Chapter 79: Playful Chun Sanniang clings to Luo Jinan

When Xu Nian and his group went downstairs to leave, the shopkeeper politely saw them out the door and did not return to the teahouse until everyone got on the carriage.

Until now the shopkeeper was still a little dazed, he had never imagined that this tea drinker would become his new employer in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, he did not show any partiality to her because of her status as the prefect's daughter, otherwise the shopkeeper would have to be replaced. Thinking about his newly increased monthly salary, he happily hummed a little tune while entertaining tea customers.

Chun Sanniang, who was taking off her makeup in the backyard room, asked the owner in confusion.

"Boss, are we just selling ourselves to Jingxin Pavilion? Will I be unable to perform in other places in the future?"

After removing her makeup, Chun Sanniang revealed her childish face. No one would have thought that the charming Chun Sanniang on the stage was just a sixteen-year-old girl.

The troupe owner looked at his foolish apprentice and sighed, "This may not be a bad thing."

Chun Sanniang focused on practicing martial arts and singing every day, but as her master, she saw more and more greedy eyes fixed on Chun Sanniang's body. He knew that one day he would not be able to protect this apprentice.

Now that a noble person has taken a fancy to their Sixi Troupe, and the boss is a woman, he will of course seize this opportunity. Although he will have less freedom, he is willing to sell himself as long as he can protect his disciple.

Chun Sanniang grew up an orphan, but was fortunately taken in and raised by the troupe owner. Therefore, Chun Sanniang would not question any decision made by the troupe owner, even if it was about taking her to sell herself in a teahouse.

The new owner of the teahouse, Xu Nian, knew nothing about the situation of the people in the teahouse at this time. She did not take Luo Jinan to continue strolling, but returned to the county government office. Because they had eaten a lot of cakes and drank a lot of tea at noon, they did not have lunch when they returned home.

After lunch, the Xu family gathered in Shouzhu Courtyard to chat. Xu Nian and Luo Jinan also came to join in the fun.

"You came at the right time, big girl. Your mother just said she was going to attend a flower viewing party and wanted you to go with her."

Xu Nian looked at Tian and asked in confusion, "What flower viewing banquet?"

"It was a flower-viewing banquet hosted by the wife of the prefect, and many wives of officials were invited. The invitation also specifically asked us to bring our own children along. It just so happened that my stepsons were on leave that day, so I thought that if we went together, it would also allow the brothers to make some good friends."

Xu Nian nodded in agreement. The three Xu Ji brothers were different from her. They were destined to pursue a career in imperial examinations, and it was indeed not advisable to develop their own ideas in isolation.

"Aunt, do you know where the flower viewing party is held?"

Seeing that Luo Jin'an was interested, Tian said excitedly, "The post says Huifeng Villa. I heard from Nian'er's second uncle that it's not far from Nian'er's medicine house. Does the prince want to go and see it too?"

In fact, Luo Jinan was not interested in any banquets. His mother held countless banquets of all sizes every year, but it was already a lot for him to attend one or two.

However, when he heard that the meaning of the post was so similar to the Mid-Spring Banquet hosted by his mother, and the Mid-Spring Banquet was a banquet for young men and young ladies from various families to meet each other, Luo Jinan became excited.

"Aunt, I have been weak since I was young and rarely attend banquets. If it is convenient, I would also like to go and see the excitement."

Xu Nian looked over suspiciously. No matter how she looked at him, she felt that Luo Jinan was not someone who liked to join in the fun.

Tian said happily, "What's the inconvenience? If the wife of the prefect knew that you, the prince, were attending the flower viewing banquet, she would be very happy. Even if you don't want to reveal your identity, it doesn't matter. I will just say that you are my husband's nephew, but I will wrong the prince."

“…”

Seeing that everything had been discussed almost completely, Wang asked about Luo Jinan's outing today.

"How was your day, Changsheng? I heard that you went to see a play and Changsheng enjoyed it."

"Grandma Xu, I had a lot of fun today with Nian Nian accompanying me."

"Just be happy. The eldest girl is the best at taking people on a tour. When we first came to Wansheng County, she took me and her grandfather out for a lot of fun. Let her take you out more often these days."

Luo Jinan quickly responded, "I'll listen to Grandma Xu," and then he looked at Xu Nian and smiled foolishly.

Xu Nianshi was a little embarrassed to watch, so he took the wooden box from Xiu'er's hand and said to everyone in the room: "Here is the title deed of the Jingxin Pavilion Tea House, which was bought by Luo Jin'an."

Although everyone was shocked, the one who reacted the most was Old Man Xu. He opened the wooden box and looked through it. Especially when he saw the indentures of the Sixi troupe, he clapped his hands with joy.

"From now on, I don't have to pay money when I go to drink tea and watch opera. Oh, girl, you don't know, for a play of the Sixi Troupe, I always go there with great pain, but the tea there is too expensive."

Xu Nianren smiled and said, "You can rest assured from now on, Grandpa. I, your granddaughter, am the new owner of this teahouse. You can listen to whatever you want."

"Okay, okay, then I'll help you look after the teahouse from now on, haha~"

Wang couldn't help rolling her eyes as she looked at the old man with wrinkles on his face from laughing. It sounded nice to say that he was going to look after a teahouse for his granddaughter, but in reality he was just going there to eat and drink for free, and oh, and even go to the opera for free.

Tian had always felt that the things the prince gave to Nian'er were too expensive, and now it was even more extraordinary, as he gave her a teahouse.

"Prince, your gift is too expensive. I wonder how much silver you spent on this teahouse?"

Luo Jinan said nonchalantly, "This is a gift from me to Nian Nian. Aunt, don't worry about it. Besides, Nian Nian has given me many good things before."

Tian's smile froze. The good things the prince was talking about couldn't be those vegetables and clods of earth.

Wang, however, was not too bothered. She thought favors are a matter of give and take, so she said to Xu Nian, "Girl, the herbs grown in your herb shop are very effective. Take Changsheng to have a look one day. If there are any that can be used, leave some for Changsheng in the future."

Xu Nian naturally agreed, but she had already reserved some medicinal herbs for Luo Jinan, and they were all produced in the space.

"You all should go away now. Changsheng and the eldest girl should also go back and have some rest. Nian'er's uncle brought back a sheep today. We will have roasted lamb tonight."

Although Northern Xinjiang borders Mobei, mutton is not something you can eat whenever you want. This sheep was given to Xu Youliang by a drug dealer who bought medicinal herbs.

Xu Nian said excitedly: "Grandma, Luo Jin'an happens to be here as a guest. How about I make a new way to eat mutton for everyone tonight?"

Wang laughed and said, "That's great, but aren't you tired after walking around all morning?"

"Hehe, I'm young and in good health." The main reason was that Xu Nian also ate barbecued food.

Xu Nian did not return to Qingteng Courtyard to rest, but went directly to the small kitchen to prepare ingredients for dinner. Luo Jinan followed closely.

"Why are you following me? Aren't you gentlemen staying away from the kitchen?"

Luo Jinan smiled and said, "Niannian, the saying that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen is to advise a gentleman not to commit murder, but it does not say that you cannot enter the kitchen. Moreover, I am not a gentleman. It seems that Niannian needs to get to know me better."