Chapter 273 - Shopkeeper Niu's Visit

Su Xiaolu smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Big Brother. I’ll go to the kitchen to see what food there is.”

It was almost time for dinner and Su Xiaolu was hungry. As usual, she came to the kitchen to eat something to fill her stomach.

This was her privilege, it was Su Xiaoling’s exclusive doting.

Su Xiaoling would prepare some snacks every time to fill Su Xiaolu’s stomach before dinner. In the family, only Su Xiaolu would come to the kitchen at this time to look for food.

Su Xiaoling made cold noodles today. It was most suitable for this hot summer day.

Seeing Su Xiaolu come, Su Xiaolu picked up a small bowl with her chopsticks and smiled. “Little glutton Lu, come.”

Su Xiaolu took it and swallowed. “It smells so good. Sis, you’re really amazing.”

Su Xiaolu ate the spicy cold noodles and chewed the crisp pickles inside. She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction. “Howl—this is too delicious.”

Her third sister’s culinary skills were really too good.

Seeing Su Xiaolu eat, the few of them smiled. It was about time. Madam Zhao said to Su Xiaoling, “Xiaoling, call them over for dinner.”

Su Xiaoling nodded and left the kitchen to call Su Chong, Su Hua, and Zhou Heng.

When everyone arrived, Madam Zhao smiled and said, “Come and try these cold noodles. Xiaolu said it’s delicious.”

Recently, the weather had been hot, so everyone’s appetite was a little bad. These cold noodles, coupled with the green and red chili peppers, looked very pleasing to the eye.

Everyone took their bowls and chopsticks and helped themselves to a small bowl.

“It’s so fragrant and delicious. It’s a little spicy, but just right.”

Su Chong smiled and said. After eating the noodles, he felt his appetite increase.

Su Hua smiled. “Xiaoling’s cooking is a treasure in the world. It’s delicious.”

Zhou Heng also smiled and said, “It’s really delicious. It’s very appetizing.”

The cold noodles were quickly finished.

After dinner, there were almost no leftovers on the table. Su Xiaoling cooked every day and knew the family’s appetite very well.

After dinner, everyone sat in the courtyard to digest their food and looked up at the sky. The sky was filled with stars.

Su Xiaolu flew to the top of her room and lay on the roof, looking at the sky full of stars. Her ears were filled with her parents’ gentle voices and her brother and sister’s faint laughter. Her eyes were filled with stars.

Su Xiaoling went to the well water to get iced sour plum soup. Su Xiaolu also came down from the roof and everyone got a bowl.

It was refreshing and comfortable in this hot summer.

Su Xiaolu held Su Xiaoling’s arm and went back to her room to sleep.

When the weather was hot, Su Xiaolu did not like to snuggle into Su Xiaoling’s arms. After laying down, Su Xiaoling fanned Su Xiaolu and she quickly fell asleep.

Su Xiaoling smiled and quickly fell asleep.

As the heat passed, it stopped being hot after autumn.

In October, Old Master Wang’s son sent the grains from Su Sanlang and Chen Hu’s fields on an ox cart. They had agreed on 10%.

At night, Su Xiaoling made cornbread with braised meat and sauerkraut pickles.

As they were eating, they heard a knock on the door.

Su Xiaolu got up and went out to open the door.

When she opened the door, it was an acquaintance. Su Xiaolu smiled sweetly and called out, “Grandpa Niu, please come in.”

The person who came was Shopkeeper Niu. He even carried two pots of wine and said with a smile, “Looks like I came at the right time for dinner.”

Su Xiaolu smiled and said, “Yes, come in please.”

They did not know why Shopkeeper Niu came.

Su Xiaolu invited him to the main room. Su Xiaoling had already brought the bowls and chopsticks.

Su Sanlang also hurriedly gestured for Shopkeeper Niu to take a seat.

Shopkeeper Niu sat down and picked up his chopsticks. “Brother Su, I won’t stand on ceremony then.”

Su Sanlang smiled and said, “Shopkeeper Niu, try this. It’s the corn from this year’s harvest. It’s cornbread made from freshly ground flour. It’s very fragrant.”

Shopkeeper Niu imitated the way Su Sanlang’s family ate. His eyes lit up. “Brother Su, this is very delicious. You have to come up with this recipe soon. The restaurant lacks these things.”

Su Sanlang smiled and nodded. They had worked together on recipes a lot over the years.

Shopkeeper Niu did not say much and ate his fill.

After eating, Madam Zhao brought Su Xiaoling and Su Xiaolu to clean up the dishes.

Su Chong, Su Hua, and Zhou Heng also left, not disturbing Shopkeeper Niu and Su Sanlang.

Only then did Su Sanlang ask, “Shopkeeper Niu, what’s the matter?”

They had known each other for so many years. If there was anything, he would have said it when he went to the restaurant. Shopkeeper Niu did not look anxious when he came to look for him so late at night, which proved that it was not an urgent matter.

Other than that, Su Sanlang couldn’t think of anything else.

Shopkeeper Niu smiled and said, “Brother Su, I came this time to ask you for a favor.”

Su Sanlang asked, “What favor? Tell me.”

Shopkeeper Niu said slowly, “Brother Su, do you remember the people who moved the sauerkraut and pickles in the past two months?”

Su Sanlang thought for a moment and nodded. “I have some impression of them. They were two young men.”

Shopkeeper Niu smiled and said, “To be honest, these two boys are my eldest grandson, Niu Xibao, and my youngest grandson, Niu Xian. Niu Xibao is 17 years old, and Niu Xian is 16 years old. They’re both at the age of marriage. The brothers saw the two girls from the Chen family twice and fell in love with them. That’s why I came to ask you for a favor. My two grandsons are both literate, but they’re not cut out for studying.”

1

“My ancestral home is also in Goathorn Town. Fu Man Lai also has a restaurant in Furongzhou. My son, Niu Dagui, and daughter-in-law are in charge there. Xibao and Xian heard that my health is not good this year, so they came to take a look. They said that they would accompany me here until the new year. I arranged for them to do this job. I didn’t expect them to fall for the two sisters after seeing them twice.”

Shopkeeper Niu revealed his intention and waited for Su Sanlang to speak.

Su Sanlang was surprised. After a moment of silence, he said, “Who does Xibao like? Who does Xian like?”

“Xibao likes Daniu and Xian likes Erniu. It just so happens that the older brother likes the older sister and the younger brother likes the younger sister.”

Shopkeeper Niu answered swiftly.

Su Sanlang thought about Niu Xibao and Niu Xian. They were both gentle and kind-looking people. After working together for so many years, he knew that Shopkeeper Niu was a good person too.

Su Sanlang said, “I’ll tell Chen Hu and his wife about this, but I can’t promise anything.”

No one could guarantee marriage.

Shopkeeper Niu smiled and nodded. He immediately said, “It’s fine as long as you’re willing to send a message. Whether this works or not, I’ll leave it to fate. Don’t worry, even if it doesn’t work, our business cooperation won’t change. If it works, we’ll be closer. If it doesn’t, we’ll be the same as before. We’ll work together happily and take what we need.”

Shopkeeper Niu naturally hoped that things would work out, but nothing was absolute.

He had worked with Su Sanlang for so many years and knew him well. Su Sanlang’s family had produced three Elementary Scholars. He wished for this cooperation to last for a long time. After all, without Fu Man Lai, there were other restaurants.