beginning
After the Lantern Festival, Baohefang has not yet returned to its former bustling crowds.
Even after the noodle shop opened for ten days, business wasn't particularly good. Every day when the shop closed, there would always be a dozen or so steamed buns or steamed buns left over. But Zheng didn't waste them, except for asking Bao Nian to take some home. The rest, she would go to Zhouqiao every day and distribute to the homeless beggars, as a way to gain merit.
On this day, it rained for the first time in the new year in Bianjing.
Zheng sat on the steps in front of the store, daydreaming as usual.
Watching the hurried crowds, Zheng figured she'd have to go to Zhouqiao again today, so she sighed in boredom. She planned to hire an oxcart to get there today, rather than walking and getting her skirt and clothes wet.
But Baonian was sensitive, and the sigh fell into the mist and rain and was heard by her.
Bao Nian shamefacedly said to Zheng, "Madam Zheng, business is bad. Could it be because my noodles are so bad? That's why we can't attract repeat customers? It looks like there's going to be a lot of leftovers today. I'm so ashamed of you for running around so hard."
Zheng suddenly looked back, and saw a curtain of rain falling behind her.
Zheng didn't quite hear Bao Nian's faint words.
Cang Yi came out from the back kitchen, lifting the curtain. She had been taking care of the old lady these days and would come over when she had nothing to do.
She is such a diligent person that she can't sit idle for a moment.
When Cang Yi heard Bao Nian say this, he smiled and comforted her, "Why underestimate yourself? Bao Nian, everything is difficult at the beginning. You have to know that business is not easy to do, especially business in Bianjing City. When I first followed Sister Li to set up a stall at Zhuque Gate, it was such a prime location. We got up at three in the morning and set up the stall at noon, working day and night. But do you know that when we first opened, we were so lucky if we could sell a few bowls a day?"
Bao Nian turned her head, her thoughts drawn to her. But she couldn't guess, so she shook her head with Cang Yi, "How many bowls?"
Cang Yi replied, "Twenty bowls."
"Twenty bowls? That's Suzaku Gate, with a constant stream of people coming and going. How could they only sell twenty bowls?" Zheng found it unbelievable.
But Cang Yi is an experienced person and can be more patient than them.
Cang Yi knew that it was normal for a newly opened shop to be empty. The daily profit of the noodle shop was already quite impressive, in her opinion. She said to the two of them, "Customers need to be accumulated slowly, and good reputation needs to be spread. Opportunities cannot be forced, so we need to be patient and take our time. So, Bao Nian, don't be discouraged. You have to believe that our food is delicious in order for customers to buy it. If you think it's not good, how can customers buy it?"
Cang Yi spoke with great sincerity, and her whole body lit up when she talked about these things.
It was because Zheng had noticed her strengths that she had the idea and courage to open this shop in the first place. Zheng felt that they couldn't always be trapped in the deep courtyard. They could also do things that they were good at. "Yes, Sister Bao Nian. Don't worry about the business. Everything will work out in the end. There is no hurdle that cannot be overcome. We have strength in numbers. We can pool our wisdom and work together to find a solution. As for losing money... you don't have to worry about it. Our General Taishi has plenty of money."
"Hey... I'll listen to you two."
Bao Nian's worries were dispelled by Cang Yi's comfort and Zheng's warmth.
The three women looked at each other and everything disappeared.
Zheng turned her head, still watching the rain falling on the long street, the quiet budding of life. Her skirt, soaked by the rising tide, gently fell, and she listened to Cang Yi's words behind her: "Isn't the Ministry of Rites' provincial exam tomorrow? Didn't you say you were going to deliver the exam supplies to your husband today? Why don't you take Xiaobao and leave early today? Zheng and I will stay and pack up."
"That won't work."
Bao Nian politely declined Cang Yi's suggestion. She said, "It's okay, Madam Cang Yi. I've already prepared the things and left them here. After I close the shop, I'll go directly from here to the Imperial College. I won't be delayed."
"Then remember to drive slowly. I hope your husband will pass the imperial examination today." After saying this, Cang Yi exchanged a glance with Bao Nian, then walked over to Zheng and stood with her hands behind her back. The two sisters-in-law, one standing in the rain curtain, neither of them spoke.
Zheng was in deep thought, and her ideas must have been endless.
Turning to look at Cang Yi, Zheng suddenly said, "Sister-in-law, is the vegetable picking festival coming soon?" Cang Yi lowered his eyes, a little puzzled, "The vegetable picking festival on the second day of the second month is almost here. But why are you asking this out of the blue?"
Zheng clapped her hands suddenly and shouted, "Hey, I've got it. We can make some wild vegetable steamed buns according to seasonal customs and sell them before the festival. There will always be people who can't go out of town to buy vegetables but want to try something new. This way, we can attract customers and expand our reputation, so that more people will know about our shop. What do you think? Why don't we give it a try? It won't hurt."
Cang Yi was shocked by Zheng's reaction, but when she calmed down and thought about it, she found that there was a way.
But as the head of the family, Cang Yi always had more concerns than those sitting on the steps. She opened her mouth to respond, "It's a good idea, but the wild vegetables are not abundant. Where can we get them? How much can we pick by ourselves? Have you thought about this?"
