Chapter 8

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"Master, renting out the courtyard is a good idea, but there's one key point: Songjiang Prefecture is a small place, and there aren't many people who need to rent a house. For example, the apprentices hired from the countryside by the shops are usually provided with food and lodging by their employers. Moreover, it's already mid-October, and in two months it will be the New Year. So, it might not be easy to rent out the courtyards at this time!" Xu Manager said, looking up at Zhou Chong, as if he was hesitant to say more.

Hearing Xu Manager's explanation, Zhou Chong felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. He hadn't thought about this issue before. Although Songjiang Prefecture would become Shanghai in the future, it was now a very small place, only overseeing Huating and Shanghai counties, with a small population. It couldn't compare to the prosperity of places like Suzhou and Hangzhou.

In such a small place, the population was relatively stable, and most people had their own homes. To rent out the house, there needed to be people willing to live there. Thinking about this, Zhou Chong felt a headache coming on. He also secretly cursed his fate, wondering why he wasn't in 21st-century Shanghai, where the value of the courtyard alone would make him a millionaire!

Seeing Zhou Chong's disappointment, Xu Manager quickly comforted him, "But, Master, don't lose heart. We can spread the word about renting out the courtyards. Although Songjiang Prefecture is small, there are still many merchants. Perhaps some of them need a courtyard to store goods. If we set the rent low, we might be able to rent it out!"

Zhou Chong nodded weakly, "Alright, I'll leave the rental matter to you, Manager Xu. As for the clothes, we can pawn them. Don't touch the clothes of the ladies and my little sister. Don't tell them about the situation at home for now; I'll figure something out!"

"Alright!" Xu Manager agreed, standing up to pack the clothes for the pawn shop. However, when Zhou Chong saw him put the red silk underpants into the bundle, he couldn't help but stop him, "Manager Xu, keep the underpants. I have more clothes, so you can take a few more pieces!"

Hearing Zhou Chong's words, Xu Manager agreed and reluctantly took out the underpants. Although he thought the material was good and could fetch a few coins, since Master had spoken, he had to comply. In ancient times, such underpants were called "fun," a type of short, loose-fitting underwear similar to modern underpants.

Xu Manager and Zhou Chong went to the inner quarters and picked out a few well-made clothes. However, it was already late, and the wind outside was very cold. So, Zhou Chong specifically instructed Xu Manager to cook dinner first, and they could go to the pawn shop the next day.

As it was getting dark, Zhou Chong went to the kitchen to find Xu Manager, preparing to deliver the cooked food to the courtyard where Lady Wang lived. Although the house had a dedicated dining room, only five people lived there now, and it was dark and cold at night, making it inconvenient for Lady Wang and the others to come out. Therefore, they usually had dinner in Lady Wang's courtyard.

The kitchen of the Zhou family was located to the right of the main gate. It was quite large, as it used to prepare food for the entire household. The kitchen was divided into two sections: the large kitchen for the servants and the small kitchen for Zhou Chong and the ladies in the inner quarters, which was not far from the main gate.

Just as Zhou Chong was pouring the cooked porridge into a porcelain bowl and helping Xu Manager prepare two dishes of pickles to take to the inner quarters, he suddenly heard someone knocking on the main gate. Zhou Chong and Xu Manager exchanged surprised glances, and Zhou Chong put down the dinner and said to Xu Manager, "I'll go see who it is. I wonder who would come here on such a cold day?"

Zhou Chong turned and left the kitchen. However, the wind had picked up, and although it wasn't strong, the damp cold made it feel bone-chilling. Zhou Chong shivered and quickened his pace to the main gate, where he found a familiar face, which made him pause.

" Aunt Luo, why are you here?" Zhou Chong asked, surprised. Outside the gate stood a woman in her fifties, stout and with rough hands and a thick neck, clearly someone who worked hard. Her round, plump face was shiny, indicating she was well-nourished. In fact, Aunt Luo was a cook, specifically the former cook of the Zhou family, known for her excellent cooking skills. She used to cook for Zhou Chong and the other masters. After the Zhou family fell, Aunt Luo was dismissed along with the other servants.

Aunt Luo held a food box in her hand. Seeing that it was Master Zhou who opened the door, her eyes welled up, "Master, I'm now employed by Mr. Wu in the northern part of the city. I'm worried that you and the two young ladies might not be used to the food cooked by others. Today, there was extra food at Mr. Wu's house, so I brought some for you. Don't worry, these dishes haven't been served yet, and they are absolutely clean!"

Hearing that Aunt Luo had braved the cold to bring them food, Zhou Chong felt a warm feeling. He wanted to thank her, but his throat felt blocked, and he could hardly speak. Finally, he managed to say, "Thank you so much, Aunt Luo. You're so old, why didn't you let Luo Da or Luo Er bring the food? Come in and warm up, don't stay out in the cold!"

Aunt Luo's husband had passed away years ago, leaving her with two sons, Luo Da and Luo Er, who were a bit older than Zhou Chong and had been his childhood playmates. However, as Zhou Chong grew to love reading, and Luo Da and Luo Er had to work in the house, they gradually lost touch.

