Stranger
Behind the counter of the food store, Song Tiaotiao sat on a wooden chair, counting the recent revenue.
When her eyes looked at a certain place in the account book, her almond-shaped eyes curved.
In fact, as early as half a month ago, the turnover of Tiaotiao Food Store far exceeded the March rent that Song Tiaotiao had promised to Jin Zhenjiao.
But when Song Tiao Tiao settled the shop rent including principal and interest and was ready to fulfill her promise.
Jin Zhenjiao waved her hands repeatedly, refusing to accept the money, saying that she would use the proceeds as capital to expand the food shop after the disaster situation improved.
Seeing this, Song Tiaotiao was grateful for Jin Zhenjiao's kindness, but considering that Jin Zhenjiao and Zhao Huaian were planning their wedding, she still wanted to say something.
But now, the two of them could be called close friends. Jin Zhenjiao could tell at a glance what Song Tiaotiao was thinking.
Seeing this, Jin Zhenjiao put her arm around Song Tiaotiao's shoulders and chuckled, "Tiaotiao, please don't hesitate on this matter. I'm not only your good friend, but also a loyal customer of Tiaotiao Restaurant. I want to see Tiaotiao Restaurant prosper and become more and more prosperous. Tiaotiao Restaurant is just beginning to gain some fame in Bobei Township, and I can't let its development fall into my hands just because of the rent repayment. That would make me a sinner who kills my own conscience."
At this point, Jin Zhenjiao fixed her smiling eyes on Song Tiaotiao and said encouragingly, "Tiaotiao, do you know the daughter of the Jiang family, who was once famous in the Northern Dynasty? She started from a small, unknown fishing village in Suzhou, Northern Dynasty, and gradually expanded her food shop and planting business to a nationwide scale. Now, because of her existence, the small fishing village where she started has become a commercial center in the Northern Dynasty where every inch of land is worth a lot of money. I believe that you will also lead Songbai Village to the same prosperity in the future."
Thinking of this, Song Tiaotiao's thoughts returned. She lowered her eyes and looked at the start-up capital named "Live up to Expectations" in the account book, and smiled softly.
After putting away the account book, Song Tiaotiao saw that no one in the restaurant had ordered any main dishes yet, so she sat in the small shed in front of the restaurant as usual and began to take a break from her busy schedule.
She was brewing scented tea in her hands, but her eyes couldn't help but watch the people coming and going around the food store.
In recent days, the number of people passing by Tiaotiao Food Store has obviously increased exponentially compared to before.
But among this group of busy strangers, few can be converted into customers for food shops.
Most of them come in groups or with their families. Almost everyone passing through here is already exhausted.
Their plain, even somewhat torn clothes were covered with dust.
Everyone's complexion, due to exposure to the open air or long-term exposure to the sun, is waxy yellow, while their lips are abnormally pale.
The only traces of blood on his body, apart from his sunburned cheeks, were the sunken lip lines, which were cracked and bleeding due to lack of water.
The only part of their bodies that seemed to be related to water was the beads of sweat as big as beans, but they couldn't hold them back. As they struggled forward, they fell from their foreheads like raindrops from banana leaves, soaking into their clothes.
Seeing this, Song Tiaotiao lowered her eyes and looked at the teapot on the table.
At that moment, a man ordered them to take shelter here. The group of people that Song Tiaotiao was observing settled down under the shade of the tree.
They were exhausted and spoke very little, but their sighs were endless.
Seeing this, the leading man stood in front of everyone and said a few words of encouragement in a hoarse voice.
From this, Song Tiaotiao learned that they were fleeing from the west to seek refuge with their relatives.
The inhabitants of the west fled. This was a precursor to the Southern Dynasty's war with the western countries in the book...
Thinking of this, Song Tiaotiao frowned slightly.
"Miss, could you please get some water for us?"
Song Tiaotiao's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the voice. She raised her almond-shaped eyes and looked at the person who came.
It turned out to be the leading man, who had walked into the shed at some point.
