The Small Canteen Of Dali Temple

The Small Canteen Of Dali Temple Chapter 2: Rice Ball

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The long queue lined up from Tongming Gate all the way to Yeting.

Wen Mingtang stood at the end of the line and yawned lazily.

A female officer in a moon-blue short pleated skirt and a bun with her hair in a bun led two maids to pass by, and she saw Wen Mingtang who was yawning at a glance.

She stopped, said something to the maid beside her, and walked towards Wen Mingtang.

“Woke up late?”

Hearing the majestic female voice from behind, Wen Mingtang turned around, bowed to the handsome but solemn female officer, and called out, “Zhao Sishan.”

Zhao Sishan gave a “hmm”, looked up and glanced at the long line going out of the palace, and looked at Wen Mingtang: “When it’s your turn to go out of the palace, I’m afraid it will be afternoon or late, can you still go to my Elder Brother’s restaurant for lunch?”

Wen Mingtang didn’t take it seriously: “Then I won’t go to Brother Zhao’s house for lunch, but an evening meal is fine.” Speaking of this, the girl paused, rubbed her nose and smiled again, “Maybe Brother Zhao’s wife seeing that I missed a meal, so she is so sensible, will add a meat dish for me!”

Zhao Sishan glanced at the smiling Wen Mingtang, and interrupted her thought unceremoniously: “You are thinking beautifully! How can I not know the temperament of my brother and sister-in-law? If you want to add meat dishes, won’t that cut off their flesh directly!”

Wen Mingtang heard this, and the smile on her face deepened: “That’s all! I have worked in the palace for so many years, and I have some money to find an inn in the city for a few days!”

Hearing that Wen Mingtang didn’t want to go to her brother’s house, Zhao Sishan snorted and said, “What’s the matter? If you don’t go to my brother’s place for a few days, how will I know the real situation at home?”
“If I don’t make preparations early when I go out of the palace next year, won’t I be kicked out of the restaurant I bought with my own money?”

Zhao Sishan entered the palace fifteen years ago. At that time, the previous Emperor was in power, but he was in his forties. At that time, Zhao Sishan herself was just a young woman in her twenties, full of youth and vitality.

Even if the Emperor is of advanced age, ordinary families who genuinely care for their daughters would never send them into the palace. After all, daughters from ordinary families who enter the palace become maidservants to serve, unlike the daughters of high-ranking officials and influential figures who become imperial consorts. Even if by some stroke of luck they catch the old emperor’s attention… to be honest, at the emperor’s age, a man of twenty marrying a wife is considered appropriate, and even sixteen or eighteen would be considered a great honor. The Emperor was already old enough to be the father of Zhao Sishan. If it weren’t for the lure of power, which ordinary daughter would want to be noticed by the old emperor?

It was not a good job to enter the palace, but Zhao Sishan had to enter the palace at that time. There was no other reason than the poverty in the family.

Zhao Sishan’s elder brother was a useless man. Seeing that her brothers and sisters were about to die, Zhao Sishan had no choice but to enter the palace.

Compared to her useless elder brother, Zhao Sishan was much more powerful even though she was a woman. She didn’t covet the power of the old Emperor, she just relied on her own ability to find a position as a position in the Shangshi Bureau in the palace. She didn’t allow herself to be treated as a stepping stone but instead made a name for herself. This clearly demonstrates the remarkable capabilities of Zhao Sishan.

The nobles in the palace rewarded her generously, Zhao Sishan had money, and she never forgot her elder brother. Of course, the brother will not forget her, after all, the sister who entered the palace was a money bag!

In the third year of entering the palace, Zhao Sishan’s elder brother fell in love with the daughter of a shopkeeper surnamed Liu and wanted to marry her. Since he had no money, he begged Zhao Sishan, and Zhao Sishan paid him to marry Liu shi. The happily married couple gave birth to a daughter, but couldn’t afford to support her daughter. So Brother Zhao came to his sister again.

Zhao Sishan was appreciated by nobles at that time, so she spent all her belongings and bought a small shop in Chang’an City. Although the location was not good, it was also a house in Chang’an City. Finally, several generations of the Zhao family got rid of the fate of renting a house and had their own place to live.

The small shop later became a small restaurant, and the dishes were also taught by Zhao Sishan.

“I helped him marry his wife, but he didn’t let me have my own wedding night and took advantage of himself,” Zhao Sishan said with a serious expression on her face, her tone stern but almost eliciting laughter. “The place he lives in was bought by me, and he hasn’t paid a single penny of rent. The recipes for his little eatery were also taught by me, and he hasn’t spent a single silver coin on it.” At this point, Zhao Sishan couldn’t help but support her forehead and sighed, “My brother, even if I randomly grab a man with closed eyes on the street, he would be more useful than him. Why would Liu Shi be interested in him? It’s just because she sees him as easy to manipulate, and she’s attracted to this golden bag of mine!”

