You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal? Chapter 278 - 211: A Simple Gesture, No Need for Thanks

Ma Guan’s principles were far too flexible.

While he certainly disliked expensive, unattractive things, he was perfectly willing to accept anything that didn’t cost much silver.

He didn’t even care if they were beautiful.

And when the word "free" wasn’t associated with "charity" and didn’t wound his fragile pride as a scholar, Lou Yuxue beca like a goddess in his eyes.

Such a kind, beautiful... soul.

This was Ma Guan’s first visit to "There’s a Wonton Shop by the Clouds," yet it already felt like ho.

"Proprietress, another two bowls of wontons!"

Lou Yuxue answered with a smile and instructed a nearby waiter to bring him more.

Ma Guan shot a cautious glance at Chen Yi, a sheepish look on his face.

"Please forgive , Mr. Qingzhou. I was so engrossed in my studies last night that I forgot to eat or sleep, so my appetite is a bit bigger than usual this morning."

"Eat up if you’re hungry. It’s no big deal."

Chen Yi knew, of course, that Ma Guan had little silver, so he could sowhat understand his way of thinking.

’No silver at ho, no silver on his person... It’s only natural that he’d like free things.’

’Little did he know, so people and things that are free end up being the most expensive.’

Chen Yi stopped teasing Ma Guan, lest the man beco so ashad he’d want to crawl into a hole and disappear.

He turned to et Lou Yuxue’s gaze and said with a smile, "Proprietress, your shop just opened today, and you’re already giving away free wontons. With such a wise approach to business, you’re sure to be prosperous in the future."

Lou Yuxue looked into his eyes, as gentle as still water, and thought with a sigh, ’This Fledgling, having read his books, really is different.’

’Despite being so heavily suppressed by the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family, and then being mostly unwelco after joining the Xiao Family in Shu State, he managed to turn his situation around step by step with his own talent, until he earned the respect of scholars throughout Shu State and even all of Great Wei’s Nine State and Three Prefectures.’

’His strength of character is truly unyielding.’

While marveling internally, Lou Yuxue said with a smile, "To receive Mr. Qingzhou’s blessing is an honor. I just hope this little shop can help us make a modest living."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi feigned ignorance. "You know of ?"

"I happened to overhear your conversation just now and realized that you, sir, are the Mr. Qingzhou who has recently beco famous in Shu State."

"Famous is too strong a word. I rely have a minor reputation."

"You’re too modest, Mr. Qingzhou. An ordinary scholar in your position would probably have let it all go to their head by now."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries.

Chen Yi still couldn’t figure out Lou Yuxue’s motive for striking up a conversation with him.

It was all flattery and complints. It seed Lou Yuxue had only co over to say hello.

It wasn’t until a while later, as two sturdy-looking won brought out more wontons, that Lou Yuxue used the opportunity to smile and head upstairs to the second floor.

Chen Yi watched her retreating figure, a thoughtful look on his face. He knew she was likely going to retrieve a secret ssage from the Hidden Guard.

However, when he saw the two sturdy won in the hall staring at him and Ma Guan, he gave up on the idea of following her to read the ssage.

’Luckily, she’s an old acquaintance. There will be plenty of opportunities to pry information about the Hidden Guard out of her in the future.’

As Chen Yi pondered this, he picked up a wonton and examined it.

The skin was thin and translucent, the filling plump and generous. It looked far more appealing than an ordinary wonton.

He then popped it into his mouth. His gaze drifted to Ma Guan. "This is delicious."

The color, aroma, and flavor were all perfect. You had to admit, these wontons were expertly made.

Ma Guan was wolfing down his bowl of wontons.

When he finally had a mont’s break from chewing, he managed to say, "If you like them, Mr. Qingzhou, shall... shall I order more?"

Chen Yi shook his head. As he ate, he scanned the hall from the corner of his eye.

It was strange.

A quarter of an hour had passed since they’d entered the wonton shop, but the hall was still empty save for him and Ma Guan.

Business was depressingly slow.

Any other shop owner in this situation would probably be out front, hawking their wares and trying to pull in passersby for a taste.

But neither Lou Yuxue nor her waiters seed bothered in the slightest.

Clearly, they weren’t too concerned with the shop’s profitability.

Or rather, making money was a secondary concern. They were just using this place as a temporary base of operations.

At this thought, Chen Yi’s eyes flickered. He asked aningfully, "Heming, did you bring your brush and ink?"

Ma Guan paused, confused by the question, but nodded. "I did."

"Good. In a mont, I want you to do this..."

Chen Yi gave him a few quiet instructions, then finished his wontons, stood up, and, carrying his various packages, headed for Guiyun Academy.

Ma Guan respectfully watched him go.

After finishing another two bowls of wontons, he didn’t rush off. Instead, following Chen Yi’s instructions, he took out his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from his bag.

Then, under the astonished gazes of the waiters, he ground the ink, lifted his brush, and, with his Calligraphy Dao at the Minor Success stage, wrote a line of characters in Wei Qing’s Style:

"The Best Wontons Under Heaven."

Beneath it were two lines of smaller characters: "Jointly recomnded by Chen Qingzhou and Ma Heming of Guiyun Academy."

The mont the characters were complete, faint golden wisps of light appeared on the paper.

This subtle radiance imdiately attracted the attention of passersby outside.

This was especially true for the students of Guiyun Academy.

They were already curious about the new shop, and as they passed, their keen senses naturally picked up on the phenonon created by Ma Guan’s Calligraphy Dao.

Even those who hadn’t planned on entering the wonton shop now found themselves walking in, driven by curiosity.

"Brother Heming, what’s this?"

Ma Guan picked up the sheet, blew the ink dry, and explained what Mr. Qingzhou had asked him to do.

"The wontons are delicious and inexpensive, but their business is slow. We can’t just accept their free food for nothing in return."

"So, Mr. Qingzhou asked to leave behind a piece of my calligraphy, just as a small token of our appreciation. Just a small token."

The crowd understood. Their eyes were drawn to the calligraphy, and they stared at it again and again.