Granny Sun had spent her whole life by the sea and was used to hard work. She merely propped up her aching back with a bit of effort and continued scooping up sand without even raising her head.
It was Lu Xunguang who stopped his work. Looking at Li Ying with a worried face, he said in a low voice, "Your daughter seems to be crying."
Li Ying was startled. Looking at Mianmian's small bamboo basket sitting alone beside a large boulder a few steps away from them, she felt as if someone had punched her hard in the nose.
All this time, with Granny Sun's help and Mianmian being such a well - behaved and sensible child, Li Ying had been able to save a lot of trouble.
She had become a mother rather abruptly and had little experience. She had truly overlooked the fact that even though Mianmian was like a blessed little lucky star, she was still an infant who had not even reached one month old and most needed her mother's constant care.
Li Ying scolded herself severely in her heart for being a negligent mother. She threw down the sieve and rushed over in a few quick steps to pick Mianmian up in her arms.
But this sweet and soft little baby just opened her toothless mouth and cooed with a smile at her. There wasn't a single tear in her big, dark, and shiny eyes.
Li Ying was stunned.
Taking advantage of this moment, Lu Xunguang had already picked up her sieve. He worked with both hands and scooped up the sea snails in big strides.
Even Granny Sun was "invited" by him to sit beside the boulder and accompany Li Ying to take care of Mianmian.
On the vast and empty beach, he was the only one left. Alone, he worked tirelessly.
Li Ying felt a mix of emotions in her heart. This man had come with her today to scoop up sea snails without a word. It turned out that he had foreseen this.
Although this man was quiet, he really took good care of her in every way and made everything perfect.
If he was just repaying the favor for saving his life in the broken temple that day, the kindness he had shown was far too much.
Granny Sun looked at his back and sighed, "Young Lu is a down - to - earth and hard - working lad. He's really a good match for a life partner."
Aying and her daughter were just a mother and daughter without a husband. They couldn't rely on an old woman like herself for the rest of their lives.
After spending days and nights together, she had already regarded Li Ying as her own daughter. Naturally, she hoped that Li Ying could find someone to rely on in the second half of her life.
Li Ying laughed, "Auntie! What are you talking about!"
She had known Lu Xunguang for only a short time. This young man wasn't from the fishing village and grew up there. Moreover, Aying had just divorced recently. Naturally, it was not appropriate to rush things. So Granny Sun also wisely kept her mouth shut.
The two of them were teasing the just - woken - up Mianmian when Lu Xunguang soon dragged over three bamboo buckets.
Big beads of sweat were oozing from his forehead, reflecting the sunlight. Although he was sweating, there was not a trace of sloppiness about him. When he greeted her, showing his white teeth, he actually looked refreshing.
"Miss Li, take a look. Is the amount of these sea snails enough?"
The bamboo buckets were filled to the brim with sea snails that were almost about to fall out. When they were loaded onto the mule cart, the bamboo - board cart sank a bit. Li Ying was flattered and said, "Enough, enough! Thank you, Brother Lu!"
Granny Sun stole a glance at her shy and grateful look and secretly laughed in her heart.
Hey, maybe these two kids really have a chance!
Lu Xunguang drove the Wu Zhui back to the village. Wisps of cooking smoke were already rising from the rooftops of several houses.
Granny Sun invited him to stay for dinner, but he kept shaking his head firmly.
"It's getting late. I'm afraid it might damage Miss Li's reputation. I'll take my leave today."
Li Ying still wanted to invite him to try the stir - fried sea snails with basil, but he had already gulped down the glass of plain water that Granny Sun had brought in a few mouthfuls and hurriedly stood up.
"Miss Li has excellent knife skills and always has unique and ingenious ideas in cooking. Just go ahead boldly. There's no need to be timid."
His words were firm, and his eyes were sincere. His dark pupils reflected the setting sun and the sky, exuding a bit of a persuasive charm.
Li Ying completely lost her worries and just waited for Manager Du to finish arranging the heart - warming skit about the assistants getting out of poverty and then inform her.
Du Zhong didn't let her down. Early the next morning, he sent someone to inform Li Ying that everything was ready.
The sea snails had been soaked in water overnight and had spat out all the sea sand. Now each one had stretched out its tender white meat, looking fresh and appealing.
Li Ying separated the leaves and stems of the basil into two basins.
