Tao Wanniang tried hot pot a few times when she was in Youzhou, but she put it off after returning to the capital. She still felt a little regretful about it. Besides, with the weather gradually warming up, introducing hot pot at this time seemed a bit late.
Back home, Bai Yumei took some time to get married to Chen Liansheng. Although everything was kept simple, the Tao family still had a lively celebration and happily sent Bai Yumei off to her wedding.
It just so happened that Tao Wanniang was taking a break, and with the warm spring sun shining, lying in the courtyard to bask in the sun was an extremely pleasant thing.
Chen Lian and Xiao Qiao'er kept Tao Wan Niang company and chatted. Xiao Qiao'er also showed Tao Wan Niang what she had learned.
"This zither playing is quite good; it's all thanks to Master Shen's excellent teaching," Tao Wanniang nodded in agreement.
“It’s because Xiao Qiao’er studies so diligently,” Shen Lian replied. “Sister Tao, the weather is getting clearer, and I also want to take Xiao Qiao’er out for a spring outing, but…” Shen Lian said, still worried about safety.
“Then go ahead. I know what Master Shen is worried about. I don’t have any enemies in the capital now. If you go out with Zhang Liang, you should be fine,” Tao Wanniang said. “Besides, there are always the daily patrol officers if you encounter trouble. Don’t hesitate to ask for help.”
Shen Lian opened her mouth, but didn't continue. A few days ago, the old servant of the house came to tell her that Liu Yunliang had gone to her house.
"Madam Shen, please tell us if you have any trouble!" Xiao Qiao'er encouraged.
Tao Wanniang then glanced at Chen Lian a few more times. She wasn't one to meddle in other people's business, but Chen Lian was practically family to her, and family matters weren't considered meddling.
"Master Shen, has something unpleasant happened?" Tao Wanniang asked.
After thinking for a moment, Shen Lian briefly recounted Liu Yunliang's story.
"Although I don't know his purpose in coming, I don't want to have too much contact with him."
"Is it Liu Yunliang, the Vice Minister of Works? Does Master Shen want to teach him a lesson?" Tao Wanniang asked after hearing the question.
Shen Lian shook her head, speaking frankly: "It's not a lesson. He walks his sunny path, and I walk my narrow bridge. I have no feelings for him anymore, and I certainly don't resent him. Water flows downhill, and people strive for higher places; it's natural. I can't say anything about him."
"No resentment, no hatred?" Tao Wanniang couldn't help but ask, surprised that Chen Lian was so open-minded.
“Sister Tao, it’s been ten years. I’m way past that age!” Chen Lian said with a smile. “All I want is to live a peaceful and ordinary life every day.”
"Dr. Shen, you're not that old, but you have such a mature mindset," Tao Wanniang teased. Shen Lian was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, the prime of a woman's life, yet she was so calm and composed, which surprised Tao Wanniang.
“Master Shen, as the saying goes, ‘You are not a fish, how can you know the fish’s joy?’ I don’t know if you are living a good life like this, but if you ever need anything in the future, just ask.” Tao Wanniang said, “A teacher for a day is like a father for life. I, as your mother, remember your kindness in teaching Xiao Qiao’er. I told you before that if one day you don’t want to be a female teacher anymore, I will provide whatever I can.”
Shen Lian looked at Tao Wanniang gratefully and said with a light smile, "Sister Tao, thank you. You are indeed extraordinary."
"Oh, what do you mean?"
“In the past, the mistress of the house would be wary of me while advising me to get married early, saying that a woman who didn’t get married was not proper,” Shen Lian said with self-deprecation. “They couldn’t find anything wrong with me, so they made up stories about my age, as if I was too old to get married and should cut my hair and become a nun.”
"Ignore those gossipy women. Whether a woman marries or not is her own choice," Tao Wanniang scoffed. "I'm getting on in years, and don't some people think it's a sin not to get married?"
Shen Lian and Tao Wan Niang looked at each other and both burst out laughing.
"Then I won't get married in the future!" Little Qiao'er exclaimed. "I want to be like Mother and Master Shen."
"No!" Tao Wanniang and Chen Lian said in unison.
"Qiao'er, it's not that your mother doesn't want to remarry. If your mother had never been married, how could she have a son?" Tao Wan's mother said, "Your mother just hasn't found someone she likes, and she's too busy doing what she likes."
“Me too. I haven’t met anyone I truly desire, so I might as well just live alone,” Chen Lian said.
Twelve-year-old Xiao Qiao didn't quite understand, but looking at Tao Wan's mother and then at Chen Lian, a thoughtful expression appeared on her little face.
“You’re still young. Wait until you’re eighteen, then we’ll see what you think,” Tao Wan’s mother teased. “You’re just a little girl, what do you know?”
"Sister Tao, we have a guest." Zhang Liang came to report. "It's Hua Manru from Hua Family Winery, who has come with her younger brother."
“Then please come over!” Tao Wanniang said. “Qiao’er, aren’t you familiar with the Hua siblings? Come along with them.”
Hua Manru brought Hua Manlou, who had grown much taller, to tell Tao Wanniang about how much wine other restaurants had ordered.
"Little Qiao'er, it's been a long time." Hua Manlou greeted Little Qiao'er with a smile.
"Brother Lou," Xiao Qiao'er called softly, clearly delighted.
"But I can't play with you this time, I have to learn how to do accounting with my sister!" Hua Manlou whispered to Xiao Qiao'er.
"I don't need you to play with me. I'm going to learn from my mother too," Xiao Qiao'er muttered.
Shen Lian, standing to the side, smiled as she watched the two young people, saying nothing.
"Manager Tao, I've made the accounts, take a look." Hua Manru handed the accounts to Tao Wanniang. "After we drank the flower wine, many people made reservations at the restaurant. Ziyanglou even held a wine tasting event."
"That's pretty good, which means there are quite a few people who like your flower wine." Tao Wanniang was naturally happy; the more wine the Hua family sold, the more money she would make!
"These are all brewing recipes given by Sister Tao. But since sorghum can be used to brew wine, I'm thinking, would peach blossoms be even better?" Hua Manru said, her eyes shining as she mentioned brewing.
"Go ahead and do it. Peach blossom wine is milder than sorghum wine and won't make you drunk. If you manage to brew it, you can create a selling point," Tao Wanniang suggested. "For example, you can say it's a wine exclusively for women. Women who drink peach blossom wine will have a rosy complexion like a peach blossom in spring..."
Tao Wanniang spoke effortlessly, and Shen Lian, who was standing to the side, knew that Tao Wanniang was talented, but she did not know that Tao Wanniang could speak so spontaneously. She became quite interested.
After Tao Wanniang and Hua Manru finished their discussion and she saw the Hua siblings off, Chen Lian said, "Sister Tao, I know what I can do. If the restaurant or anything else you need to add poetry, I think I can do it for you."
"This is called packaging. Hmm, it will be indispensable in the future. Master Shen, I have high hopes for you!" Tao Wanniang praised, "This Shen Lian has a good eye and a sharp mind!"
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