Chapter 83 Mu Yao Reports

Late at night, the boat docked at the Pingning County ferry.

Because word had been sent in advance that Sanyue would bring people to pick them up, but Shen Ning didn't expect so many people to come.

When she walked out, Xu Zhiyi seemed to want to join in the fun and was also pushed onto the deck by his entourage.

Sanyue came forward to explain, "Knowing that the young lady would be bringing back the goods tonight, the workers at the farm took the initiative to come and meet her."

Shen Ning was somewhat helpless: "That doesn't require so many people."

An old man said with a smile: "More people means faster work. Let's unload the goods and ship them back sooner, and the shopkeeper can go back and rest sooner."

Shen Ning quickly thanked him: "Thank you for your hard work."

Someone said with a smile: "It's not hard at all. If it weren't for the shopkeeper giving us food, our whole family would still be starving. Now that we have food and money at home, we can stay up all night and have endless energy."

There were also people laughing and joking nearby, and everyone began to unload the boat and transport the goods under the command of the manager.

Xu Zhiyi glanced at Chen Ning and said with a smile, "Shopkeeper Chen is quite good at managing his subordinates."

Shen Ning also smiled, but with a serious expression: "They are simple and kind."

Xu Zhiyi didn't say anything else.

Xu Zhiyi lived in the Xu family and didn't want to bother in the middle of the night, so he slept directly on the boat. After unloading the cargo, Shen Ning did not disturb him before getting off the boat. He asked his followers to bring a message and then went home first.

Early the next morning, Xu Zhiyi had breakfast on the boat, sent a pigeon letter back to the capital to report the matter of the thunder bomb, and then took his men back to the Xu family.

The old man of the Xu family has passed away, and the eldest uncle of the Xu family, Xu Shaozong, is in charge. Xu Shaozong is not in good health and was supported by someone to the door to greet him.

When he saw Xu Zhiyi, Xu Shaozong stepped forward and wanted to pay his respects, after all, Xu Zhiyi was of a higher generation than him.

Xu Zhiyi waved his hand slowly and calmly: "Alright, no need to be polite. I need to rest. Don't let anyone disturb me if there's nothing else to do."

He lived in someone else's house and acted like the master of the house. The Xu family was flattered and very nervous, fearing that they would not entertain him well enough.

After sending away the old man from the Xu family, Xu Zhiyi was pushed by his followers back to the courtyard where he was settled. The people behind him were all dressed simply but had extraordinary aura, with a restrained gleam in their eyes. It was obvious that they were not ordinary guards.

The group entered the courtyard. In the pavilion in the distance, Mrs. Pan reluctantly withdrew her gaze and tentatively asked Li Qingqing, "Who was that young man just now?"

He was born so handsome and beautiful, especially his demeanor, which was so noble and imposing.

Li Qingqing warned in a low voice: "That's the young master from the Xu family in the capital. I don't know his specific identity, but the master has said that no one is allowed to disturb him. He looks very noble. Don't cause trouble."

The Xu family in Beijing is indeed extraordinary.

After all, the Xu family in the capital and the cabinet minister's family are close relatives, so they are naturally not comparable to the Xu family in Pingning.

Thinking of the man's passionate peach blossom eyes, handsome and romantic appearance, Mrs. Pan felt a surge of warmth in her heart... County Magistrate Cao has been getting worse these days.

But he was addicted to it, and he always made her feel torn and uncomfortable.

Now, I am caught off guard and see such a god-like figure, and my heart is about to float.

"Mr. Xu..."

But she had not forgotten the important matter. Today she had something important to discuss with Li Qingqing.

After a while, a little maid came hurriedly and said respectfully, "Madam, the old lady has woken up and needs you to come."

Mrs. Pan came to visit the old lady of the Xu family early in the morning, but the old lady had been tired and had not rested well recently, so the servants did not dare to disturb her. Mrs. Pan was very considerate and said she would go sit in the yard.

"The old lady is an elder. If my arrival disturbs her rest, I will be committing a great sin."

Just then, half an hour later, the old lady woke up and immediately asked someone to call her over.

Old Madam Xu's surname was Huang and her given name was Shuyu. She came from a scholarly family in Pingning. Given the Xu family's background, she originally looked down on the magistrate's wife, who was born a concubine.

But she happened to be the wife of the county magistrate. The old man of the Xu family had passed away, and now she was a noble family supported by her ancestors. Naturally, she did not want to offend the wife of the official in Pingning.

When Mrs. Pan went to visit the old lady, she brought Li Qingqing with her. Li Qingqing was a little nervous.

She almost married Xu Fang once, but something happened in her family and ruined her reputation. In addition, she had an unclear relationship with Xu Fang before she entered the Xu family, so the old lady looked down on her.

If Mrs. Pan had not brought her to the old lady from time to time to show her face and please her, her life in the Xu family would have been even more miserable.

When they met Old Madam Xu, Li Qingqing cautiously stepped forward to massage the old lady's shoulders as usual, while Madam Pan chatted with the old lady. As they were interested, the topic quickly turned to the old lady's most beloved nephew Huang Yaozu.

Huang Yaozu's wife had just died not long ago. The old lady was so heartbroken that she asked someone to find a remarriage for her nephew.

