Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 209 Li Changgen suddenly appeared in front of the store

Qixi chuckled and said, "My young master has been doing well these days. He always has meat to eat at banquets."

"Because you are going to attend the poetry and wine party, the master gave you twenty taels of silver as pocket money."

"The young master said that if we can't finish it, the rest should be given to me, and he asked me to buy some chicken, duck, fish and meat and send them over."

Shen Yu was so shocked that she waved her hands repeatedly: "Please don't send it, you still have two chickens."

"That big rooster crows every day. Yucheng wants to keep it and not let it be killed. I was thinking about whether I should buy another chicken to make up for it."

Qi Xi was happy: "Then let's save it for the girl to use to announce the dawn every day. It's not necessary to eat chicken, we can eat something else."

"If you don't dare to kill chickens and fish, I will prepare them for you later."

Shen Yu saw that his explanation was not convincing, so he smiled helplessly and said, "Let's talk about it later. Go back quickly, don't be late."

After Shen Yu reminded him, Qi Xi ran away with the lunch box.

Shen Yu said to Jiang and Li, "That's great. I originally thought that I didn't have Chongyang cakes at home, so if I wasn't busy at noon, I would make another one for myself. Now I have four Chongyang cakes at once, and I can't even finish them."

Zhou Dalang said a little embarrassedly: "How can I do this? My family doesn't even have a girl to give as a gift."

Li waved her hand and said, "You don't have to be polite. Your family and we are family, so how can we be the same?"

"When you go back, bring another Chongyang cake home. This cake can't be kept for long, and it's so big that there's no way we can finish it all."

When Zhou Dalang heard that Li treated him as her own, which was much more sincere than when Mrs. Hu and Old Man Zhou treated him, he was moved and called out with a choked voice, "Madam."

Li saw Zhou Dalang was about to cry, so she quickly smiled and said with disgust: "Oh my, what are you doing? Go back to work. I can't stand this."

After hearing this, several people couldn't help but laugh.

The sentimentality that Zhou Dalang had just been brewing was completely dispelled by everyone's laughter. He also chuckled a few times and went back to do his own thing.

There was a short busy period at noon, and after four quarters past noon, when the shopkeeper and the employees had finished their meals, there were fewer customers in the shop.

Even the few customers who came here all finished their shopping in a hurry and rushed home to celebrate the festival.

Some people came here to get some meat skewers as snacks because they didn’t bring enough food with them.

The shopkeeper who came over to eat just now also said that the market will close early today.

The shop owners and their clerks in each shop and stall can go home and go out to enjoy the autumn scenery if they have time. I heard that there will be festive performances in the theaters in the evening.

Shen Yu and Li were discussing whether to go to the chrysanthemum garden to appreciate the chrysanthemums or climb a mountain after lunch.

He also asked Zhou Dalang and his family if they wanted to go together, and then he saw Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Qi, each carrying a covered bamboo basket, walking into the store.

Seeing that it was them, Mrs. Li hurried over to greet them. Mrs. Liu said loudly and exaggeratedly, "Madam Li, your business is booming. Thank you for your patience and hard work. We are here to give you a Chongyang cake as a gift."

Madam Qi also spoke in a higher tone than usual: "Madam Li, today is the Double Ninth Festival and the restaurant business is still so good. You are so busy, how can you have time to go out and play?"

Li was a little confused, thinking that although Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Qi were straightforward, they were not the ignorant women with loud voices.

Why was he standing at the door and talking nonstop today, causing several customers who were still eating in the store to frown in disgust.

Seeing that Li didn't understand, Mrs. Liu was so anxious that she kept winking at Shen Yu.

Shen Yu felt something was strange, so he also came to the door of the shop, but he saw a man with messy hair standing behind a tree not far from the shop, sticking his head out from behind the tree and looking over here.

Shen Yu's heart tightened. She had never seen that person before, but he kept staring at Mrs. Liu. Could it be Li Changgen?

Although she had lived in Liushu Lane for a while, she was busy setting up the stall every day, and the only people she knew were these ladies and the landlord, Brother Liu.

As for other neighbors, she came and went in a hurry, and there were differences between men and women, so she really never paid serious attention to them.

She tried her best to act natural and said loudly, "That's right, Sister Qi. My family has to get up in the middle of the night to make dumplings, so we don't have time to go out and play."

"It's a festival to be able to eat a piece of Chongyang cake."

After he finished speaking, he pretended to turn around casually, with his back to the man, and whispered, "Is the man behind the tree beside the street Li Changgen?"

Madam Qi and Mrs. Liu breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Shen Yu had seen through it.

Li was listening and the smile on her face disappeared immediately.

Shen Yu was afraid of being seen by Li Changgen, so she hurriedly urged Li: "Mother, look at you, what kind of etiquette is this? Sister Liu and Sister Qi gave Chongyang cakes in return, why don't you invite them to sit down and have a cup of tea."

Li said "Oh" and retreated into the store.

Seeing that Li looked unhappy, Jiang pushed Li to the small kitchen and said with a smile, "I'll go pour tea, you watch the fire."

Shen Yu deliberately asked Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Qi to sit at the table near the store door, and said with a smile: "Is there anything fun on this street? We are busy in this small store every day and have no time to go out for a walk."

Madam Qi said, "Well, we are going to climb the mountain to admire the chrysanthemums. That is something men like to do. I am just waiting to go to the theater to watch the opera in the evening."

Mrs. Liu turned her head towards the store, as if to watch Li working, but she whispered, "Are Sanniang and Xiao Zhuzi okay? Li Changgen went to my house early this morning to ask for them."

"I wasn't home this morning, and he left after being scolded by my mother-in-law."

Shen Yu whispered: "Don't worry, everything is fine."

Mrs. Liu added, "Li Changgen also went to Sanniang's family home, but couldn't find anyone, so he went to look for me at the stall at the entrance of the market."

"I said I didn't know, but he kept following me. I was afraid that you didn't know and he would find out. So I took the opportunity to return the Chongyang cake and come over to tell you to be careful."

Shen Yu nodded. At this time, Jiang brought tea over. Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Qi stood up. Mrs. Liu said, "Your store is very busy, so we won't disturb you. This Chongyang cake is homemade. Try it to show your appreciation."

Madam Qi also said, "Miss Yuzhi, you can't just be busy working. Tell me yourself, you haven't been to my house since you opened the shop. Come to my house and sit down when you have some free time."

Shen Yu knew that this was meant for Li Changgen, so she said hurriedly, "Of course, of course. I've been too busy these days and can't leave the store without someone. I'll go to your house in a few days, and Sister Qi will make me some tea."

After a few pleasantries, they left two plates of Chongyang cakes and then left.

Shen Yu pretended to be reluctant to leave and stood at the door. After the man behind the tree waited for Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Qi to pass by, he walked towards the shop.

Shen Yu was scared. Could it be that he had been exposed somewhere last night?

But on the surface he had to keep going, wiping the table with a rag, lowering his head and glancing at Li Changgen who was getting closer and closer.