"General, why aren't there any restaurants like this in the border town?"

Shulan asked in a very low voice, after all, this was a great general on the border.

It wouldn't be good if people found out and they got into danger.

At this moment, her eyes darted around, taking in the incredibly luxurious restaurant.

While it may not be overflowing with people every day, it's definitely bustling with a constant stream of customers.

More importantly, the restaurant owner was very resourceful. He created a space in the restaurant where there were not only acrobatics and storytelling performances every day, but also folk songs and operas, with something different every day, giving people something to look forward to.

Look here, anyone who's not short of money would probably be willing to come and listen; it's a very prestigious thing.

Let alone in ancient times when there was little entertainment, even in modern times, the business would definitely not be bad.

Hearing her question, He Fengmian answered in a very low voice, "It's not suitable."

Looking at the people downstairs who were watching the acrobatics with great interest, he said bluntly, "No matter where you are in the border town, it's not suitable for too many people to gather."

Furthermore, "A place like Yaocheng is well-connected with a high mobility of people, so opening a restaurant like this is feasible, but it's not suitable for a border town."

They didn't open their restaurant in the border town back then, but in Yaocheng, which is a well-connected area, because there were many people there.

Once the border town opened, everyone knew it was run by the brothers, so going or not going was awkward.

The people in the border town don't move around as much as those here.

Having a large group has its advantages. If you want any information, you can just go there and find out everything. Even if you can't find out everything, you can guess everything based on some clues.

Therefore, for them, a place like this in the border town would actually be unsuitable.

Yes, this restaurant was opened by the He brothers.

This is a great place to gather intelligence; you can find out about anything immediately.

“That’s true.” Shulan understood immediately and nodded in agreement.

Border fortresses are of utmost importance and are not suitable for places like this, where all sorts of people mingle.

She asked in a low voice, somewhat worried, "Is Chen's Restaurant alright?"

That little eatery is now considered a very successful place. Even in hot weather, business is good, and it's packed with customers every day.

"It's alright, we have people there."

They then entered the private seating area.

Although it's called a private room, it's actually separated by individual small booths.

Look at this wooden board, it's quite thick and sturdy. Even if you put a lot of force on it, it won't break.

They were sitting in a spot with an excellent view, directly facing the stage, with a clear view of what was happening below. There was even a railing where they could lean over and watch if they felt like it, which pleased her greatly.

At this moment, the waiter had already quickly brought over several plates of pastries, a few local snacks from Yaocheng, and even a pot of fruit wine: "Distinguished guests, these are gifts from our shop for you. If you need anything, just call us."

"good."

When the waiter left, Shulan wasn't surprised at all by his words.

The restaurant's helpers were either from the General's mansion or were hired by Uncle Rong; it seemed quite normal to have them around.

After He Fengmian finished speaking, he kept a close eye on her expression, afraid that she would get angry.

Seeing that she was not angry, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "It was my fault for not informing you beforehand that I had arranged for my people to be here."

Shulan replied, "You arranged for us to be there because you were worried about suspicious people. It's to protect our safety. You did the right thing. With you there, I don't have to worry about the restaurant at all."

He Fengmian wanted to say that protection is one aspect, but supervision is another.

But he wisely kept quiet, instead placing a bowl of sweet soup that looked like jelly in front of her: "Try it and see if you like it."

"Okay." Shulan tasted it and found that it was indeed jelly, and even had a refreshing minty aroma, which she liked very much.

Seeing that she liked the food, He Fengmian pushed his own bowl over to her as well.

Shulan said, "You should eat some too. It makes you feel quite comfortable after eating this."

He suggested, "Then let's ask the waiter to bring up two more portions."

"Alright."

By this time, the juggling act had ended.

A woman in pink, her face half-hidden behind a pipa, walked up.

Although the woman covered her face with a veil, her beautiful features were immediately apparent, making her radiant and captivating.

Whether the veil is used to cover it or not makes people even more curious.

Her figure was absolutely stunning.

She gracefully walked onto the stage, holding her pipa, which drew even more enthusiastic applause.

Shulan heard them all calling out, "Ruyan, my girl."

After gracefully bowing, the young woman, Ruyan, sat down and began to play the pipa.

After she sat down, everyone automatically went silent.

The girl Ruyan, sitting there holding her pipa, was extremely beautiful.

With a gentle pluck of the zither, crisp and melodious music immediately filled the entire restaurant, and everyone became even quieter.

The strings of the pipa danced on the fingertips, producing a melody as beautiful as heavenly music.

The moment she opened her mouth, it was like heavenly music, with her soft and gentle Wu dialect, as if she were telling one beautiful and touching story after another.

The story was told in a gentle and engaging way, captivating everyone's attention.

"Suddenly, the sound of a pipa was heard on the water, and the host forgot to return home while the guest lingered. It was indeed incomparably beautiful." Shu Lan was so engrossed in the music that her eyes seemed glued to the girl playing the pipa. She said with great admiration, "This girl, Ru Yan, is truly beautiful."

He Fengmian paused in his tea-serving hand and looked at her.

Then I heard her clicking her tongue in admiration: "This girl, Ruyan, is truly like a spring flower, both delicate and elegant. If she could come here every day to listen to some music, how pleasant her life would be... Tsk tsk, this is what life is all about."

Seeing that she was talking much more, he put down his teacup and asked calmly, "Do you like this kind of life?"

Shulan nodded without hesitation: "I like it."

Who wouldn't like this kind of life?

Everyone works hard to earn money so that they can live a better life, so that they can spend it without worrying about how much, and so that they don't have to check their wallets when they want to have fun.

Thinking back to how he had already earned several thousand taels of silver in just a few months, plus the rewards from His Majesty the Emperor.

She immediately beamed with joy and said, "After I leave the border town by feigning death, I will find a prosperous and fertile water town in Jiangnan. When I have free time, I will take Chen Ma and Xiao Cui to listen to folk songs, take them for a spring outing, help my Xiao Cui find a good husband, and let the three of us live a leisurely and affluent life."

Just thinking about it makes me feel incredibly happy.

So she said beautifully, "Don't worry, it probably won't be long before I die, and then you can live a peaceful life as a widow."

Before He Fengmian could even react, she confidently assured him once again, "You'll keep this widowhood."

He Fengmian: "..."