Male superiority and female superiority: forced love

The sun was high in the sky, tinting everything a pale golden hue. The air was filled with a dry scent, filtering through the earth relentlessly. The weeds sprouting from the cracks in the bluestone slabs beneath my feet drooped their heads, longing for a little rain.

Before noon, the temperature was already much higher than at dawn.

The three of them walked along the central axis of the street, inquiring about all the shops listed for rent. The larger ones were too expensive for Young Master Qin to buy. Even the smaller ones cost three hundred taels of silver per month.

Ruan Chuyin sat tiredly on a big rock at the corner of the street, lowered her head and gently rubbed her two long legs that were sore and numb.

"Miss Ruan, come and have some sour plum soup." Yu Yu came towards her holding a large bowl.

"Ayu, where is Young Master Qin?" Ruan Chuyin looked behind him but did not see Qin Guanzhi.

"Young Master has gone to buy some fruit and will be back soon." Yu Yu carefully handed her the sour plum soup, turned around and ran back to the vendor to ask for a glass of cold water, which he drank in big gulps.

Ruan Chuyin stared at the bowl of soup in her hand, feeling very uncomfortable.

Qin Guanzhi had originally wanted to take her to a teahouse, but she was worried about spending hundreds of coins, so she stubbornly refused to go. But then Qin Guanzhi bought her some food there. Now, besides being overwhelmed with gratitude, she also felt a strong sense of guilt.

"Sister Ruan, the young master is here!" Yu Yu shouted as he trotted over and took the food box from Qin Guanzhi's hand.

"Miss Ruan, a batch of fresh pineapples and winter melons have just arrived at Chunfeng Tower. Come and try them." Qin Guanzhi opened the food box and brought out two plates of beautifully presented fruits and placed them in front of her.

Under two pairs of expectant eyes, Ruan Chuyin had no choice but to pick up a piece of pineapple and put it into her mouth.

"It's delicious, you guys eat it too." She looked at them with gentle eyes, but her heart was like an ant on a hot pot. She had never wanted to make money as much as she did at that moment.

"Master Qin, are there any teeth nearby? Would you like them to help look?" Ruan Chuyin asked. Rather than groping around blindly, it would be better to leave the job to the professionals. Time and manpower are both valuable. It wasn't worth it for the three "outsiders" to go through so much trouble.

Qin Guanzhi's expression flickered slightly and he nodded slightly.

Yu Yu sighed three times in his heart. He had to pay the dentist a commission. Now it seemed that he couldn't save this money.

Just as they were about to set off, four or five young men in cool clothes and strong bodies came towards them. They were discussing this month's wages.

A thought flashed through Ruan Chuyin's mind, and she quickly called out to Qin Guanzhi and asked, "Master Qin, do you know who they are?"

"They should be porters from the nearby dock." Qin Guanzhi looked back at the backs of those people and answered.

Yes! Wushui Town is close to the sea, so there must be a dock!

There are many people coming and going at the dock, not only porters, but also many foreign tourists, businessmen, etc.

"Mr. Qin, we can go to the area near the dock. It's not a central area, and the shops there should be much cheaper." Ruan Chuyin suggested.

When Yu Yu heard this, it was as if he had been enlightened. He agreed repeatedly: "Sir, what Sister Ruan said makes sense. There are just as many people coming in and out of the dock every day as here."

"But the wages there are very low, and we can't offer a high price for the dishes." Qin Guanzhi said with concern.

Ruan Chuyin smiled slightly, dismissing the idea: "We can selectively sell at low prices and high volumes. As long as we have the right positioning and the food is delicious, we'll definitely be able to make a successful business."

After some inquiries, they arrived at the "dry water" dock half an hour later.

This place was even wider and busier than they had imagined. Not only were there cargo ships docked, but there were also many fishing boats shuttling in.

One mile away there is a Wu'an Street, which has many snack shops and is the main place for nearby residents, fishermen and porters to have their meals every day.

Coincidentally, there was a shop that wanted to be sold. The shop was not big, with only one floor. Ten small tables were close together, which reminded Ruan Chuyin of a small restaurant she had been to before.

They arrived just in time for dinner, so they ordered three bowls of wonton. The taste was neither good nor bad, but the price was very reasonable, only five cents a bowl. Not many people were dining here, and within half an hour, ten tables had been gradually filled. With that turnover rate, it's no wonder the owner had given up.

"Boss, what's your name?" Qin Guanzhi saw that the shop owner had almost finished his work, so he walked up to him and started chatting.

"My last name is Chen. Sir, are you planning to take over the shop?" Chen Ming asked with a smile. He had already noticed these three people. After finishing their wontons, they didn't get up and leave like the other customers. Instead, they kept looking around. They were probably here for his shop.

"That's right. Boss Chen, is your shop available for rent?" Qin Guanzhi asked directly. If he wasn't willing, he could only look elsewhere.

"This..." Chen Ming didn't expect that the visitor wanted to rent a shop, and he fell into deep thought for a moment.

This shop has been on the market for three months, with few buyers. Those who can survive in this area are relying on the advantages of the land title to survive.

The daily turnover was only 500 coins, with almost no profit margin. He was able to persevere because this was a legacy passed down from his ancestors, and he had a special affection for it.

"Well, I see you're sincere. If you're willing to pay thirty taels of silver a month, I'll rent it to you." Chen Ming considered it over and over again, offering a very favorable price. He didn't want to waste time here any longer and wanted to sell it quickly to reunite with his son in Liangcheng.

so cheap?

