"So, can we open a shop in the county town? Will it be profitable?" Lin Ruixue asked with some worry.
"We'll find out then."
People in the county town enjoyed life much more than those in the countryside. Precisely because life cost money everywhere, they were more willing to spend money on eating out.
Following the address Zhang Erniu had given, Qi Zhenzhen made her way there. It wasn't on the main street, but it wasn't too remote either. The shop's plaque was already hung up, with the words "Mianmian Jùdào" (All-encompassing) looking quite imposing.
The shop was already lit, and Zhang Erniu was busy inside.
"Brother Erniu," Qi Zhenzhen called out crisply.
Seeing them arrive, Zhang Erniu was very pleased. He quickly put down the rag he was holding and stepped forward to take the items from Lin Ruixue and Qi Zhenzhen. "I thought you wouldn't be here until two days later."
"Auntie couldn't stay idle at home, so we came early. We haven't eaten yet!"
Traveling wasn't an easy task, and Qi Zhenzhen felt quite tired at the moment.
"You all sit down first. There's a bun shop nearby, I'll go buy some to tide us over. Coincidentally, I haven't eaten either." Zhang Erniu placed everything on the table and hurried out.
"Auntie, what do you think of this place?" Qi Zhenzhen pulled Lin Ruixue around for a look.
The shop had six square tables. Besides these, a long table ran along the wall from south to north, much higher than the square tables, with single high round stools beside it.
"If one person comes to eat, they can sit here," Qi Zhenzhen explained to Lin Ruixue. "This row can seat ten people, and those two rows can seat twenty. If we didn't have the long tables, we could only fit two more square tables in the shop, seating at most eight people."
The long tables accommodated twelve more people than the square tables. During mealtimes, more people meant more profit; Lin Ruixue understood this principle.
The kitchen had four large stoves and six small ones, all neatly arranged, looking quite pleasant.
"Zhenzhen, Sister Lin, come out to eat," Zhang Erniu called out in a clear voice.
Qi Zhenzhen had initially wanted to take Lin Ruixue to see the backyard. Hearing the commotion, she had to give up. It wouldn't be too late to see it after eating.
Qi Yi and Li Hu were already eating buns in their hands.
"There are meat-filled ones and vegetable-filled ones. I didn't know what you liked, so I bought a few of each. The ones with pleats are meat-filled, and the ones without pleats are vegetable-filled," Zhang Erniu said, rubbing his hands and looking at them, his gaze clearly directed at Lin Ruixue. "The meat-filled buns here are quite famous. Sister Lin, you're frail, how about a meat-filled one?"
Tsk, he was already being solicitous. Qi Zhenzhen pouted and took a large meat bun. "My mother said I'm growing now and need to eat more meat..."
After saying that, she picked up a large meat bun and took a big bite.
Zhang Erniu felt a bit awkward. He had unconsciously wanted to care for Lin Ruixue. Would she mind?
Lin Ruixue didn't think much of it and casually picked up a vegetable-filled bun. "Zhenzhen, be careful not to overeat meat tonight, or it'll be hard to digest."
"Right, right, eating too much meat is hard to digest. Vegetable-filled ones are good, vegetable-filled ones are good." Saying this, he also picked up a vegetable-filled one and started eating.
After a simple meal, Zhang Erniu closed the shop door and led them to the backyard with a lantern.
"This shop and the backyard are connected. You reach the backyard through the kitchen from the main hall. There are four rooms in the east and west wings, and four rooms in the main house. The two central rooms are for receiving guests, and the east and west rooms have attached side rooms. The outhouse is behind the main house, and the woodshed is also there. The open space is quite large; once it thaws, we can cultivate it to grow some vegetables. There's a large gate to the backyard. There's also a place to tie horses, and the gate is big enough for a carriage to drive in directly," Zhang Erniu said as he led them. "When I went to buy the buns, I drove the carriage in first."
Qi Zhenzhen couldn't quite describe the layout of this house, but it maximized its utility, which was quite good. There was a courtyard, living quarters, and a shop.
The easternmost room of the main house was for Lin Ruixue, and Zhang Erniu lived in the westernmost room.
Qi Yi lived in the first room of the east wing, and Li Hu lived in the second.
The bedding was new and had already been laid out.
Qi Zhenzhen didn't stay here often, so she shared a room with Lin Ruixue.
Qi Zhenzhen yawned. "Brother Erniu, we traveled all day today and are quite tired. We'll go rest first. We'll discuss the specific arrangements for the shop tomorrow."
After saying that, she pulled Lin Ruixue into the room.
The room didn't have a heated brick bed, but a raised bed. Fortunately, the underfloor heating kept it warm.
Qi Zhenzhen stretched and prepared to get into bed.
There was a knock on the door. Opening it, she found Zhang Erniu holding two large buckets of hot water. "You've been traveling, so soaking your feet before bed will make you sleep more comfortably. The foot basins are in the side room. I'll empty the foot soaking water tomorrow."
After saying that, he hurried away.
Lin Ruixue closed the door. "This person is really thoughtful."
Qi Zhenzhen suppressed a smile. "Don't let Brother Erniu's burly physique fool you; he's very meticulous. He's even thinking about us soaking our feet and brought the water. It would be a shame not to use it, wouldn't it?"
Lin Ruixue nodded seriously. "You're right."
Soaking feet relieved fatigue, and the water was already prepared. Why wouldn't they soak them?
...
The next morning, Qi Zhenzhen opened her eyes. Lin Ruixue was no longer in bed. The sounds of "Hee-ha" could be heard from the courtyard. After getting dressed, Qi Zhenzhen went out of the room. She usually got up before dawn, but after changing places, she had slept in.
Zhang Erniu was practicing martial arts with the two younger ones, while Lin Ruixue stood by watching with a smile.
"Zhenzhen, you're up? You two wash up, and we'll go out to eat. There are quite a few breakfast stalls on this street." Zhang Erniu stopped punching and said with a smile, "I've already boiled hot water. Just wait a moment, and I'll go fetch it."
After tidying themselves up, the group went out through the back door and circled around to the street in front of the shop. Indeed, there was a line of stalls.
"Auntie Wang, are you open for business? Why is it just you today? Where's Uncle?"
"Brother Li, good morning."
"Brother Yang, yes, we're out for breakfast."
As they walked, many people greeted Zhang Erniu, seeming quite familiar with him.
The group of five stopped at a wonton stall. A young girl about Qi Yi's age came up. "Uncle Erniu, you're here. Sit here."
Zhang Erniu beckoned Qi Zhenzhen and Lin Ruixue to sit down and said to the young girl with a smile, "Yingzi, seven bowls of wontons."
The young girl responded crisply, "Coming right up!"
"Auntie Lu has had a difficult life. Her son is gone, her daughter-in-law remarried, and Grandpa Lu takes medicine all year round. She runs the wonton stall with her young granddaughter," Zhang Erniu explained. "The people who eat here are all regular customers. The taste is average, but the portions are generous. Everyone knows she's had a hard time, so they come here with the intention of helping her out."
The wontons were served quickly, and as Zhang Erniu had said, the portions were very generous. As for the taste, it was indeed average, but the accompanying shredded pickles were quite refreshing. Qi Zhenzhen and the others were not picky eaters, so they found it quite palatable.