Chapter 54 You must always treat me well, then we'll be a match made in heaven.
Thinking of those three uninvited guests who had made Sheng An's day so tiring, Xu Jinnian's expression darkened. While massaging Sheng An's shoulders and neck, he offered some advice:
"They like your cooking, and they'll probably come over for meals often in the future. Remember to add a few extra spoonfuls of salt next time."
Sheng An was both amused and exasperated: "They are your classmates. You will most likely take the imperial examinations together in the future, and you may even serve as officials in the same court. We can't be so petty."
Even the best friendships need to be maintained with care.
Compared to Tan Zhenlin and the other two, Xu Jinnian came from the worst background.
If I am fortunate enough to enter officialdom in the future, having a few true friends will open up more career paths for me.
Seeing the emotion on the man's face, Sheng An said earnestly, "They are not people who do not know their place. Shengyuan is about to open, and we need them to come and support us."
Xu Jinnian's eyelashes trembled slightly as she understood what she meant.
He was so concerned that he didn't think of this point at the time.
Xu Jinnian put the three men out of his mind and turned his attention to something else: "How's the search going?"
Sheng An shook his head: "At first I planned to find a few kitchen helpers, but then I thought it was unnecessary. I'll just find a few more apprentices to make do. Right now I haven't found any suitable apprentices, but the brokerage firm will keep an eye out for them for me."
Shengyuan targets the mid-to-high-end market, with only one head chef. She serves a very limited number of guests each day, so the kitchen does not require many staff.
She plans to hire several good-looking young men and women for positions like waiters who directly serve customers. They need to be quick and efficient, and their appearance needs to be at a certain level to represent the image of Shengyuan.
"There's no rush to take on apprentices. Take your time and find one that suits your taste."
Xu Jinnian increased the pressure on his hands. Hearing his wife let out a comfortable sigh, his eyes were filled with tenderness: "An'an, we are still young. We can earn money slowly. Don't tire yourself out."
Sheng An closed her eyes, reached out and hugged his waist, burying her face in his chest: "You only feel tired when you're broke."
Just thinking about how much money would come in every day after Shengyuan opened gave her boundless energy; how could she possibly get tired?
Xu Jinnian hugged his wife tightly with guilt, a sense of urgency he had never felt before welling up in his heart: "An'an, give me some time. Once I pass the imperial examination and become an official, I will definitely not let you worry about the family's livelihood."
Sheng An grinned and kindly reminded him, "Even if you become the top scholar in the imperial examination, you'll still have to start from a lowly official position. Your annual salary might not even be as much as what I earn selling wontons."
Xu Jinnian: "..."
That hurts.
Perhaps realizing that saying this would be too hurtful to a man's pride, Sheng An gave Xu Jinnian a comforting kiss on the cheek: "Don't forget your original intentions. We can't become corrupt officials that the world despises."
Xu Jinnian found it somewhat amusing and lowered his head to kiss her lips in return: "An'an, do you know my original intention?"
Sheng An blurted out, "Isn't it to establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations?"
Xu Jinnian's expression was strange: "Did An'an come up with these words herself?"
Sheng An: "..."
That was a miscalculation. She's practically illiterate; how could she possibly speak at such a high level?
"Well, when I was setting up my stall before, a scholar passing by muttered this phrase, and I was so excited that I remembered it."
Sheng An quickly tried to smooth things over, attempting not to ruin her image in front of this man, and quickly shifted the blame to some non-existent scholar.
Xu Jinnian seemed to be deep in thought, and after a long while, he sighed, "That scholar has such a state of mind; I am ashamed to admit that I am not as good as him."
Realizing he had guessed wrong, Sheng An asked curiously, "Then what was your original intention in studying and taking the imperial examinations?"
Xu Jin smiled and gently touched her face with his fingertips: "I am just an ordinary man, all I seek is fame and fortune."
Sheng An breathed a huge sigh of relief and patted his chest.
"Pursuing fame and fortune is good; at least you won't live a hard life if you succeed. Look at me, I've poured my heart and soul into Shengyuan, and isn't what I'm seeking just to live a comfortable life?"
Xu Jinnian smiled and couldn't help but kiss her again: "An'an and I are a match made in heaven."
Sheng An snorted: "You have to always be good to me and not cheat on me behind my back, then we'll be a perfect match."
Xu Jinnian misunderstood her meaning, straightened his expression and assured her, "I will always be good to you and will never do anything to make you worry."
A virtuous person knows what to do and what not to do. Even if he pursues fame and fortune, he would never think of doing anything against his conscience.
Sheng An didn't explain, but patted his firm chest: "Just remember that."
Xu Jinnian held her hand, looking at her with deep eyes: "Before, I sought fame and fortune, but after I met you, I wanted you to enjoy the honor and privilege of being a wife, and to be free from any grievances."
Sheng An's heart trembled, and she wrapped her arms around the man's neck: "That sounds nice, then I'll wait."
Xu Jinnian's eyes gleamed with joy as he pulled her into his arms: "Thank you, An'an, for waiting for me."
While the couple were enjoying their time together, the Liu family in Huai Shu Village was in complete chaos, arguing fiercely late into the night.
Kong Dazhuang, who had been seriously injured and unconscious for three days, finally woke up.
When he opened his eyes, he was not met with Peng Chunlan's tenderness, but with a heavy and painful slap across the face.
