Chapter 1016: Chapter 1014 Inquiry

Over there, Miss Quan walked a few steps, then looked back once more. Only when she saw the three really enter the Embroidery Store, did she blink and let out a sigh of relief.

On this side, Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu entered the Embroidery Store, with Wang Yongzhu pretending to look at embroidery pieces, glancing left and right.

As Jindou entered the Embroidery Store, he was stared down by Old Granny Zhang and sat on a chair, not daring to move.

Old Granny Zhang pulled the shopkeeper of the Embroidery Store into a conversation that started with what embroidery pieces to buy, somehow led to how hard raising children was, worrying over various matters, as if debts from a past life were being repaid, and then, inexplicably, talking about Miss Quan just now.

“Shopkeeper, we’re from the countryside and don’t know which embroidery works are good. We just happened to come across a young woman at your shop’s door, she looked like she was buying quite a lot, so we followed her in—”

The shopkeeper originally thought that, seeing Old Granny Zhang’s decent attire, today might bring in a big deal. After hearing her words and seeing Wang Yongzhu still carefully choosing, he guessed they wouldn’t decide soon.

So he began to chat idly with Old Granny Zhang: “That young woman earlier, she didn’t come to buy embroidery from me. She collected work from me and took it home to embroider, then put it here for me to sell on consignment. Alas, she too leads a bitter life; lost her mother early, and since her father is weak-willed and muddle-headed, their belongings have been tricked away by uncles. Now she and her father rely on her embroidery for survival—”

While speaking, the shopkeeper sighed and shook his head, clearly disliking the situation but as an outsider not feeling right to say much.

Jindou pricked his ears to listen to the shopkeeper’s words, imagining Miss Quan’s face and feeling a sudden pity and affection, thinking to himself: Such a good girl, were it him, he would never let her suffer a bit.

This thought made him blush.

Old Granny Zhang, hearing this, smoothly asked a few more questions.

The shopkeeper, originally idle, responded by elaborating a little more.

Old Granny Zhang heard the shopkeeper spoke almost entirely well of Miss Quan, saying she was filial though with a strong personality and not very yielding. But without a mother, and her father unreliable, if she wasn’t tough herself, she likely wouldn’t survive.

Having gathered enough information, Old Granny Zhang signaled Wang Yongzhu with a glance.

Wang Yongzhu asked, “Listening to this, Miss Quan seems to be quite pitiable. How is her craftsmanship? Are any of these embroidery pieces her work?”

Upon hearing Wang Yongzhu’s words, Jindou immediately stood up and looked towards the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper didn’t think much into it, assuming the mother-daughter duo were simply moved by Miss Quan’s situation, and pointed out several pieces of her embroidery laid here for consignment.

Wang Yongzhu’s embroidery skills were not bad now, and she was discerning enough to see that Miss Quan’s work was indeed quite good. Although not as refined as Lady Jiang’s, in this Embroidery Store, it was among the best.

Immediately, she picked out two or three items: “Let’s go with these, shopkeeper, calculate the price.”

The shopkeeper took a look: a curtain embroidered with orchid flowers, a small table screen, and a fan surface.

His eyes lit up with a smile, and after a few turns on the abacus, he said, “In total, three taels and one qian of silver. Madam just give three taels, and I’ll throw in two handkerchiefs as a bonus.”

As he spoke, he pulled out two handkerchiefs from the side and placed them aside: “These are also Miss Quan’s handiwork.”

Wang Yongzhu said no more, thanked the shopkeeper, and paid the silver.

The shopkeeper wrapped up the goods, and Jindou, sharp-eyed at that moment, took them over.

Having bought their goods and gathered their information, Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu headed out, with the shopkeeper personally escorting them to the door, saying, “Come often in the future, or if there’s anything you need, you can directly order from us.”

Wang Yongzhu nodded in acknowledgment and then took her leave.

After walking a distance away, Jindou bravely asked, “Granny, Aunt, where are we going now?”

Old Granny Zhang spat at him, “Don’t you know what time it is? Isn’t it time to eat? People say once a man gets a wife, he forgets his mother. I reckon you’re about the same! A wife isn’t even decided yet and your soul’s been hooked away!”

Jindou blushed red and didn’t know what to say.

It was Wang Yongzhu who came to the rescue: “Let’s go back first to put things away, then gather Jinguan and the others for a meal at a restaurant.”

Returning to the courtyard, Jinguan and the others had already explored it thoroughly and found it boring. But since it was locked from the outside, they dared not go out, so they were inside idly playing with stones.

When they saw Wang Yongzhu and the others return, they hurried to greet them.

Without saying much, Wang Yongzhu led them to the restaurant.

Since Shopkeeper Wu had now moved to Jing County and this side still had a restaurant and dye shop, he dared not let go entirely and left a trusted person here in charge.

Naturally, they recognized Wang Yongzhu, and upon seeing her group come in, quickly came up to greet them and led them to a private room on the second floor.

“The shopkeeper sent a message back two days ago, saying the Scholar’s Lady has returned. I guessed she’d be coming over these days, and sure enough, I was right!” The trusted assistant hosted diligently, ordering pastries and tea to be brought by the waiters.

The children’s eyes brightened upon seeing the pastries and tea, but although the family split had occurred, as long as Old Granny Zhang was present, no one dared to take anything without her word.

The trusted assistant was discerning and seeing this, ordered the waiters to bring hot water so the children could wash their hands, and only then did Old Granny Zhang nod in approval.

The children cheered as they sat down by the table to eat the pastries.

Wang Yongzhu first asked if the cook downstairs could make vegetarian dishes, and the assistant, knowing the Wang Family was still in mourning, hurriedly said, “Our cook can make a couple of vegetarian dishes, though not often. I’ll have him make two for the Scholar’s Lady and the old lady to taste something new.”

Wang Yongzhu then ordered a few of the cook’s specialty vegetarian dishes and pastries, with a separate serving of chicken soup for Old Granny Zhang.

Seeing that the assistant seemed to want to speak, she instructed Jindou, “After the meal, take your brothers and sisters out to wander the street. Get them some snacks. Your granny’s health just recovered, she can’t afford to be tired, I’ll keep her company here to rest. You all come back and find us after a while.”

Jindou quickly agreed, and the assistant understood Wang Yongzhu’s intent and headed downstairs.

Soon enough, the meals were brought in, and the children had never eaten at this restaurant before. Seeing the delicious-looking dishes on the table, their mouths started to water.

Especially seeing a few dishes that appeared to be meat, despite their cravings, they all knew they were in mourning and didn’t dare to use chopsticks.

It was Wang Yongzhu who first picked a piece: “These are made as vegetarian chicken, vegetarian duck, not meat, go ahead and eat!”

The children then cautiously picked up the food and began to eat, quickly turning into a ravenous horde, almost fighting each other.

Fortunately, there was no one else in the private room. Old Granny Zhang wanted to speak up, but fearing others would overhear outside, she held back.

At the end, their stomachs were all bulging, and Wang Yongzhu simply let Jindou take them out to roam the streets.