Chapter 66: I let it slip that I heard Sister Liu say that she only likes General Qi...

Late spring still carried a hint of chill. Widow Wang's restaurant was unusually quiet. Farmers, freshly plowed, walked by in groups of two or three. Peddlers carrying fresh greens and beans hawked their wares in the distance.

When Liu Yeshu opened the door curtain and walked in, Widow Wang was sitting behind the counter, counting accounts. The flickering wick of a lamp in her hand cast a shadowy shadow on half her face. At this time of year, the sun hadn't yet fully warmed the air. She held a cup of hot tea beside her, its aroma rising from her lips. Through the slit in the door curtain, she could see the newly sprouted leaves of the locust tree in the yard. The saxaul flowers were in full bloom, their delicate white petals swaying in the morning breeze, a delicate fragrance wafting through them.

In the back kitchen, Xiao Liu was stoking the fire, his face flushed red from the glow of the stove. The aroma of meat wafted from the large pot on the stove. It was the broth he had been preparing since early morning. Star anise and cinnamon drifted through the pot, and the spice aroma, combined with the steaming heat, was truly appetizing. The bacon and beef jerky hanging on the wall shone glossily in the morning light, and even the reddish-brown Sichuan peppercorns sprinkled on top were visible.

In the corner, several jars of aged vinegar were neatly stacked. They'd been specially shipped from Taigu, essential for curing beef jerky. A few sprigs of freshly picked locust flowers were planted in a water vat by the door, their fragrance blending with the aroma of meat, creating a unique flavor.

Widow Wang saw that it was Liu Yeshu who arrived and quickly put down her abacus. "Miss Liu! You're here so early! It's a good time to settle accounts since we don't have any customers." She stood up and started making tea. She then instructed Xiao Liu, "Hurry and bring Yeshu some of the steamed jujube flower buns we made this morning."

"Sister Wang, I've sorted out the accounts for the past few months." Liu Yeshu pulled a leather-bound ledger from her sleeve and sat down across from Widow Wang. Sunlight slanted in through the slits in the door curtain, falling on the spread-out account pages, revealing the neat lines of handwriting. "Please check to see if there's anything wrong."

Widow Wang took the account book and, flipping through it, sighed, "You're such a good accountant, girl. Ever since we opened this shop together, our business has been getting better every month." She pointed at the figures in the booklet, her face filled with unconcealed joy. "Look! This month alone, we've brought in 120 taels of silver. Those Hu merchants love our beef jerky; they always buy it by the box. The caravan from Xinjiang the other day even said they wanted to stock up more next time, specifically to give away."

Liu Yeshu took a sip of tea and smiled, "This is all thanks to Sister Wang's excellent cooking skills. Your secret marinade and the spices you put in are all tailored to the tastes of the people of the Western Regions. Add to that your hospitality, and business is naturally booming." She pointed to an entry in the account book and said, "Look, this group of merchants alone bought 50 kilograms of beef jerky."

"That's not my credit," Widow Wang said as she fiddled with the account books and handed Liu Yeshu a piece of freshly braised beef. "If it weren't for you suggesting we make it specifically for the taste of the Hu merchants, adding more cumin and chili peppers, and helping me contact Butler Zhao from the General's Mansion for supplies, how could we have achieved this scale? These Hu merchants only come here for the reputation of the General's Mansion."

As she spoke, she took out an abacus, gleaming with patina, and began to twiddle with it. Her deft technique showed she'd practiced a lot. "At this rate, I'm sure we'll have saved six hundred taels of silver by the end of the year. What do you think? Should we open a branch in town, or rent the shop next door and expand? Lately, more customers have been coming in, and this shop is getting a bit crowded. A few days ago, there were still a few merchants standing by the door waiting for a table."

Liu Yeshu picked up her chopsticks and savored the braised beef while pondering, "I think we should rent the shop next door first. Firstly, our regular customers are all here, and secondly, we can set up more tables and add a stove specifically for braised food. Braised food is a big business, so a dedicated stove would be useful. As for dividing the shop..." She shook her head, "If we have to hire someone else, I'm afraid it will be difficult to find someone with good skills. Sister Wang, you can't take care of it all by yourself."

"You're right," Widow Wang nodded repeatedly, saying as she kept track of the accounts. "That's what I thought, too. The owner of the cloth shop next door came to dinner a few days ago and said he was moving to Liangzhou to open a branch. When the shop becomes vacant, we can take it over. If we can open up the inner room, the extra seating alone will be enough to make up for our investment."

As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to remember something and changed her tone. "By the way, I heard that a troop of soldiers will be passing through these days. Do you think we should increase our stockpiles and make more beef jerky and bacon? These soldiers love them. If we can seize the opportunity to establish a long-term supply, it would be a big deal."

Liu Yeshu sincerely admired him and said, "That's a good idea. You are well-informed."

