Thinking of this, Gu Daya suddenly took it to heart, the more she thought about it, the more she liked Mo Qinzi.
Just that Mo Qinzi was only thirteen and Brother Ping was already twenty. The age difference was quite big, not sure if it could work out?
Third Grandma saw Gu Daya frowning in thought and couldn’t help but ask, "Daya, what’s wrong, what are you thinking about? Is the marinated food business not doing well?"
"The marinated food business is doing well, you don’t have to worry, I just feel unfair for Sister Qin, for the Old Mo family, to casually burden one’s own reputation." Gu Daya was a prudent person, knew that this matter was not easy to handle, didn’t speak it aloud, just silently kept it in her heart, thinking to see how it would turn out before saying anything.
After talking about the affairs of Elder Mo’s family for a few monts, they dropped the subject.
The next day was the first day of May, a good day to break the ground for the shop construction of several families including Qin, Gu, and Luotian.
Families got up before dawn, slaughtered chickens, stewed at, prepared offerings, pulled them on carts to the wasteland in the town, set up an altar, and started worshiping the gods of all directions.
After praying to the gods, at the exact mont of Chen ti, the tilers from Yanfu Village began to break the ground and dig the foundation.
Following custom, Elder Yuan, at the auspicious ti to break the ground, brought six carts of green bricks.
Chang Errui ca along as well.
Chang Errui, who was good with words, clasped his hands towards Third Grandpa and said, "Grandpa Gu, our Yuan Family Brick Kiln is delivering bricks, a total of six carts, wishing you groundbreaking luck and everything going smoothly."
Mrs. Chen had already seen Chang Errui, seeing him tall and strong, well-dressed, she was very satisfied and said with a grin, "This young man is really good with words, saying good things as soon as he speaks, very auspicious."
Mrs. Chen’s gaze was too intense, making Chang Errui think he was at on a chopping board, he embarrassedly smiled, quietly stepping back two steps to keep a distance: "Aunt Gu is well."
"Very well, I’m doing great today. Have you had breakfast? Coming so early, you mustn’t have eaten, wait, auntie will get you sothing delicious." Mrs. Chen hustled to the basket, took out a bowl, filled it with four bean dregs cakes, grabbed another bowl of soy milk, and handed it to Chang Errui: "These are the famous golden bean pancake and soy milk from Gu Family’s tofu stall, eat it quickly, if it’s not enough, auntie will get you more."
Chang Errui was pleasantly overwheld, hurriedly said, "This is enough, no need for more, auntie, I can’t finish all these."
Mrs. Chen glared at him and said, "Why can’t you finish? A big young man like you, there’s no such thing as not being able to finish, eat it all up. Eating more is good for your health and brings more blessings."
Saying so, she moved a stool next to Chang Errui and patted on it, "Sit down, it tastes better when you sit and eat."
Chang Errui, holding two bowls, looked desperately at his father.
Elder Yuan had no ti to deal with him, as he was being pulled aside by Brother Gu Dafu for a conversation.
"What are you looking at? Eat quickly, Rui, or it will get cold." Mrs. Chen watched him from the side, looking as if she wouldn’t leave unless Chang Errui ate.
Sweat appeared on Chang Errui’s forehead, having delivered green bricks for so many years with his father, this was the first ti he encountered such enthusiasm from the client’s family, and he felt a bit overwheld.
With no other choice, Chang Errui ate the four bean dregs cakes in the bowl and then downed a bowl of soy milk.
"Thank you, Aunt Gu." After thanking Mrs. Chen, Chang Errui got up to the barrel in front, washed the empty bowl with water, and placed it in a nearby basket.
Mrs. Chen was increasingly satisfied watching him, this young man was comndable, knowing to wash the dishes after eating, much better than Sister i.
Mrs. Chen was very satisfied with Chang Errui, and after Gu Dagui talked with Elder Yuan, he was also very satisfied with the Yuan Family.
Elder Yuan, a person of hearty disposition, upright in character, keeps his word and values loyalty, having such a head of the family, Yuan Family’s ethos would undoubtedly be excellent. If Sister i could marry into the Yuan Family, it would indeed be a great fortune.
The entire Gu Dafu family was revolving around the Yuan Family. Gu Dashan, on the other hand, was discussing the shop design with Master Yuan, using the blueprints drawn by Gu Jinli.
Master Yuan, in his early forties, of dium height, with a square face, laughed upon seeing the blueprint of the courtyard, "This kind of shop design is good, it completely separates the inner ho from the shop front. The boss residing at the backside would not be disturbed by the shop."
It’s beneficial for strict separation between n and won.
"Do all these three shops need wells?" Master Yuan asked, pointing to the circles on the blueprint.
Gu Dashan nodded, "Yes, digging a well will be convenient."
Master Yuan, being a mason, naturally knew so tricks about well-digging and was aware of the water abundance in Jianghuai. However, not every piece of land can yield water, and seeing Gu Dashan confident, he understood that his family must have secured good land.
"Congratulations, congratulations! If you dig wells in these shops, should you ever sell them, the price could at least double."
In town, not many shops have wells, only Fugui Building, Xuanhu Fang, and the iron shop have wells. Other shops and the townspeople all have to fetch water from the town’s old well, which is quite inconvenient.
Master Yuan looked at the blueprint again, asked Gu Dashan a few questions then collected the three blueprints, saying to Gu Dashan, "Alright, I got it. Brother Gu, rest assured, the Yuan Family work crew will definitely build the shops as per the blueprints for you."
Gu Dashan smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother Yuan."
Master Yuan smiled and nodded, then shouted to his fifteen masons, "Are you guys done eating? Hurry up and start working. Boss Gu is paying us to work, don’t dawdle."
"Coming right up!" Upon hearing this, the workers from the Yuan Family quickly stuffed the remaining bean dregs cakes in their mouths, gulped down so soy milk, and then picked up their tools to get to work.
In a mont, the space outside the Gate Tower was bustling with activity, not only with the working masons but also with many onlookers.
Constructing shops is a big event, and following local customs, Third Grandma, accompanied by Gu Daya, Mrs. Cui, and Ms. Chu, distributed bean dregs cakes to the onlookers.
Those who received the bean dregs cakes continuously congratulated Third Grandma, making her grin from ear to ear.
They were busy until nearly noon, preparing a lavish lunch for the Yuan Family work crew, then finally they headed ho carrying baskets, barrels, and cutlery.
Mrs. Chen warmly invited Chang Errui: "Brother Rui, next ti you co delivering green bricks, drop by your aunt’s place too for a visit, aunt will cook sothing delicious for you."
Chang Errui, grin almost freezing on his face, responded, "Thank you for Aunt Gu’s kindness, I shall visit for a al when I have ti next ti."
But your ho is in Da Feng Village, an hour’s walk from town, how can I just drop by on the way?
Listening to this, Mrs. Chen chuckled even more, "Alright then, rember to co, aunt will buy you braised dishes and roast duck."
"Eh, thank you, Aunt," replied Chang Errui, and when he saw Mrs. Chen off, he finally relaxed a great deal.
Thank the ancestors, he had narrowly escaped a disaster.
However, Chang Errui was a bit puzzled by Mrs. Chen’s enthusiasm, and he couldn’t help but ask Elder Yuan curiously after finally making it ho, "Dad, isn’t Aunt Da Gui from the Gu family being too nice to her son? She isn’t scheming sothing, is she?"
Elder Yuan laughed, "You’re not too thick-headed, my boy."
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