When Jiang Shan arrived at Xianyun Pavilion in an oxcart with two large basins of marinated seafood, it was lunchtime and the restaurant was quite full of customers.
As soon as the waiter saw Jiang Shan, he excitedly shouted, "Aunt Hong, Aunt Hong, come quick! The seafood with gravy is here! Miss Jiang is here!"
Upon hearing this, the guests who were about to go upstairs for a meal grabbed the waiter and placed an order on the spot.
Aunt Hong ran to the front and took a look, then let out a long sigh of relief.
"Aunt Hong, I've come to your rescue!" Jiang Shan smiled and waved to Aunt Hong.
Qiao Sheng and several workers carried the seafood to the back kitchen, while Aunt Hong pulled Jiang Shan aside to talk.
Seeing that she looked great, he chuckled and teased, "I've been so worried these past few days that I haven't been able to eat or sleep well, but you've gotten quite plump!"
Jiang Shan was so happy that he kept nuzzling his head against Aunt Hong's shoulder.
"I listened to you and rested properly for a few days. Don't blame me for the bad business!"
It's not that business is bad, it's just that without the seafood with dipping sauce, it's back to how it used to be.
Aunt Hong nodded her head and said reproachfully, "You! That's the right way to do it. The whole family is counting on you!"
After saying that, he looked down at her belly and said, "You're still young, and your body hasn't fully developed yet. Childbirth is a life-threatening ordeal, so you need to take good care of yourself as soon as possible, or else..."
Jiang Shan shrank back, "Aunt Hong, don't scare me!"
She had finally made up her mind to give birth to this child, but she couldn't help but be frightened.
Aunt Hong sighed softly and said affectionately, "You are a blessed person, Buddha will protect you! If anything happens, remember to come to Auntie, everything will be alright!"
The two chatted for a few more minutes before Qiao Sheng came out.
After paying the bill, Jiang Shan and Qiao Sheng came out of the restaurant.
As they approached the crossroads in town, Jiang Shan saw Manager Qi.
This isn't the only way to Linfu Restaurant, nor does it seem like a chance encounter; it's more like Manager Qi deliberately waited for her here.
Jiang Shan stepped forward, curtsied, and greeted Manager Qi, then said no more.
Shopkeeper Qi nodded, then coughed twice, and asked somewhat awkwardly, "I heard Sanlang was sick? Is he feeling better? Why didn't you go to town to get a doctor?"
Jiang Shan looked up in surprise, his gaze towards Manager Qi filled with a hint of confusion and inquiry.
Manager Qi turned his head away, somewhat annoyed, and said, "Although Erlang is gone, there is still an elderly mother and a younger brother who need to be taken care of. Since you haven't come these past few days, I have to ask around to find out what's going on."
Jiang Shan blinked, tilted his head in a "head tilt kill," and looked extremely bewildered and confused: "Manager Qi, didn't you refuse to see me? I thought you weren't doing business with me anymore, so I didn't bother you. My mother fell ill a few days ago, and Sanlang caught a cold and had a fever, so I stayed home to take care of them and didn't go out. They're both fine now, thank you for your concern, Manager Qi."
Manager Qi paused for a moment, clearly accepting Jiang Shan's explanation.
However, he was still somewhat uncomfortable. A woman's reputation was of utmost importance. A man like Jiao Erlang had a limitless future. If his reputation were ruined because of this woman...
Jiang Shan had already noticed Qi's dissatisfaction with her from the way he inadvertently glanced at her.
In contrast, Manager Qi was more worried about the restaurant's business at the moment.
"Continue to supply Linfulou tomorrow. Send 200 jin first, at the same price."
After some deliberation, Jiang Shan had already made up his mind.
She calmly curtsied and said, "Please forgive me, Manager Qi, the price of seafood in broth has increased. The restaurant's supply price is at least six coins per catty, and we can't even guarantee a fixed quantity. I can only guarantee no less than one hundred catties."
Manager Qi's expression changed, and his tone became rather unpleasant: "Little girl, are you mistaken? These days, you can buy two bowls of seafood broth for three coins outside. Customers are all going to buy it from the stalls. Who would want to waste their money at the restaurant!"
Jiang Shan curled his lips into a smile. "But that's not my signature seafood hotpot. It's Jiang's specialty, no bargaining!"
Manager Qi laughed in anger. He needed to think carefully about how to teach this arrogant little girl a lesson.
Before he could speak, a waiter from the restaurant ran over and whispered a few words in his ear.
Manager Qi's expression changed drastically. He pointed at Jiang Shan and said angrily, "Did you supply goods to Xianyun Pavilion today? Five copper coins?"
Jiang Shan remained unfazed and said matter-of-factly, "I had an agreement with Manager Hong beforehand that she would send someone to pick up the goods on odd-numbered days. Recently, I have been preoccupied with many trivial matters at home and have not had time to attend to anything else. Apart from inquiring about her well-being, Manager Hong has only told me to rest well. Putting aside how I should repay this favor, I still owe her a full six days' worth of goods, so naturally I should make it up to her first."
That's perfectly reasonable and logical; there's nothing wrong with it.
Manager Qi, however, discerned a different meaning in Jiang Shan's words.
Manager Hong is a man of great principle who helped her in her time of need, so she naturally wants to repay him. Conversely, since he abandoned her when she was despised by the world, she will certainly not let him off easily.
What a sharp-tongued little girl!
Manager Qi pressed his forehead with a headache, and after a long while, he said helplessly, "Then it's your way, six coins a pound, and the goods will be delivered tomorrow... Never mind, starting tomorrow, I will also send someone to pick up the goods, so you don't need to make this extra trip."
Jiang Shan smiled sweetly: "Then thank you very much, Manager Qi. We'll go back and prepare now!"
On the way back, Qiao Sheng couldn't help but ask Jiang Shan, "Shan'er, we didn't say we were going to raise prices before. What made you think of this? Are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for Manager Qi?"
Jiang Shan said leisurely, "Brother Qiao... Brother Asheng, raising prices is inevitable! Have you noticed what Liu Da said? He said that more and more people are going to the beach to buy seafood now, and the fishing boats are surrounded by people as soon as they come ashore. What does this mean? It means that the seafood business is getting better and better. Good business will inevitably bring competition, and competition will lead to price increases. Brother Asheng, remember to tell Liu Da that as long as the seafood quality is good, the price can be raised appropriately when purchasing seafood."
Qiao Sheng gazed intently at Jiang Shan's beautiful face, a fire burning within him.
Shan'er not only became smarter, but even his facial features and appearance seemed to have changed completely.
Her original appearance was at best pretty, but with a pair of dull, lifeless eyes, her looks dropped from a five out of ten to a mere two.
Even now, she still has a slightly chubby, delicate face, but her bright, clear eyes always sparkle with a lively and intelligent light, adding a touch of charm to her face, making her so dazzling that it's hard to keep your eyes open.
Unfortunately, she already has Erlang... But if Erlang really can't come back, could he...?
Thinking of this, Qiao Sheng's heart couldn't help but burn.
At this moment, Jiang Shan was thinking about more than just the price; she was thinking about the future.
This belongs to the future of the Jiao family of three, no, to the family of four.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
