Xia Hua shook her head. "It's just a contract of servitude. Would I be angry? This is the property deed. The restaurant has your name on it, and the pastry shop has my name on it."
"However, we only managed to buy one shopkeeper. It seems we need to find another one. I also want a woman. After all, the upstairs of the pastry shop is a teahouse. It would be very inconvenient if the shopkeeper is a man."
An Shuyi took the house deed and put it behind the warehouse. "Otherwise, let's prepare the other things first, and let the ten girls in the mansion learn to make pastries. As for management, let each of them try it out, and let whoever is suitable take over."
"If it really doesn't work, we'll take our time and find something suitable eventually. We'll also be in the shop for the first few days, and they'll just watch what we do. They should be able to learn by watching."
Xia Hua thought it was a good idea after hearing what she said.
When it was time for dinner that evening, Xia Hua instructed Tao Shi to tell the others that they would be going to work at the shop the next day, and that they should pack their luggage and take it with them.
Both shops have backyards, so they could stay there. Otherwise, running back and forth every day would waste too much time.
The next morning, An Shuyi and Xia Hua took people to the pastry shop to clean it up and buy the necessary items. They also needed to find someone to make the ovens. Xu Shan took ten servants to the hot pot restaurant to clean it up and buy the necessary items.
It was five days later when everything was ready. Both the dim sum shop and the hot pot restaurant had everything set up and were just waiting to open. But there was no rush; they would have to wait a few more days.
They were told to practice more these few days. That evening, An Shuyi and Xia Hua visited the palace again. They didn't even eat dinner. An Shuyi leaned on the roof of the imperial kitchen, looking at the dishes below, and swallowed hard.
It's mealtime in the palace now, and the dishes are especially delicious. There haven't been any reports of theft in the palace these past few days, so it seems to have been suppressed.
"Shushu, wait here for a while. I'll get you something nice to eat and I'll be back in a bit." Xia Hua said, then climbed down from the roof.
Not long after, An Shuyi saw a familiar figure, but he had changed his clothes. If she wasn't mistaken, it should be a eunuch's clothes. Hua Hua calmly put several dishes into the warehouse, and no one else saw it.
Sure enough, Hua Hua had the potential to be a master thief. Seeing her come out, he quickly returned to the rooftop.
"Hua Hua, you're amazing!"
"No problem, let's go find a place to eat."
Now that there's good food, the place can't be bad either. Anyway, we're not in a hurry to leave the palace, so we need to find a good place.
"Guangyang Palace, Huahua, is this the Cold Palace? It looks strangely desolate." But it seems like someone lives inside.
Xia Hua smiled mysteriously, "You'll find out when we go inside." She then produced a food box filled with dishes. "Let's go in."
Seeing her like this, An Shuyi clearly knew where she was. When she went in and saw the person sitting in the courtyard, wasn't that Xiao Zili?
Xiao Zili only noticed them at this moment. In order to prevent his father and the crown prince from becoming suspicious of him, there were no palace maids or eunuchs in his palace, only two young eunuchs, who were disguised as secret guards. However, they were out getting food, so they did not notice the two people who came in.
"Aunt An, Aunt Xia, what brings you to the palace? Is there something you need to see me about?" He remembered that more than a month ago, a letter came from the dark night saying that the two ladies had come to the capital.
He also ordered his secret guards to wait at the city gate and report to him if they saw him. However, more than a month passed, and the person should have arrived in the capital by now, but there was no sign of him. He had no choice but to call the secret guards back.
But now the two ladies have actually appeared in the palace, and it seems that they don't take the palace guards or secret guards seriously at all.
Seeing his surprised look, An Shuyi smiled and said, "I have something to discuss with you. Let's eat and talk." Without waiting for his invitation, she went into the main hall and sat down. Xia Hua also brought out the food.
"These dishes..." This looks a bit like the dishes served in the palace, even the way they're presented is so similar.
"You're not mistaken, this is food from the Imperial Kitchen. I just got it, it's still warm. Come and eat quickly." After saying that, she picked up her chopsticks. She had never eaten imperial food before.
"Huahua, did you bring any wine?" Such a delicious meal can't be without wine.
Xia Hua nodded, "Take it, don't worry, I'll make sure you have enough to drink."
Xiao Zili looked at the two of them, who treated his palace as their own. They were not only unceremonious but also treated him, the master, with great respect. However, considering that they were taking the food and drinks so freely, it was normal for them to occupy his house. So he sat down as well.
“Aunt An, how long have you been in the capital? More than a month ago, An Ye reported that you had arrived in the capital, and I even sent guards there to wait for you, but you have not shown up yet.”
An Shuyi looked up, "Eight days!" Then she ignored him and continued eating. The food was truly delicious; no wonder it was prepared by the imperial chef. She decided to stay in the palace for the next few days and enjoy the food to the fullest.
"Huahua, do you think it would be feasible to kidnap one of the emperor's chefs and bring him back to the village?"
Xia Hua paused for a moment when she heard what she said, then continued picking up food. But Xiao Zili was a little frightened. "Madam An, if you want a cook, I can find one for you. There's no need to tie someone up to the palace."
If the Emperor finds out, it would be a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. He has never heard of anyone daring to kidnap a royal chef. I must say, the two ladies are truly formidable.
He was also particularly puzzled. With so many guards and secret agents in the palace, how did they get in? Could it be that they were as skilled in light-footed martial arts as those secret agents, and had the ability to hide their presence?
After he finished speaking, Xia Hua added, "Tying up the imperial chef won't work. These dishes aren't made by one person. Even if you tie up one, you won't get to eat them. Unless you tie them all up and take them back, but that's too much trouble, and the Emperor will find out."
"You should quickly abandon that idea. Just come and get some whenever you want." He then turned to ask, "How are you doing now?"
Xiao Zili replied, "I am already working in the Hanlin Academy, but it's all a sinecure. This is just the first step. I can only do well if my father gives me the opportunity to do something."
Seeing him like this, Xia Hua was speechless. "In a little over a month, our village will have a harvest, and it will definitely be a bumper crop. You should seize this opportunity and try to get a job that does real work."
"This grain is the foundation of the nation; you mustn't miss this opportunity."
"Don't worry, Madam Xia. If your village's grain is really as you say, I'm sure I can seize the opportunity."
All he can do now is increase his reputation and gradually repair his relationship with his father. When his father abdicates, he can change the edict of succession to his own name.
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