Seeing Song Tiaotiao's reaction, he bowed and continued, "Miss, we have had a difficult journey. Passing through here, we have very little silver left. We only have a few copper coins... I hope you will be kind and not think it is too little."
After saying this, he pulled five copper coins from his sleeve and placed them on the wooden table. As a result of his movement, a large sheepskin kettle slightly flared from his sleeve.
Seeing this, Song Tiaotiao looked up at him for a while, and when she saw that his lips were chapped and his eyes were full of anxiety, she looked behind him and saw more than ten people who were watching here eagerly.
Among them, a tall woman did not look at her like the others, but shook the water bottle she carried with obsession.
But the trace left by the arm's shaking was so light that it looked like nothing. Even if there was water, there would definitely not be much left.
The woman also wanted to know the reason, so she bit her lip and unscrewed the stopper of the kettle.
With a piercing gaze, she looked at the bottom of the pot from left to right, and she put the mouth of the pot to her cracked lips without giving up.
She left it like this for a few seconds, and seeing that no water drops fell from the mouth of the pot, she closed her eyes and smiled sadly.
Seeing this, Song Tiaotiao's eyes moved slightly.
The man, Song Tiaotiao, remained silent for a long time, his eyes full of anxiety, and he quickly said, "There are many Chinese people in our family, so the number of people accompanying us is inevitable to be more. Water is expensive now, and we don't ask for quenching our thirst. We just need you to get some for us, enough to kiss our lips. We are sorry for the burden on you." By the end of his words, the man's lips had been split open by his rapid speaking speed, leaving several bleeding wounds.
Seeing this, Song Tiaotiao lowered his eyes and nodded: "Okay, please follow me."
After leading someone to get water, Song Tiaotiao sat back in the shed.
For a moment, joyful voices arose from all under the tree.
Song Tiaotiao smiled faintly as she looked at the old and young, women and children waiting for drinks under the shade of the trees. She then looked up at the bright sun hanging high in the sky. She felt a little pity in her heart and was about to go back to the store to find some place for them to sit.
At that moment, a coquettish female voice penetrated the crowd: "Do you think you deserve to drink water?"
Hearing this, Song Tiaotiao turned around and looked towards the place where the voice came from.
The tall woman who made Song Tiaotiao feel pity was now left with one hand hanging in the air, which was supposed to take the kettle.
In front of her, a woman in red snatched the water bottle that the man was sharing with everyone. From time to time, she drank it all in one gulp under the man's doting gaze.
Seeing this, the woman in red smirked and sneered, "Jiang Yunying, what are you looking at? You were born to be a burden. The fact that we allowed you to travel with us is a blessing you've earned through three lifetimes. Do you still expect to get a break from us and become a burden to us again? What are you dithering about? Put your dirty hands down now. You're such an eyesore, and you really expect us to feel sorry for you?"
Seeing this, Jiang Yunying gave the woman a cold look and said hoarsely, "Jiang Yunlan, there's one thing you need to understand. To get to where we are now, you were the first to beg me to save your lives. When I refused, you threatened my master." At this point, she sneered, "So, I didn't drag you along to seek death, allowing you to live until now. You should be grateful for my kindness."
Hearing this, Jiang Yunlan's eyes widened like bells, and she angrily cursed at Jiang Yunying, "You sharp-tongued little bitch! You should just disappear like your demon-like master...ah!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunying's eyes flashed like cold stars. She gripped the woman's wrist tightly and said coldly, "Come on, what else do you want to say? Let me see how many lives you have left. You want to show off your words, but why are you only barking like a dog? Why don't you open your fang-filled mouth and continue to bark wildly?"
Seeing that the situation was beyond their expectations, the man and his servants rushed forward to stop them.
He glanced at Jiang Yunying with a reproachful look, then looked back at Jiang Yunlan who was in pain without saying a word, his eyes full of worry.
