A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 173

Chapter 173

After the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, many shops on the street opened for business.

Because Wen Yu still planned to open a restaurant with a dim sum shop, she wanted to take Yan Zhu out to try dishes and broaden their horizons.

But she didn’t expect to encounter problems when spending money on food.

When Li Jiang went to make reservations at those high-end restaurants and specialty restaurants, the waiters in the shops sneered upon hearing his request: What? During the New Year, you are nameless and unknown, coming here for the first time, and you still want to reserve a private room?

What are you thinking?!

Each one of them held their noses high, arrogant and aloof, as if they had been offended by Li Jiang!

If they did agree, they would either schedule a random time, or arrange a table near the drafty door in the main hall…

This angered Li Jiang, who grumbled, “It’s not like we aren’t paying!”

When the waiter casually tossed over the menu…the prices were so high that even Wen Yu was shocked!

Although she could afford it, spending like this…was it worth it?

What to do?

Helpless, she wanted to ask Qi Wu for information.

As a result, Qi Wu didn’t know much either.

He said that he hadn’t been officially seen in the capital for long, was busy with many things, and had no time to dine out.

The few times he did go, it was at the invitation of friends, so he really didn’t know the details.

As for Madam Qi, being a woman, she had only dined out at a few places, and she didn’t make the reservations herself.

On behalf of the Qi family, Qi Youyi had a lot of social engagements. People invited him, and he also invited people; he was familiar with all the restaurants, big and small, in the capital. Usually, the housekeeper or his personal servant would make the arrangements and directly charge it to the family account.

But Madam Qi didn’t want to deal with the household on these matters, let alone waste her breath talking to him.

Wen Yu went to ask her uncle to see what Lord Mo had to say.

It turned out that Lord Mo did go out to eat quite often. However, it was always at the invitation of others. As for himself, he only knew which restaurant had good dishes. But when it came to how the reservations were made and how much it cost, he was clueless.

He could ask the people who invited him, but he was worried that they might misunderstand and think he wanted to eat…

Wen Yu laughed out loud when she heard this.

She sighed: Just eating a meal, there are so many complications.

Madam Qi said: Don’t worry, I’ll ask your maternal grandfather when I get home!

Wen Yu smiled inwardly: He’s not my maternal grandfather yet!

Old Master Cui, on ordinary days, would dine out when invited, as well as invite others. He would also go to restaurants when he wanted a change of taste.

When his wife was alive, although she only ate a few bites of cat food, she was very picky.

To please his wife, he searched for many unique restaurants.

Hearing the inquiry, he waved his hand, “Don’t worry about it!” In an instant, he booked several restaurants, both for lunch and dinner.

He also said that he would personally accompany them for the meal and settle the bill!

Hearing that Old Master Cui enjoyed good wine, Wen Yu sent Li Jiang to the Song residence to request some.

The housekeeper at the Song residence told Li Jiang: Our Fifth Master has his own VIP seats in many restaurants. Wherever Miss Wen wants to go, just give the order, and I will personally make the reservation. You can go anytime, and it can be charged to our account.

Li Jiang excitedly reported back, “Now, Miss, you won’t be able to eat at all the places! The housekeeper also said that Fifth Master sent a message saying he would come to the capital after the New Year! He asked me to tell you that you don’t understand the decoration of the shop, so wait for him to arrive.”

“How can I not understand?” At this moment, Wen Yu had a peaceful attitude towards Song Shang, treating him completely like a brother and old friend.

When Old Master Cui hosted the meal, both Madam Qi and Qi Wu came.

Old Master Cui looked at his daughter, her face full of smiles, accompanying him for a meal, something he couldn’t remember happening for a long time.

Wen Yu and Yan Zhu brought fine wine…

With beautiful women, fine wine, and delicious food, without the need for tedious socializing, this was true dining!

As the wine flowed and the dishes were tasted, Old Master Cui and Yan Zhu hit it off.

“You little girl, how are you so clever?!” He was amazed to see Yan Zhu accurately describe seven or eight out of ten dishes that were served.

Yan Zhu was honest: “I don’t understand everything completely. I haven’t seen many spices before, and I don’t know their taste and usage. So, I know there are things added, but I don’t know what they are. I’ll have to go to the spice shop later. There are many ingredients I haven’t encountered before, and I don’t know how to handle them. There’s a lot to learn!”

