Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 369 Yes, Miss Shen is the best girl

This is indeed the case today. Many people have come with their entire families, wanting to have a vegetarian meal here before going home.

Shen Yu thought for a moment and asked, "Will the county government be very busy today? Will we cause trouble for you if we go there?"

Lu Lang shook his head: "I was quite busy preparing for the Wanshou Festival a few days ago. These days, the people below have done the work according to the instructions, and I have nothing to do."

"Even my father and the two advisors must be drinking tea and playing chess at the moment. As long as there is no chaos everywhere, there is nothing to do."

Shen Yu felt relieved after hearing this, and said with a smile: "Mr. Lu, it would be disrespectful to refuse your kindness, so I'm sorry to bother you."

Shen Yu and his companions followed Lu Lang and his companions out of the small door at the backyard of the temple, walked through the streets and alleys, and in just a moment, they arrived at the small door at the back of the county government office.

Shen Yu then realized that the county government office was so close to Guang'an Temple from the backyard. If one went in through the main gate on either side, one would have to go around a long circle.

Qi Xi went forward and knocked on the door. After a while, an old yamen runner came to answer the door. Seeing that it was Lu Lang who returned, he greeted him warmly, opened the door, and let them in.

Lu Lang led everyone inside, and as he walked, he smiled at Shen Yu and said, "Our county government office is not like your restaurant. We don't have so many delicious foods. Please don't be disgusted. Just make do with the meal."

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Mr. Lu, you are joking. How could that be possible?"

As they were talking, they followed Lu Lang to Lu Lang's small courtyard in the back court. After entering the courtyard, Lu Lang led them into the main room and asked Shen Yu and the others to sit anywhere they wanted.

He turned around and told Qixi: "Go see what food is in the kitchen and prepare a delicious lunch."

Qi Xi agreed and left. Yu Cheng and the others looked around curiously, but they sat very obediently and did not dare to move.

Seeing that they were a little reserved, Lu Lang smiled and said, "We'll have to wait for a while. Come with me to the study and see if you can write the gift sign I asked you to write."

When it comes to writing, Yucheng and his friends became excited, and even Yutao was eager to try.

Shen Yu waved his hands guiltily and said, "My handwriting is too ugly, Mr. Lu, I really can't help you with this matter."

Lu Lang thought about the handwriting Shen Yu had written when he signed his name in the master's room, and laughed, "Oh, how ugly can it be?"

"I heard from Yucheng that you sisters often practice calligraphy together. You must have made some progress compared to before."

Shen Yu racked his brains to find an excuse: "Well...well...I'm busy cooking every day and don't have time to practice."

Yu Chengxin had no sincerity. When he heard Shen Yu say this, he smiled and told the real reason: "My elder sister said that the brush is too soft. She started to get nervous before she even started writing."

"My eldest sister thinks charcoal pencils are easier to use. She doesn't want to write with a brush."

"She said that it was enough to know the character and be able to write it, but it was not necessary to write it very well. When I asked her to practice calligraphy with me, she always refused."

Yutao, however, felt that she should protect her sister in front of outsiders.

She hurriedly explained: "Mr. Lu, don't listen to Yu Cheng's nonsense. Sister is busy cooking every day and really has no time to practice. If she had time to practice, she would definitely be able to write better and better."

Dun Dun also said seriously: "That's right, Sister Yuzhi works very hard every day. If it weren't for her, I would never have the opportunity to study in the academy."

"Sister Yuzhi, if you can write as many words as I do every day, you can also write well."

Yu Cheng then realized that he shouldn't have spoken out his elder sister's private complaints, and he regretted it immediately.

He quickly said seriously, "Mr. Lu, my elder sister is very good except that her handwriting is not good and she doesn't like to write."

"She worked hard to make money so that we could have enough food and clothes, and so that my brother Dun Dun and I could go to college."

"She is... She is a very good girl. Even our husband has praised her."

Shen Yu felt warm in his heart. He didn't expect that he was so good in the hearts of these children and that they protected him so much.

Lu Lang smiled and nodded: "Yes, Miss Shen is a very good girl."

When Yutao and the others heard Lu Lang say this, they couldn't help but nod their heads happily. They thought that Mr. Lu had good vision and what he said was really right.

Several people looked at each other and couldn't help laughing, which made Shen Yu blush slightly.

When they arrived at the study, Lu Lang took out the cut paper for writing gift signs, and then took out a stack of written gift signs, as well as two lists of people to whom they would be distributed.

It turned out that every year on the Wanshou Festival, the government would set aside a special fund to purchase some food and fruits and distribute them to the elderly over 60 years old in the county.

In this era, sixty years old is considered a long life, and the government distributes these to respect the elderly and prolong their life.

These gifts will not be distributed personally by the county magistrate and his men until the Wanshou Festival.

Anping County is a small county. If we don’t count the large number of traveling merchants at the market, the permanent population is only about two to three thousand people.

The number of elderly people over sixty years old is even smaller, with only about two hundred people registered.

Seeing that everyone was busy, Lu Lang took over the job of writing gift signs, thinking that he would have some free time after the Wanshou Festival began, which would be a good opportunity to write these gift signs.

Now I have written half of it, and there is still half to go.

I had been planning to take a tour today and write about it when I had nothing to do in the afternoon, but I just happened to take it out and used it as an excuse to ask the Shen siblings to come out to visit the temple fair.

Gift signs are very easy to write. All you have to do on each sign is write two auspicious words, write the elderly person's name, and finally stamp it with an Anping County longevity seal specially carved by the county government for the Wanshou Festival.

It's a very simple job. As long as you can write neatly, you can do it.

Yutao, Yucheng, and Dundun all took the pens and tried to write on the paper used for practicing calligraphy in front of Lu Lang's desk for Lu Lang to see.

Lu Lang read it, nodded with satisfaction, and said that all three of them wrote well.

He also praised Dun Dun, saying that his handwriting was much better than the one written on the temporary sign when the restaurant first opened.

Dun Dun was so happy to be praised that his face lit up, but he tried his best to hold back and said humbly like an adult, "Mr. Lu, you are too kind."

Shen Yu was watching from the side and was also very pleased.

Normally, the four of them would practice calligraphy together. She only felt that the handwriting of the other three was pleasing to the eye than her own, but as an amateur, she had no idea whether it was good or not.

Lu Lang turned to Shen Yu and said, "Miss Shen, you can try writing one too."

Shen Yu waved his hands quickly, thinking about how to refuse.

Qi Xi stepped into the room and said with a depressed look on his face, "Master, after Chef Jiang prepared today's breakfast, he rushed to attend the blessing ceremony."

"There was only some leftover rice and pickles in the big kitchen at the front, and nothing else."