Chapter 88 The rumored sister, an invitation
Shen Qingtan looked at Gu Zongci through the gauze. He was tall and straight, with a pair of deep eyes under his broad eyebrows. The firm lines on his face made him look very stern.
She greeted him, "Boss Gu."
Boss Qin then introduced Shen Qingtan to Gu Zongci: "This is the eldest daughter of the Cheng'en Marquisate, now the second wife of the Zhaoguo Dukeate, and also the second owner of our Qin's Trading Company."
Gu Zongci nodded slightly: "Second Master, I have long heard of your great name."
When Shen Qingtan heard the words "I've long heard of your great name", she couldn't help but look at Boss Qin, suspecting that he was flattering her in front of Gu Zongci.
Sure enough, Boss Qin boasted to Gu Zongci, "Boss Gu, after meeting Miss Shen this time, isn't it true that seeing is believing? There is no other woman in the world as smart as her.
My granary is stockpiled with grain, and she's letting me trade it for salt permits instead of exchanging it for silver. This year's harvest is expected to be plentiful, and when grain prices drop, salt permits will become very valuable. "What I'm holding in my hand isn't a salt permit, but a pile of silver."
Gu Zongci had heard this so many times that his ears were almost covered with calluses. During the time he had been working with Boss Qin, he had been telling the story of Shen Qingtan over and over again, and he never got tired of it.
Gu Zongci deeply believed in his heart that this was karma.
Because more than 20 years ago, he had repeatedly boasted about his sister in front of Boss Qin, so he endured it silently this time.
After all, it is really pitiful for a middle-aged man who has no one in his family to show off to and can only show off to an outsider.
Adhering to the Gu family's fine tradition of being lenient to oneself and strict with others, he rarely showed a little tolerance for Boss Qin.
Gu Zongci looked at Shen Qingtan. He saw that she was wearing a veil and his face could not be seen clearly. She exuded a gentle temperament, which made him feel comfortable.
Even so, he still said seriously: "Although the Second Boss is talented and unconventional, she is the most intelligent woman I have ever seen in the world."
Boss Qin: “…” What a mistake.
He forgot that in Gu Zongci's eyes, his rumored sister was the best in the world.
Even if his words offend others, he will still protect his sister's status.
Gu Zongci bowed and said, "Second Boss, your position in Boss Qin's heart is irreplaceable, and the same is true for my sister in my heart."
Shen Qingtan didn't care, and said with a smile: "This is human nature, everyone has preferences in their hearts."
Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Gu Zongci's resolute and stern face.
Shen Qingtan felt that when he smiled, he gave people an inexplicable sense of closeness.
Gu Zongci said to Boss Qin, "I'll go wait for you in the shop first."
"Okay." Boss Qin lowered his voice as he saw Gu Zongci leave and said to Shen Qingtan, "Don't bother with Boss Gu. Back then, there was a strange phenomenon in Nanling Prefecture: everyone was learning to flatter. Why? Because those who knew how to flatter Boss Gu's sister all got rich by riding on the Gu family's big ship, so some people even hired people to teach them how to flatter."
Shen Qingtan was surprised and asked curiously, "What about you?"
Boss Qin rubbed his hands and laughed dryly, "I'm the one who makes the most money among the group of people who rely on the Gu family."
Shen Qingtan: “…” Just say that you are the best at flattering.
"No one has ever seen his sister. Whether she's truly inconceivable as he claims, we never know." Boss Qin's expression was somewhat mysterious. "Later, I heard his sister married into a wealthy family. As for who she married, only a very small number of people knew the details, and everyone kept it a secret."
Shen Qingtan laughed. She really couldn't imagine that a man who looked so serious and strict would actually dote on his younger sister so much.
In her mind, she imagined that as soon as Gu Zongci went out, he would be followed by a long line of flatterers. The scene made her feel a little funny, but she even thought that his personality was a little cute.
As for the person that Gu Zongci's sister married, there must be some other inside story or identity taboos that make people so secretive about it.
Shen Qingtan asked, "Uncle Qin, is there any news from Zhongyuan?"
