Hua Xiaomai couldn’t figure out what Hua Erniang’s hidden intentions were, but as soon as ng Yuhuai returned from the Escort Agency that evening and was still tying up his horse in the back, she couldn’t wait to follow him.
"Invite the two of us to dinner?" ng was equally puzzled, turned around, and said, "Why on earth co up with such an idea? If there’s sothing you need help with, just saying the word would be enough; why make such a fuss? Around Mid-Autumn, those few days, I’m afraid neither of us will have any free ti. First, your little restaurant needs to plan for its reopening, and second, the Escort Agency has taken on a deal with the Provincial City, exactly those days we set off. This trip is going to Shu, and although I don’t need to follow, I still have to give extra instructions to avoid any mishaps, and most likely, I will have to stay at the Escort Agency later each day."
In this era, Shu was famously filled with nurous mountains and forests, and the roads were difficult to navigate; ordinary escort agencies were hesitant to go there. Once they undertook such a business, the rewards were often substantial, but at the sa ti, the risks involved were much greater.
"That’s exactly what I said." Hua Xiaomai wholeheartedly agreed, raised her face, and smiled at him, "Aren’t you and my brother-in-law like brothers since childhood? In my opinion, whenever you have the ti, go and ask him. If there is anything that needs a helping hand, we will certainly not hesitate, but let’s not bother with the al. After all, we are family; why be so formal?"
ng Yuhuai responded with a smile, with a trace of amusent on his lips: "Today I t Magistrate Tao, and during a casual conversation, he asked about the restaurant’s extension."
"Eh?" Hua Xiaomai’s eyes imdiately widened, "Magistrate Tao knows about this too? Did you tell him?"
"Mm-hmm." ng nodded and said with a smile, "The Escort Agency has frequent dealings with the County Governnt lately, and I have to go see him from ti to ti. According to him, his Lady genuinely likes the dishes from the small restaurant. After eating there once, she kept fondly rembering it and regretted not being able to co often. I just casually ntioned it. He seed quite cheerful when he found out about the extension and said he’ll definitely co and see once it reopens."
Hua Xiaomai nodded her head in understanding.
Regardless of whether Magistrate Tao was sincere or not, his willingness to say such things was largely out of respect for ng Yuhuai and the Lianshun Escort Agency. Not just this matter, but even initially hosting the scholarly banquet wouldn’t have been possible without the recomndation of the Lianshun Escort Agency, given her rural restaurant’s starting point, it would have been difficult to even make the shortlist for the competition.
No matter how good the food was, in many cases, "Wine doesn’t fear a deep alley" could only be taken as a beautiful wish.
"Thank you," she said, looking up at ng with a smile and a wink.
"Thank ?" ng raised an eyebrow and wanted to ask more, but she had already turned away.
"Don’t dawdle, hurry up and wash your hands and face, it’s ti for dinner!"
After dropping that line, she quickly walked into the courtyard.
...
Just as Hua Erniang had said, the Guan Family’s courtyard next door gradually beca lively.
Guan Rong’s parents seed truly eager to marry off their frequently ill daughter as soon as possible. The sending of betrothal gifts and settling on a date among other detailed arrangents were handled swiftly, without the slightest desire to delay. It appeared they indeed planned to settle the engagent within the eighth month.
Hua Xiaomai, who barely left the house each day, had heard the matchmaker co over a couple of tis. Unsurprisingly, on each occasion, the Huang Family was praised to the skies as if getting married to them was a trendous favor for Guan Rong.
The Guan parents were obviously satisfied with this match. After a long ti being unable to hold their heads high in the village, they had recently been walking tall, always with smiles on their faces. Whenever they saw soone, they would boast about Mr. Huang, with loud voices reaching the sky.
"They say he has so trouble with his legs, but it doesn’t hinder him too much in daily life, not an issue, as I’m not looking for his appearance in a man! As long as he can make money and doesn’t let my girl suffer hardships or live a poor life, that’s fine by us. We’re not those who lack discretion, selecting only the best and rejecting the rest!"
It was unclear whether they were saying this for the village’s ears or to comfort themselves, but they went on about it several tis a day. Hua Xiaomai didn’t really care, letting them sing their songs, but Old Lady ng had a short fuse. Over ti, she found it unbearable, annoyed by their chatter.
"They speak so beautifully, but who doesn’t know the real score?" she snorted, turning to face Hua Xiaomai and Zhou Yun’er who were sitting beneath strings of chili peppers, and said sarcastically, "Don’t think I’m just being a loudmouth. Their girl is sick as a ghost, and marrying that la man, I even think he’s getting the short end of the stick! That la man might not move smooth, but it doesn’t affect his life, and their daughter? Hmph, when her illness acts up, she could tornt a person to death!"
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