Widow Wang smiled mysteriously and picked up the teapot to refill Liu Yeshu's tea. In the steamy air, she leaned forward and said in a low voice, "Miss Liu, don't underestimate this news. I've gained some experience in business these days. If this shop wants to do well, the most important thing is to keep your eyes and ears open."

She gently skimmed off the tea leaves with a teacup lid and continued, "For example, those Hu merchants, seemingly here to buy beef jerky, were actually inquiring about news from the border. I only learned about the market conditions in the Western Regions by pretending to chat with them." A sly glint flashed in her eyes as she spoke. "By the way, when do you think General Qi will be back from this trip?"

Liu Yeshu lowered her head and took a sip of tea. The fragrance of the tea soaked her lips and teeth, but it couldn't hide the expectation that flashed across her eyes. "I received a letter the day before yesterday saying that the border issue has been almost dealt with and she should be back in the next few days."

The two were chatting happily when Widow Wang suddenly seemed to remember something. She moved closer and said in a low voice, "I heard that there have been quite a few people coming to propose marriage recently. Do you have any plans in mind?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yeshu shook her head helplessly. "I don't have the energy to do that. I have so many things to deal with right now. Half of them retreated when they heard about exile, and the rest heard that I was frail and had trouble working, so they stopped talking."

Liu Yeshu was just drinking soup from her bowl when she heard Widow Wang lower her voice and say with a hint of teasing, "Come to think of it, Fang Bai has been coming to eat at my place quite often these past few days."

Liu Yeshu was drinking soup from her bowl when she nearly choked. She raised her head, her brows furrowed slightly. "Fang Bai? Why does he always come here?"

Widow Wang squinted her eyes and smiled. "That's right! Every time he comes, he's not like the other guests who just leave after eating. He looks around while he eats, looking here and there, as if he's looking for someone. I even asked him who he was looking for, but he just laughed and refused to say. To be honest, judging by his appearance, he's probably here for you!"

"If he really wants to see me, he might as well be open and aboveboard. There's no need to beat around the bush."

Widow Wang saw this, smiled, patted her hand, and comforted her, "Look, don't take it so seriously. Young people always have some strange thoughts. Besides, a good girl like you is naturally missed."

"Sister Wang!" Liu Yeshu interrupted her, a blush on her face, "Don't tease me."

Widow Wang couldn't help but smile at her reaction. She poured herself a cup of tea and said slowly, "I was just saying it casually. But it's time for you to think about yourself. Look at you, you worry about the farm and the shop all day long. Summer is almost here, and you can't even afford to buy a decent piece of clothing. The other day I saw that your clothes were so pale from washing that it made me sad."

Distressed? Liu Yeshu lowered her eyes, thinking of the clothes Qi Yu had brought back from the capital, all of which were the latest styles in the capital.

Liu Yeshu looked down at her clothes. A short, blue cloth collar, though washed pale, was neatly stitched. A plain, self-dyed sash cinched her waist. She had worn silk and satin in the capital, but now, in the small town of Dunhuang, a coarse cloth shirt felt more comfortable.

But... she touched the fuzzy spots on her sleeves from the needlework. Was it really time to dress up a bit? If the general came back and saw her dressed so poorly, would he think she was too unrefined?

Suddenly, a burst of hurried horse hooves could be heard outside. Liu Yeshu's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked outside, only to see a few merchants riding by on horseback. She averted her gaze, lowering her head in disappointment. The teacup in her hand had already gone cold.

Widow Wang saw this and understood. She tactfully changed the subject: "Alright, today's account is settled. You should go back and rest. I'll be watching over you, don't worry." Then she added: "By the way, have Xiao Liu pack you some braised beef to take back for your brother to try."

Liu Yeshu nodded, put away the account book, and stood up to say goodbye.

"Miss Liu, wait a minute." Widow Wang pulled out a purse embroidered with hibiscus flowers from the compartment under the counter and weighed it gently. "It's time to give you this month's dividend. The shop took in 120 taels, and we each get 60 taels."

Liu Yeshu untied the purse's drawstring, carefully counted out thirty taels of silver, and pushed the rest back to Widow Wang. "I'm going to rent a place to raise chickens in the west of the city today, and I have some money left."

"Raising chickens?" Widow Wang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's a good idea. Once we raise chickens, they'll be perfect for supplying our shop."

Liu Yeshu shook her head. "I'm thinking of supplying the military camp first. There are a lot of people in the camp, and they need a lot of eggs and chicken every day. If we manage it well, we can raise more chickens later and supply our shop."

"You little girl," Widow Wang looked at her serious expression with a hint of teasing in her eyes, "are you trying to show off in front of the general?"

"Sister Wang!" Liu Yeshu said angrily, "You're teasing me again."

Widow Wang smiled and pushed the silver back to her. "Keep this money. You need to have some capital when starting a new business. Raising chickens isn't a big deal, but it does cost a lot upfront. You need to buy chicks, build a chicken coop, and prepare feed. All of these things cost money."

