Chapter 6

It's hard to believe that Shen Jianhe, dressed in a suit and bow tie, and the young master Shen, dressed in leather boots and a military cap, both with noble bearing and sound health, would actually step into such a small Chinese medicine pharmacy.

Of course, as Han Meng expected, he didn't come to see a doctor, but to talk about love.

Just like in the novel, the man's eyes instantly reddened when he saw Chen Miaoyin, and the next second he grabbed her wrist, wanting to take her away.

However, he was dumped by the female lead.

Han Meng couldn't get involved in this kind of thing, so she decided to pretend to learn how to use an abacus while secretly listening to the gossip.

“Ayin, I’ve asked around everywhere, and your adoptive father said you came here to work. I didn’t believe it at first. How could you do such a job that requires you to be in the public eye? Didn’t I tell you that with me around, you don’t need to work at all?” Shen Jianhe said excitedly.

Chen Miaoyin lowered her head and said, "Young Master Shen, please don't bother me anymore. We are not from the same world."

Han Meng recalled the dialogue from the original book and couldn't help but look up at Chen Miaoyin.

According to the original plot, the female lead would later say: You are the chosen one of heaven, while I am an orphan who was unwanted from birth. The difference between us is like heaven and earth.

But after getting to know the female lead better these past few days, Han Meng felt that Chen Miaoyin's personality shouldn't be so humble and submissive. This girl is somewhat insecure and weak, but she is very thoughtful and doesn't categorize people based on their background.

Shen Jianhe couldn't understand Chen Miaoyin's thoughts. He looked around and finally his eagle-like gaze landed on Han Meng.

He pointed at Han Meng and asked Chen Miaoyin, "Did she bully you again?"

Han Meng was speechless when the male lead inexplicably pinned a huge blame on her: Stereotypes are unacceptable!

Seeing that Chen Miaoyin remained silent, Shen Jianhe bypassed her and angrily walked towards Han Meng. The accountant and the old Chinese medicine doctor hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.

Without hesitation, the male protagonist pushed the two of them away, saying, "Han Meng, what did you threaten her with? You dare to touch her? Wasn't the lesson from last time enough?"

Han Meng was stunned: "What?"

"Enough!"

Just then, Chen Miaoyin shouted loudly.

Shen Jianhe looked at her in shock: "Ayin?"

Chen Miaoyin walked between the male lead and Han Meng, tears streaming down her face, and proactively opened her arms to protect Han Meng behind her.

The female lead was sobbing, but her tone remained unusually calm:

"No matter where I work, I'm just an ordinary person who earns my wages through hard work. You're different. You're the son of a very wealthy family, born into a life of luxury. Your maids not only serve you in your daily life but also in other ways! You can go to military school whether you're a good student or not, and your classmates can bully you at will! Now you're coming to this small pharmacy to bully people, are you?"

I can't help you bully others, but you can't bully Miss Han, she's my friend!

"You...you believe in those things too?" Shen Jianhe was struck dumb and couldn't help but take a half step back.

Chen Miaoyin raised her eyes: "Young Master Shen is so good at investigating, didn't you find out that my adoptive father is Editor-in-Chief Chen of Fengming Publishing House? When I saw the news, I asked him to verify it. He also said that the rumors about Miss Han and other people were actually created by you."

"You are a big bad guy..."

Shen Jianhe's face paled, and his imposing manner weakened: "Those...those things are all in the past. I'm not that kind of person anymore."

Chen Miaoyin pursed her lips, tears streaming down her cheeks to her chin. "Get out. I don't want to see you again."

"sorry……"

You shouldn't have told me.

"Han Meng, I'm sorry," Shen Jianhe said through gritted teeth to Han Meng.

Han Meng remained unmoved, but Chen Miaoyin slapped the other person on her behalf.

She sighed, gently took the hand that Chen Miaoyin had just used, and said to Shen Jianhe, "Mr. Shen, please go back. Don't disturb our business, or I will report you to the police."

Finally, Shimami He covered his face, cried, and ran away.

Han Meng stroked Chen Miaoyin's hair like she was petting a cat: "Okay, don't cry! You were great today!"

*

During Han Meng's "busy" time, news of the engagement between the Lu and Han families gradually spread.

People in any world are born with a love for gossip, and before long, the news spread like wildfire, reaching even teahouses where people were discussing it.

"It seems the previous news was true. The two families, who have been mortal enemies for most of their lives, are actually going to make peace."

"Hey, I heard from my friend that the two of them had never crossed paths before. Something happened that night, and they rushed to announce their wedding date. Maybe it's a shotgun wedding!"

"Regardless of feelings, I think that Young Master Lu's health... well, he really won't live for more than a few years. Maybe Miss Han will be a widow after marrying him."

Han Meng applauded the uncle who had said he might become a widow: "What you said makes the most sense!"

She went to the counter, ordered a cup of Longjing tea, and personally handed it to the other person, saying, "I appreciate your kind words! Here, this cup of Longjing is on you!"

The man was overjoyed: "Oh, thank you so much, young lady!"

Han Meng smiled. She had gathered all the information she needed to know, and then she decided to leave the teahouse.

As a result, after turning around and taking only a few steps, he bumped into Lu Jinxian, almost knocking him over. Fortunately, a friend was there to help him up.

"I'm sorry..."

