After hearing what Jiang Yanyi said, Chef Yao was silent for a moment, then he said, "I appreciate the kindness of Shopkeeper Jiang. Although I am dissatisfied with my boss, if I leave Lai Fu Restaurant just because of this, then I, Old Yao, will be unkind."
Jiang Yanyi smiled and said, "Master Yao, you are a man who values friendship."
She took the small stove, paid the bill, said hello to Chef Yao, and left.
She wanted to tell the blacksmith that this furnace was her original creation and she couldn't make such a furnace for others. But then she thought, the blacksmith had to figure it out for a long time before it was made, but since there was already a model, it would be much easier to copy it. Even if this blacksmith was unwilling to help the person who came to him, other blacksmiths would not miss out on making money.
She couldn't bribe all the blacksmiths in the world.
The only way to resist this trend is probably to make people of this era aware of copyright, but this is definitely a long and arduous road.
Jiang Yanyi first left the blacksmith shop with the boiler. After Chef Yao negotiated the price of repairing the kitchen knife with the blacksmith, he also left the blacksmith shop and returned to Huifu Restaurant.
Chef Yao was in trouble today because his ancestral kitchen knife was broken by someone, and the owner of Lai Fu Restaurant openly favored the new chef. He felt very aggrieved, so he just dropped his job and ran out to fix the kitchen knife.
Now that my anger has subsided, I feel that it was indeed a dereliction of duty for me to ignore the feast I was supposed to prepare today.
Little did he know that the news that he and Jiang Yanyi left the blacksmith shop one after another was soon heard by the owner of Lai Fu Restaurant.
When Chef Yao returned to the restaurant, he found that everything was still in order without any trouble. He felt relieved, but also a little puzzled. He was in charge of the kitchen, but there was no one to take over. Could it be that the dishes were changed
He called a waiter and asked, "The main dish for Mr. Ma's dinner has been changed?"
Yao is the head chef of the kitchen. Everyone in the building respects him. The waiter said, "It was Master Jin who suggested changing the pot. Mr. Ma was also satisfied with the changed main dish and gave him a tip."
Chef Jin is the new chef of Lai Fu Restaurant.
Nowadays, soup pots are popular among the powerful circles in Xizhou City. If you entertain guests, a meal made from a hotpot is much more expensive than a custom-made meal. Naturally, Mr. Ma was not dissatisfied with the restaurant's move of compensating with a hotpot for not being able to attend the banquet.
When Chef Yao thought about how it was the man surnamed Jin who helped him to block the mess today, although he felt guilty for acting on impulse, he also felt more aggrieved.
He was about to go back to the kitchen when the waiter next to the boss came down from the stairs and said, "Master Yao, the boss is looking for you."
Chef Yao knew that the boss must have called him because he had quit today, so he prepared himself to be scolded and followed the servant upstairs.
The owner of Lai Fu Restaurant was waiting in a private room. After the waiter led Chef Yao over, he left.
"Boss, you're looking for me." Chef Yao has been working in the restaurant for more than ten years, so naturally he doesn't speak with the polite words that others do.
The owner of Lai Fu Restaurant is named Xu, a middle-aged man with a thin body. At first glance, he seems to have an elegant temperament, but a closer look reveals the shrewdness hidden between his brows, like a weasel.
"Old Yao, Lai Fu Restaurant is what it is today thanks to you over the years." Shopkeeper Xu said while counting on an abacus.
Yao the chef was not good at saying these things. After his anger had passed, he felt even more guilty when he heard these words: "What are you talking about, Boss?"
Manager Xu said, "I know you've been in the restaurant for a long time, and you have great prestige. The people below respect you, and you always have the final say in the kitchen. When Master Jin came, because his ancestors were imperial chefs, he was very arrogant, and he had a lot of conflicts with you..."
Chef Yao finally understood that Shopkeeper Xu felt that he was the king in the kitchen and was targeting Chef Jin only because Chef Jin had his own pride and did not respect him like others.
Yao the chef interrupted him, "Boss, I swear to God, it was that guy surnamed Jin who looked down on our small place of Xizhou, always talking about the capital. I couldn't stand him eating and cursing, so I only said a few words to him occasionally. But he turned around and used my ancestral kitchen knife to chop bones, and I really couldn't stand it! I don't regret beating him this morning! But I am really guilty of abandoning the feast, and I will compensate you for the loss."
