Chapter 97 Noble Person

"Lady Ye".

Ye Wan took an oxcart from the village entrance to the town, and ran into an acquaintance as soon as she arrived.

Liu Wenshu stepped down from the carriage and looked at Ye Wan with a smile.

"Young Master Liu, what a coincidence."

Ye Wan shielded her eyes from the glaring sunlight, never expecting to run into Liu Wenshu in town.

Liu Wenshu wanted to open the fan in his hand, but then felt it was a bit pretentious, so he said, "Unfortunately, I was waiting for you here. Let's find somewhere else to talk."

"How did you know I would come to town?" Ye Wan asked, looking at him.

“Intuition,” Liu Wenshu said, then added, “Madam Ye, don’t worry. I have something to discuss with you. Let’s go to Xilai Restaurant.”

Ye Wan wasn't afraid. If Liu Wenshu really wanted to do something, she might not be the one who suffered.

Upon arriving at Xilailou, Liu Wenshu served all of the restaurant's signature dishes.

"Young Master Liu, there's no need to order so much. It would be a waste if we couldn't finish all this food."

Ye Wan opened his mouth to remind him.

Yantai spoke up, "Don't worry, Madam Ye, there won't be any waste. The leftovers will be eaten by the waiters and the kitchen staff. Anything that can't be eaten will be fed to the chickens and pigs. In short, there won't be any waste."

"This Xilailou restaurant is quite humane." She knew that some places would rather throw food away than give it to others.

Ye Wan didn't think there was anything wrong with eating leftovers. When you can't even get enough to eat, why would you care if it's leftovers?

Liu Wenshu smiled.

Once all the dishes were served, Liu Wenshu poured a cup of osmanthus wine, raised it to Ye Wan, and said, "In a while, I will be going to the capital. To be honest, the reason I invited you here today, Madam Ye, is to discuss a business deal with you."

Ye Wan smiled and said, "Young Master Liu, you're too kind. What kind of business would you like to discuss?"

Was Mr. Liu serious about discussing business with her?

"Madam Ye's cooking skills are excellent. Could you sell the recipe for that noodle dish we had earlier to Xilailou? As for the price, Madam Ye, please feel free to name your price."

After much thought, Liu Wenshu decided that he could do this business.

Ye Wan asked in surprise, "This Xilai Restaurant is owned by the Liu family?"

"Isn't it said that scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants are the most important, and that the gentry are not allowed to engage in commerce?"

Liu Wenshu smiled upon hearing this, "It can be registered under the name of a household servant or a woman in the household. If you really have no property at all, and you only accumulate wealth by being an official, wouldn't you be starving?"

Ye Wan nodded, "That's true. I'm not very knowledgeable, so please excuse my ignorance."

"Hot and sour noodles are quite simple. If you're interested, Mr. Liu, I'll give them to you. After all, you're Er Ya and San Ya's benefactor."

Liu Wenshu admired her frankness, which was just like a man's.

However, he was not one to expect anything in return, and he still had to give the due compensation.

He signed the contract with Ye Wan on the spot.

Ye Wan was overjoyed. "Young Master Liu, you are truly my benefactor. I wish you success in the imperial examination and that you will be the best of the best."

Who wouldn't be happy to get something for nothing? She's already made so much money from Liu Wenshu, isn't she a benefactor?

She was even thinking about whether to do business with Liu Wenshu in the long term.

Liu Wen smiled and said, "I wouldn't call him a benefactor; this is more of a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"Madam Ye, try this dish, it's the signature dish of Xilailou."

"It's delicious." Ye Wan was very accommodating.

It really was delicious; the chef at that fancy restaurant certainly had some skills.

"Try this one too."

"tasty."

"..."

After a long while, Ye Wan left, and Yantai went to close the door of the side room.

When Ye Wan was here, the door to the side room was open.

This is Minxian County, a place with a relatively open-minded culture. If this were in the capital, it would be disastrous; his young master's reputation would be ruined.

"Young master, everyone's gone, so stop laughing."

Yantai glanced at the remaining bottle of osmanthus wine on the table and felt a pang of regret. The young master had actually used such expensive wine to entertain Lady Ye.

As it turned out, the other person only drank one cup and took the rest, while our young master got a little drunk.

"Yantai, you said you don't know why, but seeing her makes me feel good." Liu Wenshu rested his chin on his hand, his cheeks slightly flushed.

The young man's face was slightly drunk, and Ye Niangzi gave him a very different feeling.

Yantai thought for a moment and said, "Young master, you've been alone for too long. Go out and meet other girls more often and you won't feel this way."

Liu Wenshu looked up and frowned. "Are you trying to say I've never seen a woman before?"

The inkstone muttered to itself, "I didn't say that."

Seeing Lady Ye makes me happy, but it's no use. She's already married, and her husband is so handsome.

Even if he went against his conscience, he couldn't say that the young master was more handsome.

No chance.

...

...

"Dad, let's go back inside. It's getting windy outside."

Seeing that the sun was almost setting and her father was still sitting in the yard looking towards the gate, Daya couldn't help but call out to remind him.

Lin Anyuan pondered for a moment before asking, "How did that Young Master Liu get to know your mother?"

“When we were setting up our stall with my mother, Young Master Liu came by a few times. Once he bought some wild fruits, and that silver ingot Er Ya was holding it.”

After Da Ya finished speaking, she couldn't help but add, "Father, Young Master Liu is a good person."

"It's really good. I'll thank them properly later." Lin Anyuan's eyes were deep.

Daya looked at her father, wondering if she had said something wrong.

"I'm back!"

Ye Wan returned just in time for dinner and saw Lin Anyuan. "Why are you sitting in the yard?"

Lin Anyuan slowly said, "I've been indoors for too long, I'm going out for some fresh air."

Sanya, who was playing in the yard, opened her mouth, then pouted.

Lies, Dad is such a liar. He's been sitting here all day.

"mother!"

Sanya called out sweetly,

"Come on, see what delicious food I brought for you."

Ye Wan beckoned to the three maids, placed the bundle on the table, and opened it.

"Mom, did you really buy me that pearl hair accessory I wanted?"

Er Ya exclaimed in surprise.

"Not only do you have it, but your eldest sister Sanya has it too, and this one as well. Want to try it? Is it good?"

Ye Wan distributed the food and supplies to the three girls, and then said to Lin Anyuan, "I've closed a deal, and our lives will get better from now on."

"Young Master Liu also gave me a pot of wine. Try it; it's quite delicious."

"This kind of osmanthus doesn't make you drunk; I tried a cup and it was delicious."

Ye Wan poured Lin Anyuan a glass and waited eagerly for him to drink it.

Lin Anyuan looked at her, picked up the cup, and drank it all in one gulp.

His red lips and delicate chin were almost breathtaking.

Ye Wan subconsciously swallowed, "Eat, eat, then drink."

She ate too much at lunch, so she skipped dinner and went straight back to her room.

Er Ya said, "Mother must be having a good meal at Young Master Liu's. It's a pity I didn't go with her today."

Lin Anyuan poked at the rice in his bowl.

After dinner, the lights in the room had dimmed.

Ye Wan had taken a shower and changed into her undergarments; she was now smoothing her hair.

One downside of having long hair is that it's not easy to dry after washing, which is a hassle.

Lin Anyuan, carrying a small wine jar, sat down directly next to her, his Adam's apple bobbing as he looked at her wearing only her undergarments.

Is she... hinting at herself?