"But in our hearts, you are." Hearing this, Gu Qingzhu's heart was sour, but he didn't dare to show it.

There was a wordless silence, and in the silence, the sound of the wind blowing in the treetops outside could be heard.

After a while, Gu Shifu yawned: "Qingzhu, you go to bed early, Ming'er will officially open the store." ”

"Okay." Gu Qingzhu took the needle and went out through the door.

It was early in the summer day, the morning light was faint, Gu Qingzhu, who was full of joy, couldn't sleep anymore, as soon as she moved, the big girl and Zhao Di next to her also woke up, the three of them looked at each other and smiled, got up together, and quietly closed the door and went out.

It was too early at this time, just now, Qingying was still asleep, and after they washed up briefly, they whispered to Gu Shifu through the door, and hurried to the noodle restaurant with a bamboo basket on their backs.

At this time, the heat is about to pass, the weather is divided into morning and evening, the wind in the morning is already slightly cool, blowing very comfortable, the mood of the three is excited and urgent, the morning market has just opened, Gu Qingzhu bought half a fresh pork leg and some onions, garlic and vegetables with Mercury, along the way, the steps are in a hurry, and even the words are less, and there is no time to enjoy the scenery along the way.

Passing through Pear Blossom Lane, I saw the firecracker crumbs set off last night scattered in front of the Ding family's noodle restaurant, red and red, as if pomegranate flowers blooming all over the ground, Gu Qingzhu opened the door, and saw that the two people who slept soundly last night were no longer there, and only heard the sound of chopping wood from the backyard.

"Brother Kui, where is Brother Mancang?" Gu Daya turned around, didn't see anyone, and asked with some surprise.

Fang Kui spat in the palm of his hand, rubbed it, and continued to pick up the axe and chop: "When you came, could you see that the black horse with white hooves outside was still there?" If not, he's gone. ”

"The door didn't open, why did he leave?" Gu Daya lowered her head and muttered.

Fang Kui moved neatly, splitting the stumps one by one with an axe, and he said with a smile: "If such a low wall wants to stop Mancang, then why is he still messing around in the yamen." ”

The sound of chopping meat came from the kitchen.

Fang Kui pouted at her: "Don't miss your brother, don't go and help!" ”

"Brother Kui!" The eldest girl was annoyed and ashamed, her face was red, she bit her lip and turned away.

After a night, the dough was fluffy and soft, Gu Qingzhu kneaded the dough on the table, kneaded the agent, and Zhao Di changed the meat to a knife and chopped it into minced meat.

"Big girl, you light the stove first and boil the pork bone soup." When Gu Qingzhu saw her come in, he turned his head and ordered.

"Okay." Gu Daya didn't say a word, she went out with the stove, and there was a choking smell of fireworks in the courtyard.

After a while, bubbles began to bubble from the large clay bowl on the stove, and the smell of broth came out.

Gu Qingzhu cut the green onion and ginger and the meat filling, mixed well, added salt to taste, everything was ready, the three of them made the buns together, and Gu Qingzhu taught her what Ding taught her to the eldest girl and Zhao Di without reservation.

Fang Kui stacked the chopped firewood on the wall, and saw that the four or five layers of large steaming drawers on the table were erected, which were taller than people, so he stood on the small stool, helped the layers to go up, turned around and went to the stove to light the fire, and after a short time, the dense water vapor filled the entire kitchen.

Today is the first day of her opening, Gu Qingzhu didn't dare to make too much, wrapped two more drawers of buns, and used up the meat filling, and the remaining noodles were all cut into steamed buns and filled with three drawers.

At this time, a few people had to sit down and drink a bowl of porridge, and after eating, Gu Qingzhu then made another half bowl of noodles, noodles, dumpling skins, and wonton skins were still waiting to be rolled.

Gu Daya kneaded the dough, Gu Qingzhu rolled the skin, Zhao Di adjusted the filling, and the three of them each did the same very quickly, and then, cut noodles, make dumplings, and pinch wontons, everything was thoughtful.

When the aroma of the first pot of meat buns permeated the Pear Blossom Alley, which had just been awakened by the mild sunshine, the early risers around pushed open the window, sniffed deeply, and said secretly in their hearts: "Ding's is back!" ”

The sun that struggled to leap out of the sea of clouds, without the heat of midsummer, the faint sunlight shone on the dew drops on the tips of the grass, and the crystal water droplets refracted the colorful light.

The woman who returned from shopping for vegetables with a basket stood still in front of the noodle shop, took out a few pennies to buy three or five meat buns or steamed buns, and went back to eat with the congee and side dishes, and an old woman with a young child asked for a bowl of fragrant wontons, and they were very surprised and hesitated to see that the seller was not an old acquaintance Ding, but a completely strange girl.

Gu Qingzhu had to do every business, whether it was a steamed bun or a bowl of clear water noodles, she had to say again and again that she was a new apprentice of the Ding family, and she had just taken over the noodle restaurant, and she asked the neighbors to take care of the clouds.

Fortunately, there was a smell to testify, and although the neighbors were skeptical for a while, they did not say anything more.

When it came to lunch, some old customers came to the door, and they were just as unbelievable, and the most asked question was still that sentence, the noodle restaurant had changed?

Gu Qingzhu had to repeat it patiently, but fortunately, whether it was steamed buns or noodles and dumplings, they were still the old taste in their memories, and the hungry people accepted Ding's regret of returning to their hometown after listening to her explanation.

But some guests, Gu Qingzhu really can't cope with it, some people are used to eating three fresh noodles without fungus, some people love to eat wontons and add more shrimp skin, some prefer spicy taste, and some people don't want coriander.