Shopkeeper Xu said, "Let's not talk about the compensation issue. You always say bad things about Master Jin, but today Master Jin was beaten by you and you just turned around and left. Master Jin didn't even bother to go to the clinic. The first thing he thought about was how to prepare today's feast."
Chef Yao was filled with resentment again: "Boss, what you said really makes me sad. I have never had any problems in Lai Fu Restaurant for so many years. Just because of this first time today, you think that only the man surnamed Jin is wholeheartedly working for the good of the restaurant, and that I have worked for nothing for more than ten years?"
Shopkeeper Xu said, "I think you know who is offended by the opening of Lai Fu Antique Soup. Shopkeeper Jiang is said to be the apprentice of Chef Li of Xizhou Camp, and you and Chef Li are in the same boat. You met each other last time at the banquet held at Han Mansion. Today, you left the restaurant and ran into Shopkeeper Jiang at the blacksmith shop. Isn't it too coincidental?"
Chef Yao said angrily: "In the whole Xizhou City, only blacksmith Feng has the best blacksmithing skills. My knife was destroyed by the man surnamed Jin..."
Manager Xu interrupted him impatiently, "Stop talking about your kitchen knife. How many knives do you want? I'll have someone make you new ones. Can that compensate you for your knife? You're an old man in my restaurant, and the people below treat you as half the manager, but... Lao Yao, I'm the owner of this restaurant."
He is a businessman, and businessmen are destined to be more cunning than others. It was too much of a coincidence that Chef Yao abandoned the banquet today and happened to meet Jiang Yanyi in the blacksmith shop.
Normally, Chef Yao relied on his seniority and often interfered in the management of the restaurant. Manager Xu had long been dissatisfied with him.
After Shopkeeper Xu said that, Chef Yao remained silent for a long time. After a while, he said, "So, Boss, you called me here today not to blame me for not finishing today's banquet, but because you think I have some kind of collusion with Shopkeeper Jiang? Over the years, the waiters in the restaurant have been cheating and playing tricks, and I have reprimanded them when I saw them. Do you think I am being too nosy?"
If Chef Yao still felt guilty towards him before, now he was just disappointed. He smiled bitterly and said, "Today at the blacksmith shop, Shopkeeper Jiang heard that my ancestral kitchen knife was broken by someone chopping bones. She felt sorry for me and wanted to invite me to work in her shop."
When Shopkeeper Xu heard this, his expression changed instantly.
Yao the chef went on to say, "But I declined because I had worked at Lai Fu Restaurant for fifteen years. You will know who I met when I come back to your house. I think your house has been worried about me for a long time, so you sent someone to follow me."
Shopkeeper Xu wanted to get some information out of Chef Yao, so he just said, "That's not the case. Someone just happened to see it. Since you said you didn't ask Mr. Jiang, let me ask you, what did she do with those tin boxes she got from the blacksmith?"
Chef Yao was so distressed about his knife that he didn't even remember to ask Jiang Yanyi what he was using. He shook his head and said in extreme disappointment, "I didn't ask Shopkeeper Jiang, so I don't know what it was used for."
Shopkeeper Xu looked obviously unconvinced.
Chef Yao did not want to say anything more. He took off a bunch of keys from his waist and placed them on Shopkeeper Xu's desk. "This is the key to the storeroom. Boss, you were very kind to me back then. But no matter how difficult the restaurant was, I never thought of leaving. I have worked in the restaurant for fifteen years, so I have repaid your kindness."
Although Shopkeeper Xu had long intended to train a new person to replace Chef Yao, his current behavior still made him panic, and he shouted, "Old Yao, what are you doing?"
Without Chef Yao, who would take over the banquet business of his restaurant
But Chef Yao left without even looking back: "I'm quitting. Boss, please hire someone better."
Shopkeeper Xu slammed the table in anger: "You said you didn't collude with that yellow-haired girl from Jiang's, but you two clearly colluded with each other!"
***
Jiang Yanyi didn't know when Chef Yao left Lai Fu Restaurant. She was still worried about the old scholar's rejection, so much so that when she went to deliver the medicinal food to Feng Shuo the next day, she felt a little depressed.
