stingy landlady

Chapter 95 Fast Food Shop

Alright! The old man got angry for no reason, and the Guizhi and Guihong sisters had no choice but to accept it.

Upon reaching the grassy area, the old man unloaded the cart and placed the cart there before letting the horses graze!

Pan Qiang was carrying firewood into the house by himself. Li was mixing dumpling filling. After Gui Xiang finished kneading the dough, she needed to let it rest for a while. She was also busy fetching water to wash vegetables.

Guiling obediently watched the two work from the side. The room was spacious, so she could run around freely!

After getting off the bus, Gui Hong started working! Without being told, she kneaded the dough, divided it into small pieces, rolled out the wrappers, and prepared to make dumplings!

Guizhi went to wash the vegetables, lit the fire, and put clean water in the large pot. She was preparing to boil the dumplings.

Pan Qiang was a quick worker. He had taken the cow to the place where the old man grazed his horses and was now helping to make dumplings.

The Li family and their companions were unsure of themselves upon their arrival. Having a man nearby provided some reassurance. They tacitly agreed.

To Li's surprise, Pan Qiang volunteered to cook the dishes.

"Madam! I've loved cooking since I was little! When my parents were home, I was the one who did all the cooking! How about I stir-fry something for you to try?"

Guizhi recalled that in modern times, many chefs were men.

Guizhi advised Li Shi:

"Alright, alright! Mom! Let him try! If he wastes materials, deduct it from his wages!"

Everyone looked at Pan Qiang, who was also slightly nervous! Trying to remain calm, he stir-fried some bok choy. Its vibrant green color looked very appetizing! Everyone took a bite; it was crisp, refreshing, and delicious!

Several people turned their gazes to Li, and Li blushed.

"Why are you all staring at me? If it tastes good, let him cook it! It's not like nobody wants to go through all that trouble!"

Pan Qiang felt recognized and became even more motivated! No one mentioned letting him go home first. He acted as if he were just one of them, going about his business as usual!

Only the old man was surprised when he returned. But he only glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and didn't say anything.

Pan Qiang originally wanted to stay here. Seeing that no one objected, he shamelessly waited for the students to finish class!

After school, students would come alone or in groups of three or five to the grassy area. They found that there were many people inside, and instead of food boxes, there were freshly cooked dumplings, steaming hot.

Two or three tables were pushed together, with rice and side dishes laid out. Pan Qiang, who was tall, stood behind the tables and would help serve the food if needed.

Gui Hong stood in front of the dumplings, smiling at the students, and said loudly:

"Dear seniors, our Grass and Tree Room has been transformed into a fast food stall! Dumplings are made and cooked to order! Rice options include mixed grain rice and sorghum rice, and there are various dishes to choose from."

Welcome everyone to try it!

Guizhi continued, "Dumplings are still ten coins a serving, and a meal consisting of two vegetarian dishes and one meat dish is also ten coins a serving!"

Everyone was familiar with the osmanthus blossoms and cassia branches, except for Li and Pan Qiang. Seeing that the price remained unchanged, the students naturally bought whatever they liked.

When Wang Yiyun arrived, she was slightly surprised to see Li Shi. However, upon seeing the stir-fried dishes and dumplings, she understood and went forward to greet her.

"Sister-in-law! She came in person!"

Li looked at Wang Yiyun:

"Fifth brother is out of school! He looks a little taller! Your eldest brother thinks your suggestion is great! Thank you, fifth brother! Fifth brother can eat whatever he wants!"

Wang Yiyun had been wanting to eat a proper meal for a long time. Dumplings are delicious, but you get tired of eating them every day!

The old man also served himself a meal and sat down at a table to eat, inviting Wang Yiyun to sit down with him.

"Dad! You just ate too?"

"Yeah! First day of business! A bit busy, Dad just got back from tending the horses!"

The old man asked Wang Yiyun with concern:

How's your studies going lately? You need to work hard and improve!

Wang Yiyun replied:

"Father! Of course I will study hard! Is everything alright at home?"

The old man hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself.

"It's nothing! I just saw you and wanted to check on you! Eat! Eat whatever you want! Your older brother is very generous to you!"

"Yes! I understand, Father!"

Wang Yiyun sensed that the old man was acting a little strange today. But since the old man didn't say anything, he couldn't guess what it was!

The Li family had a bountiful day; they poured the leftover food into a bucket to take home and feed the pigs. After washing the tables, chairs, bowls, and other dishes, and cleaning up the mess, they finally went home.

Pan Qiang put the swill bucket on the oxcart and then went to the back kitchen of Xiangmanlou to get another swill bucket.

Mrs. Li and her four daughters rode in the horse-drawn carriage driven by the old man.

Dazhu, having estimated the time, was already waiting at home. Upon seeing the carriage, he hurriedly went to take the rope from the old man's hand.

"How was today? Did you sell everything? Are you busy? I haven't seen Pan Qiang come back from delivering firewood. He's probably helping out at your place!"

Ms. Li was still very excited and said:

"Yes! Everything's sold out! Some people who arrived late didn't even get to eat!"

"Ah! That's wonderful!"

Dazhu asked Li:

"Since the rice seedlings have been planted at home, have you bought some extra meat or something to improve the meals for the farmhands?"

Li and Guixiang looked at each other, and hesitated:

"I forgot!"

"Forget it! Let Uncle Zhou kill a duck! I'll go put the carriage away!"

Dazhu faced the old man and said:

"Father! You must be tired! Come inside and rest! I'll go and put the carriage away!"

The old man got back into the carriage and said to Dazhu:

"Come on up! Let's go together, you and I!"

Dazhu knew that this person had something to say.

Guihong and Guizhi did not get off the carriage; they wanted to return to their lodgings first.

The old man and Dazhu were chatting in the carriage.

"Dazhu! Your father has been holding this in for two days. You guys haven't told me anything. Don't you even consider me your father?"

Dazhu sat in the carriage, somewhat bewildered.

"Dad! I haven't hidden anything from you! You know everything, big and small, inside and outside the house! Dad! If I've done anything wrong, please tell me and I'll correct it!"

The old man looked at Dazhu and said angrily:

"Your wife went to town to buy so many things without you saying a word. You decided to cook, make dumplings, and sell them in town, and I've been following you around every day! You didn't even say hello to me!"

“Father! It was only decided the night before. It’s my fault! I should have explained it to you this morning.”

The fifth brother suggested it a long time ago, saying we should make some more boxed meals to sell! But we just haven't had the time or the number of customers!

The children said that now that they have a house in town, they no longer need to carry the food containers back and forth. They can just leave them in town, and it will be convenient for them to make dumplings, cook, and stir-fry dishes there!

Mrs. Li was worried about the children, and I thought, she could just lock the door and go with them; she's just idling at home anyway!

The old man felt a little better then, and his tone wasn't so harsh anymore:

"Hmm! Dazhu! I don't necessarily want to interfere with what you do, I just thought you could tell me in advance to avoid making a fool of yourself! Because I didn't know anything, I even had to ask the Li family to save money!"

Dazhu smiled apologetically:

"Dad! It's alright! If there's anything we've done wrong or overlooked, please feel free to point it out!"

"Dazhu! Then shall I tell you?"

"Yes! Father! Please tell me!"