"Master, you're being too formal. When my husband died and I had two children to feed, it was thanks to Master and Lady Wang that I could bury my husband and get a job, allowing me to raise my two sons. Now, although the family is in trouble, we will get through it. As for my two sons, they are clumsy, and I don't trust them to do this," Aunt Luo, a long-time servant of the Zhou family, entered the house without further ado, carrying the food box. Zhou Chong tried to take the heavy box, but she refused.

Aunt Luo entered the kitchen to the right of the main gate. When Xu Manager learned of her intentions, he praised her for her loyalty. However, when she saw the simple dinner Xu Manager had prepared, she couldn't help but shed a few tears.

Aunt Luo was a straightforward woman. She quickly wiped away her tears, opened the food box, and took out several dishes: a plate of steamed fish, a dish of sweet and sour pork, a plate of stir-fried cabbage, and a bowl of mushroom soup. The steamed fish was Zhou Chong's favorite, the sweet and sour pork was a favorite of Zhou Chong and Du'er, so the portion was the largest, the stir-fried cabbage and mushroom soup were for the vegetarian Lady Wang. The food box was a special one used by wealthy families, with a bottom layer for hot water to keep the food warm, so the dishes were still steaming when taken out.

From these dishes, it was clear that they were not leftovers from Mr. Wu's house but were secretly prepared by Aunt Luo. If Mr. Wu found out, she might be reprimanded or even lose her job. However, she didn't want Zhou Chong to worry, so she didn't tell the truth.

Zhou Chong, no longer the naive bookworm he once was, could see through Aunt Luo's lie and felt even more moved.

Aunt Luo placed the dishes on a tray in the kitchen and moved the pickles to the side, "Master, eating too much pickles is not good. Eat these dishes today, and I'll bring more tomorrow night!"

Hearing that Aunt Luo planned to bring more food, Zhou Chong, moved and concerned, quickly said, "Aunt Luo, it's so cold, and the northern part of the city is far away. Please don't bring any more food. Luo Da and I have already thought of ways to earn money, and the family's situation will improve soon. Perhaps we'll even invite you back to cook!"

Xu Manager, a shrewd man, also joined in, "Yes, Master is right. It's not easy for you to find a job, and the Wu family has many eyes. If they find out you're bringing food to the old family, they won't be happy. Please don't bring any more food!"

Hearing Zhou Chong and Xu Manager's words, Aunt Luo understood their concern. She packed up the food box and nodded at Zhou Chong and Xu Manager, "Alright, Master, you're a capable person. I believe you will restore the Zhou family's glory. When that happens, I'll come back to cook for you and the young ladies!"

Aunt Luo was not one to linger. After saying this, she bid farewell to Zhou Chong. Knowing that she had a long way to go back to the northern part of the city, Zhou Chong and Xu Manager didn't keep her and saw her off at the main gate. Then, they carried the food to Lady Wang's courtyard.

When Lady Wang, Zhou Chong's concubine, and the two young ladies, Zhou Chong and Du'er, saw the food, they were surprised. Since the servants were dismissed, Xu Manager had been cooking, and the food was simple due to their financial troubles. Now, seeing their favorite dishes, they were both happy and puzzled.

Zhou Chong didn't hide the truth and explained Aunt Luo's visit, which moved Lady Wang and Zhou Chong to tears. Only four-year-old Du'er, who didn't understand, was just staring at the sweet and sour pork, drooling.

Seeing Du'er's reaction, Zhou Chong quickly comforted Lady Wang and Zhou Chong, pointing to Du'er, which made Lady Wang and Zhou Chong both laugh and feel heartache. They stopped crying and invited Xu Manager to join them for dinner. Xu Manager, who had a high status in the Zhou family and remained loyal, was treated as part of the family. At first, he declined, but eventually, he joined them.

Aunt Luo's cooking was excellent, especially the sweet and sour pork, a southern Chinese dish known for its sweet and sour flavor. The pork was coated in flour, fried until half-cooked, and then stir-fried with a sweet and sour sauce. The dish was tender and delicious.

The sweet and sour pork was completely devoured by Zhou Chong and Du'er, and even Zhou Chong, who usually ate little, finished most of the steamed fish. Lady Wang had a bowl of porridge and some stir-fried cabbage, while Xu Manager drank all the mushroom soup. The remaining dishes and a small bowl of porridge were also finished by Xu Manager, who Zhou Chong suspected was still not full, as he had seen Xu Manager eat eight bowls of rice in one meal before.

After dinner, Xu Manager cleaned up in the kitchen. Du'er's mother, Lady Zhao, had run away, so Du'er had to sleep with Lady Wang. Since Du'er had eaten a lot of meat, Lady Wang was worried about indigestion, so she and Zhou Chong played with Du'er in the room. Zhou Chong, meanwhile, returned to his room to continue worrying about how to support the family.

The night passed without incident. The next day, Xu Manager took the clothes to the pawn shop and spread the word about renting out the courtyards. To his surprise, the news quickly attracted the first tenant.

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