Chapter 58: The 58th Inn's Banquet Reservation
Fu Wang called Yun Yin out and said, "The people I called have arrived. I'll have them come and see you."
Yunyin looked at the three people in front of her and asked in surprise, "Didn't I tell you to leave only one person? Why are there so many?"
Fu Wang: "One person is not enough. I will take Luo Tian and the others with me, but I will also leave some people for you. These people will replace Luo Tian and the others. If anyone wants to go on a delivery mission, they can also send someone to Mianzhou to notify the escort agency."
Wang Shitou, who was standing by the roadside, stepped forward and said, "Miss Yun, it's been a long time. I brought some people over to show you around and also to let you taste your cooking. Once we set off, we won't be able to eat it for a long time."
He looked haggard, but his eyes lit up when he talked about food. Yunyin greeted him, "You finally came back, shouldn't you get some rest?"
Wang Shitou smiled and said, "This is a rest." He pointed to a person next to him and said, "This is Cheng Yong. He was injured before and has been recuperating in Mianzhou. The boss said you needed people here, so Brother Cheng volunteered to come. Firstly, he can take good care of his injuries, and secondly, he can help you guard the courtyard. I hope you won't mind."
Cheng Yong smiled and nodded to Yun Yin. Yun Yin looked at him and saw that he was older than Fu Wang and the others, with a full beard and a few strands of silver in his hair. She nodded back to him and then looked at the two people behind him.
"The two behind him, one is named Ma Hao and the other is named Feng Hai. They are both good fighters, and of course, they are also very good at working. They used to be excellent farmers. Oh, by the way, Feng Hai is a pretty good cook. If Madam Yun is too busy, you can ask him to help."
Yunyin looked at the thin Feng Hai and was surprised to find that he was a cook. She did need a cook, and she only hesitated for a moment before accepting the people that Fu Wang had sent. "Since Fu Wang has left you here with me, I will not treat you unfairly. How about this, you will receive the same wages as Zheng Guilan and the others. Is that acceptable?"
Feng Hai and Ma Hao looked at Fu Wang, and seeing that he didn't speak, they also remained silent. However, Cheng Yong, who was standing to the side, said, "Madam Yun, you're too kind. I'm already extremely grateful to be able to recuperate here. How could I possibly take your money? Besides, Fu Wang is already paying, so how could I possibly ask for your money again?"
Yunyin shook her head and said, "That's not how it works. I paid you to help so you could work, otherwise I would feel bad. Besides, Fu Wang paid me what he paid you, and I paid you for the work you did for me."
Fu Wang said to Ma Hao and the others, "You can accept it. Just do your job well for A Yin." As for Cheng Yong, he originally wanted him to recuperate and help keep an eye on Yun Yin in case anything happened while he was away.
Cheng Yong raised an eyebrow at Fu Wang, knowing better than to expose him. Fu Wang met his gaze, coughed lightly, and looked away. Cheng Yong shook his head, then saw Wang Shitou, who was still clinging to Yun Yin, and frowned, saying, "Shitou, come here, I have something to say to you."
Yunyin cleaned up the room next to Zhang Lin's room for Feng Hai and Ma Hao. The two rooms were originally one, but it was too big for Zhang Lin to live in alone, so she took advantage of the time to clean up the side room and divided it into two rooms as well.
As for Cheng Yong, Yunyin arranged for him to stay in one of the five side rooms. She told Cheng Yong, "This room is rather simple, with only a bed and a table. There's nothing else in it. If you need anything, just tell me and I'll get it for you."
Cheng Yong looked around the room and said, "It's alright, this is already very good."
After settling the three of them in, Yunyin said to them, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? Go sit down for a while, I'll cook you a dish, it'll be ready soon."
Fu Wang led the group into the lobby, found a seat, and asked Wang Shitou, "What time is it scheduled this time?"
Wang Shitou took a sip of the cold noodles Zhang Lin brought, "We have to set off within three days after the Mid-Autumn Festival. They're urging us urgently, saying there's a batch of goods that needs to be transported to Mianzhou as soon as possible."
Fu Wang: "I understand. You'll come along this time too. I'll be taking a few people with me."
"Are they the ones standing by the roadside?" Wang Shitou put down his empty bowl and said, "They look pretty good in terms of physique, but they haven't had any real combat experience, so they probably won't be of much use."
Fu Wang glared at him: "As long as they can transport goods and defend against enemies, that's enough. This isn't about killing enemies on the battlefield, so what other use do they have?"
Wang Shitou scratched his head and said, "I was just saying that."
Cheng Yong put down the hot water and asked, "Are you planning to recruit them into the escort team?"
Fu Wang shook his head: "They are Lady Yun's people. I'm just helping to guide them. They will still come back here in the future and be handed over to Lady Yun."
Wang Shitou asked curiously, "Does Lady Yun also want to go on the escort mission?"
Cheng Yong rolled his eyes at him and said, "You probably want someone to deliver the goods."
"Isn't this the same thing? Aren't they stealing our business?"
Fu Wang punched him and said, "Idiot, he means to sell things."
"So that's what you mean. Lady Yun wants to go into trade?" Wang Shitou scratched his head and said, "That might not be easy."
Fu Wang waved his hand and said, "I'm just guessing. But right now, all that Lady Yun can transport out is sauce and the like. I don't know what her plans are, but I'll help her bring the people out first."
"Boss, didn't you say before that you didn't want to get involved in business? You also said that we should only do escort missions. How come you're cooperating with Lady Yun now?"
Fu Wang didn't reply, but Cheng Yong said, "I'm afraid his real intentions aren't what they seem."
