How is that possible?

Meng Chijian is also a shop owner, although not a food shop, but it's easy to understand if you think about it for a moment. She not only needs to buy the shop, but she will also need to decorate, purchase supplies, and hire people. By the time she can officially open for business, the expenses during that period will definitely not be enough for her to cover with her savings alone.

“Recently, household expenses have been low, and I’ve saved up some silver in my shop, about seventy or eighty taels. You can take it and use it.” He took a handkerchief and wiped A-Yue’s mouth, saying casually, “Your name will be on the shop deed. Keep it safe and don’t lose it.”

"That won't do."

A-Mian felt that this was unreasonable. If he didn't contribute any money, she could feel at ease putting the shop in her name alone; but since he contributed so much, and she treated it as if it belonged to her alone, it didn't make sense.

Normally, regardless of whether A-Mian contributed any money, the shop belonged to her husband's family. Even in those wealthy families who "gift shops to favored wives," the essence of the gift was "for the wife to operate; any profits belong to the wife," and the shop itself remained the husband's family property. (Of course, if it was a shop part of the wife's dowry, it would always belong solely to her; under the laws of this dynasty, dowry property is separate from the husband's family property.)

To most young women, this was no different from owning the shop; they were the actual operators, and the paperwork was just a formality.

Moreover, it's very hurtful for a family to be too calculating.

Meng Jing keenly sensed that something was off about the atmosphere at the dinner table.

Meng Chijian scooped up some pumpkin and vegetable puree with a spoon, blew on it, and fed it to A-Yue. A-Yue had just eaten a small piece of roast duck, and now she suddenly found the puree, which she used to love, tasteless. "I don't want to eat!"

Amian quickly said, "I'll feed her."

"No need, you eat yours." Meng Chijian said expressionlessly, continuing to feed the little one. "If you don't eat, you won't be allowed any snacks before mealtimes anymore. I'll count to three..."

Little A-Yue glanced at her father's expression and wisely opened her mouth.

“I don’t know if this shop will make money. It’s not like setting up a small stall before, where the costs are low and you can always make money. This is my first time opening a shop, and I don’t know what will happen. I can’t just let your money go to waste.” Ah Mian brought up what she had just said.

In short, what she meant was that she wouldn't take his money, and that Lu Amian would take full responsibility for her actions.

It's like partnering with Boss Song; everything's been calculated meticulously, ensuring he doesn't suffer any losses. In the business world, one would probably have to praise Boss Lu for being truly righteous!

In front of Xiao Jing and A Yue, Meng Chijian didn't argue with her, so he didn't say anything more.

After dinner, Ah Mian took a shower and lay on the bed, flipping through the little notes she had written during the day. She also took a piece of white paper and wrote down some of her planned menu.

Chrysanthemum tofu (not yet), fried ice cream tofu (to be tried, no finished product yet)...

Ah Mian was speechless and quickly wrote down what she could make: Douhua Rice is definitely going to be sold. It's a low-priced dish that can continuously attract people to the shop, and you can still add dishes; other hot dishes include Lotus Leaf Tofu, Stuffed Tofu with Green Peppers, Stewed Fish Tofu in Clay Pot (an improvement on what I learned from the fish soup shop), and Lion's Head Tofu in Clay Pot.

Hmm, for cold dishes, tofu with scallions, tofu with toon leaves... Ah Mian thought this would be easy to make. She believed that tofu could be mixed with everything, so she could mix whatever she wanted.

For dessert, I have two ideas. One is candied tofu, and the other is a white fungus and tofu soup.

In addition, they also sell soy milk, tofu pudding, and fermented bean curd sauce.

After finishing writing, Amian propped her head up with her hands, bent her calves alternately and swung them back and forth, looking at the menu with great satisfaction, and then wrote a small line of words below: Lu Amian, the lady of the tofu shop.

Meng Chijian glanced through the window, then looked at the water tank. Seeing that it was still more than half full, he figured he could fetch water again tomorrow. Then he grabbed A-Yue with his right hand, "Little slob, come take a bath with me."

"Dada," that's what Xiao Ayue calls Meng Chijian, "dada, go take a bath."

Meng Chijian went to the bathroom, took out the wooden tub from the small room, rolled up his sleeves and put the baby's bathing supplies aside. The baby was too small to stand up for a bath, so he used the old method.

Warm water was added to the wooden basin, and little A-Yue sat in the water and started playing. Meng Chijian held her little arm and began to wash her with a handkerchief.

Little A-Yue needs to be washed three times, and she doesn't need a loofah. The first time, she washes and wipes with a cloth. The second time, she uses soap beans. The third time, after washing, she wraps herself in a towel and applies clam oil in the small bathroom.

Meng Chijian said, "Do you know that your mother is opening a shop?"

A-Yue: "Huh?"

"If she doesn't want me anymore, who will bathe you in the future?"

A-Yue tilted her head, her big eyes looking at the person in front of her with a confused expression, babbling incoherently.

"She'll wash you then, turning you into a dirty little kid. All she does is wash you like a block of tofu, aren't you scared?" Meng Chijian held a water ladle, supporting A-Yue's head with one hand as he started washing her hair, frowning as he said, "Tell me, what is your mother really thinking? Does she even care about your father?"

A-Yue: "Waaaaaah!" (meaning "I hate washing my head.")

"I've already figured this out, why make each other unhappy? Besides, now that she has you, she won't abandon this family. But if she doesn't want my money now, she'll definitely choose a small or out-of-the-way shop. And she won't let me interfere..." Meng Chijian thought of the outrageous things A-Mian said at the dinner table. What did she take him for? Did she give him money because she was good at running a food business and could make a lot of money?

Doing business is risky. Are you expecting her to shoulder all the burdens alone? Even if they lose money, they should get through it together as a couple. Why can't she take his money?!

A-Yue stretched out her chubby arm and saw that "Da-Da" was very different from usual. A few strands of "Da-Da's" hair were wet and scattered on his forehead, and his lips were pursed into a straight line, making him look very sad.

"Da da, hug." A-Yue stretched out her chubby little arms, "Baby kisses Da da. I want Da da. Mommy and Da da."

"You mean Dad and Mom?" Meng Chijian picked up little A-Yue, suppressing the lump in his throat, his arm still firmly in hers. "Does your mother even have me in her heart?"

A-Yue didn't answer, her gaze was drawn to a small moth flying around, and she laughed like a little duck.

Meng Chijian had also composed himself, as if nothing had happened. "Alright, alright, hurry up and dry yourself off. It's warm in the small room. We don't need a brazier in this hot weather..."

Meng Chijian wasn't one to wallow in self-pity, and he quickly came up with an idea. He planned to collude with the broker to help A-Mian buy a shop that was both desirable and inexpensive.

"Ah Yue, remember this: forced love can be just as sweet."

A-Yue looked at "DaDa" with a sly smile, like a cunning wolf, accompanied by bursts of low, ambiguous laughter...