"Let's not talk about that anymore," Feng Yu'er said with a faint smile. "Let's take a look and see if there's anything you like."
Feng Yu'er took out a set of red coral and jadeite jewelry and showed it to Lu Qiqi. "This is my favorite set of jewelry. It's the most suitable to wear when serving tea to my parents-in-law."
Hearing this, even the usually composed Lu Qiqi couldn't help but break down, and she scoffed, "You're thinking far ahead."
Feng Yu'er wasn't shy at all when talking about marriage, and said frankly, "It won't be long. You're two years younger than me, and you'll be sixteen this year, which is a good age for marriage. Before long, a lot of talented young men will be asking matchmakers to come and propose to you!"
"You're good-looking, so just wait until people wear out your door!"
Lu Qiqi didn't take it to heart, and accepted the red coral and jade jewelry, saying, "I'm not getting married. My third uncle said he'd find me a husband."
She didn't want to marry someone she didn't like, only to be trapped in a cycle of mutual loathing and a life of stagnation.
Rather than that, it's better to stay alone, earn more money in the future, and support yourself in your old age.
Feng Yu'er looked knowing, gently nudged Lu Qiqi's shoulder, and said with an ambiguous smile, "Waiting for Song Yanqing?"
Feng Yu'er had expected Lu Qiqi to look shy, and was even waiting to make a fool of herself.
Unexpectedly, Lu Qiqi shook her head and said, "I only walked with him for a while, and we didn't reach that point. Your steward misunderstood back then."
They mistakenly thought they were a couple.
When Feng Yu'er thought of the steward's tragic death while saving her, she stopped joking and secretly let the matter drop, never mentioning it again.
In the end, before leaving, Lu Qiqi still accepted the red coral and jadeite headdress, as well as a red coral and pearl hairpin.
After leaving Luzhou Prefecture and returning to Qingshui Town, Lu Qiqi sent mushrooms to the Hao family and Lu Yao.
Finally, there's the noodle shop.
Lu Qiqi, carrying a basket of pine mushrooms, lifted her skirt and walked straight into the noodle shop.
Even after noon, the noodle shop was still doing brisk business.
This is much better than the situation where business was only booming at noon.
It was worth it for her to provide vegetables for two months, as it helped the noodle shop retain a considerable number of customers.
"Sister Lu, you've finally come to see us!" Zhou San had just finished greeting the customers who were lining up to get their noodles when he turned around and saw Lu Qiqi. He said happily.
Lu Qiqi nodded and smiled, "My aunt and the others picked a lot of mushrooms on the mountain and asked me to bring them for you to try."
Hu Jinfei was just bringing out a small plate of cured meat for the guests when he turned around and heard Lu Qiqi's voice.
He looked down and saw a basket full of mushrooms. He laughed and said, "There's no need for so many. I'll take some back tonight for Hui Niang and A Yao to try."
Lu Qiqi said, "I've already sent a basket to the house."
However, even though these mushrooms are delicious, it's best if Aunt Zeng doesn't eat them.
Aunt Zeng is pregnant; if she experiences any discomfort after eating mushrooms, it's not advisable to take medication.
Hearing Lu Qiqi's words, Hu Jinfei became anxious, fearing that Zeng Shi might accidentally eat it.
Before Hu Jinfei could speak, Lu Qiqi added, "However, I have already spoken to Aunt Zeng about this today."
Hearing this, Hu Jinfei felt relieved, took the basket from Lu Qiqi, and went straight into the kitchen.
Lu Qiqi was then pulled aside by Zhou San to examine the ledger.
On Wednesday, she took out nearly a month's worth of account books and handed them to Lu Qiqi with both hands, saying, "Sister Lu, I'm doing a much better job with the accounts now. You mentioned a simpler method last time, what is it? I want to learn it!"
Seeing Zhou San's earnest and eager-to-learn appearance, Lu Qiqi smiled and said, "No rush. You've only just started working with these accounts. It will take you quite a while to learn a whole new set of accounts. Just keep practicing."
It wasn't that Lu Qiqi was unwilling to teach, fearing that her apprentice would starve her if she learned it; rather, the new set of accounts, which was what was commonly referred to as inventory management in the previous life, was simply not suitable for use in the present era.
If one day someone were to audit their accounts and discover that they were using different accounting methods, it's hard to say whether they would be considered spies from an enemy country.
With the principle of "better to avoid trouble than to cause it," Lu Qiqi had already optimized and made her bookkeeping methods much more convenient, so there was really no need to take any risks.
“Okay,” Wednesday nodded somewhat disappointedly, hanging his head as he put away the ledger.
Lu Qiqi found it amusing to see his radiant, sunny demeanor instantly wilted.
She absentmindedly touched the back of Wednesday's head.
On Wednesday, he was instantly appeased, like a little puppy, wagging his tail with joy.
Before Lu Qiqi could retract her hand, she suddenly heard a shrill sound coming from the kitchen.
Ah~
It's Aunt Zhao's voice!
Lu Qiqi and Zhou San exchanged a glance, then walked toward the kitchen with heavy expressions.
Wednesday was spent reassuring diners who had heard noises coming from the kitchen and were looking in that direction.
When Lu Qiqi walked into the kitchen, she saw Liu Tong help Aunt Zhao up, then fill a bucket with water and put Aunt Zhao's hands into the bucket to soak.
All that could be heard was Aunt Zhao wincing in pain, and Liu Tong's expression also turned grim.
"What happened?" Lu Qiqi asked as she walked.
Aunt Niu looked a little flustered and said, "I was washing mushrooms when Yunniang suddenly rushed out. I was so startled that I spilled the hot water I was washing the dishes."
As she spoke, Aunt Niu moved to the cupboard.
Zhu Zi picked up the wooden basin from which the hot water had been spilled, and then took a mop to clean up the puddle of water on the ground to prevent anyone from slipping and falling.
Lu Qiqi didn't say much after hearing this. Now was not the time to question responsibility; treating Aunt Zhao's injuries was the priority.
Lu Qiqi stepped forward and squatted down, lifting Aunt Zhao's arm. Liu Tong and Zhu Zi turned their faces away to avoid suspicion.
All that could be seen was a patch of bright red on her fair skin, with several large, protruding blisters, making her look extremely gruesome.
No wonder Aunt Zhao was covered in sweat and made a painful sound when she first touched the cold water.
Lu Qiqi took out a small porcelain bottle, poured in some spiritual spring water, and applied it to Aunt Zhao's arm.
Aunt Zhao's tightly clenched lips gradually relaxed, and she said, "What kind of medicine is this? It feels cool and refreshing, and it doesn't seem to hurt as much anymore!"
Lu Qiqi, who was taking Aunt Zhao's pulse, did not answer, and Aunt Zhao tactfully stopped pressing for details.
After taking her pulse and confirming that Aunt Zhao was alright, Lu Qiqi handed her the porcelain bottle and said, "Apply the ointment twice a day and eat a light diet, and you won't have any scars."
Women of this era valued their appearance and skin the most, even widows who had lost their husbands.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhao repeatedly expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you very much, shopkeeper."
Lu Qiqi stood up and said calmly, "No need to thank me. If you had an accident while working here, it's a work injury, and I should be responsible."
"However, I'd like to know what exactly happened that made you so reckless as to spill the hot water."
Lu Qiqi began to ask questions, and Aunt Zhao timidly raised her eyes to look at Aunt Niu, before she could speak.
Then Aunt Niu shouted, "It's her! She tried to steal something! I caught her red-handed!"
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