He immediately went up to her with a forced smile and said, "Shopkeeper, it's not like that. Aunt Lin has misunderstood me. Please listen to me, shopkeeper..."
Song Anxin had already gone back to her own courtyard, and Manager Cai didn't want to talk to him any longer, so he followed her in.
Manager Meng of Junyue Restaurant has made a fortune from this "Prosperous Oily Egg," and even the newly arrived county magistrate loves to eat it. He can't afford to miss out on this lucrative business for even a moment.
Manager Meng always acts so arrogant in front of him. His Tianxuan Restaurant has always been the number one restaurant in Ningdu County. When has he ever been treated like this?
Most importantly, all the regular customers of Tianxuan Restaurant have recently gone there, so his number one spot is in jeopardy. Thinking this, Manager Cai quickened his pace, his face beaming with smiles.
Lin Gangzi wanted to follow him inside, but Lin Fengyao slammed the gate shut.
He heard from his second brother how Gangzi treated their mother and eldest brother at the restaurant. He deserved it; he was taught a lesson for looking down on their mother.
Lin Gangzi was turned away and, seeing that Manager Cai wouldn't let him return to the restaurant, became dejected.
Several women who had been watching the commotion began to whisper among themselves:
"I thought he was some kind of second manager, but he's just a lackey of the city folks."
"Don't talk nonsense. He's not even a lackey anymore. Didn't you hear the shopkeeper tell him to quit?"
"Then how will he keep his eyes open in the sky...?"
"Hahaha...."
The women laughed.
The villagers knew that Lin Gangzi looked down on them, the country folk, and always thought that he was superior to them just because he had some education. So when they saw Lin Gangzi fall and lose face, they were all a little gloating.
Lin Gangzi's face darkened upon hearing this; how dare these peasants laugh at him? Aunt Tietou, understanding the situation, protectively retorted:
"What are you laughing at? My Gangzi is still better than you guys, no matter what. Go away..."
Aunt Tie Tou was not someone to be trifled with, so the women quickly left, still discussing as they went:
"I think this Aunt Lin is something else. Look at how the restaurant owner is fawning over her. Aunt Lin's food business must be quite something."
"I heard the shopkeeper say something about it being called 'Prosperous Oily Eggs.' How can duck eggs be made to be so oily and rich?"
"I think you should give up. Aunt Lin is no ordinary person now. The ideas she came up with even made the county magistrate come in person."
“That’s right, they recently made a new blower. I think this scholar’s daughter is really something else. How can we compare to her…” Aunt San Gui said.
The women walked away as they talked.
Seeing her son's dejected look, Aunt Tietou comforted him:
"Gangzi, it's alright. Just have your uncle talk to the shopkeeper again. Surely the shopkeeper will give your uncle face."
Lin Gangzi said disdainfully, "Hmph, my uncle is just a farmhand in the shopkeeper's house. What face can a peasant have? The shopkeeper only kept me because I was a scholar."
Aunt Tie Tou said irritably, "How can you talk about your uncle like that? You, you, I sent you to school and you're always looking down on this and that. Now you've shot yourself in the foot."
Lin Gangzi, already annoyed by Manager Cai, saw his mother scolding him again and completely forgot about maintaining his scholarly demeanor. His face contorted with rage as he jumped up and down, shouting:
"Mother! Haven't you always loved me the most? What's wrong with you lately? You keep criticizing me and taking the side of outsiders. You should scold that Aunt Lin, she's the one who ruined my job!"
Aunt Tietou moved her mouth but didn't speak. She didn't know why, but ever since Song Shi, the woman who helped her fetch water last time, said those things to her, she felt at peace. She had a hard life, but she never expected that the first person to understand her would be Song Shi, who was her enemy.
"What's wrong? Just because Xu Fengnian's mother has become better doesn't mean I can't change. I think I spoiled you too much before, which is why you're like this now."
Ultimately, she felt sorry for her son and sighed, speaking kindly:
"Alright, Gangzi, we can do just as well farm back home. Once your wife and child are born, our family will be doing just fine in this village. Why do you have to squeeze into the city?"
Lin Gangzi ignored his mother and walked away on his own.
He wouldn't stay in this wretched place forever. It's all his mother's fault, Aunt Lin. If she had spoken up for him in front of the shopkeeper, the shopkeeper wouldn't have fired him.
Song Anxin was unaware that she had incurred someone's wrath again. At that moment, she was in the main room discussing the purchase of salted duck eggs with Manager Cai.
Manager Cai cupped his hands and said, "I heard from the waiter that Sister-in-law Lin came to see me a while ago. I was wrong to have rejected such a distinguished person. I apologize to Sister-in-law Lin with tea instead of wine."
He picked up the cracked bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
Manager Cai was very surprised, but he didn't show it on his face. He never expected that the person who made "rich and oily eggs" would live in such a dilapidated house. Indeed, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Song Anxin took a sip of the water in front of her, signifying that she accepted the shopkeeper's apology.
She didn't mince words and said, "I didn't think about it after it was over. How many duck eggs does the manager want to order this time? Like other restaurants, it's ten coins per egg, but we agreed to deliver every three days."
"Haha, Sister-in-law Lin is indeed a straightforward person. My Tianxuan Restaurant has a large customer flow. I need to order 630 of these Rich and Oily Eggs. I wonder if you can deliver them today?"
Song Anxin shook her head and said, "To be honest, I didn't make this many in my first few batches. I'm afraid if I supplied your batch, Junyue Restaurant and Kelai Restaurant would run out of stock."
In addition, our rice harvest is approaching, so we don't have time to deliver goods. If you still need them, a new batch will be available in twelve days, and we'll deliver it to you then. How does that sound?
Manager Cai frowned, a worried look on his face: "I'll pay double the price, Sister-in-law Lin, please supply me with the goods first."
Song Anxin's eyes were clear: "Manager Cai, I don't want to be a fickle businessman. If I agree now, and someone offers me a higher price later, can I just stop supplying you?"
Manager Cai laughed heartily. Since it wasn't working out, he could only let Junyue Restaurant hold him back for the time being. He had been in the business for so many years and knew that merchants should value integrity. He hadn't expected that this little peasant woman would understand this principle and not be tempted by immediate profits.
He said, "Sister-in-law Lin is an honest person, alright! Then let's start supplying goods in twelve days. Waiter, bring the contract."
He will surely return to the top restaurant in Ningdu County in twelve days.
The waiter, who was waiting nearby, quickly responded and brought over the contract.
Song Anxin looked at the contract and saw that everything was written down. All she had to do was write down the price, quantity, delivery date, and sign her name. It seemed that Manager Cai had come prepared.
After signing the contract and paying the deposit, Manager Cai took his leave.
Song Anxin put the money away, then put the basket back on her back and led Lin Fenghe and Lin Fengyao up the mountain to pick mushrooms.
Two days passed in this way, and with the rice harvest imminent, the villagers would occasionally go to the rice paddies to check on things. Their faces were filled with joy and hope; the belts they had been tightening all year could finally be loosened a little.
But that very night, a major incident occurred in the village.
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