At first, Jiang Sheng just stared wide-eyed in shock.
After the thin, dark-skinned woman finished speaking, the little girl also seemed to understand what she meant. She tugged at Zhang Qiquan's sleeve and asked softly, "Uncle Zhang, is this what my brother meant by bullying the strong while being weak?"
Taking advantage of her vulnerable status, the woman forced the workshop to take her in under the watchful eyes of everyone. If they refused, they would be seen as intolerant, excessive, and bullying the weak.
Looking at the sympathy in the eyes of the surrounding people, it was clear that the dark-skinned, thin woman had successfully incited them.
Zhang Qiquan rolled up his sleeves, originally intending to punish the troublemakers, but he stopped after hearing this and looked at the young girl, "What do you think is the best course of action, sir?"
Jiang Sheng pouted, "I definitely can't have her."
Once someone betrays another, they'll do it again. The sausage recipe is the result of her and Aunt Zhang's hard work, and it must not be revealed.
“But we can’t just refuse her outright.” Jiang Sheng frowned again. “We need to find a way that satisfies both parties, so that we don’t have to get rid of her, but also don’t tarnish the workshop’s reputation.”
But where can we find such a good solution, and where can we find one quickly?
Just as Jiang Sheng was deep in thought with her head tilted back, two people suddenly walked over, grabbed the thin, dark-skinned woman, and dragged her away.
Everyone around was startled.
The dark-skinned, thin woman was so terrified that she screamed at the top of her lungs, "Who are you? What are you doing? Let me go! You're trying to abduct a woman!"
One of the two men looked vaguely familiar. He frowned and shouted, "Don't talk nonsense. Our patriarch said that last time you helped the Wang family steal the recipe for cured meat, ten taels of silver was too little. This time, we're taking you to pay him."
After saying that, he dragged the person onto the carriage.
The thin, dark-skinned woman seemed to believe it too, and stopped howling. She happily cooperated and left, leaving only silence around her.
The people frowned and lost all sympathy for the family.
Zhang Qiquan also spurred his horse and led Jiang Sheng toward the workshop.
Halfway there, Jiang Sheng couldn't help but mutter, "Uncle Zhang, have you seen that person? I feel like I've seen him at Brother Fufeng's place before."
Zhang Qiquan remained silent, the calm gaze of Young Master Changyan flashing through his mind, as if he understood something.
Back to the courtyard with flowers in the hair.
Aunt Zhang and Aunt Cui'er were already making sausages, and Wang Xiaosong and his sister were helping out. However, being a boy, he was clumsy at delicate tasks like cutting meat and stuffing sausages, and was not as good as his thirteen-year-old sister, Wang Xiaozhu.
After he cut nine out of ten fingers, leaving only one finger for wiping excrement, Zheng Ruqian couldn't help but say, "Brother, you're not cut out to make sausages. Come with me to transport vegetables."
Wang Xiaosong looked up in astonishment, his thick eyebrows and big eyes revealing a look of surprise: Really? Really? Really?
"Of course it's true." Zheng Ruqian loaded the dozen or so kilograms of sausages he brought from Xieyang County onto the donkey cart, intending to send a few kilograms to Manager Hao of Youranju to try, and then send some to Anyang County. "I just finished selling the dried green beans I stocked up before the New Year, so I have to go and transport some back."
Wang Xiaosong put down the knife he was using to cut meat and nodded repeatedly, "Good, good, good."
As they walked, the two of them muttered about the precautions for transporting vegetables and the route they would take.
They happened to run into Jiang Sheng and Zhang Qiquan returning at the door.
"Uncle Zhang, Little Jiang Sheng, the workshop should be up and running by tomorrow, right?" Zheng Ruqian stepped forward with a grin, and casually pinched his younger sister's soft little face. "I'll go and invite Manager Hao to taste the sausages right away. You must be able to supply the goods in time."
"Of course," Jiang Sheng assured, patting his chest. "Second Brother, don't worry, we'll have as much as you need."
Zheng Ruqian then led Wang Xiaosong onto the donkey cart.
As he whipped his horse and drove away, Wang Xiaosong felt that something was not right. He remembered that his mother always made cured meat in the spring and winter, and he had never seen it made in the autumn and summer.
But his mother hadn't given him any instructions, and he didn't really understand the difference between seasons, so he could only follow Zheng Ruqian in a daze as they turned into Youranju and headed towards Anyang County.
This trip lasted for more than half a month.
Anshui County is still cool in May, but it gets a little hot in June.
After a series of uproars, the Wang family finally quieted down.
Wang Fufeng's ruthless methods surprised everyone. He not only disowned his father but also his mother, only adhering to reason.
He controlled all of the Wang family's business and their very life and death.
With nothing better to do, he even considered marrying Sun to the man he had caught cheating on that day.
Upon hearing the news, Master Wang was furious and rushed to Wang Fufeng's courtyard, where he saw two teenagers, one big and one small, discussing something.
"You unfilial son!" he shouted angrily, pointing at his nose. "That's your aunt! How dare you marry her off like that? You're just a junior; do you even have any shame?"
Wang Fufeng raised his head, a half-smile on his face, "How deep is her affection for that failed scholar that she's willing to have an affair? Wouldn't it be better for me to allow her to be open and aboveboard?"
Old Master Wang was choked half to death, and after a long while he stamped his foot and said, "No, we can't be so shameful. How can a woman of the Wang family remarry?"
Although Sun was having an affair, it was a secret as long as no one told anyone.
To remarry so openly and ostentatiously is to slap the Wang family in the face.
Chang Yan nodded, having gained some understanding of how much these powerful families cared about their reputation; his suggestion had not been in vain.
"Father, whether this matter will succeed or not depends on Auntie." Wang Fufeng raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a strange smile.
Sun and the failed scholar were childhood sweethearts who were in love. However, because the scholar came from a low-status family and he himself failed to achieve academic success, Sun was arranged by her family to marry into the Wang family.
Although the marriage was over, the bond of affection was not so easily broken. Over the years, Sun had always been concerned about the failed scholar. She had contacted him as early as the second year after her husband's death, but they never had an intimate relationship.
It was Wang Fufeng who gave it a push, which led to the wonderful drama that unfolded in the courtyard that day.
Now that Sun has given up all hope and is constantly flirting with the failed scholar, once Wang Fufeng's suggestion is relayed, she'll probably be the first to agree.
As expected.
In the main courtyard, when Madam Sun heard Wang Fufeng's plan, she was first taken aback, then her eyes darted around and glanced at Wang Yuyao, the only daughter of the main wife.
"Mother," Wang Yuyao said, pressing her lips tightly together, "you must not have any other improper thoughts. Your daughter is already engaged to the Fang family."
Having no father of her own, her marriage to the Fang family was already considered a step up for her.
If the widowed mother were to remarry now, she would truly be despised by the Fang family.
“Don’t forget why we arranged the marriage with the Fang family in the first place,” Wang Yuyao said sadly. “And don’t forget how your uncle died.”
Sun was startled, the tremor in her eyes gradually faded, and only sorrow remained.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
