From Folly to Fortune：I Rewrite My Life After Rebirth!-Chapter 958 - 954: Isn’t That My Eldest Aunt? (Second Update)
Mu Shuangshuang calculated that their restaurant’s main hall has twelve tables, and combined with the second and third floors, there are a total of ten private rooms.
One menu for each table would cost quite a bit of silver, let alone her plan for two menus per table; calculating it this way, the costs are indeed quite high.
She immediately decided to try it herself first, and if she could, she would paint them herself, saving quite a bit of money.
"Fengzi, why don’t I give it a try first? If my painting is okay, I’ll draw the menus whenever I have free time.
It’ll both pass time and save some money for our restaurant." Mu Shuangshuang suggested to Lu Yuanfeng.
Lu Yuanfeng was a rough man, unable to recognize characters or engage in the fine work of painting.
"But aren’t there so many? Wouldn’t it be exhausting? Shuangshuang, maybe I should just go hunting more often; after exchanging prey for money, we can hire someone to paint the menus."
Lu Yuanfeng was worried about Mu Shuangshuang and didn’t want her to be exhausted.
"It shouldn’t be a problem; I see those studying at the academy writing and painting every day with a single brush. Look at Xiao Han, so young and never parting from a brush. If they can do it, so can I."
Mu Shuangshuang explained.
Lu Yuanfeng couldn’t argue with Mu Shuangshuang and could only take it one step at a time.
Deciding to paint required materials; the painter saw that Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng had no intention of painting on his premises, hurriedly ushering them out, fearing it would affect his business.
Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng left the shop, deciding to buy painting supplies themselves.
As usual, they browsed in Qingshan Town, albeit with more specific targets this time.
Generally, you can buy paint at shops selling the Four Treasures of Study.
The Da Ning Dynasty has many scholars, and the Four Treasures of Study shops are plentiful. However, paint is quite basic, requiring personal color mixing for attractive paintings.
The pair found a reasonably priced Four Treasures of Study shop and bought the paint.
Next, they needed to find suitable brushes.
As they strolled down the street, they’d buy things they needed.
Soon, they arrived at the town’s busiest market street, and it was nearly noon.
Having only had a bowl of vegetable porridge in the morning without even a bun, and after walking such a long way, their stomachs were already hungry.
"Fengzi, how about buying some ingredients and cooking ourselves?"
Cooking themselves would save quite a bit of money.
Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng were staying in a small courtyard in the town, a one-in-one-out setup with two rooms, a storeroom, a kitchen, and a hall. Mu Shuangshuang lent one room to the Sun Family.
The other room she saved for herself.
The house was already set with their belongings, such as quilts, some old clothes, and a wooden tub.
Whenever they have time to spare, they can go straight to stay there.
No need to rent rooms in inns anymore.
"But it’s lunchtime now; why don’t we invite my sister-in-law over to have a meal? Maybe she’ll come out to buy some groceries." said Lu Yuanfeng.
The Sun Family, although selling baked pancakes in Shigou Town for nearly a month and saving some money, still has expenses from the academy, and the family’s survival needs money for purchases.
Fengzi and she didn’t want Sun Dashao to spend carelessly.
"That’s true, Da Wu’s wife is a courteous person; if we visit, she’ll definitely buy some groceries. Or maybe we should just buy a baked pancake and eat it."
Mu Shuangshuang thought it over and figured it best not to trouble others.
"Why don’t we eat at a restaurant instead? Just two dishes won’t cost much and would be nutritious."
Mu Shuangshuang was thinking of saving money, while Lu Yuanfeng worried about their health.
Thinking it over, Mu Shuangshuang said, "Why don’t we still buy some ingredients, and I’ll cook you something delicious. And then we can walk around the streets a bit more and eat after lunch hours."
They strolled around to pass time.
Suddenly, Mu Shuangshuang noticed a woman who looked like a beggar and gasped in surprise.
"Fengzi, why does that woman look so much like my aunt?"
Mu Shuangshuang pointed at the woman, dressed in a ragged and indistinguishable colored old jacket.
Her hair was partly disheveled, and she was filthy. Underneath the dirty appearance, there was fair skin.
Mu Shuangshuang didn’t recognize the old jacket, but she did recognize the skirt under it.
It was the skirt Mrs. Jin was wearing when she and Mu Dade left the Old Mu Family.
The skirt was originally red; now, the stains turned it dark red, almost black.
While Mu Shuangshuang was speaking, Lu Yuanfeng was also observing.
Finally, he reached the same conclusion as Mu Shuangshuang.
"Indeed, it’s like your aunt, but... wasn’t she supposed to be in the Capital with your uncle for the exams?" asked Lu Yuanfeng.
"I think so too, but it feels just like heaven dropping a ten-thousand tael silver note, an impossible occurrence, and yet it happened! Fengzi, am I dreaming?"
Mu Shuangshuang asked.
Not far away, Mrs. Jin had left home on the sixth day of the first month and spent half a month in the county.
Without a pass or household registration, she barely survived half a life.
Later she heard that beggars needed none of those, so she devised a plan to become dirty and smelly. That’s how she left the county.
Now the days have blurred, as more than half a month has passed.
Mrs. Jin hadn’t eaten in three days; she was so hungry that she was dizzy, thinking of nothing but food...
In the market, with goods being sold everywhere, aromatic smells wafted around.
Mrs. Jin was craving badly; she looked around, stopping in front of a steamed bun stall.
Saliva kept dripping, Mrs. Jin fixated on the bun vendor, wearing what she considered a charming smile.
Mrs. Jin didn’t want to crouch and beg like a typical beggar.
Luckily, she looked good, typically standing near a stall, showing them a smile, she’d get some food.
But this time Mrs. Jin made a misstep.
From the county to the town, she walked three days, with her face unrecognizable, filthy and smelly, smiling at people like a specter.
The bun vendor shoved Mrs. Jin away.
"Go away, go away, you stinky beggar. Standing by my stand your impact on my business is bad."
Mrs. Jin was furious, pointing at the vendor and started cursing, "Who do you think you are? Just a bun! Wait till I go home, and I’ll buy your entire bun shop!"
Mrs. Jin wasn’t one to argue in the street, but since Mu Dade ditched her in the county and ran off.
Mrs. Jin had fallen from her pedestal.
Now, Mrs. Jin had one goal: to survive, wait for Mu Dade to return, and unveil his affairs with Ruan Xiao Jiao in front of everyone!
ps: Stuck on this all day, still owe 2000 words update
Additionally, for New Year’s Day, Fengfeng should have a few days off. We’ll meet everyone’s request for more updates then~
