The shopkeeper was immediately terrified, and knelt down with a thud, frantically kowtowing, "Your Highness, I wouldn't dare... How could I possibly..."
On the second floor, Xiao Youran quietly watched the chaotic scene, a smile playing on her lips.
She knew that it was probably that little blue notebook that was starting to work its magic...
Jiang Youchen felt something was off about his sister's expression.
Suddenly, Xiao Youran looked up at her with a sweet smile, "Brother, let's go see if Mother is feeling better."
If Mother is feeling better, then we should quickly find another inn to stay at.
This Xilai Inn is indeed not far from closing down...
Jiang Youchen's mood was no longer as anxious as when he had just finished eating wontons and returned home, because he went upstairs first and saw that his mother had improved a lot and was able to get up, wash, and prepare to eat. At that moment, he felt much more at ease.
He took his sister's hand and found that this sister, who was no longer shrewish and unruly and who used to make him take the blame all the time, had become extremely adorable.
Hmm... if she continues to be this docile and reasonable... then he might as well give that "protective sister maniac" a try...
The two pushed open the door and saw their mother sitting at the table, sipping soup.
Zhao's mother and Suyue stood happily to the side, even happier to see the brother and sister return. "Young master, young lady, you're back! Madam has woken up, but she's much better!"
Seeing her son and daughter walking hand in hand, Mrs. Su smiled weakly and asked, "Where have you been?"
Little Youran happily walked to her mother's side and nuzzled her. "My brother and I went to eat wontons. Did you think they tasted good, Mom?"
Mrs. Su nodded, "It's been a long time since I've had such a hot and delicious soup."
This pork bone broth is incredibly flavorful and rich, and it's sprinkled with chopped green onions—it smells absolutely delicious and appetizing.
Little Youran tiptoed and raised her little hand to touch Su's forehead. "Mother's fever is gone, that's good."
Jiang Youchen also asked, "Does Mother's stomach still hurt?"
Mrs. Su shook her head and said, "Much better. These past few days must have been tiring for our little Ranran, right?"
Jiang Youchen: ...
Well, I always feel like I have no presence in front of my mother.
Xiao Youran nodded vigorously, "Yes, baby didn't eat enough. Luckily, brother remembered that the wontons at the corner were delicious, so he took me there for a full meal."
Jiang Youchen: ...
Are you making me take the blame again? But why isn't it the blame this time? This is making me a little uneasy.
He lowered his head in shame, "It's my fault for not taking good care of my mother and sister."
Madam Su also raised her hand and touched the top of her son's head, "Chen'er, you've suffered."
Jiang Youchen was flattered.
Hasn't Mother always unconditionally believed in my sister?
When has he ever received such a head pat?
Could it be because his sister had just subtly praised him?
While he was still in shock, his younger sister squeezed her head in and nestled into her mother's arms, saying, "Mommy, you need to eat more so you have the strength to get better faster."
Madam Su pressed her forehead against her daughter's forehead, showering her with affection, "My sweet little Ranran, Mother knows!"
Little Ranran looked up at her brother and said, "Brother said just a couple of days ago that I'm all grown up now and can't hold his hand when we go out! Listen to this, Mother is still calling me Little Ranran! I am Mother's Little Ranran, and also Brother's Little Ranran!"
Madam Su tapped her forehead, "You will always be your mother's little Ranran."
Then he tapped Jiang Youchen's forehead hard, "As the older brother, how can you not hold your sister's hand when you go out? What will you do if she gets lost?"
Faced with her mother's unconditional pampering and trust, Jiang Youchen was speechless.
Oh well, he's already used to it, hasn't he?
...
The next day, Shen Zhangyu indeed delivered a contract.
Of course, what Xiao Youran cared about most was the food box he was carrying.
Shen Zhangyu handed over the contract, and Xiao Youran immediately passed it to her brother, then pointed to the food box and asked, "What's inside?"
Shen Zhangyu opened the food box with a little embarrassment and took out a plate of fried dough sticks.
Xiao Youran couldn't wait to pick one up and put it in her mouth.
I took a bite, then looked at the cross-section... hmm... it doesn't seem quite the same as what I saw...
It seems a bit too solid...
She carefully recalled the process and offered a suggestion, "It might be necessary to add a little baking soda during fermentation... to make it fluffier and crispier."
Jiang Youchen wished he could smash the contract in his hand onto his sister's head. So, with this two thousand taels of business, all you care about is eating? Nothing else matters to you?
Little Youran seemed to have seen through her brother's thoughts and said with a grin, "Brother, our maternal grandparents' family is a large merchant family. You must have inherited the excellent bloodline of your maternal grandparents and mother. You must have a great talent for doing business, right? Brother, I have high hopes for you!"
For some reason, those last four words, "I believe in you," suddenly gave Jiang Youchen a sense of responsibility as an older brother, and a mysterious confidence that came from nowhere.
He patted his sister's head as if it were a ghost. "Okay, just eat. I'll take care of the business!"
Shen Zhangyu listened with envy, "Miss Jiang is so lucky to have such a capable brother."
Xiao Youran looked at her brother with a smile. So her brother was so easy to fool?
Last time, when I pretended to touch the fake pearl on his head, I made him take out two thousand taels of silver notes; this time, after just a few words of praise, he bravely took on the responsibility of signing the restaurant contract.
Very brave!
Yes, I'm brave too!
With a little accounting notebook, who am I afraid of?!
Jiang Youchen stared at the contract for a long time, but couldn't find anything wrong with it, so he had no choice but to take the pen and sign his name on it.
Forget it, I've already taken out two thousand taels, so not signing would just be a huge loss for me.
Shen Zhangyu suddenly had a feeling: were these wealthy siblings really as shrewd as they appeared on the surface?
Luckily, they ran into themselves. If they had encountered a seasoned swindler, wouldn't they have been swindled out of everything?
If Xiao Youran knew what he was thinking, she would pat his head and say with a smile, "Don't worry, we'll definitely be the ones who trick others until they're left with nothing! Because I have a little ledger to keep track of everything! Anyone who dares to mess with me won't escape!"
However, faced with the Jiang siblings' trust, Shen Zhangyu sincerely told them, "Don't worry, we'll go look for a shop this afternoon!"
Xiao Youran nodded vigorously, not forgetting to add, "After you fry these fried dough sticks with lye, deliver them again!"
Shen Zhangyu: ...
Jiang Youchen: ...
Isn't finding a shop more important right now?
Okay, it's also important that my sister thinks something tastes good!
As soon as Shen Zhangyu stepped out of the Xilai Inn, he saw a group of soldiers rushing over and surrounding the entire inn.
Shen Zhangyu was also startled and hid behind a pillar by the door to watch.
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