Mrs. Pan smiled and said, "As for a second wife, I happen to know someone who is very suitable."

Madam Xu asked perfunctorily, "Oh, who is it?"

"The owner of Mi Ji, Shen Ning."

Madam Pan praised Chen Ning like a flower, saying that she was beautiful, had a good figure, was young despite being a widow, and had a good temper. At the end, the old lady frowned and said, "A merchant's daughter?"

Li Qingqing sneered: "She's a widow from the countryside!"

After she finished speaking, she remembered what she was doing and quickly smiled and said, "But she is loyal to her husband, she is good-looking and has a good temper. You will know if you call her to come and see her. Moreover, she can make money. In the future, my cousin can enjoy a good life by being served by her."

It would be best if the nephew could enjoy a happy life. Besides, there were not many suitable women in Pingning and the surrounding areas. The old lady felt that those with poor appearance and family background were not worthy of her family's Yaozu, but those who were slightly better would not be able to remarry Yaozu.

If the merchant girl surnamed Shen is really as these two people said, good-looking, good at making money and serving people, then it would be fine to honor her.

"Then call him over to take a look." The old lady was calm and composed.

Mrs. Pan and Li Qingqing exchanged glances inconspicuously, both with a look of triumph in their eyes.

The reason why the old lady's beloved nephew Huang Yaozu became a widower was because he beat his wife to death.

The old lady felt sorry for her nephew, so she spent money to find someone to settle the matter, so the matter did not spread. However, Mrs. Pan naturally knew the inside story.

They were planning to marry Chen Ning to Huang Yaozu, making her suffer a fate neither able to live nor to die!

"A-choo!"

Shen Ning sneezed several times, and Su Lianyi looked concerned: "Ning Ning, did you catch a cold? Otherwise, go back and rest. I'm here."

"I don't have a cold, my nose just feels a little itchy."

Shen Ning rubbed her nose, and when she saw another customer coming in, she walked forward with a smile.

Hua Yingxue's business has been getting better and better these days. Today, since she has some free time, she also came to the shop to greet people.

But when she walked over and saw the guest coming in, she was stunned for a moment.

She was wearing a gorgeous red dress, had a slender figure, and had most of her long hair loose. She had a flower pin in her ear, the petals of which barely covered the words tattooed on her cheek.

It was the woman I had seen in the refugee village before who sold herself into slavery.

"It's you... Mu Yao?"

The woman in red was a little shy, but also looked a little happy: "Shopkeeper Shen still remembers me."

Shen Ning smiled and nodded: "Miss Mu is beautiful, it's hard to forget her."

After saying that, she led Mu Yao to the counter: "Miss Mu, what would you like to see?"

Shen Ning turned around and led the way, not noticing the bright light of joy in Mu Yao's eyes when she praised his appearance.

Mu Yao could see clearly that Chen Ning smiled sincerely when she spoke to her, without any contempt at all.

"I want to see... perfume and lip balm, oh, Shopkeeper Shen calls it lipstick."

Shen Ning smiled and said, “Okay, come over here and you can use the rags to try the flavors and choose the ones you like.

Just as Shen Ning was helping Mu Yao choose perfume, a voice suddenly rang out from behind her, full of condescending displeasure: "Your shop actually even serves lowly slaves. That's really unrefined."

Mu Yao suddenly froze, and his already uneasy expression became even more timid.

Shen Ning looked up and saw a woman in gorgeous clothes trying out perfume. The woman was accompanied by a nanny and looked like she came from a wealthy family.

Seeing Shen Ning looking over, the woman snorted, "Manager Shen, you'd better kick that slave out, so as not to offend the guests."

Mu Yao shrank back and lowered his head even lower.

Shen Ning retracted her gaze and continued to pick perfume for her: "Miss Mu, try this rose scent and see if you like it. I think it suits you very well."

Bright and colorful.

The woman opposite said dissatisfiedly: "What does Shopkeeper Shen mean? Didn't you hear what I said?"

Shen Ning spoke slowly and calmly: "Miss, my shop is open for business, and I don't have the right to classify customers into different levels. No matter who you are, you can buy things from me as long as you pay money."

The woman frowned and said, "You are making money from a lowly slave. How shameless!"

Shen Ning smiled and said, "Today you despise her and want to expel her. If in the future there are princes and nobles who despise the common people for being lowly, will I also despise you and expel you?"

She looked at the woman opposite her, her tone gentle and calm: "She buys hers, you look at yours, it doesn't bother anyone else. You all pay money, so I will treat you all the same."

The young lady opened her mouth but was speechless for a moment. Finally, she stamped her feet angrily and walked out with the nanny: "Let's go. It's better not to come to this shop."

Shen Ning smiled: "Goodbye, dear guest."

After saying that, she retracted her gaze and asked Mu Yao, "Do you want to try the orchid scent?"

At this moment, Mu Yao, who had been lowering his head, suddenly spoke in a low voice: "Madam Shen, that day I happened to hear Madam Pan and Aunt Li mention you to the old lady. It seems that they are going to match you with the old lady's nephew as a second wife. That man beat his previous wife to death. Madam Shen, you should make plans early."