As soon as we arrived here, I thought of the braised beef from Jufu Inn—it’s the whole family’s favorite.
Just so happens that we’re out of braised beef at home again, it’s time to restock.
Jin’er pulled her father straight to the inn. Since they rarely come here, she thought it would be great to get some beef tendons too. It’s always good to stock up on such rare items.
Hua Chengtian didn’t think much about it—it was indeed lunchtime. He only assumed his daughter was hungry. But when she started talking familiarly with the shopkeeper at the counter, he realized there might be something he didn’t know.
"Hello, Shopkeeper, I’m back again. Do you remember me?" said Jin’er, her head just barely peeking over the counter, grinning as she cheerfully greeted the shopkeeper inside.
"It’s you..." The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned but quickly recognized the little girl.
Girls who are this poised and familiar aren’t common, the shopkeeper found it hard to forget her.
For some reason, seeing the smile on the little girl’s face gave the shopkeeper a slight headache.
"Yes, it’s me. Shopkeeper Uncle, do you have any braised beef? Give us a serving, plus a small stir-fry and two bowls of rice. And also, cut ten pounds for us to take away."
Apparently oblivious to the shopkeeper’s twitching mouth, Jin’er sweetly said this and then pulled her slightly stunned father to a corner of the main hall to sit down, under the guidance of a waiter.
Only after the waiter had poured water and left did Hua Chengtian look at his daughter with a probing gaze.
"Jin’er, is there something you want to say? Why do you seem so familiar with the shopkeeper?"
"Dad, you’re overthinking it. How could I be familiar with the shopkeeper? It’s just that your daughter is so smart and adorable that I leave a strong impression."
Said without a hint of embarrassment or hesitation, there’s no denying Jin’er had a well-trained thick skin.
He was speechless looking at his own daughter. Though she was telling the truth, is it really okay to say it about herself?
"Shameless," Hua Chengtian lightly flicked his daughter’s forehead with a finger.
Jin’er laughed cunningly, made a playful face at her father, and stuck out her tongue.
During the meal, the father and daughter finished all the food. Holding the ten pounds of braised beef packed by the waiter, Jin’er brightly smiled as she approached the shopkeeper.
"Shopkeeper, the bill please," Hua Chengtian interjected before his daughter this time. Not out of male dominance, but for fear of what unexpected moves his clever daughter might pull.
Having paid the silver, they were just about to leave when he noticed Jin’er hadn’t moved, still smiling sweetly at the shopkeeper. Hua Chengtian fell silent and discreetly rubbed his forehead.
By now, he was certain there was something between his daughter and the innkeeper that he didn’t know about.
He wouldn’t believe there wasn’t something fishy going on.
For some reason, he suddenly thought about the beef tendons, especially since he was holding ten pounds of braised beef.
What he heard next confirmed Hua Chengtian’s suspicions. Even though he had many questions, seeing his daughter earnestly negotiate with the shopkeeper made him choose to keep quiet.
Though they still had quite a bit of beef tendon at home, since his daughter wanted it, she must have her reasons. As a father, he wouldn’t hold her back.
Watching his daughter chat confidently with the shopkeeper, Hua Chengtian felt both proud and filled with mixed emotions.
In the end, despite the shopkeeper looking troubled, he nodded.
"Last time," the shopkeeper reiterated.
This item is regulated, and he’s taking a big risk here.
If it weren’t for his family’s connections with high-ranking officials and it being used for food, he wouldn’t have been able to get it.
This sort of favor can only be done sparingly. If the boss found out, he could face repercussions, including possibly losing his job. However, the benefits the girl offered were just too tempting, nearly worth two months’ salary for him, not to mention the quantity wasn’t much; otherwise, he really wouldn’t have dared to help again.
"Shopkeeper Uncle, you’re practically a living Bodhisattva. Thank you so much. My father just loves this dish, and we wouldn’t know where to find it without your help. Keep this for tea," Jin’er said as she swiftly took a sycee of silver and adeptly slipped it into the shopkeeper’s hand, along with the deposit.
What speaks louder than silver? It’s true—money makes the world go round, and without it, not even beggars give you the time of day.
Hua Chengtian watched this scene with his eyes twitching, not understanding where his sweet and adorable daughter learned these negotiation tactics, executed so smoothly without a hitch.
Feeling the weight of the silver in his hand, the shopkeeper finally felt somewhat relieved, nodding, but still reiterated: "Last time!"
Jin’er responded with a quick smile and nodded.
She hadn’t planned for another time anyway.
After bidding farewell to the shopkeeper, the father and daughter left the inn. Once outside, Hua Chengtian couldn’t hold it in anymore, especially thinking about the consequences of buying beef tendons privately, he was filled with fear.
But at the same time, he was also deeply moved; his daughter did it all for him, and he was no ingrate.
"Jin’er, what am I supposed to say to you, being so bold? So that’s where those..." afraid of being overheard, Hua Chengtian didn’t finish the words "beef tendons," "...came from the shopkeeper. Aren’t you afraid he’d turn around and report you... or have any bad intentions?"
The more Hua Chengtian spoke, the more frightened he became. Fortunately, this shopkeeper wasn’t a bad guy; otherwise, his precious daughter would be in real danger.
"Dad, don’t worry..." She knew it would be , which is why last time when her father wanted to ask, she deflected with humor, but this time she couldn’t.
"Your daughter isn’t some reckless fool. It was only after seeing that the shopkeeper wasn’t a bad person that I spoke to him."
Then Jin’er revealed her discovery.
It was during a break when she inadvertently saw from a window.
The inn did good business and there would often be leftover food. Jin’er noticed that the shopkeeper would have the waiters pack up the guests’ leftover food for the little beggars waiting nearby the inn.
No wonder there were so many little beggars around this inn’s corner—this is why.
Most business people are afraid to offend the powerful and wouldn’t allow beggars near their establishment. Just based on that, this shopkeeper wasn’t a bad person, not to mention he sometimes personally delivered the food.
Although the shopkeeper was savvy, he was also clear-sighted. Jin’er believed she was pretty good at judging people. Of course, the main reason was her trust in her own abilities—if the shopkeeper did have ill intentions, she had ways to handle it.
Besides, she’s just a little girl; there are plenty of richer families in the city with daughters prettier than her. How many would risk their future for a little shrimp like her when they’re managing a large inn?
It’s simply not worth it, so she boldly gave it a go, and it worked out.
Knowing that she’d done something risky on her own, her father would surely worry. Jin’er quickly admitted her mistake and tried to appease him, using her best act of pouting.
It’s no shame to coax her own dad.
With her best pitiful face, blinking her lash-like eyelashes, Jin’er clutched her father’s clothes and occasionally shook them.
When his daughter acted , Hua Chengtian’s heart melted immediately, no matter how hard it was. Helplessly, he watched her, "You! Remember what you said; if you do this again, dad will have to use family punishment."