Zhang Liang opened the door and led Xiao Yi and Cheng Feng into the house.
Tao Wanniang was just putting a slice of mutton into her mouth when she met Xiao Yi and Cheng Feng's curious faces, and she felt a little embarrassed.
"Oh, it's the young master and Lord Cheng. How about... a bowl of mutton soup?"
"Heh, we just came from the General's Mansion, thinking Sister Tao might be lonely. Looks like I was wrong!" Xiao Yi joked. "Is this a lamb? It smells so good."
"Yes, roast whole lamb. Would the young master and Lord Cheng like a bowl of lamb soup to warm themselves up first?" Tao Wanniang quickly recovered her composure. Would she be lonely? With her eldest sons away, she was quite content!
"Then have a bowl." Xiao Yi was very approachable, and even though there were a few chairs in the yard, he didn't seem to mind at all.
"Want some coriander?" Tao Wanniang personally got up and served Xiao Yi and Cheng Feng two bowls of mutton soup.
“The young master doesn’t want it, but I do,” Cheng Feng said. “Sister Tao, you’re really something. Your son is in the General’s Mansion and really wants to come back.”
"Why did you come back? Isn't it better to stay with your father?" Tao Wan's mother said disdainfully. "Here, some mutton soup for you two."
“When I arrived, I happened to hear your second son shouting that he wanted to go home. You could tell from his urgent shout that he was eager to get back home,” Xiao Yi teased. “If they knew that Sister Tao was at home all by herself, eating roasted lamb and drinking lamb soup, they would probably be heartbroken!”
Tao Wanniang smiled noncommittally, then used a knife to carve up pieces of roasted mutton and distribute them to those present.
"That's his biological father, and a wealthy one at that. What could they possibly complain about?"
"Delicious, really good." Cheng Feng took a bite and exclaimed with delight, "Big sister, your cooking skills are getting more and more exquisite."
"It's alright, but with my special, exclusive sauce, you really can't find this flavor of roasted whole lamb anywhere else," Tao Wanniang said confidently. She had bought a big bag of barbecue seasoning from the trading system—wasn't that her exclusive recipe?
Chen Liansheng and Zhang Liang were initially a little uncomfortable, after all, this was the Crown Prince, but seeing Tao Wanniang chatting and laughing with others, and even serving them roasted mutton without any intention of asking them to leave, they gradually felt at ease.
This whole roasted lamb is truly delicious; even the most discerning gourmet would be impressed!
"Mom, it's so delicious, so incredibly delicious! When will I be able to make something this delicious?" Little Qiao'er felt she had never tasted anything so delicious before, and her eyes shone brightly.
"You're still young, and it's also because this is your first time eating it. Once you eat it a lot, it won't be so special," Tao Wanniang said. The barbecue seasoning stimulates the taste buds, and people who are eating it for the first time will naturally think it is absolutely delicious, but if they eat it too much, they will get tired of it.
"Sister Tao, I don't think you can find another restaurant like this in the entire capital. You must open this restaurant. I believe you will attract diners from all over the capital," Xiao Yi said confidently.
When the topic of restaurants came up, Tao Wanniang first sounded out the potential customers.
"Young Master, how do you plan to divide this restaurant?" Tao Wanniang asked. "I'm a bit protective of my own people and I prefer to use my own people."
"Mother will provide the money, you will provide the labor, and everything is up to you," Xiao Yi replied. To put it bluntly, this was just a restaurant that Prince Rui's mansion opened specifically for Tao Wanniang to repay her for the kindness she had shown him in the past.
“I don’t lack money, let’s split it in half. I’ll make all the decisions regarding the restaurant, and we can discuss the profit sharing separately,” Tao Wanniang said simply.
"I will convey Sister Tao's meaning to my mother. I would also like to invite Sister Tao to the Prince's residence for a detailed discussion at that time."
"Okay, let's eat the meat first, while it's hot, it won't be good if it gets cold." Tao Wanniang heard the answer she wanted and urged Xiao Yi to eat first.
