Xiaoxiao went out early in the morning; in fact, she had wanted to visit the county town to find Yang Ming since she brought Yang Qiu back. She had appropriated funds, but she had been delayed due to being busy these past few days.
"Uncle Wang, has the Young Master arrived yet?" Xiaoxiao began to inquire as soon as she reached the restaurant.
"He hasn’t come today!"
"Send someone to find him, then I’ll go to the kitchen and cook something tasty for you all."
As soon as Shopkeeper Wang heard that there was new food, his eyes lit up, "Miss, what is the tasty dish you’re making?"
"It’s a secret, just keep your stomach empty, ha, it will be ready soon."
After saying that, Xiaoxiao headed towards the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen, everyone got excited when they saw Xiaoxiao because she always brought something delicious that drew customers back to the restaurant.
As soon as Xiaoxiao entered the kitchen, she got to work, preparing a dish of sauerkraut stewed ribs. She asked the kitchen helpers to watch the dish as it finished, while she went to wait for Yang Ming.
As soon as Chu Lian received the message, he rushed over without stopping. He thought Yang Ming had returned home several days now without coming back, and he didn’t know what the situation was. They both had children already, and he could only step back, especially since his feelings were unrequited.
The moment Chu Lian reached the private room, he saw Xiaoxiao waiting there, "What do you need me for?" He didn’t even know how to address her now!
"I brought you a new dish; the kitchen will serve it soon!"
Chu Lian was quite pleased to hear that. She was specially bringing him food? He had completely forgotten that even if it was a new dish, it was to be sold to the restaurant and wasn’t specially for him.
"Actually, I came to tell you that I’ve misappropriated fifty taels of public funds!"
"Some issues came up at home, and I was forced to touch those fifty taels of your silver in a moment of urgency."
"But rest assured, I never like being in debt to others, so today I’m here to repay a debt of gratitude."
"..." She certainly did know how to settle accounts!
After a while, the sauerkraut was served.
"Try it; this is made with Chinese cabbage and is called sauerkraut."
"I’m not a professional cook, so I can only make simple dishes. Later on, you can have your chefs work on several more recipes! For instance, meat stewed with sauerkraut, ribs stewed with it, and large bones too. Sauerkraut stir-fried with meat, with shredded potatoes, and then you’ve got the filling for dumplings, buns, and pancakes—ah, just go and figure it out!"
Meanwhile, Chu Lian enjoyed the dish as he listened to Xiaoxiao, realizing there were so many ways to prepare it.
"How shall we collaborate this time? According to what you said, taking shares?"
"Let’s skip it this time. Consider it a repayment for your generosity; I’ll sell the recipe to you for fifty taels. Don’t think I’m asking too much; if I were to partner up seriously, I would make much more than this!"
"..." She was not one to forsake benevolence for gain; she was genuinely a good person, and fifty taels meant nothing to him!
"Also, I’d like to switch the production rights. You make the spicy cabbage yourselves, and I’ll focus on the sauerkraut. After all, hauling a large quantity of fruit to my village is troublesome."
"Alright, we’ll do as you say!"
The two amended the contract, and seeing that it was getting late, Xiaoxiao hurried to return home.
"No need, I can go back by myself!"
"No, let me find you a bullock cart for your body’s sake!"
"..." Huh! This embarrassing rumor had reached Yang Ming as well; had the pregnancy been spread all the way to the county?
"Hehe, have you heard about it?"
"Mhm, the people who went to pull the spicy cabbage said you were pregnant!"
"Hehe, that’s a misunderstanding, there’s nothing, nothing at all." Xiaoxiao waved her hand in embarrassment and left.
Chu Lian was left standing there stunned! A misunderstanding? She wasn’t pregnant?