Travel back to ancient times and open a Sichuan restaurant

In a courtyard in the backyard, a maid was feeding the fish in the pond, and her eyes kept falling on the young woman who was sitting in the pavilion enjoying the cool air.

"Aunt, it's a little cold. Why don't we go in?" The maid put down the fish food in her hand and went into the pavilion.

The breeze was blowing gently. The young woman smiled and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? This breeze is so comfortable."

As the two were talking, a servant came running over in a hurry, "Auntie! Mr. Mei just had someone send something over. It's now in the main hall. Would you like to take a look?"

Aunt Mei's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she murmured to herself, "My brother must have found some rare things for me again. I'll go over now."

The maid supported her and hurried to the main hall.

A young man was waiting in the main hall. He was the one who delivered the things.

When he saw Aunt Mei, he stood up and saluted, "Master asked me to bring some fruit, the kind you said was delicious last time."

Aunt Mei smiled gently, exchanged a few words with the people around her brother, and then asked someone to see him out.

He asked the maidservant beside him to tear open the cloth covering the basket, revealing the basket filled with juicy and tender fruits.

"Liuli, keep one basket for ourselves, and send the rest to the Madam, Miss, Young Master, and other concubines."

After the maid responded, she asked someone to take back the basket that her master wanted to keep first, and she had the rest delivered to various courtyards according to the number of people.

"Madam will send one basket, the eldest lady and the eldest young master will each receive one basket, Aunt Qing and Aunt Zhao will each receive half a basket, and the young master and the second young lady will each receive half a basket."

There are five baskets in total, so this distribution is appropriate.

The prefect's wife, who was talking to the nanny beside her about this month's account book, was very happy. "Bao'er will be getting married in two months. Yesterday, the master gave me a jewelry store and asked me to add it to Bao'er's dowry."

The nanny complimented, "The master really loves our eldest daughter! Our eldest daughter is lucky to have found a good husband!"

The master and servant were chatting when a maid came in and reported that Aunt Mei from Meixiangyuan had sent some fruit over.

The prefect's wife exclaimed, "I remember that Aunt Mei also got some fresh fruits sent to me a few days ago. I ate them and said they were delicious. When I asked her where they were from, she said her brother bought them from a small village in Yunzhou. Why did they send them here so soon?"

The maid had seen the fruit outside just now, and nodded and said, "It's the same as the one sent last time, but there are more than last time. The eldest lady and the eldest young master each got a basket, the second lady and the young master also got half a basket, and the other concubines got some too."

Why did they send so many over?

The prefect's wife waved her hand, and the maid understood and went downstairs to wash two pieces and bring them up.

A piece of apple cut to the right size was put into her mouth. The prefect's wife squinted her eyes and said, "Aunt Mei has been very thoughtful over the years. Whenever she has something delicious or fun, she thinks of sending a portion over. It can be said that she is thoughtful."

The nanny didn't care. "She was blessed to serve the master and his wife in her previous life. How could she not come after you?"

...

The apples that Aunt Mei gave out were liked by everyone in the mansion. Aunt Qing even came over to ask where the fruits were bought from, as she also wanted to buy some.

"I only know that it was bought from a place called Xinghua Village, and I don't know anything else." Aunt Mei shook her head apologetically, indicating that she didn't know much either.

"Okay, then I won't disturb your rest and will go back first." Aunt Qing stood up and said goodbye.

Apples also sold very well in Jixiang Town. Someone tried to find out where the apples came from through Boss Wang’s wife.

After returning home in the evening, listening to his wife's intentional or unintentional probing, Boss Wang simply put down his chopsticks and left, leaving Mrs. Wang very embarrassed.

The maid stepped forward and advised, "Madam, this is the master's business method. If you ask around and tell others, what benefit will the master get if he finds out?"

Mrs. Wang was furious. "I know that's the truth! But can't he just talk to me nicely? Why does he have to be so disrespectful to me?"

She spoke loudly, but she knew in her heart that she had done something wrong, and she became quieter as she spoke.

A notice was posted at the door of the workshop, listing the winners of this month's Outstanding Employee and Improved Employee awards.

Everyone saw it when they woke up early, but no one could read. After taking a look, they chatted and laughed and went into the workshop to start work.

After officially starting work, Li Guihua cleared her throat and said, "Ahem! Everyone!"

The workers looked over with curiosity and confusion in their eyes, wondering what he was going to say so early in the morning.

"Everyone come to the front for a meeting. The boss wants to say a few words."

The aunts put down their work and stood in the yard consciously. More than thirty people stood in several rows.

They looked a little nervous, worried that they had not done their job well and would be picked out and criticized in public.

Some people are also worried that they might be seen slacking off at work, and they become very nervous.

Dozens of eyes were staring at Zhong Ruyi who was standing in front of them, fearing that she would criticize them as soon as she opened her mouth.

Zhong Ruyi was at a loss whether to laugh or cry when facing dozens of pairs of anxious eyes. She cleared her throat and signaled everyone to stay calm.

"I asked you all to come here for no big deal. It's mainly for this month's Outstanding Employee Award and Progress Award. I'm here today to give out the rewards to everyone!"

Everyone was confused when they heard this. What is this? What is the reward? Why is there a reward?

It was normal that they didn't know. Zhong Ruyi didn't let Li Guihua tell her, for fear that they would cheat for the reward. This was the most truthful way.

"...Since the workshop opened, it has produced several thousand units every month. This is all thanks to the aunts, some of whom have performed particularly well. Of course, everyone is very good and capable. I hope that those who did not win the award will work harder in the future!"

"The names of the outstanding employees have been posted on the door this morning. I will read them out again. Please come forward if your name is read."

Xu Ya, Wu Chunsheng, Zhou Xiaohua, Zhong Guirong, Zhong Xingmei.

When their names were called, the five people were a little slow to react. It was only after the people around them reminded them that they stood up in surprise.

"These five people are this month's outstanding employees. Their prizes are five kilograms of apples, three cans of canned food, and five hundred coins in cash."

Zhong Ruyi smiled and distributed the prizes placed at her feet to the five people one by one, as well as a small purse containing five hundred coins.

The five of them were so excited that Xu Ya almost couldn't hold her things properly, and it was Li Guihua who helped her hold on.

Next is the Progress Award, which also has five people.

After handing out the prizes, Zhong Ruyi looked at the group of people with different expressions on their faces and said, "This Outstanding Employee Award is not given every month. If you don't perform well, then the selection for that month will be cancelled. So, all the aunts must work harder!"

While people were happily holding a small meeting and handing out prizes over here, a few figures over in the orchard were stealthily pulling open the fence surrounding the orchard and hiding under a sturdy tree.

The leader spat on the ground, turned around and asked the person following behind him, "Are you sure it's here?"

The younger brother behind him swallowed and said uncertainly, "That should be it. Boss Zhao was talking about Xinghua Village last time. Isn't this the place?"

"Let's hide here tonight. When they are all asleep, you two can light a fire here, and we will go to the workshop and light one. Once the fire starts, we will run away. Don't worry even if we are caught. We have Boss Zhao behind us, and Boss Zhao has the prefect behind him. Dealing with such small civilians is as easy as crushing an ant!"

The leader had a fierce look on his face, and it was obvious that he had done this more than once or twice. He spoke with a nonchalant tone, not caring at all about the consequences of setting fire and killing people.