"How can this be possible?" Liu Yeshu insisted, "Sister Wang, if you don't accept it, I won't come to the shop anymore."

Widow Wang saw her resolute attitude and accepted the thirty taels of silver. "Then I'll keep it for you. When you have some progress on raising chickens, if you need any more money, feel free to come and get it."

Liu Yeshu finally nodded with satisfaction: "Sister Wang, I'll go look for a place first. I'll talk to you about renting a shop when I come back."

"Go ahead." Widow Wang looked at her back and sighed softly, "This girl only thinks about business and doesn't even think about herself."

At noon, the customers gradually dispersed from the restaurant. Widow Wang watched Xiao Yu'er sitting in a corner, happily playing with two wooden figurines. They were given to her by her younger brother Liu. One was dressed in red, the other in green. The carvings were so exquisite that even the faces looked lifelike.

Xiao Yu'er was fiddling with the two little figures, muttering to herself, "First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to parents, husband and wife bow to each other..." As she spoke, she made the two puppets come together, and the way they bowed made Widow Wang laugh.

"Yu'er," Widow Wang asked with a smile as she cleared the dishes from the table, "Why hasn't your sister Liu gotten married yet?"

Xiao Yu'er stopped what she was doing, puffed out her cheeks and thought for a while, then suddenly her eyes lit up and she said in a baby voice, "Who said Sister Liu won't get married?" Her expression was very similar to the way Liu Yeshu usually spoke.

Widow Wang's smile widened. She walked over, patted Xiao Yu'er on the head, and smoothed over her messy hair. "Oh? Your sister is so picky, could it be that she already has someone in her heart? Has she told you who it is?"

Xiao Yu'er blinked her eyes, suddenly remembering the conversation between Liu's mother and Liu Yeshu a few days ago. She immediately placed the puppet on her knees and replied seriously, "Yes! I heard Sister Liu say that she only likes General Qi! And..." She lowered her voice mysteriously, "Every time Sister Liu receives a letter from the general, she reads it several times."

"You kid," Widow Wang laughed and rubbed her face, "The general is from a wealthy family, how can we possibly marry into his family?"

"Shopkeeper." A low voice suddenly sounded.

Widow Wang was so engrossed in her conversation with Xiao Yu'er that she didn't notice a customer had already arrived. The man was dressed in dark clothing, his face shrouded in shadows cast by the sun, making it difficult to see clearly. She quickly greeted him, "Sir, please take a seat. Today's bacon rice is especially delicious. I'll have Xiao Yu'er bring you a portion."

The guest nodded slightly, his eyes lingered on the puppet in Xiao Yuer's hand for a moment, and then he waited quietly for the food to be served.

The restaurant was exceptionally busy that day. The comings and goings of customers created a buzz, and the aroma of bacon and the fragrance of locust flowers filled the early summer air. Widow Wang was sweating profusely as she busied herself with preparing the meal, so busy that she didn't even bother to glance at the customers' faces.

As dusk fell and the customers gradually dispersed, Xiao Liu, a waiter, was clearing away the dishes when he suddenly noticed a silver ingot on the table. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it weighed a full two ounces.

Xiao Liu was stunned for a moment, then quickly ran to the kitchen and hurriedly called out to Widow Wang, "Sister Wang, look! A customer gave me one ounce of silver!"

Widow Wang stopped kneading dough, wiped her hands, and came over. She took the ingot of silver, which was stamped with the words "Ministry of Revenue's Authentic Silver." It was of excellent quality. This wasn't the kind of silver an ordinary guest would use. A meal cost only twenty or thirty coins. Who would be so extravagant?

She suddenly thought of the guest in the black shirt. Although he was dressed simply, his every move exuded an extraordinary demeanor. Then, thinking of what Xiao Yu'er had just said, Widow Wang was startled.

She wiped her hands quickly and said to Xiao Liu in a hurry, "You continue to pack up the stall. I have to go find Miss Liu. This matter can't be delayed."

Although Xiao Liu didn't know the details, seeing that Widow Wang looked flustered, he didn't dare to ask any more questions. He just nodded and said, "Okay, Sister Wang, go ahead. I'll lock the door after I finish cleaning up."

Widow Wang didn't dare to delay a moment and hurried to Liu Yeshu's house. As dusk fell, the fragrance of the locust flowers grew stronger in the evening breeze. She trotted along, not even bothering to brush off the flour that had stained her clothes.

When she arrived at the Liu family's house, breathless, she found the gate ajar. Father Liu was sitting on the threshold, polishing his bow and arrows, his military uniform still reeking of dust. From the courtyard came the voices of Mother Liu and Younger Brother Liu, interspersed with the crows of roosters.

"Uncle Liu!" Widow Wang held onto the door frame, panting. "Is Miss Liu home?"

"Back to the General's Mansion. As soon as she left, her father came back!"

After hearing this, Widow Wang could only sigh helplessly: "It seems I can only talk to her another day. Although it is an urgent matter, I just can't make it in time."