"Haha, hahaha, Xiaomeng, your idea is a good one. To be honest, one of my dreams when I was young was to open a shop of my own.

But opening a shop is not that easy.

If nothing else, let’s just say where is this shop? It can’t be on the street? Then it’s not called a shop, it’s called a stall.”

Zhou Xiaomeng did not expect Aunt Zhou to react so strongly. Just as she was about to retort, she heard Aunt Zhou stop laughing and become serious.

"Xiaomeng, do you know that there are conditions for opening a shop? First, you must have a shop before you can open a shop.

Moreover, you must register with the relevant guilds and have relevant approval documents. If you open a shop without approval, it is illegal, and you will go to jail if you are caught."

Zhou Xiaomeng was a little surprised. In ancient times, opening a shop also required a business license and experience permit.

But it's understandable.

I was about to ask more questions.

Then I heard Mrs. Zhou waving to a salesman.

While waving, he said to Zhou Xiaomeng, "The rain probably won't stop for a while. Since we can't go home, let's just stay a little longer."

Auntie will take you to eat something good, otherwise you have to say that auntie didn’t tell you about the good food."

With that said, he took out fifteen cents and bought an umbrella.

The aunt held the umbrella, Zhou Xiaomeng held the basket, and walked together according to the aunt's instructions.

I don’t know how many times I turned around and finally arrived at Qingshi Alley. The ground was covered with moss, but it had a different charm.

After walking a few steps, Zhou Xiaomeng smelled a delicious smell. Zhou Xiaomeng, who always has a sharp nose, smelled the smell and quickened her pace.

Seeing this, Aunt Zhou had no choice but to hold up an umbrella and follow her, laughing and scolding, "I just said I wasn't hungry, but now I'm running faster than anyone else. Slow down, Auntie, with my old legs and arms, I can't compare to you young people."

We didn't stop until we reached the end of the alley, which is the corner where the alley meets the street.

Another piece was connected from the wide eaves, just enough to keep out the rain.

The pot was steaming, and the smell came from there. Zhou Xiaomeng jumped under the eaves in a few steps, then ran over and saw crystal clear wontons in the hot pot.

Each one is plump and big, the soup is thick and white, and there is a faint smell of mutton soup.

The woman making wontons glanced at Zhou Xiaomeng, smiled and asked, "Want a bowl?" At the same time, she sprinkled a handful of chopped green onions and a few drops of sesame oil.

Just smelling it makes you salivate.

Zhou Xiaomeng swallowed secretly and was about to speak.

One step behind, Aunt Zhou, who had just collected her umbrella and came over, smiled and said, "Old Zhao, please have two bowls."

"Okay, two bowls of wontons."

As Mrs. Zhao shouted, she took two large pottery bowls, filled them respectively, and was about to carry them to the two of them.

At this moment, someone wanted to give money and leave after eating. He shouted to Aunt Zhao, "Ten copper coins are on the table. Remember to take them."

Aunt Zhao replied, "Come again," and shouted to Aunt Zhou, "Old Zhou, help me collect the money and clean the table."

Aunt Zhou didn't refuse. She got up, collected the money and put it in the small drawer where Aunt Zhao kept the money. She also put away the dishes and chopsticks, wiped the table with straw paper, and then sat down in front of Zhou Xiaomeng again.

Aunt Zhao also served the wontons on the table with a cloth on the back.

"Hurry up, hurry up, you're going to burn me to death."

"Old Zhao, you can't pretend less."

"You can give less to others, bah, you can't give less, especially you. We are old sisters. If we give less, you and your husband are not allowed to scold me for being immoral at home. Even the old sisters are being cheated."

After saying that, he also wiped his hands, sat on the table, looked Zhou Xiaomeng up and down, and wanted to ask.

Aunt Zhou guessed it and answered directly, "This is my partner, Zhou Xiaomeng. You are like me, just call me Xiaomeng."

Then he said to Zhou Xiaomeng, "This is my old sister, her surname is Zhao. You can just call her Aunt Zhao."