Kong Dazhuang was completely stunned, staring incredulously at Peng Chunlan, whose face was haggard and extremely angry: "Why...why did you hit me?"
"So what if I hit you? I wish I could beat you to death!"
Peng Chunlan slapped Kong Dazhuang across the face again, pointing her finger at his nose and cursing loudly:
"I told you to go and ask the Sheng family for their land, but you didn't get it. I told you to go to the city to ask that jinx for money, but you didn't get a single penny. You even ruined yourself and made me spend half my savings to find you a doctor. Why didn't you just die in the city!"
If it weren't for her advanced age and the fact that she had three children who would cost a fortune, and no man would genuinely be willing to serve her like a slave, she would have preferred to let this good-for-nothing fend for himself.
Kong Dazhuang, who had always been unable to stand tall in front of Peng Chunlan, suddenly lost his composure upon hearing her angry rebuke, and with a swollen face, he tried to defend himself:
"Chunlan, it's not that I'm useless, it's just that that unfilial daughter was too arrogant and instigated the neighbors to beat me up. Otherwise, I would definitely have been able to get the money. You have to believe me!"
Liu Huazhi, standing to the side, spat out: "It's clearly your own fault for being useless. You can't even control your own daughter. How dare you come back!"
The thought of how she had been taken advantage of by those three while trying to find out the Xu family's exact location made Liu Huazhi furious, and she wished Kong Dazhuang would be beaten to death.
At least the family won't lose face, and they won't have to empty their savings to see a doctor.
Being scolded by Liu Huazhi, a junior, Kong Dazhuang was furious, but dared not show it in front of Peng Chunlan, and could only keep pleading:
"Chunlan, once my injury heals, I will work hard to earn back the money I've spent. Please trust me one more time."
This damned woman is getting more and more impatient with him. He absolutely cannot let her take the opportunity to kick him out of the house, otherwise he will really have nothing left.
Peng Chunlan took a deep breath, her gaze towards Kong Dazhuang devoid of any warmth: "Report to the authorities. Tomorrow, Zhuzi and I will carry you to the yamen to report that jinx who abused his power to beat his own father."
People hate unfilial and unjust people the most. The husband of that jinx was a scholar. As long as he wanted to continue his studies, he dared not take the matter to the authorities.
Seize this opportunity; even if we can't send that jinx to jail, we must at least ruin her reputation and make her pay a large sum of money to her family!
Kong Dazhuang shrank back, not daring to look Peng Chunlan in the eye: "This...this probably won't work."
Peng Chunlan's temper flared up instantly, and she glared at him fiercely: "Why not? Are you reluctant to part with that jinx?"
Kong Dazhuang's face darkened, and he said viciously, "Bah! I wish I could tear that unfilial daughter to pieces!"
He exhaled heavily, suppressing the raging anger surging in his chest:
“That unfilial daughter only complained from beginning to end, without directly instigating those people to beat me. Even if we take it to the authorities, it won’t make a difference.”
He should seek compensation from those who beat him.
Ah, the law does not punish the masses. People like his family, who have no connections and can't offer any benefits to the officials, who would bother to seek justice for him?
This has happened before; the person who assaulted the victim got away scot-free, while the victim who filed a complaint with the authorities was the one who got a beating.
Thinking of this, Kong Dazhuang became even angrier, and his face, still bruised and purple, became even more ferocious and terrifying.
Peng Chunlan found it offensive and looked away in disgust, saying angrily, "So you're just going to let them go like that?"
Liu Huazhi was unhappy and cried out in a shrill voice, "No, we can't let that jinx get away with this!"
Peng Chunlan glared at her coldly: "You have a solution?"
The willow branches were speechless.
If she had any other options, she would have buried that jinx deep in the mud on the very first day of her rebirth.
Peng Chunlan waved her hand impatiently: "If you can't do it, then shut up!"
Willow branches were unwilling to accept this, but they were helpless and could only sulk in a corner.
Kong Dazhuang and Peng Chunlan discussed it back and forth, but they couldn't come up with a good solution. For a moment, the atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing point.
At this moment, Kong Dazhuang suddenly asked Liu Huazhi, "You said before that unfilial daughter was selling wontons at a stall in the city?"
Liu Huazhi said irritably, "What's so interesting about selling wontons?"
Even in her past life, the jinx sold wontons. Every time Xu Jinnian went to take an exam, her travel expenses and accommodation were probably earned by selling wontons.
Hmph, no wonder she was betrayed in her past life. Someone as vicious as her deserves to die along with her unborn child!
Peng Chunlan immediately guessed Kong Dazhuang's plan. A ruthless glint flashed in her eyes as she instructed Liu Huazhi, "Go and find out where she sets up her stall."
Without hesitation, Liu Huazhi said, "Just ask around at the market in Nanshi."
Peng Chunlan assumed that she had found out about it beforehand, so she didn't think much of it. She sent Liu Huazhi away and began to whisper and discuss with Kong Dazhuang.
Little did they know that Sheng'an had stopped selling wontons.
After Kong Dazhuang recovered from his injuries, he went to Nanshi to stake out the area before dawn. He waited for half a month without finding any trace of Sheng An.
Unwilling to give up, he sneaked over to the Xu family's house, only to find it empty and no one knew where the Sheng family had moved to.
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