"You came empty-handed? Why didn't you bring something?" Xu Jinxin pretended to be angry.
Duoduo blinked her big eyes, a sly smile flashing across her face.
"Aunt Xu, if you knew what it was, are you sure you wouldn't regret it?"
Duoduo's words piqued Xu Jinxin's curiosity.
"What good thing is it?" Xu Jinxin looked toward the carriage.
Duoduo gave Lüdou a knowing glance, and Lüdou climbed onto the carriage.
Soon, Lüdou came down carrying a large watermelon.
"Watermelon!"
Xu Jinxin couldn't help but exclaim.
"Oh dear, I've been so busy these past few days!"
"Now is the season for watermelons. I should have had some bought and turned into watermelon juice to sell."
Since the shop opened, Xu Jinxin had been running around nonstop.
At first, business was slow, and she worried about how to make it better.
Later, when things started picking up, she became overwhelmed.
Seeing the watermelon Duoduo had brought, she suddenly remembered this opportunity.
Xu Jinxin was full of regret.
This was a great way to make money!
She had missed out on so much silver!
Seeing the look on Xu Jinxin's face, Duoduo tugged at her hand and gave it a shake.
"Aunt Xu, there are plenty more in the carriage!"
"Have the workers unload them and squeeze them into juice right away."
"Oh, and there's a basket of ice too. Aunt Xu, you should check how to store it!"
Xu Jinxin beamed with joy.
She gently pinched Duoduo's cheek.
"Oh, Duoduo, you're really my little ray of sunshine! You thought of everything, even bringing the ice!"
Duoduo grinned, laughing happily.
Xu Jinxin immediately arranged for the watermelons to be moved into the shop.
The customers queuing for barbecue saw baskets of watermelons being carried into the kitchen.
Some of them started craving them.
"Boss lady, are these watermelons for sale too?"
Xu Jinxin smiled warmly. "Yes! Squeezed into juice, it's the perfect match for barbecue!"
The customers inside heard this and urged her to prepare them quickly.
"Just a moment. If you want to eat them right away, I'll have them cut into slices."
"If you want watermelon juice, you'll have to wait a bit," Xu Jinxin explained to the customers.
"We want watermelon juice!" the customers clamored.
Few people ever bothered to turn watermelons into juice.
One reason was that it was too much trouble—why not just bite into it directly?
Another reason was that ordinary families rarely bought watermelons.
If they had spare money, they'd rather buy some meat.
Xu Jinxin's barbecue had prices ranging from a few coppers to several taels of silver.
So her customers included both hardworking commoners and wealthy young gentlemen.
The gentlemen, seeking a bit of luxury, naturally wanted watermelon juice.
"Hold on! It's coming right away!" Xu Jinxin went into the kitchen and arranged for the juice to be made.
Duoduo, Yingniang, and Lüdou all went in to help.
Yingniang had been helping with skewering the food. Once inside, she pulled Duoduo onto a small stool.
Duoduo looked around the kitchen.
Everything was orderly and bustling, with each person handling their own tasks.
"Sister, have you stopped studying now?" Duoduo picked up a slice of potato and began skewering it with a stick.
"No! Father said that as your study companion, even though you're now at the Imperial Academy and I can't follow, I mustn't neglect my studies."
Yingniang was already used to the work, quickly skewering the vegetables.
"Mother said that once business stabilizes in a few days, we'll hire more people."
"Then I won't need to help out here anymore."
"Mother will also hand everything over to the manager and stop managing it herself."
Yingniang finished speaking and glanced sneakily at Xu Jinxin, who was supervising the workers as they squeezed the watermelon juice.
"Father scolded Mother."
Surprise flickered in Duoduo's eyes.
Li Jin had always struck her as a courteous and gentle man.
His relationship with Xu Jinxin had always seemed warm and harmonious.
"What did Master Li say to Aunt Xu?" Duoduo lowered her voice, gossiping.
"Father said Mother was too focused on the shop and neglecting him too much."
"He also said that Mother and I were in the shop day and night, and he barely got to see us," Yingniang said, giggling as she spoke.
"Isn't Master Li busy too?" Duoduo recalled that she herself hadn't seen Li Jin for several days.
Yingniang leaned in close to Duoduo's ear.
"Mother said that Father was just throwing a tantrum."
Duoduo's eyes went wide in disbelief.
"No way?"
"What are you two little ones whispering about behind my back?"
Xu Jinxin walked over and patted Yingniang on the shoulder.
She had turned around and caught Duoduo and Yingniang staring at her while whispering.
Busted!
Yingniang winked at Duoduo.
Duoduo turned to look at Xu Jinxin.
"Aunt Xu, it's so busy here. Hire more people!"
"Didn't you say that health is the foundation of everything? You can't wear yourself out."
Xu Jinxin nodded.
"I'll get through this busy period. Once the shop is running smoothly, I'll step back."
Xu Jinxin said this and handed a cup of freshly squeezed watermelon juice to Duoduo.
"You must be hot, right? Here, drink some to cool down."
Duoduo pushed the watermelon juice back.
"Aunt Xu, you and Sister should have it. I've already had some at home."
"By the way, these watermelons came from the estate."
"I've already tasted them—they're very sweet."
"I've spoken to Mother, and the estate manager will send over the rest of the watermelons."
Xu Jinxin shoved the watermelon juice into Yingniang's hand, then cupped Duoduo's face and planted big kisses on both cheeks.
"Oh, Duoduo! You're such a little blessing!"
"Aunt Xu loves you to bits!"
Duoduo was stunned, her face flushing bright red.
She had been abandoned by her family since she was little, left to fend for herself in a run-down courtyard.
Whether it was blood relatives or the maids and servants in the manor, everyone wanted to stay as far away from her as possible.
In Duoduo's mind, she had always felt like someone no one wanted.
After arriving at the Prince of Pingyang's residence, Xiao Yi's temperament was cold, and Su Xian's was gentle.
Although both treated her well, they were reserved people.
Duoduo had never experienced such strong emotions.
But Xu Jinxin was different.
She was passionate, outgoing—she would laugh heartily when happy and frown when upset.
Her relationship with Yingniang felt less like mother and daughter and more like friends.
Xu Jinxin was like the spring sun, making people feel warm.
Feeling the lingering sensation of the kisses on her cheeks, a joy of being liked quietly took root in Duoduo's heart.
Yingniang quickly tugged at Xu Jinxin. "Mother, you've scared Duoduo!"
Seeing Duoduo's dazed expression, Xu Jinxin burst out laughing.
She cupped Duoduo's face again. "Come on, let Aunt Xu kiss you a few more times. Once you get used to it, it'll feel natural!"
Duoduo watched the face coming closer, unsure of how to react.