The aroma of roasted whole lamb wafted not only outside the door but also into the neighbor's house next door.
At Wang Fugui's house, all his sons were present. Smelling the aroma, the eldest son, Wang Zhishan, couldn't help but ask, "Dad, Mom, this smells so tempting! Where is it coming from?"
"Hmph, where did they come from? Besides the Tao family, who else?" Wang Fugui said indignantly. This Tao family is too much. They cook delicious food at home every day, but they never invite them over for a visit.
“Your father is greedy, but he has no legitimate reason to do so. After all, we are just neighbors with that Tao family, and it wouldn’t be right for him to come over and freeload,” Madam Wang said with a smile. “That Tao family is widowed and lives at home. Although she has a son and daughter-in-law, it wouldn’t be right for your father to keep coming over.”
"Is this the Tao family who runs a small restaurant? Judging from the smell, their cooking must be quite good." Wang Zhishan was busy with his business and had only heard his parents mention it before, but had never been to the restaurant.
"It's gone. That little restaurant was burned down. Your father and I went there; the cooking was quite good," Madam Wang said.
"That's a pity," Wang Zhishan said regretfully.
"Ugh~" Wang Zhishan's wife was only two months pregnant, but her morning sickness was particularly severe, and she was even thinner than before she became pregnant. After vomiting, she suddenly said, "Husband, this smell makes me really want to eat something. What is that restaurant making?"
Wang Chenshi and Wang Zhishan had been married for many years, and this was not their first child. However, Wang Zhishan had always been extremely loving towards his wife, and as soon as he heard her say she wanted to eat it, he immediately became interested.
"Well... alright, I'll go and see for myself." Madam Wang also cared for this daughter-in-law, and after thinking for a moment, she said.
“If you go, I’ll go too. The Tao family went on a long trip before, and they even asked me to feed their chickens and ducks. For that reason alone, she can’t say anything,” Wang Fugui said.
The group exchanged glances, and finally, it was Wang Fugui and his wife who, along with their eldest son and his wife, knocked on the door of Tao Wan's family home.
After confirming their identities, Zhang Liang went back inside to ask Tao Wanniang for permission before bringing the four members of the Wang family into the house.
"Master Wang, Madam Wang, what brings you here today? Is there something you need?" Tao Wanniang rose to greet them.
Wang Fugui looked at the table and chairs set up in the front yard, as well as the steaming and fragrant meat on the table, and couldn't help but swallow.
"Sister Tao, I'm ashamed to say, what delicious food have you made this time? The aroma has wafted all the way to my house." Madam Wang said with a smile, "My daughter-in-law is pregnant and has been vomiting a lot, but today, when she smelled this aroma, she suddenly had a great appetite. So we shamelessly came over, hoping to persuade Sister Tao to give it up."
It's no big deal, but it's a little embarrassing to have someone come to your door asking for food!
Tao Wanniang glanced at the pretty young woman and said kindly, "We're making roasted mutton at home. Would you like a bowl of mutton soup to warm yourself up, young mistress?"
"May I?" Wang Chenshi was a little embarrassed. How could she come to someone's door asking for food?
"Of course, as long as you don't mind," Tao Wanniang said generously. "Master Wang, don't be shy, make yourself at home. Thanks to you, our family was away for more than two months, and all our chickens and ducks were fine."
When Wang Fugui saw Xiao Yi's appearance, his heart pounded. He knew that Tao Wanniang's identity was extraordinary; this person... looked to be either rich or noble.
"We have important guests at your home, so we won't disturb you any longer," Wang Fugui said against his will; the roasted lamb smelled incredibly delicious.
“Well then, we can’t finish all of this. Zhang Liang, cut a leg of lamb for Master Wang, and get a few bowls of lamb soup too. Master Wang, Madam Wang, we’re all neighbors, no need to be so polite.”
Tao Wanniang said frankly, "Old Wang next door, just say you want some. Look at how you're swallowing your saliva, you think no one else has noticed."
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