Blissful Days After Widowhood Chapter 19: Apprenticeship exam

Emperor Hongxian was so happy that he gave a reward of 100 taels of silver when he touched his lips, which moved the shopkeeper Shen to tears. You must know that the emperor never paid the bill when he came to eat, but in order to prepare for this Quanyu Banquet, which is to invite foreign aid and purchase various rare ingredients, cost a lot, and these costs must be counted into performance and linked to his year-end dividends.

The one hundred taels that the emperor gave as a reward, although far from returning to the original, is better than nothing! Shopkeeper Shen comforted his bleeding heart, but when he suddenly turned around, he saw Rong Daquan staring at the silver ingots on the tray in his hand, and his heart skipped a beat, this stupid big man, don't be stupid again right?

Sure enough, Rong Daquan said, "The treasurer, this is what the emperor gave to Miss Ning, you can't take it for yourself."

Shopkeeper Shen vomited blood for a while. He was a really unfortunate stupid big man. He was about to pull him over for a good education. The emperor in the elegant room was about to drive back to the palace, so he had to quickly put down the bounty and send it away. King Qi wanted to summon Ning Xi again, but he was too hasty to explain. Rong Daquan had already publicized the fact that the honored guests had been rewarded with one hundred taels of silver, so everyone knew that the reward was not divided.

King Qi greeted Ning Xi politely, and offered generous terms. He wanted to invite Ning Xi to be a chef in his restaurant. Unfortunately, Ning Xi was not willing to be hired by others and wanted to open a restaurant by himself. So although he was euphemistic, his attitude was very firm in rejecting the kindness of King Qi.

King Qi's face was a little down, but it was Jun Qianyu who helped him so that he wouldn't get along with Ning Xi, he just walked away angrily, he didn't want to be polite to someone who was about to become his competitor .

Ningxi asked Jun Qianyu a little worriedly: "Five masters, have I offended the king?"

Jun Qianyu smiled and comforted her: "It doesn't matter, you just do what you need to do."

"When my restaurant opens, can Fifth Master come and cheer for me?"

"Let's take a look, and go if you have nothing to do."

Ning Xi immediately smiled: "Then Ning Xi would like to thank Fifth Master first!"

"Well, you go out first!"

Looking at Ning Xi's happy back, Jun Shaofeng shook his head and sighed with a "tsk tsk": "Fifth brother, you have a wrong attitude towards this girl!"

Jun Qianyu remembered the little girl in Qiulu Village who was struggling to survive in a desperate situation like a stubborn weed, and said with a light smile: "I just want to see what step she can do."

Jun Shaofeng shrugged. He didn't quite understand it, but he didn't understand this cousin, but it didn't matter. Anyway, as far as he was concerned, there were good things to eat and fun things to mix in. , there are beauties to watch, there are songs to listen to, that's enough.

Ningxi returned to the back kitchen, only to find that there was a quarrel inside. The quarrel mainly focused on Meng Shuangshuang and Rong Daquan's apprentice named Yuan Fugui, and some people in the Quanjufu kitchen were also helping. Ning Xi listened to it for a long time, and finally figured out that it was all about money.

It turned out that when Cai Rong Daquan returned to the kitchen, he told him about the bounty when he was happy. Moreover, according to what he meant, the dish was mainly due to Ning Xi, and she should also take the big bounty. Others just wanted to get some light.

After saying this, Yuan Fugui quit his job. He couldn't stand the master's momentum of holding a yellow-haired girl to the sky. At this time, his own interests were involved, so he naturally refused to give in. When he shouted like this, other people in the kitchen Those who are not willing to work in the kitchen of Quanjufu are not used to being arrogant on weekdays? Where can I see that the chef of his own family is so ambitious and destroys his own prestige, and he has also voiced his support for Yuan Fugui.

Meng Shuangshuang of course wanted to speak for Ning Xi, so after going back and forth, they started arguing.

To find out what happened, Ning Xi tugged at Meng Shuangshuang's sleeves funny: "Stop arguing, we don't have the same knowledge as them, just get what we deserve." Pulling Meng Shuangshuang to Rong Daquan.

Rong Daquan pushed forward the tray in his hand: "Miss Ning, take it, don't worry about these people, you won't be able to turn it out of my palm even if the sky breaks."

The silver ingots of twelve and one ingots are neatly arranged in the tray, shining brightly, and they really have the power to deceive people. Ningxi counted five ingots and put them in the bag that he carried with him, and returned the rest to Rong Daquan: "Chef Rong, please share the rest, everyone has a share of the credit for today's affairs."

Rong Daquan embarrassed: "How about that..."

Ning Xi smiled and pulled Meng Shuangshuang away calmly.

With the money, Ozawa's problem of studying was no longer a problem. The next day, Ningxi found a school for him, put on new clothes, put on a new book bag, and went to study at the school.

The stalls at the night market have also stopped. Now that she has money, Meng Shuangshuang will not be allowed to follow her to do all the hard work. Besides, preparations for opening a restaurant should be started as soon as possible.

So in the next few days, Ning Xi began to consciously go shopping to see the storefronts.

