Also because of the slow speed, the streets became particularly lively.

Attracting people who didn’t know the reason, they stopped to watch and inquired about the reason.

At this time, there were many eating in Su Ji. When they heard the excitement outside, they talked about it. When they learned the reason, everyone was filled with indignation and cursed Zhang Huaihua.

The sound of cursing was mixed with the sound of eating, and the atmosphere became a bit strange for a restaurant.

Especially Meng Dahai and Shen Cang glanced at each other, their expressions suddenly became a little ugly.

“Brother, let’s…”

Meng Dahai asked hesitantly.

“What the hell, let’s have a good meal!” Shen Cang replied angrily, secretly squishing the small bugs he had prepared in his sleeves and throwing them at his feet.

He felt displeased and stamped his feet hard again.

There was even more muttering in his mouth.

He had been staring at Su Ji’s shop for a long time. Last time when he came to try to extort money, a child choked on his food. This time he thought of throwing a small bug in. The result was, that he saw the bastard caught tempering with food here was being paraded on the street outside.

At this moment, everyone felt that Su Ji was unlucky, and they were full of sympathy. If he said that he found a bug, others would not speak up for him. If Su Ji reported to the officials, the constables outside were readily available.

Shen Cang was a “familiar face” in front of the Yamen, so he was afraid there would be no good fruit to eat by then.

He had no choice but to give up!

He was overtaken by others twice in a row…

What a damn unlucky person!

Shen Cang was so angry that he drank the yángzá tāng. When he finished drinking it, he took the bowl and went to add more soup.

In Su Ji’s shop, the yángzá tāng had a fixed amount of offal, but the soup could be replenished limitlessly without the need for additional payment.

Since he didn’t have to pay for it, drink a few more bowls!

Meng Dahai couldn’t help but touch his nose when he saw Shen Cang’s angry look.

Why did it feel like they were here to have some fun?

However, now is not the time for jokes. If they didn’t figure out a way to make some money soon, it was uncertain whether they could afford this meal. This situation with their livelihood was becoming precarious.

——

In the ninth month of the lunar year, the chrysanthemums were in full bloom.

The chill was obvious in the morning and evening, and some trees with wide leaves had begun to turn yellow and fall.

On days when the northwest wind blew, the fields became more and more desolate.

In the afternoon, thick clouds spread, completely blocking the sun in the sky, and in the blink of an eye, it began to rain heavily.

The raindrops were not big, but like cow hair, and they were fluttering freely. It was like a huge rain curtain had been propped up between the sky and the earth. As far as the eye could see, everything was filled with dense water vapor.

The weather was cold, and with the ongoing rain, the streets became increasingly deserted. At Su Ji’s place, the food had sold reasonably well by midday, so they decided to close the doors a bit earlier. Whatever remained unsold was set aside to serve as dinner for everyone and breakfast for the next morning.

After Shuangye and others tidied up, they got together under the eaves to do needlework.

The weather was getting colder, so Su Yujin asked Ai Cao to make some late autumn and early winter clothes for them. The outer clothes could be made in a tailor shop, but the inner clothes could not be made by others.

Especially at this age, menstrual belts were also indispensable. Taking advantage of the free time, the girls all tried to do it by themselves.

Especially when there were no outsiders or men around, they felt much more relaxed. They even discussed whose menstrual belt was made smooth and whose bellyband had what kind of flowers embroidered on it. The backyard of the restaurant was buzzing with laughter and joy, and the yard in Shuanggui Lane was also quite lively.

On this rare rainy day, Su Yujin felt it shouldn’t be wasted. She had Mama Liu and Ai Cao set up a small charcoal stove and simmer chicken bone soup. Now, they were enjoying hotpot with lamb in a copper pot.

The freshly sliced lamb, thin and tender enough, was placed into boiling bone broth. Once it changed color, it was scooped out. No need for even sesame sauce; you could directly swallow it, and your mouth would be filled with the fragrant and succulent taste.

If you dip it with some sesame sauce for dipping, it will not only be fragrant but also have the mellowness of the sauce, the taste will be thicker, but it will be equally delicious.

In addition to hand-cut mutton, they also boiled some bean skins, lotus root slices, potato slices, baby spinach, marinated tofu…

Su Yujin enjoyed the meal very much.

The water vapor in the courtyard was hazy, and the water under the eaves was dripping. Here she was eating hot and delicious hot pot mutton!

Beautiful, wonderful!

But something is missing.

After contemplating for a while, Su Yujin noticed that there was a lack of the usual sounds associated with a bustling meal.

Such as the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, or perhaps the singing of a melodious song.

If these were available, it would definitely add more fun to the delicious food in front of her.

Su Yujin could suddenly understand why the ancient literati liked to arrange singing, dancing, or playing music while eating and drinking, and why many wealthy families even had to raise singing and dancing girls.

It was like looking for a show to watch before eating in modern times, how comfortable it was!

Perhaps, when Second Master brought her back initially, aside from any specific reasons, there might have been a bit of this reason as well?

But speaking of this Second Master, he had not been seen for half a year since he came once in spring, and she didn’t know if he would come again shortly.

If he didn’t come, her plan to ask for the deed of sale would be delayed, and she would not be able to achieve freedom.

But then again, if the Second Master completely forgets about this place and never comes back…

It seemed that she could live freely here without being disturbed by her status as an outsider!

Su Yujin was distracted when she suddenly heard a sound outside the door.

A moment later, she saw an oil paper umbrella floating into the courtyard.

Looking more closely, under the oiled paper umbrella was Xing’an holding it up, and with hands behind his back, there was He Yanxiu in a moon-white robe!

“Second, Second Master?”

Just as she had been mentioning He Yanxiu, he arrived. Did she unwittingly summon him with her words, or could He Yanxiu discern her thoughts?

But regardless of the reason for his arrival, since He Yanxiu came, every meeting brings a bit of familiarity. The more times he comes, the more goodwill is established. Whether it’s to retrieve her own indenture or to secure the indentures of Ai Cao and Mama Liu, it would be beneficial.

Su Yujin was startled and stood up hurriedly.

Because of some panic, she almost overturned the small table in front of me, but fortunately, Ai Cao quickly helped me with a hand, “Miss, be careful, don’t get too excited when you see the Second Master.”

Su Yujin, “…”

Not excited, but shocked.

“Second Master is here.” Su Yujin greeted her contract with a smile, oh no, it’s He Yanxiu, “It’s windy and rainy outside. Second Master, please come inside and have a cup of hot tea.”

Su Yujin welcomed He Yanxiu into the house and ordered Ai Cao and Mother Liu to pack up the charcoal stove and copper pot in the corridor and make tea for He Yanxiu.

The tea was chrysanthemum tea, which Su Yujin had leisurely sun-dried and prepared over the past few days. During the brewing process, it went through two rounds of water, and she added two wolfberries. When drinking it, there was no need to add rock sugar, as the fragrance of chrysanthemum tea and the sweet taste of wolfberries could be enjoyed.

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