Chapter 88 What would you like to order, sir?
Half a glossy, golden-brown soy sauce chicken; half a plate of bright red, perfectly marbled braised pork belly!
This portion size and quality are even better than what they ate during the Chinese New Year!
Zhao Yin's wife was both moved and apprehensive. "This...this is too precious...Miss Jiang is so kind! Such delicious meat and vegetables..."
Xiao Ran smiled and said, "I'm already full. Mother, Father, Xiao Qi, you can keep these for yourselves! I can't talk to you any longer, I have to go back to the shop to work."
Xiao Ran turned to leave.
"Wait!" Zhao Yin's wife quickly called out to him.
She strode into the kitchen and brought out clean bowls and chopsticks.
He deftly picked up his chopsticks and carefully scooped the meat and vegetables from the two plates into a large bowl.
Then, she picked up the two empty white porcelain plates and walked to the water vat in the yard.
I carefully and meticulously rinsed away the remaining oil stains on the plate, and then wiped it inside and out several times with a clean cloth, leaving no trace.
Until the plate is spotless and feels completely clean, without any greasiness.
"Xiao Ran,"
She carefully stacked the two clean plates and handed them back to her son.
"When you take it back, please thank Miss Jiang properly on behalf of your parents. Remember, be diligent and attentive in the shop, and never let Miss Jiang down."
"Yes! Mother, I know!" Xiao Ran nodded vigorously, carefully took the plate, and ran quickly towards the general store.
The sunlight slanted in, revealing tiny dust particles floating in the air.
There's not much to do at lunchtime, and there are basically no customers.
Jiang Ling took a nap this morning and isn't sleepy now.
Sitting behind the counter, with one hand supporting his chin, he watched Xiao Ran wiping the dust off the door panel with a bored expression.
Looking at the heavy wooden door, a question suddenly arose in my mind.
“Xiao Ran,” she suddenly spoke.
Xiao Ran stopped what she was doing and turned to look at her: "Is there anything you need me to do, Sister Jiang?"
Have you tried pushing this door open from the outside?
Xiao Ran paused for a moment, then shook her head.
"No, Xiaoran hasn't tried it."
Every day he comes, he waits patiently at the door. Afraid of disturbing Sister Jiang, he doesn't even knock.
Jiang Ling then said, "Then go out now and see if you can close this door from the outside."
"good."
Following Jiang Ling's instructions, Xiao Ran went outside the shop.
He grabbed the two iron rings on the wooden door with both hands and pulled them inward with force.
The heavy wooden door creaked and groaned as it slowly, bit by bit, closed in the middle.
Jiang Ling stared intently at him, and called out to him just as the door was about to close.
"Wait! In a moment, close the door, count to three silently, and then knock on the door hard. If I don't answer, then push the door hard."
"good."
The sunlight outside the door, as the gap narrowed, was compressed into a thinner and thinner golden line, until finally, it disappeared completely.
"Creak—"
Until the last crack in the wooden door was closed.
The entire shop went dark instantly!
There wasn't a single ray of light! It was as if it had all fallen into darkness.
Jiang Ling didn't turn on the light, just silently stared at the door, silently counting her breaths.
However, apart from the hum of the overhead fan, there was no other sound in the shop!
A deathly silence.
The wooden door remained completely still!
After waiting for three minutes, Jiang Ling dared not wait any longer. She went over and opened the wooden door.
She pulled the heavy wooden door open with all her might, and the bright light from outside rushed in instantly, making her squint slightly.
At the same time, Xiao Ran's figure, having lost its support, suddenly fell inward!
"Watch out!" Jiang Ling reacted quickly and caught Xiao Ran, who was about to fall to the ground.
The anxious look on Xiao Ran's face had not yet faded, and now she was filled with lingering fear.
"Xiao Ran, did you knock on the door just now?"
Jiang Ling waited for three minutes, but at least half an hour had passed outside.
"I knocked, I knocked really hard. My sister didn't respond, so I pushed the door with all my might! But the door was like it was glued to the wall, it wouldn't budge!"
Jiang Ling glanced at Xiao Ran's hand and saw that it was still bright red.
Jiang Ling's doubts were confirmed.
But now another question has arisen.
If the wooden door is closed, can she open it from the outside?
She dared not try, because she might end up homeless!
She had originally planned to go out for a walk by herself, but now it seems she'll have to let Xiaoran go instead.
Jiang Ling packed up the goods the Song family wanted and tied them to Xiao Ran's oxcart.
The Song family lived not far away, in the next village.
These teenagers often run off to play, and they don't have to worry about getting lost.
In this era, one can get married at sixteen, and a twelve-year-old child is already old enough to be used as an adult.
There will likely be more opportunities to deliver goods in the future, which will be a good opportunity for Xiaoran to gain experience.
Xiao Ran's father, Zhao Yin, was instructing Xiao Ran on how to securely tie up the goods.
He then personally inspected the goods, pulling hard on the ropes binding them to ensure they were securely tied and wouldn't come undone along the way.
Jiang Ling smiled slightly and said, "Today is Xiao Ran's first time delivering goods, so I'll trouble Brother Zhao to accompany Xiao Ran. I will pay Brother Zhao's wages separately today, and the cost of renting the oxcart will also be calculated separately."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yin quickly waved his hand, "Miss Jiang, please don't say that! Xiao Ran is my son. If he can't do it well, his father will naturally take his place. Miss Jiang doesn't mind his clumsiness and is giving him a chance. We are grateful enough that we can't possibly ask for payment."
"Besides, my leg is injured, so I can't do much anyway. I'm just accompanying him on this trip."
He turned to Xiao Ran, his tone becoming serious, as if he were speaking to Jiang Ling:
"Xiao Ran, you must look carefully. Dad will only accompany you this once. You're all grown up now, and you can handle many things on your own."
Xiao Ran nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, Dad, don't worry, Sister Jiang! Xiao Ran remembers! Next time, Xiao Ran can go by herself!"
The oxcart creaked and groaned as it slowly drove away from the grocery store and headed towards the main road outside the village.
Jiang Ling sat at the counter lost in thought for a long time, so much so that she didn't even notice the customers coming in.
"The shopkeeper?"
The newcomer was a man in his twenties with a loud voice, which sounded somewhat tentative.
Jiang Ling suddenly snapped out of her daze and looked up.
There stood four or five burly men at the entrance, dressed in matching dark blue outfits, with long swords at their waists, looking travel-worn.
The man leading the group was the one who had greeted her; he had a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes with a sharp, anxious gaze.
Behind him were two rather heavy escort wagons, one of which was obviously tilted to one side, with one wheel removed as if it were damaged.
"Welcome to Jixiang General Store. What would you like to order?" Jiang Ling stood up and greeted them.
Dong Hao sighed.
He asked for directions at the village entrance, and the shopkeeper only said there was a general store, but didn't mention that the shopkeeper was a girl. What could a girl do?
His gaze swept across the shelves, taking in pastries and snacks with strange packaging.
The last glimmer of hope in my heart sank.
But considering that the caravan would be unable to continue its journey if it broke down, he still asked, unwilling to give up.
"Is this shop empty except for the young lady?"
"There's another deliveryman who just went out to make a delivery. What would you like to order?"
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