Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Jindinglou's only move...
Lin Qiuran's face remained calm as she asked, "Do you still want me to look after your parents and Tangyuan?"
Xiao Xun looked stunned. He wanted to say that he didn't think so, but these were the words that came out of his mouth.
If he can't come back, he can only entrust these to Lin Qiuran.
Lin Qiuran saw him lower his head, like a large dog with its head drooping. She looked away and said, "I know that there are casualties in marching and fighting. Even if you want to come back alive, you may not be able to."
Swords and knives have no eyes. Who can be sure that it is not him who will die on the battlefield?
Lin Qiuran: "But you've learned to read. If you're reading a military book, don't think about what you'd do if you died on the battlefield. Think about how you'd get back alive. It wasn't easy to save your life back then. You have parents and Tangyuan at home... It's a good idea to entrust your family to me."
Lin Qiuran asked, "You left and disappeared without a trace. How long should I wait? Half a year, a year, or three to five years? Finally, I'll wait for the news that you've died on the battlefield. If you really think you can't come back, why not just divorce me now..."
Xiao Xun's face paled. He raised his head and looked directly into Lin Qiuran's eyes. "I promise you, I will come back alive and I won't divorce you."
Lin Qiuran didn't look at Xiao Xun, but just replied, "Yeah."
God brought her here to have more children and more parents-in-law. She originally thought that Xiao Xun would die, and it would be fine if he died. It would be enough for her to survive in this era and survive with the Sun family and Tangyuan. But Xiao Xun came back alive.
If he was a scheming person and wanted to marry again, or was not good to himself and Tangyuan, then the worst that could happen would be divorce, but Xiao Xun was not that kind of person.
Lin Qiuran recalled the New Year's Eve when she and Xiao Xun held hands and watched the lantern festival. The memory of her giving birth and Xiao Xun telling her about her previous injury came to her mind again, and she felt inexplicably sad.
Xiao Xun once rested his forehead against the back of her hand, and also knelt in the snow looking at her.
If you don't want to come back, just don't come back. Why come back several times and leave without a trace, giving people hope and then leaving them disappointed?
Seeing Lin Qiuran wipe his eyes, Xiao Xun said, "I keep my word. I will come back if I say so."
Lin Qiuran still didn't look at Xiao Xun, "But it can't be missing any limbs."
Lin Qiuran's eyes welled up with tears, and she felt like she was holding back a breath, unable to move. She didn't know what was happening to her. She knew Xiao Xun's words were unreliable, and that the battlefield was ever-changing, and it wasn't something he could do as he pleased, but she couldn't help but force him to promise.
Just give them some time.
Xiao Xun reached out and hugged Lin Qiuran, and breathed a long sigh of relief, "Well, I promise I won't be short of it."
After being held by Xiao Xun for a while, Lin Qiuran pushed him away uncomfortably, "Alright, alright, hurry up and get ready for bed. As for my parents... can we keep this a secret?"
Lin Qiuran knew it, and she would continue to live her life after Xiao Xun left. However, Sun and Xiao Dashi were old, and they were greatly shocked by Xiao Xun's accident. Lin Qiuran was afraid that they would not be able to bear it after knowing the news.
No news is good news, but one day without news is a day of worry.
Xiao Xun died once, and if something really happened, Lin Qiuran was afraid that something would happen to the two of them.
Xiao Xun said, "When the war situation becomes urgent, the imperial court may still recruit soldiers."
By then, everyone in the government and the country would know that there was a war in the northwest, and it would be impossible to hide it. Lin Qiuran nodded. She still wanted to keep it a secret for now and tell everyone when it could no longer be hidden.
Lin Qiuran asked again, "If there's a war...will Yu An be affected?"
Does she need to stock up on some things and prepare in advance?
Lin Qiuran came from a peaceful era and had never experienced war. War is to protect the majority of people. If Yu An really comes... she has to think about how to survive.
Xiao Xun shook his head. "Don't worry, I will protect the northwest even at the risk of my life. However, if there is a war, food prices may rise and chaos may break out everywhere."
Yu'an is located in the south. If this area is affected by the war, it will be time for a change of dynasty.
Xiao Xun: "I'll teach Lin Ming some more Kung Fu, and you can buy two more people."
