coobybook Chapter 201 Wucheng “Rhymes with Jiangnan”
Chapter 201 Wucheng “Rhymes with Jiangnan”
Lin Qingchuan felt extremely uncomfortable during the meal, and Lin Xiaotang wasn't much better off.
Because she noticed that Xue Zhiyuan and Madam Xue were both looking at her intentionally or unintentionally, as if she were a commodity waiting to be sold.
She didn't know what the couple was thinking, but she had a gut feeling that they must have some ideas in their minds.
So, right after finishing her meal, she immediately pulled someone aside to say goodbye to the Xue couple.
The Xue couple repeatedly tried to persuade them to stay for tea, but Lin Xiaotang refused each time. She grabbed her father and ran quickly, got into the carriage, and drove away.
Madam Xue said with a regretful look, "What a lovely little girl! Her eyes are so bright and she looks so smart. The more I look at her, the more I like her. If only I had a daughter like her!"
Xue Zhiyuan nodded in agreement, "My thoughts are the same as yours, Madam... Oh, Madam, how about we have another one?"
Madam Xue's face flushed red instantly. She punched her husband lightly and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about? Our two children are already so big. What will people say if we have another one?"
I like Xiaotang because I think she's pretty and smart. Although she comes from a poor background, she's hardworking and capable, and her life will get better sooner or later. Both of our sons like her very much, and it would be wonderful if one of them could marry her when he grows up.
Xue Zhiyuan was somewhat surprised. He was a businessman, and his wife was from a prestigious family. He had always thought that his wife would want their two sons to marry well-educated and sensible young ladies. He never expected that his wife would also take a liking to Xiao Tang, that clever little girl.
He joked, "Madam, Xiaotang is smart and well-behaved, and has a good business sense, even better than her parents. When she grows up, I wonder which lucky man will be able to marry her. But she is from the countryside after all. If our rascal wants to marry her, wouldn't you mind, Madam?"
Madam Xue hurriedly said, "So what if they come from the countryside? Didn't they say they're moving to the county? They'll be county residents in the future. Besides, you're a merchant. Our family has more shops now and is quite wealthy. When I married you, you were far worse off than you are now, but I didn't look down on you."
Xue Zhiyuan hugged his wife and laughed, “My wife is the most understanding. She doesn’t care about background but only about character. Fortunately, she didn’t look down on me back then, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to marry such a virtuous and beautiful wife, nor would I have been able to give birth to those two rascals.”
The couple returned home hand in hand, completely ignoring their two sons who were still standing nearby, looking at them with disdain.
Xue Hanxing couldn't help but shake his head. He and his younger brother seemed a bit superfluous; their parents were enough.
……
Two days later, Lin Xiaotang and her father drove a horse-drawn carriage with braised pig's trotters to her brother-in-law's restaurant in Wucheng with Xue Zhiyuan.
Because she still had to go to the clan school, the Xue brothers couldn't come along, and Lin Xiaotang felt completely relaxed.
Xue Zhiyuan and his servant rode in one carriage, while Lin Xiaotang and her father rode in another. The two carriages traveled very fast and arrived in Wucheng in half a day.
Since it started from Pingding County and went around Jiaxian County, the journey was relatively fast, and Lin Xiaotang felt that the time spent on the road was not too long.
She thought to herself that if she set off from Dushui County directly to Wucheng without taking any detours, and set off before dawn, she should be able to arrive before the restaurant opened for business.
"Xiao Tang, we've arrived at the restaurant. Quickly get off the carriage with your father, and we'll go with your Uncle Xue to meet him."
Lin Xiaotang only came to her senses when she heard her father's reminder. She looked up at the restaurant and saw a large plaque hanging on the door with the three characters "Yun Jiangnan" written on it.
The restaurant is located on a prime street and is built in a grand style. From the outside, it appears to have three floors and has a unique and attractive appearance, making it stand out on the entire street.
Just by looking at it from the outside, you can tell that Yun Jiangnan is no ordinary company!
Perhaps her father's worries were not unfounded. Their braised pig's trotters were quite good in the town and the county, but they were really unsure about their chances in Wucheng.
I had dinner at the Xue family's house a few days ago. The dozen or so dishes were all excellent. Xue Zhiyuan even said that his brother-in-law was quite picky. Thinking about it carefully, it's really dangerous for their braised pig's trotters to catch the eye of the owner of Yun Jiangnan.
Well, since we're already here, it's all the same whether we stick our necks out or not. We have to bite the bullet and go for it, whether the other party looks down on us or not.
So, Lin Xiaotang took out the food box from the carriage and handed it to her father before getting off the carriage.
The food box was bought by her and her father in Pingding County a couple of days ago. After all, they were coming to a big city like Wucheng to discuss business, and using the simple food box made by her father would be a bit too low-class.
Xue Zhiyuan had a faint smile on his face as he led the way, guiding them into the restaurant.
Lin Qingchuan was so nervous that his whole body was trembling. This restaurant was too big and too luxurious. It was the biggest and most magnificent restaurant he had ever seen in his life. Not to mention Yunlai Restaurant in Qinghe Town, even Wanhe Restaurant in Dushui County and Fuqing Restaurant in Pingding Town could not compare with Yunjiangnan!
He couldn't help but sigh, wondering how much the rent here must be in silver a month, and whether a thousand taels would be enough.
When the waiter in the restaurant saw that it was the owner's brother-in-law, he immediately went out to greet him, "Young master, please come in and invite the two distinguished guests in. I will go and call the owner to see you right away."
Xue Zhiyuan waved his hand and said, "No need, we can go up and see him ourselves."
The waiter dared not refuse and could only let the three of them go up on their own, while he, with great insight, went to brew tea and serve it to them.
Lin Xiaotang and her father followed Xue Zhiyuan up to the third floor, where they met his brother-in-law in an extremely luxurious room.
"Brother Qingchuan, Xiaotang, this is the uncle of Hanxing and Ruifeng that I told you about before."
Yun Jiangnan's son-in-law's features resembled Madam Xue's, making it easy to tell that they were siblings. However, there was one thing that Lin Xiaotang found puzzling.
Madam Xue was a lady from a prestigious family, supposedly from a scholarly background. So why did her elder brother go into business instead of entering the court to seek an official position?
Judging from the other party's imposing and serious demeanor, he was clearly not an ordinary person. In her mind, a restaurant owner should be as approachable and talkative as Manager Su.
"Zhiyuan, is this the braised pig's trotters that your family makes that are delicious, and that they supply them to restaurants, as you mentioned in your letter?"
Xue Zhiyuan nodded to his brother-in-law and said, "That's right, it's Brother Qingchuan and Xiaotang. They brought some cooked food over today, you can try it."
"Okay, I understand." He turned to look at Lin Qingchuan and his daughter Lin Xiaotang and said, "My name is Zhao Xin, you can just call me by my name. Since Zhiyuan strongly recommended you to me, I'll try your braised pig's trotters first. If they're really delicious, then we can talk."
"Well, if Mr. Zhao is satisfied after tasting it, we can talk again." Lin Qingchuan quickly took out the food box and opened it.
Xue Zhiyuan found a seat and invited Lin Qingchuan and Lin Xiaotang to sit down as well.
They were brother-in-law and sister-in-law, so they were naturally relaxed. Lin Xiaotang and her father dared not relax at all. After all, they wanted to try their braised pig's trotters. Their hearts were pounding in their throats. They dared not move until the other party gave the order.
After all, Wucheng is much more prosperous than Pingding County, and this restaurant is large and grand. If we can close this deal, it will definitely be a big one!