Chapter 502: Heart-Chilling, Yet Soaring!

id our child is a bastard and wanted to trick you into being locked up. I refused to go, so they claimed I'm a runaway slave and accused your mother-in-law's family of harboring one, threatening to pu...Xiao Yue had just brought over ice and bubble tea ingredients, sweating profusely in the heat. Suddenly, she saw Jia Yin enter, and she quickly bowed.

Then, she stepped forward and happily said: "My Lady, our fruit drinks are selling like hot cakes! The third young master sent so many purple fruits yesterday. I followed your instructions and scooped out the flesh, mixed it with honey and ice... it's simply delicious."

"Yesterday, we sold over sixty pots, each for thirty wen, which is two taels of silver! And the milk tea, young gentlemen even after dinner are willing to take a cup back, saying that it keeps them full while studying late at night, better than drinking tea."

Our young lady settled accounts the day before yesterday, selling...

Xiaoyue was always a lively and talkative person, unable to keep things to herself. Eager to share the good news with Jiayin, she became even more unrestrained in her speech.

Jia Yin looked at the two half-sized boys who were busy behind her and promptly interrupted her, saying: "Oh, let's settle the bill later, Sister Xiaoyue. First, get me a cup of fruit drink, I haven't tasted it yet!"

"Oh, oh, Miss Jun wait a moment, I'll make you a cup right away!" Xiaoyue hurried to find mangosteen and also called two half-grown boys to hack at the ice.

Both of the boys' families lived in this town, and the school headmaster had some relatives among them.

Hearing that the cafeteria is selling "new tea", the manager specially came over to ask for help.

Li Laosan and Zhao Yuru decided to keep Wenjuan for a few days for the time being.

As a result, the two boys were very diligent and not talkative at all. They were also very eager to learn.

They come to work in the afternoons every day, and can go home after the academy's evening classes begin.

But they always came to help Dazhu and others with chores before lunch, wiping tables and chairs, washing dishes—they never slacked off.

Then in the afternoon, I started selling fruit drinks and milk tea again in the small grass hut with Xiaoyue. Occasionally, I also had to run errands to deliver some to the school dormitory.

Whenever they had a free moment, they would consult a book of calligraphy, ask Xiaoyue or the students who came to buy refreshments, practice writing characters by drawing a few strokes on the ground with twigs.

Who wouldn't like such a diligent and studious child

Therefore, Li Lao San gave them an extra ten wen stipend every day in addition to their wages, plus lunch and dinner.

In a blink of an eye, the two boys have also been to the cafeteria for two months.

At this moment, the two men carried over a wooden tub wrapped in old cotton. After uncovering the cotton, they found a small earthen bowl fastened to the lid of the tub. Opening the bowl revealed a hole about the size of a bowl.

A boy took an iron chisel, stuck it into the hole, and hammered it a few times.

Another boy opened the lid and quickly scraped out a bowl of crushed ice, handing it to Xiaoyue.

Xiaoyue quickly took out a white porcelain mug, added a spoonful of passion fruit pulp, two spoons of honey, half a cup of cold white wine, and finally poured in the crushed ice. After stirring well, she inserted a thin bamboo straw.

Jia Yin took the cup, drank a sip, and savored the taste carefully.

Although it's not as good as the drinks I had in my previous life, it's refreshing and sweet. On such a hot day, taking a sip really makes you feel comfortable from head to toe.

"Hmm, delicious!" she exclaimed with a smile, which caused Xiaoyue and the two boys to laugh brightly.

Little Yue questioned, "Noble Lady, is this purple fruit called rambutan It's indeed much better tasting than wild berries and sour fruits!"

Jia Yin nodded, “This fruit drink can be named Honey Hundred Fruit Drink. When the apples and pears come down later, and the weather gets colder, we can also make fruit tea and stewed rock sugar pear soup. As long as you think carefully about it, there will be many delicious things to drink throughout the four seasons, and business won't be bad!”

Xiaoyue listened excitedly, "Your Highness, please rest assured, the slave girl will definitely work hard to figure it out!"

Soon, she skillfully made a few fruit drinks and followed Jiayin into the elegant dining room of the hall with a tray.

Old Li was talking with her son and daughter-in-law when she saw her granddaughter walking around sipping from a white porcelain cup. She scolded, “This child has become so much more sensible lately, diligently learning etiquette and needlework. But this gluttony of hers just won't change! I'm truly afraid she'll gain too much weight and hinder her growth.”

Zhao Yuru hugged her niece tightly, shaking a fan in her hand and fanning her. "Mother is just greedy. Our little Funiu is so good! There's no child more caring and smart than her! Our family isn't as poor as we used to be. We lack nothing, how could we possibly lack for our child's food and drink Being able to eat is a good thing, being able to eat is a blessing!"

Li Laosan also chuckled and agreed, "Foniu hasn't reached her growing age yet!"

“Fine, you all just go ahead and do what you want!” Lao Li laughed, shaking her head. “I’ve become the bad grandmother! Even at home, your second brother, Mr. Wen, Jinrou, even the village chief, every time they see me, they say to let me be less strict with Funiu.”

"The child reads every day, learns the rules, learns to sew, and runs to Zhang Shenyi's place every few days. They are all afraid that she will be exhausted. But I am wronged!

"It's not that I forced my child to be diligent, she just suddenly got smarter! She's been busy as a little top every day, and I feel sorry for her. That's why I let her play for a few days to rest, so I can have some peace and quiet too."

Li Laosan and Zhao Yuru were both surprised. Zhao Yuru held her niece in her arms, scrutinizing her for a long time. Only after confirming that she was still her original niece did she secretly feel relieved.

But she still couldn't help but advise: "Fu Niuer, learning is a good thing, but you are still young, don't overwork yourself. Listen to your aunt, play when it's time to play, no need to rush to learn skills.

"You're the only treasure in our family, if anything happens, there's your uncle and brothers... So eat what you want, play what you want, okay"

"Understood, Auntie!" Jia Yin smiled, her big eyes curving into crescents like moonbeams, and handed over the fruit drink. "Auntie, have a taste. It's especially sweet."

Zhao Yuru lowered her head, pretending to take a sip. In reality, her lips never touched the bamboo tube. Then, she smiled and playfully bumped her niece's forehead. "It is indeed delicious. Our little Fu Niu is so smart. How did she find out about this magical fruit from a book Digging out the pulp and soaking it in water makes for a simply wonderful taste!"

Jia Yin giggled and ran to bring the fruit drink to her third uncle.

Li Laosan opened his mouth to bite the bamboo tube, but Zhao Yuru slapped him aside with a slap and chided, "Adults have dirty mouths, don't touch the children's things."

Li Lao San scratched his head and, smiling, poured a cup from the tray for his mother. Then he took a cup for himself and drank it down in one gulp, unable to help but exclaim, "It's so refreshing!"

Li Laotai also nodded, "In this hot summer, having a cup of this drink is really refreshing. Did Jia Yi find many fruits When we go back, let's take a few. We can make a few more cups and quench everyone's thirst in the village. The fields have been short of water recently, and everyone has been carrying water to irrigate the melons and seedlings. It's really hard work."

"A lot, a lot!" Li Laosan said quickly. "Jia Yi brought back half a boatload, filling the cellar in the courtyard. When Mother goes back, she can take as much as she wants!"

After a few more idle chatters, the school bell rang for dismissal.

Students in the dormitory were sweating profusely, almost running to the cafeteria as soon as they finished their studies...en slowly stopped crying. He pulled up his sleeve and wiped away the tears, then said in a low voice, "Thank you!"Li Zhensheng sat down three times, and Li Lao Er thought for a moment before saying, "...