Lin Qiuran nodded. She originally wanted to sleep, but now she was not sleepy anymore.
They could think about the war later. Xiao Xun was about to leave, and Lin Qiuran asked, "Didn't you send back some herbs last time? You might need them, so I'll bring them all to you."
The medicinal materials can still be bought. You can go to the clinic and buy some wound medicine. What Xiao Xun sent back are not finished medicines.
Xiao Xun said, "I'll take some to stop bleeding, and the rest are mostly for treating colds and replenishing the body. Keep them at home."
The medicinal herbs sent back were mostly used to treat typhoid fever, replenish qi and blood, and were for women, so Xiao Xun could not use them.
Lin Qiuran took out the money box from the cabinet and took out the silver bills. "Tomorrow morning, go buy some hemostatics. See if there are any ginseng slices. Buy some to take away."
Lin Qiuran found the clean cotton cloth that Xiao Xun had sent back last time and said, "Take this too. You can use it to bandage wounds if you get hurt."
Clean cloth is not easily infected. Lin Qiuran is not familiar with medicine and doesn’t know anything else.
Sun should have made clothes for Xiao Xun. Isn't she leaving in the afternoon of the day after tomorrow? She can take them away in the next two days.
Xiao Xun saw Lin Qiuran busy in the room, so he pressed her shoulders and pushed her onto the bed. He said, "Go to sleep quickly. You still have to go to the restaurant tomorrow. I can clean up by myself."
He was indeed happy that Lin Qiuran cared about him, but he could handle these things himself, so there was no need to let Lin Qiuran worry about them. Lin Qiuran was also very tired after a busy day, so Xiao Xun could handle these things himself.
Lin Qiuran nodded, and after a simple tidy up, the two of them lay on the bed. Xiao Xun blew out the light, took off his clothes and got into bed. Lin Qiuran tilted his head to take a look.
It was a little dark, but I could see the outline of his shoulders and Xiao Xun's waistline. When he lay down, I could even see the rippling of the quilt. Although he promised that he would come back, it was just talk.
Perhaps this is Xiao Xun's last time going home.
Lin Qiuran couldn't help but call Xiao Xun's name.
In the dark night, the two words Lin Qiuran said were like the sound of a vibrating drum, which shocked Xiao Xun's heart.
Xiao Xun: "What's wrong?"
Lin Qiuran clutched the quilt tightly. The room was very quiet. She said, "Why don't you tell me more about the march and the battle. When you are not at home, I can tell Tangyuan about it."
Thinking of Tang Yuan, he also had some similarities with Xiao Xun. But not quite like Sun and Xiao Dashi. If he really couldn't come back, she could also tell Tang Yuan what kind of person his father was.
Xiao Xun's quilt moved, and Lin Qiuran felt him turn sideways, facing her, and then her hand was held.
Xiao Xun said: "Go to sleep first, I'll tell you when I get back. Maybe Tangyuan will be able to talk by then, and I can talk to him too."
Lin Qiuran nodded softly.
The next morning, the sky was bright and sunny. Lin Qiuran asked Sun to quickly make clothes for Xiao Xun, as he would leave the next afternoon.
Sun said, "You're in such a hurry, why can't you send it over?"
Lin Qiuran: "It's too much trouble to send just two sets of clothes, so let him take them this time. Find him a new quilt and bed, and bring him some snacks from home."
Sun didn't think much about it and said, "That's fine."
Lin Qiuran also asked Lin Chun and Lin Ying if they could do needlework. They both knew a little, but not as good as the embroiderers in the Qian Mansion before.
Lin Qiuran asked the two to stay, as the restaurant didn't need them for the time being, so they could start making clothes. If the family had more money and really needed someone to serve them, they could find someone who was good at needlework, so that Sun wouldn't have to worry about it.
Xiao Xun left on the afternoon of the ninth day of the first lunar month, traveling alone with a horse and a large bag.
Lin Qiuran watched him walk away, and only after he left did she return to the restaurant. The restaurant was crowded, and Wanniang and Lin Dong were still chatting and laughing as usual. Shopkeeper Shi and Zhao Xing were joking around, and Lin Qiuran took a deep breath.
