"Gao Zuochang, this has nothing to do with you, right? What are you doing here pretending to be a good person?" Li Changgui looked at the newcomer with a dark face and his tone was very unpleasant.

Mingqiu's pupils contracted, she blinked, and immediately whispered to her mother and the Shen family, "This is the manager of the largest winery in the city, Wanwu Winery. It is said that even the high-ranking officials in the city treat him with great respect."

This also serves as a reminder to the Shen family not to offend anyone.

After all, for someone at that level, it would be very easy to crush you.

Shen Wanli was alright, but Shen Erming felt uneasy.

With that kind of status in the family, anyone can bully them...

He clenched his fist tightly.

Protecting his family and his sister is not as simple as just saying it.

"I'm a good person, no need to pretend. Brother, is this wine yours? Can I try some?"

Gao Zuochang looked at Chen Wanli with a very kind and approachable attitude.

This greatly surprised Li Changgui, who couldn't help but wonder: Could these country bumpkins have some powerful backer he doesn't know about? Otherwise, how could Gao Zuochang, that sly fox, act this way?

However, he absolutely must not be allowed to taste this wine!

"Sure, but..."

"Mingqiu, how long have you been an apprentice here?"

Li Changgui interrupted Shen Wanli and asked Mingqiu with a smile.

Mingqiu blinked. Why was his attitude suddenly so nice? But he didn't show it and just obediently replied, "Four years."

Apprentices only receive food and lodging, without any pay. However, they can learn skills while working here, making it a place many children in the village aspire to.

Li Changgui patted his belly, chuckled, and looked Shen Wanli up and down before saying, "How about this? I'll give you forty taels to buy the recipe for this wine, and at the same time, I'll promote you. From now on, you'll get two hundred large coins a month. What do you say?"

Forty taels of silver was already a considerable price for a farming family.

"real?"

Mingqiu was still a child, and her breathing quickened when she heard this.

Two hundred dollars a month can be a great help to the family!

"Heh, it seems this wine is truly excellent. Brother, if you trust me, come with me, and I promise you won't suffer any losses."

Gao Zuochang didn't say anything about tasting it.

Here, Li Changgui would certainly not allow him to drink alcohol.

The Shen family was immediately in a dilemma.

Given their temperament, they will definitely leave.

Given Li Changgui's attitude, they really have no desire to cooperate.

But they couldn't ignore the Dasheng family's interests...

Da Sheng's wife immediately gave her youngest son a push and calmly instructed, "Son, go pack your things and come home with your mother."

Although they were leaving, Dasheng's family did not break ties with Li Changgui. Instead, they maintained a soft attitude and apologized to him: "Manager, thank you for taking care of my son over the years."

Is she trying to threaten her older sisters by saying her son can continue working here?

That's impossible!

yes!

She's an uncultured country bumpkin, but she would never make things difficult for her older sisters.

Besides, leaving here might not be a bad thing!

"You! You're doing great!"

Li Changgui immediately felt ashamed and cursed a couple of times.

The Da Sheng family members just stood there with their heads down, accepting their fate.

She wasn't without a temper; she just didn't want to offend anyone, lest she cause unnecessary trouble for the children in the future.

"Li Changgui, that's enough!"

Gao Zuochang's tone carried a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

Li Changgui looked up, but after a moment, his cloudy little eyes immediately lowered, and he dared not say anything more hurtful.

Soon, Mingqiu had packed her small suitcase.

After leaving Dingsheng Winery, Gao Zuochang immediately said, "I wonder if any of you would be interested in visiting my winery to discuss cooperation?"

"Sir, you haven't even tasted my wine, so why are you already interested in cooperating?" Shen Wanli asked somewhat warily.

It's no wonder he was so wary; Mr. Gao's appearance was just too coincidental.

And it seems... they really want to do business with them?

Something's fishy about this!

A flicker of surprise flashed across Gao Zuochang's eyes, clearly taken aback by Chen Wanli's vigilance. He smiled and said softly, "I had people here, and I just happened to be passing by, so I found out."

As for why I wanted to cooperate with you before even tasting it, it's because of Li Changgui. If your wine is truly bad, he's unlikely to ask for more money.

As for why they didn't stop him later, it's probably because they saw his attitude.

He just didn't want to offend the people behind him over this little thing.

"I see. But thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Gao. This is just homemade wine, it's..."

"Brother, let's cooperate. It's mutually beneficial. Think about it."

Shen Wanli still politely declined.

Even Shen Liuliu was a little puzzled.

Didn't Father want to sell it for money?

Why are you still refusing now?

However, neither Shen Liuliu nor Tian Guifen said anything, and they both expressed their respect for Shen Wanli's decision.

Kao Tso-chang was dumbfounded.

He had never encountered a situation where he eagerly sought to do business with someone and was subsequently rejected.

Remembering that person's instructions, Gao Zuochang cautiously asked, "...Brother, is there something I did wrong?"

“Hehe,” Shen Wanli chuckled twice and spoke the truth without any pretense, “Although the attitude of that Manager Li just now made me uncomfortable, it cannot be denied that many shrewd people think this way about us country folk.”

Mr. Gao's attitude, however, was far too good. It was precisely because he was so polite and so eager to do business with me that the most odd thing was that he was acting this way.

That's so weird.

He has a family to support and doesn't want to risk his life for the sake of making some money.

It's best to be down-to-earth.

Upon hearing this, Gao Zuochang was left speechless, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

He never expected it would be because of this...

But thinking about it carefully, it makes sense.

He was being overly cautious because of that person's instructions, which seemed a bit off and aroused suspicion.

Now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to speak frankly.

"To be honest, brother, I was indeed following orders," Gao Zuochang readily admitted.

Shen Wanli raised an eyebrow: "Following orders?"

They don't know anyone like that.

Suddenly, a young face flashed through Shen Liuliu's mind as she nestled in Shen Wanli's arms. Could it be...?

“My young master stayed at my older brother’s house for a while before he left. He specifically told me that you would be coming to the city to sell wine soon, and asked me to keep an eye out for you. Help me out if you can.”

Kao Jo-chang said with a polite smile.

Shen Wanli and his wife exchanged a glance and exclaimed happily, "Is it An'an?"

"Is it really An An?"

Shen Liuli blinked, a little thrill she herself didn't even realize she was feeling.

"Hehe, now, brother, would you mind moving over to my place so we can talk things over?" Gao Zuochang gestured for him to enter.

With An An mentioned, how could the Shen family possibly be on guard anymore?

Shen Wanli immediately smiled and picked up his daughter to get into the carriage, and the others followed.