Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 435 Miss Shen, is there anyone at home waiting for you to go home for the New Year?

Li said disapprovingly, "Why buy ready-made quilts? The material is not good, and the cotton is also low-quality. Of course, it is better to make them at home."

However, Shen Yu felt that sewing bedding was much more difficult than cooking.

She said with some lack of confidence: "Mom, these are not the quilts we have at home."

"There are about 30 to 40 beds in total, and with the extra beds and covers, there are 70 to 80 quilts and mattresses, in addition to sheets and other things."

"If I do it myself, how long will it take?"

"After the Lantern Festival, the inn will open, and we won't be able to finish the work by then."

"Why not buy it?"

Unexpectedly, not only Li opposed it, but several ladies present and Yutao also opposed buying the finished product.

They looked so relaxed, as if making so many quilts was a piece of cake.

Li smiled and shook her head: "Girl, what's so difficult about sewing a quilt? It's not like sewing clothes or embroidering patterns. It can be sewn quickly even if the stitches are fine and dense."

'Ever since you started cooking, you don't like to sew.'

"When I sewed quilts before, you didn't even need to watch. I sewed them quickly and well. Why are you afraid of such a small job now?"

Shen Yu played dumb, smiled and didn't answer at all.

She accidentally glanced at the tiger-head hat that was sewn by Mrs. Liu on Xiaozhuzi's head, and suddenly had an idea.

She asked thoughtfully, "There are still some days before the New Year. Are the ladies around here free these days?"

"How about asking them to help us? It will be faster."

"We won't let them work for nothing. We'll pay them according to the market price. Is that okay with you?"

Li and his friends originally planned to do it themselves, but they were just slow in their work. After all, there was still some time before the inn opened, so they could finish it if they took their time.

Hearing Shen Yu say this, I thought it was a solution.

When delivering Eight Treasure Porridge to each household on the Laba Day, the ladies all said that it had snowed heavily in the past few days and they envied Li who was in the shop every day, with people coming and going and it was so lively.

I wanted to come and sit in the store, but I felt embarrassed to take up a seat in the restaurant without eating.

I had to sit at home, with nothing to do in the snowy weather, and I was really bored.

She smiled and nodded, "You are so clever, this is indeed a good idea."

"I will go ask tomorrow. If the ladies are willing to do it, please ask them to come over and help. It will be more lively with more people."

After deciding on this matter, Shen Yu discussed with everyone for a while about what fabric and color to use for the mattress.

Finally I decided on a light grey, thick cheesecloth.

Although this kind of cloth looks rough, it is not easy to fade, is resistant to dirt and washing, and is strong. Its price is much lower than that of fine cotton cloth, so it is most suitable for inns to use in large quantities.

As for size and the like, Li and the others knew much more than Shen Yu.

Shen Yu only thought that the quilt should be thicker, and left the rest to Li and the others.

After discussing these things, everyone dispersed to rest.

After lunch the next day, Shen Yu went to the county government office at the time Qi Xi had told him to thank Lu Lang and give him the money for building the inn.

When you go to express your gratitude, you certainly can't leave empty-handed.

Shen Yu took some time in the morning to make some exquisite cakes.

There are four flavors of cake: chestnut cake, yam cake, candied date cake and rose cake.

The baked crust is golden, crispy and soft, with a sweet aroma. It is served on a porcelain plate and placed in a food box.

When she arrived at the county government office, Qi Xi was already waiting for her at the gate.

Seeing Shen Yu getting out of the car, he hurried to greet him.

Shen Yu paid the taxi fare and looked up to see Qi Xi in front of her. She smiled and said, "Thank you for waiting for me at the door. It's so cold. How long have you been waiting?"

Qi Xi took the food box from Shen Yu with a smile: "Miss, you are so polite. You even brought food."

"It wasn't long, and I wasn't cold."

"I was guarding the brazier in the lobby the whole time. I came out only after I saw the girl get off the car."

Shen Yu followed Qi Xi into the back court, and on the way met Master Qian who was walking towards the county magistrate's study.

The two stopped and greeted each other.

Because the county magistrate was waiting for him in the study, Mr. Qian said a few words to Shen Yu and then left in a hurry.

The two arrived at the study, but Lu Lang was not in the room.

Qi Xi said strangely: "The young master was still here before I came out, and it was the young master who asked me to go to the door to greet the girl."

"Why is it that the girl is here, but the young master is gone?"

Qi Xi put down the food box and was about to go out to look for Lu Lang, but she saw Liu Shun coming over and said, "Miss Shen, my master heard that you were here and asked me to invite you over."

Before Shen Yu could answer, Qi Xi asked, "Where did the young master go? Did you see him?"

"Master, what do you want to see Miss Shen about?"

Liu Shun had spent some time with Shen Yu during the canal repair work, and had also received instructions from Lu Lang. Naturally, he was not as cold to Shen Yu as before, but treated him as one of his own and would not hide anything from him.

Liu Shun said hurriedly: "The young master is also in the master's study. It sounds like there will be a banquet during the New Year. The master probably wants to ask Miss Shen to cook."

After hearing what Liu Shun said, Shen Yu knew that nothing else was wrong, and felt relieved. He nodded and said, "Then I'll go with you right away."

Qi Xi also hurriedly followed: "I'll go with you too, in case the girl needs any help, hehe..."

Liu Shun couldn't help but roll his eyes at Qi Xi: "I think you should just ask the young master to let you follow Miss Shen, so that she won't keep talking about how good it is to work in the restaurant."

Qi Xi's neck stiffened: "What's wrong with being with Miss Shen? Don't you always say that when you work with Miss Shen, you feel relaxed all over."

Liu Shun's true colors were exposed by Qi Xi at once, and his face turned red.

The two of them were chattering and arguing all the way.

Shen Yu was originally feeling a little nervous, but after hearing the noise from the two of them, he completely relaxed.

When they arrived at the county magistrate's study, Lu Lang and two legal advisors were also there, discussing something with Lu Zheng.

Shen Yu hurried forward and knelt down to make a greeting: "I greet the county magistrate. May your grace be with you."

Seeing Shen Yu coming over, Lu Zheng said with a smile: "Miss Shen is here, no need to be polite, sit down and talk."

Then he said to Liu Shun who followed him in, "Go and make Miss Shen a cup of hot tea."

Liu Shun agreed, and Shen Yu quickly stood up and thanked him.

Lu Zheng then smiled and got to the point: "Miss Shen, where are you from?"

"Is it far from Anping County? Is there anyone at home waiting for you to come home for the New Year?"

Shen Yu didn't know what Lu Zheng meant, so she could only answer truthfully: "I am from Dongxi Village, Linxi Town, about seventy miles away from here."

"My mother, my brother, my sister and I run a food shop here."

"My father has been dead for many years. I only go home to visit his grave and my two uncles during the Spring Festival."

"There's no one at home waiting for us to go home for the New Year."