Chapter 49 Mutual Schemes

"Er Ya, will they really act according to plan?"

After entering the house, Uncle Wang pressed his ear against the crack in the door, listening to the sounds outside. A worried look crossed his face as he asked Fan Xiaoxiao, who was leisurely drying mung bean starch. Hearing Uncle Wang's question, Fan Xiaoxiao put down what she was doing and smiled slightly.

"How can I guarantee that? But Uncle, you don't need to worry too much. We'll deal with whatever comes our way!"

Seeing Fan Xiaoxiao's leisurely demeanor, Uncle Wang was speechless. Aunt Wang was helping Fan Xiaoxiao turn over other things drying in the yard. After hearing what Fan Xiaoxiao said, she laughed at Uncle Wang, "Old man, why are you worrying so much? This Er Ya is very clever! Just relax and be a fan!"

Madam Fan came out of the inner room carrying a small cloth bag.

"What are you two talking about? You seem to be having a lot of fun."

"It's nothing! I'm just laughing at your uncle for worrying too much!"

Uncle Wang's dark face flushed slightly. He glared at Aunt Wang, who was laughing heartily, and quickly picked up the axe from the corner of the wall and went to the backyard to chop firewood for Old Zhao. This was something they had promised Old Zhao before they moved in.

Seeing everyone's joyful and harmonious demeanor, Madam Fan couldn't help but smile slightly. She walked over to Granny Wang and handed her the small cloth bag.

"Auntie, this is the wages that my sister said she would give to you and your uncle! Please keep it safe."

Aunt Wang was slightly taken aback and subconsciously looked at Fan Xiaoxiao beside her.

"Auntie, this is what you and Uncle deserve! Please accept it. If you don't, I'll really get angry!"

"But……"

Before Aunt Wang could refuse, Fan Xiaoxiao quickly raised her hand to stop her: "Listen to me, we've supported each other all this way on our escape. I know you don't care about this little bit of money! But I do! Your family lost Dahuang because of me, and then we lost our boat. And then we got here. I know you and Uncle have secretly paid for Uncle Zhao's room and board for me, my sister, and Xiaobao."

But now I can earn money! Don't worry about us not having money. Since we came together in the first place, I certainly can't let you live a bad life. You've always treated my sister and me like your own children. My sister and I know that.”

Aunt Wang's eyes reddened, and she wiped away her tears, unable to utter a word of refusal. She could only nod at Fan Xiaoxiao, holding the small cloth bag in her hand, and say, "Okay, alright. Auntie will accept it!"

Fan Xiaoxiao finally smiled when she saw that Aunt Wang had actually accepted the small cloth bag.

A day passed, and the next day arrived. Fan Xiaoxiao, dressed neatly, went out with Madam Fan.

Today is the day Linjianglou will open its doors to buy mung beans. Early in the morning, many people lined up in long queues in front of Linjianglou.

The steward of the Ji family, who was busy at the front, saw Fan Xiaoxiao and Madam Fan coming from afar. He quickly put down his work, walked over, cupped his hands, and asked, "What brings you two ladies here?"

"I came to see how things are going here, and also to see if there's any work that needs help. Hey? Where's your young master Ji today?"

As she spoke, Fan Xiaoxiao's eyes seemed to casually sweep across the crowd. The Ji family steward smiled at Fan Xiaoxiao, his gaze sweeping over a certain spot in the crowd with a hint of deeper meaning.

"Oh! My young master Ji! He talked with Third Master Hou all night last night! They drank quite a bit of wine! He's still drunk at home and hasn't gotten up yet!"

"Oh, I see! Since your husband isn't here, I'll come again tomorrow!"

After saying this, Fan Xiaoxiao nodded slightly to the steward of the Ji family and turned to leave. She pretended to look casually in the direction the steward had been looking and glanced at the back of the crowd. There, she saw a man dressed in coarse gray cloth who, after hearing their conversation, lowered his head and retreated into the crowd.

Fan Xiaoxiao glanced back at Steward Ji, who had clearly also seen the man. Seeing Fan Xiaoxiao look back at him, Steward Ji looked away and smiled, gesturing with his hand. Fan Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow, then left Linjiang Tower with Madam Fan, without looking at Steward Ji again.

The man, dressed in coarse gray linen clothes, left the crowd and hurried towards a house after leaving the market.

"Second Master! Second Master!"

The door was opened from the inside, and Zhu Er's stern face peeked out from behind it. After looking around to make sure no one was following the man, he pulled him into the courtyard.

"How about it?"

The man in the gray linen clothes wiped the sweat from his forehead and fanned himself with his sleeve, saying, "Second Master, you were right! That Hou San! He really is colluding with the Ji family again! And that Miss Fan! She also seems to have a close relationship with the Ji family!"

Zhu Er chuckled, raising his hand to touch the cheek that Hou San had slapped him on yesterday, his eyes filled with venom and malice: "I knew there was something fishy going on between them! Hou San, Hou San! Let's see how you explain this to the Huang family!"

(End of this chapter)