There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 303 Just Along the Way

The next morning, Li Shuchen said goodbye and returned to the Happiness Inn.

I went straight to the kitchen and taught the three of them how to make tulip salad, jasmine chicken breast, and rose crème brûlée for dessert.

Then, going to the backyard, he said to Muqi, who was feeding the lambs, "Starting today, add whole roasted lamb and 'Blooming Prosperity' dishes to the menu. You can roast a maximum of three whole lambs per day; no more."

Muqi: "Yes, Miss."

After finishing in the kitchen, Li Shuchen went to the guest hall and called Manager Xu to the accounting room.

"Uncle Xu, the menu has been updated with seasonal tulip salad and jasmine chicken breast, both are five taels of silver per serving."

Two ounces of rose caramel pudding, served as a dessert, cost one serving.

A whole roasted lamb costs one thousand taels of silver, limited to two lambs per day.

"Blooming Flowers Bring Wealth and Prosperity" - 300 taels per serving, limited to four servings

Add all of the above dishes to the menu.

Manager Xu: "Yes, Miss. Lady Gu sent over the banquet portions yesterday. Please take a look."

Manager Xu opened the locked drawer, took out a wooden box, and placed it in front of Li Shuchen.

Li Shuchen opened the wooden box; inside was a note in Gu Ziying's handwriting.

"Shu Chen, the total amount to be distributed at this banquet is 30,000 taels of silver, and Shu Chen will receive 12,000 taels of silver."

After reading the note, they began counting the money one bill at a time, and the amount was exactly correct.

"Uncle Xu, please keep two thousand taels of silver for the inn, and donate the remaining ten thousand taels to the Aiyou Hall in the name of Happiness Inn."

"Yes, miss"

Manager Xu picked up the wooden box and left the accounting office. Li Shuchen closed his dizzy eyes, surprised that he had only been busy with these things.

I had exhausted all my energy; my body was weak and powerless, I couldn't even stand up, I was so exhausted.

Upon seeing this, Grape immediately stepped forward to help.

"Miss is not fully recovered and needs to rest more. There are some things you can ask Grape to do; Miss doesn't need to do them herself."

Li Shuchen, using the grapes for support, stood up and said, "There's something I really need you to do."

Grape: "Just give the order, Miss."

Li Shuchen: "Go find the Liu siblings and ask if they'd like to work at the inn. If they are, have them come and familiarize themselves with the inn. If not, come back and tell me, and I'll find someone else."

Grape: "Okay, Grape will help Miss upstairs to rest first."

Three Treasures Hall

Grape took the address to find the Liu siblings, while Li Shuchen lay in bed to recharge.

two hours later

Having regained some strength, she picked up her pen and wrote down the meanings of various flowers. None of them contained negative or unpleasant connotations; Li Shuchen had completely transformed them into positive and uplifting expressions.

Flowers, after all, should be like this.

Summer evenings are much cooler. Li Shuchen turned to look out the window, letting the breeze carry him into a daze. He wondered how Bingli's flower shop was doing, whether it was selling well, and if she was having any trouble adjusting. He decided to go check it out once he felt a little better.

Grape entered the room and said, "Miss, Brother Liu San and Sister Liu Ru have already arrived at the inn."

Li Shuchen: "Understood"

……

Two days later, Li Shuchen felt that he had recovered most of his health and could get through the day without needing to catch up on sleep, so he took the grapes to Ye Bingli's flower shop.

As soon as you enter, a refreshing coolness washes over you, instantly chasing away the heat.

Ye Bingli sat quietly pruning branches, her beautiful face more dazzling than any flower.

Although there wasn't a single customer in the shop, the middle of the flower shop was filled with ice tanks, the ice cubes overflowing.

Li Shuchen chuckled, "Bingli, ice is so expensive, yet you've put in so much. I'm afraid you won't even cover your expenses."

Ye Bingli put down the scissors and smiled, "It's alright, having business is good enough. These flowers have given me a sense of purpose. Shu Chen, I really like this flower shop."