Go to work. If Xiao Xun is really not here, the family will need money even more.
Lin Qiuran sighed softly and continued to busy himself with his evening business.
There are many more dishes in restaurants in spring, but it also depends on the solar terms. Several dishes related to bamboo shoots have been taken off the menu in the past two days. Steamed dumplings stuffed with bok choy and shepherd's purse are no longer on the menu, but other dishes are served.
There are tender tofu mixed with toon sprouts, and tender tofu mixed with preserved eggs. The preserved eggs are called century eggs here.
Although the cabbage dumplings were gone, there were leeks. Lin Qiuran was busy mixing the fillings. She made two kinds. One was a three-fresh filling of leeks, eggs, and dried shrimps. This one tasted extremely delicious, with a translucent skin, a green and golden filling, and chewy dried shrimps inside. Every bite was a breath of fresh spring air.
The other filling is leek and meat, which contains pork, three parts fat and seven parts lean. Lin Qiuran now makes broth every day and puts some of it in the filling.
Customers always ask why the big dumplings we make at home don’t taste like the ones in restaurants. The dumplings in restaurants have chewy skin, rich, juicy and fragrant fillings, are not too oily, and are not greasy after eating.
Lin Qiuran looked at the things in the kitchen, as well as the daily soup stock. The secret was in there. She also added starch to the flour, which naturally made it delicious.
In spring, not only are the vegetables fresh, but the fish and shrimp are also fresh.
Lin Qiuran added garlic-flavored crucian carp and steamed sea bass to the restaurant menu, and these two dishes sold very well. At this time of year, they also had razorfish and catfish, one steamed and the other braised. However, both fish were expensive and hard to catch, and shipping them here was even more expensive, so availability depended on availability. They were mostly cooked for the guests on the second floor.
The restaurant was open until the 24th, but it had to close for a few days due to renovations, and the yard had to be cleared. It was so dusty at that time that it was impossible to cook.
Just close the restaurant for a few days, and when it reopens, the Xiao Family Restaurant will be the Golden Tripod Tower. Lin Qiuran can also take the opportunity to rest. It has been a month since he came here in mid-February.
Tangyuan is more than two months old. He can lift his head very well, but he can hardly turn over. However, he can turn over if he tries hard, but he just can't turn back.
Lin Qiuran had told him to watch him closely, because he might fall to the ground while on the big bed with no one watching. A child that age has not yet fully developed his brain, so a fall would be a disaster.
Lin Qiuran will watch over it these few days, but he is also busy with shop matters most of the time.
Although she didn't do business, she had to take care of the workers' meals. She asked Lin Dong and Lin Chun to cook the meals, with Lin Ming watching over them. She and Manager Shi would check if there was anything wrong and settle the accounts.
The deposit for the decoration was twenty taels, and it would probably cost another twenty-five taels to complete it all.
This month we worked for a total of 23 days. Manager Shi was calculating the profits of these days on the second floor of the restaurant using an abacus. There were always customers on the second floor these days, more at the beginning of the month and fewer in the middle of the month, but even when there were fewer, there were still three or four tables a day.
Since the beginning of spring, they've added a lot of dishes, and they're all selling very well. Except for a few rainy days, business on the first floor has been good. Shopkeeper Shi flipped through the account book and calculated, "This month's turnover is 178 taels."
Lin Qiuran wasn't too surprised. A high turnover didn't mean a high profit. They made a small profit on the drinks, a pot costing just over ten wen, and the more expensive ones cost dozens. The restaurant only took a few wen.
Shopkeeper Shi was still calculating with his head down. He had to deduct the cost of buying meat, vegetable seasonings, repairing tables and chairs, and paying the employees... to get this month's profit.
Yes, and there is also money for decoration.
Lin Qiuran now pays Sun and Xiao Dashi's monthly allowance himself. Sun is not in the restaurant now, and Xiao Dashi comes to help occasionally. The monthly allowance for the two of them is two taels, which is more than what Manager Shi gets. It is not appropriate to take it from the restaurant anymore.
Besides, the share given to Shopkeeper Shi is not much, and most of the money earned still belongs to Lin Qiuran. Although it has little impact on both sides, Shopkeeper Shi is an outsider after all, so she can just give it to him herself.
