Chapter 168 All are here
The next day, the morning light was dim.
The mountain mist floated on Wenshan Street, lingering like a long, misty silk, floating in the middle of the street. Walking in it was like walking in the clouds. The smoke and heat from Su's shop diluted the mist and opened a path for people who got up early to eat breakfast.
The opening ceremony of the morning tea was at exactly 8 o'clock, which is 8 o'clock in later generations. If there was a clock, Su Ruojin could be accurate to 8:8:8. Unfortunately, he could only count to 8 o'clock using a funnel. However, it did not affect the sale of buns, steamed dumplings, etc. in front of the shop. People passing by saw the roll-up banner placed in front of Su's shop, which read that the added morning tea shop would open at 8 o'clock, welcome to come, and offer a 50% discount.
Some curious people stayed and watched the fun while eating breakfast.
Unconsciously, the sun climbed up the hillside, leaped into the sky, broke through the clouds, and the rays of light were magnificent. Seeing that the right time was approaching, Su Ruojin, Ye Huaizhen, and Shu Tong were busy coming in and out like little bees.
The shop reopened. Su Ruojin did not invite anyone except his family members, so there was no need to wait for anyone. When the family members were standing at the door, Uncle Shu Tong and the Shi brothers were about to light firecrackers, but were stopped by Siping.
"Wait a moment, the young prince will be here soon."
Zhao Lan knew about the whole process of the shop's reopening. After all, his manager Siping came to help almost every day. So Su Ruojin didn't find it strange that he came, so she didn't light the firecrackers for the time being.
Zhao Lan didn't arrive, but he saw Su Yanzu coming from the street first.
Su Ruojin leaned close to her father and asked in a low voice, "Did my uncle take a day off today as well?"
Su Yanli shook his head, "He doesn't need to ask for leave."
"Ah?" she thought to herself, isn't today a day off? Is my uncle so powerful that he can enter and leave the Imperial College at will?
"After the New Year, your uncle won't go to the Imperial College anymore."
Su Ruojin was even more shocked, "He's not going to take the imperial examination?"
Su Yanli didn't know, "I heard that he was managing his family's business in Beijing."
Did his step-grandparents let it go? Did they no longer force him to take the imperial examination? For some reason, Su Ruojin remembered the stories about domineering bosses she had read before. Those domineering bosses who returned home to inherit the family business had conditions for doing so. Did his uncle also have conditions for returning home?
Of course, at the moment, Su Ruojin had no time to think about these things, because she saw that her uncle Su Yanzu brought a young man of about the same age as him. He was wearing old linen robe, the most ordinary attire, and even looked sickly pale, but these did not seem to affect his detached and clean literary temperament.
There is a feeling that no one is more elegant and handsome than him, and no one who is graceful is more elegant and handsome than him. He is really full of poetic and picturesque feeling, which is amazing!
Su Ruojin looked up and asked, "Dad, who is this person?"
It turned out that the rumors were true. His younger brother really had a preference for Longyang. Su Yanli's face was dark. Even though she was his favorite daughter, he couldn't say a word.
Su Ruojin had never seen her father's face like this before. She was shocked. Could it be... She didn't expect that her guess would come true.
People in later generations thought that the ancients were very orthodox and had nothing unusual, but in fact, idioms like "Longyang's love" and "Duanxiu's habit" are all idioms that originated from ancient times. What people considered orthodoxy was after Cheng Yi's Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty.
Before the Song Dynasty, both sexual intercourse and homosexuality were very popular, especially during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, when they reached their peak.
If it is true love, although Su Ruojin cannot accept it, she can tolerate differences and respect other people's choices. But if he is as gay as the playboys of wealthy aristocrats, she will despise Su Yanzu.
The two of them came hand in hand against the rosy glow, one of them had handsome features, with picturesque eyes and a refined demeanor; the other was handsome yet melancholy, gentle and refined; the two of them had fluttering clothes and looked like immortals, like banished fairies in a painting, so graceful and charming that they dazzled everyone's eyes.
Perhaps because he was surrounded by everyone's gazes, the melancholy young man seemed uneasy. He turned to look at Su Yanli, and his uncle also turned his head and smiled at him with gentle and lingering eyes. Endless tenderness was contained in this tenderness.
Su Yan turned his head away politely.
Cheng Yingzhen was so embarrassed that she didn't know where to look.
Everyone was better at pretending than Cheng Yingzhen, so they pretended not to understand.
Only Su Ruojin was most convinced. He was indeed a carefree uncle who did what he wanted. She probably guessed why her uncle returned home to inherit the family business. It must be for the male confidant beside him.
Alas! Such good-looking guys, but they can't become someone else's husband. What a waste of genes... What a waste...
Before Su Ruojin could finish her inner sigh, Su Yanzu and the young man came forward, bowed and congratulated Su Ji on its reopening, and said, "I wish Ah Jin a prosperous business and a lot of money."
"Thank you, uncle."
Su Yanzu smiled and introduced her, "My best friend, Shangguan Yu."
"Hello, Uncle Shangguan."
Shangguan Yu was wondering how to face Shaobai's family, but he didn't expect the young lady to ask him directly. He replied with a blush, "Second Madam, you are too polite."
After the pleasantries, they were staring at each other, not knowing how to get along, when Zhao Lan's carriage arrived and Siping hurried to greet it.
Su Yanli and his family also went to meet them.
He ignored his younger brother from beginning to end. For some reason, although he hated his original family, he felt that Su Yanzu's life should not be like this. It was such a pity.
