Traveling through various miniature worlds with a small restaurant

Fu Xiaoyao was a little annoyed by this chopstick. She was about to spit it out, but her mouth had already started chewing unconsciously.

Oh my god, this Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste) smells so good and tastes so delicious!

It was so delicious that she couldn't stop eating it.

She's starting to believe that her husband got up early just for a bowl of noodles with soybean paste.

After all, her husband was famous in the capital for his love of food.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Gao Guanyu said, "How is it? It's delicious, isn't it? Let me tell you, Boss Lin is from a reclusive family. I went to Qianbaiwei to buy pastries for her to befriend her, not because of any of the messy thoughts in your head."

Seeing Fu Xiaoyao eating his noodles non-stop, Gao Guanyu got a little anxious: "Hey, wait a minute, don't eat so much, I haven't even had a bite yet."

After swallowing a mouthful of noodles, Fu Xiaoyao said, "Have Boss Lin make you another bowl, and I'll eat this one. I haven't had breakfast yet because I'm chasing after you this morning."

Gao Guanyu: ... You're talking as if I ate it.

Soon, the next bowl of noodles with soybean paste was ready. Seeing Lin Xiaoqian bring out the bowl, Gao Guanyu quickly called out, "Boss Lin, give me this bowl first, and give the next bowl to my servant."

Lin Xiaoqian blinked, and Gao Guanyu had already stood up and taken the bowl from her.

Servant: ... Waaah, my Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste)!

Fu Xiaoyao wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and stood up, saying apologetically to Lin Xiaoqian, "I misunderstood you, Mr. Lin. I was so rude. I apologize to you."

Lin Xiaoqian waved her hand: "It's nothing, it's nothing serious."

Fu Xiaoyao looked her up and down, her eyes lighting up: "Boss Lin, your clothes are so beautiful. What kind of material are they made of? What shop did you get them from?"

Lin Xiaoqian thought to himself: I don't know about the materials, but the shop is on Taobao.

"I brought this dress from home, and I don't know exactly what kind of material it is."

Fu Xiaoyao felt a little disappointed when she heard that it was made by Boss Lin's own family.

However, to be able to make such a light fabric and such a beautiful cut, Mr. Lin's family must be very powerful. My husband is right, Mr. Lin is indeed from a reclusive family. Only a reclusive family that knows how to make clothes could make such clothes.

Thinking of this, Fu Xiaoyao stepped forward and grabbed Lin Xiaoqian's hand: "I felt an instant liking for Boss Lin, it's like we've known each other forever."

Lin Xiaoqian was a little confused when someone grabbed her hand: No, sister, you almost mistook me for your husband's mistress just now.

“I feel like I’m a sister to Boss Lin, someone I’ve never met before.” Fu Xiaoyao said, taking off a clear jade bracelet with floating flowers from her wrist. “Consider this bracelet a gift for our first meeting.”

Lin Xiaoqian quickly declined, saying, "Madam Gao, this is too expensive."

Unexpectedly, Fu Xiaoyao grabbed her hand and put the bracelet on her wrist: "Mr. Lin, you don't need to be so polite with me."

Seeing that Lin Xiaoqian was about to take off the bracelet, he quickly grabbed her hand and pretended to be dejected, saying, "Is Boss Lin still angry with me, or do you look down on me?"

Lin Xiaoqian quickly waved her hand: "Of course not, none of them are true."

Fu Xiaoyao patted her hand with a smile: "Then Mr. Lin will accept it."

Seeing that she couldn't refuse, Lin Xiaoqian thought that she should also give them a gift in return.

Seeing Fu Xiaoyao looking at her clothes with admiration, she asked, "Does Madam Gao like the clothes I'm wearing?"

"I like Mr. Lin's clothes because they are light and flowing."

Lin Xiaoqian said, "I don't have any expensive gift to give you. I think Madam Gao and I are about the same size, and I brought a few outfits from home that I haven't worn yet. Wait a moment, I'll go get them and give them to you as a gift."

After saying that, he quickly turned around and went upstairs.

Fu Xiaoyao was just waiting for these words, and she watched Lin Xiaoqian go upstairs with a smile.