“In my opinion, you shouldn’t care about what others do, just focus on making the dishes you’re good at. You must have your own specialties! There are so many restaurants in the capital, you can’t possibly make all the signature dishes of every restaurant! Their signature dishes have been researched and developed by generations of chefs. If you try to imitate them, you’ll end up with a dish that looks similar but lacks the true essence, which would be a shame!”

The old man was indeed a gourmet, able to see the essence of the dishes at a glance.

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhu was enlightened and applauded.

She loved to chat and praised the old man until he blushed.

He started to think. One of his old comrades’ wives loved matchmaking. He would have to introduce this extraordinarily beautiful young lady to a good family.

Qi Wu sat beside Wen Yu, watching his maternal grandfather talking and laughing.

He felt a warmth in his heart.

✿✿✿

He had heard from his mother that his maternal grandfather had saved his maternal grandmother by chance. At that time, there were more than ten women, and he fell in love with his maternal grandmother at first sight.

From then on, he never looked at anyone else.

At first, his maternal grandmother disliked him for being a rough military man, lacking in refinement and elegance. She didn’t want to marry him…

But with his sincere heart, genuine affection, and somewhat foolish pursuit, he eventually won his maternal grandmother’s acceptance and love.

When his maternal grandmother was seriously ill, she was most worried about her grandfather.

She repeatedly urged her uncle and mother to take good care of him.

Over the years, with his uncle, aunt, cousins, and Yuanyuan’s careful companionship,

he finally emerged from the grief of losing his beloved wife.

And his mother beside him kept talking to Wen Yu. They were serving each other food…

His mother would laugh non-stop whenever Wen Yu said a few words!

Her brows were relaxed, and her heroic spirit reappeared!

His mother’s changes seemed to stem from this fiancée of his…

Although he didn’t understand yet: what kind of feeling his maternal grandfather and grandmother shared.

What he needed to do to be like them.

But I’m willing to try with you…

Wen Yu turned her head and saw Qi Wu looking at her with a different look in his eyes than usual.

“What’s wrong?! What’s the matter?” Wen Yu asked him when she had a moment.

“Nothing, I’m fine.”

✿✿✿

On the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, the Qi family held a banquet.

The Cui family sent the Second Madam and County Princess Huiyi, accompanied by Little Yuanyuan.

As soon as Little Yuanyuan arrived, she asked, “Where is Sister Ah Yu?”

County Princess Huiyi smiled and said, “It will be another six months before your Sister Ah Yu can appear here!”

Madam Qi complained, “I don’t know why, but I feel like the days have been so long lately. In the past, it seemed like a day would pass in the blink of an eye!”

“You miss your daughter-in-law, don’t you! Where is she?” She was asking about Xu Shi.

Wasn’t Xu Shi embarrassed after being dragged out last time?

Madam Qi said nonchalantly, “She calls me Madam now. It’s quite good! Have you heard? It was me who caused discord between the couple.”

“That woman really doesn’t know when to stop!” County Princess Huiyi glanced at Tan Shi and said with disgust, “You would think she should be dreaming and waking up with a smile after reaching her current position. Why is she still acting so lowly and never content?”

Looking at the exquisitely dressed Tan Shi, her sitting posture was not as proper as that of ordinary noblewomen. Her speech carried a soft southern accent, and her expressions were rich and humorous.

Everyone sitting around her liked her and was smiling.

Qi Bao’er was brought over by a maid, and she, as expected, wanted to show off to Yuanyuan.

“Auntie, my turtle is bigger than yours, look, it can even retract its head and stick out its tail! Look!”

Tan Shi was saying, “Youyi made a lot of lanterns a few years ago, they were all very beautiful. They are stored away safely in the warehouse! I plan to take them out and display them in the courtyard. I won’t go to the street. It’s for young people to stroll around and look at the lanterns. I’m old and frail, I won’t join in the excitement.”

The guests present today were families close to the Qi family. Those who brought their children were also fond of Yuanyuan and Bao’er’s toys, and the little girls were playing in front of Tan Shi.

After chatting for a while, Tan Shi asked Yuanyuan, “Little Yuanyuan, will you go to the street to see the lanterns on the fifteenth?”

Yuanyuan said, “Grandmother, Daddy promised to take Yuanyuan! He said we’ll walk from home to Houhai, watch the fireworks, and then walk back. There will also be candied hawthorns to eat!”

“Oh, little girl, you have to be careful when looking at the lanterns. There are many child traffickers on the streets. If they kidnap you, you won’t be able to find your mother!”

Yuanyuan’s eyes lit up when she heard this!