Chapter 52 Entrapment
Another day passed, and Zhu Er indeed got up early and waited outside the Ji family's Linjiang Tower.
When Fan Xiaoxiao led Aunt Wang and Madam Fan into Linjiang Tower, they saw Zhu Er sitting at the tea stall, eating and drinking for free. Fan Xiaoxiao couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of him staring intently at the entrance of Linjiang Tower. She composed herself and walked over.
"Isn't this Master Zhu? Why haven't I seen you with Master Hou today?"
Zhu Er, who was intently keeping watch, shuddered when he was called out. When he realized that it was Fan Xiaoxiao, he immediately remembered the slap Hou San had given him that day, and his tone became somewhat unfriendly.
"None of your business! Get out!"
Fan Xiaoxiao, despite being given the cold shoulder by Zhu Er, wasn't angry. She simply shrugged and said to Zhu Er somewhat fearlessly, "Well, alright then, Second Master, please enjoy your meal first! We'll take our leave now!"
Having said that, Fan Xiaoxiao, along with Madam Fan and Granny Wang, were about to leave. Zhu Er seemed to realize what was happening and quickly called out to the three who were about to leave.
"Hey! Come back!"
Fan Xiaoxiao paused as she was about to leave, turned back and looked at Zhu Er with some confusion, asking, "What's wrong? Is there anything else, Second Master?"
Zhu Er clasped his hands to his lips and coughed, forcing himself to soften his tone and forcing a friendly expression at Fan Xiaoxiao.
What brings you to Linjiang Tower today?
"What else can we do? We'll work, of course!"
Zhu Er was taken aback by Fan Xiaoxiao's words and repeated them, somewhat confused.
"Work? What kind of work?"
"Second Master, don't you know?"
Fan Xiaoxiao looked at Zhu Er with surprise, seemingly astonished by his lack of information. Zhu Er, his forehead veins throbbing, gritted his teeth and asked Fan Xiaoxiao, "What do I know?"
Fan Xiaoxiao and the other two exchanged glances, seemingly trying to suppress their laughter. Zhu Er, increasingly annoyed by their antics, snapped, "What the hell are you laughing at! What's so funny?!"
At this moment, the owner of the tea stall came over and cleared up Zhu Er's doubts.
"Second Master, you may not know this, but yesterday the Li Ji family bought mung beans from our Guqu Town, and today they are recruiting workers to grind the beans."
Grinding soybeans?
"Yes, I heard that we're going to take advantage of the merchant ships that will stop here in a few days to do some business."
Upon hearing that the Ji family wanted to do business, Zhu Er reverted to his arrogant demeanor and scoffed.
"Pshaw, these worthless trinkets can't possibly cause any trouble. Get lost! Don't stand there like a block of wood in front of me! You're an eyesore!"
Fan Xiaoxiao wasn't annoyed by what she heard. She smiled and left the tea stall with the Fan family.
They re-entered the kitchen of Linjianglou, which had been transformed into a well-trained workshop. Fan Xiaoxiao and the other two found Steward Ji next to the vat of mung beans soaking in it. He was checking each bean in the vat to see if it was ready for processing.
"Manager Ji, are you the only one here today?"
Aunt Wang's voice interrupted Steward Ji's thoughts. He looked up and saw that it was Fan Xiaoxiao and the others. He quickly wiped his hands and stepped forward with a smile, "Yes, young master went to deliver some fans to his master today and hasn't returned yet."
Fan Xiaoxiao was slightly stunned—Master? This Jade-Faced Strategist has a master? How come she didn't know? Could it be that she missed something while reading? That shouldn't be the case. Fan Xiaoxiao carefully recalled the melodramatic novel she had read, so focused that she didn't even hear Steward Ji calling her several times. In the end, it was Fan Shi who gently nudged her.
"Hey girl! Hey girl! Manager Ji is calling for you!"
"Huh? Hmm? What's wrong?"
Manager Ji looked at Fan Xiaoxiao, who had just come to her senses, smiled helplessly, and repeated what he had just said: "It's like this, we're going to buy fish today, I wonder if you'd be interested in coming along, madam?"
"Oh! That's it! Let's go!"
Just as Fan Xiaoxiao was walking out, she suddenly remembered something, winked at Steward Ji, and asked with a smile like a kitten that had just stolen some cream.
"By the way, is everything arranged over there?"
Manager Ji naturally knew what Fan Xiaoxiao was referring to, and his smile was somewhat meaningful.
"Don't worry about me, my wife!"
(End of this chapter)
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