Peng Shuo's face was beaming with joy. "To be honest, sister-in-law, we plan to develop here for the long term. We've also brought the chefs from our original restaurant and are ready to showcase our skills. I heard from that kid Murong Sheng that his current restaurant is raking in gold every day."
This made them incredibly envious. Upon receiving Murong Sheng's letter, they began their preparations overnight.
On one hand, they had Murong Sheng find a shop, and on the other, they managed matters in their hometown. They rushed here without delay.
Unfortunately, they ran into Li Sisi halfway.
She had also run away from her arranged marriage. They knew each other because she was selling milk tea. Being in the same town and both offering novel food items, they naturally paid more attention to each other.
As fate would have it, both parties were looking for Fan Zehao, and they ended up traveling together.
Zhao Jiaqi was very supportive of this. She said, "That's great! With Brother Sheng, the experienced one, the restaurant's opening should be smoother."
After a period of conversation, Zhao Jiaqi also inquired about her godfather and learned that he would be coming to seek refuge with Xie Kun after the New Year. This meant that all their old acquaintances would soon meet in the capital.
Peng Shuo exchanged glances with the other two. Peng Shuo chuckled, stood up, and said, "General, Madam, we'll take our leave now. We'll bother you again when we have time!"
"Come anytime, don't say 'bother'. We're all familiar with each other," Fan Zehao replied with a smile as he saw them off.
When fellow villagers meet, the warmth is especially palpable, and their farewells are tinged with a bit of reluctance.
After they left, Li Sisi and Zhao Jiaqi sat together, the two sisters having endless things to talk about.
"How is Uncle Li? Is Auntie well?"
Li Sisi replied, "They're doing well. Father often misses you and wonders when he'll get to eat your cooking again."
Zhao Jiaqi laughed, "I never realized Uncle Li was such a glutton!"
"I only found out after my sister-in-law passed away!" Li Sisi candidly spoke about her father.
Upon hearing that she had run away from an arranged marriage, Zhao Jiaqi couldn't help but worry for her. "If you don't like it, why didn't you tell Uncle Li honestly? A young girl traveling alone such a long distance, aren't you afraid of any accidents on the road?"
"I did tell him! But Father thought the family was well-off, saying I wouldn't have to worry about food or clothing if I married into their family. He completely disregarded whether I liked it or not, so I just ran away. If Father likes it, he can marry her himself. I'm not going back anyway."
Having spent a lot of time with Zhao Jiaqi, her temperament had also become somewhat like hers, bold and decisive.
She had run away from her arranged marriage, showing none of the submissiveness of ancient women.
The parents' orders and the matchmaker's words held no sway with Li Sisi.
Now, even if Li Wencai, the father, regretted it and beat his thighs, it would be useless. His daughter was gone.
That evening, Li Chuang and Fan Xiaofeng returned. Upon hearing of Li Sisi's brave act, one laughed and praised her courage, while the other angrily slammed the table, wishing he could tie up his sister and give her a good beating.
"Alright, write a letter home tonight and tell Uncle Li that Sisi has arrived safely and that you two elders need not worry!"
Zhao Jiaqi's command silenced Li Chuang's urge to discipline her. He sat back down on the chair and said, "Yes, I'll write it after dinner."
She glanced sideways and saw Sisi making faces at Li Chuang. Zhao Jiaqi suppressed a smile and feigned anger, scolding her, "If you upset your brother again, I'll find someone to send you back immediately."
Upon hearing that she would be sent away, Li Sisi immediately wilted and pouted, shaking Zhao Jiaqi's sleeve. "No, sister-in-law, I'll be good!"
One meal had its share of joy and sorrow.
Main courtyard.
Late at night, after the couple had shared an intimate moment, Fan Zehao, embracing Zhao Jiaqi, finally asked about her being bullied.
"When did you plan to keep it from me?"
His abrupt question left her stunned for a long while before she understood what he was referring to.
She nestled in Fan Zehao's arms and chuckled lightly, "I wasn't keeping it from you. I just forgot. Besides, the Emperor has already dealt with it."
It had, in a way, publicly shamed the Marquis of Ningyuan's estate. Now, everyone in the capital knew about it, and no one was bothering her anymore, which was good.
While his wife's resentment had dissipated, his own anger had not.
He let out a cold snort. "The heir of the Marquis of Ningyuan? Humph, I'll make him a monkey this time and see if he can still be arrogant."
She sat up slightly, looking at the murderous glint in his eyes, and knitted her brows. "You're not allowed to act recklessly. The Emperor has already resolved the matter. If you go looking for trouble again, won't it imply that you are dissatisfied with the Emperor's judgment?"
"I'm telling you, you must not be complacent because of your meritorious service in saving the Emperor or your victories on the battlefield. If you do, let alone whether we can return to being commoners, I fear for our very lives. Do you understand?"
He listened to his wife's admonishment.
However, the anger in his heart remained unvented, and he was unwilling to let it go. It seemed he would have to find an opportunity to emulate the civil officials and attack when he was down.
Seeing his wife's anxiety, he quickly comforted her. "I understand. I will live a low-key life. I won't become arrogant because of a few victories, nor will I suffer the fate of the cunning rabbit being cooked once the hounds are no longer needed, or the good bow being put away once the birds are gone."
He might be simple-minded, but he wasn't truly foolish!
Reassured by his promise, Zhao Jiaqi lay back down, quietly listening to his heartbeat, and said in a soft voice, "I don't seek great wealth or status. I only wish for our family to be safe."
"Yes, we will be!"
As they talked, they drifted off to sleep. Fan Zehao gently laid her down on the bed, caressed her face, and, thinking of her words, made a decision in his heart.
Once everything had settled, he would resign from his post and return to his hometown, living a leisurely life with his wife, children, and parents.
The next day, Zhao Jiaqi woke up late. The sun was already high in the sky.
Rubbing her sore waist, she muttered curses at those who went to court, lamenting that such grown men had no self-control.
Li Sisi skipped over to her, teasing, "Sister-in-law, it's likely that Yumeng will have a younger brother or sister to keep her company next year."
Zhao Jiaqi flicked her forehead. "Get out of here! A young lady speaking such immodest words. Be careful you don't end up unmarried!"
"I'm not afraid."
She wasn't afraid of marriage itself, only of whether she wanted to marry.
Too lazy to argue with her, Zhao Jiaqi led her to Li Chuang's noodle shop. The place was packed, and Li Chuang was so busy he looked like he could have been in two places at once.
"The shop next door is the dumpling restaurant opened by your Brother Xiaofeng. Go take a look!"
Both establishments were doing very well. Sisi entered the dumpling restaurant and looked at the price list on the wall. The vegetarian dumplings were about twenty-five copper coins per plate.
In the middle of winter, being able to eat dumplings with vegetables for twenty-five copper coins was not expensive.
Outside, fresh vegetables were selling for forty to fifty copper coins a pound. Even with money, you had to be early to get them; otherwise, they'd be sold out.
The meat dumplings were around thirty-five copper coins. Dumplings with lamb, fish, or shrimp were more expensive. Each plate had about thirty dumplings.
They were thin-skinned, generously filled, and quite large, offering substantial value, which explained their popularity.
Li Sisi frowned. She felt her sister-in-law wouldn't be so bored as to send her to look at her brother's and Fan Xiaofeng's shops for no reason.
"Sister-in-law, is there something you want to tell me?"