I am Fugui

Chapter 79 Du Shanying's Identity
Lunar February.

Although it was mid-spring, last night a cold wave from the north caused the temperature in Yunxi County to drop a lot.

In the morning, before dawn, Xu Fugui got up gently, went to the kitchen to warm up the leftovers from last night, and then began to wash.

"Master, it's drizzling outside." Laishun said after urinating outside.

"Well, let's eat first."

After breakfast, when the sky was just getting bright, Laishun took out the bamboo basket, put all the stewed goods in it, and carried it on his back.

"Fugui, remember to put on your raincoat." Just as she was about to go out, Jiazhen got up and rubbed her eyes.

Xu Fugui responded, took off the canvas raincoat hanging on the wall, handed Laishun a set, put it on himself, and lowered his voice, "Jiazhen, go back and sleep, it's still early."

"Well, don't get angry with others in the county, you know?"

"Don't worry, harmony makes money, I understand."

"Wang!"

Ping An stuck out his bright red tongue and circled around his feet twice.

Xu Fugui stroked its fluffy dog's head, and walked out with Laishun.

What Lai Shun said was right, it was drizzling outside, thick fog shrouded the entire Xujia Village, the sky was dim, and the surroundings were extremely quiet.

The mud floor is soaked in rainwater and is so soft that when the straw sandals step on it, a footprint will be left.

"Damn, it's still so cold in February." Laishun said cursingly, shrinking his neck.

Walking to the unnamed river a few hundred meters in front of Xujia Village, Laishun looked at the rocks that were only partly exposed, "Master, why did the river rise so much?"

Xu Fugui crossed the river on a row of stones, and looked at the gloomy sky. Years of experience told him that it was going to rain heavily.

Sure enough, when the two had just entered the county town, there were several loud bangs from the dark cloud-filled sky, as if God was angry.

When they came to the street where Wang's Restaurant was located, the heavy rain fell from the sky, splashing a large white spray on the bluestone floor.

A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the whole world. Xu Fugui and Laishun ran wildly in the rain, cursing God in their hearts.

With such a heavy rain, there is no one on the street, let alone doing business, they have no place to shelter from the rain.

"Fugui, Laishun, come in and take shelter from the rain." Du Shanying, who was wearing a decent suit, leaned against the door frame and greeted them immediately after seeing them.

The two hurried towards Tongyou Tea Tavern, hid under the eaves, and then let out a bad breath.

"Boss Du, I have to trouble you again." Xu Fugui took off the bamboo hat and raincoat. The raincoat was very effective in preventing rain, but only the trouser legs were wet a lot.

Du Shanying smiled and waved her hands, "What are you talking about? They are all neighbors. Don't you usually help me solicit business?"

Tongyou Tea Tavern has been open for more than half a month. Usually, when the guests in the tea tavern want to drink some braised meat, Du Shanying will help them buy it.

Xu Fugui and Laishun also like to be lively. Usually when they are free, they like to run to the tea tavern and listen to the guests chatting and bragging.

The tea in the teahouse is not expensive, and a cup of the cheapest pekoe tea costs only twenty copper coins.

Even sometimes when the business is good, he and Laishun will buy two taels of small wine to satisfy their gluttons.

After going back and forth, their relationship with Du Shanying also became familiar.

Laishun put the basket on the ground, lifted the canvas to look at it, and said with a bitter face: "Brother, our lo mei is all wet by the rain."

In front of outsiders, Xu Fugui always asked Laishun to call him brother.

It's best to change the name here, he is not like a young master who will be remembered as a young master a few years later.

Xu Fugui looked at it with his head, and smacked his mouth, "Take it out to dry first, if someone buys it, then sell it cheap."

Du Shanying pointed to the inside of the teahouse, "Go in and sit down. I'll treat you to a drink. It's raining, so there's no one here."

Xu Fugui and Laishun took off the straw sandals and put them at the door. After washing them with rainwater, they took out the cloth shoes and put them on.

"Boss Du, why haven't I seen your husband?" Lai Shun said while sitting on the bamboo chair, looking around.

"Oh, he went to the provincial capital to buy tea, and he will be back in two days."

Du Shanying came over with three wine glasses. Xu Fugui didn't like to let others suffer, so he found out the pork head that was not wet, cut half a catty of it and put it on the table.

Du Shanying took a bite of braised pork, "Don't tell me, I also ate braised pork when I was out of town, but I just think your taste is the best."

Xu Fugui shook his head, and said solemnly: "I know my own level, I can eat it in general, not as good as others, but you, the dialect is getting better and better."

When Du Shanying first came back, she spoke Mandarin with a perfect accent. Although she also spoke dialect later, her accent sounded awkward.

Du Shanying smiled and motioned him to drink.

The sound of the rain outside was rushing, and the sky gradually brightened, but the streets were still empty, and the store owners were frowning.

After drinking two glasses of wine, the three chatted quite happily.

Mostly Du Shanying was asking about the changes in Yunxi County over the years, and the two of them answered.

"Fugui, is there anything you don't know about Yunxi County?"

Xu Fugui patted his chest, "There is really nothing in Yunxi County that I don't know about."

Du Shanying put down her wine glass and suddenly asked: "By the way, isn't it peaceful now? Why is the conscription started again at the gate of the city?"

Xu Fugui smiled, "Who knows, anyway, I reckon it's not a good thing."

Laishun said in a muffled voice, "That's right, it's not as good as when the cherry blossoms were here, at least you don't have to pay so much food and so much tax."

Du Shanying asked: "The South asks you to pay a lot of taxes and food?"

"Yeah, you don't know, how many families in our village were beaten by officers and soldiers because they couldn't hand over their food."

Du Shanying sighed, "If I had known I would not have come back, I might as well stay in the north."

"What's so good about the north?" Laishun asked carelessly.

"Of course the north is good, where everyone has a field, the army is the children of the people, organized leaders, and people work every day with a smile on their faces"

The topic of the two gradually shifted to the discussion between the north and the south. Laishun and Xu Fugui gradually seldom talked, and Du Shanying was mostly introducing the situation in the north.

Lai Shun listened fascinatedly, while Xu Fugui affirmed his thoughts in his heart.

Du Shanying is definitely not a simple tea tavern owner, and his real identity is probably a member of the organization.

The handshake they met for the first time made him feel very strange. He usually inquired about all kinds of news inadvertently while chatting, and now he was introducing how good the Northern Organization is.

"Boss Du, when will we be able to live the life in the north." Xu Fugui asked sincerely.

Du Shanying smiled slightly, "How do I know, I'm just an ordinary person."

(End of this chapter)