Shen Qing turned around and saw a family of four coming in. Leading the group was a couple in their early thirties, followed by a boy of about sixteen or seventeen, and a boy of about thirteen or fourteen.

All four of them were wearing fine cloth clothes with no patches on the cuffs or wrists, and they looked like they came from wealthy families. They are completely different from the poor people like Miao Xing and Miao Wang who have just become a little richer but still wear old clothes.

The woman in the couple looked somewhat familiar, and her appearance was about 50% similar to Miao. It is obvious who the visitor is.

Miao Qiuduo walked into the room and sat down on the kang without being asked to leave. However, her husband and the two children seemed a little embarrassed and stood closely beside her.

"This must be Qing Ge'er, I haven't seen him for many years..." Miao Qiuduo started to scan the room with her eyes since she sat down. Miao didn't come today. Only Shen Qing, Miao Xing and Miao Wang, and several children were in the room. She quickly found her target, but when she saw Shen Qing's face, Miao Qiuduo was stunned.

Shen Qing was also looking at her. He had seen Miao Qiuduo before, when he was young, at least ten years ago.

Among the children born to Old Mrs. Miao, not counting those who failed to grow up, four grew up to adulthood. Miao Xing is the eldest, Miao Chunlei of the Miao family is the second, Miao Wang is the third, and the youngest girl is Miao Qiuduo.

Unlike Miao, who did not catch a good time, her family was in poverty when she got married, so she could only marry into Lantang Village. Miao Qiuduo was much luckier. By the time she was old enough to get married, Miao Xing and Miao Wang had already grown up and were able to support the family business. In addition, Miao Qiuduo was good-looking, so she was successfully married to the youngest son of a grocery store in the county town.

At first they lived in Anping County. But after a few years, her husband Huang Wulang's parents passed away. After the brothers separated the family, Huang Wulang took her to the provincial capital to make a living. Since then, not only has she cut off contact with her mother's family, she has not returned to Shiqu Village for many years. The only exchanges are through letters.

Liu Yue'e and Li Yanzi looked very unhappy, and Miao Xing and Miao Wang also looked embarrassed. For so many years, Miao Qiuduo lived a good life in the capital city and never came back. But when her family started to get a little better, she came back. It's no wonder that her sister-in-law missed her so much.

Besides, Miao Qiuduo had actually been back for two days, but there was not enough room for their family of four, so they borrowed a house from relatives. Li Yanzi still remembered what Miao Qiuduo said to Old Madam Miao when she just came back. They were too embarrassed to mention it in front of Shen Qing!

At this moment, Miao Qiuduo looked at Shen Qing's face, and then looked at Shen Qing from head to toe several times, and finally her eyes fell on the bright red mole between Shen Qing's eyebrows: In the village, Shen Qing had nothing to cover.

"Are you the Mr. Chen?" Miao Qiuduo blinked and quickly figured out what was going on. "You're pretending to be a man to do business in the county?"

Miao Xing, Miao Wang and others looked at Shen Qing in confusion.

Shen Qing raised his eyebrows slightly, turning the tea bowl nonchalantly in his hand: "This is my aunt, I haven't seen her for many years."

He didn't say anything else. A trace of embarrassment flashed across Miao Qiuduo's face. She looked at Shen Qing twice more, and was still convinced in her heart that this was the Mr. Shen from the county town. Shen Qing was not willing to take up the subject, so she did not bring it up again. She smiled awkwardly and said, "I live far away. It takes a day or two to come here from the capital by carriage. I have business at home, so I can't get away. I can't delay."

Li Yanzi snorted coldly: "How can you get away now? Can you delay again?"

Miao Wang quickly pulled her away.

Miao Qiuduo looked embarrassed, and Shen Qing did not ask her how her life was in the city. He just said, "I have something else to do, so I'll go take care of it first. Please sit down, aunt." He also nodded slightly to Huang Wulang and the two children as a greeting, and then pulled Xue Niang and Qiao Niang out of the house.

"Hey, Qing'er, I have something to say..." Miao Qiuduo quickly stood up. She wanted to tell Qing'er that she wanted to learn this craft together. However, Liu Yue'e and Li Yanzi caught up with her in two steps and separated her from Shen Qing. Shen Qing quickened his pace, pushed his two sisters into the kitchen quickly, and locked the door.

Only after entering the kitchen did Shen Qing realize that his heart was beating faster. Apart from Shopkeeper Xiaomiao and Tieshan, who he proactively told others, this was the first time that Shen Qing's identity was revealed. Although Miao Qiuduo is also his relative and is no different from Miao Xing and Miao Wang in terms of blood relationship, they have not seen each other for many years. They lack both the affection for each other and understanding and trust.

