Chapter 445: Snowy Night

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The three siblings would always share their food and could barely eat their fill in the past. Now that their conditions had improved, Old Madam Li urged them to eat more and be full. After all, it was best to have full bellies.

It was snowing heavily outside at the eastern hotpot restaurant, and customers went there from time to time. However, the restaurant was full, so most could only wait outside with their number tags.

“This restaurant is full, too, shopkeeper?” A customer asked as he brushed the snow off his head.

As the shopkeeper, Li Shi was busy entertaining everyone. “Yeah, it’s packed, especially since the weather is freezing and snowy today. We have more guests than usual. Please forgive me.”

“I came from the hotpot restaurant in the west,” the customer said unhappily, “I didn’t expect the east side to be full, too.”

“I’m really sorry,” Li Shi said with an awkward smile.

The customers knew they could not cause trouble as it was the rules at Su’s Hotpot. Otherwise, they could no longer eat the delicious food in the Su family’s food establishments.

“Then how long will we have to line up here?” The customer could only ask.

“There are already eight tables of guests waiting ahead, so you’ll have to wait for at least an hour.’

It was already dark, and the hotpot restaurant still operated with oil lamps. In addition, it was nice and toasty inside the restaurant as the workers used charcoal fire for their hotpot.

Many customers frequented the restaurant to eat and warm themselves up. Most thought it was suitable to have hotpot because it was snowing, so they went there to eat.

After some thought, the customer looked at the heavy snow and said, “Okay, give me a number tag.”

“All right, please wait a moment.” Li Shi handed the wooden token to the guest. He could then call the customer’s number when their turn arrived.

Today was Li Shi’s day off, as he had eight days of rest a month. According to the work schedule, he would have a day off every two to three days, which should be today.

He had more free time since he was the shopkeeper but rarely stayed home during his rest days. Instead, he would still visit the restaurant to check on things and busy himself.

He would return home early in the afternoon during his rest days, but today was unique as the weather was freezing from the heavy snow. There were too many guests, and the employees were swamped, so he had to oversee them to prevent any problems.

The restaurant had nine tables of guests waiting outside, anxiously looking into the restaurant. Some could not help but start talking amongst themselves.

“The restaurant is so big, but the upper and lower floors are still full of people. Business here is too good.”

“Yeah, these customers don’t only consist of our townsfolk. Many people from other places also come here just to eat hotpot. More people will come to have some on a snowy day like this.”

That was because of Teng He Town’s dock. Outsiders would go there by boat since it would be faster. Then they would eat their hotpot and sail their boats home.

Some of Su’s Embroidery employees lived far away, so they sometimes stayed the night at the shop’s dormitory. They would go home on a day off, and those with children would travel together.

Su Binglan had considered this situation and arranged two oxcarts for them to use as buses. Every morning, someone would pick up these employees who lived far from the shop and arrange for an oxcart to return them at night.

It was convenient for many people, and some thought it was pretty good to live in the dormitory as there would be no need to wake up so early in the morning.

In other words, the employees could go home whenever they wanted or even live in the dormitory the construction team had completed not long ago.

Everyone could take the oxcart back and forth previously. The employees remembered their shock when they first went to the newly-built dormitories. They never expected it to look so good.

Each room had four bunk beds, tables, and a row of cabinets, making it convenient for everyone. However, the bathroom was in the corridor.

Still, everyone felt safe as they could lock their doors from the inside while a woman watched the doors. If there were problems, the woman would strike the gong.

The dormitories were close to Su Teng Village, and many people lived there, so problems were scarce. Moreover, the embroidery shop had hired many people since the dormitory was around.

Many more people worked at the embroidery shop now. Since there were oxcarts to pick them up, people from distant villages also went to work at the shop. Therefore, many people lived in dormitories.

Four girls lived in one of the dormitories. They would gather, have dinner, and chat there after work. It was very lively.

“The snowflakes outside look so big.”

“It snowed much earlier this year compared to last year.”

“I was supposed to rest for the day tomorrow and planned to go home tonight, but it’s snowing, so I can only stay here.”

“Anyway, Aunt Li from our village will take the oxcart home. I’ll ask her to inform my mother about my stay here.”

“My parents are relieved that I’m staying in the dormitory. Our building has two floors and has iron fences surrounding them. No one can enter. We’re in a small district with people guarding outside our dormitory.”

“I didn’t expect such a place in the past. Moreover, Miss Su has prepared toiletries, work clothes, towels, and so on. It wasn’t even this convenient at home in the past.”

“It’s too convenient here, and the embroidery shop pays us a lot. Even my parents feel I proud whenever they talk about me to others.”

“That’s right. I don’t have much work and can rest eight days a month. I’m not too exhausted and can even earn a silver tael. I heard there will be more in the future.

“The more work we do, the more we earn.”

The four girls chatted away but did not feel sleepy.

Meanwhile, the Su family finished cooking and ate around the brick bed. Even though Su Binglan had eaten a little at her grandparents’ place, she would eat more with her parents after returning home. Her father and three brothers were drinking happily.

“This wine is delicious.”

“It’s not just delicious. It’s too delicious. This wine has a strong yet mellow fragrance.”

“I never imagined drinking our own wine.”

“Eat quickly, don’t just drink,” Shen Qiuhua warned them.

While the family ate, the wind outside became stronger. They could hear the sound of the north wind hitting the window from inside the house.

Su Wenwu looked at the charcoal on the ground and said, “When the weather was cold in the past, people would freeze to death. Now that they have better access to charcoal, they won’t even feel cold.”

That was because firewood was burning under the heated brick bed, and charcoal was burning in the furnace.

However, Su Binglan had made a small gap in the window frame to prevent the burning charcoal smoke from suffocating everyone.

Su Wenwu became quite emotional because he did not want to burn too much firewood when the weather was cold.

Everyone was eating when an urgent knock sounded on the door.

“Is that someone knocking?”

“Someone’s knocking on the door in the middle of the night, and they sound quite anxious. They must be facing an emergency.”

“Quick, it’s snowing so heavily, and a thick layer of snow is outside. Let’s go and take a look,” Shen Qiuhua hurriedly left the bed and was about to walk out as she spoke.

Su Binglan looked at Su Wenxiu and realized he had just drunk some wine.

Fortunately, she had not. “I’ll come with you to take a look, Mother..”

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