This birthday banquet turned out more or less as Mu Shuangshuang had anticipated.
Chengfeng Restaurant really made a big profit this ti. The seventy-two taels of silver she gained from the bet, plus the seventy taels of net profit from the restaurant...
In the past, this would have been an astronomical amount for Mu Shuangshuang.
But now, she seems to be gradually getting used to it.
Just like the theorem she once heard: when earning three thousand, one thinks those earning five thousand are happy, and after earning five thousand, it seems those earning ten thousand are even happier.
If this continues, you’ll find you’ll never be satisfied!
Mu Shuangshuang cald her heart, telling herself to be down-to-earth and not complacent, but also not to be too greedy for a better life, or else she would never be satisfied!
"Fengzi, when you earn one tael of silver and ten taels, what are your thoughts?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
Lu Yuanfeng thought for a mont, "Earning one tael is enough to feed and clothe my family, and I’m happy with that. Earning ten taels, I’m also happy; my family can eat well, and I can even buy them so extra dishes sotis and save so money for ergencies."
Lu Yuanfeng’s words made Mu Shuangshuang’s eyes light up.
She thought Lu Yuanfeng’s answer was what she had been pursuing all along.
Indeed, if there’s food and drink, and you can save so money, isn’t that sothing to be happy about?
"Fengzi, thank you!" Suddenly, Mu Shuangshuang jumped up and wrapped her arms around Lu Yuanfeng’s neck.
She pulled his neck towards her and planted a kiss on his forehead.
Then, she kissed his cheek in the sa way.
"Fengzi, tell , which one made you happier?" Mu Shuangshuang asked with a sly face.
Lu Yuanfeng’s face turned red, and finally, he muttered, "Happy with both, as long as it’s Shuangshuang."
Damn! Did this guy eat honey? Why is his mouth so sweet?
Mu Shuangshuang looked back and forth at Lu Yuanfeng, trying to see if there was any trick.
But she couldn’t see anything.
Instead, Lu Yuanfeng’s face was so red it was like he was a little wife who had been bullied by a man.
Mu Shuangshuang thought about it and realized her actions were quite rogue-like.
"Let’s go downstairs and find Xiao Nan and Xing Beichen!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
The two of them went downstairs, and by this ti, Fu Xiaonan and Xing Beichen were already eating snacks.
From their position on the stairs, the two seed to be getting along well, chatting and laughing.
And Xing Beichen was occasionally pouring tea for Fu Xiaonan.
Mu Shuangshuang didn’t know if Xing Beichen had already learned that Xiao Nan’s engagent was no longer in effect.
While she was curious, Lu Yuanfeng suddenly said, "Xing Beichen might be going to the Northwest!"
"What?" Mu Shuangshuang didn’t react for a mont, so she looked at Lu Yuanfeng in confusion.
"Do you rember the swindler we ran into last ti? The ti when your cousin bought two milk goats," Lu Yuanfeng said.
Mu Shuangshuang nodded. Lu Yuanfeng was talking about the father and two sons who swindled money on the vital thoroughfares of various villages.
"If my mory serves right, they seed to say that there was going to be a war at the border, and the court was going to conscript soldiers, and they didn’t want to be taken as draftees, so they fled all the way to our Qingshan Town?"
Lu Yuanfeng nodded.
"What they said was true. Over there in Xingcheng, it really looks like a war might break out! Xing Beichen said the people of Da Wei are very likely to tear up the ceasefire agreent signed by Xing Ningtian.
And he thinks it’s a great opportunity to earn military rit and restore the Xing Family’s forr glory."
When it cos to Da Wei, Mu Shuangshuang had learned about this country from so historical records.
Located in the Northwest, its resources are not on par with those of the Da Ning Dynasty in the Central Plains.
Logically speaking, they shouldn’t repeatedly provoke Da Ning, but Da Wei’s bloodline is sowhat strong.
The people, whether old, young, won, or children, are all martial-minded, and the soldiers on the battlefield are exceptionally brave and skilled.
Back then, Xing Ningtian, who was said to be as strong as the Overlord of Western Chu, Xiang Yu, who could lift a tripod, also used his life to secure a ceasefire between Da Wei and the Da Ning Dynasty.
If a war indeed breaks out, the Da Ning Dynasty, which has been at peace for so long, might not benefit.
So, even if Xing Beichen goes, it will be a life or death situation!
But Mu Shuangshuang didn’t share this with Lu Yuanfeng, as it might be discouraging.
"If Xing Beichen really decides to go to the Northwest, then I definitely can’t tell him that Fu Xiaonan’s engagent with her childhood friend is off."
For now, it seems Fu Xiaonan has no feelings for Xing Beichen at all.
If Xing Beichen goes to war, Fu Xiaonan might not feel any heartache.
"Mhm!" Lu Yuanfeng nodded.
"Shuangshuang, what are you and Fengzi whispering about over there?" Fu Xiaonan called out as she noticed Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng standing on the stairs.
"Nothing, we’re coming right over!" Mu Shuangshuang replied.
The two of them went to Fu Xiaonan’s table and sat down.
Fu Xiaonan, eager to go shopping, didn’t wait for Mu Shuangshuang to catch her breath before asking, "Shuangshuang, have you finished with the restaurant affairs? When are we going shopping? I want to buy so rouge, so clothes, and..."
As Fu Xiaonan spoke, she ticked off items on her fingers for Mu Shuangshuang.
She ntioned a lot, most of which were things a young woman would need.
Lu Yuanfeng and Xing Beichen looked awkward, as these were things they couldn’t help with.
"Almost done, two of the staff went to collect paynts, and once they return, I’ll hand out the staff bonuses, then we’ll leave."
Just as she was speaking, one of the staff mbers, sweating all over, returned...
One of them handed a wooden box to Mu Shuangshuang as he ca forward.
Mu Shuangshuang instructed him to go rest for a while and told them to co for their bonuses after the incense stick burns out.
Although it was a day off, everyone was at the restaurant.
After Mu Shuangshuang distributed the bonuses, they would go about their own business.
The staff left, and Mu Shuangshuang apologized to Fu Xiaonan and Xing Beichen before going upstairs with Lu Yuanfeng and Yu Dahai.
The box contained the money paid by the Liu Family.
The top was sealed with red lacquer, and the staff were just the interdiaries, so they didn’t know how much money was inside.
In front of the two, Mu Shuangshuang opened the box and took out a hundred taels of silver notes.
She then handed the silver notes to Yu Dahai.
"The working capital of the restaurant is completely used up this ti. Just take thirty taels for working capital and deposit the rest in the bank."
Whether ancient or modern, wealth isn’t suitable to keep at ho.
So each month, after inventorying the restaurant’s inco, Mu Shuangshuang would have Yu Dahai deposit the money in the bank, to be withdrawn as needed.
In this way, even if Chengfeng Restaurant is a thorn in the side of many, the money of Chengfeng Restaurant remains safe!
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