Qiao Niang followed behind him, peeked outside twice, then whispered: "Brother, is what my aunt said true? Are you really pretending to be a man in the county town?" She looked at Shen Qing twice, and felt that this was very reasonable: her brother was taller and more handsome than many men in the village, and looked more manly!

How great would it be if her brother were a real man? Miao Qiaoniang thought to herself. In that case, her brother would definitely be the most outstanding man in the area and would not have to suffer so much.

Miao Qiaoniang couldn't realize why, although they were the same person, with the same appearance and the same temperament, there was such a big difference between being a man and a boy.

Shen Qing's mind was a little confused at this time. He didn't know whether he should admit it or not. Out of trust in his sisters, he finally nodded and reminded them: "Don't go out and say anything."

Miao Xueniang was anxious: "What should we do? Now that my aunt knows about it, if she goes out and spreads it...if others know about it, will my brother be in danger?"

What will happen if people find out? Shen Qing clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, feeling confused and even frightened at first. But he was stunned for a long time, thinking hard, but he couldn't think of any serious consequences.

The house and the shop were both officially leased and registered under the name of the Miao family. Miao was a separate female household, and the procedures and processes were legal and compliant, so no one could take her away; his two uncles, aunt, and cousins ​​were all good people and cared about family affection, so they were willing to help them and their son when they had problems; he bought the servants with real money, and they were also under Miao's name. Now he had four maids, six brothers, and six boys. Except for Peony, who was bought for the first time, they were all relatively young, and the people in the second batch were at least fifteen or sixteen years old. When Shen Qing lived in the house in the north of the city, he often taught them some skills.

He is very strong now. Shen Qing is not afraid of fighting alone. If it were a group fight or even an armed fight, he would not necessarily lose with so many men under his command!

The man with the gold tooth might have some thoughts in mind. But he took on the job of repairing the road from Dongshanzhuangzi and Lantang Village to the county town. The two of them signed the documents and put their fingerprints on them. Shen Qing had also paid him part of the money, but had not yet paid the balance. Just for the sake of the money, the Gold Tooth Man would not turn against him. The chief clerk and Yang Shuban accepted his gifts but had never met him in person. Is he a boy or a man more important to the chief clerk and Yang Shuban than the gift?

Even... Shen Qing's space was equipped with crossbows, wooden warehouses, and hand grenades.

Shen Qing realized belatedly that he had been pretending to be a man for so long, and had been able to hide smoothly under this borrowed safe shell, so much so that he had never been discovered. Even if his identity was discovered today, it would not matter at all.

In fact, his success no longer depended on his identity as a man, but on the fact that he was really strong.

There may be a little trouble and some gossip, but as long as he doesn't care, he won't suffer any substantial harm.

Shen Qing stood up slowly, and his pounding heart gradually calmed down. He patted his two sisters' heads and let out a long sigh: "No. No one can threaten me now."

In the room, Miao Qiuduo stared at her two sisters-in-law, then turned to Miao Xing and Miao Wang and said, "Brother, look at them! As an aunt, what's wrong with me talking to Qing Ge'er for a while? Why are the sisters-in-law so cautious? Are they guarding against me like a thief?"

However, Miao Xing and Miao Wang did not defend her and scold Liu Yue'e and Li Yanzi as she expected. Instead, they laughed it off and said, "Qing'er has serious things to do and is busy. When you are free, go and spend more time with me. I miss you very much since you haven't been back for so many years."

Miao Xing looked at the two children behind her and said, "Let Jinbao and Yuger get closer to their grandma. Our mother hasn't seen Yuger since he turned one year old, right?"

Now that the family has opened a tofu shop, the craft has been handed over to Liu Yue'e and Li Yanzi. They now speak more confidently at home. Miao Xing and Miao Wang just contributed a bit of strength, the key steps still depend on them, how could I dare to scold them?

Furthermore, it’s not that they are praising the powerful and bullying the weak. They have always cared about family ties. Miao Chunlei and Miao Qiuduo are both their sisters and should be treated equally. But Miao Qiuduo hasn't been back for so many years, and as soon as she came back she started asking about Qingge'er's business, which really made people feel uncomfortable.

People's hearts are always biased. Compared to Miao Qiuduo, whom they haven't seen for more than ten years, they certainly prefer Qingge'er, who helped them make money by giving them meat, cloth and craftsmanship.

Miao Wang stood up and said, "Brother, the beans are almost ready, it's time to grind them."

Miao Xing quickly agreed, and the two brothers walked out of the house together, trying to avoid their younger sister.

Liu Yue'e, Li Yanzi and Miao Qiuduo looked at each other for a moment, they were fed up with each other and there was nothing more to say.

