The two came in and bowed to Gu Fei, who stood up to return the greeting.
The woman then asked: “Are you the shopkeeper?”
Gu Fei nodded: “How may I help you?”
The woman said embarrassed: “Your inn is newly opened, right? My husband and I have been singing in Ping’an City. The inn where we used to sing is no longer open. I wonder if you can let us come and sing?”
Gu Fei herself likes to eat quietly.
But there are people in this world who like to listen to music while eating.
With a singer, the store would be lively, and more prosperous.
These two people were equivalent to resident singers.
Gu Fei saw that the middle-aged man looked embarrassed, and the woman rubbed her belt anxiously, looking at her eagerly.
Gu Fei pondered for a moment: “My inn has just opened, and there are not many customers. As long as you are not afraid of being deserted, it’s fine.”
The woman was delighted: “How could it be possible? Your shop is so beautiful, your business will be good in the future.”
Gu Fei smiled: “Then I will accept your good words. However, I have to say it in advance. You can sing here. I only have one request. If the guests do not want to listen to the songs, you must not disturb the guests’ meals.”
The woman waved her hands repeatedly: “Yes, yes, we have been singing for twenty years, and we still have some sense of propriety.”
Gu Fei smiled, came out from the counter, and directed Tie Niu to set up a small table with two chairs by the window. This place is not far from the door, and there is still some distance from the dining table.
“When you two are free, you can rest here, okay?”
The man bowed his head to thank her, and the woman thanked Gu Fei: “My husband is mute and can’t speak, but he can hear.”
“Just call him A’Wang, my last name is Ye.”
Gu Fei smiled: “Uncle A’Wang, Aunt Ye, if you want to drink water or something, just go to the kitchen at the back, don’t be polite.”
Aunt Ye bowed to Gu Fei again: “Thank you, Shopkeeper.”
The two of them sat down by the window properly.
Gu Fei was about to go back to the counter to sit down when she saw a man coming to the door.
The man had a toothpick in his mouth, and he wore a greasy black cloth robe with a slanted collar loosely on his body. He walked in with a step that didn’t recognize any relatives.
Gu Fei’s heart sank, but she smiled: “Hello, sir. Are you here for a meal or staying overnight?”
The man moved the toothpick in his mouth from the left corner of his mouth to the right, looked Gu Fei up and down, and laughed: “Oh, you are a pretty little girl. I won’t talk to you. Let your shopkeeper come.”
Gu Fei stood still: “I am the shopkeeper.”
Seeing this, Lian’er hurried over and stood behind Gu Fei.
The man laughed: “It’s so funny nowadays, a little girl can be a shopkeeper!”
“Okay, then I’ll tell you.”
He squinted his eyes as he said: “How much silver do you rent this place for a month?”
Gu Fei shook her head: “I can’t tell you this, it’s between me and the landlord.”
“Oh, the little girl is quite capable.” The man sneered and shook his legs nonchalantly: “Okay, then don’t tell me.”
“I just want silver. From now on, give me 30 taels of silver every month, which is the rent.”
Gu Fei was sure that this man should be a scoundrel, but she still had a smile on her face while saying: “You’re joking. I have already paid the rent to the landlord, how can there be someone else collecting the rent?”
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