Qin Guanzhi, Ruan Chuyin, and Yu Yu were all stunned. The price offered by Boss Chen was far beyond their expectations. They were all delighted and immediately signed a six-month contract with Chen Ming, officially taking over the shop.

But soon, another thorny problem arose.

This place is an hour and a half's walk from Xiaohe Town, and another hour's ride on a bullock cart. The round trip takes at least half a day every day, which is extremely physically demanding.

"Should we move here? The houses nearby shouldn't be too expensive," Ruan Chuyin pondered. Moving was the best option. Once we worked hard for a while and made some money, everything would be fine.

"Okay." Qin Guanzhi agreed with a resolute determination. Once the arrow is shot, there's no turning back. At this point, all he could do was take things one step at a time.

The next half month was busy and fulfilling.

After some renovations, the shop looks brand new, clean, bright and spotless.

All the dishes are prepared by Ruan Chuyin.

Because their main customers are fishermen and porters, they focus on economical and quick dishes.

On the eighth day of July, Mingyue Restaurant officially opened.

Early in the morning, there was no shouting, no firecrackers, and no lion dancing, only the aroma of braised meat wafting through the streets.

At first, Qin Guanzhi and Yu Yu did not understand why Ruan Chuyin needed medicinal herbs such as star anise, bay leaves, cinnamon, and licorice. Later, when the big pot of pork turned into crispy and reddish-yellow braised meat, they understood the secret.

After a while, an old woman carrying a basket came in with a boy of seven or eight years old.

"Hey, what's that sweet smell here?" The old woman sniffed twice and looked around the shop. When her eyes fell on Qin Guan, surprise flashed in her eyes: When did such a handsome young man appear at the dry dock? Suddenly, she caught sight of the veiled woman walking towards her, and she was slightly startled, wondering about their relationship.

"Auntie, it's the aroma of braised meat. Our Mingyue Restaurant is open for the first day today, and we are offering a 20% discount on all items for the first three days. Would you and your children like to buy some?" Ruan Chuyin introduced enthusiastically.

"Girl, are you the owner of this store?" The old woman looked at Ruan Chuyin in confusion.

In Dayong, there were many women engaged in business, but most of them were older women with children. Young girls like her were almost always cooped up at home, pampered by their husbands and parents. Who would be willing to let them shoulder the responsibility of making a living? Her eyes turned to Qin Guanzhi with a gloomy look.

"Yes."

"No."

Qin Guanzhi and Ruan Chuyin spoke in unison, confusing the old woman.

Yu Yu looked at the awkward expressions of the Young Master and Sister Ruan, grinning non-stop. He quickly stepped forward and changed the subject, saying, "Auntie, would you like to buy some braised pork? The original price was fifty coins for half a catty, but now it's only forty coins."

"That's so expensive!" the old woman was shocked. After hearing the price, she almost thought she was deaf.

"I'm not eating anymore. I think your store is a scam. You said you'd give me 20% off for the first three days, but even with the discount it still costs 40 cents. I can buy two pounds of good meat with this money!" As he said this, he was about to pull his grandson away.

"Auntie, can raw meat and braised meat be the same?" Yu Yu widened his eyes in dissatisfaction. If you don't want to buy it, then don't buy it. Why be so exaggerated!

"Grandma, I want to eat braised pork." The little boy said, licking his fingers and shaking the old woman's sleeve. The aroma of the meat became stronger and stronger, making him swallow his saliva continuously.

Ruan Chuyin glanced at the old woman, then calmly turned around, picked up a small bowl, scooped out some of the marinade, added some rice, mixed it well, and handed it to the little boy, saying with a smile, "Little brother, try it and see if it tastes good."

The little boy suddenly let go of his grandmother's hand, took the small bowl and put the spoonful of rice covered with soup into his mouth.

"It's delicious!" He licked his lips with his tongue, looking up at the old woman and shouted, "Grandma, I want to eat more!"

"Be good, Xiaoyu. Go back and ask your grandfather to cook you a pot of braised pork so you can eat as much as you want." The old woman said as she was about to pull her grandson away.

"The taste is different. I don't want to eat the braised pork. I want to eat the stewed meat here." The little boy grabbed the old woman's sleeve and pulled it back.

"Sister, can you let my grandma have a taste of the braised pork rice? She'll know how delicious it is after she eats it." The little boy looked at Ruan Chuyin eagerly and asked.

"Of course." Ruan Chuyin chuckled and mixed some more braised pork rice and handed it to the old woman.

The old woman, believing it was a waste, devoured the meat without hesitation. The rich aroma of the meat instantly spread in her mouth, and her taste buds were instantly awakened by this unique fragrance.

"If it's cheaper, I'll buy it." The old woman raised her voice and glanced at the big pot on the stove beside her.

"Auntie, what I just gave you was just a little bit of broth. The braised meat will be even more fragrant and delicious. This pot of meat uses high-quality ingredients, and it takes time to simmer, requiring constant attention to the heat. Forty cents for half a pound is just hard-earned money. And our new store only has a three-day opening discount; after that, it's full price. Would you like to reconsider?" Although Ruan Chuyin studied trade, she wasn't naturally good at socializing. To quickly establish herself in this alien world, she was diligently trying to change herself.

Qin Guanzhi silently observed Ruan Chuyin's every move, which made him fall in love with her even more.

The woman in front of him was like a ray of light, gently spreading in his heart, outlining all the beauty.