After tasting several dishes, Hong Xiaoduo told the children, "This food is better than the food from the two restaurants we ate at before."
The children, who were enjoying their meal, nodded in agreement with her words.
Hong Xiaoduo then looked at Quan Jinghuai: "Those two restaurants look more impressive and have a bigger scene than this one, but the chefs they hire are not as good as this one."
Quan Jinghuai nodded, holding his wine cup, and said, "However, those two businesses are doing better than this one."
"That's strange. What's going on? Is it because of the price of the dishes? Or is it because of the location?" Hong Xiaoduo was very puzzled and thought she would ask the waiter for the reason after she finished eating.
"Come on, give my seven darlings their New Year's money." Halfway through the meal, Hong Xiaoduo opened a large brocade bag she had brought with her, and as she spoke, she got up and went around the table, distributing a purse to each child.
The purse contained six qian and six shi of loose silver coins, as well as sixty-six copper coins, all for the auspicious meaning of "everything goes smoothly".
"Wow, so much money, Mom, is this for me?" Yao Guang was the first to receive it and the first to open it, asking in surprise.
“Yes.” Hong Xiaoduo said, and the seven purses were all distributed.
"Also, this New Year's money was given by your master and me together. All of your master's money is with me," Hong Xiaoduo added after returning to her seat.
Tian Shu took the lead in standing up: "Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Master." The other six children followed suit and thanked him. Then, the seven children happily tied the purse around their waists, carefully checking it to make sure it wasn't tied properly and would fall off.
This was the first time in their lives they had ever owned their own wallet, the first time they had so much money, and the first time they had ever received New Year's money!
Quan Jinghuai glanced at Hong Xiaoduo with some helplessness, but then he thought that what she said was indeed the truth; he had indeed given her all the money he had on him.
However, he would keep this in mind and give his disciples lucky money on New Year's Eve next year.
"Tian Shu, you're the eldest. Take your younger siblings and toast your master with pear juice and milk instead of wine," Hong Xiaoduo said to Tian Shu.
From now on, they will have to rely on their master's protection. Hong Xiaoduo is always making their master-disciple relationship reach a new level.
The children are too young to understand these things, so she guides them.
It's not that I want to teach them about social skills or how to be slick; it's just about their own teacher.
Upon hearing this, Tian Shu immediately stood up, picked up his pear juice, and after his younger siblings had also stood up, he respectfully bowed to Quan Jinghuai: "Disciple toasts Master."
The children didn't know how to express themselves, so they just said a simple and direct sentence. But it was much easier for Tianxuan and the others; they just had to follow their older brother's instructions.
Quan Jinghuai wanted to say that it wasn't necessary, but looking into the clear eyes of his seven disciples, he swallowed his words. He accepted their bow, picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, then gestured for his disciples to sit down and continue eating.
Looking at Quan Jinghuai, who seemed even more tongue-tied than his disciples, Hong Xiaoduo suddenly felt like laughing.
"Brother Quan, come, let me toast you. I wish you good health and all the best in the new year. I'll be a little selfish and not wish you disciples all over the world, just teach Tian Shu and the other seven well, okay?" Hong Xiaoduo said with a grin, and drank the pear juice in her hand with the momentum of drinking wheat liquor.
Her words not only amused Quan Jinghuai, but also made all seven children laugh, filling the private room with bursts of laughter.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Hong Xiaoduo said, "Please come in." She initially thought it was a waiter from the restaurant, but it turned out to be the manager leading an elderly man who was nearly sixty years old.
The old man was very thin, but very energetic.
The shopkeeper, carrying a wine pot and wine cups, came in and introduced Hong Xiaoduo, saying, "Young lady, this is our boss, who has come to offer you all a cup of wine."
Upon hearing this, Hong Xiaoduo and Quan Jinghuai quickly stood up. One of them poured himself a full glass of wine, while the other added pear juice to his glass.
"Actually, we also want to thank our employer for preparing those dried fruits, pastries, and candies," Hong Xiaoduo said with a smile, raising her glass to the old man.
The old man had a kind and gentle face. "Young lady, what are you saying? It's quite rare during the New Year. You all chose to spend New Year's Eve at my Sihai Restaurant. It's an honor for us and a way to support our business. A few pastries and dried fruits are nothing."
"I wish you all a happy new year, good health, and all the best." After saying this, the old master raised the wine that the shopkeeper had poured for him and drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing that Quan Jinghuai had also finished his drink, the shopkeeper stepped forward and refilled his wine jug.
"I won't bother you any longer; I need to attend to the other guests." With that, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and departed.
After seeing their former employer off, Hong Xiaoduo and her group sat down again and continued to eat while chatting and laughing.
Quan Jinghuai drank his wine, looking at the seven disciples sitting at the same table and the little sister who called him Brother Quan. He was in a very good mood.
He was originally an orphan. After completing his apprenticeship, he traveled the world alone. He spent most of the New Year alone, randomly finding a restaurant that didn't close during the New Year to have a few side dishes of braised beef and drink alone.
Whether it's a year or not, it doesn't seem to make any particular difference to him.
But at this moment, he suddenly felt that this was not so bad.
Also, before the Lunar New Year, Peng Xian came to see Hong Xiaoduo and said he would go to the military camp to spend New Year's Eve with them. But she refused.
After Peng Xian left, he asked why she refused. Hong Xiaoduo replied that it was more meaningful to be with her family.
She considered these seven children, who were not related to her by blood, and herself as family!
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