Servant: ... My noodles with soybean paste...

Lin Xiaoqian opened the wardrobe and first took out a Wei-Jin style Hanfu that was the same style as hers, but in green.

As she was about to close the wardrobe door, she noticed the clear, floating flower bracelet on her wrist. She then took out a horse-face skirt with imitation mother-of-pearl inlay before going downstairs.

Fu Xiaoyao spotted the green dress in Lin Xiaoqian's hand at a glance and immediately ran over to take it: "Oh my, this dress looks beautiful even before I put it on. Thank you so much, Boss Lin."

Lin Xiaoqian handed her the horse-face skirt again. Fu Xiaoyao was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Boss Lin even gave me two sets. Well, good things come in pairs." As she spoke, she took a pure gold hairpin from her hair and stuck it into Lin Xiaoqian's hair bun.

Before Lin Xiaoqian could refuse, Fu Xiaoyao took the two sets of clothes and said goodbye, "I'm going home now, Boss Lin. See you next time."

Fu Xiaoyao turned and walked away quickly, without even saying goodbye to Gao Guanyu.

Lin Xiaoqian held up the gold hairpin she had pulled from her hair and said to Gao Guanyu, "Young Master Gao..."

"Hey!" Gao Guanyu raised a hand, palm facing Lin Xiaoqian, to stop her, saying, "I can't interfere in your daughter's affairs. Besides, Mr. Lin, you gave my wife two sets of clothes, and she gave you two pieces of jewelry. Isn't that fair? Mr. Lin, just accept them."

Fairness my foot! The two outfits cost an average of two or three hundred yuan on Taobao. How can that be equated with a transparent, glass-like bracelet and a heavy gold hairpin?

Lin Xiaoqian still couldn't get over her conscience: "But..."

"Hey, Mr. Lin, just accept it. My wife has plenty of money." Gao Guanyu felt that Lin Xiaoqian was being too polite to them.

Look at the shop's layout, look at Mr. Lin's clothes, every single one of them is more valuable than these bracelets and hairpins. Even if you had the money, you probably wouldn't be able to buy them anywhere else.

Just then, Gao Guanyu finished his noodles, elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then said goodbye.

The servant followed behind, looking aggrieved, glancing back every few steps.

After I finish my job, I absolutely have to come back and have a bowl of Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste)! Definitely!

After Gao Guanyu left, Lin Xiaoqian put away the gold hairpin and bracelet, otherwise it would be too conspicuous to wear them.

Moreover, it's not very convenient when I'm cooking for myself, and I'm always afraid that the bracelet on my wrist will break accidentally.

After putting the food away, Lin Xiaoqian wanted to see what was in the food box that Gao Guanyu had given her, but before she could open the food box, the shop door was opened again.

It turned out to be the same locals who ate here last night. A dozen or so people came together, and the restaurant was full in no time.

Everyone greeted Lin Xiaoqian and then found a place to sit down.

"Boss Lin, is there enough Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste) now?" a commoner asked.

Lin Xiaoqian replied, "Of course, there's plenty."

"Really? Then I'll have two bowls."

I'll eat three bowls.

Lin Xiaoqian smiled and went inside to cook noodles.

Prince Cheng's Mansion

Prince Cheng picked up a small jar and poured the milky white liquid inside into a cup.

This is one of the jars that Gao Guanyu sent yesterday; the drinks inside are the favorite of Prince Cheng.

It tastes like milk, but without any fishy smell. Instead, it's sweet and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. It also contains square-shaped particles that give it a great texture.

When I get up in the morning and have breakfast, I want to have a drink.

After finishing breakfast, Prince Cheng took his birdcage and went out.

The area surrounding the Prince's Mansion was naturally inhabited by powerful and influential people, including high-ranking officials and imperial relatives.

In these grand mansions, which family doesn't have an old patriarch who's idle at home, or a spoiled brat like Gao Guanyu who doesn't like to study?

These people either go to restaurants to eat and drink, or gather together to fight cocks and walk dogs, or go to teahouses and theaters.

Prince Cheng, as the emperor's uncle, was one of the few still alive, and naturally became the leader of this group.