Lin Qiuran asked: "How much profit?"
Shopkeeper Shi said, "Don't worry, it will be settled soon. We have to deduct the twenty taels from last month..."
Lin Qiuran had paid for the renovations, so he had to pay it back. The abacus stopped, and Shopkeeper Shi said, "There's still fifty-nine taels left, but the balance for the renovations hasn't been settled yet, so some more has to be deducted."
At the end of this month, I can probably make about thirty taels of silver in profit.
Manager Shi thought that he had to spend it all. Out of thirty taels, he could get an extra three cents, and there was still one tael and five cents as monthly allowance, so one tael and eight cents was not a small amount.
If we don't count the cost of the decoration, he could have earned eight cents this month, which adds up to more than two taels. If you include the cost of daily meals, he's really making a lot.
If the vegetables hadn't been sold out, the shop wouldn't have run out of meat every day. When there was little left, everyone could get a piece of braised pork.
Lin Qiuran said, "We'll settle it after we finish work. The shopkeeper should keep an eye on it. I think Zhao Xing is doing a good job, and Lin Ming, the waiter, can also fill in. But we still need to hire an extra dishwasher."
Zhao Xing is a skilled tea brewer and a clever man. He's already received two tips this month. We don't need a waiter for now, but we need a dishwasher. Regardless of how Jindinglou's business fares in the future, we need to double it anyway. We can't leave it all to Aunt Liu.
Shopkeeper Shi nodded. "That's easy to find. When will it open?"
It took almost a month to install. Based on the experience from last time, although there was more work to do this time, it was generally faster.
Lin Qiuran said, "If the installation is completed, we'll open on the first day of the Lunar New Year. If not, we'll open on the third day. For the first three days, each table will receive a pot of rice wine and 10% off on food."
Lin Qiuran was very satisfied and bought the house next door. The backyard was also large. In addition to a larger kitchen, there were also two warehouses.
It wasn't big, but it could hold rice, flour, and even a room for wine. In the past, if I bought too much, I had to store it at home, but now I didn't have to. Lin Qiuran specifically told the foreman to seal the walls tightly to keep rats out.
Shopkeeper Shi: "OK."
It was a warm spring day, and Lin Qiuran took the money and went home. She first looked at how Lin Chun and Lin Ying were cooking. They both knew how to cook and were obedient, so they were easier to teach than Lin Dong.
From the 24th to the end of the month, Lin Qiuran came to the restaurant to prepare seasonings and drinks, and asked Manager Shi to bargain with the owners of the meat stalls and wineries. After all, they were old customers, so it would be better if they could reduce costs.
When the shop was in the final stages of completion, Sun and Xiao Dashi also arrived.
Sun had never been there before, and was shocked by the restaurant's transformation. It used to be just a shop and restaurant, decorated like most other shops on this street, with wooden doors and windows and a plaque above. But now it was even more impressive than the Jin Ruyi restaurant next door.
Now there are reliefs on it, as well as beautiful eaves columns, cloud arches, and sitting brackets... There are also couplets on the eaves columns. Although Sun is illiterate, he still thinks they are very good.
Although they are two shops, the decoration is the same from the outside. There is a plaque of Jinding Building on each side, and the setting sun shines on it, making it golden.
Sun held the glutinous rice balls in her arms and said, "It looks great, it looks great. It's so beautiful. Qiuran, you did a great job."
Lin Qiuran: "This time, I'll also ask for a statue of the God of Wealth. I'll put it on the counter."
The inside was not finished yet, it was a bit dirty and dusty, so I didn't take Sun in to see it.
Thinking about how it used to be just a small stall but now it has such a big shop, Lin Qiuran had an indescribable feeling in his heart.
Lin Qiuran pinched Tangyuan's face and said, "Tangyuan, look at this shop, it's called Jindinglou. Is it big?"
Tangyuan laughed twice and stared at the shop intently.
Lin Qiuran and Sun said, "Come over with Tangyuan when the business opens. Just be careful because there will be so many people."
Whatever happens, don't lose the child.
Sun smiled and nodded, "Why not? You said Tangyuan is lucky. He was born into a big house, and his family also has a big shop before he even grew up."
