She fell out after crying at the wrong grave

Noon, Zhang Hai's residence behind Changqing Tower.

Behind the gate of the mansion is a small scene. Most of the courtyards of many families have adopted this layout.

Zhang Hai has made a lot of money in recent years, so he wants to show his elegance through these details. In fact, he is not an illiterate person, but he looks down on this career while doing business, and always feels that he is not worthy of being in a refined place.

This also explains why he had to get close to Liu Jingming and Wei Guohui. It was as if he would return to the bottom of society if he stopped associating with officials.

Ah'ao has seen many people who pick up the bowl to eat and then put the bowl down to curse their mothers.

Seeing the guests coming into the hall one after another, she stood behind the door where the servants were walking, leaning against the door frame and watching. There were quite a few people holding Zhang Hai's place, and the open space at the door was specially reserved for displaying the guests' gifts, which were now piled up like a small mountain.

What a bizarre Western scene. I remember that when she was in the capital, she often went to Yanqinglou to drink tea and buy snacks. No matter who she gave gifts to, she would choose different kinds of exquisite tea and snacks according to their tastes. I don't know how much money she contributed to the shopkeeper.

Even so, the merchants on Suzaku Street in the capital were still cautious in doing their duty and would never dare to overstep the line and communicate with officials of all ranks in the court.

Perhaps the business in the capital is not prosperous, and there are no good conditions for trade like Kezhou.

This is a shortcoming that must be acknowledged. In addition to the uncertain amount of farming each year, even the imperial court needs to develop commerce to fill the treasury.

As the saying goes, if the top beam is not straight, the bottom beam will be crooked. The court treated the merchants like Kezhou and Yuanzhou, which had great military achievements, and they were also assholes who put down their bowls and cursed their mothers. Therefore, it is almost normal to see this kind of self-deprecation among the merchants at the bottom.

The teachings that Ah-yi received from Huai Chengbai were rarely mixed with the rigid doctrines of saints. If one wants to achieve prosperity through practical work, then money is indispensable.

People work hard for money and want to have enough food to eat, so what's so inferior about that?

Ah'ao looked at the guests in front of her who were being polite and feigning compliments, then turned and walked towards the kitchen.

Her duties were almost completed, and the next step was to go to the kitchen to supervise the cooking.

Zhang Hai's family was originally a restaurant, so it would have been best for him to take care of this kind of thing himself. But Zhang Hai, who was proud of the money he had spent, wanted to put on airs and threw everything to Shui Changdong.

Even the dishes for the banquet were decided upon by Ah-yi and the chef when she went to Changqing Tower that day.

Although it sounded like a humiliating order, all the money was included in the remuneration. Ah'an treated Boss Zhang as her second parent and handled the matter respectfully.

The man went around to the back kitchen, where the air was filled with steam, and the sounds of footsteps and conversations were mixed together, yet in an orderly manner. This was the style of the back kitchen of a large restaurant.

Ah-yi came to urge the dishes to be served at the request of the housekeeper. The housekeeper looked anxious at that time and said that the distinguished guest of the master had arrived and the dishes for the distinguished guest's table should be served first.

The chef wiped his hands on the white cloth at his waist and crossed out the items that were ready on the list with a pen. "It's ready. Please follow the chef's wife to serve the dishes."

A row of neatly dressed maids were holding solemn lacquer plates, which were first cooled and then heated, very elegantly. Ah-yi followed them and walked towards the banquet hall.

As Ah'ao stepped halfway across the threshold, loud laughter suddenly broke into her ears.

In the hall, the person wearing bright clothes was Zhang Hai. He put down his airs and smiled as attentively as those good dogs in Changqiu Prison.

It's inviting people to sit down.

When I looked over, I was quite surprised to see Wei Guohui.

But when you look again, it's even more surprising.

The man sitting on top of this chair, dressed in black with a relaxed and casual look on his face, was actually Heng Zhi.

Ah'ao took a look and quickly lowered her head.

As we drink and chat, I just hope these people never recognize my face.

But in fact, Hengzhi saw her at the first sight, standing at the end of the group of people carrying dishes, with her chest hunched and her head lowered. Even if he couldn't see her face, Hengzhi could recognize her just by seeing her outline.

The gentle touch of that night seemed to reappear before my eyes.

He withdrew his gaze and let Zhang Hai fill the wine glass in front of him.

"My humble abode is honored to have the young marquis here in person!" Zhang Hai's face turned red, and he raised his glass. "Zhang Hai offers you a glass to thank you for your presence!"

Heng Qi tilted his head to look at the cup, ignored him, and casually curled the corners of his mouth, "What are you talking about, Shopkeeper Zhang? Wei Gongcao is my right-hand man, so his friends are naturally my friends as well."

After saying that, he distracted himself and gave Wei Guohui a look, then said slowly, "When a friend's family is having a happy event, how can I not come to congratulate him?" He took off the jade he was wearing today from his waist and handed it to Zhang Hai, "For the child."

A'an, who was far away, saw that he didn't seem to feel sorry at all and breathed a sigh of relief.

If this piece of jade fell into her hands, she would destroy the IOU. How generous she was. However, she was just a shopkeeper at the moment, so she could only keep calm and make a few sarcastic remarks in her heart.

