Song Xizhi did not answer immediately, but instead kept everyone in suspense.
She turned to look at Granny Wu, a hint of something in her eyes: "Guess why the restaurant manager invited me to the second floor?"
Granny Wu was taken aback, recalling what the servant had said in the restaurant: "Didn't you pay the restaurant manager a little extra money?"
Upon hearing this, Song Xizhi couldn't help but laugh again: "It is true that someone overpaid, but the person who overpaid was not me, but He Yunce."
Granny Wu's eyes widened in confusion: "Did you overpay He Yunce?"
Song Xizhi raised an eyebrow slightly: "Yes, I have made a deal with the restaurant owner. I can help him raise the price of the auctioned item. If the final selling price of this item is far higher than the original selling price because of me, then I will get half of the final profit."
"The shopkeeper agreed to the deal and then led me up to the second floor. So the fact that the large lacquer mother-of-pearl inlaid piece sold for more than three thousand taels of silver can be considered as He Yunce using silver to give me a VIP seat in the restaurant."
Granny Wu understood the key point and her eyes widened in surprise: "Not only that, you'll also get 1,500 taels of silver?"
Song Xizhi pursed his lips and nodded: "That's right."
Originally, this large lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay could only fetch seven hundred taels at auction, but now that she's stirred things up, even if she and the shopkeeper split the silver equally, they can each get one thousand five hundred taels.
No wonder the shopkeeper was grinning from ear to ear.
Granny Wu had previously thought that Song Xizhi was trying his best to win the large lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay, but in the end He Yunze interfered and he had no choice but to give up. She was still indignant about it.
Looking at Song Xizhi's appearance, it seemed that she had never intended to get the large lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay. Granny Wu was a little confused about her true intentions.
"Miss, we didn't manage to get the item. It will end up in He Yunze's hands. Even though he paid more money, he'll still be the one who benefits. What should we do?"
Song Xizhi simply gave her a reassuring look: "You'll know in a while."
As the two were talking, the carriage beneath them slowly came to a stop.
Song Xizhi and Granny Wu exchanged a glance, then quickly shut their mouths and slowly lifted the carriage curtain.
What comes into view is the Song family's old house.
The Song family mansion stood quietly in the deep night, with candles lit everywhere. The brightly lit mansion was silent, and the servants looked extremely solemn.
When Song Juncai was young, he separated from the family and moved out of the Song family's old house. As a result, Song Xizhi was not close to his grandmother and did not have a deep impression of the old lady Song.
All I knew was that she was a difficult old lady who always uttered foul language and had a sharp and mean attitude towards everyone.
He also cursed her every day, calling her a jinx, Song Ruoan a money-loser, and Zhao Qianlan a vixen.
Madam Song was born into a humble family. In her youth, she married Mr. Song by chance. As Mr. Song's official position changed, the two settled down in the capital.
The couple had two sons together, the eldest named Song Junliang and the second named Song Juncai. In addition, they had some sons born out of wedlock and daughters who married out of the family.
However, Madam Song was coarse and vulgar, and extremely mean-spirited. No noblewoman in the capital wanted to associate with her.
As a result, her personality became increasingly difficult to please.
When Su Mingyue married into the Song family, Old Master Song was still alive. Because Su Mingyue's maternal family were officials in the capital, Old Madam Song was somewhat restrained in her words and actions.
But after Old Master Song died, Old Madam Song was ostracized by the wives of officials in the capital. Song Juncai married Zhao Qianlan, and Old Madam Song couldn't stand her new daughter-in-law.
After Zhao Qianlan gave birth to a daughter, she deliberately tormented Zhao Qianlan, hurling all sorts of foul language at her, and even repeatedly forced people into Song Juncai's courtyard.
They used every petty and underhanded tactic imaginable.
Zhao Qianlan had lived in the old house for several years, but she couldn't stand it anymore. She didn't know how she persuaded Song Juncai.
Song Juncai then decided to separate the family and resolutely moved out with Zhao Qianlan.
At first, Madam Song would order Zhao Qianlan back to the old house to serve her in various ways, as filial piety was of paramount importance. Those days were also unbearable for Zhao Qianlan.
It's unclear when exactly, but Old Madam Song's health gradually deteriorated, leaving her paralyzed in bed and unable to speak properly. It was then that Zhao Qianlan began to disobey her mother-in-law's orders and gradually stopped returning to the old house.
With her eldest daughter-in-law serving her, Madam Song was finally able to live a peaceful life.
As Song Xizhi recalled everything in his mind, he couldn't help but sigh, "Evil people always have their own evil people to deal with them."
Old Madam Song deliberately tormented Zhao Qianlan, making her suffer for over a decade. Now, He Yunze has set his sights on Old Madam Song over the matter of the lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay. Zhao Qianlan, harboring resentment over the past, naturally wants to add fuel to the fire.
As Song Xizhi was thinking, he squinted his eyes and saw Zhao Qianlan slowly get off the carriage and walk up to him.
She had a smile on her face, as if she had won a battle, and looked extremely relaxed.
"It's not that I, as your mother, deliberately delayed your affairs by calling you out of the restaurant. It's just that Grandmother is seriously ill. Although she wasn't very kind to us before, we still have to see her one last time."
This victory was not only for Song Xizhi, but also for Madam Song. Zhao Qianlan's actions today were a double win, which naturally made her extremely happy.
As Zhao Qianlan spoke, a smug smile graced her face. She then tried to tug at Song Xizhi's sleeve and pull her forward, saying, "I've delayed your affairs. You won't hold a grudge against me for this, will you?"
Song Xizhi raised an eyebrow slightly, and walked forward with Zhao Qianlan, stepping into the old residence of the Song family:
"What are you saying? Madam Song has come all this way to invite me to see her, so naturally I cannot let tonight be the last time I see her. I will do everything in my power to cure my grandmother, not only to pull her back from the brink of death, but also to restore her to her former health, so that our family can live happily ever after."
"...just like it was more than ten years ago."
As Song Xizhi spoke, he glanced at Zhao Qianlan, then quickened his pace and strode forward.
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