Chapter 222: Tea
No need for Chu Xu to call everyone one by one; after Xiao Huan’s sharp scream just now, no one could continue sleeping.
Shang Wan yawned and pulled open the door, casually ruffling Chu Xu’s head. “Change into your training clothes.”
“Oh.” Chu Xu obediently agreed, went back to the room to bathe and change clothes.
By the time he came out again, everyone was sitting at the dining table waiting, with bowls and chopsticks fully set on the table.
Xiao Huan carried over a large basin of noodles, Yuan Yuan trotting behind on her short little legs, small hands holding a jar of meat sauce.
One bowl of noodles, topped with two spoonfuls of meat sauce, and a simple breakfast was done.
By the time the family arrived at the village entrance in their ox cart, another ox cart was already waiting.
Rong Niangzi smiled teasingly, “Overslept?”
Shang Wan nodded. “Sorry to keep everyone waiting.”
“Not long.” Aunt Yao asked with concern, “Have you had breakfast? Aunt here has an egg; take it to fill your stomach.”
“I have two steamed buns.”
“Want a cake?”
“I brought two salted duck eggs.”
……
Everyone eagerly took out the food they had brought, so enthusiastic it was as if they were about to stuff it directly into Shang Wan’s family’s arms.
The family couldn’t refuse the kindness, so they had another meal on the road.
They hurried into the city, and Shang Wan had thought there wouldn’t be many people today, but unexpectedly, a long line had already formed at the shop entrance, mostly women.
Niangzi Lou and two familiar boss ladies were helping maintain order. “Everyone line up properly, don’t push.”
Spotting Shang Wan and the others on the ox cart, Niangzi Lou’s face lit up with joy, and she hurried over. “You’re finally here; quickly open the door. Everyone’s waiting.”
Shang Wan was a bit dazed, but the current situation left no time for questions.
She stood on the ox cart and leaped down, landing lightly at the shop entrance like a swallow.
In the sunlight, her green skirt hem fluttered like feathers; the woman’s skin was like congealed fat, her moth-like brows curved gracefully, stunning everyone for a moment.
Even the air seemed to quiet for an instant, followed by gasps of surprise. The women’s gazes toward Shang Wan were especially eager.
Shang Wan felt her scalp tingle under their sparkling eyes and quickly opened the door.
Lu Chengjing and the others pushed through the crowd, entered the shop first to open windows for ventilation, and swept it clean.
With many people, cleaning was fast; moreover, it had been cleaned when closing last night, so after just one night, it wasn’t too dirty.
Shang Wan flipped the closed sign over and officially opened for welcoming guests.
“I want three boxes of Jade Visage Powder!”
“Where’s the White Jade Paste? Give me two bottles!”
“Don’t push from the back!”
They were all there for Jade Visage Powder and White Jade Paste, with a small portion heading straight for All-purpose Ointment.
Shang Wan tugged Niangzi Lou’s arm, pulling her out of the crowd to a quieter corner.
She asked, “Sister, how did so many people suddenly come?”
“This morning when I opened, I saw people waiting outside your shop. They all asked me what time Spiritual Medicine Pavilion opens. When I asked, I found out they were all there for Jade Visage Powder and White Jade Paste.” Niangzi Lou was puzzled too. “I thought you’d used some clever method again. Could it not be your doing?”
Shang Wan shook her head; she had been busy sleeping last night.
“That’s strange.” Niangzi Lou’s willow brows furrowed slightly; she pondered for a bit but got nowhere, so she simply let it go and smiled. “Good business is a good thing; maybe the God of Wealth came to deliver money.”
Shang Wan nodded, too busy to chat more with Niangzi Lou as she hurried to restock.
By the time the customers left satisfied, an hour and a half had passed.
The God of Wealth… no, Boss Zhong arrived at this time.
“Boss Zhong honors my humble shop with his presence.”
Zhong Li looked listless, his face pale, with dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept all night.
Shang Wan replaced the tea on the table with strong tea and personally poured a cup, pushing it to his hand. “Boss Zhong didn’t rest well last night?”
Zhong Li nodded and picked up the tea to drink a sip.
Tasting the tea’s flavor, his eyes lit up, and his face looked a bit more spirited.
Looking down at the tea in the cup, Zhong Li said, “Your tea is good; I’ve never had it before. What kind is it?”
“Home-grown; it’s rare for a rustic thing to catch Boss Zhong’s eye.”
“Pack me two pounds.” Zhong Li showed no hint of politeness.
Shang Wan: “…”
This righteous tone suddenly made her not want to give it anymore.
She didn’t follow his lead, only saying, “Boss Zhong coming at this time means you must have a plan.”
“We’ll talk business later.” Zhong Li rubbed his brow. “Where’s that Chu family kid?”
“Went to the street corner to buy candied hawthorn.”
Zhong Li rubbed his brow red, released his hand, and looked up at her. “Do you know how many people are thinking about that kid?”
Letting him go out like that, not afraid he’d disappear if you let go.
Shang Wan of course didn’t know, but Yuan Yuan went with Chu Xu; if they encountered danger they couldn’t handle, her own child would definitely call for her.
“No need for Boss Zhong to worry.”
Zhong Li took an envelope from his bosom and placed it on the table, his pale fingertip tapping the envelope. “A letter from Chu Zhao to that kid; pass it on for him.”
Chu Zhao was Chu Xu’s second brother.
Shang Wan took the letter and gave Zhong Li a slightly probing glance.
How did Chu Zhao’s letter end up in Zhong Li’s hands? Could these two be friends?
She suddenly thought of the batch of medicine Zhong Li had ordered from her and probed, “Is that medicine going to Border Pass?”
Hearing this, Zhong Li’s brows raised, looking at her with a half-smile, but his peach blossom eyes were cold as ice.
Shang Wan pursed her lips; this man was truly unpredictable.
Zhong Li finished the tea in his cup, apparently very satisfied, and poured himself another.
“Give me two pounds of tea, and that business deal is whatever you say.”
Shang Wan: “!!!”
A pie falling on her head?
“You mean it?”
Zhong Li gently swirled the tea cup, sipping it like wine. “Was business good this morning?”
Shang Wan was stunned. “You did it?”
Zhong Li neither confirmed nor denied; he set the tea cup on the table, looked at the woman opposite, and said simply, “Tea.”
Shang Wan: “…”
The God of Wealth was straightforward; she couldn’t be too stingy.
“I got five pounds total; I’ll give them all to you.”
Hearing this, Zhong Li showed the first smile since entering.
Though he hadn’t slept all night, Boss Zhong’s charm was undiminished, his peach blossom eyes shimmering captivatingly.
The customer is God; Shang Wan brought out black tea and personally brewed a cup for Boss Zhong.
The two teas had different flavors, but clearly Boss Zhong liked both.
This time, no need for Zhong Li to ask; Shang Wan took the initiative to give.
Just a few pounds of tea leaves; she could afford to give them.
Aiming for a well-developing sustainable cooperative relationship, Shang Wan didn’t overcharge Zhong Li on price; both sides quickly signed the contract.
Zhong Li seemed very busy; he didn’t even wait for Chu Xu to return, picked up the tea leaves, and left.
Remembering Zhong Li’s reminder, Shang Wan turned and went to find the two children.
At the bustling street corner, the two kids each held a stick of candied hawthorn, squatting by the wall watching ants carry sugar crumbs.
Their two heads huddled together, whispering who knows what.
