Chapter 956: Candy Sticks

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The attic had been divided into two rooms by Sifu. One was the accountant’s room, and the other was to keep rice noodles.

Of course, the accounting room was much smaller than the room where the rice noodles were kept.

There was a well in the backyard and a barn; but there were only three small rooms in the back. One room had been converted into a kitchen, one room was for men, and the other for women. There was a long brick bed in the room where the people lived — it was just like sleeping in a shared bed. If a few people were transferred to help out in this shop, it would be enough to house all of them.

Last night, Xue Sifu and Xue Dagui slept on the long bed in the men’s room.

Unlike the shops in the town, which had many rooms, Xue Sifu could only arrange for Hongguo and Daxi to stay in the same room when they worked in the shop. Now, there were too few rooms, so they could only make do with it.

When noon arrived, Xue Sifu had the firecrackers set off.

The firecrackers crackled non- stop.

This time, because Xue Da did not come, when the red silk on the board was removed, Xue Dafu and Liu Guixia were the ones that held each end with a smile. Jiang Yue, Xue Yan, Xue Sifu, Xue Yifu, Xue Erfu, and Yu Hongyan held Xue Shi— which was holding on to Xue Shi — all pulled the other end of the red silk. Then, the family happily removed the red silk together, revealing the board of Xue’s Rice Noodles. There was a small sentence engraved under the board, Xinyuan Branch.

The words were written by Xue Yan.

Although Xue Sifu had never come to the county to sell rice noodles before, many steamed bun shops in the county had gone to the Xue’s Rice Noodle Shop in Pingan Town to buy rice noodles as the stuffing for the buns. That was why many people in the county had eaten rice noodles and buns before and knew what rice noodles were. They were no strangers to the grand opening either as it was promoted well beforehand.

It was time for lunch.

The street where the shop was located had a lot of people. It had just opened, but the two tables were already full.

Business was indeed much better than in town, but the shop was too small to fit everyone.

When the seats were full, there was no place to sit. Many people could only go to other shops to eat.

Thankfully, a few of them bought the dried rice noodles before leaving.

Xue Sifu couldn’t handle being alone behind the counter. It was only when Xue Yifu and Xue Erfu went behind the counter to help him weigh the dried rice noodles that they were able to handle it.

Xue Dafu and the others were not idle either. When they saw where they needed help, they happily helped.

Jiang Yue and Xue Yan also wanted to help, but the shop was small. No matter how many people came to eat and buy, there was only that much s.p.a.ce to move around. They didn’t need their help at all. Liu Guixia even coaxed them, “You’re standing here blocking the way. Go out and play. The county is much livelier than the town. Look at the many people on the street. There must be more fun where the kids are running off to.”

Jiang Yue and Xue Yan had no choice but to leave their shop.

The county was bustling. Jiang Yue and Xue Yan walked and stopped on the streets, strolling casually.

They came to a small stall selling candy figurines. There were many lively candy figurines on the stall. Many children surrounded them, clamoring for adults to buy them. The old man selling candy figurines was still blowing the candy figurines. After a while, the man blew out a round and cute little pig candy figurine. Thinking of Xue Shi, they bought a little pig candy figurine and a little monkey candy figurine for him. They planned to give the child one in each hand to play with on the way back home.

They had just bought the sugar figurine. Jiang Yue held it and Xue Yan paid. Before the two of them left the sugar figurine stall, they saw a young man walk up to them and shout in a low voice, “Xue Yan, Jiang Yue.”

They knew this young man. They had met him before at Quanping Inn. He was one of Shao Zhongxi’s subordinates.

Jiang Yue and Xue Yan knew that something had happened and followed the youth to an empty alley.

Only then did this youth hurriedly report to Xue Yan, “Your Highness, Shao

Zhongxi has sent me to report that the Empress Dowager will arrive at

Xinyuan County this afternoon..”