Free Web NovelChapter 278: Chapter 211: A Simple Gesture, No Need for Thanks
Ma Guan’s principles were far too flexible.
While he certainly disliked expensive, unattractive things, he was perfectly willing to accept anything that didn’t cost much silver.
He didn’t even care if they were beautiful.
And when the word "free" wasn’t associated with "charity" and didn’t wound his fragile pride as a scholar, Lou Yuxue became like a goddess in his eyes.
Such a kind, beautiful... soul.
This was Ma Guan’s first visit to "There’s a Wonton Shop by the Clouds," yet it already felt like home.
"Proprietress, another two bowls of wontons!"
Lou Yuxue answered with a smile and instructed a nearby waiter to bring him more.
Ma Guan shot a cautious glance at Chen Yi, a sheepish look on his face.
"Please forgive me, Mr. Qingzhou. I was so engrossed in my studies last night that I forgot to eat or sleep, so my appetite is a bit bigger than usual this morning."
"Eat up if you’re hungry. It’s no big deal."
Chen Yi knew, of course, that Ma Guan had little silver, so he could somewhat understand his way of thinking.
’No silver at home, no silver on his person... It’s only natural that he’d like free things.’
’Little did he know, some people and things that are free end up being the most expensive.’
Chen Yi stopped teasing Ma Guan, lest the man become so ashamed he’d want to crawl into a hole and disappear.
He turned to meet Lou Yuxue’s gaze and said with a smile, "Proprietress, your shop just opened today, and you’re already giving away free wontons. With such a wise approach to business, you’re sure to be prosperous in the future."
Lou Yuxue looked into his eyes, as gentle as still water, and thought with a sigh, ’This Fledgling, having read his books, really is different.’
’Despite being so heavily suppressed by the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family, and then being mostly unwelcome after joining the Xiao Family in Shu State, he managed to turn his situation around step by step with his own talent, until he earned the respect of scholars throughout Shu State and even all of Great Wei’s Nine State and Three Prefectures.’
’His strength of character is truly unyielding.’
While marveling internally, Lou Yuxue said with a smile, "To receive Mr. Qingzhou’s blessing is an honor. I just hope this little shop can help us make a modest living."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi feigned ignorance. "You know of me?"
"I happened to overhear your conversation just now and realized that you, sir, are the Mr. Qingzhou who has recently become famous in Shu State."
"Famous is too strong a word. I merely have a minor reputation."
"You’re too modest, Mr. Qingzhou. An ordinary scholar in your position would probably have let it all go to their head by now."
They exchanged a few more pleasantries.
Chen Yi still couldn’t figure out Lou Yuxue’s motive for striking up a conversation with him.
It was all flattery and compliments. It seemed Lou Yuxue had only come over to say hello.
It wasn’t until a while later, as two sturdy-looking women brought out more wontons, that Lou Yuxue used the opportunity to smile and head upstairs to the second floor.
Chen Yi watched her retreating figure, a thoughtful look on his face. He knew she was likely going to retrieve a secret message from the Hidden Guard.
However, when he saw the two sturdy women in the hall staring at him and Ma Guan, he gave up on the idea of following her to read the message. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
’Luckily, she’s an old acquaintance. There will be plenty of opportunities to pry information about the Hidden Guard out of her in the future.’
As Chen Yi pondered this, he picked up a wonton and examined it.
The skin was thin and translucent, the filling plump and generous. It looked far more appealing than an ordinary wonton.
He then popped it into his mouth. His gaze drifted to Ma Guan. "This is delicious."
The color, aroma, and flavor were all perfect. You had to admit, these wontons were expertly made.
Ma Guan was wolfing down his bowl of wontons.
When he finally had a moment’s break from chewing, he managed to say, "If you like them, Mr. Qingzhou, shall... shall I order more?"
Chen Yi shook his head. As he ate, he scanned the hall from the corner of his eye.
It was strange.
A quarter of an hour had passed since they’d entered the wonton shop, but the hall was still empty save for him and Ma Guan.
Business was depressingly slow.
Any other shop owner in this situation would probably be out front, hawking their wares and trying to pull in passersby for a taste.
But neither Lou Yuxue nor her waiters seemed bothered in the slightest.
Clearly, they weren’t too concerned with the shop’s profitability.
Or rather, making money was a secondary concern. They were just using this place as a temporary base of operations.
At this thought, Chen Yi’s eyes flickered. He asked meaningfully, "Heming, did you bring your brush and ink?"
Ma Guan paused, confused by the question, but nodded. "I did."
"Good. In a moment, I want you to do this..."
Chen Yi gave him a few quiet instructions, then finished his wontons, stood up, and, carrying his various packages, headed for Guiyun Academy.
Ma Guan respectfully watched him go.
After finishing another two bowls of wontons, he didn’t rush off. Instead, following Chen Yi’s instructions, he took out his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from his bag.
Then, under the astonished gazes of the waiters, he ground the ink, lifted his brush, and, with his Calligraphy Dao at the Minor Success stage, wrote a line of characters in Wei Qing’s Style:
"The Best Wontons Under Heaven."
Beneath it were two lines of smaller characters: "Jointly recommended by Chen Qingzhou and Ma Heming of Guiyun Academy."
The moment the characters were complete, faint golden wisps of light appeared on the paper.
This subtle radiance immediately attracted the attention of passersby outside.
This was especially true for the students of Guiyun Academy.
They were already curious about the new shop, and as they passed, their keen senses naturally picked up on the phenomenon created by Ma Guan’s Calligraphy Dao.
Even those who hadn’t planned on entering the wonton shop now found themselves walking in, driven by curiosity.
"Brother Heming, what’s this?"
Ma Guan picked up the sheet, blew the ink dry, and explained what Mr. Qingzhou had asked him to do.
"The wontons are delicious and inexpensive, but their business is slow. We can’t just accept their free food for nothing in return."
"So, Mr. Qingzhou asked me to leave behind a piece of my calligraphy, just as a small token of our appreciation. Just a small token." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
The crowd understood. Their eyes were drawn to the calligraphy, and they stared at it again and again.
