Chapter 162 The Struggle
Seeing that Song Wanjun was so straightforward, Sheng An didn't stand on ceremony with him either: "Let's not beat around the bush, I need a guarantee from Master Song."
Song Wanjun's expression turned serious, knowing that this guarantee was not simple, but he did not hesitate at all: "Please speak, Mr. Sheng."
Sheng An said, "If I encounter any difficulties in the future, the Song family of Jinling must do their utmost to help me."
She emphasized the words "Song family".
Song Wanjun's heart skipped a beat. After a moment's thought, he nodded: "Okay!"
Now that Sihan is safe and sound, her return to Beijing is inevitable.
As long as the Song family helps him secure his position as heir apparent, and with the support of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, Sihan will be the future Marquis of Annan, and the Song family of Jinling will advance even further.
Boss Sheng came from an ordinary background, and even if the person he married had a bright future, his achievements alone could not compare with those of the Song family.
Even if the couple encountered difficulties, they would be insignificant in the eyes of those in power, and the Song family of Jinling would have no problem protecting them.
Sheng An was unaware of Song Wanjun's thoughts, but was satisfied with his response: "Master Song is a man of his word, and I believe you keep your promise."
Upon hearing this, Song Wanjun felt a sudden unease, as if he had fallen into a deep pit.
Sheng An didn't give him a chance to back down, and said with a smile, "Now that Young Master Ning is out of danger, Master Song can rest assured."
These words struck a chord with Song Wanjun, and a smile appeared on his usually serious face.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Sheng An excused himself and left, saying he had business to attend to at Sheng Garden.
Watching her departing figure, Song Wanjun had a sudden thought and quickly left the study to find Ning Sihan.
Sheng An was unaware that her uncle and nephew had been having a private conversation about her. As soon as she stepped into the gate of Sheng Garden with the food box in her hand, she heard a commotion coming from inside.
Upon closer listening, it turned out that two young ladies who had come to dine were arguing over a bamboo woven piece depicting a hundred flowers and butterflies. Shuqi and the others were trying to mediate, but to no avail, and the two women argued even more fiercely.
Sheng An strode in and saw the two girls arguing. He thought to himself, "Oh dear."
When Li Xinhui saw Sheng An walk in, she immediately abandoned her argument and quickly walked over: "Sister Sheng, I really like this bamboo weaving with flowers and butterflies. I'm willing to pay an extra ten taels of silver to buy it. Can you sell it to me?"
No sooner had she finished speaking than the young lady who had been vying for the bamboo woven piece with her stepped forward and took Sheng An's arm, saying, "Sister Sheng, she doesn't know its value. She only offered ten taels of silver more. I'll offer eleven taels. Please sell it to me."
Li Xinhui was furious and shoved her, saying, "Liu Yilan, can't you have any shame? I saw it first, why are you trying to take it from me!"
Liu Yilan nudged Li Xinhui, saying, "We looked at it together. I was the one who asked to buy it first, and you came out and snatched it away halfway, okay?"
Seeing that the two of them were about to fight, Sheng An quickly separated them, grabbing one of them with each hand and trying to persuade them gently: "You two have been friends for many years, there's no need to quarrel over a bamboo weaving. Why don't you each take a step back, and I'll have Master Zhang weave another one exactly the same."
"no!"
Li Xinhui and Liu Yilan spoke at the same time, then glared at each other with disdain: "We don't want identical bamboo weaving!"
Sheng An: "..."
Our friendship, which had lasted for over a decade, capsized over a bamboo weaving project—faster than she ever turned on me.
After a moment of silence, Sheng An had no choice but to patiently continue the negotiation: "There's only one 'Hundred Flowers and Butterflies' set; it's impossible to split it in half and sell it to you. How about this, according to your requirements, I'll have Master Zhang commission a custom-made set?"
Li Xinhui and Liu Yilan exchanged a glance and reluctantly agreed to Sheng An's suggestion: "Okay."
