Chapter 126: Why Can’t I Go?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Go back and tell your parents to manage that shop properly. Don’t aim too high but lack substance. The recipes and menu I have are for the Wang family. The Feng family could not afford to offend them, and neither do I.”
“The biscuits are for the Qian family. The Qian family is similar to the Wang family, which you can’t provoke. As for the remaining snacks, I must use them to support my own family.”
“If the recipe for the snack I gave to Xin’er is operated well, it will get better like I said. Because it’s small and unremarkable, it’s less likely to be coveted.”
“Yes, Master. Yinshi will go home and talk to my parents.”
“Hmm.”
After saying these, the meal was almost ready. Everyone sat down to eat.
During the meal, Qiao Mai talked to others but didn’t say a word to Xin’er.
This conversation made her decide that she would treat Xin’er as if she were an ordinary person.
No matter how hard she tried to teach her, Xin’er wouldn’t even side with her family after she left. She feared that Xin’er had told the Feng family everything about her past.
Shopkeeper Lu had guessed something. She had remained silent and didn’t make a sound. Everyone finished their meal and dispersed.
Shopkeeper Lu held Xin’er’s hand and said, “My girl, you really did wrong this time.”
“Mother, I don’t think I did anything wrong. Master allowed you to use the recipe and gave it to me, so it’s mine. Besides, I married into the Feng family, so I’m part of the Feng family. We’re all one family. You and Master are overthinking it. ”
Shopkeeper Lu looked at her daughter, who seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
“Where is the palace fan and screen that your master gave you?”
Xin’er’s face reddened. “I gave them away.”
“You don’t know how to cherish what our family elders gave you. Those items added up to five or six thousand taels of silver, and you gave them away like that? The Feng family’s betrothal gift to you was only a thousand taels. Are you a fool?”
“Mother, it’s just an object. I can embroider more double-sided screens myself.
They’re my family. If they want them, I can’t be stingy, can I?”
Shopkeeper Lu felt somewhat disappointed, but after all, Xin’er was her daughter. She couldn’t continue this conversation, or she might want to hit someone.
“Alright, you two wait in the front hall. I’ll prepare some return gifts for you.” “Mother, we want to go to the front shop.”
“What do you want to see? It’s fine if you want to buy something, but you can’t go to the kitchen to see how they make things.”
“Why not? I’m her disciple. Why can’t I go?”
Shopkeeper Lu gritted her teeth, thinking the Feng family had corrupted her daughter’s mind.
She glared at Xin’er. “Disciple? Even her children can’t go. Who do you think you are? Hurry back to the Feng family, and don’t come here again unless you have to.”
“Mother, what’s wrong with you and Master? Why are you so guarded against
“A daughter married is like spilled water. Since you claim to be a part of the
Feng family, how would I dare to treat you as part of our Lu family?”
Shopkeeper Lu wasn’t afraid to offend the Feng family. She had said this in front of Feng Yinshi. Although her son-in-law’s face didn’t look good, he didn’t say anything.
Xin’er was a bit angry. “Mother, you don’t need to prepare return gifts. We’re leaving.”
Saying so, she pulled Feng Yinshi into the carriage and left with the maidservant.
Shopkeeper Lu was left open-mouthed, pointing at the carriage for a long time. Then she suddenly turned and hurried to find Qiao Mai.
She knew her sister must be furious today.
Her daughter seemed like a different person after getting married, almost unrecognizable. Not only was she ungrateful, but she also became audacious. To put it plainly, shameless.
When she saw Qiao Mai, she was about to lie down for a nap.
“Sister, is something wrong?”
Shopkeeper Lu sat on the edge of her bed, and tears flowed down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, sister. Xin’er has disappointed you.”
“From now on, she’s just your daughter. I’ve done what I should do, and I don’t owe her anything. Besides, she’s your daughter. You should take care of her.” “You don’t want her as your disciple anymore?”
“Taking in a disciple was just a fleeting thought to repay your kindness. Since there’s no master-disciple relationship, it’s better to end it early.”
“I’m sorry. This ungrateful girl changed after getting married.”
“I can understand. A woman going to a stranger’s home, trying to please them in every way, fearing that they won’t be satisfied with her, but never seeing her own strengths, making herself so low that others can step on her. If it weren’t for your support, she would have a difficult life.”
“Sister, I’m busy at the year’s end, so I haven’t paid much attention to her. I’m really sorry.”
“I’m not angry. You don’t need to comfort me. I didn’t sleep much last night. I want to sleep now, so you should go back.”
Shopkeeper Lu left in disappointment, and Qiao Mai sighed and closed her eyes.
In the Wang family’s mansion in the Capital, the old couple sat together on a warm bed, drinking tea.
“Old man, I misjudged someone.”
“What’s wrong?”
“That girl, Ruxin, I taught her so much in vain. She came to our house confidently on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The Feng family must want to climb the social ladder.”
“What do you mean?”
“Yes, it’s not the first time she’s crossed the line with Madam Qiao. It’s getting excessive.”
“Lu Sanniang raised her to be too naive. After marrying into the Feng family, she’s been influenced by them. Sigh…”
“It’s possible that the Feng family planned this marriage.”
“I agree.”
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Qiao Mai went to the front shop. She taught the employees how to make popcorn and even had them stick paper bags during their free time. A small bag of popcorn costs ten coins.
It didn’t sound expensive, but a catty of corn was only five coins, and making a catty of popcorn, which could fill twenty paper bags, would cost two hundred coins. Excluding costs, she could earn one hundred and fifty coins or more. It was a huge profit.
Yesterday, when Qiao Mai was hosting guests at home, she didn’t come to check. But business was booming. After teaching the employees, she sat in the shop and watched. There were indeed many customers.
Many people came to try them after introducing new products, and whenever they heard about snacks available, they would buy some to taste.
Popcorn was a delicacy in the snack world. There was no one who didn’t like it.
The slightly burnt popcorn was most loved by children and young girls. Word of mouth spread quickly, and the shop was almost squeezed to the brink.
The employees were busy, and Shopkeeper Niu quietly spoke to Qiao Mai.
“On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Miss Ruxin and her husband came to the shop. Not only did they want to take things, but they also wanted to go to the kitchen.”
“You allowed it?” Qiao Mai frowned.
“Without your orders, she didn’t take anything, and I didn’t allow them to go to the back.”
“Good job. Remember that she’s no longer my disciple. No matter who comes, without my consent, they have to pay.”
“Yes, Mistress!”
Shopkeeper Niu could tell that something unpleasant must have happened that day by her expression.
However, he was not one to gossip. He followed his employee’s orders. Shopkeeper Niu was a man of few words and tight-lipped.
Qiao Mai had nothing to do, so she found another snack online – rice crackers.
After making it and getting good feedback from everyone, she put it on the shelves of the snack shop on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
All the other shops in town were still closed, and only Qiao’s Small Eatery was open. Business was booming, and the employees couldn’t keep up with demand.
It wasn’t until the sixteenth day of the Lunar New Year that business gradually slowed down.
The siblings from the Liu family also returned. After meeting with Qiao Mai, they went back to their work.
Everything returned to normal. Although Shopkeeper Lu felt guilty, she wasn’t the type to complain and lament. If her daughter did something wrong, there was no need to spoil her.
Lu Sanniang didn’t pamper her daughter either. Since she was now part of the Feng family, let her face the consequences. She would have to regret it one day.
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