Feng Shuo asked her the reason and learned that it was because he had failed to get the old scholar to tell a story yesterday. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Why don't you send someone to see what he has been doing these days?"
Jiang Yanyi was somewhat enlightened by Feng Shuo's words.
If the old scholar really didn't want to tell stories anymore, then his life would continue as before, and she wouldn't have to worry about it, and she could just focus on the next target. But if he was a little shaken, he might read the storybook and practice his storytelling skills, which meant there was still room for persuasion.
After Jiang Yanyi returned, he asked Bing Shao to go and see the old scholar again. Bing Shao did not come back until the afternoon and almost missed dinner.
Jiang Yanyi asked: "How?"
Bing Shao said: "That old scholar is telling stories to a group of children in the yard behind closed doors. His skills are indeed excellent."
He squatted outside the door and eavesdropped for the entire afternoon in the cold wind and was reluctant to leave. The story coming out of the old scholar's mouth was really exciting.
When Jiang Yanyi heard this, he thought it was a good idea, so he asked Bing Shao to bring some cakes and liquor to invite the old scholar every day.
But Bing Shao was a taciturn person who could not speak nicely. He always listened to the old scholar's storytelling through the courtyard gate in the cold wind. Although it was a bit cold, the stories told by the old scholar were fascinating and he found it quite enjoyable.
After the old scholar finished speaking, he placed the cakes and liquor at the old scholar's door and left.
This went on for several days, and Bing Shao, the loyal listener, finally moved the old scholar.
That day, when he was squatting at someone's door again, carrying a bottle of liquor and preparing to eavesdrop excitedly, the old scholar opened the door directly.
Bing Shao thought he was going to chase him away, so he put down his liquor and prepared to leave. But the old scholar stopped him and said, "Come on, take me to see your boss."
Bing Shao then noticed that the old scholar had changed into a patched but clean outfit today, which looked like something he wore when meeting guests.
Bing Shao always had a expressionless face. The old scholar did not see any contempt or sympathy on his face. The self-esteem hidden behind the patches on his body was preserved, and his skinny back straightened a little.
Jiang Yanyi was very surprised that the old scholar was willing to come out of retirement. After negotiating the matters of sitting in the court with the old scholar, he talked about the "book" he was going to talk about.
As the host, they have the right to decide what stories their storytellers tell.
No matter what era, people are more interested in tragic love stories. Jiang Yanyi narrated the stories of the first few chapters of "Dream of Red Mansions" to the old scholar. The old scholar asked for paper and pen, and listened and wrote. When Jiang Yanyi finished, he had already memorized the general idea.
"The boss's story is a good one. Although I no longer tell stories, I still know clearly what stories are told in Xizhou City. I have never heard anyone tell the story you told." The old scholar was amazed.
Jiang Yanyi said, "This story was written by an old man named Cao. Although I have read his book, my knowledge is still shallow and I cannot describe the profound meaning between his words."
The old scholar asked hurriedly: "I don't know what book it is. I'd better read it when I have a chance."
Jiang Yanyi just shook his head: "Nowadays, his books can no longer be found."
The old scholar automatically understood that it was written by someone from the previous dynasty, and was later listed as a banned book by the court and burned, so he could only feel regretful.
He said, "Master, please listen to my story and see if I have missed anything."
Jiang Yanyi nodded.
As soon as the old scholar clapped the wake-up stick, he instantly entered the state. Even though Jiang Yanyi had seen it on TV countless times before, he was still attracted by what the old scholar said.
He is a great eloquent man, and his emotional expression is just right, and it is very enjoyable to listen to him.
Just for this skill, Jiang Yanyi paid him a generous salary, but the old scholar was only willing to take half.
He said, "After my mother passed away, I had no intention of telling stories again in my life, but now I am this old, and I only have this three-inch tongue left. When my mother was buried, it was the help of the neighbors to complete the funeral. If I die one day, I am afraid I will have to trouble them again. Now I just want to earn some money for the coffin so as not to cause trouble to the neighbors in the future. I am old, and my storytelling is not as good as before. The boss is a kind-hearted person. I remember the boss's kindness, and this half of the money is enough."
The old scholar had a stubborn temper, and Jiang Yanyi couldn't persuade him, so he asked Mrs. Chen from the clothing shop next door to make three sets of clothes for the old scholar to wear when he told stories.
