Everyone lined up neatly, while the talkative ones chatted with the people in front and behind them.
Grandma Hua and the others were in the middle of the line, and it was soon their turn.
Because their families consisted mostly of women and children, and most of them had lost their husbands, they still had to take care of their parents, who were their in-laws.
However, they didn't buy much, and the shop assistants didn't give them a hard time because of it.
They went home peacefully and contentedly with the grain and charcoal they had bought.
Zhang Laosi escaped the crowd and quietly circled around several alleys until he came to a horse-drawn carriage.
“Master, that woman is too cunning,” Zhang Laosi said, standing in front of the carriage.
The person inside the carriage didn't even show their face. "You're so useless that you can't even handle such a small matter."
"I'll give you another chance. If you can handle things well, you won't have to return the money. If you still can't handle it well, you'll have to return every penny to me," the carriage driver said again.
Old Zhang nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, sir, I will definitely take care of this matter for you." He had no money to repay the favor now; the money he had given him had been spent that very day.
The man in the carriage didn't speak, and the driver drove the carriage away.
Seeing the carriage leave, Zhang Laosi straightened up from his bent back. He touched the silver in his pocket; there was still some left over, enough for a meal.
He then completely forgot about what had just happened.
Grandma Hua returned to her small house with a small courtyard and two rooms. Her grandson was looking out the door, and when he saw her return, he ran out.
"Grandma, let me help you." He said, taking the grain from her hand.
Grandma Hua only bought five catties of grain, which, when cooked into porridge in this winter, would be enough for her and her grandson to eat for several days.
Her kitchen was next to the small courtyard, with only a few pillars supporting a roof and no walls. There was only a pot on the makeshift stove.
The wind was howling, and Grandma Flower hadn't cooked in the kitchen for several days.
The grandfather and grandson carried the things they had just bought back to the house where there was a charcoal fire.
"Hui'er, are you hungry? Grandma will cook you some food right away." Granny Hua lovingly took the food from Zhao Hui's hands.
Zhao Hui helped Granny Hua up, saying, "Grandma, go and warm yourself by the fire and rest for a while. Hui'er isn't hungry. Grandma, let me go next time. Hui'er can buy the charcoal and grain and bring them back. Hui'er doesn't want Grandma to go and get cold."
Zhao Hui placed his warm little hands on Granny Hua's wrinkled hands, but his hands were too small to completely cover Granny Hua's hands.
Seeing this, Granny Hua smiled happily at her grandson, thinking, "No matter how hard it is, I will raise my son's only remaining flesh and blood."
Seeing that Granny Hua was gradually warming up by the fire, Zhao Hui said, "Grandma, sit down. Hui'er, come and cook some porridge."
As Zhao Hui spoke, he picked up a triangular piece of rice and placed it on the fire. He then put some rice in a small earthenware pot, washed it, added enough water, and placed it on the triangular piece.
Soon, the aroma of rice porridge wafted from the small earthenware pot, and Granny Hua got up and picked up the oil and salt from the side.
She carefully poured the oil from the oil can into the small earthenware pot, afraid of wasting too much.
Seeing that a few drops of oil had already been added, she put the oil jar aside and then picked up some salt and added some more.
Zhao Hui smelled the aroma and exclaimed, "It smells so good!" Although he and his grandson had been eating like this for most of the past few days, they were reluctant to eat any vegetables.
Zhao Hui was already very content; their life was already considered good.
After finishing their meal, the grandfather and grandson went to bed early to save on charcoal and oil lamps.
......
Qingfeng brought the storybooks to Xiao Zhan's study. "Master, I've collected a few more of the latest storybooks, all about talented men and beautiful women."
He grinned ingratiatingly, "Master, I'll put it here for you. Please take a look when you have time."
Qingfeng smugly thought, "Oh dear... he's done another good deed for his master, helping him marry the mistress of the house."
However, things did not develop as he had hoped.
Xiao Zhan looked up from his desk. "After you returned to the capital, did you find yourself with nothing to do? Or do you feel that you're too idle right now?"
Qingfeng: '???' He seemed quite happy last time, what happened?
He's doing this for his master's own good.
"If you have nothing else to do, go and clean the stables." After saying that, Xiao Zhan lowered his head and went back to his own business.
Qingfeng hurriedly retreated and left. Why didn't he like it?
Is it not working well? Weren't they chatting and laughing that day?
No further progress?
Qingfeng couldn't figure it out, so he could only go and clean the horse pen with a bitter face.
After finishing his work, Xiao Zhan looked at the storybook beside him and wondered if it had been useful or not.
He unconsciously reached out to look at it again, and the more he looked, the more he frowned. What kind of nonsense was this?
Xiao Zhan tossed the book aside and picked up another one.
'Okay, just take a look. It's not like I'll need it, and it's not like I won't need it either.'
Xiao Zhan sat there until it got dark.
Qingfeng has already cleaned the stables and returned.
He saw that Xiao Zhan was engrossed in reading the storybook.
Qingfeng: "..."
So he's the only one who got hurt; he'll have to eat a few extra bowls of rice tonight.
Qingfeng was indignant, but dared not speak out.
As usual, Jiang Wei finished her meal with Ming Zhao and the others and then returned to her own courtyard to rest.
She was quite tired these past few days, so much so that she fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed after taking a shower.
The next morning, after having breakfast, she wrote invitations and went to invite the merchants who sold grain and charcoal.
She has figured out who is selling grain and who is selling charcoal these past few days.
Jiang Wei handed the invitation to Chen Hui and then asked her brother to deliver it. She then took Lian Sang to An Sheng Ji restaurant.
She planned to go to Zuichunlou after she was busy until almost lunchtime.
After Jiang Wei arrived at An Sheng Ji, everyone who had been dismissed today was unusually well-behaved. She didn't have anything urgent to do, and it was almost lunchtime.
She thought that since it was her turn to host today, she had arrived early to wait for the hosts.
When Jiang Wei arrived, the private room she had booked was empty.
She wasn't in a hurry, and casually found a seat to sit down.
After waiting for a while, I heard voices outside the door.
Jiang Wei stood up to greet her.
The owner had a thick beard that extended to his sideburns, and his square face exuded a sense of uprightness and honesty.
As the man entered, he looked around the private room and found that Jiang Wei and a maid were the only people in it. He thought to himself that this girl was quite bold.
Why not even hire a helper?
He knew he would likely face some difficulties later, but he didn't make things difficult for Jiang Wei.
He cupped his hands in greeting, "You must be the owner of An Sheng Ji, young lady!"
As Jiang Wei replied, a smile played on her lips, her eyes revealing a calm and amused expression. "It is indeed me. Please have a seat and some tea, sir. We can discuss business matters once everyone has arrived."
The owner nodded, listened to Jiang Wei's suggestion, and went over to sit down.
Everything will be settled eventually, so he calmly drank his tea.
But no matter how long they waited, the merchants never showed up.
Li Yousen knew they were trying to give this female boss a hard time.
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