Liang Yumei turned to look back at the busy shop, then followed her out.
“What’s the matter?”
“Sister, please save dad, he, he went gambling, owes a lot of money. Now he’s been taken by the gambling house people, they told us if we don’t pay back the money by the deadline, they’ll, they’ll chop off dad’s hands and feet.”
Tears streamed down Liang Yuxin’s face as she spoke.
“What!”
Liang Yumei was shocked and immediately asked Liang Yuxin, “How much does dad owe?”
“More than thirteen hundred taels.”
Liang Yuxin whispered.
Liang Yumei thought she misheard, “Say that again?”
Liang Yuxin sighed, “Sister, dad was tricked. He was drunk and taken to gamble. Drunk people don’t pay attention to details, and that’s how he ended up borrowing so much.”
“What a mess.”
Liang Yumei’s face wrinkled in concern.
If it were just a few taels of silver, she could give it to her directly.
But this was over a thousand taels.
Not to mention she didn’t have that much, even Su Jixiang probably didn’t.
And how could she even ask?
“What do we do? There’s no way we have that much money?!”
Liang Yumei paced back and forth in anxiety.
Liang Yuxin grabbed her hand, “Sister, think of something, maybe come up with a recipe to sell. This way, we can pay off the debt!”
“No, that won’t work.”
Liang Yumei pulled her hand away.
Liang Yuxin changed her demeanor and angrily rebuked her, “Sister, how can you be like this? Are you really just water poured out after marriage?”
“I…”
Liang Yumei was at a loss for words.
Liang Yuxin noticed her struggle and said, “Sister, I beg you, think of something. Whether it’s the shop or the workshop, so many people work there, who would know it’s you who leaked it? Just get one recipe, that’s all.”
Chapter 75: Big Sister, a Carriage has Arrived Outside
Unable to resist Liang Yuxin’s pleas,
Liang Yumei agreed.
Su Jixiang returned from buying things outside and saw Liang Yuxin leaving. He approached and asked Liang Yumei, “Wife, was that woman who just left your little sister?”
He noticed…
Liang Yumei clenched her hand and replied, “Yes, it was her. She’s not working now, so she came to check on me at the shop.”
“Hmm, let’s go inside.”
Su Jixiang thought it was true and didn’t think much of it.
Seeing the pig fat in his hands, Liang Yumei offered, “Let me help you carry it.”
Su Jixiang smiled and said, “No need, your man can handle this.”
Liang Yumei nodded and followed him into the shop.
After Su Jixiang went into the kitchen, Liang Yumei kept replaying what Liang Yuxin had said earlier in her mind.
She hesitated for a moment, just about to step into the kitchen when a customer called out, “Give me another bowl of sauce noodles, a large one.”
“Okay.”
Liang Yumei responded and headed towards the kitchen.
She glanced around.
Liang Yumei asked Su Jixiang, “Husband, someone wants a large bowl of sauce noodles. It’s not too busy now, should I help you cut the pig fat?”
Fearing she’d get dirty,
Su Jixiang declined, “No need, we can handle it.”
How could she get the recipe now?
She couldn’t dare to mess with the workshop’s recipes, so she had to target the shop’s dishes.
Liang Yumei blushed and cooed, “Husband, I want to help you.”
Su Jixiang was clearly taken aback.
Su Pingan, beside him, was also surprised.
“Okay, okay, come help.”
Su Jixiang coughed and said, then handed her an apron to wear.
While Su Jixiang was cooking noodles,
Liang Yumei would occasionally sneak a peek, but all she could tell was how long the noodles cooked and some of the seasonings used, not knowing how the other ingredients or the sauce were made.
She then eyed the milk tea.
The milk tea was prepared in advance, and Su Pingan would serve it when Su Jixiang was overwhelmed. Otherwise, he was at the counter calculating accounts.
The milk tea was out.
Liang Yumei looked at the iron plate tofu and wolf teeth potatoes.
These dishes were made by the newer staff at the back of the shop, and their seasonings were prepped in advance, some of which Liang Yumei didn’t recognize.
Her gaze finally settled on the boiling tea eggs.
Su Jixiang noticed, picked up a well-flavored tea egg, placed it in a side dish to cool, then peeled and fed it to Liang Yumei.
“Isn’t this what you wanted to eat? Here, eat it.”
Su Jixiang was really good to her.
If he knew she wasn’t really wanting to eat the tea egg, but rather wanted the recipe, would he be very disappointed?
Liang Yumei took a small bite and said, “It’s really fragrant. Husband, you should eat some too.”
Su Jixiang handed the rest to her, “I’ve eaten plenty before, not in the mood now. Don’t feel embarrassed, if there’s anything you want to eat in the future, just tell me. As long as it’s not too much, I’ll buy it for you, or make it for you if it’s not available.”
Afterward, Liang Yumei didn’t sneak any more looks at them preparing food.
…
Soon, the day for the roof beam raising arrived.
It was a big event, and Jiang Yan and the others got up early while it was still dark to make breakfast.
After eating breakfast,
Jiang Yan and her group came to Su Lao Er’s place.
As planned yesterday… Jiang Yan and her team moved all the necessary items to the new workshop early in the morning. As for the furniture they ordered, the carpenter’s shop hasn’t delivered them yet.
About half an hour later, the cook arrived. Although Jiang Yan planned to cook a few dishes herself, she still hired a cook.
After moving everything, Jiang Yan started preparing. She had done some prep work for the dishes she was going to make the previous day, and there were still some ingredients she hadn’t bought yet, which Su Lao’er and his group were in charge of purchasing.
For the beam-raising ceremony, the tables from Jiang Yan’s family and Su Lao’er’s two families were not enough, so she had already discussed borrowing tables from the village head the day before.
People came to help, bringing their own tables with them.
Today, Jiang Yan planned to make braised pork, preserved meat with steamed pork, dry pot braised intestines, steamed perch, and fish-flavored shredded pork.
The braised pork wasn’t ready yet; she planned to prepare it later.
The preserved meat and steamed pork were made the day before; today, they just needed to be sliced and steamed.
For the dry pot braised intestines, the intestines had already been braised, and the seasonings for frying were prepared; all they needed was to slice them, add the seasonings, stir-fry, and then plate.
The perch was to be bought fresh for the best taste, so they would buy it later.
Jiang Yan planned to leave the fish-flavored shredded pork for last, just in time to eat when everyone sat down for the meal.
Their village had a total of 202 people, not counting the very young, which left 189. Jiang Yan didn’t want it to be too crowded, so she decided to set up 28 tables.
While she was busy, Su Lao’er, who was helping with the guests, approached her: “Big Sister, a carriage has arrived outside.”
Was it Ouyang Siyun or Jun Shen? Or someone else?
Jiang Yan wiped her hands, untied her apron, and went out with Su Lao’er to greet them.
At that moment, Jun Shen had already alighted from the carriage. Today, he was dressed in a light blue brocade robe, appearing even more refined and elegant.
“Mr. Jun, you’re here,” Jiang Yan said, introducing Su Lao’er to Jun Shen and then inviting Jun Shen to the living room.
Su Lao’er followed.
Jiang Yan sat down with Jun Shen and said, “Mr. Jun, I thought you’d come later today.”
“I had nothing else to do, so I came early,” Jun Shen replied softly.
Su Lao’er, not having much to contribute to the conversation, just listened.
Suddenly remembering that she had invited his master, Jiang Yan asked, “What about your master?”
