Chapter 125 Rumors Ferment

After the Third House left, the women in the Prince Qingping's Mansion burst into laughter, especially the Imperial Noble Consort, who perfectly demonstrated what it meant to cry with joy.

"Okay, mother, don't cry, don't cry, hurry up and hold back your tears. If we follow my sister-in-law's plan, my aunt will be back with us soon..."

Wen Chengming, a considerate little boy, immediately took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the Imperial Concubine's tears. He didn't have a deep impression of his grandmother. He just heard his mother say that she had held him in her arms when he was a child, so he thought she must be a very gentle person like his mother...

"Cheng Ming is right, Wei Yao. They've already taken the bait. If we reject them hastily, what if they decide to let Auntie fend for herself..."

The imperial concubine was amused by Wen Chengming. After touching his little head, she looked at Cheng Weiyao and expressed her concerns.

After the joy came worry. Now he was in exile, and life was already difficult. The eldest wife was in charge of his grandfather's backyard. According to the mistress of the eldest wife's style, she would most likely not ask for help.

As for the old lady who eats vegetarian food and chants Buddhist scriptures all day long, she is just a kind-hearted person with a wicked heart. Her whole family is cold and heartless. His worries are not groundless.

"Don't worry, mother. I will certainly find a way to force them to bring the letter of release."

Cheng Weiyao was packing up her cart to set up her stall. When she heard the imperial concubine's question, she smiled with confidence.

My grandfather's machismo is an exploitable point. Men like him are very concerned about their reputation, so I have to create the situation in advance.

"Madam, is there anything I can do for my husband?"

Wen Chengyun had already packed up and helped Cheng Weiyao push the cart out the door. His wife had been planning for many days, and seeing that the fish was about to take the bait, it was just around the corner to close the net, so she couldn't let her efforts go to waste.

"Of course, I need my husband's full support."

Cheng Weiyao grinned, her crescent eyes revealing a fox-like cunning...

After lunch, the sun was shining.

Cheng Weiyao set up her stall in a downtown area, which was already densely populated, and many rumors and gossips arose from it.

The restaurants and teahouses were bustling with activity. The sound of storytelling, mixed with the sound of opera singing, drifted faintly out, tempting everyone to try something new.

Going to a teahouse or restaurant to listen to storytelling or opera required money. People who didn't have much money would just bring a small stool or sit cross-legged in a shady place to chat and gossip.

"Have you heard? Something big is going to happen in the city. The concubine of that family on East Street seems to have contracted some filthy disease that's contagious!"

"Where did you hear that? Don't talk nonsense. If you're sick, see a doctor. If it's contagious, you'll have to be locked up and recuperate..."

"It's not groundless rumors. I heard that the mistress of that family is quite powerful. The vegetable seller said that he hadn't seen the concubine for several days. The last time he saw her, she looked sickly and looked like she didn't have much time left..."

"Then don't talk nonsense. No matter how cruel the mistress is, she is still the concubine of the mansion. How can we just ignore her?"

Cheng Weiyao was baking steamed buns when she heard this sentence. She paused with her chopsticks as she was about to flip the bun. She hadn't expected people these days to be so good at making up stories.

I originally just wanted Wen Chengyun to spread the news of my aunt's illness, but I didn't expect it to tarnish the reputation of the mistress of the first house...

However, at this rate of spread, it should soon reach the ears of everyone in my grandfather's family, and then it will be difficult to back off.

Cheng Weiyao’s plan was good, but the first person to get the news was not her grandfather’s backyard, but her grandfather himself.

Ever since he arrived in Qingshi Town, he noticed the prosperous local trade. Leveraging his broadened horizons in the capital, he started a treasure-collecting business.

To put it simply, it means buying things at low prices and selling them at high prices. Qingshi Town is small, but it is well connected, and the amount of goods flowing in and out is huge, and there are many people who do not know the value of goods.

One day, my grandfather, who had just received an antique bowl from a small vendor, walked into the pawnshop with great joy. However, he was stopped by the shopkeeper as soon as he entered the door.

"I'm sorry, but our pawnshop is not accepting items today. Please come back another day."

Although the shopkeeper was sitting in the shop, he could hear everything when he went out to eat lunch during the noon shift change. He had a concubine at home who was suffering from an infectious disease, and she might also be carrying some kind of disease.

Doing business is important, but life is more important. He has elderly parents and young children to support, so he dare not risk his life for a little money.

"Boss, what are you saying? The pawnshop is clearly still open for business. Are you bullying customers or are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for me?"

My grandfather narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling somewhat dissatisfied. Although he always asked for a higher price every time he came to sell things, it was because the pawnshop wanted to lower the price, and he had also calculated the transaction price in advance.

Doesn’t the shopkeeper always smile every time a deal is made?

"Look at what you're saying. Why are you still angry? I really don't plan to collect anything today. I'm a little short of cash in the shop, and you always bring in good things..."

Seeing that my grandfather was angry, the shopkeeper quickly tried to smooth things over. He didn't look like he was sick, but he still had to be on guard.

It's not that I can't accept this, but the procedures are a bit more complicated...

"Please take a closer look. This isn't my first time here. I'm not going to fool you. This is an old item, made in an official kiln..."

My grandfather's expression relaxed a lot. He took out the newly collected small bowl and came over as usual.

As soon as they got close to each other, the shopkeeper's face changed slightly, he put some oil on the soles of his feet, and increased the distance between them. He pretended to be natural and took a handful of moxa sticks from the drawer of the counter, lit them, and put them into the exquisite little incense burner.

Mugwort strengthens the roots and fumigates the very essence, not only repelling mosquitoes and removing odors but also curing all kinds of illness. Therefore, even if no one is sick, some families still have the habit of fumigating with mugwort. My grandfather simply frowned and said nothing more.

"Put it on the counter. If it gets bumped, it'll be a loss for both of us. I'll take a closer look inside the cabinet."

The shopkeeper had no intention of leaving the counter after entering it. It was always safer to have a layer of separation than direct contact.

Each industry has its own rules, and it is taboo to hand over antiques from hand to hand. This is to avoid the risk of accidentally breaking them, and it also shows that you are an expert.

"You have to look carefully. I won't give in easily if the price is too low." Grandfather carefully placed the small bowl on the counter and gently pushed it over.

The shopkeeper carefully wrapped the small bowl with a handkerchief and examined the age of the workmanship. My grandfather waited patiently while calculating the asking price.

"Your small bowl..." the shopkeeper said with a frown.