During this period, Master Zhang's artistic bamboo weaving became a sensation in Qingzhou City, attracting even people who were not interested in bamboo weaving to follow the trend and be willing to spend a high price to buy a piece.
As a result, the price of bamboo weaving soared. Initially, it cost twenty taels of silver per pair, but in just one month, the price doubled to forty taels.
The bamboo weaving displayed at Shengyuan Garden is simply not enough to meet demand.
Liu Yilan really liked the "Hundred Flowers and Butterflies" design and had no interest in having it custom-made. After a friendly discussion with Li Xinhui, they successfully bought the bamboo weaving.
Li Xinhui was also very straightforward. After Shuqi brought her paper and pen, she stated her requirements for the custom bamboo weaving and paid half of the deposit on the spot.
Finally, the two best friends left hand in hand, satisfied, taking with them two roast chickens and two jars of glutinous rice wine.
Looking at the empty display shelves, Sheng An couldn't help but feel heartbroken: "It's not good if they sell too well; I don't know how long we'll have to wait for the next one."
Thinking of Zhang Daikui's bamboo weaving delivery yesterday, saying that Zhang Zhaodi had taken a liking to several good apprentices, she looked at the sky and realized that it was still early, so she decided to go and take a look, and also urge them on the progress.
Speaking of which, the bamboo weaving workshop opened last month, but I haven't been there to see it in person yet.
Sheng An was a man of action. He immediately went to the stable, fetched a horse, mounted it, and headed towards the Zhang family's house.
The horse stopped at the gate of the Zhang family's courtyard, and they could hear Xu Cuilian cursing Zhang Erkui coming from inside.
"You idle away your days like this. You won't go to help your sister-in-law when I ask you to, and you won't go to meet the matchmaker when I ask you to. What can you do?"
Zhang Erkui retorted, "I get up before dawn every day to slaughter pigs, go to the market to sell pork as soon as it gets light, and after selling the pork I still have to wash and clean. I don't even have time to take a nap. How can you lie and say that I'm idle?"
Xu Cuilian was furious and immediately took off her shoe and hit him: "You brat, how dare you talk back to your mother! Even your older brother, who is your age, wouldn't dare to talk to me like that!"
Zhang Xiaokui kept fanning the flames: "That's right, that's right, Second Brother, you're really going too far. Why did you have to make Mother angry? You know she always likes to lie through her teeth."
Well, one sentence offended two people. Xu Cuilian and Zhang Erkui turned their guns on Zhang Xiaokui and launched a tirade against him.
Upon hearing this, Sheng An was both amused and exasperated. He quickly dismounted and went into the courtyard to stop the chaotic fight between the mother and her two children.
Zhang Xiao Kui was attacked from both sides and ran wildly around the yard. When he saw Sheng An, he rushed up to her as if she were his savior and hid behind her, crying out, "Sister, help me!"
Sheng An stopped Xu Cuilian, who was rushing forward with a shoe sole in her hand: "Aunt, Xiao Kui is thick-skinned and doesn't feel pain when you hit him. Why don't you let him go hungry tonight so he'll learn his lesson?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Cuilian thought it was a brilliant idea and glared fiercely at Zhang Xiao Kui: "You're not eating tonight!"
Zhang Xiao Kui, who always has to use a basin to serve his meals: "..."
Sister, you really are my sister!
Meeting Zhang Xiao Kui's resentful look, Sheng An mouthed to him: Come to my house for dinner.
Zhang Xiao Kui's eyes lit up, and he immediately beamed with joy, looking at Sheng An with touching puppy eyes.
Once the mother-son argument subsided, Sheng An ignored the brothers' fight and pulled Xu Cuilian aside to chat, inquiring about her recent situation and focusing on her relationship with her mother-in-law, Zhang Zhaodi.
When asked about her daughter-in-law Zhang Zhaodi, Xu Cuilian said with a smile, "She's busy with her own things, and I'm busy with mine. We only see each other at mealtimes, and our relationship is great."
Sheng An: "..."
If anyone else had said those words, she would have thought it was sarcastic or sarcastic.
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