Li Shuchen tilted his head: "The meaning of existence?"

Ye Bingli: "Yes, taking care of the flowers as they grow and bloom, and selling beauty and happiness is the meaning of my existence."

"makes sense"

Li Shuchen took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Ye Bingli: "This is the meaning of the flowers I wrote; it might help you sell more flowers."

Ye Bingli took it and examined it closely, pausing when she saw the meaning of the blue hydrangea.

"Shu Chen, the meaning of blue hydrangeas is 'happy reunion'?"

Li Shuchen nodded: "That's right, look at it, it's round and plump, such a big bunch, one piece can fill the vase, isn't it beautiful, full, round and plump?"

Ye Bingli looked up at the blue hydrangea, her eyes filled with affection: "Yes, Shu Chen is right."

"Okay, let me help you arrange the flowers."

Li Shuchen sat down, picked up the scissors and began trimming. Glancing at the fresh flowers in the vase on the table, he said, "We should buy some pretty fabric from the Flower Pavilion and cut it into long, thin strips to decorate. That way, even if a customer only buys one flower, it can be wrapped up nicely and given as a gift."

"Pretty strips of cloth alone won't suffice; we also need pretty wrapping paper."

Cheng Zhian walked up to Li Shuchen, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Li Shuchen looked up: "Why are you here? It's not a day off today. Shouldn't you be studying at the academy?"

Cheng Zhian sat down on a stool nearby: "I needed to go home for something, and I just happened to be passing by, so I came in to take a look."

Ye Bingli: "Young Master Cheng, please have some tea."

"Miss Xie Ye"

Cheng Zhi'an took the tea, took a small sip, and then placed the teacup on the table: "I have strips of cloth and wrapping paper ready. If you need them, I'll go home and get them."

Li Shuchen tilted his head and asked, "What wrapping paper? Where did you get the wrapping paper?"

Cheng Zhi'an: "I have countless drafts of calligraphy and painting practiced in my spare time. If you don't mind, you can use them as wrapping paper."

Li Shuchen stood up and exclaimed in surprise, "Calligraphy and paintings? Many scholars and students should want the calligraphy and paintings in the Cheng Academy's collection. Is it appropriate for you to give them to me as flower wrapping paper?"

Cheng Zhian said calmly, "It's suitable. It's suitable for whatever you use it for."

Seeing Cheng Zhi'an's calm demeanor, Li Shuchen realized his overreaction made her seem like she was worrying unnecessarily. He then sat down and said, "I don't have any wrapping paper either, but my existing calligraphy and painting drafts could definitely be used. You name your price."

"It's just a draft, a useless thing to begin with. Why would I need money to buy it? I'll go home and get it. You wait here for me."

"it is good"

Cheng Zhian got up and left

Li Shuchen quickly picked up the scissors and snipped away at the flower branches, plucking off the leaves and stems.

Ye Bingli: "Shu Chen, what are you doing?"

Li Shuchen: "I owed Cheng Zhian a return gift before, so today is the perfect opportunity to repay him."

Ye Bingli: "Do you need my help, Shu Chen?"

"Bingli can just watch from the sidelines and learn something along the way."

"it is good"

Li Shuchen chose blue hydrangeas, pansies, lavender, delphiniums, larkspur, blue plumbago, and gentians as the main flowers.

I also selected some white lisianthus, white roses, and white lilies as embellishments.

Finally, I added a few sprigs of bellflower, sedge, and sage to the bouquet to add greenery and vitality.

Li Shuchen found a large vase and placed the flowers she had prepared inside according to her own preference.

A large, round, and full bouquet is now complete.

"What do you think, Bingli?"

Ye Bingli: "Exquisite! The flowers Shu Chen arranged, like Shu Chen himself, are exceptionally lively and full of life."

"You flatter me, you flatter me."

After Li Shuchen finished speaking, she poured some water into the vase, worried that the flowers would wilt before Cheng Zhian arrived.