"Puhahahahaha......"
Yan Qinghe burst out laughing, spraying the noodles he had just put in his mouth all over Li Shuchen's clothes.
Under Li Shuchen's murderous gaze, Yan Qinghe shrank his neck and said weakly, "...Sorry, I couldn't hold it in."
After a moment, he couldn't suppress his laughter again.
Laughing and pounding the table, he said, "Shuchen, you didn't even eat a single noodle, yet you said it was delicious hahahahaha...at least try a few bites before praising it!"
"From the way you eat, I can tell the taste is good."
After retorting, Li Shuchen disdainfully brushed off the noodles on his clothes, got up, and went home to change.
After he left, the noodle tasting activity continued.
In the end, the noodles cooked by Tao Su conquered everyone's stomachs and received unanimous praise.
"Miss Qi, everyone approves of me now, so can I go cook noodles?"
"Wait until I hire someone to wash dishes, then you can go to the kitchen and cook noodles."
Qi Huan kept her word and immediately went to the counter to find paper and pen, asking Xiu Wen to write a job posting to be put up outside the noodle shop.
After dinner, she also asked Yan Qinghe to escort Little Shitou and others to the Yunying Caravan. Yan Qinghe was Li Shuchen's man and was familiar with the caravan, so he was tasked with taking Little Shitou and others to lodge there.
After they left, Qi Huan and Heizi also set off on their way home.
Halfway through their journey, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them. Heizi quickly darted forward, happily wagging its tail as it ran.
The only person that could make it so affectionate must be Li Shuchen.
Realizing this, Qi Huan quickened her pace and smiled as she caught up.
"Li Shuchen, why aren't you at home?"
"I came to pick you up."
Though his tone was calm, Qi Huan sensed a hint of warmth.
"Thank you, Li Shuchen. ...It feels nice to be cared for."
The corner of Li Shuchen's lips curved slightly, and as he glanced at her expression from the corner of his eye, he casually explained:
"At dinner, I didn't explain clearly. I praised Tao Su not because of her culinary skills, nor was I just being polite, but rather I wanted her to take over your duties.
Here is a thousand taels of silver, take it and buy whatever you like. If you can't find what you want in Mo County, just let the Yunying Caravan know.
...From now on, I will provide for you, so you don't have to work so hard every day."
"But I can support myself, why should I rely on you?"
After being rejected, Li Shuchen's brows gradually furrowed.
After pondering for a moment, he said, "Because you are the little fairy who descended for me. My little fairy, of course I should provide for you."
The man before her spoke with conviction, his eyes as gentle and warm as the spring breeze in March, rippling the pool of spring water in her heart.
Qi Huan pinched the palm of her hand, forcing herself to calm down.
Unable to calm down, she decided to chat with the System to divert her attention.
"System, don't you think Li Shuchen was being quite flirtatious today?"
"No. ...He wasn't flirting with me."
"......"
While chatting with the System, she was suddenly bumped by the rambunctious Heizi.
On the snowy and slippery road, she lost her balance and began flailing her limbs in panic. Soon, she was caught in a warm embrace.
Seeing them hugging, Heizi wanted to join the fun too.
With a sudden pounce, it knocked the two who had just regained their footing down again.
Heizi: .......
Qi Huan: .......
Li Shuchen: .......
As their bodies were about to hit the ground, Li Shuchen couldn't muster enough force to use his lightness skill, so he twisted around and cushioned her fall with his body.
Qi Huan's forehead struck his lips, breaking the skin.
She touched her forehead, looking at the red blood on his lips with remorse in her eyes.
Li Shuchen, however, didn't seem to mind at all as he licked the blood off his lips.
...The handsome man licking his lips was quite alluring.
Qi Huan hastily averted her gaze, scrambling to her feet and then extending a hand to help him up.
After Li Shuchen stood up, she tried to let go of his hand, but he held it tightly.
"The road is slippery, hold my hand."
The wind and snow ahead remained the same, but with a companion by her side, the wind and snow became a beautiful sight.
"Li Shuchen, I plan to make Tao Su the chef. I'll also hire an accountant, so I can set you free too, alright?"
"Alright."
"Li Shuchen, Little Shitou and the others can't read, so they can't understand the takeout order book, it's too time-consuming and laborious. Could you teach them to read when you're free?"
"Alright. ...It seems you also don't know the common characters."
"Then can you teach me as well?"
"Alright."
The man's deep voice sounded particularly clear in the quiet night, as if he would say 'alright' to whatever she said.
After returning home, Qi Huan's heart pounded for a long time.
Eventually, she took out the silver from her space and counted it, distracting herself from the fluttering in her heart.
In less than a month, she had earned a total of twenty-three taels of silver. In Mo County, this was already a considerable income.
Including the one hundred taels of diagnosis fee given by Mrs. Lu earlier, she still had fifty-six taels left. Combined, it was a sizeable sum.
However, aspiring to become a wealthy lady, Qi Huan was not satisfied with her current situation and began to consider new side businesses.
Scanning the items in her space, she slowly got an idea.
"Previously, I got a spice box with chili powder, five-spice powder, and cumin powder that I haven't used yet.
Selling spices directly wouldn't work, as only the Ruyi Restaurant has the capacity to purchase them, but I don't want to cooperate with them.
Using them to sell barbecue would be too costly and wouldn't fit the noodle shop's positioning. I'll consider that once I have a restaurant in the future.
...But now I can use them to make spicy snacks!
...However, I'm still missing some ingredients. System, can you check how many points I have left? I want to redeem more deliveries and see what luck brings!"
"Of course, Host. Your current balance is 2599."
"Redeem them all."
Swish swish --
Two deliveries appeared out of thin air.
"Huh? Why are there only two this time?"
