Tao Wanniang's busy figure seemed like an unbelievable scene to Xiao Yi and the others.
"My lord, look at this woman, she's quite amazing. She used to be so down on her luck, but in just a few days, she's managed to set up a wonton shop in this Shanhai Prefecture."
Cheng Feng said with great interest, "Sir, don't you think this person is particularly interesting?"
Xiao Yi glanced at Tao Wanniang and her group noncommittally and said calmly, "As long as a person works hard, they can always live a good life."
"My lord, this Shanhai Prefecture is the last hurdle. Once we've investigated it thoroughly, we can return to the capital!"
Cheng Feng sighed, "The thousand dan of grain that the imperial court sent for disaster relief amounted to only a thousand jin by the time it reached Caofeng County. My lord, the waters of Shanhai Prefecture run deep!"
"Be careful what you say!" Xiao Yi whispered.
"Gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Here are some hot wontons and our specialty scallion pancakes. Please enjoy."
Tao Wanniang served the three of them wontons and scallion pancakes, but also left a note, saying that the arrival of the inspector in Shanhai Prefecture was probably not a good thing, and she didn't want her hard-earned small business to be implicated.
"Aunt Tao, you're amazing! You've all changed so much in just a few days!"
Cheng Feng couldn't help but joke that Tao Wanniang in front of him was still dark and thin, but she was obviously much cleaner, especially her eyes, which were dark and bright, and she didn't look like a grandmother at all.
"We food business people, how can we not keep ourselves clean and tidy?"
Tao Wan's mother smiled, "You look disheveled, don't you? The wontons are quite delicious, and these scallion pancakes are homemade; you can't find them anywhere else!"
"You're quite good," Xiao Yi said, glancing at Tao Wanniang with a reserved demeanor.
"Thank you for your kind words, sir!" Tao Wanniang chuckled and stepped aside. This inspector was quite handsome, with an outstanding and calm demeanor. He was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, yet he was so composed and reserved. Were people in ancient times precocious?
"Mother, aren't those the adults? What are they doing here?" Ling Dahu asked in a low voice when he saw Tao Wanniang coming over.
"Don't meddle in adults' affairs," Tao Wanniang said directly. Looking at her own son, who was only seven or eight years younger, she sighed, "You can't compare. Comparing people only makes you miserable."
Ling Dahu was taken aback, then obediently replied, "Mm!"
Having learned from the experience of the previous few days, Tao Wanniang knew exactly how much stock to prepare each day, and soon the wontons and scallion pancakes were all sold out.
"Aunt Tao, your skills are really good. Here, catch!" Cheng Feng stepped forward and tossed out a silver ingot.
"Don't be shy, this is a gift from our master."
Tao Wanniang took it and saw that it was ten taels of silver!
"Then... I thank you, gentlemen!" It would be foolish not to make money, Tao Wanniang said, bowing slightly.
After watching the inspector and his entourage leave, the last table of guests finished their meal and paid their bill.
"Pack your things, let's go home," Tao Wan's mother said to her two sons. "Little darlings, let's go!"
They closed their stall early that day; none of the family members were asleep yet.
When Tao Wan's mother got home, she asked her son to put everything away, and she fetched a bucket of water to wash up and rest.
"Dog Boy's dad, tell me, how much did you make today?"
Inside Ling Dahu's house, as soon as Wang Hongyu saw him return, she went up to ask him what was wrong.
"I don't know how much money I made, but Mother still gave me ten coins." Ling Dahu immediately took out the coins.
"Wife, you've hidden it all well. I told you, I'll make sure you and the children have a good life."
Ling Dahu said cheerfully, "By the way, some of the adults we met on our way out of the famine came today and even gave Mother ten taels of silver!"
Wang Hongyu was stunned. Ten taels? This mother-in-law makes money too easily.
"So Mother only gave you ten coins?" Wang Hongyu said, raising her voice in disapproval.
"Shh, don't shout. This is a gift from someone to your mother. Besides, you still think it's not enough? It's ten coins a day, and it's not tiring."
Ling Dahu immediately said, "Wow, my mother is really amazing."
Seeing Ling Dahu's appearance, Wang Hongyu felt a pang of sadness. Was her mother-in-law faking it all before? She had never seen her mother-in-law cook since she married into the family.
"Dog Boy's father, why don't you tell me I'll go instead? I also want to see how Mom sells things at her wonton shop."
Wang Hongyu had a good idea. If she could learn some of her mother-in-law's skills, they could live separately even after the family separated in the future.
"What about Gouwa and Hua Ni? Who will feed the chickens and ducklings at home? And what about the three meals a day for the one in the backyard..." Ling Dahu asked honestly, and as soon as he finished speaking, Wang Hongyu's expression changed.
"Being confined to the house every day, I used to be able to go to the fields to do some work, but now I feel like I can't do anything at all!"
"Gouwa is already three years old. Taking care of his younger sister is not a big deal. Besides, I feed the chickens and ducks at home, you feed them, and your sister-in-law can feed them too."
Wang Hongyu said indignantly, "Now that I'm in the provincial capital, I'm the one stuck at home!"
Ling Dahu stared blankly, opened his mouth, and said with some confusion, "Isn't it good that we don't have to be exposed to the wind and sun anymore?"
Wang Hongyu glared at Ling Dahu and stomped her foot heavily in anger.
"I really can't understand you, it's like... it's like talking to a brick wall!"
“But you can’t play the piano, Hongyu. I really don’t understand. Can’t you just stay at home? Maybe I should talk to Mother tomorrow. I’m afraid my sister-in-law will end up like you.” Seeing that his wife was angry, Ling Dahu immediately lowered his voice.
"I don't care, I just want to go out and do business like you." Wang Hongyu had a burning desire in her heart. If her mother-in-law could do it, why couldn't she? She could just help out and earn ten coins a day. Why couldn't she do it too?
Ling Dahu yawned, chatted with his son and daughter, and then went to sleep.
The next morning, when Tao Wanniang saw that Wang Hongyu had replaced Ling Dahu at the stall, she didn't say anything. She just wanted someone to work, and she really didn't care who it was.
This wonton shop and scallion pancake stall have become famous. Not everyone will buy a bowl of wontons for five coins, but most people are willing to spend two coins on a scallion pancake.
Wang Hongyu was efficient and eloquent, but she kept secretly glancing at Tao Wanniang.
Seeing Tao Wan's mother teaching Xiao Qiao'er how to make scallion pancakes made her feel very uncomfortable. Xiao Qiao'er was an outsider!
"Aunt Tao, a bowl of wontons, and two pancakes, please." Cheng Feng arrived at the shop carrying a food box.
"My family really likes this kind of thing."
Tao Wanniang was taken aback for a moment, then immediately replied, "Alright, sir, please wait a moment, I'll put it in the pot right away."
"My lord, in this vast Shanhai Prefecture, is there really nothing you can eat?" Tao Wanniang asked deliberately, as if to test the waters. If she was right, then she didn't trust food from outside.
"Hehe, Aunt Tao, what a coincidence that we're here! Your little bowl of wontons is truly a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate!"
Cheng Feng gave a vague answer and casually handed over another piece of silver.
"Don't bother looking anymore, this is all I have."
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