Zou Xiaobao is five or six years younger than Liu Ruyi, and is only sixteen or seventeen years old now. However, due to family reasons, she has shouldered the burden of the family since she was very young!
Although Liu Ruyi's mother, Zou, was born in the prosperous Suzhou, her life experience was very tragic.
Her father, Liu Ruyi's grandfather, was originally a well-known wealthy businessman in Suzhou. However, due to the failure of his business, he lost all his family wealth and had no choice but to hang himself!
And Zou was sold into a brothel at a young age.
Fortunately, Zou was lucky. Just when she was about to leave the cabinet, she met Liu Ruyi's father, Liu Hu, and was rescued from the sea of misery!
But Zou Dabao was not so lucky. His parents died early, and as a last resort, he was sold to a restaurant in Suzhou to work as a handyman!
This work lasted more than ten years!
Later, when Zou Dabao came of age, he finally paid off his debt of selling himself. With the help of his sister Zou, he opened a small restaurant in Suzhou City, married a wife and had children, and barely made ends meet!
But something unexpected happened, and his wife, Liu Ruyi's cousin, Zou Xiaobao's mother, fell ill and died when Zou Xiaobao was very young.
For a period of time, Zou Dabao took his daughter Xiaobao to live with his sister's home in Zhangqiu, Jinan, which also contributed to the childhood love between Liu Ruyi and Zou Xiaobao!
But the tragedy is that Zou is just a concubine in Liu's house. Although she is deeply loved by Liu Hu, in fact, she has no status!
After staying there for more than a year, Zou Dabao didn’t want to cause any more trouble to his sister, so he took his daughter back to his hometown in Suzhou and started running a small restaurant business again!
In this flash, more than ten years have passed.
Time has passed, Liu Ruyi is no longer that ignorant boy, and Zou Xiaobao has also grown into a charming and beautiful girl.
If there were no accidents in this world and Liu Ruyi's soul did not come to this world in later generations, it is very likely that the Zou family would bring the original Liu Ruyi to Suzhou and use their accumulated money to buy some fertile land, and Liu Ruyi
She will also marry Zou Xiaobao, and the family will live a happy life!
But it is a pity that all this has long become a thing of the past!
In fact, since Liu Ruyi started to make progress in Caishi Town, she has sent people to contact her uncle Zou Dabao many times, hoping that he could take Xiaobao to live in Caishi Town.
But Zou Dabao is a smart man. He knows that his nephew's side is just starting out, so it must be extremely difficult. He doesn't want to cause trouble to Liu Ruyi's mother and son. In addition, he is getting older and it is difficult to leave his hometown.
The matter was entrusted to me all the time!
Zou also secretly gave Zou Dabao a lot of money, but Zou Dabao didn't ask for it. It wasn't until Liu Ruyi got married that he asked someone to send him a generous gift!
~~~~~~~
The family exchanged pleasantries, and Zou Xiaobao hurried to the kitchen to cook. Zou Dabao accompanied Liu Ruyi to sit down and asked: "Ruyi, why didn't you tell me in advance and why did you come here at this time? Is your mother okay?
?”
Liu Ruyi filled a glass of wine for Zou Dabao and said with a smile: "Uncle, mother is very good! She is always thinking about you and Xiaobao! This time, I came here to deal with some small things! There is also the most important thing
The reason is that I hope to pick you and Xiaobao up and go to Caishi Town together so that we can live together!"
Zou Dabao took a sip of wine and said uncomfortably: "Ruyi, this, why is this necessary? My uncle is living a very good life now! Xiaobao is also living a good life! Although it is a little harder, you still have to take a bite.
Full meal! You are also married now! Xiaobao, Xiaobao, she has given up! Let’s live here! Whenever you have time, come over and visit uncle, and uncle will be satisfied! "
Liu Ruyi felt a little uncomfortable in her heart. Back then, her marriage contract with Xiaobao was just casually mentioned by her mother and Zou, but unexpectedly, her uncle and Xiaobao took it seriously!
But the matter has reached this point, and it is difficult to recover.
Liu Ruyi also said shamelessly: "Uncle, you can't say that! Although Ruyi said that there are some things he did that were not right! But after all, he had to do it out of necessity! Now, Ruyi's life is a little easier! Naturally, he can't let uncle
You are still working so hard here! I will give uncle a satisfactory explanation for Xiaobao's matter! However, I still have to trouble you a lot in this!"
Zou Dabao glanced at Liu Ruyi and understood what Liu Ruyi was thinking, "Ruyi, you, you..."
Liu Ruyi blushed a little, but at this time, he could only say, 'A dead pig is not afraid of being scalded by boiling water', and hurriedly explained: "Uncle, Xiaobao, I will definitely give her a title! But you, too
You can't be so stubborn anymore! Otherwise, let alone my mother's worries, even I can't worry about you! Right now, the Ming Dynasty is full of wars and chaos, and no one knows where the war will be at the next moment! You and me
We live together, so I won’t be distracted by you and Xiaobao then!"
Zou Dabao is just a small businessman, how can he compare with Liu Ruyi's vision?
Within a few words, he was told by Liu Ruyi that he was scared!
Although the land of Jiangnan looks prosperous, it is actually undercurrents. In the past few years, bandits have been rampant and pirates have been rampant. Many wealthy businessmen and families have been wiped out!
Hearing what Liu Ruyi said, Zou Dabao felt a little unsure!
Liu Ruyi took a look at the store and asked: "Uncle, I see that your store is pretty well tidied up! Why is this meal already served? There are still so few people?"
