Meng Zhao took a half step back, creating some distance between them: "If you want to buy it, you can go to a brokerage to inquire about the price. My shop is for the highest bidder." With that, she turned to leave again.
"Don't rush off," Xiao Hengyu said, blocking her way again. "We've been friends for a while now, why be so heartless? Do you still have your eye on my older brother? You already know, don't you? My older brother is born with a hard life and is destined to bring misfortune to his wives. He's already killed two of them. A smart person like you wouldn't want to be the third, would you?"
Having said that, he puffed out his chest and said, "It's better to come with me than to lose your life, isn't it?"
Xiao Hengyu felt that he was a genius. His mother had scolded him for being stupid and losing a lot of valuable shops. But if he took Meng Zhao into his household, wouldn't those shops naturally return to his hands? He could also annoy that damned Xiao Youzhi. It was a win-win situation!
Upon hearing this, Meng Zhao was so angry he laughed. "Young Master Xiao, have you never heard of this saying?"
"What did you say?" Xiao Hengyu raised an eyebrow and leaned closer with interest.
"It's called..." Meng Zhao's smile vanished, her eyes turning cold. "A good dog doesn't block the way."
"You, you, you!!!" Xiao Hengyu's expression changed drastically, and he pointed at Meng Zhao, unable to speak.
"What do you mean, 'you'? I gave you a little respect, and you've got the nerve to act like you own the place? You might not have a mirror at home, but you must have some urine, right? Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror before you dare to spout such nonsense here!"
Xiao Hengyu trembled with anger at these words, her face turning from red to green. "Meng Zhao! Don't push your luck!"
"Shameless?" Meng Zhao sneered. "Xiao Hengyu, you come from a merchant family, but have you ever earned a single penny through your own abilities? You opened a pawnshop and collected a bunch of counterfeit goods, you opened a restaurant and lost thousands of taels of silver, and you tried to open a gambling den, but you're so stupid you're practically a ghost. You can't even cheat properly, and your place gets smashed up every day. And you still have the nerve to mess with me? You're like a toad trying to eat swan meat. Keep dreaming."
"Fine...fine! Looks like you really want to die." Xiao Hengyu gritted his teeth, a sinister glint in his eyes.
Meng Zhao scoffed, "Tch, why would I want to die? It's you who loses money in every job you do. If I were you, I would have hanged myself at home in shame. How dare you come out to a wedding? If the host sees someone as unlucky as you at their door, they'll probably hang mugwort on your head for three days to ward off bad luck."
Meng Zhao rattled off a long string of words, and then, taking advantage of the moment when Xiao Hengyu was trembling with anger, she lifted the hem of her skirt, turned around, and ran away. She could feel someone chasing after her, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She didn't want to cause any trouble at someone else's wedding banquet, but Xiao Hengyu was just too shameless. If she didn't give him a good scolding, she was afraid she would be too angry to sleep tonight.
Just as Meng Zhao was thinking about how to explain to everyone, she bumped into someone. When she looked up, she met Gu Lanying's concerned gaze.
"Godmother?" she exclaimed softly in surprise.
"Zhaozhao, are you alright?" Gu Lanying asked anxiously.
Just as Meng Zhao was about to shake his head in response, he caught a glimpse of another tall figure emerging from behind Gu Lanying. It was Xiao Youzhi, dressed in a dark brocade robe, with a calm expression and a chilling aura. He strode past Meng Zhao, and the moment Xiao Hengyu caught up, he kicked him.
With a muffled thud, Xiao Hengyu staggered back several steps, his back slamming heavily against the artificial hill. He winced in pain, his face contorted with disbelief: "Xiao Youzhi! You..."
Xiao Youzhi glanced at him coldly, then turned to Meng Zhao and said gently, "You should leave with Madam Gu first. I'll handle things here."
Meng Zhao was worried about being seen, so she quickly pulled Gu Lanying away. When they stopped, she realized that there was someone else with them. When she saw the person's face, she remembered, "Qingzhi? What are you doing here?"
As soon as she spoke, she suddenly remembered that before Qingzhi left before the New Year, she had told her that she planned to sell herself into the Cui family as a maid in order to get her brother a place in Mingde Academy. At that time, Meng Zhao thought that if her brother was really a promising talent, it would be good to help him. However, after listening to Xiao Chuan's inquiries, she learned that her brother was not very talented and not diligent enough, so she did not get involved. She never expected to meet her in the Cui family today.
Qingzhi said awkwardly, "Manager, I saw you as soon as you entered the manor today. I wanted to talk to you, but I didn't have a chance. Later, I saw you arguing with that young master, and I was afraid something might happen, so I quickly went to find Madam Gu."
Gu Lanying chimed in, "Yes, I was enjoying the scenery in the garden when she rushed over to find me, saying you were in trouble. We happened to run into Young Master Xiao on the way to the banquet, and seeing my flustered expression, he came with me."
Although Xiao Hengyu wouldn't dare to do anything outrageous on Cui's territory, if a public argument were to break out, the rumors that would spread would not only damage her reputation but also make the host family feel that they had lost face at the wedding banquet. Qingzhi's actions were indeed a great help to her.
"Thank you, Qingzhi. I really owe you a lot today," Meng Zhao said sincerely.
Qingzhi shook her head, her eyes slightly red. "Shopkeeper, you don't need to thank me. You've already been very kind to me."
Qingzhi was already young and not very tall, and after not seeing her for a while, she looked even thinner and weaker. Seeing this, Meng Zhao handed her a handkerchief and asked in a low voice, "Why are you crying? Did something happen?"
Clutching her handkerchief, she choked back tears and said, "Manager, everything you told me before was right. When I first arrived at the Cui residence, it was during the New Year holidays. Because I served well, the madam gave me many rewards. But lately, the madam rarely summons me. Gradually, I went from being a personal maid to a servant. I was sold into the residence, and without the rewards, my wages are hardly anything."
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