These old customers are in the hands of Ding's family, after more than ten years, as long as she sees people, although she doesn't know who her surname is, just a familiar face, and she doesn't need to say much, she knows their preferences, soft or hard faces, whether they add fried eggs or poached eggs, they are all extremely ironed properly.

And at this time, Gu Qingzhu had to ask one by one with a smiling face, there were those who were easy to talk to, and there were still questions and answers, which ones were temperamental and unreasonable, and when they saw the wrong pasta, they got up and scolded, and there were a few who brushed their sleeves away.

At this time, Gu Qingzhu has to say all the good things and keep them many times, whether it is a discount or a redo, just to retain diners.

She tries to remember those fat or thin, white or black faces, and connects them with those different requirements one by one, which is very brain-wracking, but if she wants to do better business tomorrow, she has to practice Ding's ability to "see people below".

In the afternoon, the diners were gone, and the four of them could finally sit down and rest, but they didn't want to eat at all, because they were reluctant to pour the bowls of noodles that went wrong at noon, and they all ate them, and they still hold on to them.

"Qingzhu, Ming'er can't go wrong again!" Fang Kui leaned back in his chair and lamented.

When he was at home, he usually couldn't eat enough because of poverty, but now for the first time, he knows that he is so uncomfortable after eating!

"Well, you'll be on my hand then, too." Gu Qingzhu wiped the sweat on his head.

It's really not easy to do business, the four of them are so busy that they can't match the thoughtfulness of the Ding family alone.

The eldest girl went to the kitchen and ordered two large bowls of dumplings, and together with Zhao Di, she delivered food to the three people in the inn.

Gu Qingzhu was not idle for a moment, stir-frying side dishes, making toppings, boiling chili oil, and was busy like a spinning top.

There were not many diners in the evening, but Gu Qingzhu saw a few guests who came at noon, thought about their hobbies carefully, and occasionally had a special one, and asked intentionally, but there was no accident.

Noodles and dumplings were quickly sold out, steamed buns were cheap and gone, but there were still a lot of meat buns left, and such a summer day definitely couldn't be put on tomorrow.

Seeing that it was getting late, and fewer and fewer people came to buy noodles, Gu Qingzhu looked at the two drawers of buns and was worried.

"Brother Mancang said that the lantern craftsmen are coming these days, so I might as well carry these buns to Dongshi to try my luck!" Gu Qingzhu's eyes flashed slightly, and he said to them.

"Will this work?" Fang Kui was worried.

"It doesn't work, I only know after trying it, if the East Market can't be sold, I'll look elsewhere, there will always be some people who will buy some." Gu Qingzhu said, and began to use oiled paper to wrap the buns five or five together.

"It's getting dark, let's go together." The eldest girl never doubted Gu Qingzhu's decision, and when she saw her say this, she also helped clean it up.

Gu Qingzhu left most of the last drawer of buns, turned around and said, "Brother Kui, you take these buns back to the inn for dinner today." ”

"Otherwise, I'll go with you." Fang Kui was a little uneasy, and twisted his eyebrows.

Gu Qingzhu chuckled: "Forget it, let's go with our girls, if you stand behind me, like a guard, who would dare to buy buns!" ”

"Yes." Fang Kui scratched his head and replied in a muffled voice.

Gu Qingzhu and the three of them packed up and went to the East Market together, at this time, there were several business stewards who arrived early in the booth of choosing lanterns, accompanied by the head of the county office, and he was followed by two officials carrying lime buckets, who were about to draw the selected location.

Lantern booth is very important, if it is too remote, there are few people to play, and the popularity is not high, not to mention the top three in the competition, therefore, the famous businesses in the country will send the steward in advance to make a reservation, and the lantern craftsman will arrive a day or two late.

The prefect is responsible for registering the exhibitors, and will charge different fees according to the location and size of the selected booth, and all the money must be handed over to the prefect.

Gu Qingzhu put the basket on a big stone and shouted with a smile: "Sell meat buns, big meat buns of the Ding family's noodle restaurant!" ”

The sound of the crisp warbler quickly attracted the attention of the crowd, at this moment, the sky will be dark before dark, and the people who have been busy all day are already hungry, how can they resist the temptation of the aroma of meat buns.

It just so happened that the two officials with buckets came to eat last night, and they instigated the manager of the booth: "This big meat bun of Dingjia noodle restaurant, with a large filling and thin skin, is delicious, it is one of the best delicacies in Nancang County, it is rare for you to come, if you don't taste it, it will be a pity." ”

The few places selected by the steward before were rejected by the master on the grounds that he had a master, and he was depressed and couldn't find a suitable opportunity to get close to the master box, and when he heard the words, he bowed down and hugged his fists and asked: "Yang master Bo, you have worked hard today, let's eat something and rest?" ”

Yang Lizhao was bored in his heart, Cui Fu told him early in the morning that he was on duty to have a drink, but he was still trapped here at this time, and Cui Fu probably didn't know it yet, he was anxious, and his stomach was not angry, and when he heard that he had eaten, he couldn't help but grunt.

He clenched his fists to cover the corners of his mouth and coughed heavily to cover up: "Cough, okay, I'm not hungry, and my brothers should be hungry too." ”

The steward immediately sent the guys around him to Gu Qingzhu to buy seven or eight packs of steamed buns and distributed them to everyone, who was really hungry, plus the meat buns were really fragrant, and everyone scattered with oiled paper buns, and ate them one by one.

A servant hesitated to Gu Qingzhu and said: "The rest of yours, it's better to go to the dock to sell, the Song family's gold and silverware will only arrive in the evening, and the coolies are busy unloading, and they don't have time to eat at all, they must be so hungry that their chests are close to their backs!" ”