Lu Jinxian smiled slightly, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "Miss Han, be careful of the baby in your belly~"

Noticing that more and more eyes were being cast at him because of his words, Han Meng felt so ashamed that she wanted to disappear into the ground.

She was furious. As she passed by him, she grabbed his sleeve, glanced at him, and whispered a warning: "If you keep spreading rumors, I don't mind becoming a widow."

Lu Jinxian looked at her: "So, you don't object to the engagement?"

Han Meng's gaze was firm: "No, I will fight to the end."

"Then good luck."

After Han Meng left, Lu Jinxian and his friends found an empty table and sat down.

My friend asked curiously, "That girl absolutely refused, so what about you? What are your thoughts?"

Lu Jinxian was silent for a moment, then said, "Me? I don't have any thoughts."

"Really? Then why didn't you just say so earlier?"

"She has pretty eyes. I looked at her for a few seconds longer, but before I could say anything, she was gone," Lu Jinxian said half-jokingly.

Han Meng returned home furious and immediately told the housekeeper that she wanted to see Han Xianfei.

The butler hesitated for a moment and said that the master was not available at the moment and that he could only see him at dinner time.

"How about this, I'll go and discuss it with the master now. How about tonight be an opportunity for you two to have a heart-to-heart talk, and we'll prepare a more lavish meal?"

Han Meng was dissatisfied at not being able to see Han Xianfei immediately, but she held back and said, "Fine."

After watching the housekeeper walk a short distance, Han Meng quietly called to Xiao Liu to follow him, "Help me see where my dad is and what he's doing."

They're nowhere to be seen all day long. Even if they're busy with business, it's impossible for them to be like this. Could they be hiding something?

Soon, Xiao Liu ran back and said that the master was in the ancestral hall, but he couldn't go in to see what he was doing.

This was an answer that surprised Han Meng, but she was afraid of saying the wrong thing and arousing suspicion, so she didn't ask any more questions. Perhaps Han Xianfei just often went to the ancestral hall.

At the banquet, Han Meng finally saw Han Xianfei again. He was dressed very formally, as if he had just returned from a business meeting.

"Dad, I want to cancel the engagement," Han Meng said bluntly.

Han Xianfei refused very solemnly: "I can agree to anything else, but not this one."

Han Meng slammed her hand on the table in anger: "If you're afraid of others criticizing me and my family, then what's wrong with canceling the engagement after it's already been arranged? Do you value the family's reputation so much that you don't care about your own daughter's happiness?"

However, Han Xianfei was also enraged. He stood up, his neck turning red with anger.

I'm afraid they'll talk about you!

"You've been unruly and willful since you were little, and I've neglected to discipline you. If you act willfully again and cancel the engagement this time, you'll lose face for yourself! Have you thought about how many people will laugh at you then!"

Han Meng replied firmly, "I'm not afraid. I pursue freedom in marriage, so why should I be afraid?"

Han Xianfei sighed helplessly: "You're still young, you don't understand at all..."

After saying that, he, a grown man, started crying loudly, tears streaming down his face.

In contrast, Han Meng was much calmer than him.

Because she had anticipated that Han Xianfei wouldn't easily give in, her purpose in talking to him wasn't to immediately cancel the engagement, but rather...

“Dad, I’m all grown up now and can stand on my own. If you don’t believe me, hand over the Chinese medicine pharmacy to me. Let’s make a bet on the pharmacy’s profits. If I win, I’ll cancel the engagement. If you win, I’ll do whatever you say.”

Han Xianfei looked at her in surprise, considered for a moment, and then made a more specific request: "If you can earn double the total annual cost of opening this Chinese medicine pharmacy before the wedding date, I can listen to you."

Total annual cost? The pharmacy just opened this year, so the initial costs need to be included.

Han Mengxin calculated the approximate amount, which was a string of numbers that filled her with despair.

What's more complicated is that the Han family's tea business and traditional Chinese medicine business are different. The Han family owns its own tea gardens, and most of the tea sold in their teahouse is their own tea. However, for traditional Chinese medicine, in addition to purchasing from other companies, some rare medicinal materials have to be collected with rewards, so the actual cost will be higher than she just calculated.

"You're deliberately making things difficult for me." She really disliked Han Xianfei's behavior.

Han Xianfei snorted coldly, "If you can't do it, then obediently marry into the Lu family."

His demands were indeed a bit harsh. Even if he devoted himself to the Chinese medicine pharmacy business, he might not be able to earn that much money in just a few months. He said this on purpose to discourage his daughter.

He was confident of success and was about to enjoy his dinner when his daughter quickly took all the dishes off the table.

What are you doing?

"Let's start making money!" Han Meng looked up, but her hands didn't stop. She filled her own bowl and then took an empty bowl to continue filling it with food. "The pharmacy has three employees now. They usually start work at 9 a.m., and we only provide them with lunch. I was just thinking of having them open two hours earlier, so we should still provide breakfast. I have some ready-made food at home, so I'm saving costs."

Han Xianfei frowned: "What? You mean every day from now on..."

Han Meng filled ten bowls and put them all into a food box that had appeared out of nowhere. She said with a grin, "Yes, from now on, I'll have to take all three meals at home to the Chinese medicine pharmacy, and I'll have them work overtime at night too."

The way to defeat the devil is to become the devil yourself!

Han Xianfei looked down at each dish, which was almost entirely reduced to broth, and felt frustrated: his daughter hadn't given up, but he himself was starting to regret it!