"I've already sent a message to ask. It will probably take a few days for any news to arrive." Boss Qin said, "Don't worry. I'll go to the Duke's Mansion to find you as soon as I get the news."
"Okay." Shen Qingtan looked at the cloth shop next to Baibao Pavilion, where Gu Zongci was carefully inspecting it. "Uncle Qin, you can go and do your work first. Don't keep Boss Gu waiting for too long."
Boss Qin said goodbye to Shen Qingtan, and before leaving, he nodded to the eldest lady.
Shen Qingtan and the eldest lady entered the Treasure Pavilion together and were invited to the second floor by the shopkeeper.
The eldest lady ordered, "Bring up all the new goods that have arrived in the shop. It's best if they are unique in style."
The shopkeeper went downstairs and called three or four people to come upstairs with the jewelry and spread them all on the table.
He said respectfully, "My two nobles, these are new styles. There is no other like them in the whole capital."
The eldest lady glanced at the Eight Immortals Table, and was dazzled by the jade, pearls, and gold ornaments.
She picked up a pair of gold hairpins with butterflies and peonies inlaid with gems, nodded with satisfaction, and looked at the jade hairpin with mandarin ducks playing with lotus flowers on the side, which she also liked very much.
She asked, "Tan'er, do you like these headwear?"
Shen Qingtan smiled and said, "The styles are all very nice."
Seeing that Shen Qingtan liked it, the eldest lady waved her hand generously and said, "Boss, pack them all up and send them to the Duke's Mansion."
Shen Qingtan was shocked and quickly advised: "Mother, there are too many. I can't wear them all even if I change them every day. Besides, after a while, when new styles come out, these will look old-fashioned."
"Silly girl, you can save up for yourself. You don't have to wear them all out." The eldest lady gave the shopkeeper a look, signaling him to pack them up. Then she said to Shen Qingtan earnestly, "Next time a new style comes out, just buy new ones. Don't think it's too much. Just keep everything that people give you. Holding these things in your own hands will be the foundation of your life when you encounter difficulties. Isn't it more practical than those beautiful words?"
Shen Qingtan was stunned. She never expected the eldest lady to say such a thing.
"Besides, you are my only daughter-in-law, and everything in my hands will be yours in the future." The eldest lady said firmly, "I'm just giving you a little bit in advance, you can't refuse it anymore."
Shen Qingtan looked at the eldest lady's smiling face and reluctantly accepted her kindness.
Anyway, she would be a member of the Zhao family all her life. If she politely rejected the kindness of her elders, it would seem strange.
Besides, they are a family, so she can also show her filial piety in return.
The eldest lady was very happy to see that Shen Qingtan no longer refused, and she took her to another shop.
Before they knew it, an hour had passed and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law returned to the carriage. Their legs were sore from exhaustion that they leaned against the wall in relaxation.
The two of them glanced at each other inadvertently, and seeing each other's utterly awful appearance, they burst out laughing.
The eldest lady pounded her arm and said, "It was a pleasure today, but it was also very tiring. In the future, I'd like to ask the shopkeepers to send some to the mansion for us to choose from."
Shen Qingtan had never gone shopping with his elders before, whether in his previous life or in this life, this was the first time.
She said, "Mom, I have a great time today."
The eldest lady caught a glimpse of Shen Qingtan's gentle smile and said without hesitation, "Then come again next time."
The carriage stopped at the Duke of Zhao's mansion. Shen Qingtan first sent the eldest lady back to Jingde Hall, and then returned to Lanxue Garden.
Madam Liu was waiting in the main room. When she saw Shen Qingtan come back, she quickly said, "The Yongyi Marquis's Mansion has sent an invitation. It's the Yongyi Marquis's wife's fiftieth birthday in half a month. You're invited to the banquet."
Shen Qingtan saw the note that Liu's mother handed over and raised an eyebrow. "You sent one specially for me?"
"Yes." Madam Liu curled her lips. "The Bo's Mansion only needed to send a letter to Madam, but they specially sent one to you. I don't know what the Bo's Mansion is thinking."
Shen Qingtan glanced at the post with a red background sprinkled with gold powder, and a dark light flashed in his eyes.
What else could be the idea?
Of course it’s a crooked idea!
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