Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Pointing the way alone...
Wang Zhubu instructed, "Just make some simple food. No need to go to your second floor."
Considering Zhao Jinshan's personality, it would be difficult to invite him out for a meal. Even if he were to go to the second floor, he wouldn't sit down to eat given the environment. So, let's just have them on the first floor of the restaurant. As for the menu, Lin Qiuran would take care of it.
Wang Zhubu thought that he could make some delicious dishes. Although they were not on the second floor, he could try the dishes there. The money would definitely be paid by the county government, as the county government had funds for receiving officials.
Lin Qiuran, Wang Zhubu, looked delighted. He figured it must have been a success. It hadn't happened so quickly. Wang Zhubu had just taken the snacks away the day before yesterday, and now Lord Zhao was here. Perhaps he even knew she'd made the gold ingots, and that might have been one of the reasons he'd come to the restaurant.
Wang Zhubu had something else to do, so he left. Wan Niang asked, "Since you've come all the way from Xuzhou, shouldn't we prepare more dishes?"
Wanniang knew that Lin Qiuran was helping her. Lord Zhao was an official and could not be treated warmly when he came to the restaurant.
Lin Qiuran shook his head. "We have to eat on the first floor so we can see what other people are ordering. We can also see the menu. It wouldn't be appropriate to serve something that's not on the menu. What if other customers ask about it? Besides, our restaurant's food is pretty good. We can serve whatever you order. There's no need to make special dishes."
Perhaps Master Zhao would come again in the future. Lin Qiuran was only in the kitchen cooking. What if the waiter didn't recognize him? If the food was different from this time, how would he explain it? Was it the restaurant's poor cooking, or was it intentional discrimination to embarrass Master Zhao?
Officials, especially good ones, are regarded as the great rulers of the people. He certainly didn't want to make his meal known to everyone, especially since Zhao Jinshan was an honest official, so he certainly didn't want to do anything extra for him.
Lin Qiuran planned to be just an ordinary guest. She told Cheng Lindong, "Lindong, go home and ask my mother to bring the dumplings. Just come over before lunch."
Only let Sun bring out the dumplings, and don't let Madam Xu go with you, as she will get hungry if she stays out for too long.
Zhao Jinshan is a fifth-rank official, and he might even be promoted in the future. It would be good if Tangyuan could become familiar to Lord Zhao. If not, that's fine too, it all depends on fate.
Lin Dong nodded. Wan Niang was stunned at first, then suddenly realized that she had some respect for Lin Qiuran. Tang Yuan was just a little kid, yet he could think of such a thing. However, since this matter had nothing to do with her, she would not bring Ying Jieer to join in the fun.
Lin Qiuran was relieved by not having to prepare anything, and she didn't ask the neighbors to keep quiet. Every day during mealtimes, there was noise from the neighbors, and while it was a little noisy, it let the guests know they had bought the neighbors, saving them the trouble of telling them.
Besides, it's next door, so the noise isn't as loud as going up and down the stairs. Even if you're delayed, you still have to pay more, and the wages are calculated on a daily basis.
Lin Dong hurried back home. Sun Shi didn't ask any questions and brought Tang Yuan over at noon. Tang Yuan was in high spirits today and smiled when he saw Lin Qiuran.
Lin Qiuran had made up her mind. If Magistrate Li didn't let her in, she would have Sun hold the child and serve the guests a pot of wine or something. Who knows, maybe they'd remember it later. If she was allowed to go, Lin Qiuran would go and reply with the glutinous rice balls in her arms.
Lin Qiuran instructed Sun: "Mom, when the time comes, just hold Tangyuan and walk around a few times. Don't look around. If anyone asks, just say you're in charge of the child and come to the restaurant to help out in your free time."
For fear that Sun would be nervous, Lin Qiuran did not dare to tell her that Zhao Jinshan was the prefect of Xuzhou. It would be difficult for others to know this.
Lin Qiuran pulled Tangyuan's little hand and said, "Also, if Tangyuan cries, come out."
Lin Qiuran knew that crying children were annoying. Customers came to restaurants to eat, not to listen to children cry. What one considers cute might not be the same to others. Tangyuan didn't cry often, but she was afraid if she got shy.
Sun nodded and didn't ask why. She just did whatever Lin Qiuran asked her to do. Lin Qiuran was a mother and would definitely not harm the child.
Lin Qiuran kissed Tangyuan on the cheek and said, "Little Tangyuan, you have to work harder and smile more."
As noon approached, customers began to arrive in waves, and Shopkeeper Shi and his colleagues expertly ordered and served the dishes. At three o'clock in the afternoon, Shopkeeper Shi, with his sharp eyes, saw Wang Zhubu and a few others come in. Although he was an ordinary citizen, he was familiar with some of the county officials, especially Wang Zhubu, who had been to the restaurant several times.
Lin Qiuran had also seen it when he went to the county government office to do business.