Sun couldn't believe that her family had such a big shop. She remembered that when she first came to the county town, she went to big restaurants to eat and didn't dare to go in. Now, her family had such a big shop.
Sun still remembered that when she and Xiao Dashi learned that Lin Qiuran was pregnant, they were overjoyed. But Xiao Xun was adopted after all, and whether they could afford to raise his bloodline in the future was another matter. After they passed away, if Lin Qiuran remarried, the child would suffer.
As a result, Lin Qiuran agreed to keep the child and managed their life so well.
Xiao Dashi didn't say anything. He was not afraid of dirt. He went inside to take a look. It was pretty good inside, except that there was some dust, which needed to be cleaned.
The three of them watched for a long time before going home.
Pack up quickly so that the business can open on the first day of the new year. Lin Qiuran also asked Zhao Xing to go to several nearby villages to inquire if there were any donkeys or cows that had died of old age.
I buy whatever I can get, just in time for the shop's opening. Last year, I sold beef for a few days, and it was quite popular; customers loved it. Now that the shop is bigger, I'm sure there will be more customers. Even though I can't keep it in the winter, I can sell it out quickly.
Zhao Xing ran around the village for a few days and finally picked up a donkey that had died of old age in Linjia Village.
The imperial court did not ban the slaughter of donkeys, but donkeys were bought at a high price. If they were only sold for meat, it would be a big loss, so most people would wait until they died of old age before selling them.
The shop will open tomorrow. Lin Qiuran will divide the donkey meat and try to sell all the meat in one day.
The donkey weighed about 300 pounds, which was nothing compared to the cattle at the time. Lin Qiuran planned to braise the donkey's cheek and roast its leg, and mix the rest with scallions to make steamed dumplings.
It's still six cents each, twice as expensive as the chive dumplings which cost three cents each.
But there is a saying that goes, there is dragon meat in the sky and donkey meat on the ground. Based on past experience, big dumplings stuffed with donkey meat are more delicious than those stuffed with beef.
It’s just that Lin Qiuran doesn’t know how to make fire-baked bread, otherwise it would be easy to sell.
On the first day of March, the plaque at Jindinglou was covered with red silk, and a flower basket was placed in front of the shop, a gift from the owner, Jin Ruyi, who used to bring customers to the shop. I bought jewelry here and came straight here. The food was delicious, and I will come back next time.
Now the shop business is booming, which makes Jin Ruyi's business better and better. Sending a flower basket can bring the two sides closer.
There are also gifts from the Xu family to celebrate the grand opening of Jindinglou.
Aunt Yu and her family also came. In order to show their support, Dahu had already gotten engaged and had bought a house in the south of the city a few days ago, spending more than sixty taels. Although it was close to the old house, it was bigger than the one the Xiao family had lived in before.
After all, there are many people in my family and the house is too small to accommodate them all.
The next step is for Da Hu to get married, and then he can save some money to open a shop and make more money.
Manager Shi met this family and told Lu Fan and Zhao Xing not to charge any money when they left.
Near noon, the shop's regular customers and Xiao family's friends and relatives gathered in front of the Jinding Building.
Xiao Dashi set off six strings of firecrackers, which meant good luck. Sun was afraid of scaring Tangyuan, so she hid at the back. However, Tangyuan was also very brave. He listened to the movement in front and leaned forward.
After the sound of firecrackers died down, Sun went to the front with the dumplings in her arms. Manager Shi took a bamboo pole, and he and Xiao Dashi lifted the red silk on both sides.
Red silk fluttered to the ground, and Shopkeeper Shi bowed to the guests. "Today is the grand opening of the Jinding Restaurant. To thank new and old customers, the boss has prepared a donkey meat banquet. Everyone who comes to dine today will get a 10% discount on everything except drinks, and each table will receive a free pot of rice wine. Everyone, enjoy yourselves and come and support us!"
Shopkeeper Shi: "Although our shop has changed its appearance, the prices of our original dishes have not increased. Come in and take a look and you will see!"
Those who were hesitant about the drastic changes in Xiao's restaurant and worried that the prices of vegetables had gone up, now felt completely relieved and went straight into the shop.
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The author has something to say: It’s the end of the month, please give me some water~
I'm going to take a day off tomorrow [cat head][panda head]
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