"Then I'll have a little of everything and try which one is the best."
Knowing that Liu Zhiyuan was in a hurry, Li Youran quickly wrapped it up in lotus leaves and oil paper.
"My dear young master, what time is it? Let's go!" Liu Er felt utterly exhausted. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, while the young master acted as if nothing was wrong.
"Keep the change, keep the extra for next time." Liu Zhiyuan handed Li Youran a ten-tael silver coin and said with a smile, "Wishing Miss Li a prosperous business."
“Liu…”
Before Li Youran could finish speaking, Liu Zhiyuan was pulled away by Liu Er and ran out.
It is said that if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too; it is true that like master, like servant.
Li Youran weighed the heavy silver coin in his hand, thinking that he would give the customer a 10% discount next time he came to buy something, since this was his biggest customer!
"Dad, did you fight with Mom again?" Liu Zhiyuan rushed back home and saw his mother wiping away tears. He hurriedly asked his father what had happened.
But then I noticed that there were no scratches on my father's face, and there were no broken porcelain pieces in the house.
But with his mother crying so bitterly, Liu Zhiyuan couldn't help but think the worst.
"Mother, is it possible that my father is about to die?"
"You bastard!" Old Master Liu said, taking off his shoes and throwing them at Liu Zhiyuan. "I knew I shouldn't have spoken up for you!"
Looking back now, it really wasn't worth it for Master Liu to risk offending his wife by speaking up for this good-for-nothing son.
"Mother, what happened?" Liu Zhiyuan skillfully dodged the shoe thrown by Master Liu and said to Madam Liu, "Mother, don't cry. Even if the sky falls, your son is still here for you."
"If you really listen to me, we'll arrange your marriage with Miss Zhao before the new year." Upon hearing her son's words, Madam Liu broke down completely.
It turned out that early this morning, Lady Liu went to the prefect's house to attend a flower-viewing banquet, and many other officials' wives were also invited.
When young wives and older women get together, they do nothing more than gossip about everyday matters and chatter amongst themselves.
As they talked, the conversation turned to Liu Zhiyuan, the third young master of the Liu family, who was said to have a missing arm.
Not only does he not have a maidservant in his household, but despite having a marriage contract, he has been delaying the engagement.
Fortunately, Mrs. Zhao was a reasonable person and stood up for Mrs. Liu, saying that the Zhao and Liu families would soon become in-laws.
After returning home, Liu Niangzi thought about Liu Zhiyuan's previous reactions and deduced that what everyone said was very likely true. Otherwise, why would her son not like the beautiful and virtuous Zhao Lanshan?
Mr. Liu didn't think so. He had found many books about fighting children under his son's bed and believed that his son's sexual orientation was normal.
But no matter what Master Liu said, Madam Liu didn't believe him unless her son quickly arranged a marriage with Zhao Lanshan.
This led to Liu Er's hasty departure to find Liu Zhiyuan.
"Mother, what are you talking about?" Seeing this, Liu Zhiyuan hurriedly went to massage Liu's shoulders and back. "You know your son doesn't like Miss Zhao..."
"Stop trying to bluff your way out of this! Do you know what everyone's saying?" Madam Liu said angrily, "They all say you're not interested in women!"
"I just don't understand. Miss Zhao is not only beautiful, but also has a wonderful personality. What is it that you're not satisfied with?"
At the flower-viewing banquet, several women tried to get close to Zhao Niangzi, praising Zhao Lanshan in their conversations. With a daughter like Zhao Lanshan, many families would seek her hand in marriage; if her son didn't get engaged soon, Zhao Lanshan might be snatched away by someone else.
“Mother, it’s not that I’m indifferent to women, it’s just that I haven’t met a girl I like yet.” Liu Zhiyuan said seriously, “I want to marry the woman I love, just like Father did, and only then will I be happy.”
"You little brat, how dare you make fun of your mother." Liu Niangzi was amused by Liu Zhiyuan. Although she said the words of reproach, she was very pleased in her heart.
"Listen to your father's advice, you'll be living the same life no matter who you marry, so why not marry a gentle and virtuous woman?" Master Liu looked like he regretted his decision.
However, after being glanced at by Madam Liu, he immediately changed his mind.
"Your mother is both gentle and virtuous." Seeing that Madam Liu's expression had softened, Master Liu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Although Miss Zhao is not as good as your mother, she is still one of the best among these ladies from prominent families."
Seeing that his parents were united, Liu Zhiyuan realized that if they continued this topic today, they would have to go on and on until they reached a very serious conclusion. So, he quickly came up with a plan.
"The imperial examination for the licentiate will be right after the New Year, and I don't want to be distracted by these things," Liu Zhiyuan said, pretending to have a headache. "If my classmates and friends pass the exam while I fail, it would be a real disgrace."
Just as Liu Zhiyuan had predicted, Lady Liu hesitated slightly upon hearing about the imperial examination for the licentiate.
"The engagement can be postponed, but the maidservant must be arranged."
"Okay, I'll do whatever Mother says," Liu Zhiyuan replied with a smile.
He thought that since he couldn't change his mother's mind immediately, postponing it would be great. The concubines were a minor matter; as long as he didn't touch them, it didn't matter whether they were there or not.
"These are pig intestines I bought especially for you," Liu Zhiyuan said, unwrapping the cooked food that was wrapped in oil paper and lotus leaves.
Upon smelling the aroma, Mr. Liu revealed an expression of enjoyment.
"Strange, why doesn't it taste as disgusting as usual this time?"
In the past, Madam Liu would have smelled the peculiar stench long ago. But today, it wasn't until Liu Zhiyuan unwrapped the oil paper that she smelled a faint odor of pig intestines.
"This is a newly opened cooked food shop. I heard the food is pretty good, so I bought some to try."
Hearing Liu Zhiyuan's words, Master Liu was very moved. It seemed that he had misunderstood his son, and that his son still cared about him as his father.
"This young man is teachable," Master Liu exclaimed.
“Other places sell pig’s head meat for 13 copper coins a pound, but we sell it for 12 copper coins a pound,” Li Youran said, cutting off a small piece of pig’s head meat with his dagger. “How does it taste?”
Seeing that several more passersby had gathered around, Li Youran hurriedly cut a few more small pieces of pig's head meat and distributed them to everyone.
"Soft, chewy, and savory, not bad."
"There was no porky smell, and the pig hair was cleaned off very well."
"He who eats another's food is bound to do so," and besides, the pork tasted really good, and it was a copper coin cheaper than elsewhere, so everyone bought some.
"Eating meat without garlic is like missing half the flavor." Li Youran pointed to the basket next to her and said, "Our store provides free garlic, so everyone should bring some."
Such thoughtful preparations have won over customers' hearts without them even realizing it.
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