Normally when Zhao Lan travels, he only has one carriage. For some reason, today he has two carriages. Did he bring a carriage full of gifts?
When Su Ruojin was wondering, Zhao Lan jumped off the carriage and smiled at her. She smiled back and was about to say hello when he turned and walked to the carriage behind. He reached out to lift the curtain and a breathtakingly delicate and flawless hand was placed on Zhao Lan's arm. Then a maid who came down from the other side helped with the other hand.
Princess Yuehua stepped down from the carriage by the carriage stool.
The princess is here!
She didn't invite you! Suddenly, Su Ruojin felt a surge of pressure in her heart, and she followed her father and hurried forward to salute, "Meet Her Royal Highness the Princess!"
Yuehua's face was expressionless. She looked past Su Yanli's family and at the two young men following behind. They were bowing and following the salute.
When the eldest girl saw the sick man, she glared at him with an angry look as if she wanted to eat him. Su Ruojin was so scared that she followed the master and servant's gaze and looked back, and her eyes fell on his uncle and Shangguan Yu.
Here they come, all here!
Su Ruojin's scalp tingled. Today was the opening day of Su's Morning Tea Shop. How did these three people meet together? It was really...
Su Ruojin had no idea what had happened in the past year, or what rumors were circulating in the capital, and Su Yanli did not tell his family a single word.
Zhao Lan's eyes were cold enough to kill people, but when the young lady looked at him, he quickly switched to a gentle channel, just like the Sichuan opera face-changing, smiled slightly, and walked forward, "Ajin, I wish you a prosperous business in your new shop, and make money every day."
"Thank you, young prince, for your support along the way. Ah Jin will always remember it."
Zhao Lan asked with a smile, "Is it the auspicious time?"
"Yes, yes, we're just waiting for the young prince!" Su Ruojin waved away the awkward atmosphere that came from nowhere, quickly set the mood for the opening ceremony, turned around and shouted, "Uncle Shutong, let's get started."
"Okay."
Zhao Lan and his aunt Princess Yuehua stood in the lobby. A group of maids stood at the door as guards. The opening became popular instantly.
Shu Tong saw that all the nobles were standing in place, so he asked the three Shi brothers to light firecrackers and start setting off firecrackers. In a moment, Wenshan Street was filled with the sound of firecrackers, and the sound floated upwards and could even be heard in Dongshan Academy.
Su Xiangheng was on his way down the mountain with a group of colleagues and said with a smile, "We are one step late."
The colleagues laughed and said, "Now that we are here, I guess we are just in time to entertain the guests."
"Too."
It took nearly half an hour for the firecrackers to stop. All the shopkeepers and waiters who could come to Wenshan Street came to join in the fun, waiting for the pretty female shopkeeper of Su Ji to say, "Everyone can go in for morning tea."
The excited and curious crowd filed in.
Because the princess had arrived, the second room was given to her. Everyone lined up in the first room or squeezed into the lobby. It was not too cold in the morning in March when the sun came out. Su Ruojin asked people to move out the spare tables and chairs and put them at the door.
The restaurant was filled with diners inside and outside.
Although Bianjing City is the most prosperous and wealthiest place in Dayin, ordinary people or the middle class can hardly have access to exquisite morning tea. Looking at the order sheet where everything is expensive, everyone was stunned. If it weren't for the fact that the host had a distinguished guest at the opening today, someone would probably start scolding right away, but they all held back and didn't dare to make trouble.
Su Xiangheng took the lead and ordered a set meal.
Two tall and pretty waitresses came out with a cart, and from the cart they brought out snacks that were so exquisite that they would amaze people, as well as tea sets that were so exquisite that people couldn't help but touch them.
Some people couldn't help but sigh: "No wonder it's so expensive. Just look at these steamed buns, sauce dishes, and plates. Each one is decorated with gold and flowers, so exquisite that it's hard to bear to pick up your chopsticks, not to mention the fragrant Mingqian tea."
Really good value for money.
The food was served on the table, like a threshold. Some people touched their noses and automatically went to the door to buy a basket of buns and left.
Those who stayed behind were shopkeepers, bosses or teachers of Dongshan Academy. They had money and free time. They sat at the table, eating and chatting. The shopkeepers and bosses recommended rare books or famous paintings to the teachers during the chat, and the teachers discussed the value of rare books and the schools of famous paintings. It was like a cultural feast.
Unconsciously, Su Ji Morning Tea Shop became a gathering place for literati, or a place for them to make friends, or a place where certain works of art were sold. In short, Wenshan Street, which already sold cultural products, became more prosperous. Many people in Beijing came here to visit, and it became a popular check-in spot for literati.
After the automatic screening, the shop that was obviously full of people became quiet. Everyone ate politely and talked elegantly. Su Ji Morning Tea instantly became an elegant place.
This is what happened later, but Su Ruojin finally sat down to take a breath, and then she remembered to ask, "How is my father doing in the second private room?"
Mao Ya replied, "The master has already returned to the backyard. The princess does not want the master to accompany her, and only wants Master Su and Master Shangguan to accompany her."
Three people in one room? Su Ruojin was surprised and asked quickly: "What about the young Prince Zhao?"
"The young prince sees that you are busy, so he will take a rest in your steward's room."
"Serve the little prince some tea."
Mao Yatou nodded, "Sisters Chunxiao and Qiuyue personally served us."
Then she felt relieved.
When she was free, her mind was empty, and Su Ruojin's gossiping heart was unknowingly aroused. Would those three of them fight in a room without the young prince in charge?
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