Moreover, women here don't have anyone to look after each other, and they might get taken advantage of.

Su Jiaoniang was unaware that someone was concerned for her safety.

Zhu Shi, who was following closely behind and refusing to leave, was so angry that her chest heaved and she was about to faint. Su Jiaoniang finally released the depression that the original owner of the body had suffered in her chest.

He looked at Fang and asked, "Are there many people from other places passing through every year?"

"Not much, not closed off, just enough to keep the inn business afloat." Fang felt a little tired thinking about her business.

The inn caters to travelers from all over the country, and only a handful of people pass through Lucheng each year.

Most important people would choose Yunlai Inn, while those who travel by escort agency or do small business would stay at Fulai Inn for a day to rest and save money on travel expenses.

She was hesitant about whether to turn the inn into a restaurant, because the basics of life are food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.

Food is the most important thing for people to eat. As long as there are people, there will be a market for food. However, Lucheng is only so big, and there are already three large restaurants. If the restaurant is changed, it will have to compete for customers from other places.

This is a difficult situation, especially with the Yunlai Restaurant under the Cai family, the Cuiwei Restaurant under the Fu family, and the Tianranju Restaurant created by the county magistrate's wife, which have already surrounded the upper echelons of the county.

Even if she runs a restaurant, she may not have a stable customer base. Even if she does have customers, she may not have an outstanding chef. And even if she does have a chef, she may not be able to make the business last.

The risks were too great, and she hesitated, not daring to make any changes. Compared to fish and shrimp, continuing the inn business was still more comfortable.

He casually mentioned his inner struggle.

Su Jiaoniang had a better understanding of the situation. Lucheng was not a poor county, but it was not wealthy either.

“The inn is quite nice too,” Su Jiaoniang said.

Fang nodded. It was indeed a good thing. Every time she returned to the village, she felt how lucky she was to have gone home to inherit the inn and give up the farmland that belonged to her second son.

As Su Jiaoniang was talking to Fang Shi, Lu Congrong suddenly came over.

She first offered a few words of flattery to Madam Fang, then reached out to grab Su Jiaoniang's hand.

Su Jiaoniang moved slightly, avoiding Lu Congrong.

She had so many disagreements with the Lu family that she originally didn't want to get involved anymore.

Unexpectedly, the original owner's father-in-law personally delivered the invitation... If she didn't come, she would be ungrateful.

Filial piety in this era is so messed up. Elders can humiliate children at will, but children cannot disobey their elders.

Even if the father and mother-in-law beat their daughter-in-law to death, outsiders will only criticize the younger generation for not doing a good enough job.

Lu Congrong forced an unpleasant smile, withdrew her hand, and asked Su Jiaoniang, "Third Aunt, do you know who this Young Master Gu is, where he lives, or what his home is?"

Lu Congrong was very flustered and confused. Her grandfather had drunk the tea laced with medicine. Even though he had seen a doctor and there was nothing wrong with his health, there was no guarantee that he would punish her after the banquet.

She has no choice but to take a desperate gamble and win over Gu Xizhou.

Even if I can't win over Gu Xizhou, I still have to...

Lu Congrong's gaze fell on her brother's classmates. Some came from better families, while others were also scholars, but much older than her brother. She had to choose a husband for herself today.

She learned whether Xiao Gu Xizhou had deliberately sent the tea away, or...

Does he know there's something wrong with the tea?

"He must be an official," Su Jiaoniang thought for a moment, referring to the regent of Qi.

Such a person must have an entire family of government officials.

"I see!" He's an official, not a doctor.

Lu Congrong calmed down. Perhaps the tea earlier was just a misunderstanding, and Young Master Gu didn't know there was anything in it.

She left, opened the best wine in her house, added some medicine, and brought it to Gu Xizhou. She imitated Lu Daishu's pedantic manner: "Why is Young Master Gu here alone? Here are some side dishes. If you are tired, you can have some."

Gu Xizhou shifted his gaze from the drinks to Lu Congrong.

"..." So you really enjoy drugging people? The medicine in the wine is too strong.

Was it Lu Daishu who made her do it, or was it her own idea? How could she repeatedly resort to such dirty tricks? Does the Lu family know about it?

Lu Congrong sat down next to Gu Xizhou.

Gu Xizhou suddenly noticed the gazes fixed on him.

Then, Futu led Xiaoya and two other children he didn't recognize to this side.

"What are you doing hiding here, sir?" Fu Tu glanced at him, his gaze falling on the wine.

He picked up his wine glass, took a light sniff, and his gaze lingered between Gu Xizhou and Lu Congrong.

Thinking of Gu Xizhou's concern for his mother, Fu Tu had a wicked thought: "Sir, are you tired? Come and have some wine and some food!"

Fu Tu handed the wine in his hand to Gu Xizhou.

Gu Xizhou looked at Futu with great interest. The child was learning medicine from Doctor Liu and even prepared his own medicine to sell in brothels. How could he not smell that the wine was unclean? Was he planning to swindle him?

He looked at Lu Futu: "Are you sure?"

"Come on!" Futu's fair and tender face was filled with anticipation.

Standing next to Lu Futu, Lu Daiyan looked at Lu Futu with a puzzled expression. He knew that Futu had gone to study in the next village. He was two years older than Futu and also studied at a private school in the county town, but he knew less than Futu.

He greatly admired Buddhism.

So I followed the Buddha along this path.

But who is this person in front of me?

Lu Daiyan nudged Lu Futu's arm: "What is this?"

“My husband isn’t the one from the private school; he’s the one who supervises and tutors us at home,” Lu Futu explained.

Lu Daiyan nodded in sudden realization. No wonder he was so learned. He had a tutor in the private school and another in his family. He worked so hard.

Gu Xizhou brought the wine glass to his lips.

Lu Congrong's eyes lit up, and her expectant look disgusted Gu Xizhou.

The Lu family...

He had always known that the Lu family was rotten, but what he was seeing now told him that it was far worse than he had imagined.

Lu Futu stared longingly at Gu Xizhou, but to his surprise, Gu Xizhou suddenly put down his wine cup: "The wine is too bad to drink."

He put down his wine glass, turned around, and left.

Lu Futu wasn't too disappointed. In his opinion, how could a dignified regent be so easily outmaneuvered? If a country girl could be knocked out with just a cup of wine, then he might as well just go home and farm.

Lu Futu looked up at Lu Congrong.

Lu Congrong almost cried at that moment.

The drinks were terrible!

Terrible!

This is the best drink she's ever made.

"Why are you crying? Have some wine." Fu Tu handed the wine to Lu Congrong.

Lu Congrong turned and left.

The small wine and snacks were left in the courtyard.

Lu Futu stared at the wine and dishes for a few moments, his eyes filled with calculation. Good wine and good food shouldn't be wasted.

He looked at Lu Dashan, the uncle who had almost sold him.

She picked up the tray of food and wine and walked towards Lu Dashan. After thinking for a moment, she handed the plate to Lu Daiyan and said, "Don't waste it. Give these to your uncle. Look at his red eyes. He must be starving."