Heng Zhi seemed to have seen her tilt her head slightly out of the corner of his eye, as if he was looking down on her, so his smile at least added a bit of sincerity. Wei Guohui and Zhang Hai were somewhat related by marriage, and Heng Zhi had known this for a long time. Earlier, because he had no real power, he ignored it and pretended not to know.

Fatten these people up, and then they will be your treasury when you need them.

However, how to obtain it also requires careful methods and techniques.

"Thank you for the reward, young marquis!" Zhang Hai straightened his back in his heart when his hand touched the jade, and then he respectfully greeted, "Come here, show me the dishes!"

Ah-yi responded and led the group over to arrange the dishes on the table. There were not enough people, so in order to finish the job quickly, Ah-yi even arranged the dishes herself.

"Isn't this Miss Cui from East Street?" Wei Guohui suppressed his smile and was not very happy to see her. "Why, you can't do business anymore, so you went to Zhang the shopkeeper?"

Ah-an, with her plain face, looked as calm as clear water. She had been worried recently, and her eyes were dark blue, showing how hard she worked every day.

Fortunately, none of them had ever seen the young marquis' wife. Whether it was for marriage or winter hunting, these people's official ranks were not high enough. Wei Guohui had never seen her before, and only thought she was the yellow-haired girl from East Street who ruined the good thing.

Ah'ao stood up straight, too lazy to pay attention to him, and put on a harmless smile, looking at every pair of eyes present as if to save all living beings.

"Ah." Zhang Hai tactfully refuted his brother-in-law's words, "Master Wei, you don't know that this Shui Changdong's shopkeeper was hired by me to take care of the banquet. She was very attentive from beginning to end, and was really very considerate!"

Zhang Hai was very proud at the moment, and he was very happy to see everyone. Besides, Cui Yi was hired by him to do the work, so how could he let Wei Guohui lose face in front of others? Naturally, he defended her.

Ah-yi was very pleased with these words. With so many people present, Zhang Hai's praise had invisibly given Shui Changdong a reputation. Even if he had to work hard on this task today, he was willing to do it and even worked harder.

"Oh?" Hearing this, Heng Zhi raised his eyes and looked at the person with pretended interest, "Really? That lady is really a person you should look at with new eyes after a day of absence."

Ah-yi lowered her clothes, neither humble nor overbearing, and said, "Young Marquis, you are so kind."

Zhang Hai was stunned. Did these two know each other? That would make him look even more discerning!
At this moment, who cares about Wei Guohui who is being humiliated on the side? All eyes are turned to these three people.

"Manager Zhang, you don't know yet, right? Manager Cui hired a lot of people to clean up the frozen snow on East Street in winter." A voice suddenly came from the crowd, "I also went to the carpenter to order the same tools, which is much more labor-saving than using a shovel!"

"It turns out that Manager Cui is such a kind-hearted person. I am so disrespectful." As he said this, Zhang Hai actually bowed and saluted, trying his best to make a good impression in front of Hengzhi.

Wei Guohui's face turned pale. It was not easy for him to ask Liu Jingming to settle this matter for him. Who would want to keep thinking about the things that were exposed?
Why is she everywhere?

"Manager Zhang runs a grand restaurant, so naturally he has a good vision. This marquis even wants to buy a property in Changqing Building and make some private money." Heng Zhi looked cynical, as if he was drunk and talking nonsense.

After hearing what he said, the people around him also started talking and laughing in an inappropriate manner.

He first said this kind word, and then said, "I have always heard that you are responsible for handling happy events, but I have something that is not a happy event right now. I wonder if you can take it?"

A'ao looked up at him.

Hengzhi slumped in his chair, not looking serious at all. He mingled with the crowd, like a young master who had reserved the entire place tonight, a playboy who was born and raised in a den of brothels.

But the expression in his eyes revealed admiration, which was clear and distinct, without any other emotion at all.

Besides, when we are together normally, that kind of inexplicable feeling...

Before she could find the words to describe it, Zhang Hai poked her, reminding her to reply quickly.

"Oh!" Ah-yi quickly agreed, "It's the young marquis's business, I will naturally do my best and do everything I can to help."

"No problem." Heng Qi raised his hand and someone refilled his glass of wine. "Don't disturb Shopkeeper Zhang's wedding. I'll send someone to tell you more later."

This naturally helped her build another business, and the current difficult situation seemed to be solved.

Ah's heart was vaguely touched. There really must be some strong comradeship between them, otherwise how could they be so in tune with each other and help each other to this extent?
But how can there be two loyal comrades who have kissed each other in this world? Explaining it like this seems to be trying to cover up the truth.

"So... your property purchase?" Zhang Hai asked thoughtfully, but was afraid that the other person was just in a spur of the moment mood. He was in a dilemma and hesitated.

Hengzhi's chopsticks were stretched to the plate of pickled peanuts in front of him, as if he didn't consider himself a stranger. When the people at the table saw the young marquis start eating, they all picked up their chopsticks and really started the feast.

"Let's talk while we eat."

From time to time, he glanced at A'an opposite him, arranged the dishes, and was about to slip away quietly.

The door next to it was narrow and hidden, and the figure that had been depicted countless times disappeared silently behind the maroon door frame.

(End of this chapter)