"Something unusual?" Su Erhu's expression relaxed upon hearing this. "Ever since the Feng family mother and son caused trouble at the restaurant, the restaurant's business has been booming. Everyone at the restaurant is extremely busy, but despite the busyness, nothing has gone wrong..."
The man stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence. “If there is anything unusual, there is nothing inside the restaurant, but there is something outside. About six or seven days ago, a woman came to the restaurant to sell herself to bury her father.”
Upon hearing this, the Su family members were immediately intrigued.
Su Erlang's gaze burned even brighter. "Second Uncle, isn't selling oneself to bury one's father something that only happens in plays? Where is that woman from? How old is she, and why would she sell herself to bury her father? Could it be that she wants to marry you, Second Uncle..."
"You brat, at such a young age, you're always spouting nonsense!" Madam Su's lips twitched, and she flicked his forehead with her hand. "Your second uncle already has a wife, so how can he marry again?"
Su Erlang winced in pain, clutching his forehead and quickly taking two steps back. He muttered a defense, "Grandma, Erlang isn't talking nonsense. I heard it from the storyteller in the teahouse. Women who sell themselves to bury their fathers don't care if the man has a wife; if he does, he becomes a concubine."
Su Bai stopped, "I heard from the storyteller in the teahouse that you listened to that? Are you trying to fool me?"
"Second brother!" Su Dalang thought to himself that something was wrong, but Su Erlang, who was quick to speak, had already blurted it all out, "Erlang would never lie to Grandma. A month ago, my eldest brother, Mudfish, and I went to Cangwu Town and listened to everything clearly from outside the teahouse. It just so happened to be a play about selling oneself into servitude to bury one's father!"
"Well, these little brats who haven't even grown their first hairs yet dare to sneak off to Cangwu Town on their own!"
Su Bai glared at them with her slanted eyes, and the next second, she took off her shoes and smacked the two brothers on the buttocks. "Didn't I tell you before that it's impossible to guard against the pimps outside? If you get stolen by them, you'll never be able to go home again."
"Taking a concubine? Let me tell you, no man in the Su family should even think about taking a concubine!"
"Having multiple wives and concubines is the root of family disaster. Anyone who dares to take a concubine will be beaten until their buttocks are bruised and swollen..."
With each curse, a hard slap of the shoe would follow.
The pain was secondary; the five-year-old already knew shame. Being spanked in public made his little face turn bright red even before his bottom. He could only look to Zhao for help, "Mother..."
A pang of heartache flashed in Zhao's eyes, but she stepped forward and firmly held the person down.
"Your grandmother is right. Children shouldn't run around without an adult, especially not to a place as far away as Cangwu Town. If they run into kidnappers, they might never see their families again!"
Seeing the farce he had caused, Su Erhu quickly recounted the events of that day in detail.
Finally, he added, "I asked Wang Ergou and a few others to accompany Qin Xiangzhi to Wulipai Village to investigate the situation, but halfway there, Qin Xiangzhi said she needed to use the outhouse, and when they went there, they couldn't find her anywhere."
However, since nothing serious happened, and the restaurant has been busy these days, I didn't think about it anymore.
After listening, Su Hua's eyes revealed a deep meaning. "Perhaps Erlang is right. This Miss Xiangzhi may really be here for Erlang."
Su Erhu blushed. "Hua'er, don't make fun of me. I'm a man with a wife and daughter. What good would it do for her to come after me? As for concubines, that's utter nonsense."
The fact that he only had one child at home was already causing him immense suffering.
If another one comes, I'm afraid he'll lose his life!
Su Hua smiled and said, "This Miss Xiangzhi clearly needed money to bury her father, and you had already agreed to help her in the name of the restaurant. But in the end, you suddenly left halfway. This can only mean that the so-called Wulipai Village story cannot stand up to scrutiny."
Su Erhu pondered for a moment, "According to Hua'er, should we send two more men to Wulipai Village to investigate the situation?"
Su Hua shook her head. "There's no need for such trouble. Second Brother, go to the county government tomorrow and ask Uncle Qin to help investigate whether there really is a Qin Xiangzhi in Wulipai Village."
Shanghe Village is located at the southernmost part of Qingshui County, while Wulipai Village in Hongye Town is located at the northernmost part of Qingshui County, almost adjacent to Tangshan Prefecture City.
One is in the south and the other in the north; it takes a horse-drawn carriage most of the day to get there. A round trip would take a whole day.
Qin Xiangzhi could have Su Erhu investigate at the mortuary, but she repeatedly made excuses when Wulipai Village was mentioned. Perhaps this so-called Wulipai Village is just a front.
“Alright, Second Brother will go to the county government tomorrow.” Su Erhu nodded.
A hint of suspicion flickered across his usually stern face. "Could it also be Qin Xiangzhi who stole the hot pot ingredients?"
"Whether it is or not, we'll find out soon enough." Su Hua smiled and called Danfeng forward. "Danfeng, you're good at light footwork. Go to Qingshui County later. Stay at an inn for the next few days. If you notice anything unusual, come back and tell me immediately."
"Yes, Danfeng will go right away."
Danfeng bowed in acceptance, and after a few leaps, he disappeared at the end of the village.
Su Erhu looked at the now quiet courtyard, pursed his lips, and looked at the girl, "Hua'er, it's my fault. You entrusted the restaurant to me, but I still have to bother you with these little things..."
"Second Brother, what are you saying? Second Brother works very hard every day running the restaurant, how could you possibly apologize to me!" Su Hua waved her hand and took over the conversation.
"Moreover, the restaurant's business is booming day by day, which is also inseparable from the management of my second brother."
But the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. The restaurant is unique in Qingshui County, so it's no surprise it attracts attention. With branches opening in Tangshan Prefecture and even the capital, such incidents will only increase. Second Brother, don't complain about the extra work then!
Distracted like this, Su Erhu grinned and said, "How could I complain about being tired? Hua'er knows that I've loved the smell of money since I was little. Now, I handle less copper coins a day, but more silver and banknotes, so the smell of money is even more pleasant."
"If Second Brother likes it, that's good." Su Hua nodded and smiled.
When he returned, he had Qingdai bring over a bucket of crucian carp, two large grass carp, and half a basket of crabapples.
"How can we do this! We just ate so much, and now we're taking more with us. We'll empty the house!" Su Erhu waved his hands repeatedly as he looked at all the things.
I took a step to leave the hospital.
But Su Hua quickly grabbed him, saying, "We're family, why are you making such a big deal out of it?"
Moreover, apples grow on trees, and fish are caught in rivers; neither of them are valuable items.
"These past few days, Xue Lao and A Zheng have been practically glued to the riverbank every day except for eating and sleeping. If you don't take some back to eat, the fish at home won't be able to keep up."
Su Erhu followed her gaze and indeed saw two people fishing in the twilight. Remembering that Chunhua liked to eat fruit, he hesitated, "Does Mother know about these things?"
Su Hua smiled and said, "Of course, all the crucian carp, grass carp, and crabapple were prepared by my mother. She may not say it, but she has always been thinking about my second brother."
"Yes, Second Brother knows." The man grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth, and took the fish and apple. His steps on the way back were visibly lighter.
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