If Miao Xing and Miao Wang were just feeling a little uncomfortable, Liu Yue'e and Li Yanzi really had a grudge against Miao Qiuduo. When Miao Qiuduo got married, because she was marrying to the county town, she kept saying that she was afraid that her husband's family would look down on her and that her life would be difficult. She threw a tantrum and forced the family to pay a dowry for the older members of the family, almost draining out all the money in the family.

Miao Xing and Miao Wang’s brothers are willing to pay, but their two sisters-in-law are not! It's fine to help if you have the ability, but it's costing your own family so much that they can barely make ends meet. What's the point of this?

The two of them didn't say much to Miao Qiuduo, they turned around and left the house. Li Yanzi slammed the door lightly, and Miao Qiuduo saw it, and felt even angrier!

"Your two brothers are not like you said, they will always go along with you in everything." After everyone left, Huang Wulang sat on the kang: "I have been here for two days, and you keep getting refuted for everything you say. Nothing can be accomplished! And your nephew, my God, he looks like a real man and he is so old. Tell him to our Jinbao..."

He smacked his lips, thinking of what Shen Qing was wearing, he felt too embarrassed to say that she was not worthy of his boy. Not to mention, if Shen Qing was really the Master Shen they had met in the county, then Shen Qing’s wealth would definitely not be limited to just the two workshops in the village. I'm afraid that Miao Xing and Miao Wang don't know how rich Shen Qing is or how many industries he has in the county. So the words came to his lips and he turned around: "Can it be done?"

Miao Qiuduo feels upset when this matter is mentioned! As soon as she arrived the day before yesterday, she mentioned this matter to Old Lady Miao. She thought it was a sure thing, but unexpectedly the old lady rejected her idea. Not only did she refuse to help her mediate, she also told her not to even mention it.

She then settled for the second best, thinking that it would be good to learn a skill. She and Miao Chunlei are sisters, just like Miao Xing and Miao Wang. Why can Xue Niang and Qiao Niang learn it, but she can't? Qing Ge'er shouldn't be so partial!

"Why can't it be done? His mother is my sister. Marriage is a matter of parents' decision. No one else's opinion counts! Even my mother's words don't count!" Although she said this, Miao Qiuduo was worried when she thought of Miao Xing and Miao Wang's attitude towards her just now.

She bit her lip, her heart filled with resentment. It’s only been ten years since we last saw each other. We are blood relatives, have you forgotten the affection we showed each other in your childhood?

Shen Qing was in the kitchen teaching her two younger sisters how to fry noodles, while Li Yanzi was sitting on the steps outside the kitchen picking vegetables, blocking the door to prevent Miao Qiuduo from coming in. Perhaps she wanted to leave a good impression on Shen Qing, and didn't want to have a bad relationship with her sister-in-law as soon as she came back. Miao Qiuduo walked around the door twice, her face turned dark, but she didn't have a conflict with Li Yanzi in the end.

Soon, the aroma of fried noodles wafted from the kitchen.

Shen Qing used a pound of chicken and made fifteen steaks. Each steak weighed three taels and was so thin that it looked bigger than his face. Brush it with sauce, sprinkle with chili powder and pepper salt, and take a bite. It’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The skin is crispy and fragrant, while the inside is full of meaty flavor and has an exceptionally smooth texture.

"This is so delicious!" Only after making it yourself will you realize how magical it is! There is only a little bit of meat, how can you make a chicken steak that tastes like meat! Xueniang and Qiaoniang secretly shared one in the kitchen and put the rest on a plate so they could have another dish for lunch.

"Brother, is the starch sausage made by you in Lantang Village also like this? There is actually very little meat?"

"You're really smart." Shen Qing praised, "When the workshop opens in the future, the job of making chicken chops will be handed over to you two. By then, it will be divided into several rooms, and everyone will be responsible for part of the work. You just need to watch them do their work well, and then integrate them together at the end."

This actually involves some management work, and the two little girls showed a hint of hesitation on their faces. If they were asked to work, they would be among the most hardworking girls in Shiqu Village. But if they were asked to manage...the people who came to work were all aunts and grandmothers in the village, and everyone in the village had the surname Miao, so they were all relatives and elders. How could they manage them?

"Don't be afraid," Shen Qing said, "When the time comes, Brother Miao Ren will come to the workshop to manage it, and the village chief's kid will also come. You just need to learn the skills, and I will let Aunt Lian come here to take care of you for a few days and teach you how to do things. If there is anything you don't understand or don't dare to do, just ask Aunt Lian."

The two sisters then agreed nervously. Xue Niang was wiping the stove with a rag. Suddenly, she looked up and asked Shen Qing, "Brother Qing, will you teach this skill to your younger aunt and let her work with us? Or do you need to ask your eldest aunt for her opinion?"

"No need to ask," Shen Qing said, "I won't teach her."