Chapter 16 Countdown to Opening

The crescent moon is like a hook, hanging quietly on the treetops, and the stars are twinkling in the sky.

It has been three days since Su Yuan started school.

After dinner in the evening, Father Su did not go to bed early as usual, but sat in the main hall drinking tea.

He took a sip of tea and said carefully:

"Yuanyuan, Nanchu and I went to the market today and happened to see a shop for rent. The price is also suitable, two taels of silver per month."

"Dad thought that I was almost well enough to start preparing. What do you think?"

Su Yuan didn't expect that his father would be anxious to find a job after being free for only a short time.

She said helplessly:

"I'm afraid you've already made up your mind. There's nothing I can do if I don't agree."

"But I have one request. Daddy wants to buy two servants to work for you, and you will be the shopkeeper, directing the kitchen and collecting the bills."

After Su Yuan finished speaking, he asked:

"Is this condition something you can do? If you can, I will agree."

Father Su hesitated for a long time before he slowly spoke:

"It can be done, but I have to demonstrate it in the early stages. You can't count this."

When Su Yuan heard that he wanted to do it himself, he frowned unhappily and said sternly:

"Dad, don't you take care of your health? You almost lost your life a few days ago. I asked you to open a shop to relieve your boredom, not to let you continue to damage your health."

"If you want to show off your skills, when you are better, you can cook every day and I won't say a word. But not now. You can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Just stand by and give instructions."

When Su's father saw that his daughter was angry, he didn't dare to make any more requests, for fear that Su Yuan would go back on her word.

He quickly agreed:

"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you and definitely not do it."

Su Yuan's eyes moved slightly when he heard this and he raised his eyebrows.

Why doesn't she believe it?

So, she turned to Nan Chu and told him:

"Nanchu, you will stay with Daddy from now on and supervise him for me. You can also learn to read and do accounts. Then you will be able to take charge of the overall situation in the future."

"Remember to be strict. From today on, you will represent me and you must not let me off."

After hearing this, Nan Chu suddenly felt that his mission was of great importance.

He nodded solemnly:

"Don't worry, my wife. I will always keep an eye on Daddy and will never let his fingers get stained with even a little bit of flour."

"And I will study hard and not bring shame to my wife."

Su Yuan curled his lips and smiled, "Okay."

Father Su watched the two of them talking and decided on his future. His smile was uglier than his tears.

I originally thought that Nan Chu was from the same faction as me.

I didn't expect that he is actually a love-brained person.

After things are settled.

Su Yuan took out two hundred taels of silver from his pocket and handed it to Father Su:

"This is the capital for opening the store, Daddy, keep it safe."

Father Su took it and nodded happily, "Okay."

The next morning, the rain stopped and the sky cleared up.

At the market.

On both sides are teahouses, taverns, pawnshops and workshops.

There are many small vendors on the open space on the left and right sides, setting up stalls, fortune-telling, performing acrobatics, etc.

The streets are bustling with people, and the atmosphere is lively and peaceful.

After Su Yuan was sent to school, Su's father brought Nan Chu to the market.

He first found the owner of the shop that he had rented out yesterday, paid twenty-four taels of silver, and signed a one-year contract.

He went to the human market again and picked out two men who could read and write and had good looks from a matchmaker. He spent twelve taels of silver and bought them.

Take it back to Su’s house.

Father Su named the older one, a man in his thirties, Biyun, and the other handsome boy of about seventeen or eighteen years old, Biyue.

After arranging accommodation for the two, they were called to the main hall. Father Su sat at the top and spoke:

"There is one thing you should know. I bought you two back not to serve others, but because we are going to open a pastry shop in a few days. You will stay in the kitchen and be responsible for making pastries."

"Our Su family is a good family. As long as you work hard, we will not treat you unfairly. But there is one thing you two must remember."

Father Su said, and suddenly changed the subject, raised his eyebrows and said in a deep voice:

"If I find out that anyone has ulterior motives and dares to betray the master, I will immediately sell him to a brothel. In serious cases, I will beat him to death on the spot."

"If anyone can't remember and ends up in a miserable situation, don't blame me for being cruel."

After saying some words of both kindness and severity and beating the servant, Su's father narrowed his eyes and looked at the two of them with a scrutinizing look.

At this moment, no one spoke in the hall. It was so quiet all around that it seemed oppressive.

Biyun and Biyue knelt on the ground, their bodies tense and their hearts pounding with nervousness.

After waiting for a moment, I recovered.

They immediately expressed their loyalty to Father Su:

"Master, rest assured. Since you have already bought us back, Biyun and Biyue are your family members in life and ghosts in death. We will never have second thoughts. Otherwise, you can do whatever you want with us."

"Yeah, okay."

Father Su curled his lips slightly and nodded with satisfaction.

In the next two days, Father Su conducted a series of training for Nan Chu and the two attendants, teaching the three of them his ancestral skills.

During this period, he also took time out from time to time to teach Nan how to read and do arithmetic.

Nan Chu learned very quickly and with an extremely serious attitude. Even before going to bed at night, he would not forget to ask his wife for advice.

Su Yuan cooperated with him and acted as a strict teacher.

It's no wonder that because of the issue of literacy, the two of them communicated with each other every night, which actually brought them closer.