"Aunt, I meant no harm just now, so why was that Miss Song so aggressive? Does she really not tolerate me?"

"It's not that she can't tolerate you, it's that you're too impatient. Ever since Young Master Jiang came in, you've been staring at him without any regard for his appearance. What kind of well-behaved unmarried girl would always stare at a man? All the things I've taught you have gone to waste!"

"But I didn't break any rules. I just glanced at it a couple of times."

“Take a second look? Let me tell you, although I brought you here with the intention of finding you a good husband, I didn’t have high hopes for you. Who is Jiang Huaifu? On the surface, he is a wealthy merchant in Nanzhao, but in reality, who knows what kind of person he is? Judging from his speech and behavior, I dare to say that he is not an ordinary person. If you are lucky enough to be noticed by him, that’s fine. But if he really doesn’t have that kind of interest, don’t shamelessly stick to him. Otherwise, it will make us look like we’ve broken the rules.”

Zhao Ru's reprimand made Zhu'er very unhappy.

She did indeed take a liking to Jiang Huaifu at first sight. She thought her aunt shared the same thoughts and would help her, but she never expected to be dealt a blow to her!

“Aunt, since neither of us is married, we both have the right to fight for it. I don’t think that Miss Song is someone you can easily get along with. She speaks nicely on the surface, but she actually has bad intentions towards men. Yet she insists on putting on an aloof and superior attitude, which is annoying!”

"Shut up! You're getting more and more rude. Go change your clothes and go home to rest. Come back early tomorrow to see the embroidery pattern."

Pearl didn't say anything, but left very reluctantly...

Qionglou was the most extravagant place in the entire Jiangning, and many high-ranking officials and nobles liked to hold banquets here.

When Song He'er went in, she was really startled by the atmosphere inside.

“It’s too noisy here, so... let’s just forget about it. I see that the private rooms upstairs are all full. If we eat here, we can only choose seats in the main hall, which is really unrefined and could easily expose our identities,” Song He’er said calmly.

"Eating in Jiangning is all about the lively atmosphere. If you're always afraid of everything, life is too short to enjoy. I don't see anything wrong with this main hall. In a little while, a courtesan will be playing the pipa on the central stage..."

Jiang Huaifu spoke with great relish, as if this was the most elegant thing in the world, and he had composed a poem about it.

“I remember you didn’t like singing and dancing.”

"It's not that I like it or dislike it, it's just that I've been traveling and working hard lately, and I'd like to find a place to relax. Don't be so nervous, let's see what you'd like to eat..."

As he spoke, Jiang Huaifu handed over several boards.

Upon closer inspection, Song He'er noticed that the sign displaying the menu items was made of South China Sea rosewood. Such extravagance was something only this restaurant would dare to use.

Song He'er reached out and gently touched the surface; the gold-plated, recessed lettering was exquisitely carved.

"Tell me, if a thief were to break in, have a meal, and then casually take this plaque with the gold lettering, wouldn't we be at a huge loss?"

Jiang Huaifu almost spat out his tea, not swallowing it. "Miss Song, is this Qionglou a place for ordinary people? Unless you're a high-ranking official or a nobleman, no one can afford the food here. Let alone delicacies, even a simple soup costs a thousand coins. Thieves can't even support their families with the money they steal, let alone show their faces in public. So what you're thinking about is simply not going to happen."

Song He'er gave an awkward smile, lowered her head, and looked intently at the words on it.

"Then I'll have... crystal pig's trotters, steamed dumplings, spicy bamboo shoots, and... what's this?"

Jiang Huaifu glanced at the words above and saw that the two characters 'Changlong' were neatly written on it.

"snake."

"ah?"

"......."

"Do people...eat snakes?"

“You people in the Central Plains rarely eat snake, but in the South, snake is considered a highly nourishing food by nobles. When cooked into a soup with goji berries and longan, it is very beneficial for those who are weak.”

"I...I don't need any more, never mind."

Jiang Huaifu smiled and said nothing more, simply watching attentively as she ordered all the food she wanted.

The Qionglou restaurant employs dozens of chefs, each with their own specific roles: pastries, soups, steamed dishes, and meat fillings. It's safe to assume that the most famous chefs in all of Jiangning are located in this restaurant...

Song He'er looked at the endless stream of people coming and going, her eyes filled with envy.

"When will we be able to open a shop that big...?"

Jiang Huaifu was busy fiddling with the pot of tea on the table and didn't hear what Song He'er said.

Only after all the dishes were served did Song He'er shut her incessant mouth, pick up her chopsticks, and begin to savor the delicacies.

As the cap was lifted, Song He'er's fair and delicate face was revealed to everyone. Suddenly, she seemed to sense an unusual light beside her.

"Young lady, have we met somewhere before?"