The smile on Mr. Jin’s face dissipated a bit, this is a common thing, all businessmen have encountered it, but there is nothing that can be done, even if it is the county governor, he cannot restrict other restaurants from following the trend.
“What then?”
Lu Xing was a little anxious.
“You guys shouldn’t be too anxious, didn’t I just say that other restaurants won’t dare to follow the trend for a while, so we can still make a lot of money.”
The owner and Lu Xing were a little relieved, and Lu Xing said, “Then let’s open early after the New Year.”
The sooner we open, the sooner we can make money.
The owner also nodded and agreed, “Why don’t we set it for the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, we have nothing to do anyway.”
Song Wangyue disagreed, “It’s too early. The staff have been busy for months and are looking forward to a few days off for the New Year.”
“You didn’t see their faces when they heard about the five taels of silver red envelope yesterday.
Song Wangyue smiled, but said, “Let’s open on the tenth day of the first month, so that everyone can rest for a few more days.
She stayed at the restaurant until noon, and asked the shopkeeper Jin to reserve two elegant rooms, one large and one small. When Song Lin and Xu had bought their New Year’s goods, she asked Song Lin to go back and call the guards and Master Song over.
The Ding Guo Mansion treated its subordinates well, especially the guards, who were paid twenty taels of silver a month, which was naturally a lot compared to ordinary families. But that was in the capital, where everything was expensive, and twenty taels was simply not enough to spend, not to mention that they had to save up for a daughter-in-law, so they had always heard that the hotpot was delicious, but had never bothered to go and eat it.
Looking at the plates of mutton that came up, everyone couldn’t help but gulp down their saliva.
Song Wan Yue laughed, “This is our own restaurant, so you can eat as much as you want, just don’t drink.”
The ten people responded in unison, and when Song Wan Yue exited, they eagerly reached out and poured the plate of meat into several pots, stirring it around and seeing the meat change colour, one by one they quickly chucked it into the bowls with the seasoning in front of them.
When she sat down, Song Lin poured a plate of meat into the broth. When the meat was cooked, Xu took chopsticks and put them into the bowl, dipped them in the seasoning and passed them to her mouth.
Song Wan Yue was not used to being fed like this and held out her left hand, “Mother, I’ll do it myself.”
“Mum will feed you.”
Xu insisted on being fed, she couldn’t even imagine how Yue had ridden all the way back after being so badly injured.
Song Lin also said in a jarred voice, “Let your mother feed you, you need to take good care of your injuries and try not to move if you can.”
Old man Song echoed.
Song Wan Yue could only open her mouth and eat.
After eating, Song Lin and Xu went on another shopping trip for New Year’s Eve goods, and by mid-afternoon, they went to pick up Grandma Song and prepare to go home.
When she arrived at home, she called everyone over and opened the door, “I want to bring Qi Ying over to take care of her.”
Song Lin wrinkled his eyebrows, “Mother ……”
He had just said one word when he was interrupted by Grandma Song, “I know what you’re going to say, but you know that Lao San can’t even cook, let alone serve someone. I’m worried that if Lao San’s daughter-in-law doesn’t take good care of her health, she’ll never have children again. Lao-san is cut off from the family, but he’s still my son, I can’t see him being cut off.”
Master Song opened his mouth to say something, but in the end it turned into a sigh.
Qi Ying was his daughter-in-law and naturally he, the father-in-law, could not go to see her when she had a miscarriage, but from what the wife had said when she returned that day, he had also heard that the situation was not good. He didn’t want to bring misfortune to the family because of Qi Ying, but he also didn’t want to let the oldest son die out.
Xu’s heart was softened, “Then let’s take him over, Cui Lan and I can also help look after him.”
Song Wan Yue narrowed her eyes, she had already told Third Uncle yesterday, and naturally Third Uncle couldn’t beg his grandmother, so it could only be Qi Ying.
“Then it’s a deal, I’ll stay, you guys go back first, tidy up my west house properly, and come back tomorrow afternoon to pick us up.”
……
The Border Barracks.
When Song Yin came back, the way the soldiers looked at him changed, and some of the junior soldiers even came up to flatter him, pushing aside Xiao Si, pouring water for him and helping him with his meals. With Song Yin’s skills, he would be promoted sooner or later, and by then they would be personal guards and could also be promoted.
Xiao Si stood with his hands in his pockets, seeing a group of people crowding around his young master, with a face full of glory.
Shen Yan and a group of generals came out of the military tent and saw this scene, coughed and the soldiers surrounding Song Yin immediately dispersed.
“Song Yin, you follow us.”
Song Yin answered, got up and waited where he was, and followed after them when they had passed.
Lieutenant Wei walked at the end, squinting at Song Yin. He couldn’t figure out how he had lost to this kid.
“General, it’s been a bit quiet outside the pass this year.”
A general following Shen Yan spoke up, he was also an old man under King Ruqin and had joined the army a few years earlier than Shen Yan, and had been guarding the border. Every year, people would attack, but this year, there was still no movement, so it was unusual.
“Yes, they are a bit too calm this year.”
The general next to him echoed.
Shen Yan led them up to the city wall and looked into the distance, everywhere was calm and peaceful.
“Send more men to keep watch, and report the situation as soon as you find it.”
“Yes.”
Several generals answered.
“It will be New Year’s Eve in two days ……”
Song Yin’s voice rang out from behind them, and the group turned back in unison. Lieutenant Wei even frowned, and opened his mouth to scold him for talking nonsense, when he heard Song Yin continue, “If they take advantage of the New Year to attack, they will catch us off guard then.”
The words of rebuke stayed in Wei’s throat.
It wasn’t that there wasn’t a possibility!
They had dealt with the people outside the pass for many years and knew how tricky those people were. But if the soldiers were denied leave because of this possibility, the soldiers would definitely have complaints.
Shen Yan looked at Song Yin, “Do you have any ideas?”
When he said this, several of the generals were surprised and could not help but look at Song Yin more closely, wondering what this boy was capable of that he could make the general ask him for ideas.
“Pour water on the city walls, when it forms ice, it will be an unbelievably strong barrier, even if the enemy suddenly comes to attack, we will have time to gather.”
“Good idea!”
Lieutenant Wei’s eyes lit up, and the rest of the generals nodded appreciatively; with ice on the walls, the enemy’s ladders and ropes would not be available, and the sneak attack would be delayed.