After a while, when he saw that Jiang Yunying had broken her usual silence and had no intention of backing down, he sighed and turned around and said, "Yunying, Yunlan is your sister after all. Children are outspoken and quick-witted, so don't bother with her... Your parents died young, and as your elder, I've always looked after you. Now, for my sake, please let her go. This journey is full of dangers, so don't scare her anymore, okay? Besides, we all brought you here to seek a way out together, so let's get along peacefully, that's the long-term solution."
Hearing this, Jiang Yunying lowered her eyes and chuckled to herself. When she raised her eyes again, there was no emotion in her almond-shaped eyes. "Now, I have done as you requested and have safely escorted you to Songbai Village. This also means that the relationship between you and me has ended from today. From now on, we will all go our separate ways and wish you the best."
Hearing this, the man's eyes flashed. But in a moment, the emotions in his eyes returned to calm.
But he was the head of the clan after all, and although he had made up his mind, he still looked reluctant and glanced at the eyes of everyone who was following him.
After a while, seeing that most of the people's eyes showed tacit approval or indifference, he looked at Jiang Yunying with a smile, and said with regret: "Yunying, don't say anything angry anymore. I will pretend that you never said anything about what happened today. Shall we set off now?" Compared with the previous nervousness and urgency of Jiang Yunlan, his tone can be described as calm and relaxed.
But Jiang Yunlan, who had been protected by the man, seemed to take his words seriously. She threw the kettle and said angrily, "Father, her wings are now as strong as her bad temper. Why are you still trying to stop her? She is an eyesore next to me! I can't stand her frivolous attitude. She relies on the fact that she has a so-called master and some martial arts skills, so she is arrogant and has forgotten who gave birth to her. She is really a wolf cub who doesn't recognize her relatives. No wonder her demon master left without saying goodbye..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunying's patience ran out. She sneered at the crowd and shouted, "I'm making this clear today. From now on, if any of you ever say anything bad about my master or me in front of me, you'll be damned. They say you can send a Buddha to the west, and on the road to the underworld, I don't mind giving you a little extra help."
A woman tugged at the man's sleeve and said, "My dear, she was born to be an unlucky star that would bring her parents to their deaths. Now that she no longer wants to travel with us, why should we embarrass ourselves by trying to keep her?"
When the woman mentioned the word "evil star", many people nodded secretly.
Seeing that the momentum of the expedition against Jiang Yunying was growing stronger and stronger, the man looked as if he was very disappointed with Jiang Yunying, and tried to persuade him with a few words in a hasty manner.
Finally, the man gave Jiang Yunying a cold look, turned around, and waved to everyone without hesitation, leaving Jiang Yunying alone.
After watching such a farce, Song Tiaotiao sighed softly, feeling that human hearts are unpredictable.
After the group of people walked away, Song Tiaotiao walked towards Jiang Yunying with a bowl full of water in her hand: "Miss, please have some."
Hearing the sound, Jiang Yunying lowered her eyes to look at the ant, then raised them slightly to the clear, full bowl of water in front of her.
Her throat rolled slightly, and she pursed her lips: "Is this for me?"
Song Tiaotiao chuckled softly, "Yes, young lady, please feel free to drink. I'm the owner of this food store, my name is Song Tiaotiao. Seeing that you were really thirsty, I couldn't bear it, so I took the initiative to give you some."
Hearing this, Jiang Yunying raised her phoenix eyes slightly. She wanted to take a closer look at this rumored promising woman, but was blocked by Song Tiaotiao's sun hat.
She lowered her eyes with a little regret and smiled faintly: "Are you Song Tiao Tiao? Along the way, I have heard of your name and your Tiao Tiao Restaurant..." At this point, her voice was hoarse and she could hardly form a sentence.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Yunying whispered thank you, then leaned over the bowl and drank the water slowly.
Song Tiaotiao looked at Jiang Yunying with a pitiful look. Seeing the scorching sun, she took off her straw hat and stood on tiptoe to shade Jiang Yunying. "Miss, what are your plans for the future?"
Hearing the voice, Jiang Yunying turned his gaze to Song Tiaotiao again.
But when she saw Song Tiaotiao's face, her eyes trembled and she was in disbelief and wanted to say something but stopped.
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