There was another thing. He remembered that he had come to the restaurant for dinner last night. If ten days or half a month had passed, Manager Shi would have definitely forgotten about him, but just last night, he still thought that this man had an extraordinary demeanor and was very majestic.
They were all dressed in casual clothes, looking like guests coming to eat, but they were different from ordinary people. Their gestures were elegant and refined. They found a seat in the corner. Shopkeeper Shi looked around and took the menu over. "What would you like to eat, sirs?"
County Magistrate Li said, "Brother Zhao... please order the dishes."
Zhao Jinshan said, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Just order whatever you like. Don't order too much. It'll be enough for the four of us."
Shopkeeper Shi couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and said, "Okay, okay, I know the food in the restaurant is large and we can't finish it."
County Magistrate Li said, "Then let's have five dishes: braised pork, boiled pork slices, fish in sour soup, and some bok choy and shredded potatoes."
Three meat dishes and two vegetable dishes should be enough. Moreover, County Magistrate Li and his two companions were only there to entertain guests, not to eat, so it was impossible for them to eat to their heart's content.
He handed the menu to Shopkeeper Shi, "One bowl of rice per person."
Shopkeeper Shi said, "We also have steamed buns with fermented glutinous rice wine and steamed dumplings with jade. The buns are one cent each and the dumplings are two cents each. Would you like some, sir? This is a specialty of our restaurant, only available in spring, and many people order it. Would you like a pot of wine?"
County Magistrate Li glanced at Zhao Jinshan, who seemed curious. He then said, "Then we'll have two bowls of rice, two steamed buns and four dumplings. No more wine, but a pot of tea."
With Zhao Jinshan around, County Magistrate Li didn't dare to be extravagant, let alone drink alcohol. Fortunately, Zhao Jinshan looked calm when ordering dishes.
Steamed buns and rice were served first, followed by braised pork. County Magistrate Li handed over chopsticks and said, "Sir, please try it. This restaurant is well-known in Yu'an and the food is delicious."
Zhao Jinshan nodded and took it. He tasted a piece and it tasted the same as yesterday, fat but not greasy, and indeed delicious. As he ate, he said, "I thought about it on the way here, and this matter is also my fault."
County Magistrate Li sighed deeply and groaned several times, "Brother Zhao, you...ah, ah..."
He felt that being an official shouldn't be too harsh, otherwise it would be difficult for him. There were so many people in a county, and sometimes he couldn't take care of them all. As the prefect, Zhao Jinshan had a lot to worry about, so how could he take care of everything?
Besides, Qian Youwei and the other man have definitely been doing this for a long time. They are deliberately hiding it, so how could Zhao Jinshan find out?
Zhao Jinshan shook his head. This was not entirely what he meant. He was a high-ranking official and used to think that not taking the people's things and doing things for the people was good for the people, but outsiders would target the people around him.
Even if Qian Youwei and the other two weren't guilty of embezzlement this time, a closer look would surely reveal a lot more. It's clear they came to Yu'an for nothing but pleasure. Of course, if a closer look were to be found, County Magistrate Li would also be guilty.
Zhao Jinshan didn't want to make things difficult for County Magistrate Li, so he sighed. No matter what kind of person he was, wherever he went, others would flatter him as he pleased. This would only blind his eyes and make him unable to see anything.
The people below would tell him what they wanted him to see. He was also very capable and hardworking, and he was also honest. He knew a little about what was going on behind the scenes, but he had never thought it was so excessive. He still thought that all the counties were stable and everything was fine.
So this time Zhao Jinshan didn't insist on eating at the post station. Even at the post station, County Magistrate Li would ask someone to prepare the home-cooked dishes he thought were good, which would be more extravagant.
Zhao Jinshan suddenly remembered that time and asked with a smile, "Last time you came, it wasn't just home-cooked food, was it?"
Wang Zhubu and Chen Xiancheng felt their hearts tighten as they listened to the two men's conversation. County Magistrate Li chuckled, having seen through it all, and it was difficult to deny it any further. "Brother Zhao is very perceptive. Alas, I just felt that you had worked hard, and you deserved to eat something good when you came to Yu'an. It was so hot back then, but it wasn't too much of a bother. And, Brother Zhao, you don't know, the cook who cooked for you back then is now far away, but now it's right before our eyes."
Zhao Jinshan looked around the restaurant. The dishes here were not expensive and there were quite a few customers. There was only one empty seat at noon.
Zhao Jinshan: "This one?"
County Magistrate Li nodded. "And that unconventional method was my idea. She made the gold ingots. It's just that the journey was too long and the things got damaged."
Magistrate Li felt that it was a good thing to be bad, but he couldn't say it that way.
Zhao Jinshan said, "I had someone feed the food to the chickens. Aside from being a little sour, it tastes pretty good. I'd like to see her when I'm done with the business."