Upon hearing this, Wen Mingtang couldn’t help but cough lightly and said seriously, “Once Zhao Sishan leaves the palace, you will have to sleep with Liu Shi yourself. After giving your brother the opportunity for so many years, wouldn’t it be a great loss?”

Zhao Sishan playfully tapped Wen Mingtang’s forehead with her hand and said, “Enough of that! Even if I had a liking for that, if she had an unpleasant face with a bitter melon-like expression, a garlic-shaped nose, and mung bean-like eyes, I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to do it even with my eyes closed. Sleeping with her would be a great loss for me, wouldn’t it? If she looked like you, then maybe I could manage it!”

As the conversation had taken quite a while, the two palace maids who came with them kept exchanging meaningful glances. Zhao Sishan gave Wen Mingtang a reproachful look and jokingly scolded, “Every time I encounter you, it leads to more idle chatter! Let’s not talk about this woman anymore. Let’s get to the point!” Zhao Sishan continued, “Every time these two come asking for money, they put on a façade of honesty and simplicity! But after all these years in the palace, I have never misjudged anyone. Liu Shi is definitely not someone to be trusted. When you leave the palace, go stay with my brother for a couple of days first, get a sense of the situation at my home, and then make your move!”

After saying these words, Zhao Sishan let out a cold snort. “Now that they have enough money to live comfortably, they think they can burn bridges and betray me?1 Not a chance!”

Wen Mingtang let out a “hmm”.

Zhao Sishan glanced at the two palace maids who were showing signs of anxiety, walked two steps, but couldn’t help turning her head to remind Wen Mingtang: “Don’t forget to see Zhang Caimai. Right now there are demand for several public cooks in the city’s yamen. It is a good job to work and you will be provided food and lodging apart from a good salary. So, if you miss this village, there won’t be a shop for long!” 2

Wen Mingtang nodded again and waved her hand at Zhao Sishan. She said, “Don’t worry, Zhao Sishan. I’m resourceful. I will definitely go find Zhang Cai Mai and ensure that your arrangements don’t go to waste!”

In exchange for another remark, Zhao Sishan rolled her eyes again, and then she turned and walked towards the maidservant.

The two maidservants looked at Zhao Sishan, who took a step and turned his head three times, and then at Wen Mingtang. One of them couldn’t help but look envious: “Miss Wen is really lucky!”

It was great luck that the female family members of offending officials who have entered the court can be protected by female officials without avoiding suspicion. This saved her from a lot of trouble.

“That’s not Miss Wen’s luck. Miss Wen saved Zhao Sishan’s life!” The other shook her head, sighed, and said, “The gratitude for saving a life! Besides, Miss Wen is kind, clever, and it’s not surprising that she has gained the favor of Zhao Sishan.”

While talking, Zhao Sishan had already returned, glanced at the two maidservants who were talking, and lost her lively look in front of Wen Mingtang, with a serious and dignified expression said, “Let’s go!” Then she took the two maidservants and walked forward.

Wen Mingtang watched Zhao Sishan leave until she could no longer see her. Then Wen Mingtang looked away and concentrated on lining up.

This release lasted until noon, and her stomach made an untimely “grunt” sound.

Hungry! Wen Mingtang rubbed her belly, took out a palm-sized rice ball from her waist, and was about to eat, but suddenly saw the queue in front of her start to move to the side of the palace wall spontaneously.

Wen Mingtang didn’t have time to take a bite of the rice balls, so she could only follow the team to move to the side, and at the same time followed everyone’s eyes to look at the group of people walking in from the Tongming Gate.

What she saw was a group of officials. There was a little red in the green bushes, Wen Mingtang’s eyes flickered, and her eyes were attracted to the red-robed official in the middle.

Then, her eyes froze.

There was no other reason, the man in the middle wearing the red-robe was really good looking.

Already fair skin, under the crimson official robes on his body, he was even more white than jade. His eyes were like cold stars, the pupils were black and shiny as if stars were reflected in his eyes. The bridge of his nose was straight and high like famous mountain top, and his lips were like vermilion.

The whole person was beautiful, especially against the surrounding group of grey-haired officials in green robes who had reached old age. He stood out as exceptionally beautiful, making the green willows against the palace walls pale in comparison.

Footnote

It means that since they got what they needed, now they want to break up any relationship with her.It means she won’t get such a good job offer in future if she ignores this one.

T/N Yoo Woo our ML is here. And how good is our author in describing him.