Before we knew it, the year was drawing to a close. It snowed lightly for three days in a row, and the snow accumulated like snowflakes, leaving a thick layer of snow on the ground.

The streets were deserted. Occasionally, a person would walk by, their legs shackled by the snow, and they would have to rest after a few steps. The shops on both sides of the street, though their doors were open, had thick straw curtains hanging down to shield them from the wind and snow and protect them from the bitter cold.

Outside, it was freezing cold, but inside DouDou Tavern, it was warm and cozy. This was all thanks to An Rong, who had prepared charcoal for the winter a month in advance. The woodshed was piled high with firewood, and there was even a small mountain of firewood in the courtyard, covered with straw.

Yuan Doudou was wearing an undershirt underneath a padded jacket, sitting by the charcoal stove, holding a hand warmer in her hand.

She sat there for a while, and soon her back was covered in sweat; she was unbearably hot.

"Anji, are you hot?"

Angie sat on the other side playing with building blocks. When the store was busy, he would play in the backyard. Now that the weather was cold, the store was much quieter, so he could play with his toys in the front hall to his heart's content.

He was wearing a newly made cotton-padded coat, and there was a heater in the room, so he was already sweating profusely.

Anji took off his hat and showed it to Dou Dou; his hair was already soaked and stuck to his scalp.

"Oh dear, it's so hot, and you didn't even say anything. Anrong, take the charcoal stove to the kitchen." Everyone was wearing cotton-padded clothes and still indoors, where the temperature was just right. Burning the stove would only make it hotter and stuffier.

An Rong didn't say a word, put on cotton gloves, grabbed the handles on both sides of the stove, and carried it into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Lu Xi was simmering brine, and Huang Rong was peeling peanuts.

Business was slow, and the workers became more relaxed. Huang Rong no longer used a vine to pick up peanuts, but instead used her hands to slowly crack open the peanut shells and take out the bright red peanuts inside.

Lu Xi put away the firewood, returned to the cutting board, and skillfully chopped the side dishes to be used that evening.

An Rong was a good mentor. He taught Lu Xi everything he could, hoping that one day Lu Xi would be able to start her own business and support herself.

Yuan Doudou originally wanted him to study, but Lu Xi firmly disagreed. She believed that instead of studying those useless scriptures, it would be better to learn practical skills so that he could make a living wherever he went.

That's the reality. If a child doesn't want to study, forcing or even hitting them won't work. Instead, it will only create chaos and unrest at home.

They respected Lu Xi's choice. He was almost thirteen years old, practically an adult, and had the right to decide his own future.

"You want to open a restaurant?" Huang Rong asked casually.

Unlike pubs, restaurants focus on dishes, and chefs must be able to cook at least one dish. The flavors can be Sichuan, Hunan, or other Jiangzhe-Shanghai styles, depending on the chef's preference.

The tavern mainly serves alcoholic beverages. Most customers drink alcohol but don't eat much food, and if they do eat food, they mostly just eat peanuts. There's no need to prepare any fancy dishes.

There aren't many restaurants in Ping'an Town, only about fourteen or fifteen in total, but the most popular one is Haoqinglai Restaurant.

Lu Xi went out to buy groceries with them. Every time she passed by a restaurant, she would take a few glances at it and set a goal for herself: to open a restaurant as big as this one in the future, no, even bigger than this one.

Haoqinglai Restaurant is not very large, with two floors. The first floor is the main hall with twenty square tables. Upstairs there are five private rooms, each with a round table. The smallest round table can seat fifteen people, and the largest can seat twenty. The wealthy families in the town choose Haoqinglai for their banquets, not because of how delicious the food is, but mainly because of the grandeur.

This not-so-large restaurant is the largest in this small town.

Lu Xi remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

“If you want to open a restaurant, you can’t stay here forever,” Huang Rong said sincerely.

"Why?" Lu Xi finally looked up at her.

Seeing his surprised expression, Huang Rong's big eyes widened even more, and he looked so adorable that she couldn't help but laugh.

Seeing that she was smiling, Lu Xi regained her composure, her face flushed.

Huang Rong's fate was so bumpy. Her father had just passed away not long ago. Logically, she should have been crying every day. Why was she still able to smile every day?

Lu Xi had never figured this out.

"You idiot, this is a tavern. What can you learn here? How to sell alcohol?" Huang Rong's smile faded, and she said seriously.

“Brother Anrong taught me how to cook,” Lu Xi retorted, unconvinced.

Huang Rong knew, of course, that Brother An Rong was a patient person. He would explain every step of cooking in great detail, including when to add seasonings, how much seasoning to add, and the proportions.

But this is a tavern after all, and they only serve a few dishes. Compared to a proper restaurant, it's far inferior.

"Listen to me, if you want to learn something, you have to go to a big restaurant to learn it, like Hao Qinglai." She had been here for more than a month, and the only restaurant she knew was Hao Qinglai.

Hao Qing Lai? Lu Xi had certainly thought about it, but Hao Qing Lai had never posted any notices recruiting apprentices at its door.

Such a large restaurant is not one he can go to whenever he wants.

"Are you afraid that Sister Dou Dou won't let you go?" Huang Rong asked, looking at him thoughtfully.

Lu Xi shook her head. Dou Dou Jie wasn't that kind of person. She wouldn't restrict his personal freedom like the people in the Lu family. Dou Dou Jie had told him that when he grew up and wanted to go out and make a living, he should just tell her, and she would prepare his luggage and send him out the door.

"Then what are you worried about?" Huang Rong couldn't understand. Going out to become an apprentice wasn't a difficult thing.

Lu Xi didn't say anything, but she had an idea in her mind.

The next day, the snow finally stopped, and the shop assistants all came out to sweep the snow in front of their shops. Lu Xi got up early in the morning and took a broom to sweep the snow outside.

Angie thought it was fun and joined in, building a big snowman. Huang Rong found black beans, carrots, and red peppers and put eyes, a nose, and a mouth on the snowman.

An Rong came out carrying a bamboo basket and said to Lu Xi, "I'm going to buy groceries. Lu Xi, you watch the shop."

"Okay," Lu Xi replied.

After An Rong walked away, Lu Xi walked up to Huang Rong and whispered his thoughts.

"Okay, you go ahead, I'll watch the shop."

Lu Xi put down the broom and followed An Rong forward.

Seeing that it was too cold outside, Huang Rong took Anji inside.

"Angie, let's go inside."

Angie wanted to stay with the snowman; he would be lonely by himself.

“The snowman isn’t afraid of the cold, but we are. If we don’t go inside, our ears will freeze. If our ears freeze, your mother will be sad.” Huang Rong spoke softly, and the children would obediently listen to her.

Anji is a child too. Even if he doesn't think about himself, he should think about his mother. Besides, his mother has a little sister in her belly, and she can't let the little sister worry too.

Angie understood, and took the initiative to lift the curtain and enter the house.

Yuan Doudou had just gotten up when she found the room empty. She pushed open the door and saw that the snow had stopped and the snow in the yard had been swept clean.

She smiled; with a grown man and a little man in the family, these chores naturally didn't fall to her.