"Aunt Zhao."

"Xiao Meng."

The two spoke at the same time, both were startled, then looked at each other and smiled.

Older people have a way of judging people. Seeing Zhou Xiaomeng's hearty smile, she knew that she and Aunt Zhou were "the same thing".

Zhou Xiaomeng knew what was going on when she saw that she was so familiar with Aunt Zhou and spoke without warning.

"Xiaomeng, try it quickly. Lao Zhao's skill in making wontons is passed down from his ancestors. This soup is so thick and white after boiling it with sheep bones all night. The skin of these wontons is thin and the fillings are thick. You can eat it for sure.

If you pass it once, you will have to make a fuss next time.”

When Mrs. Zhou talked about the old sisters’ wontons, she was not shy about praising them.

Aunt Zhao put her hands on the table to support her chin, and watched Zhou Xiaomeng taste her special skills.

Under the watchful eyes of the two of them, Zhou Xiaomeng took one of the spoons and put it into his mouth. He bit it gently and the soup came out. His lips and teeth were immediately fragrant. It was so delicious that he wanted to swallow it on his tongue.

While screaming that it was hot, I couldn't wait to scoop up the second one.

One wonton and one mouthful of soup.

The whole bowl goes down quickly, leaving an endless aftertaste in your mouth and a warm feeling in your stomach.

Seeing Zhou Xiaomeng's enthusiasm, I knew that she must be satisfied. Aunt Zhao happily chatted with Aunt Zhou.

"Lao Zhou, you're going to close the stall before it's sold out?"

"If I don't close the stall, is it possible that I still get wet in the rain? Isn't that enough to pay for the medical expenses if I catch the cold? If I leave directly again, who will cheer you up and talk to you? Then I will have to trouble you to burn paper on my grave every Qingming Festival.

"

"Old Zhou, tell me, how old are you? You are still the same as when you were young. You are still ready to die. You will not die if anyone dies. Even if I die, you will not die."

"Bah, let's talk about it. Why have we reached this point? Stop it. Stop it."

"Whoever said it first, it wasn't you who said it first."

"Okay, I said it first, I won't say it anymore, and you are not allowed to say it either."

"That's pretty much it." Aunt Zhao pursed her lips and smiled.

"It's better here than here. The harvest is guaranteed even if there are droughts and floods, and business can be done even if it rains. I think there are still a lot of customers."

"It won't last long, it will be demolished soon."

"Didn't you say that your relative is the housekeeper of this shop owner's family and is responsible for managing these shops, so he gets the advantage? Why, you are not allowed to get the advantage?"

"A relative sent me a letter saying that my family is moving out and business is not going well.

This street has been under construction for several years, and it was said that a shop was going to be opened, but it never opened, so I was asked to build a space here to set up a stall.

With the protection of my master, I am not under the control of the guild, so I save a lot of money."

"You still have such relatives, I don't have any. Look, if God doesn't reward me with food, I have to leave." Aunt Zhou complained and brought back to the previous topic, "You just said that the master's family is leaving.

?where to?"

"It's said that we are going to a prefectural city, or a county town, or the capital city. In short, the masters don't like small places like ours, so people should go to higher ground."

"Then the street is so empty?"

"This is not something we should consider anymore. Besides, as we are getting older and the rainy season is here, our legs and feet are sore, so we should take this opportunity to rest."

"Well, it's good to rest, but I'm afraid that this rest will mean I'll rest forever."

"Lao Zhou, if you don't say anything, look at you. What did you say?"

"Oh, I have such a bad mouth, that's all. Don't mind it, Lao Zhao."

"I don't mind. If I did, we wouldn't be old sisters."

The two talked and smiled knowingly.

As Zhou Xiaomeng listened, her eyes couldn't help but turn to this new but empty shopping street.

She was puzzled just now. This street was new and empty. It wasn't the kind that was temporarily closed on rainy days, but there wasn't even a sign.
Chapter completed!