If Qi Qi had to rely on running a shop to make a living, he would have starved to death. He could only sell less than 100 bowls of noodles and less than 20 bowls of tea a day, which was very much in line with the current situation.
Qi Defu had anticipated this: "It's not a big problem. The lack of bad business is only temporary. Once the higher-ups take over, things will definitely get much better."
At noon that day, the sun was still blazing outside. Qi Qi and Xiao Pingzi stayed in the shop while the rest of the staff went to rest and wait for their shift change in the afternoon. Several people dressed like scholars walked in from outside.
The literary contest has been gaining momentum lately. The question setter recently used the various aspects of life as the topic of the essay, and the area around the moat was perfect, so the scholars took a liking to it. People often come to buy tea and sit by the river for an afternoon, composing poems and chatting about life. Qi Defu took advantage of this and set up a bench and shade at the entrance, and gradually a few regular customers appeared.
The person who came today has an exceptional appearance, with a physique that can be described as having a broad back, a wasp waist, and mantis legs. He is tall and is the opposite of the generally weak and frail scholars of today. His eyebrows and eyes are imposing, which is not something that ordinary people can have.
Upon seeing this person, Qi Qi's drowsy state vanished instantly. However, due to his tendency to smile at everyone and inexplicably gain favor, and since his counter was located closest to the entrance, he couldn't run away now. He hurriedly lowered his head and scribbled on a piece of paper, pretending to be busy.
It was actually Gu Siyan.
Wearing scholar's clothes, he looks quite intimidating.
It was nearly fatal. Even with the disguise technique... he'd never seen his godfather and the others before, so they probably wouldn't recognize him now...
"Boss, we have an order! Quickly bring us a few bowls of chicken noodle soup, and side dishes as you see fit, whatever you have, we're starving!"
The group of four, with the tall and elegant young scholar standing next to Gu Siyan walking over first, said that he was a regular customer and seemed to come from a well-off family. Whenever he came with his companions, he would always treat them to a meal. He was generous and had a lively personality. Qi Qi liked this kind of person quite a bit. After coming a few times, the two of them had become acquainted.
Qi Qi didn't dare to raise his head at this moment, thinking to himself, "Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm."
"I'm sorry, our shop is closed now. We've run out of ingredients. Please come back another day!"
Just as Xiaopingzi inside was about to greet the guests, he heard this and silently put the lid back on the pot.
The customer surnamed Xu enjoyed talking to Qi Qi. He leaned against the counter in a friendly manner and said with a smile, "It's okay if there are no noodles. Do you have anything else to eat? You don't need anything else, you can eat whatever you want."
Upon closer inspection, Qi Qi's drawing of a little turtle sat quietly on the paper: "..."
The customer surnamed Xu laughed heartily: "The painting is excellent, it's extremely cute!"
Qi Qi lowered his head even further: "...Sir, we've finished eating. Please come again next time."
The guest surnamed Xu got even more excited: "Hey? Why are you looking down like that? Are you shy after not seeing me for two days? Look up and talk to your brother."
Qi Qi wanted to kick away the self who had been bragging with him a few days ago: "Oh, I have a stiff neck."
"A stiff neck? Brother Wang, come here quickly! Aren't you a doctor? Quickly take a look at this child's neck!"
Qi Qi: "..."
Yu Guangzhong had already caught sight of Gu Siyan's jade-white robe.
Seemingly curious about the layout inside, he took a few steps inside. When he could no longer see anything, he said, "No need, no need. I already checked. They said it will be ready in a little while."
"Really?" the customer surnamed Xu asked again, "It's so low, is it really alright?"
"Really, thank you for your concern. Why don't you go eat next door? We didn't have enough ingredients today, so we apologize for the inconvenience."
When the customer surnamed Xu opened his mouth, he originally wanted to tease the handsome young man, but after thinking about the other guests, he said, "Alright, then come another day."
He turned around and called out to his friend, then froze on the spot: "Brother Gu, what's wrong with you?"
The tall young man seemed reliable and steady, but it turned out he really liked animals and even started playing with the shop owner's shiny old dog.
Qi Qi turned his head slightly, thinking to himself, "Oh no, why is Gu Siyan squatting there petting Laifu's head?!" He used to take Laifu to play in the study all the time, and he had completely forgotten about it!
Laifu! Didn't you go to the backyard to rest because it was too hot? Don't let anyone touch you!
Then, Qi Qi heard Gu Siyan slowly say, "I once saw a dog that looked very similar to this one."
Laifu: "Woof woof!"
After not seeing him for three or four years, Laifu clearly felt that the person in front of him was somewhat familiar, but the aura was different. He sniffed the air, lazily wagged his tail, and then slowly walked to Qi Qi's legs and shook his robe.
"Woof." Do you know the person over there?
Qi Qi: "Perhaps all dogs in the world look pretty much the same."
Laifu protested, "He's a royal dog! He's very smart, okay?!" He barked, "Woof woof!"
Qi Qi immediately pulled a dried fish from the cabinet and stuffed it into its mouth, saying, "Don't bark, don't bark, go play somewhere else."
"Laifu, come here." A suspicious male voice called from next door.
Hearing someone call his name, Laifu slowly wagged his tail and walked over.
Qi Qi: "..."
Two seconds later, another person leaned against the counter.
Qi Qi's chin was lifted up by someone's grip, meeting a pair of eyes that were a little annoyed but also secretly pleased: "What, your travel companion doesn't want you anymore?"
It's more like a gloating ex-wife who discovered her cheating husband was dumped by his current girlfriend, coming to provoke and mock her down-on-his-luck ex-husband.
Qi Qi bit her lip, then looked up at him pitifully: "Let's make it clear first, can you not hit me, bro..."
The finger on his chin jerked away as if burned. Amidst the curious glances exchanged around him, Gu Siyan pretended not to recognize Qi Qi and coldly said, "The shopkeeper isn't being honest. The chicken soup in the pot is still simmering. How can you say there are no more ingredients?"
Qi Qi: "..."
Muttering a few curses to himself, Qi Qi immediately walked towards Xiao Pingzi inside. After taking only a few steps, he heard someone say, "The boss is cooking himself? What a rare thing! Brother Lin, you'd better do me the honor of having a few more bowls later."
The customer surnamed Lin asked curiously, "Aren't you going to eat?"
Someone said in a serious tone, "I have a sensitive stomach, and eating soup noodles easily gives me diarrhea. Just give me something else to eat."
Qi Qi recalled the time he made noodles for him and Zhao Yong on the mountain, but his innovation was too much, and the two strong men had to pull them for a whole day.
The guest surnamed Lin said earnestly, "Of course, Brother Gu, you must take good care of your stomach and intestines, otherwise you will miss out on many of the world's delicacies."
Qi Qi suspected that he was retaliating against her for feigning surrender and then running away: "………………"
Alright, alright, since that's the case, I'm really going to cook for you myself and poison you!
A moment later, a bowl of chicken noodle soup with added ingredients was placed in front of Gu Siyan.
Qi Qi said in a gentle voice, "Sir, this is our improved version, it's very good for your stomach, you definitely won't get diarrhea after eating it."
Gu Siyan narrowed his eyes and picked out a ginseng from the chicken mixed with a few noodles.
The guest surnamed Lin said, "Wow, he's an old actor. How did they manage to pull him out of the water? Brother Gu, eat up, it's very nourishing."
Gu Siyan paused, looked up at Qi Laibao who was standing obediently to the side holding a tray, blinked her peach blossom eyes, and gave him a flattering smile.
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