Travel back to ancient times and open a Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 144

The next day, Aunt Chen came to visit and somehow she mentioned that a peddler with a foreign face suddenly showed up at the market before the New Year, and the things sold on his stall were a mess.

"But I did buy a bonsai from him yesterday afternoon. It is said that it is very popular in the capital. Every household that does business has one, which means that the business is booming! If I have two pots, I will give one to you!"

When Zhong's mother heard this, she felt something was wrong. "What kind of bonsai does it look like?"

Aunt Chen ran back and brought it to her to show her. It was a pot of red and green. Isn’t that pepper?

"How could you? How could you believe this?" Zhong's mother didn't have the courage to say that this was a lie, so she just said it in a tactful way.

She had given chili peppers to Aunt Chen before, but they were all dried, so it was normal that she didn't recognize them.

But she heard from her daughter that this pot of food would cost one or two taels of silver, which was not cheap. Aunt Chen has always believed that it is best to use money to buy food to eat, and she didn't expect that she would be interested in these things.

When she asked, she found out that Aunt Chen had indeed spent one or two taels of silver to buy it.

"You don't know, I was not the only one who wanted to buy it. The vendor was kind-hearted and said that I came here first so he sold it to me!" Aunt Chen looked smug, as if she had picked up a great bargain.

She couldn't bear to look at it.

After Aunt Chen returned home, Zhong's mother told her daughter about this.

Zhong Ruyi was very surprised. "Aunt Chen still believes this? If I had known, I would have dug one out from the space and given it to her, so that she wouldn't have to waste this money."

"Who said it wasn't true? I didn't know she actually believed that a pot of chili peppers could make her business prosperous."

Mother Zhong was also a little amused and said, "Just think of it as a consolation. Maybe the money you spent on it can really help your Aunt Chen's tea business to improve."

At the Zhong family, Li Guihua opened the door and looked at the mother and son standing at the door. She rolled her eyes in her heart, but she still looked calm on the surface.

"Aunt, my father-in-law is not at home. Please come next time."

Zhong Mei originally thought that Zhong's father was at home, and her expression had a gentle smile on her face. However, when she heard Li Guihua say that Zhong's father was not at home, her expression became harsh.

"Don't you know to call him back when he's not here? You made me run all the way here in vain in such a cold day? Why don't you let us in and have a cup of hot tea! You are such a tactless idiot!"

Li Guihua had seen how well-behaved and sensible this aunt was in front of Mr. Zhong, and how sarcastic and mean she became when Mr. Zhong was not around.

If the two families had a good relationship, she would have tolerated it, but her parents-in-law had said that if this aunt came to visit, there was no need to be polite, but if she was too aggressive, she would be chased away with a broom.

She crossed her arms and said, "I'm so sorry, auntie. I'm busy at home today so I won't invite you in for tea. Goodbye!"

The door was slammed shut. Zhong Mei was so angry that she wanted to scratch it, but as there were people walking around in the village, she didn't dare to do so. She could only swallow her anger and leave.

Zhang Mingcong complained, "Mom, didn't you always say that Second Uncle loves you? Why doesn't he want to see us?"

This is indeed unfair to Mr. Zhong. He is indeed not at home, but if he was at home he would definitely not let them in.

Zhong Mei explained, "I haven't had any contact with your second uncle for so many years. He must be angry with me, but from what I know about him, he will soon calm down. Don't worry, I will definitely help you get the braised food recipe."

Zhang Mingcong was reluctantly satisfied. "That's good. Cousin Daxiang is the same age as me. I'm only a few months older than him. Look how old his children are. Mom, you don't want me to end up alone, do you? If our family had money, would you be worried about not having a good girl to marry me?"

Daxiang is Zhong Laoer. He and Zhang Mingcong are only a few months apart in age, both are 29 years old. Xiaohe, the son of Zhong Laoer, is already six or seven years old, but Zhang Mingcong is still single.

After hearing this, Zhong Mei became more determined to get the recipe for the braised food. Before she got married and her parents were still alive, her family would do their best to give her whatever she wanted.

Now, didn't she just want a braised food recipe? She was confident that as long as her second brother calmed down, he would give her the braised food recipe sooner or later.

Li Guihua closed the door neatly and put her ear to the door to listen to what the people outside were saying.

Sure enough, the aunt cursed under her breath and then left in shame.

"Hmph!" She clapped her hands, snorted coldly, and went in to cook. Her father-in-law and the others had gone to work in the fields, so she had to make some more delicious food so that they would not have too little energy to work.

When Mr. Zhong and his companions came back with hoes, they heard the eldest daughter-in-law say that his troublesome sister was here again.

He frowned, "You let her in?"

Li Guihua carefully glanced at her father-in-law's expression and shook her head, "I didn't let her in. I said you weren't home and asked her to come next time."

Father Zhong's frown finally relaxed. "Next time she comes, don't let her in. If she dares to say anything to you, just say that you are listening to me and don't bother with her."

He knew his sister's personality. If he was not at home and only his two daughters-in-law were at home, he didn't know how he would order them around.

"Okay, Dad!" Li Guihua responded.

When Yang Erge's people came to inform that there was a teahouse that had just been vacated and they could go check it out, Zhong Ruyi was watching Chen Dongzhi peeling a rabbit.

"Brother Dongzhi, you raise so many rabbits, why don't you sell them all to me? Given our relationship, I will definitely not let you lose out!"

Zhong Ruyi winked at him and gave him an ambiguous smile.

Chen Dongzhi was so seduced by her smile that he didn't control his strength and tore the whole rabbit skin into pieces.

"Hey, hey, hey, Brother Dongzhi, please be gentle. This rabbit fur is very good. When I have enough, I will use it to make a new set of clothes. I will sew a circle of rabbit fur on the collar. It will keep me very warm."

That being said, she couldn’t make the clothes, so she would have to ask her mother for help.

"Little sister! Brother Yang's people are here!" Zhong Laoer shouted outside.

As soon as Zhong Ruyi heard this, she knew there was a new store to look at, so she quickly said to Chen Dongzhi, "Brother Dongzhi, stop messing with the rabbits and come with me to look at the stores."

"Are you going to rent a new store?" Chen Dongzhi washed his hands and asked as he walked.

"Yes, I'm serious. Brother Dongzhi, please keep all the rabbits in your house for me. Don't sell them to others. When I open a restaurant, I'll use rabbit meat as my signature dish."

When she went out, she saw the young man who came last time sitting on a bench outside, talking to her second brother. When he saw her coming, he greeted her.

"Boss Zhong, Miss Zhong, let's go. This store is on the street in front. It only takes half a minute to walk there."

A journey of half an hour was indeed not far. When they arrived, Zhong Ruyi discovered that this was actually a teahouse.

The young man took the key and opened the door. As he did so, he said, "This teahouse has been open for about two years, but business has been bad. Today, the owner just quit. He didn't even want the deposit for the five-year lease he signed. He quit the lease and moved out overnight."

A few people walked in. Since the retreat had just taken place not long ago, the walls and floors inside were still intact, with only one or two bricks cracked.

The lobby was large and could accommodate at least ten tables. She went around to the backyard and found that there was a well in the yard. She no longer had to fetch water, which was much more convenient.

The kitchen is not big. After all, it is a place for drinking tea and is not of much use.

She pointed to an empty room connected to the kitchen and asked, "Can this wall be opened up?"