Zhou Qiqi had just finished inspecting the last batch of raw materials on the production line and was about to go home to rest for a while.

I stopped in my tracks as soon as I reached the gate of my own yard—

The Wang family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law stood there like two wooden stakes, looking around.

Zhou Qiqi snorted inwardly, but a smile spread across her face, her voice crisp and clear.

"Oh, Grandma Wang, Sister-in-law Wang, these are rare guests!"

She knew perfectly well why they were looking for the mountain gate, but she showed no sign of it on her face. She still politely raised her hand to open the courtyard gate, stepped aside, and said, "What do you want to say? Come in and talk."

"Hey, hey, Qiqi..."

Sister-in-law Wang stammered, only to be secretly pinched on the arm by her mother-in-law from behind. She finally mustered the courage to look up, her smile somewhat awkward, "Yes...yes, there's something I'd like to trouble you with..."

Zhou Qiqi disapproved, but she still had to put on a good show, pouring water for the two of them and cutting a plate of apples.

Grandma Wang sat down unceremoniously in the main seat of the sofa, cleared her throat, her Adam's apple bobbing up and down, and began to speak, adopting the airs of an elder.

"Qiqi, look... those two jinxes, Qiu Chunfang and Li Hongjuan, have completely ruined our family! I was blind to trust the wrong people, alas!"

After saying that, she quickly glanced at Zhou Qiqi.

Zhou Qiqi finally realized that the old lady was putting on airs!

They came here to ask for favors, but they insisted on putting on airs and waiting for her to speak first.

In this way, the Wang family not only didn't back down, but actually gained the upper hand, and could also control Zhao Damei when negotiating terms later.

That old lady is really shrewd!

But Zhou Qiqi is no pushover either.

She pretended not to understand the trick, blinked her big eyes, nodded blankly, and slapped her thigh in agreement.

"Exactly! Those two are utter scum!"

Grandma Wang's heart skipped a beat, her smile froze, and she sighed heavily. She reached out and pulled Wang Dasao forward, her voice trembling with tears.

"You have no idea, my wife spent a lot of money to buy a large batch of seedlings because the plum trees were selling well and we could make a lot of money... and now look what's happened!"

She slapped her thigh hard, her face showing genuine pain and regret.

"Those seedlings have all grown! Pots and jars have filled the entire backyard! We've been watering and fertilizing them like royalty, investing all our capital! But we haven't sold many at all, and the flowers are almost withered. If we can't sell them soon, how much money will we lose?!"

As she spoke, the old lady's eyes reddened, revealing her true feelings, and she waited for Zhou Qiqi to respond.

Unexpectedly, no matter how much the old lady cried and complained, Zhou Qiqi remained unmoved and insisted on playing the "straight man".

"Who can argue with that!"

"Hey! What a mess this is!"

......

This infuriated the old lady, whose lips twitched. Zhou Qiqi, however, added fuel to the fire by pushing the fruit plate towards her.

"Grandma, don't be too angry. Have an apple! This was brought over by Sister Mei. She said it came from her own old fruit tree! It's so sweet! Try it!"

The old lady finally realized that Zhou Qiqi was doing this on purpose, which made her so angry that she was practically fuming. But she couldn't do anything about it, so she pinched her daughter-in-law, Wang Dasao, next to her to get her to talk.

Sister-in-law Wang had wanted to speak for a long time, but before she came, Grandma Wang repeatedly told her not to say anything, so she had been holding back.

However, when Granny Wang asked her to mention Zhao Damei, she didn't. Instead, she sincerely bowed and apologized.

"Qiqi, we were wrong about what happened before. We listened to others and wronged Damei, and... it also put you in a difficult position. I apologize!"

She looked up, her eyes already red, and rubbed her hands together on her knees.

Seeing her honest appearance, Zhou Qiqi's toughness softened a bit, and she was about to speak.

Then Granny Wang suddenly stood up and made a gesture to bow: "That's right, that's right, Granny also wants to apologize to you!"

This person is quite old; isn't he deliberately trying to cause trouble for himself?

The sympathy that had just surfaced in Zhou Qiqi's heart vanished instantly. Quick as a flash, she offered a helping hand, her tone flat and indifferent.

"Sister-in-law Wang, Mother-in-law, what are you doing? It's all in the past, it's all in the past now."

She didn't say she forgave him, nor did she say she held a grudge. Her casual "It's all in the past" left Sister-in-law Wang feeling uneasy. She knew that Zhou Qiqi wasn't going to help. She sat there blankly, feeling a little sad.

"Yes, yes, yes! It's all in the past!"

Grandma Wang quickly chimed in, as if grasping at a lifeline, and finally revealed her purpose.

"Qiqi, look... could you... could you help us find Damei and ask her to come back and help us sell flowers again? We can discuss the profit sharing! Just give her the same amount as before! Not a penny less!"

She patted her chest, her tone no longer carrying the harshness she had shown towards Zhao Damei before. Her squinty eyes were now filled with thoughts of her own money that was about to slip away.

"Da Mei is a capable woman, she used to sell so well! We promise we'll treat her well from now on and she won't make the same mistake again! Qi Qi, please help us, this is really driving this old woman crazy!"

Zhou Qiqi took a piece of apple, ate it while listening quietly, and only slowly raised her head after Granny Wang had finished pouring out all her regret and pleas.

"Grandma Wang, Sister-in-law Wang."

Her gaze swept over the two faces.

“I understand how you feel, and I understand the difficulties your family is going through, but I can’t help you with this. Sister Da Mei… she’s not coming back.”

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