On the streets of the western market of the capital, people noticed something strange. Several young men were handing out leaflets to everyone they met.
"A farmhouse restaurant, what is that? Oh, there's even a limerick on it."
“I know this place. It's changed owners, isn't it? It's quite interesting. I'll go check it out later.”
Prince Rui was riding in a carriage when he saw the commotion and asked the driver to stop so he could take a look.
"Grandpa, don't miss out! Our farmhouse restaurant is opening soon!" Skinny Monkey, being bold, also handed a menu to Prince Rui.
"Your Highness, be careful!" The coachman, who was also a guard, immediately stopped him upon seeing the situation.
"Nothing much, let me take a look!" Prince Rui chuckled as he looked at the doggerel on the poem. "A rural restaurant, could it be that he wrote this himself? Let's go, before we eat, let's go ask him." Prince Rui said with great interest.
Tao Wan's mother was doing some chopping and preparation work in the kitchen. And dishes like braised pork had to be stewed in the pot in advance. Although it wasn't mealtime yet, the kitchen was already busy.
"Elder sister, someone is looking for you. It's the customer who gave us ten taels of silver yesterday," Bai Yumei said to Tao Wanniang as she entered the kitchen.
Tao Wan's mother was taken aback. Little Yuanbao? That's a big customer.
"Keep an eye on the heat," Tao Wanniang said to Wang Hongyu and Xiao Qiao'er, then followed Bai Yumei out of the kitchen.
Upon seeing Prince Rui, Tao Wanniang walked straight over to him.
"Sir, is there something you need from me?"
“Sister Tao, to be honest, I am Prince Rui. The Crown Prince was saved by you. Do you remember me, Sister Tao?” Prince Rui said with a smile. “I have come here today specifically to talk to you about something.”
Tao Wanniang seemed stunned, and after a moment of hesitation, she said in a panic, "Then aren't you a prince? Should I kneel down?"
“Sister Tao, there’s no need for such formalities. You saved my son and have done a life-saving favor for our Prince Rui’s mansion,” Prince Rui said with a kind smile.
She was just putting on an act to test the other party's attitude. Since they knew she was the prince's savior, they probably wouldn't blame her.
"The young master has already given me more than enough reward. I dare not presume to treat you as my savior. Your Highness, why have you come?"
"Sister Tao, don't be nervous. Yesterday, my wife and I also came in disguise. After tasting your cooking, my wife and I have a suggestion. Sister Tao, would you like to work as a cook at Prince Rui's residence?"
"I am grateful for Your Highness's favor, but I am used to being carefree and cannot stand being restrained, so I would like to refuse."
Without even thinking, Tao Wanniang said directly, "How much does a cook in the royal palace earn in a month? If you don't want to do it, why not? I'm not going to suffer that kind of hardship."
Prince Rui was both surprised and somewhat expected; his son had indeed predicted it!
“Sister Tao, if you have any concerns, the Prince’s Mansion can arrange for your family’s livelihood,” Prince Rui said, still unwilling to give up.
“There’s no need for that!” Tao Wan’s mother refused again very decisively. “My little restaurant may not be a big business, but it’s enough to support my family.”
Tao Wanniang's decisive refusal piqued Prince Rui's curiosity. He feigned displeasure and asked, "What, is the Prince's residence not good enough for Sister Tao?"
"Your Highness, please calm your anger. It was truly my foolishness that led to this." Upon seeing this, Tao Wanniang immediately lowered her stance.
“I was born in the countryside and do not know those rules. If I were to enter the Prince’s mansion and have to live a life of kneeling and bowing every day, I would rather go back to the countryside to farm,” Tao Wanniang said with her head down. “Furthermore, my family are all illiterate and stupid people. Please forgive us, Your Highness.”
Although she was a country woman, her words were clear and logical, and although her posture was humble, she did not show any servility or obsequiousness. This woman was quite interesting!
"The way you're saying it makes it sound like I'm forcing you. Fine then, if I ever want to eat your cooking, I'll have to come to your little restaurant," Prince Rui said in a gentler tone.
"That would be an honor for our shop. If Your Highness comes again, we will make whatever you would like to eat." Tao Wanniang understood that Prince Rui did not intend to let her work as a cook in Prince Rui's mansion, so her worries disappeared, and her tone naturally became normal.
"Such arrogance! If I wanted to eat delicacies from land and sea, could you make them for me?" Prince Rui asked jokingly.
Tao Wanniang's eyes lit up, but she looked troubled.
"It's not that we can't make it, it's just that our shop doesn't have those ingredients. If Your Highness brings some rare delicacies, I can certainly make it for you."
"How dare you say that!" Prince Rui looked at Tao Wanniang and felt a pang of regret. If she were ten years younger and didn't have that son, he would have considered letting his son get married. Why was his poor son destined to bring misfortune to his wives?
“I will remember what you said, Sister Tao!” Prince Rui said with a smile as he stood up. “I’ll take my leave for today, Sister Tao. Thank you again for helping the Crown Prince in the past.”
"We've already settled everything, Your Highness needn't worry about it," Tao Wanniang replied. She had already gotten what she wanted; could a life-saving favor really be used for a lifetime?
Prince Rui was surprised by Tao Wanniang's open-mindedness. If she spoke, Prince Rui's mansion would remember this kindness for a lifetime.
"Sister Tao, you're very good," Prince Rui said meaningfully, and strode out of the restaurant.
Only after that person left did the others dare to approach.
"Mother, is this a prince? The kind with a very high status?" Ling Dapeng exclaimed in surprise. "Would someone like that come to eat here?"
“Yes, he’s a prince. Be more discerning in the future and treat every guest with courtesy, otherwise you’ll offend someone without even realizing it,” Tao Wanniang advised her son.
"Mother, he wants to invite you to work as a cook at the Prince's mansion. Why don't you go?" Ling Dahu asked, somewhat puzzled. Could running a restaurant be more prestigious than working at the Prince's mansion?
"Are you a lowly wretch?" Tao Wanniang retorted directly. "Isn't it better to be free and independent? Why do you have to become someone's servant? And then have to bow and scrape before your master? Is that the kind of life you want?"
Ling Dahu was speechless after being rebuked by Tao Wan's mother. It was his younger brother, Ling Dapeng, who immediately said, "Mother, of course it's better to follow you. We are all rough people and don't know the rules."
“Places like the Prince’s mansion have too many rules; they don’t offer the freedom to run your own business,” Tao Wanniang said. “I’m not going to be running this little restaurant for the rest of my life. I’m going to open big restaurants, and several of them. So, have some ambition and don’t just focus on the small benefits right now. Alright, get to work!”
Several large restaurants? The Ling brothers exchanged bewildered glances. Seeing Tao Wanniang enter the kitchen, Ling Dahu said to Ling Dapeng, "Brother, what do you think? Will these restaurants become ours in the future?"
"A few more restaurants, that should be enough for us to share!"
Unconsciously, the two brothers had already seen an incredibly bright future before their eyes, and their eyes immediately lit up with excitement.
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