***
The day before Jiang Yanyi's store resumed business, the Xizhou government issued a verdict. The previous incident of the dead cat in front of Jiang Yanyi's store, as well as the rumors about the unclean food in her store and the three brothers who committed fraud, were all the work of the Hu family.
The notice was posted on the bulletin board in front of the government office for a whole day. It not only cleared away all the stigma, but also provided free publicity for Jiang Yanyi's hot pot restaurant.
But Lai Fu Gudong Soup also made a big move to suppress Jiang Yanyi's store.
When Jiang Yanyi went to sell mutton to the butcher Ma, the butcher said that all the sheep had been bought by Lai Fu Restaurant.
Without mutton, how can we sell the soup pot tomorrow
Jiang Yanyi hurriedly asked Yang Xiu and Bing Shao to go to other butcher shops in the city, and the answer they got was that the meat had been bought by Lai Fu Restaurant.
Mutton is something only the rich can afford, and the major butcher shops also stock up meat according to market demand, so they generally stock less mutton. Laifu Restaurant is now the largest antique soup shop in Xizhou. The rich want the royal chef's signboard in the other restaurant, so they don't buy mutton to take back to their own house to let the chef cook it. So Laifu Restaurant is able to sell all the mutton within two days.
Jiang Yanyi took this advice to heart and asked Yang Xiu and Bing Shao to go out of the city. Finally, they bought two sheep from a farmer outside the city.
I thought it was cool enough that Lai Fu Restaurant bought up all the mutton in the city, but unexpectedly on the opening day Lai Fu Antique Soup showed an even more arrogant show of how rich and powerful they are and how they will do anything to kill you - their pot is being sold at half price today.
After Jiang Yanyi's shop resumed business, loyal customers who wanted to eat at Jiang Yanyi's shop were also attracted by the other party's operation. As a result, Jiang Yanyi's shop was still deserted at noon. Compared with the bustling front of Lai Fu Gudongtang, it was really pitifully deserted.
Who doesn't know how to be disgusting
Jiang Yanyi directly asked Yang Xiu to go to Lai Fu Gudong Soup to order a pot, and then ordered mutton from four whole sheep, saying that it could be taken away.
The waiter couldn't stand it anymore and quickly called out the owner of Lai Fu Restaurant.
Yang Xiu looks fierce and has the air of a bandit. Besides, the other party didn't say that he wouldn't give money. It was Lai Fu Gudong Geng who made the announcement. No matter how much you eat, it will be half price.
But he ordered mutton from four sheep, but only paid for two. When the quantity was small, he didn't feel the pain of halving it, but when the quantity was large, he felt uncomfortable! The owner of Lai Fu Restaurant saw that Yang Xiu was obviously looking for trouble, and tried to let the thugs of the restaurant "persuade" Yang Xiu, but in the end they were all "persuaded" to do so.
Yang Xiu was a quick talker. After knocking the man down, he started to feel sorry for him and shouted, "Why are you, Lai Fu Restaurant, going back on your word? You said you would sell it at half the price, so why are you refusing to sell it to me when I want to buy four sheep?"
Although it was obvious that buying so much mutton at once was not something a normal person could do, the diners who had come here after hearing the news became a little hesitant because of Yang Xiu's shouting. Even the diners who were eating in the store changed their expressions and asked Shopkeeper Xu, "Are the pots in your store half price?"
Shopkeeper Xu was so anxious that he had to appease the diners: "It's half price, it's half price, all half price."
Yang Xiu quickly asked, "Why don't you sell the mutton I want?"
Shopkeeper Xu said tactfully, "It's only half the price if you eat in the store."
Yang Xiu looked fierce, "Oh, you're adding conditions at the last minute? Let's judge for ourselves. He said that the pots in the store are half price today, and now he says that it's only half price if you eat in the store. Are you going to say that you have to eat in the store at noon to get half price?"
Yang Xiu's verbal attack hit the nail on the head for many of the diners who were waiting and watching. Many of them had already shaken their heads and left. Some people who had originally wanted to order a hotpot, when they heard that take-away orders were not half the price, and saw that they had to wait so long for Lai Fu's antique soup, they went straight to Jiang Yanyi's store.
Manager Xu spent a lot of money today just to suppress Jiang Yanyi's store so that he had no power to fight back. Seeing the current situation, he was afraid that Yang Xiu would continue to make trouble and drive away the diners in his store, so he had to reluctantly sell four sheep to him for the price of two sheep.
