Lu Deyin actually wanted to ask, if you're looking for tea for a guest, shouldn't you look in the tea cabinet behind the counter?

"Oh, it's Miss Hong who said she wanted to drink this tea." The waiter, Duan San'er, turned around and held up the tea canister he had just found.

The guy was quite pleased with his good memory. Wasn't he amazing to find his target so quickly among the pile of tea canisters the boss had hoarded?

He remained completely calm in the face of his employer's questions, showing no sign of feeling that he had done anything wrong.

The host family is always generous to special guests, such as the group of guests led by Miss Hong who came to spend New Year's Eve.

"She's here again?" the landlord asked after a moment of surprise.

Duan San nodded: "Yes, I just ordered the food. I'll head over first, the guests are waiting for tea." After saying that, he hurriedly left, bypassing the host in front of him.

Lu Deyin raised his hand and opened his mouth, but he refrained from shouting for the waiter to stop.

He slapped his thigh in frustration, thinking, "Serves me right! Who told me to be so forgetful and not put the tea leaves away properly in time!"

The tea wasn't expensive, so he couldn't bear to part with it. Rather, it was wild tea picked and processed by his close friend who lived in seclusion deep in the mountains. Once, when he visited his friend, the friend had shown him where the wild tea grew—it grew on a cliff more than 3,000 meters high.

He was so frightened by just standing on the side and looking around that his legs trembled and went weak. His best friend had tied himself up with ropes and risked his life to pick those tea leaves.

The fresh leaves picked in spring, summer and autumn each year only weigh about ten catties in total. About four catties of fresh leaves can only be processed into seven or eight ounces of tea.

Only about two catties of tea are produced each year. Wealthy people are willing to pay a thousand taels of silver per catty to buy it. Even close friends are reluctant to sell it. They give him a can of tea every year, about half a catty, which he usually doesn't drink.

Lu Deyin was also surprised that on New Year's Eve, after he said something, Duan San, who had so many kinds of tea in the cabinet, had picked up this particular tea.

And that Miss Hong, didn't she say she didn't understand tea and that any tea would do? She's quite picky, isn't she? She's got a taste for it after just one sip?

In the private room, after serving tea, Duan San told the children that there was a monkey tied up in the backyard, which belonged to a guest.

Upon hearing this, the children peered out the back window at the monkey in the yard. Yao Guang even took out some peanuts she had secretly hidden and tossed them to the monkey.

"Have you thought about the consequences of what happened today? What if you get thrown in jail?" There were two adults at the table, and Quan Jinghuai asked after thinking for a moment.

Hong Xiaoduo smelled the tea in her cup. She didn't know much about tea, but she thought the aroma of this tea was very pleasant. She replied nonchalantly, "Who said I didn't think about the consequences? If I really can't defeat them and get arrested and locked up in a cell, don't I still have you, Brother Quan?"

You'll definitely try to break me out of prison.

"You trust me so much?" Quan Jinghuai asked, his feelings quite complicated.

Hearing his question, Hong Xiaoduo looked at him very seriously: "Of course, aren't we on the same side? Besides, you have the ability, and you have the guts."

That was true, but the fact that she was so certain he wouldn't stand idly by and trusted him so much warmed Quan Jinghuai's heart.

"I'm just a little curious, do you not have the concept of 'it's better to avoid trouble'?" Quan Jinghuai asked with a smile.

Hong Xiaoduo smiled and nodded, saying, "Brother Quan, you've traveled the world, so you know better than anyone that when things come to you, the more cautious and careful you are in trying to avoid them, the more unavoidable they become."

Those who act cautiously out of necessity—for their future, for the benefit of their families, for the sake of their elders and children—have no choice but to endure such restraint. But I, with no ties to anyone, have no such worries. I have nothing to lose and nothing to fear; I simply don't want to live a pathetic life.

Her words made sense, but: "How can you call this being carefree and without worries?" Quan Jinghuai looked at the seven disciples by the window and asked with great confusion.

"Oh, them? Hey, isn't this Brother Youquan here?" Hong Xiaoduo said with a laugh, trying to hide her guilty conscience.

After saying that, seeing that Quan Jinghuai's expression was a bit off, she felt a chill and quickly added, "Actually, to tell you the truth, Brother Quan, I was so nervous when I was taking care of them by myself before. I was worried about all sorts of things, afraid that I wouldn't be able to protect them, and so on."

But we were lucky to meet you, Brother Quan. The tension I'd been holding in finally eased, so maybe I got a little carried away with joy?

As Hong Xiaoduo spoke, she kept an eye on Quan Jinghuai's expression, and sure enough, he softened considerably.

"Yes, you've certainly had a tough time. But you should also know in your heart that although I am their master now, I can never compare to your status in their hearts."

Although one shouldn't live a cowardly life, sometimes it's better to be a little more tolerant for their sake.

"Of course, I've overstepped my bounds, Xiaoduo, please don't be angry." Quan Jinghuai said this with some concern.

He was merely the children's mentor. Just because she called him Brother Quan didn't mean he was qualified to teach her how to behave!

“Brother Quan, what you said makes sense. You’re doing this for the children and for my own good. How could I be angry? I’ll be more careful in the future,” Hong Xiaoduo said sincerely.

As they were talking, the dishes were served. Hong Xiaoduo secretly breathed a sigh of relief and called the children back to sit down.

"Eat well, then we'll go shopping and buy necessities." Hong Xiaoduo picked up a piece of fish belly meat for Yaoguang, checked that there were no fish bones, and then said to the children.

The children all nodded in agreement. In the past, being able to have a full meal even occasionally was a luxury for them.

But now, in addition to having enough to eat and wear, people can even have all sorts of 'essential items'.

The two adults and seven children didn't drink alcohol, so lunch was quickly finished. After Tian Shu paid the bill, everyone headed out.

"Young ladies, have you finished eating? Will you come again tomorrow? Is there anything you'd like to eat? I'll have the kitchen go and buy it in advance." As they were about to leave the restaurant, Lu Deyin came over and asked with a smile.

"Boss, you're too kind. However, we'll be leaving on the eighth day of the lunar new year, so we won't be coming back for the next couple of days. Your restaurant's food is delicious, but it would be a bit extravagant to come here every day."

By the way, let me give you a suggestion. You see, with those big round tables, it's not very convenient for guests to reach for the food when it's placed on them. You could ask a carpenter to make a tabletop that's a little smaller than the big round table to put on it. And have the carpenter figure out a way to make the small tabletop in the middle that can rotate.

Wouldn't it be much more convenient for guests to pick up food this way? Hong Xiaoduo thought the old owner was a nice person, so she kindly offered this suggestion.

As Hong Xiaoduo spoke, she gestured with her hands. Lu Deyin understood, and his eyes lit up immediately. This idea was naturally good: "Thank you for your guidance, young lady."

"It's nothing, I wish you great wealth, boss." After saying that, Hong Xiaoduo took Yao Guang's hand and left.

While pondering what to buy, he also wondered if, during his two days here, he could find out what major case the governor, brought by General Lin, was going to investigate...