"Understood, shopkeeper."
"Yes, shopkeeper, don't worry, we will definitely work hard."
Regardless of their own thoughts, everyone responded in unison.
In the Li family's courtyard, wisps of smoke still lingered from the kitchen chimney, indicating that dinner had just been prepared.
As soon as Jiayin got out of the car, she smelled a familiar sweet and sour aroma, and immediately smiled.
She ran inside quickly, hugged her mother's waist, and said sweetly, "Mom, you're so kind! How did you know I wanted sweet and sour pork ribs? Waaah, I'm starving! My stomach was growling on the way here. I'm going to eat two big bowls of rice in a bit!"
Tao Hongying was bumped by her daughter and took two steps back. She was so angry that she wanted to pinch her daughter, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
She could only pull her daughter away, tap her forehead, and laugh and scold, "Don't flatter yourself, it wasn't made especially for you. Your aunt and sister-in-law wanted something sweet and sour, so I stewed a big bowl. There's no room for you."
Jiayin wasn't angry, and ran back to the eaves.
Madam Wen and Wenjuan were sitting facing each other doing needlework when they saw the chubby girl rushing over and both protected their bellies.
Madam Wen quickly begged for mercy, "You can have it all, you can have it all! Don't bother me anymore, my stomach can't take it."
Wenjuan laughed too, "Sister, don't listen to your aunt's jokes. She was afraid you'd come back late and wouldn't get any, so she specially saved a bowl for you. I saw it."
With a smile, Jiayin went up and touched her aunt and sister-in-law's bellies as a way of greeting the baby.
Hearing the noise, Grandma Li came out of the house and pulled her granddaughter to wash her hands.
Jiayin's description of the miserable state of those rich young men amused and saddened everyone.
Madam Wen said, "These people usually roam the streets with their lackeys, bullying innocent women. They're all quite capable, but now they've shown their true colors!"
“Yes, that’s how they should be dealt with!” Wenjuan chimed in. “They’re all bullies in their own backyard. If we send them to Jiangbei, they’ll probably be begging for mercy on their knees with the barbarians.”
Grandma Li sighed, "They spoil their children too much..." She stopped mid-sentence, remembering her grandson who was jumping up and down, clamoring to go out and make his own way in the world.
Jiayin, being so clever, quickly changed the subject, exclaiming, "Mom, my pastry shop is all renovated! Tomorrow, Mom, come with me to the shop and help me teach the master bakers how to bake cakes, okay? I found a skillful young apprentice today, and I want him to learn how to decorate with buttercream!"
Tao Hongying pulled out a cloth to wipe her daughter's hands and scolded her, "Being your mother is really a loss. I raised you all these years and now I have to do chores at your beck and call?"
Jiayin wagged her tail and snuggled into her mother's arms like a puppy, "What can we do? Mother can't put me back in her belly! When I earn some money at the end of the year, I'll buy Mother a gold bracelet..."
Before she could finish speaking, Madam Wen, Wenjuan, and Old Lady Li all chimed in unison, "Solid heart!"
Finally, everyone burst into laughter.
Jiayin scratched the back of his head.
Her family knows all too well about this little hobby of hers.
Li Zhensheng met Li Lao Er and Mr. Wen at the gate. The three exchanged a few words, and as soon as they entered, they heard laughter filling the courtyard. He couldn't help but laugh as well...
The group ate their meal amidst laughter and chatter, and nothing more was said that night. The next morning, not only Tao Hongying wanted to go to the city, but also Old Lady Li, Madam Wen, and Wen Juan went to the city together.
Country life is peaceful and tranquil, but it can sometimes feel boring.
Especially these past few days, with the autumn harvest in the village, everyone has been extremely busy.
Madam Wen and Wenjuan were pregnant, and no one dared to trouble them.
Old Mrs. Li wanted to go to the fields and join in the fun, but unfortunately, it was inconvenient because of her title as a first-rank imperial consort.
She does some housework at home on weekdays, so you could say she can't sit still.
But if they go to work in the fields, outsiders will probably criticize the Li family's children and grandchildren for being unfilial.
Sometimes, a higher status brings many advantages, but it can also be a constraint...
So, the whole family, young and old, went to the city for a stroll, and if they couldn't see anything, they didn't bother to follow along.
Curious about what Jiayin had changed the shop into, everyone naturally made this their first stop.
But when the carriage arrived at the door, Peng Chuan came out to greet him, but his expression was not good.
Everyone noticed this, but no one said anything.
The two main rooms in the backyard had been prepared long ago, so that Jiayin could rest there when she came over to sort out the accounts.
Now that everyone was seated and refreshments and tea were served, Jiayin asked, "Manager Peng, has something happened at the shop?"
Manager Peng quickly stepped forward and replied, "Master, it's nothing serious, just a minor accident. Chen Xi hurt his hand..."
Did you hurt your hand?
Jiayin's face immediately turned cold. She had just asked Chen Xi to help make some snacks today, and Chen Xi had injured his hand after only one night?
If this were a coincidence, even a fool wouldn't believe it!
It's unclear whether the person who caused the damage was targeting Chen Xi, or simply dissatisfied with her decision...
Tao Hongying clearly realized this as well, and tried to speak up to support her daughter, but was stopped by Madam Wen and Old Lady Li at the same time.
As expected, Jiayin showed no panic and immediately had Manager Peng call Chen Xi over.
Chen Xi's face was deathly pale, and his eyes had lost the sparkle of yesterday. His right elbow and fingers were wrapped in white bandages, indicating that he was seriously injured.
Wenjuan and Madam Wen couldn't bear to watch and covered their mouths slightly.
Old Mrs. Li and Tao Hongying looked even worse.
They came from poor backgrounds and knew that with such an injury, their right hand would be useless, and their livelihood would definitely be affected.
Jiayin's eyes were filled with anger as she looked at Manager Peng and coldly asked, "What exactly happened?"
Shopkeeper Peng quickly knelt down and replied with a wry smile, "Master, last night we were heating vegetable oil in the shop and poured out half a pot. Just as it was getting hot, Chen Xi went to get something, lost his footing, and his right arm went straight into the oil."
Tianwu's vegetable oil is mostly rapeseed oil. If you add it directly when making desserts, it will have a particularly raw and astringent taste.
Therefore, pastry shops are used to heating vegetable oil in a pot beforehand to evaporate the flavor and turn it into cooked oil before using it.
Who would have thought that such a mundane, everyday task would lead to such an unexpected outcome...
Jiayin thought for a moment and then asked Chen Xi, "The oil in the pan is hot, shouldn't you have stayed away from it? Why did you go forward? And why did you fall down? Do you have any doubts?"
Chen Xi suddenly raised his head, a glimmer of hope appearing amidst the despair in his eyes. "Boss...you...you're willing to believe me?"
Jiayin neither nodded nor shook her head, but simply said, "This is my shop, and you are the person I have my eye on. Now that you're in trouble, I must find out the truth."
"If it's an accident, I will do my best to arrange your future job properly. After all, you have worked hard for the shop, and I can't let you lose your job just because you are injured."
"If it weren't for an accident, this matter would have been investigated thoroughly. I can't let someone with malicious intentions stay in my shop, otherwise, wouldn't this kind of thing happen again in the future?!"
Chen Xi's eyes immediately welled up with tears, and large drops of tears streamed down her face...
My darlings, regarding the various weights mentioned in the text, I'll assume it's one jin and ten liang for easy calculation. This is a lighthearted, fictional farming story; just enjoy reading it, so please be kind and don't argue! Hugs and kisses!
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