"Where is Lu Xi?" Yuan Doudou thought he was outside shoveling snow, but when she lifted the curtain, she didn't see him. Yuan Doudou came in and asked Huang Rong.

Huang Rong hesitated for a moment, then casually said, "It seems she went grocery shopping with Brother An Rong."

"Seems like?" Yuan Doudou found it strange. How could she not be sure whether she had gone out or not? Seeing the woman's evasive eyes, she guessed that something was wrong.

Sure enough, not long after, Lu Xi returned, looking listless.

"Lu Xi, why did you come back alone?" Yuan Doudou asked.

Lu Xi snapped out of her daze, looked at Yuan Doudou guiltily, and didn't know how to answer.

"Yes, didn't you go grocery shopping with Brother Anrong? Where is Brother Anrong?" Huang Rong quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

Lu Xi is a simple-minded and honest guy who doesn't know how to be tactful in his actions and words.

"I couldn't catch up with him, so I came back." Even if Lu Xi was in a bad mood, Huang Rong kept winking at him, and he understood that he couldn't tell Sister Dou Dou.

He had just arrived at Haoqinglai, but before he could even say a word, he was kicked out.

"You don't look like someone who can afford to eat. Get out of here." This young punk dares to go into any kind of shop. Not just anyone dares to eat at Hao Qinglai's free meal. At best, he'll get fifty lashes; at worst, he'll be jailed for a year and a half.

"I'd like to speak with the manager, please make an exception," Lu Xi said softly.

The doorman despised him even more because he spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Looking for the manager? Do you think our manager is a street sweeper who can see anyone he wants? Get out of our way and stop blocking our business."

Lu Xi dared not utter another word and turned to walk back.

In the kitchen, Lu Xi absentmindedly added firewood to the fire, not even noticing Huang Rong coming in.

"What's wrong with you?" He's seemed lost and disoriented ever since he came back.

Lu Xi lowered his eyes. He wanted to give up. In this vast world, apart from Sister Dou Dou, they were all bad people.

"Did you run into a snag?" Huang Rong guessed that they had gotten off to a bad start and been kicked out.

Lu Xi kept her head down and remained silent.

Huang Rong is an impatient person. It's one thing if she doesn't say a word or two, but after saying so much, she just ignores people, making her seem like a lunatic.

"I can't be bothered with you, you can do whatever you want." Huang Rong had never seen such a shy man before. The men in her area were all good at singing, dancing, and talking.

You can talk for half a day if you meet a stranger on the street, from their parents to their brothers, and you could chat for three days and three nights without any problem.

Unlike Lu Xi, who can't be coaxed out of a word even after being hit three times.

At midday, only two people came into the tavern. They ordered half a jar of Daughter's Red wine, a plate of mixed vegetables, and a dish of peanuts.

"If you want to talk about the taste, the small tavern is better. Those big restaurants only think about making money off us. Ten coins only get you a small plate of peanuts, which is not even half of what they get for five coins."

His friend, who was treating, was in a good mood upon hearing this.

"The fact that you say that proves we're kindred spirits. And speaking of which, out of the twenty or thirty taverns in town, the best and most affordable one is definitely Ren Dou Dou." He was a regular there and often invited his friends over for drinks.

"That's true, I'm afraid I'll have to come here often in the future."

Yuan Doudou sat in front of the counter and heard their conversation clearly.

When An Rong first mentioned starting a business, he wanted to open a small restaurant to meet the needs of more people. However, preparing the ingredients and cooking the food involved a lot of complicated procedures. Hot dishes, cold dishes, desserts, soups, staple foods, and drinks were all essential.

She was pregnant at the time, and just thinking about it gave her a headache. It would be better to open a small tavern. Even if she didn't make a lot of money, it would be more than enough to cover the family's daily expenses.

As it turned out, she was right. Running a pub was better than a restaurant; it was cleaner and more hygienic, and it was easier to serve customers.

Most of the people who come to drink are tired after a long day and want to relax, catch up with friends, and the atmosphere is quite harmonious.

Compared to grand restaurants, small taverns are mostly frequented by ordinary people who are simple-minded, honest, and unpretentious. They are easier to get along with and won't fawn over those high-ranking officials and wealthy people like they're God.

Yuan Doudou was lost in thought when she saw Lu Xi walk to the woodshed with her head down, and a little while later, she walked back to the kitchen with her head down, carrying firewood.

This child, I haven't seen her for most of the day, and when I do see her, she looks worried and sad. Has something happened to her? She suddenly remembered that Lu Xi's reaction yesterday morning was very unusual.

As boys grow up, they also develop their own little thoughts. He spends his days in the tavern, encountering all sorts of people, including young girls who come with their parents. Could it be that Lu Xi has taken a fancy to some girl?

This idea startled Yuan Doudou. If it were true, would it count as puppy love?

Lu Xi will only be thirteen when the new year comes. Even in ancient times, she wouldn't be able to get married at that age. Yuan Doudou was at a loss and thought she would ask An Rong after closing time that night, since he knew more about it.

In the evening, only five or six guests came, and they all ordered small dishes; very few people ate meat dishes.

In winter, when the weather is freezing cold, everyone's income is shrinking. Saving money is an essential skill for making ends meet. Being able to go out for a bowl of hot wine is considered a luxury. A man, the head of the family, even if he wants to eat meat, will buy fresh meat and stew it in a pot so that the whole family can sit down and eat together.

In the kitchen, Huang Rong squatted in front of the boiler, reaching out her hands to warm them by the fire.

“Lu Xi, even if you don’t say anything, I have to. Look here, business is slow and quiet. Dou Dou’s family of three, and there will be one more person in the future. This income is barely enough to support them all. Don’t you want to help them?”

Huang Rong was anxious, but as a woman, she couldn't easily go out to work, so she could only urge Lu Xi to go instead.

Lu Xi remained silent, thinking to himself that of course he wanted to earn more money for Dou Dou and her child.

"I think you should talk to Brother Anrong about this and ask him to help you. Maybe then you can go." He's just a kid, going to their door all by himself. Of course, they won't pay any attention to him.

Lu Xi's eyes lit up, then dimmed. If Brother An Rong found out about this, he would definitely be angry.

Huang Rong continued, "Just say it directly: you want to go out and learn a trade. Brother Anrong won't say anything."

“You’re no use here. I can do the work in the shop.” With two people, there was clearly an extra one when business was slow.

Lu Xi knew, of course.

When Sister DouDou was doing the accounts, her face was serious, and he could guess that the store was losing money.

Take charcoal for example. A bundle of firewood costs ten coins, and ten coins are spent on firewood every day.

Rice, oil, salt, and vegetables—each of these requires a considerable amount of expense.

"Go talk to them after they close. They're very nice to you and won't be mean to you." Huang Rong noticed his expression change slightly, as if she had persuaded him.

Sigh, in order for the tavern to keep operating, she can't just talk the talk but walk the walk.

Let's think of a way to improve business.