Yummy Yummy Yummy

Shen Shaoguang had steeled herself to grit her teeth and tough it out, unaware that the situation at Cloud Arriving Tavern had already fizzled out.

Manager Feng jabbed his finger at Wei San twice in frustration. "Always causing trouble for me!"

Wei San felt somewhat wronged. Back when he'd colluded with two foreign troublemakers to harass Shen's Little Shop, he had informed Manager Feng, who had merely chuckled and said, "Don't let them go too far—just teach her a small lesson. She's just a young woman after all; don't ruin her livelihood."

Now that they'd learned of the shop's connection to the Deputy Magistrate of the Capital, Manager Feng was blaming him.

Though inwardly resentful, Wei San put on an apologetic smile. "It's just a minor attendant from the Deputy Magistrate's household. There's no need for such concern, Manager."

"An attendant? Since when do attendants send the steward himself to buy pastries?" Manager Feng snapped angrily.

Only after all this time had this idiot come to report that the two ruffians had been hauled before the judicial office and sentenced to caning! Sensing something amiss, Manager Feng had inquired among the locals and learned that before Mid-Autumn Festival, the Lin family steward had personally visited Shen's shop to purchase a large quantity of pastries. Such actions—far beyond what a mere attendant could arrange.

"You mean—Lord Lin?" Wei San's eyes widened in shock. "Surely not?"

"Why not? That young woman is quite beautiful."

"Beautiful women are a dime a dozen in Chang'an. Besides, Lord Lin comes from an aristocratic family—would he really take a fancy to some street vendor selling cakes?" Wei San scoffed. If anything, he'd be more likely to favor the courtesans of Pingkang Ward—charming, skilled in music, some even capable of composing poetry.

Manager Feng also began to waver.

Having worked under Manager Feng for some time, Wei San knew exactly how to steer the conversation. "I advise you not to worry too much. So what if it is Lord Lin? For all his current prominence, who's to say he won't offend someone and get exiled to some coastal backwater or mountain ravine? Officials in the capital change faster than the seasons."

Seeing Manager Feng remain silent, Wei San added, "Just think—how many prefects and deputy magistrates have we seen come and go? They change faster than the cups and plates in our tavern!"

Manager Feng kicked Wei San lightly, laughing as he scolded, "Useless at getting things done, but first-rate at running your mouth." His expression had already relaxed.

Setting aside Wei San's arguments, Lord Lin wasn't the type of profligate to stir up trouble over some young woman. Moreover, those two troublemakers hadn't caused any real damage. His earlier panic had stemmed mainly from fear of causing trouble for his master, who was exceedingly prudent and always urged caution during their audiences, emphasizing the importance of keeping a low profile in the capital. There were also rumors about the princely households spending vast sums to curry favor with court officials...

"Enough—what's done is done. Regardless of that girl's connection to the Lin household, we won't provoke her anymore." He added sternly, "From now on, everyone behaves properly—no more of these shenanigans."

Manager Feng also reminded himself to be more cautious in the future. The capital was a tangled web—even a rat running in the street might be some minister's beloved pet...

Meanwhile, Shen Shaoguang was discussing shop rental matters at the fabric store next to hers.

Shen Shaoguang was acquainted with the store's proprietress, Li Niangzi, as the two often exchanged cooking tips. Shen had vaguely mentioned her desire to rent a larger space, hoping Li Niangzi—being well-connected—could help scout locations. To her surprise, Li Niangzi clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Why not rent our space too? Combine the two shops—wouldn't that be perfect?"Li Niangzi's husband, Guo Dalang, came to Chang'an City in his teens and apprenticed at a large silk and fabric shop in the West Market. In his twenties, he married Li Niangzi. After their marriage, Li Niangzi used her dowry to rent a small storefront, and the couple started their own fabric business.

Through hard work over twenty years, the Guo couple accumulated some wealth. Now that their parents were aging and their children had married back in their hometown, they planned to return home to enjoy family life—a common path for many "Chang'an drifters."

Returning home was a good thing. Shen Shaoguang didn't know when she herself would achieve financial freedom and retire, but she congratulated Li Niangzi with a smile and inquired about the landlord and rent.

Since her son's marriage, Li Niangzi had been eager to return home and enjoy the privileges of being a mother-in-law. However, she had already paid the rent up until next year. If someone took over the lease now, she might recover the remaining rent. She smiled at Shen Shaoguang and said, "Don't worry, young lady. The landlord is very straightforward. The steward handles all the rent collection. We've rented this shop for nearly eight years, and there's never been any fuss or rent increases."

Shen Shaoguang also liked the location. Expanding directly into the adjacent shop was ideal—she had worked hard to build her reputation and preferred not to relocate. Moreover, the rent was reasonable. The front shop was about thirty to forty square meters, with three rooms and a small courtyard at the back, costing fifteen hundred coins per month. Back when she was selling pancakes by the city gate, she couldn't have afforded it, but now it was easily within her means.

Shen Shaoguang asked the Guo couple to help broker the deal.

As expected, the person who came to negotiate and sign the contract was a steward. Upon hearing that Shen Shaoguang planned to open a wine shop and intended to knock down the wall between the two shops, he frowned—many small wine shops were messy and dirty. If the place became filthy, it would require repainting before renting it out again, which was troublesome. Besides, there was the matter of breaking through the wall!

Shen Shaoguang invited him to visit her current small shop next door and said with a smile, "When the lease ends, I’ll hire masons to rebuild the wall. I wouldn’t dare leave any trouble behind—this can be written into the contract."

The steward was taken aback by what he saw: whitewashed walls, brown cushions, white jars, green bamboo, neatly arranged tables, and a gleaming copper kettle. He vaguely recalled that this place used to be a butcher's shop with dark walls, uneven floors, and greasy counters. Hearing Shen Shaoguang’s promise to restore the wall later, he thought it over and agreed.

The Guo couple, eager to return home, set the handover date for a month later. The steward didn’t make things difficult and refunded their remaining rent. He then signed the contract with Shen Shaoguang, collected the payment, and the three parties settled everything clearly. Now, Shen Shaoguang only had to wait until next month to move and renovate the new shop.

A Yuan admired her young mistress even more. She truly kept her word—when she said she’d "go all out," she really did!

A Yuan also rejoiced, "Now we’ll have our own place! No more living in the nunnery and enduring Jing Ci’s cold looks. She’s so polite to Second Mistress Pang but treats our young lady with such indifference—as if we don’t notice!" Her tone grew indignant by the end.

Shen Shaoguang chuckled silently. That’s exactly what they want—for you to notice!Shen Shaoguang suddenly felt a bit guilty toward A Yuan. The maidservants of noble families all held their heads high and lived in comfort—just like the "deputy young ladies" described in Dream of the Red Chamber. Yet her own "noble lady's" maidservant washed dishes, mopped floors, picked vegetables, chopped meat, and might even have to beat up scoundrels...

Turning to look at A Yuan, she was already cheerfully packing her belongings.

"Why the hurry? We'll have to wait a while. Only after Li Niangzi moves out and we renovate the place can we relocate."

"I'm excited! Just packing ahead of time."

Well, excitement was good. Shen Shaoguang left A Yuan to it and began pondering—with the shop expanding, two people definitely wouldn't be enough. They'd need to hire more help.