She never dared to hope for a life like this, let alone imagine having a life where she could eat whatever she wanted.
Before this, her family had struggled to even have enough to eat and wear.
Life has really gotten better and better since the family separated. It seems that being kicked out with nothing is actually a blessing for her family.
She had never been so grateful to the elderly couple.
Now she is truly grateful to the old couple for kicking her family out back then, otherwise she wouldn't have such a good life today.
"Mommy, it's delicious, Mommy, eat!" Ankang, in Qiao Qiuniang's arms, grinned with his little white teeth, his mouth covered in cream, his face all messy, and he tried to stuff the cream puff in his hand into Qiao Qiuniang's mouth.
"Come on, Kangwa, take this to your father." Qiao Qiuniang put Ankang down with a loving smile and led him to the back door.
An Dalin came in through the front door carrying two jugs of wine and two packed roast chickens. “My dear granddaughter, look what delicious food I brought you.”
Anle jumped up from the sofa, craned her neck to look, and grinned.
"Grandpa, how's your search going? Have you found any shops that are for sale that you like?"
"Yes, we do have some, but I think they're too expensive. I'm currently negotiating with the owner!"
Judging from his attitude, he might actually give in!
"Let's wait until she gives me a discount of two taels of silver, then we'll buy it."
Anle moved closer to the window, making room for An Dalin.
"Really? That's great, Grandpa! Where is it? How much does it cost?"
An Dalin sat down, placed the wine pot and roast chicken on the coffee table, and sighed.
"It's just a tofu workshop!"
The place looks quite spacious. It's three streets away from here, but it's closer if you go through the alley.
They said it would cost twenty taels of silver.
I negotiated with the owner and settled on a price of seventeen taels.
But I definitely can't get seventeen taels of silver. I reckon that tofu lady can give me a discount of two taels.
That seventeen taels, I said that on purpose.
"If I set the price at eighteen taels, this tofu seller will definitely ask me for nineteen taels of silver."
Anle smiled, her eyes crinkling, and flattered An Dalin, saying, "Grandpa's the best judge of the land!"
"That's right. Don't think that just because I'm an old man who hasn't done any business, I can fool outsiders."
Anle asked with a puzzled look.
"Grandpa, why did that tofu lady sell that shop?"
I heard that the tofu over there sells quite well.
Why did they suddenly decide to sell when everything was going so well?
"They've risen to prominence, like a phoenix ascending to the heavens, and are now heading to the capital."
I heard that this tofu lady's husband is a soldier in the Crown Prince's army in the capital.
When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!
Didn't the notice posted yesterday announce that the emperor abdicated, the crown prince succeeded to the throne, and the new emperor's army was incorporated into the imperial guard?
Didn't her man become rich as a result?
They've all become part of the Imperial Guard!
Wouldn't she have to rush over and fawn over it?
A man of such status is desirable to every woman. If this tofu seller continues selling tofu here, her man will surely be snatched away by another woman.
Anle blinked, then suddenly realized, "Oh... I see!"
"Yes, that's why this tofu lady wants to open her tofu shop in the capital."
If your man becomes a hot commodity, you have to keep a close eye on him, right?
Even if she doesn't want a shop, she can't become a discarded wife, because men are known to be fickle and easily bored.
And wouldn't you know it, I happened to be browsing the shop when I found out that it was such a coincidence. It's rare to run into a customer like me so quickly.
Therefore, there is still room for negotiation regarding the price.
Anle laughed heartily.
"That's great! Let's take over this shop. We'll go and transfer the ownership tomorrow. I've already prepared the money for you."
An Dalin was both happy and worried.
"I'm so old and I can still open a shop. I'm so proud of myself!"
But whether this shop can actually get off the ground, I, this old man, have absolutely no idea!
"Don't worry, Grandpa. You can go all out and do it. Even if you can't keep going, I have other businesses for you to do. You don't need to worry about this."
An Dalin was greatly pleased.
"My precious granddaughter really knows how to care for people. Have your uncles come to congratulate us?"
Anle shook her head.
"No, after I finished cleaning the doors and windows here a few days ago and settled the payment, I haven't come back since."
An Dalin's old face darkened.
"Hmph, you envious coward who can't stand seeing others do well. Fine, if you don't want to come, then don't come. It'll be good to have some peace and quiet."
"By the way, Grandpa, are you going back to the village today?"
"Yes, I'll go back. I'll eat at this shop and then go back. The house can't be left unattended; someone has to take care of the rabbits, chickens, and other animals."
"Grandpa, take some of these leftover desserts from today back to Grandpa's house so they can try something new."
Oh, right, and the village head's family too.
We also have to send some to the village head's family. When we divided our family property before, they helped us with all sorts of things.
We also sent some to Grandma Zhu and Grandpa Lao Li Tou.
"When I had that accident in the mountains before, I was really grateful to them."
An Dalin sighed and patted An Le's head.
“My precious granddaughter knows how to behave. Okay, Grandpa will take her back and share her with us.”
An Ning, ever observant, stood up with a grin and said, "Grandpa, I'll go to the back and call Mom and Dad to come over for dinner."
I can already smell the roast chicken! And luckily, I have some leftover steamed buns and eggs from lunch—enough for a meal!
The family ate breakfast at the shop early and then saw An Dalin off.
An Yi patted his round belly and let out a burp.
"Hiccup... Little sister, I think we should find some time to have Dad bring those chickens and rabbits to town to raise, so that Grandpa won't have to run back and forth between the two places."
Grandpa really enjoys staying in this town!
These past few days, we've been listening to Grandpa talk about how great your shop is, and how enthusiastically you've been working on it.
An Mancang nodded in agreement.
"The third brother is right. Tomorrow I'll put a fence around the backyard and bring the chickens and rabbits to town."
Anle's lips stiffened, and her smile became rigid.
"Dad, I think we should just slaughter and stew the rabbits and chickens in our yard. We don't need to keep raising them anymore. We're in the food business, and it's not good to make the backyard smell so raw."
Ankang pouted, her eyes brimming with tears, looking like she was about to cry.
"Fifth Sister, don't kill the rabbit, I want to raise rabbits."
Anle reluctantly conceded, "Then we'll slaughter the chicken, but we'll save the rabbit for you."
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