“Little sister, you’ve misunderstood Father. He just doesn’t want you to encounter any danger when you go out. Even if you do nothing, we can ensure you’ll have enough to eat and wear for the rest of your life,” Wang Liancheng reassured her.
President Wang knew this wasn't the life she wanted. "Brother, you know this isn't the life I want."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, and they simply ate their tea and snacks in silence.
"Little sister, the snacks at your little market are so delicious." Wang Liancheng devoured all the pastries, dumplings, and ribs on the table.
Chairman Wang was just about to try a piece of golden cake when he realized they were all gone. "Brother, how long has it been since you've eaten anything?"
"I've been too busy today and haven't had lunch yet. I came here to inspect the tax collection situation and saw that your notices are posted everywhere." Wang Liancheng had some tea and snacks served.
Under Li Xi's calls, the small market was packed with people, bustling with noise. The cries of vendors filled the air, and the atmosphere was lively and vibrant.
"Ling'er, quickly bring me a pot of tea." Li Xi found an empty seat and sat down.
Ling'er was almost overwhelmed, but fortunately Li Xi called Xiao Ge and Tian Tian in time. With the help of Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen, they were able to catch their breath. Hearing Xi'er's call, she hurriedly brought over tea and snacks.
"Xiaoxi, you must be so busy! It's really lively today. The other vendors were worried that no one would come, but now they're all too busy to keep up."
"What am I busy with? Just running around and dealing with some emergencies." Li Xi poured himself a pot of tea, which finally relieved his parched throat.
“Those people must have had a death wish, daring to show up in front of the president.” Ling’er also sat down.
"Of course, they're just a few clowns." Li Xi looked at Chairman Wang's table, hesitating whether to go over and say hello.
President Wang beckoned to her, "Xiao Xi, come here." He then asked Li Xi to sit on his left.
"This is Wang Liancheng, a senior official in the Ministry of Revenue, and also my elder brother. You can call him Brother Wang."
"Lord Wang, hello. I am Li Xi, and I am a partner of the chairman." Li Xi was embarrassed to call someone with an official position "elder brother."
"So you are Young Master Li. I've heard so much about you. My younger sister has mentioned you before. You truly are a man of both talent and good looks, a man of exceptional appearance." Wang Liancheng looked at the two of them with a meaningful gaze.
When Chairman Wang saw her brother's expression, he knew he had misunderstood, but he was too lazy to explain.
"I've heard the president say that her brother is exceptionally talented, outstanding, and very handsome. Now that I see him, it's true." Li Xi was also good at flattery, and Wang Liancheng was indeed like that.
Lord Wang burst into laughter upon hearing such straightforward praise.
"My little sister is really something, always making fun of her older brother."
Just then, Ling'er brought over about ten kinds of tea and snacks, and the three of them enjoyed the meal immensely.
Meanwhile, Meng Zhelan's "Meng Lao Ji" herbal tea shop is also quite popular, and many people have heard of its name.
"Dr. Meng, your herbal tea is different from others. It's especially sweet and doesn't have the bitterness of herbs." A middle-aged woman came out with her two children to see what was going on.
"This is a special blend we made, with some sugar added. On such a hot day, a pot of herbal tea is especially refreshing." Meng Zhelan had set up a table nearby to offer free medical consultations. Hearing that it was free, a long line formed in front of the table.
"Dr. Meng, my heart has been aching a lot lately." The old woman was hunched over, her face pale.
Meng Zhelan took the old woman's pulse, frowned slightly, and then wrote down several medicinal herbs on a piece of paper.
"Your heart meridian is weak and needs treatment."
"What kind of medicine should I get? How much will it cost?" the old woman asked nervously.
"Don't worry, old man. The medicines I prescribed for you are all cheap and effective. Go back and boil these herbs in water and drink the decoction every day. You'll see results after a month."
Meng Zhelan handed the prescription to the old woman, then looked up at the people in line and said, "If anyone is feeling unwell, please tell me, and I will prescribe a medicine for you."
"Dr. Meng, I've been suffering from severe insomnia lately, and I can't sleep at all, night after night." A young man looked haggard.
“This is caused by stress. I’ll prescribe a calming medicine for you.” Meng Zhelan picked up her pen and wrote, then instructed, “Take your medicine on time when you get back, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
"Thank you, Dr. Meng." The young man took the prescription and breathed a sigh of relief.
The queue grew longer and longer, and Meng Zhelan was busy until dusk. She stood up and felt a slight ache in her back.
Seeing that she looked tired, Tian Tian stepped forward and said, "Miss Lan, I learned a few massage techniques from my martial arts master. Let me massage your shoulders."
Meng Zhelan smiled and nodded, gently closing her eyes as she felt the sweet, soft fingers slowly kneading her shoulders and neck.
The official in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, Lord Wang, had already left, and as dusk fell, the dock gradually quieted down.
The boats that were busy during the day have long since moored, leaving only the gentle lapping of the river surface, like an ancient rhythm telling the story of the day.
The vendors at the small market had already packed up and gone home.
Tian Tian and Xiao Ge each drove a carriage, one in front of the other, slowly moving forward in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Li Xi, Meng Zhelan, Chairman Wang, and Ling'er rode together in a carriage, and they were all a little tired.
“Xiao Xi, tell me honestly, this little market isn’t just about making a little profit, is it?” Chairman Wang knew that Li Xi was a shrewd person.
"The president is indeed wise. It's not just about these small benefits; there are significant implications involved. Listen to me carefully..." Li Xi patiently explained to them, breaking it down from beginning to end.
The journey from the dock back to Tingfeng Courtyard wasn't far, and the four of them ate and talked in the dining hall.
Since they moved to Tingfeng Courtyard, President Wang has come here almost every day, and sometimes even stays overnight. Her father and two brothers all serve as officials in the imperial court, so she has learned a lot about court affairs from her travels over the years.
As merchants and traders in Jingyuan, they were closely involved in both the affairs of the imperial court and the martial arts world.
By the time Li Xi explained these pros and cons to them, it was already late at night.
“Xi’er, according to you, there is still a lot we need to do,” Meng Zhelan said with emotion.
"Indeed, your Hidden Sect has control over Jingyuan's intelligence network, and as ordinary citizens of Jingyuan, we are often powerless to change many things," Chairman Wang remarked.
"This matter is mainly related to me. I bear a deep-seated blood feud, and everything can only be dealt with gradually." Li Xi no longer hid her secrets. Since they had become close friends, it was better for everyone to lay some things out in the open.
"Xi'er, I never imagined your life story was so difficult. You've suffered so much all these years." Ling'er couldn't help but shed tears. Compared to her, Xi'er's life story was truly heartbreaking to hear.
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