Originally, Ningxi's plan was to set up a stall in the night market to make money first, save money to open a small restaurant in Xicheng first, and then slowly make money to open a high-end restaurant in Dongcheng, but now he has made a lot of money all at once. For the money, the transition to opening a small restaurant can be skipped directly. These days, she mainly visits the bustling commercial areas of Dongcheng.

But after a few days of shopping in Dongcheng, Ningxi's enthusiasm was extinguished a lot. The price difference between Dongcheng and Xicheng should be so big!

Originally, her abacus was good, she found a two- or three-story storefront, bought it together with the yard at the back, opened a restaurant in front, and lived with her family, Meng Shuangshuang and Zhang Zhize in the back, even if they lived in the capital. Next, you don't have to worry about when the landlord is unhappy and drives them out.

But after walking around in this circle, Ning Xi's heart was half cold.

I got 500 taels for selling recipes, 1,000 taels for the whole fish feast, plus the 50 taels of bounty I got later, I added up to a total of 1,550 taels of silver.

In the west city, this huge sum of money can buy an entire street, but it can be placed in the east city, but it is only the price of a calligraphy and painting in a calligraphy and painting shop, or a vase in a curios shop.

As for the storefront, it's not a matter of whether she can afford it, but in this place where every inch of land is so expensive, no store will give up the storefront at all.

After struggling for a long time, Ningxi can only retreat and go to some less lively places. The so-called wine is not afraid of deep alleys, the food is delicious, and the restaurant can be opened in a remote place. Yun Lai, Ning Xi could only comfort herself like this.

Meng Shuangshuang, who doesn't have to go to the store, is also worried. These days, she is surrounded by people as soon as she goes out and asks: "When will your lo mei stall open again? That old man in my family hasn't eaten your lo mei for a few days. , I can't sleep well at night."

Meng Shuangshuang actually wanted to say: "Our family Ningxi is going to open a restaurant, and everyone is welcome!"

The problem is that the restaurant opened by their family's Ningxi, they can't afford to go!

I had no choice but to come back and complain to Ningxi: "When we first set up a stall here, we all relied on the help of this group of neighbors, and now we just leave, isn't it a bit unkind?"

"According to you, how can you be kind?" Ning Xi asked.

Meng Shuangshuang couldn't tell: "The restaurant has to be opened, and I can't help you, stay here to set up a stall, alas, if only a reliable person could take over our stall!"

Ning Xi thought: "Yes, let's find someone to take over our booth!"

"But who can have such good craftsmanship as Ning Xi!"

"What's so difficult about this? Find someone who is good and motivated, and I can teach him!"

"Is this also possible?" Meng Shuangshuang said in surprise, "Isn't this a stunt handed down from your family? Can you pass it on to others?"

Ning Xi said with a smile, "Isn't it just that food has to be eaten by more people, so it has meaning? Besides, if it wasn't for these neighborhoods, we wouldn't be able to gain a firm foothold in the capital so quickly. Now that we can repay the neighbors, and let our lo-mei be passed down forever, isn't it the best of both worlds?"

Meng Shuangshuang was convinced: "Ning Xi, you thought it through, but who are we going to pass it on?"

"Shuangshuang, if you just spread the word, you said that we are going to take an exam to recruit apprentices. Anyone who is interested in passing on our lo-mei stall can sign up to participate."

"Recruiting apprentices by exam?" This was fun, Meng Shuangshuang ran out excitedly, dealing with people has always been Meng Shuangshuang's strength, and soon, the news spread throughout the Xicheng Night Market.

Not long after, Meng Shuangshuang ran back excitedly: "Ningxi, many people are interested in our booth, and they all asked how to take the exam."

Ning Xi remembered that she once added fragrance to the eldest young master in her hometown, Hongxiu, and naturally she could read some words, so she said: "Whoever wants to participate should come to you to register first, you register your name, and then every time People can issue a piece of paper with the number on it, and let them come to their home to take the test three days later with the number."

As soon as Meng Shuangshuang heard it, it was simple: "No problem!" After speaking, she went to find a pen and paper.

Ningxi called her back again: "Wait a minute, when you tell them the time to come here, there is a quarter of an hour between everyone, don't come together."

"Why is this, exams, can't we be together? How long does it take to come one by one? It can't be finished in one day!"

"You just follow my arrangement. I have my own reasons. If you can't finish the test in one day, it will take two or three days. This is a big event. You must always find the best."

"Okay, you have the final say!" The girl Meng Shuangshuang, whoever convinces her, she will unconditionally listen to anyone.

In order to prevent both cats and dogs from coming to participate, Ningxi added some screening conditions to Meng Shuangshuang, such as age should not be too old, family conditions should not be too wealthy, healthy and free from infectious diseases, etc.

Meng Shuangshuang took the initiative to ask: "Are there any restrictions on men and women?"

"Of course!"

"What if I have a disability?"

“It is enough to be able to move freely and work. As long as people who are self-reliant are worthy of respect, we can’t look down on others!”

"Good!"

Ning Xi asked Meng Shuangshuang to accept the application, and at the same time made some arrangements, and soon the day of the agreed test came.