To appease the prime minister's wife, he even pretended to want to have a son from his illegitimate brother's family inherit his family business.

You can know a person's face but not their heart. These actions were nothing more than to put the Prime Minister's wife at ease and to ensure that the Duke of Huguo's mansion would support him without reservation.

In fact, he was keeping a mistress on the side.

Although the concubine came from a humble background, she was extremely beautiful and obedient to the prime minister. These were secondary matters. The most important thing was that the concubine gave birth to three sons for the prime minister.

"Although the mistress kept a very low profile in daily life because she dared not reveal her identity, she lived a very extravagant life."

Tang Lei pointed at the ledger again and said to Li Youran.

"Take a close look and see if there are any suspicious people among them."

Tang Lei believed that Li Youran's jewelry shop was notoriously expensive, so it was impossible for his mistress not to come here to buy things, but she might conceal her identity because she dared not reveal it.

"This is a bit troublesome; we need to verify each one."

Li Youran was somewhat troubled, since the ledger recorded many wealthy ladies, but they all came from humble backgrounds. If he wanted to verify them one by one, it would take some time.

"No rush. Do your best to find out. It would be great if you could find out, but there's nothing we can do if you really can't find out."

Seeing Li Youran's furrowed brows and troubled expression, Tang Lei really wanted to hug her and comfort her, but he held back in the end.

"They're both running pancake shops, but even if my elder brother's business is doing well, it can't compare to the business in the capital."

Li Erzhu, with a piece of wheat stalk dangling from his mouth, swaggered down the street. He glanced at a pancake shop packed with people, and as he spoke, he used the wheat stalk to lick his teeth and spit out a mouthful of saliva.

As he spoke, he recalled Li Dazhu's various discomforts. He had only taken a few dozen taels of silver on a whim, but it had resulted in the yamen officials being summoned.

During the Lunar New Year, they were kicked out of their home, leaving the family of four without a place to live. If it weren't for Wang Xiangyu taking them in, they would probably be lost somewhere.

Thinking of this, Li Erzhu's hatred for Li Dazhu intensified, believing that his own elder brother was no match for an outsider.

"We can't afford to open a pancake shop, but we can afford to buy pancakes to eat."

As Li Erzhu spoke, he weighed the few loose silver coins in his hand. These coins were the kickback that Zhang Dachun had just given him that day.

And you know what? Despite Zhang Dachun's carefree and lazy nature, even more so than Li Erzhu, he knows how to make money!

It was just dealing in some dirt and dung, and he could make a few taels of silver in no time. These past few days, Li Erzhu had been following Zhang Dachun, and not only had he amassed some wealth, but he'd also broadened his horizons.

There's a saying that goes, "The bold get rich, the timid starve." Li Erzhu felt this business was perfect for him, and he believed that it wouldn't be long before he was richer than Li Dazhu.

While waiting in line, Li Erzhu was daydreaming. When there were only a few people left ahead of him, he suddenly looked up and saw that the woman selling steamed buns looked very familiar. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that she was his second nephew's wife!

"Second nephew's wife, what brings you to the capital? Your husband and in-laws are here too?"

Ignoring Zhao Lanzhi's busy attention to guests, Li Erzhu approached her with a roguish air. He showed no respect for elders, acting more like a local thug.

Although Zhao Lanzhi was curious as to why Li Erzhu had also come to the capital, she didn't want to talk to such a filthy person, so she simply ignored him and didn't even roll her eyes at him.

"You disrespectful brat, I'm talking to you!"

Seeing this, Li Erzhu's short temper flared up, and he slammed his fist on the windowsill, yelling at Zhao Lanzhi.

"Tell me, what kind of elder are you? Are you stealing or acting like a scoundrel?"

Zhao Lanzhi sneered and mocked.

"A tree without bark will surely die, and a person without shame is invincible!"

"you……"

As Li Erzhu spoke, his eyes darted around.

"You're a junior, I won't stoop to your level."

As Li Erzhu spoke, he glanced inside the shop and then walked in on his own.

Just now, while Li Erzhu and Zhao Lanzhi were arguing, he vaguely heard Li Dazhu arranging for the workers to do their jobs.

He didn't believe that Zhao Lanzhi, a woman, would leave her hometown for the capital to work selling steamed buns; perhaps this shop was owned by his elder brother.

"Brother, you've been hiding your true abilities! I never imagined you'd be able to open a shop in the capital."

As Li Erzhu spoke, he looked around the shop, displaying a greedy and greedy demeanor.

"This shop is so big, can you manage it all by yourself, brother? Why don't I come and help you out?"

Li Dazhu turned his head and saw Li Erzhu, still in shock. Li Erzhu had already planned how to seize Li Dazhu's shop.

"Calling you 'Second Uncle' is giving you face, but don't be ungrateful."

Zhou Yingying had long regarded this shop as her property, and when she heard Li Erzhu say such shameless things, she put her hands on her hips and started cursing him directly.

"Even if we can't manage it all, we won't let a silver thief help us!"

"Where did you come from, you little slut, daring to spout such nonsense? I'll slap you twice!"

Li Erzhu didn't know Zhou Yingying, so he had nothing to hide and raised his hand to slap her.

Despite being a man, Uncle Li had been suffering from a lot of blisters these past few days, and he felt as light as if he were walking on cotton, without any strength at all.

Before Li Erzhu could even land a slap, Zhou Yingying slapped him twice instead.

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