Zhao Wu hugged Caiyan and kissed her fiercely a few times before jumping off the bed.
"Sister Yan'er, don't move, wait."
Zhao Wu quickly brought over a basin of hot water and took out a clean pair of underwear.
After cleaning up, the two sat down together, embracing each other.
"Brother Zhao Wu, guess how much money we've saved?" Caiyan winked at him mysteriously.
"You're the head of the household, I'll just do the work from now on."
Zhao Wu's words made Caiyan so happy that she forgot what day it was.
She pulled a cloth bag from under her pillow and placed it in Zhao Wu's palm. "Weigh it in your hand. It's more than an ounce. In two months, we'll be able to fly away."
"Sister Yan'er, won't the young mistress find out what we're doing?" Zhao Wu asked with concern, he weighed the cloth bag in his hand and then stuffed it back into Caiyan's hand.
Caiyan took the bag and stuffed it back under her pillow.
“The son-in-law doesn’t come to the shop often, and the young mistress can’t possibly stay here all day. Don’t worry, she won’t find out.”
“I gave all the helpers money to keep them quiet, and I even treated them to barbecue at noon. They won’t say anything.”
Caiyan also got along well with the old women who did odd jobs; the people who came to help here were all doing odd jobs.
In the shop, Caiyan was practically the manager, so how could the helpers possibly offend her?
From the day she opened the barbecue shop, Jiang Jiaojiao only asked how much money she had made whenever they met, showing no intention of coming to the shop to manage it herself.
Business was slow in winter, so Caiyan would sell all the meat skewers she had prepared before selling the ones in the shop.
Even if the shop has leftover stock, as long as Jiang Jiaojiao doesn't spend all day in the shop, she will never know that Caiyan is using her shop to make money off her.
Zhao Wu reached out and pulled Caiyan into his arms, tucking the blankets around her. "Sister Yan'er, let's not be too greedy. After the New Year, no matter how much money you have, we can leave."
These days of barbecuing.
Zhao Wu also realized that renting the shop was the biggest expense, while buying a grill didn't cost much, and the cost of the meat bought each day could be recovered on the same day.
Zhao Wu was confident; he had plenty of strength. As long as he left this place, he was sure he could raise Caiyan to be plump and healthy.
Caiyan was also afraid that things might change if she waited too long, so she nodded vigorously, "Yes, business will be even better during the New Year. By then, we'll have enough money."
Caiyan's prediction was correct; business improved day by day in the following days.
When Su Peng came to the shop, she didn't hand over much more money.
Su Peng originally wanted to ask her to return to the manor, but looking at the heavy silver in his hand, he gave up the idea.
The priority is to let her help earn money. After all, she's already my woman, and she can't run away anyway.
...
As the days went by, Jiang Shuyue noticed that her son was coming home less and less often.
However, Xiao Jingzhao's visits to the Jiang residence became more frequent.
After dinner, Jiang Shuyue sat in the warm pavilion.
With one hand stroking Xue'er in his arms, he picked up a chess piece and said to Qiuju, "Sit down and I'll teach you a simple way to play, a game that you can learn without much thought."
“This servant knows, Miss is talking about Gomoku. Princess Chang Le and Young Master Su Nan played it. This servant watched it from the side and it’s not as simple as Miss makes it out to be.”
"Did you see Nan Nan and Chang Le play Gomoku? Who won?" Jiang Shuyue put down the Go pieces in her hand and asked with great interest.
Qiu Ju simply sat down opposite Jiang Shuyue and picked up a chess piece to play with in her hand.
"Miss, you're asking a question you already know the answer to. Does Young Master Nan dare to defeat Princess Chang Le?"
"This servant can't tell who won, but seeing that Young Master Nan Nan had a dark face the whole time, while His Highness was all smiles, I knew that His Highness must have won."
Jiang Shuyue couldn't help but laugh when she heard their funny story.
She said, "When I see Nannan tomorrow, I'll remind him again that a real man should give way to a young girl."
"Miss is so funny. Young Master Nan is not much different from His Highness. How can he be considered a real man?"
Jiang Shuyue disagreed, "That's different. Even if they're the same age, boys should still give way to girls. That's what I told Sui Sui."
“What you say is true, Miss.”
Qiuju looked out the window at the night sky that had descended upon the area. "The Court of State Ceremonial is probably extremely busy again tonight. Young Master Nangong hasn't returned yet at this hour."
"If the young master returns, he can play a couple of games of chess with the young lady."
“Ajin said that envoys from other countries will come to pay tribute after the New Year, so perhaps they are making preparations.”
"Miss, by then, the green peppers and eggplants in the greenhouse will be ripe. If the envoys are allowed to have a meal, they will be drooling with envy."
Jiang Shuyue picked up her teacup and took a sip.
She smiled and said, "When fresh vegetables ripen, they should naturally be sent to the palace for the Emperor and Princess to taste."
"So it turns out that the Moon Goddess still cares about me."
As the clear, melodious voice rang out, Xiao Jingzhao lifted the curtain and walked in.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Qiuju curtsied and quickly withdrew to prepare tea.
"Your Majesty is truly remarkable; you've only just mentioned it, and here you are." Jiang Shuyue was about to rise and curtsy when Xiao Jingzhao quickly gestured for her to dispense with the formalities.
It was cold outside in winter, so Jiang Shuyue didn't have any maids serving her outside. Therefore, no one announced the Emperor's arrival.
"Does the Moon Goddess not welcome my arrival?"
Jiang Shuyue cursed inwardly, "You're already here, how can I possibly kick you out?"
I might think that way, but I would never say it out loud.
She stroked Xue'er's soft body and said, "Your Majesty is right. This is also Sui Sui's home. My son and I are of course happy to welcome Your Majesty."
When asked about her son, Jiang Shuyue said, "Sui Sui has been coming home less often lately, and he's been visiting A Jin less often too. I wonder if he's busy with his studies."
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