When Yunyin brought the dishes over, she happened to hear this sentence. She asked curiously, "What do you mean by 'the drunkard's heart is not in the wine'?"
Fu Wang's ears turned slightly red as he stepped forward to help serve the dishes: "It's nothing, thank you for your hard work, A Yin. You should sit down and rest too."
Yunyin put the dishes down, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and smiled at him, saying, "It's okay, I'm not tired from cooking, it's just a little hot."
Fu Wang took a palm-leaf fan and fanned her. The others had already started grabbing for food. Wang Shitou pulled Cheng Yong back and said, "You're injured, so you should eat less of this. Leave it for us."
Ma Hao and Feng Hai agreed, "Yes, Brother Cheng, you should eat lighter meals lately. We'll take care of these."
Yunyin watched them playfully bickering and said with a smile, "You two really have a good relationship."
Fu Wang smiled helplessly and said, "I'm already used to it."
Just then, Luo Man walked in from outside. When she saw Yun Yin, her eyes lit up and she said, "Sister A Yin, you're here. Perfect timing, I need to talk to you."
Yunyin told them and got up to go find Luo Man.
Cheng Yong watched Yun Yin's departing figure, raised an eyebrow and said to Fu Wang, "Yun Niangzi is not bad, you should keep up the good work."
Wang Shitou asked, completely bewildered, "Brother Cheng, what do you mean?"
Fu Wang slapped the palm-leaf fan on his head and said, "Eat your food. If you don't understand, don't talk."
Yunyin led Luoman to the kitchen, which was now empty. Zheng Guilan had finished washing the dishes and left, and Fang He had gone out to practice horse stance.
Yunyin asked Luoman, "Sister Aman, is there something you need from me?"
"Well, I ate the mooncakes you made today, and they were quite delicious. I was wondering if you could sell them in my shop?"
Yunyin thought that if she made the fillings and they made mooncakes together, they could still supply both of Luoman's shops. She nodded and said, "Of course, no problem. How about 180 coins per box?"
Luo Man said gratefully, "You're so kind, sister, to give me such a discount. Please give me 190 coins."
Yunyin shook her head and said, "Not to mention how much Sister Aman has helped me, I could make quite a bit of money just by selling mooncakes in your shop."
Luo Man ultimately couldn't win against Yun Yin. "Fine, then I'll have someone come and collect the mooncakes every day. You don't need to have them delivered anymore."
Yunyin went back to her room, retrieved the money, and said, "Sister Aman, this is the money I'm returning to you. It's a total of eighteen taels. I'll return the rest after I finish the banquet."
Luo Man took the silver and said, "I need 100 mooncakes this time. As for the rest of the money, see how much you have. Just use the mooncakes to pay for it."
Yunyin calculated that she had already returned eight taels to her, and today she would return eighteen taels, leaving a balance of 24 taels. She said, "Sister Aman, I will make 133 mooncakes for you, and then give you 60 coins. That way we will be even."
Luo Man nodded and said, "Alright, I'll take 50 portions of these mooncakes each day for three days. If they sell well, I'll ask you for more later."
Yunyin returned with the empty money box. Although the money box was empty again, she had paid off all her debts and was finally free of debt. She was able to save all the money she earned after that.
Yunyin calculated that after finishing the banquets she had accepted today, she could save another ten taels of silver. It was still easier to earn money from the rich. She should accept some banquets every month in the future.
Just then, Zheng Guilan called out to her from outside, "Miss Yun, we have a guest."
Yunyin responded, locked the door, and went to the lobby.
"Madam Wan, you've arrived! I recently made some new pastries with various fillings. Would you like to buy some for Madam Xia to try?"
Wan Leqiao used a bamboo skewer to pick up a piece to taste, and nodded, saying, "I'll take some back for my wife to try. By the way, my wife asked me to help her book a banquet. I wonder when I can make the reservation?"
Yunyin handed her the menu and said, "You can make a reservation now, but it will be arranged in five days. I wonder if Miss Xia can accept that."
Wan Leqiao glanced at the menu, which featured many new dishes. She looked at the banquet table that cost ten strings of cash and asked, "Can this dish be changed?"
Yunyin looked at the soft-shelled eel she was referring to and nodded, saying, "Of course we can change it. What does Miss Xia like to eat? I can help her get something she likes."
Wan Leqiao said, "Our lady loves to eat desserts. She really liked the almond milk you made before. I wonder if you could make some other dairy desserts. She really liked the Snow Mochi dessert before, but unfortunately she hasn't been able to eat it since."
Yunyin said apologetically, "As for dairy products, I don't have any cows producing milk here, so I can't make them for the time being. I can make dairy products when my cows produce milk next year."
Wan Leqiao said, "That's alright, we'll bring the milk over then. I wonder if you could help make a few more kinds of pastries, Miss Yun?"
Yunyin: "Since Madam Xia can provide milk, I can certainly help."
"For milk desserts, I can make double-skin milk, ginger milk curd, and caramel pudding."
After listening to her explanation, Wan Leqiao nodded and said, "Make all these desserts. Are there any other desserts?"
After thinking for a moment, Yunyin said, "I can also make silver thread sugar pastry and honey three-cut pastry. I have all the ingredients here, but it will take a lot of time. Miss Xia may have to wait a while."
Wan Leqiao: "It's alright, as long as the pastries are delicious. I'll take these mooncakes back for my wife to try first, and then we'll come back in five days to eat Yun Niangzi's other pastries."
She left ten strings of cash and departed, before Yunyin could even say that she only needed two strings as a deposit.
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