It takes a lot of skill to be able to make such food.
County Magistrate Li sighed. Although it would be useless to just meet and say a few words, it was better to show up in front of the high-ranking official than not to do so.
He talked about Lin Qiuran while they were eating, from when Lin Qiuran's husband passed away and she came to the county town, to how her family gradually got better and Xiao Xun came back. Of course, he also mentioned how the county town had taken good care of them.
For example, small vendors do not pay taxes, and the county government provides subsidies to those who cannot afford seeds. The levee was also repaired this year.
Zhao Jinshan just listened to these and he could see for himself.
Zhao Jinshan said, "The food in this restaurant is good, the taste is good, everything is delicious."
Shopkeeper Shi pricked up his ears to listen to the conversation and immediately told Lin Qiuran, but Lin Qiuran did not let Sun go.
After they finished their meal, they paid the bill and left. Shopkeeper Shi was afraid that they had really left, so he went out to check and waited outside.
County Magistrate Li originally suggested that they sit and wait, but Zhao Jinshan felt that was not a good idea. "We still need to do business. If we sit here, others won't be able to come."
They found a table and sat down. Manager Shi asked Zhao Xing to serve them tea. County Magistrate Li said, "No need for tea. Where is your boss?"
Zhao Xing threw the towel over his shoulder and said, "I'll go and call them."
The restaurant was already busy, and Lin Qiuran came out holding Tangyuan. She had been out for a while today, having just changed his diaper. She held Tangyuan and bowed to the others, "This humble woman greets Lord Zhao."
Xiao Xun was an official, but she was just a commoner doing business.
Zhao Jinshan glanced at Lin Qiuran, then looked at the child in her arms. Tangyuan was smiling with his mouth open. He was almost two months old, good-looking and very lovable.
Zhao Jinshan smiled and said, "Sit down."
He didn't mind Lin Qiuran calling him "Sir". Just as he thought, his official rank was there. Unless he didn't go out with County Magistrate Li and others and investigate privately, it would be written on his head that he was an official.
Lin Qiuran sat down as he was told.
Zhao Jinshan also has children, so he couldn't help but ask, "How old is this child?"
Lin Qiuran nodded, "Less than two months."
Zhao Jinshan looked kindly, "You're here to cook, and you're bringing the child with you?"
Lin Qiuran shook his head. "My mother usually takes care of the child. If the child misses me, she brings him over to see me. My home is in Yu'an, very close."
Zhao Jinshan couldn't help but smile and pulled Tangyuan's fingers. Tangyuan's eyes were bright and he was babbling.
Zhao Jinshan's eyes softened again. "I heard from Lord Li that your husband is in the Xuzhou military camp. This child is very good. I will send him to study martial arts in the future."
Lin Qiuran said, "My family has a business and has saved some money, so I'm planning to go there, but I don't know which academy is good."
Zhao Jinshan said, "In ancient times, there was Meng's mother who moved three times. It's a good idea for you to find a good academy. There's Anshan Academy in Xuzhou, and the teachers there are pretty good. If you go further up, there's Songshan Academy in the capital."
Zhao Jinshan felt that he had said too much. The child was just this old, so there was no rush. But he had a good mother. As a parent, she always had far-sighted plans for her children. It was absolutely true.
Lin Qiuran smiled and nodded, "Thank you for your guidance, sir. I didn't understand this before."
Zhao Jinshan said, "The county town is small. You'll understand as you travel further and see more. The food you cook is very good. Although it's not Yu'an's specialty yet, it may gradually become a local specialty. Take from the people and use it for the people. It shouldn't be too expensive, and the shape shouldn't be too similar..."
Zhao Jinshan felt that it was not good if the items looked too much like gold ingots, as this would easily give someone with ulterior motives an opportunity to steal them. For example, he had checked every item and turned the box over before he was sure that there was no stolen goods.
Lin Qiuran nodded and said she would discuss it with Manager Xu.
Zhao Jinshan said, "Okay, you guys go about your business, I won't bother you any more."
Zhao Jinshan had other things to do, so the group left quickly.
Tang Yuan was still smiling. Lin Qiuran couldn't help but rub his face. He had done well today. Adults judged whether a child was good or not by their appearance, whether they liked to laugh, and when they grew up, whether they liked to talk.
Sun didn't say anything, nor did she come over. She only came out after the others left. She was surprised, "That's an official."
Lin Qiuran said, "He is the governor of Xuzhou, and he is here on official business."
Lin Qiuran didn't tell her family about making snacks, and she didn't get paid much. She looked at the glutinous rice balls in her arms, then looked at the door. It was a bright spring day outside, and the few people were gone. She hoped to see them again in the future.
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The author has something to say: [Panda head][Cat head][Crying] Please water~
My period is a little lighter today so I came early. Summer menstruation is really terrible! ! ! ! ! [burst crying][burst crying]
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