Since Zheng made the suggestion, she had already thought about where the raw materials of these wild vegetables came from.
Seeing her confident attitude, she said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. I know a vendor who sells vegetables in Bianjing that he can't get. Besides, these wild vegetable steamed buns are just a gimmick to attract people. As the saying goes, scarcity makes things valuable. We can limit the quantity this time. If they can't buy it today, they will scratch their heads and come back tomorrow after another round."
Cang Yi smiled and said, "Okay, you are the one with lots of ideas. Since the boss lady has said so, we just have to follow her and do the work."
Zheng looked at Cang Yi with her eyes curved in smile.
Suddenly, an umbrella pierced through the rain curtain and landed in front of them. The person under the umbrella stopped silently, gazing affectionately at the girl sitting on the steps. He spoke softly, and there was a tenderness in his words.
"Won't you feel cold sitting on the ground, ma'am?"
Cang Yi looked at the man's face exposed under the umbrella, sneered, and turned away wisely.
Zheng looked up, and Cui Zhijun's calm yet warm gaze fell into her eyes. She called out happily, "Erlang." Cui Zhijun also responded with that pure smile.
Zheng asked Erlang, "Why are you here?"
Cui Zhijun stretched out his arm, trying to pull someone up from the cold stone steps. He said, "I'm here to pick up the boss lady from work."
These words cut through the cold mist and rain. Zheng silently took his hand. Their two cold palms clasped together, the warmth from their palms slowly taking over the chill from their fingertips. As long as they didn't let go, the warmth would continue like this, just like their lives.
Hiding in Cui Zhijun's umbrella, Zheng suddenly remembered something and pushed Cui Zhijun away. Cui Zhijun looked away in confusion, "Are you off duty already? Don't you need to tell your sister-in-law and the others?"
Zheng shook her head. "Who said it was time to get off work? I just wanted to take you somewhere. I have to come back and clean up soon. Let's go."
"Go somewhere?" Cui Zhijun was at a loss.
But he allowed the people around him to take him to an unknown place.
It wasn't until they stopped in front of Baohe Hall that Zheng mentioned it. Cui Zhijun looked up, but this look made him even more confused. "What are you doing here? Are you sick? What's wrong with you?"
Zheng raised her eyebrows. "I'm not feeling unwell. It's just that since you've made it this far, I think it's a good idea to ask the doctor from Baohetang to check us out."
"Show us? Show us what..."
Cui Zhijun didn't know what his wife, who was always acting on her own, was up to. But since he was already here, how could he escape? Cui Zhijun could only obediently let his wife drag him inside.
Probably because of the rain, Baohetang, which is usually crowded, did not require a number today and only allowed patients to enter the inner hall where the doctor was sitting.
The rich aroma of medicine filled her nose. Zheng carefully pulled Cui Zhijun forward. This was something she had wanted to do for a long time, but she had never had the chance. Now, Cui Zhijun had come to her door. Zheng would not let him go no matter what.
Pushing Cui Zhijun to sit in the inner hall, Zheng asked softly, "Mr. Doctor."
"We want to see..."
But before Zheng could open her mouth, the strange old man sitting in the hall hissed, signaling Zheng to be silent. He simply glanced at the young couple, waved his hand, and asked them to put their wrists together. Then, without saying a word, he began to check their pulses one by one.
Zheng looked at Cui Zhiyun, and Cui Zhiyun looked at Zheng.
Although she was the one who pulled him here, they were both equally confused at this moment.
But the old doctor shook his head after checking Cui Zhijun's pulse, and also shook his head after checking Taishi Zheng's pulse, frightening the young couple so much that they dared not breathe. Could it be some incurable disease? But they still had a long time to live... How could it be -
The three of them were silent for a while before Zheng dared to ask, "Sir, what's wrong with us? Is it serious?"
The old doctor asked in return, "What do you think is the problem?"
Zheng was stunned. Cui Zhijun touched her arm and calmly said, "I am a young man with limited knowledge. If there is anything wrong, please tell me clearly."
As expected, the higher the medical skills, the weirder the temper.
The old doctor looked at Cui Zhijun's calm expression and suddenly laughed. He twirled his beard and smiled, then immediately revealed what Zheng was asking for today. "My lady, you came here today to ask about having children. Am I right?"
Zheng was surprised, "How did you know that, sir?"
The old doctor has seen countless people, so he is not short-sighted.
He put away the handkerchief on the table, raised his hand and pointed at Cui Zhijun and said, "His kidneys are strong and healthy, so he's fine. Your liver is strong and your blood is abundant, so he's fine too. Don't worry too much, the matter of offspring will come naturally. This is the prescription I prescribe for you. And remember, Yin is below, Yang is above. Don't reverse it, don't reverse it—"
The old doctor's magnetic voice fell into my ears, and he spoke from the perspective of a doctor.
The young couple blushed at this, but since the old doctor had given them some peace of mind, they could finally relax.
In that case, go back and follow the doctor's advice and continue...
Yin is below and Yang is above, they cannot be reversed.
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