us, complete strangers, for no reason and even tried to steal my money. What kind of kid have you raised?" She accused the lady.
The woman reared back taken aback but stood her position. She even paused to give Isabelle a once over. The younger woman knew that look. A comment about her body would definitely come out from the older woman's mouth and Isabelle would have none of it.
"Be careful your eyes do not fall, dear. Before you look at a person's external appearance, you should look into your filthy heart. Having a venomous tongue is contagious, so I wonder from where your son got it from." Isabelle remarked, glancing at the teen.
The words left both mother and son stumped. Their status in Two Stone village was quite high, so not many people dared to oppose or defy them. Now, not only was the son hit, twice, the mother was also put in her place. Taking advantage of the two's frozen figures, Lucas picked the containers that were put in a box, slid the 20 coins to the attendant and gestured at Felix and Isabelle to exit the store.
The trio walked away from the shop as fast as possible without looking as if they were running away. It was tiring to face the type of people who were unreasonable and were unable to talk like civilized human beings. So, the best option was to walk away from them.
Next thing they did was buy the groceries at Corey's stall. When they went to David's stall to ask about how to preserve their own vegetable and fruits, Corey arrived and immediately offered herself to get them the vinegar and honey; the things she did not sell at her stall. And, although Corey said she would resell the stuff at market price, meaning, she would not earn anything, Isabelle was planning to give her 2 coins for the errand.
"Here. I will have more vinegar and honey ready for you next week you come to buy the groceries." Corey said while taking out a big ceramic jar of vinegar and the smaller one of honey.
Isabelle owlishly blinked. She was outsmarted once again. It seemed Corey was aware of Isabelle's character and knew beforehand that the younger woman would pay extra for the errand. In the end, she was not losing that much. Isabelle could only accept that Corey had the upper hand when it came to buying and selling groceries.
"Thank you. This means a lot." The younger woman could only smile at Corey, who smiled back and patted the other's shoulder.
"We have to help each other." Corey rejoined, soothing Isabelle's bitterness.
It warmed her to know that despite the problematic people that crawled out of the woodwork, there were still those Isabelle could count with for the most important matters. After bidding Corey farewell, the trio headed towards Dodds & Doddette, hoping to find Jean there to talk about the tablecloths.