Chapter 145 Holding her waist
Yan Jue frowned. So that's how it is?
This distillery appears to be legitimate on the surface.
If it's a legitimate business, why aren't they paying wages and instead detaining the workers here?
Yan Jue looked at the dark-skinned man and asked, "Where is your boss now? I have something to discuss with him with my wife."
When Xiao Mang heard the title "Madam," his eyes dimmed. This girl looked quite young; it turned out she was already married.
He shook his head in thought. Shen Pingjin, however, had her cheeks flushed red and her face was burning hot from an angle he couldn't see.
Shen Pingjin bit her lip, her mind filled with countless thoughts.
Just now, Yan Jue said that she was his wife. His voice was already pleasant to hear, and when he said those two words, his voice had a long, drawn-out ending, carrying an ambiguity that was enough to make one blush and their heart race.
Xiao Mang didn't say anything, which Yan Jue found a bit strange.
He then asked, "My wife and I have come to the distillery to see your boss. Could you please tell us what's going on?"
Xiao Mang then came to his senses. He was an honest and upright man, and knew that such a beautiful woman could not possibly like him, so he gave up any fantasies and could only admire Shen Pingjin's appearance.
However, Yan Jue's words were difficult to answer, which put Xiao Mang in a difficult position, so he spoke even more hesitantly.
"We, our boss, he seems to have disappeared somewhere."
Yan Jue asked with some doubt, "Really?"
Xiao Mang was afraid that Yan Jue would not believe him, so he nodded vigorously, "This, this young master, our boss has indeed not been here for a long time. If you don't believe me, you can ask the young lady next to me."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on the woman who remained motionless beside him.
Yan Jue followed the gaze and looked on with a serious expression.
The woman, who had been starving for several days, was initially surprised that anyone would come at this time. She hid in a corner and observed for a long time. After realizing that the two people who came were there to buy salt and find the boss, her eyes dimmed.
She thought it was government officials coming to rescue them.
After all, there's been a lot of talk lately that the Emperor is going to the south to investigate places where illegal salt production and sales are taking place.
Noticing Yan Jue's gaze, Mianhua took a small step back, intending to say nothing.
Yan Jue would not let this girl off easily. Seeing her step back, he immediately stepped forward.
“Young lady, do you know where the owner of this salt distillery is? We have no ill intentions; we just want to buy salt.”
Cotton was still a little hesitant to speak, so she immediately took a step back, stuck to her choice, and didn't say anything.
Yan Jue was somewhat puzzled, but Chen Pingjin was no different.
Shen Pingjin immediately pushed Yan Jue away gently, stepped forward and asked in a soft voice, "Miss, we just wanted to buy salt from your boss. The shop assistant just said that you don't sell salt here anymore."
But we inquired on the black market and learned that this is a salt field, and we urgently need salt, so we must find your boss quickly.
When the thin girl in front of them still didn't speak, Shen Pingjin continued to coax her, "Look, we're here to buy salt. If your boss knew you'd taken on such a big order, he definitely wouldn't withhold your wages or food."
"Taking us to see your boss will only benefit you, not harm you."
Cotton lay on the ground, and to be honest, she was starting to waver a little.
She looked at Xiao Mang with some difficulty, and Xiao Mang, standing behind Yan Jue and Shen Pingjin, shook his head at her.
Cotton knew what Xiao Mang meant. She bit her lip slightly and sighed, "Fine, I'll take you there."
Shen Pingjin got the answer she wanted and smiled at Yan Jue.
She noticed the difference when she came in.
The ground was damp, moss grew on the bluestone slabs, and there was no salty smell in the air.
Furthermore, seeing only thin and weak servants and laborers, one could tell that the boss not only withheld their wages but also refused to feed them.
If they were there to buy salt, they certainly wouldn't let them go to the owner so easily. But if they were told all the pros and cons, what would these people on the verge of despair choose?
In addition, they look quite young, and there must be family members who need money. Instead of choosing to wait here to die for money, they might as well take a chance and run away with the money.
Xiao Mang clenched his fists. He bravely got up from the ground, walked to Yan Jue and Shen Pingjin, and grabbed Mianhua's sleeve.
He whispered, "Why did you take them to that beast?!"
"Don't you know that beast is challenging our bottom line!"
Cotton, who hadn't eaten for days, had tears in her eyes. She pushed Xiao Mang away and said heavily, "Don't you know that he doesn't care about our resistance at all? Only by bringing him more benefits can we get what we want?"
Like cotton, Xiao Mang hadn't eaten for several days.
The force applied by the cotton was neither too little nor too much, but just enough to knock Xiao Mang to the ground.
Yangzhou in the Jiangnan region is inherently humid. Although it is not yet the plum rain season, the bluestone slabs in this salt-making area already exude a musty smell.
The musty smell filled his nostrils, and Xiao Mang looked on in disbelief.
It was Shen Pingjin who played the good guy, helping Xiao Mang up from the ground and asking with concern, "Are you alright?"
The woman's voice was like a gentle spring stream, so soothing and refreshing.
Xiao Mang shook his head and took a step back after Shen Pingjin helped him up.
He shook his head and said, "I'm fine, I'm alright."
This girl is as beautiful as a fairy. It's best for a mere mortal like myself not to touch her. He's not worthy of her.
"It's good that you're alright." Shen Pingjin breathed a sigh of relief.
But after seeing the conflict between the two, he seemed to be deep in thought.
After pushing Xiao Mang, Mianhua felt no remorse whatsoever; on the contrary, she felt that he deserved it.
Seeing Shen Pingjin help him up, a look of disgust flashed in her eyes. "Madam, please come with me. He is just a waiter here, and I am a maidservant of the owner of this distillery. Please come with me."
Shen Pingjin glanced at Xiao Mang with some reluctance, and after confirming that he was not injured, she agreed, "Husband, let's go with this maid."
Yan Jue responded with a soft "Mmm," naturally put his arm around Chen Pingjin's waist, and followed behind Mianhua.
Xiao Mang, standing to the side, was completely stunned. The woman's concerned expression had just resonated in his mind, and he was momentarily captivated.
He had no idea that Yan Jue held a grudge against him.
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