Chapter 34: Planning to Open a Dessert Shop

Xiaojiu and the others were already lying comfortably on their loungers, sipping their milk tea and enjoying the treats.

Eating sweets really does bring happiness.

As for the loungers, Xiaojiu had described to Old Zhangtou at the village entrance how she remembered them, and asked him to make one for her. Later, Zhao Hu and the others saw it and asked Old Zhangtou to make the exact same ones.

By now, every child in Xiaojiu’s courtyard had their own lounger.

The ladies looked at the relaxed children and suddenly understood why their own kids were always clamoring to live in the village. They themselves wanted to stay here too!

Madam Wang pulled her son up and took a seat on the lounger herself.

Madam Shen, seeing Madam Wang’s reaction, lost her usual restraint and pulled up her own daughter: “Let mother try!”

Ah!

So comfortable!

The comfort of the lounger was beyond imagination; every inch of the body felt thoroughly relaxed and cared for, the whole body instantly loosened.

These ladies, who normally observed strict etiquette — sitting upright and standing like pine trees — never allowed themselves to relax so fully.

Now, this lounger was their dream chair.

Seeing how pleased the ladies were with the cakes and milk tea, Xiaojiu suddenly had an idea.

She approached the chubby kid and Shen Zhiyuan and asked, “How about opening a dessert shop in town?”

Both nodded quickly!

“Don’t you want to think it over?” Xiaojiu asked.

“Think about what? This stuff tastes so good, it’ll definitely make money,” Shen Zhiyuan said confidently. She thought that these treats could sell well not only in town but even in the capital.

After all, nowhere else in the entire Dongxia kingdom had these two items ever been sold.

The chubby kid agreed, not because he wanted to make money — he wasn’t short of money — but just because he wanted to join the fun.

That’s how they decided.

Madam Wang was very pleased, since she was a merchant. Her son naturally learned about business from an early age, so it was good for him to practice.

Madam Wang said, “Have you three thought about how to invest?”

Xiaojiu looked at the other two.

She didn’t really know much but couldn’t let on.

The chubby kid said he could provide money.

Shen Zhiyuan said her family could provide manpower.

Xiaojiu said, “Then I’ll provide the recipes.”

“Alright, when do we start?” Shen Zhiyuan was eager, excited at the prospect of earning money with her own ability.

“Tomorrow!” Xiaojiu said.

She decided to go to town the next day to check things out.

Madam Shen and Madam Wang lay leisurely on the loungers, watching the children.

They didn’t really expect the kids to make much money, but doing business would be meaningful experience — a way to broaden their horizons and see the world.

As the day grew late, the ladies prepared to leave.

Xiaojiu hurriedly asked Sister Xiaoxiao to pack several cakes and milk tea for the ladies to take home, along with some vegetables from their backyard garden.

Though not as valuable as the gifts they had received, the ingrained tradition of reciprocation was not forgotten.

Before leaving, Madam Wang and Madam Shen even took their children’s loungers with them.

Don’t ask!

If you ask, it’s just filial kids returning their moms’ gifts.

Back at home, Madam Wang heard that her husband was at the old madam’s courtyard.

She changed direction and headed there.

Just arriving, the old madam’s first question was: “Where’s Rong’er? Why didn’t he come back with you?”

Madam Wang found it amusing to think about her son’s refusal to come back home.

She said, “He wants to stay there to practice martial arts and study; he plans to live there permanently!”

“What? He actually wants to study?” Wang Fugui couldn’t believe his ears. This brat — asking him to study was like asking for his life. He had given them plenty of worries before, and now he actually wanted to study of his own accord!

The old madam was shocked too, asking, “Did Rong’er say this himself?”

“Yes, I heard the kids ran around the mountain this morning, and Rong’er even got third place and won a prize,” Madam Wang replied happily.

“Really? I knew it! It must be that teacher in town isn’t good enough, always coming to our house to say our Rong’er is no good at studying and insinuating that he’s dumb,” the old madam complained.

Wang Fugui nodded repeatedly.

Exactly! How could their Wang Fugui be a fool?

Madam Wang glanced at the soup on the old madam’s table and asked, “Mother, haven’t you eaten yet?”

“Sigh! Old age, no appetite,” the old madam said.

Madam Wang hurriedly asked the maid to bring the cakes and milk tea they had packed from Xiaojiu’s place.

“Mother, try this.”

Madam Wang arranged the cakes and milk tea, and explained how to eat them.

The old madam fell in love with the taste at the very first bite. No one knew that the old madam loved sweets very much but had poor teeth and could only drink sweet soups every day to satisfy her cravings.

Today, this so-called cake and milk tea fascinated her utterly.

Wang Fugui also tried some, and after drinking a mouthful of milk tea, he immediately praised, “Delicious!”

He gulped down more than half the cup before stopping.

He finished the cakes completely and looked at the old madam’s remaining cake, sighing, “I never understood why you women liked sweets so much, but these cakes and milk tea are truly marvelous!”

The old madam glared at her son as he stared at her plate, as if saying, “What, are you thinking of stealing from your old mom?”

Seeing the old madam so happy, Madam Wang moved the lounger from her son’s place over to the old madam’s courtyard.

She helped the old madam lie down on the lounger and asked, “Mother, how do you like it? This was made by the little girl’s village.”

“Good! Good! Wonderful!”

The old madam was both physically satisfied and relaxed, visibly happier.

Wang Fugui watched his mother so pleased and wanted to pull her up and try the lounger himself. Could it really be that comfortable?

He glanced at his wife, signaling, Why didn’t you let me try it before moving it to the old madam’s courtyard?

Madam Wang pretended not to see.

The old master wanted to steal the old madam’s lounger again.

Over the years, many good things in the old madam’s courtyard had been taken or eaten by the old master.

Fearing the son-in-law might take this new lounger, the old madam hurriedly told the nanny to shoo him away.

Wang Fugui walked out of his mother’s courtyard, looking at his wife with a forlorn expression.

Madam Wang found it amusing and quickly summoned a servant, saying, “Go to Taoyuan Village and have ten loungers made.”

The servant immediately ran off to complete the order.

Wang Fugui finally felt satisfied — looks like his wife did care about him after all.

Madam Wang also took the opportunity to tell him about their son planning to do business with Miss Shen and the little girl (Xiaojiu).

Wang Fugui thought their son was truly promising. Maybe the feng shui of Taoyuan Village really brought him good luck.

He hurriedly said, “Use the account funds freely.”

He was finally enlightened — finally doing something worthwhile, no longer lazing around all day chasing cats and dogs on the street.