The stems were fibrous and not good in taste, but they had the strongest fragrance. They were just right to be stir - fried with minced garlic and salty sauce as a base flavor.
This stir - fried sea snails with basil was to be sold to the ladies to be eaten with kung fu tea, so it naturally had to be made more delicate and light.
She poured in the drained sea snails, added only a small amount of sugar and salt for seasoning, stir - fried them over high heat until all the sea snails opened their shells, then added cooking wine and the tender basil leaves, and turned off the heat to take the dish out of the pan.
The sea snail meat was tender. Paired with the strong fragrance of the basil, it was extremely delicious without excessive seasoning.
Li Ying specially ordered a batch of delicate small bamboo baskets from Carpenter Li. Granny Sun was helping her lay the cut bamboo leaves into them one by one.
The bamboo strips were split extremely thin. The Li couple were both very skillful. According to the patterns she had drawn, these bright green baskets were small, delicate, and still carried a faint bamboo fragrance. They were so lovable that they would even be suitable as ornaments.
She scooped the stir - fried sea snails into the small baskets one by one and then confidently headed straight for the opera house.
She was a bit late. The first skit was already almost over.
"As previously mentioned, Mrs. Shi was overworked and at the end of her strength. Her life was in danger. Her only son, Shihu, seeing that his family was penniless and being extremely eager to save his mother, even cut his own veins in the black market to exchange for money. Hungry and cold, he fainted in the heavy snow on a freezing winter day. His life or death was uncertain..."
The storyteller on the stage waved his folding fan and drawled in a mysterious tone. Sure enough, a somewhat plump woman was deeply engrossed and exclaimed, "Oh! Was Young Master Shihu saved?"
Li Ying observed the ladies around her. Sure enough, they all looked pitying and secretly wiped away the tears that were about to fall from the corners of their eyes with their handkerchiefs.
The storyteller took a sip of tea and slapped the gavel.
"At this critical moment, fortunately, Manager Du of Deji Hall remembered them and came to visit. By accident, he saved the dying Shihu. But unexpectedly, as soon as he sent Shihu into the house, he saw that Mrs. Shi didn't want to be a burden to her son and actually hanged herself with a hemp rope during this time!"
Hearing this, the sad - looking ladies were even more touched and hurriedly asked, "Storyteller, don't keep us in suspense! Quickly tell us what happened to the mother and son of the Shi family later?"
The storyteller smiled calmly, "Manager Du was deeply touched by Shihu's filial piety. Unable to bear it, he saved Mrs. Shi and took Shihu in as an assistant. This mother and son finally found a way out of their desperate situation. Unfortunately, although Mrs. Shi managed to save her life, she still needed to take medicine every day. Their life was inevitably difficult..."
Before he finished speaking, the woman who had shed tears on the spot immediately waved her hand boldly, "It's easy! As long as I buy two pieces of the Guyuan paste, you will donate three copper coins to Young Master Shihu? If so, then give me twenty pieces first!"
Du Zhong had already arranged for the waiter. Hearing this, Shihu, who was waiting on the side, quickly ran over, bowed to the fat woman, and thanked her profusely.
The waiter brought up a plate of delicate Guyuan paste and loudly announced, "Holding the moon in the water and enjoying the fragrance of flowers on the clothes. Madam, with your kind heart, the mother and son of the Shi family will surely repay your kindness!"
The fat woman was praised for her kindness and felt very proud. She couldn't help but feel a bit elated.
Seeing this, the other ladies were not to be outdone. They rushed to buy the Guyuan paste one after another.
Merchants usually value profit, but Deji Hall was willing to give up some profit to save people. Such a kind - hearted store could hardly be the unscrupulous merchant that Old Madam Qin had accused of being indifferent to human lives.
Moreover, quite a few customers who hadn't returned the Guyuan paste secretly sent it to other medical clinics for inspection. The doctors concluded that there was nothing wrong with this tonic!
The Guyuan paste was in short supply. The ladies were still not satisfied, and Li Ying's stir - fried sea snails with basil were quickly sold out.
Du Zhong did a rough count backstage. He estimated that after selling the Guyuan paste that had been returned in small portions, they actually made more money than when selling it in whole boxes!
Looking at Li Ying busily attracting female customers, he secretly made up his mind. Miss Li was a rare talent. He must persuade the boss to keep her to work for them!