Menglan just pursed her lips and didn't continue arguing with her father! She served tea to each of the guests and then went inside.

The village head said indulgently, "I only have this one daughter, and I spoil her rotten. She's always going against me, so please excuse her."

"Not at all! Menglan is clearly a girl with her own ideas; she won't suffer any losses in the future. If the village head trusts me, let her handle the vegetable and meat procurement. I'll pay her six taels of silver a month. Consider it training; what do you think?" Lan Yamei suddenly changed her mind; she wanted to try cooperating with this girl.

The village head didn't want to cut off this source of income; everyone in the village envied the increasingly prosperous life of Er Gou's family.

But if Er Gou and his wife, who had just suffered a misfortune, immediately took on a job that would earn them money, they would be criticized by the villagers.

"How can that be! A young lady like you shouldn't be running wild outside without learning some needlework. She'll be laughed at by her in-laws when she gets married." The village head hurriedly interrupted Lan Yamei, then explained, "It's not that I think you're giving too little; you're giving quite a lot. But it's dangerous, Manager Lan. I only have this one daughter; she can't get into trouble."

The village head insisted on blaming the danger, betting that Manager Lan would still let him earn the money. She had promised him a share of the profits after the deed was done.

The three blushed; they had indeed been careless! Until the murderer was caught, probably none of them would dare get too close to the barbecue restaurant!

Qiu Zeyu said, "Don't worry, village head. Give me another half month, and I will definitely catch the murderer!"

The village head shook his head, thinking to himself, "If even the government can't catch him, how could you?"

To put it more tactfully, "I've heard that the killer is Wu Tongling, the originator of the 'one-sword-to-the-throat' technique! Who can defeat him? Don't lose your life, young man."

Qiu Zeyu was momentarily speechless. In the world of Iron Head, the handsome scholar Qiu Zeyu was the most formidable, and he couldn't stand being looked down upon. So he stood up and said, "We can't diminish our own prestige while boosting the morale of others. The person standing before you now is no small fry; he is..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qiu Zeyu interrupted him, silencing him by pressing his pressure point and preventing him from revealing his identity.

Seeing that the negotiations were not going to work out, Lan Yamei could only get up, take out a hundred-tael silver note from her bosom, present it with both hands, and say, "Village head, please accept this. It is a small token of our gratitude. Thank you for your help during this time. Please do not refuse."

The village headman refused to accept it.

Lan Yamei then placed the silver notes on the low stool with a teacup and turned to leave.

Menglan chased after him and said, "Manager Lan, please wait. My father is getting old. I promise you, I will go out and spread the word tomorrow, and ask everyone to send the vegetables and meat they want to sell to me. I will still deliver them to your shop early every morning, just like before, so it won't delay your needs."

Lan Yamei was surprised by the girl's decisiveness. "Miss Menglan, it's a deal."

"I'll consider this banknote as payment for the goods, and I'll make sure you use it wisely," Menglan said, picking up the banknote.

Seeing this, Lan Ya Mei could only say, "I'll listen to you!"

After the three left.

The village headman's face darkened. "Your father's words have no effect? ​​You've really gone too far with your ideas?"

"Dad, listen to me, this is what I'm thinking." Menglan explained softly while massaging her father's back, "Our Luo Family Village is a poor village, and the people in the village are all honest and hardworking farmers. When Menglan gets married in the future, Dad, do you want me to find a young man from the village?"

“We know the young men in the village well, and your father and mother can see you often. Isn’t that great! After you get married, with my status, I’d like to see who dares to bully you!” the village head said, puffing on his pipe and blowing smoke rings.

"Father, didn't you see that young man in white who came in with a sword just now?" Menglan said, blushing slightly.

"Him?" The village head turned back to look at his daughter in disbelief and laughed, "Have you taken a liking to him?"

Menglan didn't answer, only saying, "He said he'd catch the murderer in half a month. Let's wait half a month for him. We'll know whether he's capable or not then."

"What's the point of fighting all over the place? Nothing beats a wife, kids, and a warm bed! Listen to your father, you absolutely mustn't fall for that boy, or I won't feel at ease."

"Father, didn't you notice? He was dressed elegantly, and the jade pendant on his fan looked very expensive! He's definitely not an ordinary young master." Thinking of the handsome young man in white just now, Menglan blushed with embarrassment.

How could a father not understand? He thought his daughter was beautiful, generous, and smart, a perfect match for that young master. So he tapped his pipe and said, "Alright, I'll do as you say."

The village head's daughter is 19 years old this year. Many matchmakers have come to him in the past two years, but none of them have particularly outstanding qualities. He hasn't found a suitable one yet, but unexpectedly, his daughter took a liking to someone today. A girl over twenty is considered an old maid, and it's not easy to find someone.

After finishing their business, the three arrived at Er Gou's house. Er Gou's mother was sitting on the ground at the door, holding a mud-covered little dog named Gou Dan'er in a daze.

The gate was wide open, and there were scattered pieces of paper money and ashes on the ground. An elderly woman with gray hair was cleaning them up.

Lan Yamei quickly helped the grandmother and grandson up and said, "Auntie, I'll take care of you and Gou Dan'er from now on. Would you be willing?"

The two didn't react; one stood there blankly, and the other burst into tears.

The cleaning lady straightened up and said, "Take them away. Staying here and looking at these things every day won't help. A change of environment might make them better."

Lan Yamei thought the same way. The reason she didn't immediately take the two away was twofold: firstly, the funeral arrangements weren't finished; and secondly, they needed time to process their emotions, otherwise they might lose the will to live.

Looking at the empty courtyard, Lan Yamei took out five taels of silver and gave it to the old woman who was cleaning, saying, "Auntie, thank you for helping to clean. I'll be taking them away in a little while. Please help look after the house from time to time."

The old woman was surprised to receive money and explained in a flustered manner, "She and I have been best friends since childhood, we grew up together and even married into the same village. Now that she has lost her son, how can I not care? I can't accept this money, I can't accept it."

Lan Yamei placed the money into her thin hand and said, "Auntie, don't be so polite. I'm asking you to look after the house. This is what you've earned through your labor, so you should accept it."

Unable to refuse, he had no choice but to accept it, saying, "Thank you, shopkeeper. I'll take it for now."

They left in a hurry and had no carriage, so they had to hire one from the village, pack some clothes, and take the two away from the village.

Wang Fengyang was already waiting at the door, having cleaned the first and second floors spotless. He rushed over as soon as the group returned.

After helping the elderly woman off the bus, she remained dazed, neither crying nor making a fuss, and she didn't recognize anyone.

Lan Yamei gave up her room, settled the grandmother and grandson in, and asked Wang Fengyang and the Li family father and son to take care of them first. She then asked Tietou to go out and buy a maid.

Since the incident, the accountant has not shown up again. Lan Yamei didn't look for him either; he was Hua Manlou's informant, and since the owner was gone, he naturally wouldn't come.

Since we plan to open the day after tomorrow, the most important thing right now is to hire people! Urgent and rapid training is needed!

Qiu Zeyu helped write a job posting and put it on the door, then said goodbye to Lan Yamei and went out.