Chapter 7 Stealing Business
The two remained silent the whole way, and she thought he would say something.
Soon they arrived at the entrance of Xiaonan Alley where Tao Tao lived. She looked up and thanked him, and without waiting for his response, she rushed into the rain.
Duan Gan watched her departing figure, and thinking of those assassins from earlier, a soft sneer escaped his lips.
Fortunately, the rain was light, and it was only a short walk. I didn't get too wet when I got home.
But I need to boil water for a bath again, otherwise I'll catch a cold.
The surroundings were quiet, but even Tao Tao's softest voice was still somewhat noticeable. Sure enough, Tao's mother woke up and asked in a groggy voice.
"It's alright, Mother. It's raining outside, I'll get a wooden bucket to fill with water."
After giving some instructions, Tao's mother calmed down and fell into a deep sleep.
She originally lived with Tao's mother, but considering that there might be a funeral procession in the middle of the night, she moved to the left wing room.
Feeling refreshed after her shower, she climbed into bed and quickly fell asleep.
The next morning, she went to the Qian family mansion again to wait outside, where she had observed that the lifespan value was only 10%.
I don't know who it was, but she squatted there for seven days straight, watching her lifespan value drop little by little. The drop was so slow, she must have been given some kind of tonic to keep her alive.
I went to check today, and sure enough, it was only 2%. This is the business I'm facing.
How could she possibly let it go?
But a few familiar faces appeared not far from the mansion gate. Tao Tao took a closer look and sneered repeatedly.
Three grown men, all of whom happened to be in the same industry.
I don't know where they got the news from. I hadn't seen them for the past few days, and then, just when they were about to die, they showed up.
Her shop is located on South Street and is called "Life's Big Events." It's the only one of its kind. She already knew that there were four funeral shops in the capital, including hers: one on East Street called "Guide to the Way," one on West Street called "Good Deeds, Good Endings," and one on North Street called "Eternal Auspicious Pavilion."
In previous years, many people died in the war, so cenotaphs were erected. There were also families where elderly members died of illness or accidental deaths, so coffins, paper offerings, and wreaths were ordered. Everyone's business prospered, and they lived in harmony.
But in recent years, fewer people have died, probably because most of them have died and the war has ended. In peacetime, there are far fewer people holding funerals, and life is getting harder and harder. They can't even pay the rent.
Some people thought it was bad luck and even ganged up on them. When they ran out of money, the four families started fighting amongst themselves and scrambling for business. You could see the scene where all four funeral parlors would swarm around a family that had a death.
It all comes down to who has the best persuasive skills; whoever convinces the host gets chosen.
This has led to everyone looking down on each other, and everyone being at loggerheads.
After all, everyone needs to make a living, and money is essential for survival.
Liang Yongsheng, the owner of the charitable business on Chengxi Street, glanced around and suddenly saw Tao Tao hiding behind the stone lion statue. He immediately showed a look of shock.
He naturally knew who she was and what she was there for—to compete with them for business.
However, he was not surprised to see the other two families, but he was very surprised to see the Tao family girl.
She is clearly a young woman, born into a family that makes a living by selling the dead. It is already difficult for her to find a husband, yet she dares to show her face in public and do this kind of funeral work.
Women are inherently associated with yin energy; isn't she afraid of attracting ghosts? Or being unable to get married?
Her father was a gambler who ran away to avoid his debts. Her mother had no choice but to run a funeral shop to make a living. In the future, the shop will be given to her younger brother. Shouldn't this young girl hurry up and find a good family to marry into?
There are only four families in the capital. Even if he doesn't know each family inside and out, he knows roughly about each one. That's how he found out that her father abandoned them.
Not only him, but also Wang Dazhong, the owner of the other two shops on Chengdong Street, and Zeng Rong, the owner of Yongxiangge on Chengbei Street.
They all stared at Tao Tao with strange expressions and unfriendly looks.
With just one glance, she knew she was being ostracized by these three people.
What else could it be? Because she's a woman.
But so what if she's a woman? Could they possibly land such a huge order as the Privy Council? Although she hadn't received the money yet, she knew it would be more than all of their combined income over the past few years.
The Privy Council... the deceased was the Grand Councilor, someone of such high status. Who invited her? It was the Vice Grand Councilor!
Surely they wouldn't be so stingy.
Suddenly, they all heard a deafening cry coming from inside.
Immediately afterwards, the vermilion gates on both sides opened from the inside, and a servant hurriedly came out, looking left and right as if searching for someone.
Liang Yongsheng immediately jumped out, overjoyed, and quickly stepped forward.
These were the connections he had cultivated in the Chen family; as soon as the patriarch of that household breathed his last, he would immediately rush out to inform him.
That's what it means to use your brain.
But if he knows how to use this trick, others certainly know how to use it too; people in this line of work are all a bit shrewd.
Then, two more servants came out of the door.
Wang Dazhong and Zeng Rong also greeted them with beaming smiles, but the result was that all six of them looked at each other, staring at each other in bewilderment.
Liang Yongsheng said irritably, "What are you doing here! I booked this place a long time ago, don't bother me!"
Zeng Rong immediately blushed and said, "You're talking nonsense!! I found this person first! This house is mine, and neither of you can take it from me!"
"Get out of my way!"
Wang Dazhong shoved the two of them aside and pointed at one of the servants, who was dressed in coarse linen clothes, saying, "He is my distant cousin! We are blood relatives."
"This business should be mine. If you know what's good for you, get out of here! Don't make things too ugly later."
Seeing this, Liang Yongsheng looked at him sarcastically, "Wang Dazhong, you're getting better and better at talking nonsense. With enough practice, you might be able to talk the dead back to life."
"You won't need to do this anymore then. You can open a clinic that brings the dead back to life. Wouldn't that be great? The prostitutes in brothels just spread their legs, and you just open your mouth and the money comes in!"
His words were so venomous that they enraged Wang Dazhong, who swung his fist and charged at him.
Liang Yongsheng wasn't afraid of him. He just wanted to make him angry and disgust the master, which would eliminate one competitor.
Tao Tao watched in stunned silence. People say that three women make a drama, but now three men make a drama too. It's going to be quite a chaotic scene.
The three servants couldn't just stand by and watch, so they quickly went up to break up the fight and tried to persuade the others with worried expressions.
The real fight was between Liang Yongsheng and Wang Dazhong, with Zeng Rong adding fuel to the fire by kicking them while they were out of position. The scene resembled a group of women tearing each other's hair and fighting.
Fortunately, she didn't get involved, otherwise her small frame wouldn't have been enough for them to tear her apart.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from inside the door.
"What are you doing! What are you doing?!"
A short, stout man angrily berated the men in front of him who were in complete disarray.
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