The sixteenth year of Hongyuan.
July.
The third grade of junior high school.
On this day, a team of people came from the other side of the Huijiang River, escorting hundreds of carts of grain, and slowly walked into Nantang County.
Nantang County is the southernmost county of Dayi Country, a small border county with an area of less than a hundred miles. It is sparsely populated, has barren land, and is rife with thieves.
This team of people purchased grain from Vietnam and returned to Dayi.
Grain trucks came in slowly.
There were three people sitting quietly in a carriage at the front of the motorcade, one man and two women, wearing gorgeous clothes and looking very noble.
A fat old man with white hair, a broad forehead, sparse eyebrows, a round face, a double chin, and a gray beard floating on his chest...
The old man sat upright, closing his eyes and concentrating. The beard on his chin trembled with the shaking of the carriage.
This old man is not an ordinary person, but a second-rank official of Dayi Kingdom: Tong Anguo, the Minister of Household Affairs.
Sitting opposite Tong Shangshu is a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, who is the apple of his eye, Tong Yaoyao.
Tong Yaoyao was not only beautiful and beautiful, but also extremely smart. It was said that she could read and write at the age of three, and could write poems at the age of five. She began to read extensively at the age of eight or nine, and was recognized as the most talented woman in the capital.
It's a pity that she was born as a girl and couldn't obtain the imperial examination. Otherwise, Tong Yaoyao would have been a bright pearl in the Dayi court.
Tong Anguo also doted on this precious daughter, and would always discuss all matters big and small with her. Tong Yaoyao was undoubtedly his think tank, and could help him make suggestions and lend a helping hand in both national and family affairs.
This purchase of grain from Vietnam was Tong Yaoyao's idea. There was a serious drought in some areas of Dayi this year, and grain production dropped sharply, followed by famine.
To prepare for a rainy day, Tong Yaoyao suggested her father to come to South Vietnam to buy food in case of emergency.
It happened that this time Tong Shangshu was ordered to go to South Vietnam as an envoy, so he purchased a batch of grain and transported it back to Dayi.
Sitting next to Tong Yaoyao is a pretty little maid named Xing'er. She looks about fifteen or sixteen years old. She has pretty features, perhaps because she has been around the talented girl all the year round. Lady.
After the carriage entered the county town, Tong Shangshu slowly opened his eyes. He lifted the curtain and looked outside, then turned back and said:
"Yao'er, daddy wants to talk to the county magistrate here later. You and Xing'er will go shopping on the street and have something to eat, and then we will continue on our way..."
"OK!"
"Remember, don't go too far!"
Before getting out of the car, Tong Anguo gave instructions again.
"Remember!"
Tong Yaoyao jumped out of the carriage, took Xing'er's hand, and flew to the street like two cheerful butterflies.
Tong Anguo nodded and sent two followers to follow the two girls from a distance to protect their safety.
"Miss, I'm a little hungry, and I don't know if there's anything delicious in this shabby place?"
The little maid shook her head and looked left and right.
"This place is so poor that it's hard to find a decent restaurant." Tong Yaoyao looked around and said.
The two walked slowly along the street, with light steps and graceful figures, attracting countless eyes to focus on them along the way.
Indeed, that appearance and temperament are like two beautiful fairies descending to the human world...
"Miss! Look, then..."
"What then?"
"Bistro…"
Looking in the direction of Xing'er's finger, Tong Yaoyao's eyes suddenly lit up, and she saw a tavern not far ahead, and it was very different.
In ordinary taverns and teahouses, there is always a wine curtain or tea curtain hanging on a tall bamboo pole in front of the door, with a big word "wine" or "tea" written on it to attract business.
But the front of this tavern is made of green bamboo pieces in a grand way. On the high door, five large characters carved from wood are nailed:
"Chengdu Bistro".
The five large characters are painted brightly with red dye and are particularly eye-catching.
Under the five big characters, there are five red lanterns hanging respectively. Needless to say, if candles are lit at night, the big characters will still be dazzling.
"Haha! Interesting..."
"Then...let's..."
"Let's go! Just go to this house."
Tong Yaoyao made the final decision.
Walking to the door of the tavern, Tong Yaoyao's eyes lit up again. She saw two large red pillars on both sides of the tavern door, with a pair of gilded couplets engraved on them:
First couplet: "There is wine today, and I will be drunk today."
Second line: "Tomorrow's worries will come tomorrow's worries."
Hengpi: "Sing to wine!"
"Haha! Interesting..."
Tong Yaoyao's lips couldn't help but curve into a beautiful curve.
"welcome!"
"welcome!"
There were two beautiful waiters standing at the door. When they saw the two approaching, they immediately bowed and greeted them politely.
Both of them are about seventeen or eighteen years old, with black hair tied high on their heads, red bandanas, emerald green jackets on their upper bodies, and black short skirts on their lower bodies. They smile and behave generously, making people feel like spring breeze.
"Miss, you're a female assistant!" Xing'er whispered in Tong Yaoyao's ear in surprise.
"Yeah! Be more reserved."
The little maid stuck out her tongue and pulled the young lady into the house.
"Wow!"
After walking in the door, the two of them almost exclaimed in their hearts at the same time, "There is no cave inside this place!".
The walls in the tavern are free of the usual grease and dust, they are all covered with bamboo boards, and there are flowers or green plants on every window sill...
Looking up, there are no beams or rafter heads, but a flat roof hung from green bamboo poles, with a round center and square outer walls, a delicate shape.
On the top, there are several colorful ribbons hanging horizontally and vertically, which are colorful and really beautiful.
While watching, Tong Yaoyao sighed in her heart: In this environment, let alone eating, just sitting here will make you feel comfortable and in a bright mood!
"You two can sit down, what would you like to eat?" The clerk came over to say hello enthusiastically.
"Is there a private room upstairs?"
"have!"
The waiter stretched out his hand to make a gesture of invitation, and then said: "You are so lucky. If there are usually no private rooms, the private rooms are reserved in advance. It is a coincidence today. The people from the county government originally reserved the private rooms, but suddenly the guests canceled just now. …”
"oh…"
Tong Yaoyao suddenly understood that her father must be talking to the county magistrate and disrupted their planned meal.
There was a long row of flowers in the corridor on the second floor, and the dining table in the private room was so full of flowers that the two of them felt like they were in a dream when they went upstairs.
"This is our menu. What do you two want to eat? Take a look at it yourself."
The little girl handed over a hand-painted menu with pictures and texts, listing a variety of exquisite dishes and soups.
Tong Yaoyao's eyes widened. Most of the dishes above were of a variety that she had never seen before, let alone eaten.
The eldest lady was stunned. Even though she was from the great Kyoto and was well-informed, where could such a unique tavern, such warm service, and such exquisite dishes be found in such a huge capital city?
"well!"
Tong Yaoyao sighed in her heart: "A dignified lady from the capital has become a frog in the well in this small place. Let's just order a few..."
“Kung Pao Chicken.”
"Pork stir-fried with green onions."
"Ma Po Tofu."
“Preserved egg and lean meat porridge…”
Tong Yaoyao casually ordered a few dishes on the menu, then suddenly raised her head and asked:
"Is your boss here? I want to see him..."
