The Qianlixiang Restaurant in front has two floors and is decorated in a very gaudy way. The small area in front of the entrance is filled with all kinds of beautiful flowers.
Its extravagance and ostentation rivaled that of a brothel...
The inside was bustling with activity; you could hear singing and dancing coming from outside. But while it was lively inside, it was even more lively at the entrance, where groups of well-dressed young men and women were queuing up.
The restaurant diagonally opposite hers, Heji Restaurant, seemed rather plain, with a conventional decor. However, it had a large sign at the entrance announcing a 50% discount for all diners that day.
There were also several waiters standing at the entrance, who were very enthusiastic and would pull people aside to introduce their products.
Although it wasn't as crowded as the Qianlixiang Grand Restaurant, it still had quite a few customers, and the place was packed with people.
Pei Yao couldn't help but sigh, realizing that business battles in ancient times were just as fierce...
The Deyun Restaurant in front of us has a simple yet elegant decor, with a large plaque above the entrance bearing four powerful characters: Deyun Restaurant.
However, with the passage of time, the plaque looks a bit old, but it still has a unique charm.
Like a calm and dignified old man, he has always been guarding this restaurant.
However, the restaurant was deserted, with only one or two tables occupied by elderly people having morning tea.
There wasn't even a waiter at the entrance.
Seeing this scene, Pei Yao finally understood why Deyun Restaurant was going out of business.
At this time, the other two restaurants were bustling with activity both at the entrance and inside, and the overall atmosphere was quite good.
But the Deyun Restaurant was already deserted with no customers inside, and there were no people standing outside actively welcoming guests.
People naturally gravitate towards lively places, just like when we eat out, we prefer to go to crowded and bustling restaurants.
Especially when I haven't eaten at any of these three restaurants, I'll definitely choose the one that's crowded and lively.
Instead of choosing a quiet, less crowded place, since a crowded restaurant always gives us the psychological suggestion that it must be delicious because so many people are eating there.
Pei Yao was staring blankly at the restaurant in front of her, while Yunniang next to her was almost driven to despair.
Just then, a man dressed in fine clothes, with a fat head, big ears, and a big belly walked past Pei Yao and the two of them.
When he saw Pei Yao and Yun Niang, he looked up and down at the Deyun Restaurant behind Pei Yao.
He couldn't help but wrinkle his bloated face and spit at Pei Yao and the others with a disdainful look.
"Pah! This Deyun Restaurant is really getting worse and worse. Now even beggars can afford to eat here."
Pei Yao: "......"
Yunniang: "......"
When Pei Yao came to her senses and looked up at the man, all that remained was his fat and bloated back.
Pei Yao rolled her eyes, speechless.
Seriously, is this guy crazy? They're standing right here and not bothering him, so why is he attacking them?
They're just bored and have nothing better to do.
Just then, Niu Qingshan returned and strode towards Pei Yao.
He watched as Pei Yao stared resentfully at the back of the fat man in front of her and muttered to herself.
Niu Qingshan asked, "What's wrong?"
Pei Yao shook her head: "It's nothing, I just ran into a dog that bites people randomly."
Niu Qingshan: "?"
"A dog? Biting people randomly? Where is it? I don't see it. Were you bitten?"
Seeing his searching gaze, Pei Yao waved her hand to change the subject: "No, it left on its own. Brother Qingshan, what did Manager Qian say?"
“Well, Manager Qian told us to wait for him in the back courtyard first. He’ll come find us when he’s done with his work. Auntie, Yao, let’s go in through the back door.” Niu Qingshan then explained to Pei Yao, “There are still customers eating in the shop right now, so it’s not appropriate for us to go through the front door.”
Yunniang and Pei Yao naturally understood, because it was difficult for the oxcart to pass through the main gate, and besides, they were dressed in such tattered clothes that they were afraid of leaving a bad impression on the guests.
Niu Qingshan led the oxcart in front, while Pei Yao and Yunniang followed obediently behind.
As she left, Yunniang looked at Pei Yao with some unease.
Unable to resist asking in a low voice, "Yao'er, do you really have to say that later? As your mother... I feel a little guilty."
After Yunniang finished speaking, she patted her wildly beating heart.
Pei Yao looked up and nodded firmly: "Yes, Mother. When you speak later, remember not to look timid. As long as you speak earnestly, others will believe you."
Pei Yao was seriously trying to fool her adoptive mother, hoping that she could perform steadily later.
Yunniang felt a little apprehensive. She was someone who never told a lie, and suddenly being asked to say something...
She really didn't know how to bring it up.
"I......"
Pei Yao looked at her, "This won't work."
Mother, you can't be so timid. You have to say this with complete confidence and composure so that people won't doubt you. Otherwise, you'll definitely be exposed.
Then it would all be for nothing.
Pei Yao gritted her teeth, lowered her head and twisted her leg, the pain instantly bringing tears to her eyes.
She looked up at Yunniang, her eyes blurry with tears, and said in a pitiful voice, "Mother, Yao'er really wants to earn money so she can wear pretty clothes in the future..."
Looking at Pei Yao's tearful face, Yunniang felt a pang of guilt.
She couldn't help but blame herself. Yao'er, such a young child, already knew how to work hard for the family and think of all sorts of ways to make money. Now, she couldn't even do such a small thing well.
She's truly unworthy of being a mother.
She gently patted her daughter's head with a touch of tenderness: "Mother will do her best."
Pei Yao couldn't help but twitch her lips as she looked at her mother's increasingly determined gaze.
No, it's just a lie, why are you acting like you're ready to die?
It's not a lie that would hurt anyone...
It can't be that bad....
They arrived at the back door of the restaurant, and as soon as Niu Qingshan knocked, someone came to open the door for them.
The person who opened the door was a young boy, who looked thin and tall, and was not much older than Pei Yao.
"Brother Qingshan, it's been a long time since I've seen you." The young boy greeted Niu Qingshan warmly.
Niu Qingshan smiled憨厚ly: "Erdan, is your mother feeling better?"
Pei Yao looked at the young boy and was surprised that he was called Erdan...
Niu Qingshan parked the oxcart in the yard, in the area specifically for parking livestock.
In ancient times, grand restaurants had places to park cattle and horses because many wealthy families traveled by horse-drawn carriage, and they couldn't just park their carriages on the street when they were eating.
So at this time, the waiter would help lead the horse to the stable in the backyard and tie it up.
Everyone worked together to move the things from the oxcart to the ground in the yard, and the two buckets of spicy snails were covered tightly with banana leaves.
Everything else was also wrapped in banana leaves.
Niu Qingshan introduced Pei Yao and Yunniang: "Auntie, Yaomei, this is Erdan, the waiter of this restaurant."
Erdan smiled broadly and said, "Hello, Auntie. Hello, Yaomei."
Yunniang was too embarrassed to call him Erdan by his name, so she just smiled and nodded, "Hello."
Pei Yao obediently greeted him, "Hello, Brother Erdan..."
After settling them in, Erdan left; he had other things to do.
...
It was already half an hour later when Manager Qian arrived at the courtyard.
Manager Qian was a short, middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties or fifties.
When Niu Qingshan saw him, he called out, "Uncle Qian."
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