Yang Xiu naturally borrowed a cart from them to transport the mutton, and asked two waiters from Lai Fu Gudong Soup to help deliver it.
When Shopkeeper Xu saw that Yang Xiu was pulling the mutton to Jiang Yanyi's shop, he was so angry that his face turned green. He impulsively ran to Jiang Yanyi's shop and wanted to curse him.
However, before he could say anything, Jiang Yanyi smiled and said, "Oh, I have to thank you, Shopkeeper Xu, today. I went to various butcher shops yesterday and they all said that you had bought all the mutton in the shops. Who knew that you bought the meat just to do such a good deed today? I feel really bad that my shop bought four sheep from you with the price of two sheep."
Shopkeeper Xu has lived to such an old age that he has finally experienced what it means to have every word hurt by someone's heart!
Jiang Yanyi's behavior was indeed not very fair, but from the perspective of Daxuan law, there was nothing wrong with it.
It was just like he blatantly copied the furnishings from someone else's store.
Shopkeeper Xu knew that he would gain nothing by arguing in public, and would only make the onlookers laugh at him. So he had to leave in disgrace.
But after Yang Xiu's incident, people who went to Lai Fu Antique Soup Restaurant to eat followed suit, and many of them asked for half a sheep or a whole sheep.
The one who made Jiang Yanyi laugh and cry was probably He Xingniang. He Xingniang didn't know that her family's dividend did not include Lai Fu Antique Soup Shop. Now, seeing that Jiang Yanyi used the money to buy two sheep to buy four sheep, she closed the shop and ran to the shop to ask for two sheep.
After all, if you can’t finish the lamb you buy, you can make it into smoked lamb. When you entertain guests during the New Year, it will be very face-saving to put a plate of lamb on the table!
Only a fool wouldn't take advantage of such a bargain.
Lai Fu Gudong Tang had suffered the consequences of its own actions. With so many people buying mutton, the little mutton they had in stock was not enough. Later, they had no choice but to announce that they would not sell at half price today. Those who did not get the chance to take advantage of the situation could not help but complain.
Even the diners who were originally eating hotpot in the restaurant felt uncomfortable. Although they could afford the money for the hotpot, you originally said it was half price, and then after people finished eating, you no longer offered it. Are you kidding me
Furthermore, it’s fine if you don’t offer half-price meals for those restaurants that ask for exorbitant amounts, but some diners only eat a normal portion in the first place, and they come here just for the half-price offer. If you suddenly cancel the offer, you’ll have to negotiate with them.
Without the malicious consumption pressure from Lai Fu Gudong Soup, Jiang Yanyi's side went much more smoothly.
Lai Fu Gudai Geng learned everything from her and even put a grill in front of the store to roast meat.
But Jiang Yanyi not only put a barbecue grill for grilling, he also put a prepared dry pot at the door. The vegetables were placed at the bottom of the pot, and the meat was placed on the upper layer. At a glance, it was all meat. The visual impact was huge, and the spicy aroma also drifted far away with the north wind.
There is a small stove under the pot to keep it warm, so it won’t get cold no matter how long you eat it.
People passing by have never seen such a novel pot. As long as they have money in their pockets, nine out of ten people will want to go into the store to try it.
Whenever a customer ordered dry pot, Jiang Yanyi had to go into the kitchen to help, and the door would be opened for Yang Xiu to greet him.
After entering the store, the diners found a long counter with a wake-up stick on the chopping board. They were quite curious, thinking that this small store the size of a palm had actually invited a storyteller.
When most of the customers were in the store, the old scholar stroked the wake-up stick and started singing, and the whole store became quiet unconsciously. The old scholar's voice was very penetrating, and in the back, many people gathered outside the store door to listen to the story.
Thanks to the old scholar's storytelling, the diners were so focused on listening to the story that they ate slowly, so the table could not be vacated and Jiang Yanyi did not have to bury his head in the kitchen frying dry pot.
She rubbed her sore neck and went to the shop in front to take a look. She found that the diners were eating very quietly, for fear that the noise would drown out the old scholar's voice.
