The next morning, Meng Zhao opened his eyes groggily and stared blankly at the familiar bed curtains. He had been busy with the restaurant and the medicine shop these past few days and had been staying out all night. Coming back suddenly, he felt a little out of place.
She sat up, clutching the blanket. In May, the cold snap had completely subsided, and even the mornings were no longer chilly, so she got up much faster. She first picked out an apricot-colored dress from the wardrobe and changed into it. While washing and grooming herself in front of the mirror, she couldn't help but sigh twice.
She misunderstood Shen Qinghe yesterday and said a lot of hurtful things, which made her feel uneasy before going to bed. Now that she's awake, she still feels a bit uncomfortable. As she combs her hair, she wonders if she should go to the Shen family to explain, but she's also a little too proud to do so.
"Alright, alright." She stuck the jade hairpin into her hair and said to herself in the mirror, "One thing at a time. Since it was my fault, I should at least make things clear." Thinking this, she felt a little relieved. She couldn't let this matter make her so uneasy.
After finishing her hair and makeup, Meng Zhao pushed open the door and left the room.
Meanwhile, in the Shen family study, Shen Qinghe was writing furiously at his desk. He knew that Meng Zhao had been working hard these past few days and would probably sleep in today, so he wasn't in a hurry. After finishing his writing, he picked up a book and started reading.
The study was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, but he was somewhat absent-minded, glancing out the window every now and then. After breakfast was finished and tea had been refilled twice, no one had come to report. Shen Qinghe finally couldn't contain himself any longer, put down his book and called Afu: "Is there any movement from the Meng residence?"
Afu rubbed his hands, looking troubled. "Reporting to you, sir, I just sent someone over," he stammered. "Early this morning, a carriage entered the Meng residence. Judging from the pattern on the carriage curtain, it looked like...like the Xiao family's carriage."
With a "thud," Shen Qinghe's book slammed heavily onto the table. Afu shrank back, not daring to speak. His master probably had a bad relationship with this young master surnamed Xiao. Every time he heard that the Xiao family's carriage had entered the Meng residence, his face would turn cold for a while.
Shen Qinghe frowned, suddenly stood up, walked to the window, and gazed in the direction of the Meng residence. His eyes were deep and dark. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "Prepare the horses. We're going to Huainan."
Afu was taken aback upon hearing this, and cautiously reminded him, "Sir, didn't you say we would set off in two days? The official documents from the Ministry of Personnel haven't arrived yet."
"I won't wait any longer," Shen Qinghe said in a deep voice. He then turned around, walked to the shelf inside the house, took down the sword from it, and walked out of the house.
Meng Zhao had originally planned to apologize to the Shen family first, and return quickly so as not to delay her breakfast. However, as soon as she reached the front yard, she bumped into Xiao Youzhi who was coming towards her, so she had to stop.
Watching Xiao Youzhi move around his own courtyard with practiced ease, Meng Zhao couldn't help but facepalm. "You're here so early again. Do you really think this is your own home?"
Xiao Youzhi was not annoyed by this. Instead, he smiled and stepped forward, saying, "You're always so busy that you're never home. Your uncle and aunt don't even have anyone to talk to, so of course I have to come and keep them company from time to time." As he spoke, he shook the food box in his hand, "I specially brought some crystal steamed dumplings from Chunfenglou today. They're still warm. Come and have a taste."
Just as Meng Zhao was about to refuse, Meng Dashan came out of the house. "Youzhi is here? What good stuff did you bring today?"
Xiao Youzhi bypassed Meng Zhao and handed over the food box in his hand. "Crystal steamed dumplings, filled with bamboo shoots, water shield, and pufferfish. They're very fresh and crisp."
As Meng Dashan carried the food box inside, he called out, "Zhaozhao, what are you standing there for? Come and eat." Meng Zhao sighed helplessly and had no choice but to turn back.
At the dinner table, watching Xiao Youzhi chatting and laughing with her parents so familiarly, she suddenly realized that what she said yesterday was indeed true. There was indeed someone trying to curry favor with her parents, but she had mistaken the person for someone else.
After breakfast, Meng Zhao returned to his study to handle the accounts. Xiao Youzhi followed him into the study uninvited. Meng Zhao sat at the desk and focused on flipping through the account books, while Xiao Youzhi wandered around the study, sometimes touching the ornaments on the bookshelf, and sometimes getting close to the calligraphy and paintings on the wall to examine them closely.
Meng Zhao initially ignored him, until he caught a glimpse of him reaching for an account book on the table and flipping through it. He couldn't help but tap the table with his hand, "That's the account book of my Yingke Restaurant. Does Manager Xiao think it's appropriate to look at it?"
Xiao Youzhi not only didn't put it down, but instead twirled the ledger in his hand, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "What? When we were preparing to open the restaurant, you called me 'Teacher Xiao' so affectionately, but now that the restaurant is open, you're turning your back on me? Do you see me as a competitor?"
Meng Zhao sighed softly, "You're joking. Compared to Chunfeng Tower, Yingke Tower is still far behind."
That's absolutely right. Chunfeng Tower enjoys the best of both worlds, situated in the most bustling street in the capital, surrounded by wealthy and powerful families. For many years, whether it's the daily banquets of high-ranking officials and nobles or the business negotiations of wealthy merchants, Chunfeng Tower has been the preferred venue.
This deep-rooted preference has long been an unwritten rule in the social circles of the capital. How could she easily change it by coming up with some new dishes or creating some gimmicks?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Youzhi's eyes flashed with surprise. "Your words surprise me. With your personality, you would actually admit defeat?"
“It’s not that I’m admitting defeat,” Meng Zhao shook his head, “it’s that I know we’re on different paths, and there’s no need to treat Chunfeng Tower as an opponent.” With that, he reached out and snatched the account book back from Xiao Youzhi’s hand.
Although they were in their own residence, the study door was not closed, as they were still alone together. Xu Yunrong walked gracefully in and called out from the doorway, "Zhaozhao, I'm going to the villa outside the city to arrange what you mentioned yesterday. I'll be back before dinner."
Meng Zhao knew she was referring to the advance preparation of goods for Huarong Road, so she didn't get up and called out to the door, "Okay, Mother, I won't go out today. I'll wait for you to come back for dinner tonight."
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