Chapter 376 He really did his best
After the hustle and bustle subsided, the Leng family home became quiet and deserted.
The Leng family looked dejected and lowered their heads as they saw the Prefect's wife and her entourage out.
Even with their heads down, the Leng family could still sense the whispers and pointing fingers of the people passing by their door.
After this incident, the reputation of the Leng family was completely ruined.
The ruin of his reputation was secondary; the most crucial thing was that he had offended Lady Sui… Master Leng wished he could slap himself twice. Why hadn’t he investigated Cheng Zhao’s identity before plotting against him? Why had he acted so rashly? Why… One wrong step led to eternal regret!
Cheng Wanwan ignored the regretful expressions on the faces of Master Leng and his wife. She turned to the Prefect's wife and said, "It's past noon, and the Prefect's wife probably hasn't had lunch yet. How about I treat you to a meal at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion over there..."
The prefect's wife waved her hand: "Thanks to Madam Sui, my husband has also received many rewards from the court. I was thinking of inviting Madam Sui to the prefectural office, but I think Madam Sui must have some official business to attend to. I can only invite Madam Sui for a small gathering another time."
Cheng Wanwan nodded and watched as the prefect's wife boarded the carriage and drove away slowly.
Afu also drove over in a carriage. She got in first, and Cheng Zhao and Shen Zheng followed her into the carriage.
"Second Aunt," Cheng Zhao said with a look of shame, "It's all my fault today..."
“The matter has been resolved today, so let’s not talk about it anymore, but—” Cheng Wanwan changed the subject, “You are only a Xiucai now, and many people are already scheming about your marriage. When you become a Juren and a Jinshi in the future, I’m afraid even more people will be eyeing your marriage. What are your thoughts on your own marriage?”
Shen Zheng stroked his chin: "I remember now, I seem to have a distant cousin who's reached marriageable age. Brother Cheng, if you don't mind..."
Cheng Zhao coughed and said, "Marriage should naturally be arranged by parents and matchmakers. After I go back this time, I will ask my parents to arrange my marriage."
Cheng Wanwan suddenly felt a headache coming on.
She knew Brother Cheng and Sister-in-law Cheng's personalities better than anyone else.
Grandma Cheng was slightly better, but she was still an old lady with little knowledge.
Instead of having the Cheng family arrange a marriage for Cheng Zhao, it would be better for him to marry the eldest daughter of the Leng family, at least the Leng family is rich...
“Zhao’er,” Cheng Wanwan said, “Do you have someone you love? Marrying someone you love and supporting each other for the rest of your life is the essence of marriage, not just marrying anyone and settling for a life together.”
"Brother Cheng, you can count the number of women you know on one hand, so how could you possibly have a sweetheart?" Shen Zheng shook his fan. "If you want a sweetheart, you have to know her first. If you don't know her, how can you fall in love with her? Hehe, Brother Cheng, your chance has come. Now that I've become a scholar, my father will definitely host a grand banquet. I'll have him invite all the ladies from the prominent families in the surrounding counties and towns, so that those young ladies waiting to be married can show their faces. Brother Cheng, you must seize this opportunity."
Cheng Zhao: "..."
Getting married is such a hassle. Can he really stay single forever?
Cheng Wanwan spoke softly, "Xiao Zheng, you're seventeen this year, it's time to start thinking about your marriage."
"Ah, this..." Shen Zheng scratched his head, "My dad is thirty-six, and he's in a real hurry to get married. Um, Auntie, is there really not even the slightest possibility between you and my dad?"
“Your grandmother and I have already agreed to hold the family reunion banquet as soon as possible,” Cheng Wanwan said with a smile. “I really hope to hear you call me godmother.”
Shen Zheng lowered his head.
His father truly had no hope left.
Although he got what he wanted, his father was left alone and miserable for the rest of his life, which was really tragic.
He really tried his best... Oh well, let it be.
The three of them chatted all the way back to the Yuelai Inn.
As soon as they got off the carriage, Qian Hui helped Old Master Qian to come forward.
Old Master Qian asked with concern, "Madam Sui, is everything going smoothly?"
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "The wedding has been cancelled. I wonder if Mr. Qian has had his meal yet?"
Old Master Qian shook his head. As soon as he heard about this, he rushed off to the inn and waited for news until now.
"Let's have a meal together then," Cheng Wanwan instructed. "Zhao'er, have the waiter bring the menu."
She led Mr. Qian to a private room on the second floor, where they ordered the finest local specialties, filling the entire table.
Cheng Zhao raised his glass: "Thank you, Elder Qian and Brother Qian, for your help this time. I'll drink this glass first as a sign of respect."
“Young Master Cheng is a scholar, so you should drink less.” Old Master Qian pressed his arm down. “We are practically from the same hometown, so helping each other out is nothing to worry about. Tea will do.”
Cheng Wanwan understood perfectly well that Old Master Qian hadn't done all this just to get a thank you from Cheng Zhao.
She got straight to the point, saying, "Mr. Qian has helped my nephew a lot this time. It's not enough to just treat him to a meal. If there's anything Mr. Qian needs my help with, he can just ask."
Going around in circles, being insincere, and constantly using veiled insults are not her style of dealing with people.
Old Master Qian laughed heartily: "Although Madam Sui is a woman, she has a boldness and magnanimity that no man can match. In that case, I will speak directly."
Before he could finish speaking, Qian Hui's eyes widened: "Grandfather, how could you be such a person? It's just a favor, how can you make demands?"
Grandpa Qian blushed, feeling inexplicably embarrassed. His grandson's words made him seem... as if he were too ambitious.
But that's just how businessmen are. From a young age, they've been taught to prioritize profit. They always calculate the gains and losses before doing anything. He's always done things this way throughout his life and never thought there was anything wrong with it. But now, he inexplicably wants to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
“It’s alright.” Cheng Wanwan didn’t care. “Mr. Qian, you don’t need to have any reservations. Just speak directly.”
Old Master Qian coughed, barely managing to suppress his embarrassment, and said, "Our Qian family has been in business for generations. What I really want to do is to do a business deal with Madam Sui."
Now that he had brought it up, Old Master Qian had no qualms about getting straight to the point, saying, "Soap has spread throughout the Great Yu Dynasty. In places closer to Ping'an County, it costs a little over one tael of silver a bar, but in the capital, it can sell for as much as five taels of silver. The profit margin is huge, so I'd like to shamelessly ask Madam Sui to do the Qian family a favor... Could the Qian family be allowed to take charge of the soap business in the entire Huzhou region...?"
Upon hearing this, Qian Hui's eyes widened in disbelief. His grandfather was truly cunning, daring to utter such shameless words.
Old Master Qian quickly added, "The price of each bar of soap can be increased by two hundred coins. If Madam Sui earns more, the Qian family can also get a share. What do you think?"
Cheng Wanwan didn't think that Grandpa Qian's behavior was unseemly; instead, she silently gave him a thumbs up in her heart.
This is a regional agency business model promoted by major brands a thousand years later. It has only matured after thousands of years of development and evolution. It is surprising that Mr. Qian figured it out. It seems that Mr. Qian has been thinking about this matter for a long time and pondered it every day. Sure enough, he came up with the best solution.
Cheng Wanwan shook her head: "The soap business has already formed a fixed model. Changing the business model at this time will bring some unnecessary trouble. However, I have another business that I would like to cooperate with the Qian family on. Why don't you listen to it, Mr. Qian?"
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