Zou Dabao couldn't keep up with Liu Ruyi's ideas, but when Liu Ruyi asked about business, he couldn't help but sigh: "Ruyi, with the current market situation, business is really hard to do! This rich man in Suzhou City is
Quite a lot, but in this season, I can only eat what I eat!"
Liu Ruyi nodded and was about to say something. At this time, Zou Xiaobao had already brought several plates of side dishes!
"Cousin, these are Taihu white shrimps. They were just caught this morning and they are still fresh! Try them!" Zou Xiaobao smiled at Liu Ruyi, then turned to Zou Dabao and said, "Dad, why are you still standing there?
Why don't you come with me to serve the food!"
Zou Dabao smiled coquettishly at Liu Ruyi and hurried to help Zou Xiaobao.
~~~~~~~
Soon, more than a dozen side dishes were served on the table, and Zou Dabao specially cut ten kilograms of cooked mutton for Liu Ruyi and put it in a big basin!
Liu Ruyi asked Xiao Liu'er and Huo Lang to sit down at the table, and then said: "Uncle, why, aren't you the one who usually cooks?"
Zou Xiaobao couldn't help but glance at Liu Ruyi displeasedly, "Cousin, if you expect your uncle to cook, then wait until the next life!"
Zou Dabao was a little embarrassed and hurriedly explained: "Ruyi, I have always been the one to cook! But, you know, Xiaobao and I are really busy in this store! Besides, this restaurant's
There is a mix of business and trade, everyone is there! I really don’t trust Xiaobao to entertain guests here! Fortunately, Xiaobao is a clever kid and his cooking skills are better than mine. No, we are just like this
Fooled me!"
Liu Ruyi nodded. In later generations, he came from a hard-working entrepreneurial background. He was deeply touched by the hardships of life for his uncle, father and daughter!
Life is easy!
Life is easy!
Life is not easy!
"Come, uncle, Xiaobao! Let's not talk about the unhappy things today! Come, cousin, try your craft!" Liu Ruyi didn't want the atmosphere to be so awkward, so she changed the topic with a smile.
Zou Dabao breathed a sigh of relief, but Zou Xiaobao looked at Liu Ruyi expectantly, "Cousin, you can try it!"
The dishes are all side dishes!
Stir-fried kidney with pine mushrooms, braised vegetables, braised tofu, crucian carp and tofu soup, etc.
Although it seemed ordinary, Liu Ruyi tasted it and found that everything tasted good, especially the Taihu white shrimp, which was crunchy, delicious, sweet and pleasant, which is very rare!
"Xiaobao, your skills are really good! If your aunt knew about it, she would be very happy!" Liu Ruyi said with a smile.
"Cousin, do you like it?" Zou Xiaobao looked at Liu Ruyi innocently.
"I like it, of course I do!" Liu Ruyi said quickly, "But if it's Xiaobao, my cousin will like it more if you cook for me every day!"
Zou Xiaobao blushed and spat lightly, "Cousin, you, you bully others!"
Liu Ruyi glanced at Zou Xiaobao and found that her little hands were covered with thick calluses. Thinking about it, she must have sacrificed a lot for this family!
Liu Ruyi couldn't help but feel a little distressed!
I only care about the general situation, but I really don’t care about my family very much!
Thinking of this, Liu Ruyi couldn't help but hold Zou Xiaobao's little hand, "Xiaobao, I'm sorry! These days, it's all my cousin's fault for making you feel wronged!"
Zou Xiaobao was stunned for a moment, but he quickly got rid of Liu Ruyi's big hand. His face was slightly red, but he spat: "Cousin, you are so disgusting! You should save these words to say to your cousins.
!”
"..." Liu Ruyi couldn't help being speechless, but when she saw Xiao Liu'er and Huo Lang standing by, they were also dumbfounded!
They have really never seen Liu Ruyi being defeated by a woman!
Liu Ruyi couldn't help but became furious, "Liu'er, Huo Lang, you two! Get out of here! Liu'er, go to the opposite side and buy twenty kilograms of cooked mutton. Today, you two will guard the door!"
"Eh? Yes!" Xiao Liu'er and Huo Lang couldn't help but feel depressed, but they didn't dare to disobey Liu Ruyi's order and hurriedly squatted at the door in despair.
Zou Dabao also knew that his nephew might have something to say to his daughter, so he wisely stood up and said with a smile: "Those two boys, very tall and powerful, are at the door. I'm afraid they will scare away the guests! I'll go.
Look outside! Xiaobao, accompany Ruyi and eat more!"
"Yes!" Zou Xiaobao nodded, but did not dare to look into Liu Ruyi's eyes.
Liu Ruyi boldly grabbed Zou Xiaobao's little hand and said with a smile: "I don't know who said that if I buy her sweet cakes every day, she will marry me!"
"Cousin, you, you are so bad! You are already married, why do you come to me again!" Zou Xiaobao said, tears streaming down his face, leaning on the table, sobbing!
Liu Ruyi couldn't help but feel guilty. This matter was really a big misunderstanding!
But now that the matter has come to this, Liu Ruyi can only pay for it!
"Xiaobao, I'm sorry! I, I will give you an explanation!" Liu Ruyi didn't know what to say, she just patted Zou Xiaobao's shoulder gently to soothe her emotions!
Zou Xiaobao cried louder and louder, "Cousin, I know! All the cousins you are looking for must be beautiful! I am just a yellow-haired girl, ugly and rough, and I came from a hard-working background, how can I get in?