Jiang Yanyi was contented and moved a small stool to sit in the corner, ready to rest for a while, but in the blink of an eye, he found that Feng Shuo had come to the store without knowing when. He seemed to prefer the soup pot, the copper pot was boiling, and a plate of sliced mutton was placed on the table.
In public, Jiang Yanyi didn't dare to go over to him openly, so he looked at him and asked him why he came to the store.
Feng Shuo also gave Jiang Yanyi a look, but Jiang Yanyi looked at him for a long time and still didn't understand what he wanted to express. His eyebrows were tangled. When there were more customers in the store, Jiang Yanyi went into the kitchen to get busy.
The advantage of mutton soup pot compared to dry pot is that you can keep eating it no matter how long it takes.
Jiang Yanyi discovered that Feng Shuo had been sitting there from noon until the evening and had not left. Not to mention Yang Xiu and Bing Shao, even Qiu Kui had secretly glanced at Feng Shuo several times, wondering why he had not eaten enough yet.
The popularity of the dry pot far exceeded Jiang Yanyi's imagination, and many people asked to take it home.
Except for a short break at noon, she spent the rest of her time in the kitchen. Her hands were so sore from swinging the spatula that she had no strength left. She relied on Yang Xiu and Bing Shao to help her collect the bills.
After this day, Jiang Yanyi was so tired that his back and waist ached, and he felt more and more that he must find a chef who was responsible for making dry pot.
The good news is that on the first day after resuming business, the business was still booming. The store's newly launched dry pot was a big hit, and the old scholar's story of "Dream of Red Mansions" was also spread everywhere by diners. The gimmick was fully created, and Jiang Yanyi was very satisfied.
***
Feng Shuo sat in the store for the whole afternoon, and it seemed that he had something to say to her, but Jiang Yanyi was busy later and didn't pay attention to him, so after dinner in the evening, Jiang Yanyi ran to Feng's house again.
She now came in and out of his room casually, and the first thing she asked after entering the room was: "Why did you sit in the store all afternoon today?"
Feng Shuo was sitting in an armchair, with a gloomy aura around him. When he heard Jiang Yanyi's voice, the gloomy aura completely dissipated.
His delicate eyebrows were slightly raised, and he wore a brocade and feather satin cloak on his shoulders. The gold and silver embroidery on the black robe with gold and silver threads shone faintly, giving him a sense of transcendence like the moon and smoke. He looked at Jiang Yanyi for a long time before saying, "I want to see you."
Jiang Yanyi's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
She suppressed her shyness and muttered, "Don't we see each other every day?"
It was already getting dark in the room. Feng Shuo's expression became less clear in the twilight, and Jiang Yanyi could not quite see the look in his eyes.
She walked towards him and asked, "Where is the tinder? Why don't you light the lamp?"
When she was looking for a tinderbox on the table, Feng Shuo turned his head and stared at her profile with a focused and somewhat paranoid look. He seemed to have something to say, but in the end it was all stuck in his throat.
The moment Jiang Yanyi found the tinder and was about to light the candle, he suddenly held her hand.
Perhaps due to the medicinal diet and baths he had taken these days, Feng Shuo's hands were no longer as cool as before, but Jiang Yanyi was still startled and turned around to look at him: "What's wrong?"
Feng Shuo said: "Can you stay tonight?"
Jiang Yanyi was so frightened that his hair almost stood up. He even suspected that he had heard it wrongly: "Wha... what?"
Her hands shook and she almost failed to take out the fire starter. Fortunately, Feng Shuo caught it in time.
The moment the candle was lit, the surroundings suddenly became bright.
It was at this time that Jiang Yanyi saw clearly that there was a scratch on Feng Shuo's forehead, as if it was cut by something shattering. Even though he used his hair to cover it, it was still very obvious, and the bloodstain was also fresh.
Feng Shuo obviously didn't care about the wound on his forehead. He just said absentmindedly: "I want to spend the last few hours of my birthday with you."
Jiang Yanyi stood there in a daze.
Today... is his birthday? ! !
Author has something to say: Jiang Yanyi: Oh my god! I don’t have time to prepare a gift, what should I do!!! Asking for an answer online, it’s urgent, please save the child! (Cat crying.jpg)
The recent weather doesn’t feel that cold, but the author has already developed frostbite on his hands. It’s painful and itchy. It’s too cruel qaq
I haven't had this thing for many years, what happened this year? qaq