"They're about the same age as us, so how can they be disrespectful to their elders?"
Anning hummed, hands on her hips.
"Teachers are respected and elders are respected. As long as Teacher Zhen is still a teacher, isn't what you're doing just showing disrespect and lacking manners?"
An Yi choked, her face contorted with embarrassment, pointing at An Ning's nose, unable to utter a word.
An Ning raised her chin and twitched her eyebrow.
"What? You're not convinced?"
An Yi dragged out the words perfunctorily, nodding and bowing.
"Wow, you're amazing. You're like a grandma. I'll light incense and worship you as a goddess tomorrow."
Zhen glanced at the two halls with a sense of novelty. The two halls, which were formed by connecting two shops, were spacious and bright at first glance.
One of the halls was furnished with unfamiliar tables and chairs, which appeared to be in a chaotic yet orderly fashion.
Everything looked so clean, bright, novel, and unique.
The walls were a bright, warm yellow; the windows were crystal clear; the vase on the dining table was sparkling; and the flowers in the vase were vibrant and eye-catching.
The yellow and white crystal beaded curtain hanging between the two halls is luxurious and eye-catching.
The baby's breath peeking out from the woven flower basket hanging on the wall perfectly adorned the large, empty yellow wall.
The small green plants in pure white porcelain bottles on the windowsill and counter are the finishing touches that catch the eye.
The various strange and unusual decorations and ornaments in the entire hall were so eye-catching.
"Where are Uncle An and Aunt An?"
She smiled quietly, "My parents went to Jiuli Street to deliver food. My grandfather runs a chess club and teahouse there."
It's raining so hard, and Grandpa's all alone there. Mom and Dad are worried, so they're going to check on him."
Anle smiled and waved to Zhen Buyan, inviting him to sit down.
"Teacher Zhen has been here for quite some time now, so everyone should be familiar with each other by now. Let's not stand on ceremony, sit down and have something to eat together, consider it lunchtime, it's almost lunchtime."
Zhen glanced at the straw mat on the ground; it was covered with colorful bottles, jars, and packaging bags.
On the large sheet of oil paper laid out were three fried chicken legs, two chicken burgers, a pile of popcorn chicken, two paper cups of iced cola, a cup of plum juice, and a cup of orange juice.
The little guy Ankang, sitting on the mat next to me, was engrossed in the world of fried chicken legs, fighting alone with a fried chicken leg in his arms, his face covered in bread crumbs.
An Ding scooped up An Kang with his large hand and pulled him into his arms, making room for Zhen Buyan.
"Please sit down, Teacher Zhen."
Zhen Bu Yan was a little stiff all over, so he just sat down on the ground? Disregarding etiquette?
After hesitating for a moment, remembering what Mencius had told him, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," Zhen Bu Yan didn't have so many reservations and sat cross-legged with his brothers and sisters from the An family.
They assumed this was the usual practice in the village.
An Yi rubbed his hands together. Hey, I rarely see people like this. Today I can finally have a good chat with Teacher Zhen. Since he came with Master Meng, he must be from the capital.
From the capital city!
That was a golden paradise they could only dream of!
"Teacher Zhen, I heard you came from the capital with Master Meng?"
Zhen Buyan's expression stiffened, and he nodded with a slight unease.
Seeing Zhen nod without speaking, An Yi became even more excited.
"Hey, there must be a lot of weird and wonderful things in the capital, right?"
Is it really true, as they say, that everyone can have a few ounces of gold hanging on them?
I heard that people over there live a life of luxury, with no worries about food or clothing!
Their clothes were all inlaid with gold and silver.
Hearing An Yi's next gossipy and curious remarks, Zhen Buyan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Life is indeed better over there than here. The residents outside the city are quite wealthy, and everyone has enough to eat and drink."
In the capital city, under the emperor's wing, many high-ranking officials and noble families resided, naturally adorned with gold and silver.
An Ning's eyes sparkled, and she eagerly followed up with more questions.
"Teacher Zhen, do you think the pastries sold in my dessert shop are even better than those sold in the capital city?"
An Yi slapped his thigh.
"Yes, yes, Teacher Zhen, you absolutely have to tell us, which is better, the pastries eaten by the noble families there or the pastries sold in our dessert shop?"
My little sister really wants to make this business the biggest one.
Zhen lowered his eyes slightly and thought about it carefully.
"If we're talking about the taste and appearance of these pastries, then the ones in this dessert shop are definitely far superior."
There are pastries sold in the capital city.
But those aristocratic families, aside from having a great fondness for pastries from a few shops that had exceptionally good taste and presentation, mostly disdained to enter.
An Ning exclaimed in astonishment.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because prestigious families have their own professional cooks and pastry chefs, they rarely get to eat pastries sold outside."
Most of the pastries in those pastry shops were sold to wealthy commoners.
Then there are the unfavored young masters and ladies from noble families who rarely get to eat pastries.
If the rations of food allocated to the less favored young masters and ladies were reduced, they would have to go out and buy some pastries and snacks to satisfy their cravings.
Upon hearing this, An Ning was uncertain.
"Teacher Zhen, do you think my dessert shop would be a huge hit if it opened in Beijing?"
I thought that with the delicious pastries from her shop, she would definitely attract many customers.
But those prestigious families all have their own pastry chefs who come to their homes, so why would they need to go outside to buy pastries?
Zhen smiled slightly, "Yes, I have tasted the pastries served to guests by prestigious families."
It's worlds apart from the pastries in dessert shops.
After speaking, he paused for a moment, seemingly realizing he had said something wrong, and then fell silent again.
An Ning didn't think much of what he said, but cheered and rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a fried chicken leg and stuffed it into Zhen Buyan's hand.
"Haha... I knew it! No one can beat my little sister's pastry recipe."
Zhen looked at the fried chicken leg in his hand, feeling lost and helpless.
Anning picked up another one and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Teacher Zhen, don't be shy, please have some. This fried chicken leg is delicious."
Anle sat to the side, her eyes darting around, seemingly gleaning something from the information Zhen Buyan had gleaned.
You were entertained by prominent families and noble clans as a guest, weren't you?
It seems that Teacher Zhen is quite someone important!
How did someone of such high status end up in this remote mountain valley with Master Meng?
Thinking too much is pointless, and besides, this kid is clearly wary of them, so there's no way they'll get anything out of him.
However, he has been quite well-behaved and dutiful during his stay here these days, and has not caused any trouble for their family.
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