Xiao Baoshan was thinking of confronting this Young Master Zhang and teaching him a good lesson. On second thought, Young Master Zhang had offended Lord Wong so he must also be having a hard time now as when he went back his pa he would be disciplining him well, so he tended not to come and cause any trouble for Ye Xiaoxian anymore. Xiao Baoshan then dispensed with the idea of going to find Young Master Zhang.
The next day, in the afternoon, he went to the woods in front of the government office and met up with his previous handymen coworkers. After exchanging small talk, Xiao Baoshan then asked some of his close pals to drop by Ye Xiaoxian’s restaurant sometimes and take care of her business. The handymen all promised to do so.
After Xiao Baoshan left, an attendant named Xun Wenda who was resting under another tree came over to ask them, “Isn’t that Xiao Baoshan? What is he doing for a living now?”
“Baoshan is working as a dock keeper,” said handyman A.
“What does he want from you guys, since he’s already left to be a dock keeper?” asked Xun Wenda.
Handyman B said, “Well, his wife has opened up a restaurant called “The Xiao’s Cuisine” or something, which is somewhere on the front street. He said that someone was causing trouble there yesterday so Baoshan asked us to take care of their business sometime.”
Though being a handyman was only a part-time job one would wear the governmental uniform with a “Service” character sewn on the jacket, which could somewhat frighten the common people.
“So ‘The Xiao’s Cuisine’ is actually their business,” said Xun Wenda stroking his chin.
Xun Wenda had been there twice and was fond of their food but he did not get paid much as an attendant, so he could only go there twice a month at the most. He also particularly loved the sweet rose and sour plum soup there but they only allowed one per customer and he wanted to have one more but the old wifey there said that everyone was the same and the rule applied to all the diners.
The most frustrating thing was that, as an attendant, he could eat on credit in other places but The Xiao’s Cuisine did not accept that and followed their rules strictly.
Xun Wenda suddenly thought about Xiao Xiao Tieshushu and Xiao Xiao Tongshushu.
Therefore, he went to the two brothers that afternoon. “Brothers, isn’t Xiao Baoshan your nephew? I heard that his household opened up a restaurant in town. Being his uncles, haven’t you gone there to eat yet?”
Xiao Tieshu said, “Well, it’s kind of complicated in our family. They are the second household and we don’t see each other eye to eye. We don’t really get along well in daily life so even though I’ve heard that they are doing business in town we’ve never been there.”
Xun Wenda said, “Are you stupid? In all my years I’ve eaten in every restaurant in town but their dishes are the best. After I tried their food last time I didn’t even want to go anywhere else. Don’t you want to go and try the food?”
However, Xiao Xiao Tongshushu said, “Food is food, there’s no difference between eating there or anywhere else. Besides, he is our nephew, so if we go there to eat meals should they charge us? If they do, that’s a bit too indifferent between relatives but if they don’t, they will suffer a loss, won’t they?”
Xun Wenda smiled. “I didn’t ask you to go there every day. Just drop by sometime. How much of a loss will you cause for them? Tut-tut, I really miss their dishes. I’m not exaggerating but in all the town, the city and even the capital city, their food must surly rank as number one. I’m thinking of sponging a meal off you guys but who knows, you actually haven’t been there.”
Xiao Tieshu and Xiao Tongshu looked at each other and were rather moved.
They also had tried Ye Xiaoxian’s cooking before as when they still lived in town they would usually bring a little bowl of nice food over to Old Mr. Xiao. If Old Mr. Xiao found the food not to his taste then he would give it to the rest of them. According to their memories her cooking was indeed delicious.
Xiao Tieshu then asked, “Well, is the food expensive in their restaurant?”
Xun Wenda answered surprised, “Do you plan on paying? Though you may not have good relations with the second household you’re their elders. Should an elder pay for their food?”
Xiao Tongshu said, “Wenda is right. We don’t go there that often so it’s okay for us to just have one free meal sometimes. They won’t dare ask us to pay.”
Xun Wenda said, “That’s right and you can also tell them you’re here with a friend, so they must do you this favour, mustn’t they? Besides, Dong treated us to a meal days ago and now it’s your turn, right?”
After further discussion they decided to go there for dinner.
“Elder brother? Third brother? You’re here to eat food?” Li Hongmei saw Xiao Tieshu and Xiao Tongshu and felt rather surprised. She then thought that as they all worked in town they must bump into one another from time to time and, since they must have meals, there’s no difference in eating elsewhere from having food at their place.
Apart from Xiao Tieshu and Xiao Tongshu there were also two other men in attendants uniforms. One was Xun Wenda and the other was called Dong.
Li Hongmei brought one bowl of sweet and sour plum soup each for them and then began to take their orders.
Just then Xun Wenda asked in a playful way, “Mrs. Owner, now that your elder and third brother are here, won’t you give us one more soup?”
Li Hongmei also smiled, “We have a rule in our restaurant. As the soup is free we can only give our customers one each per person and the second bowl of soup is chargeable, but since elder and third brother are here I can give you one more.”
Xun Wenda finally got a free bowl and felt satisfied.
Xiao Tieshu and Xiao Tongshu also felt proud of themselves as if they had not been here the others would not have got the free soup.
Li Hongmei thought that Xiao Tieshu only earned two taels a month and the food they ordered came to four hundred coins, which was one fifth of his salary.
On second thought there were four of them, making it one hundred coins each when they split the bill, so it was fair enough.
Li Hongmei went into the kitchen and told Ye Xiaoxian that the elder and third uncles were here and had ordered four or five dishes.
Ye Xiaoxian then put down the spatula. “Elder and third uncles? Will they pay for their food?”
“I’m thinking this too. Almost as soon as they stepped in they asked me to give them one extra soup, so now I’m wondering how much we should charge them when they get their bill. Shall we give them a discount or just let them eat for free?”
Ye Xiaoxian said, “Of course we have to charge them. We’re only a small business and we’ll suffer a loss if we don’t. As for the discount, the best we can do is to round the figure down but that’s it, we can’t go any further, otherwise they would come here again and again. We’re doing business and we can’t afford that much of a loss.”
Li Hongmei asked, “But aren’t we supposed to give them a gesture of goodwill as relatives?”
“A gesture of goodwill should be reciprocal and we can’t suffer a one-sided loss. Please just do as I said,” said Ye Xiaoxian.