“We can’t just let them bully us. I have a plan. Your suffering won’t be in vain. Everyone needs to be on guard these next few days.”
Xiao Lin, Shao Wen, Chang Yong, Lai Xing, and Lai Wang, the five of you will be staying at the shop tonight. Be sure to pay attention and don't sleep too soundly.
Cheng Yue's expression was inscrutable. If Chen Ping and Chen Xianghua dared to do anything, she wouldn't hesitate to settle all her old and new scores with them!
Knowing the matter was of great importance, everyone nodded solemnly, "We will guard the shop well!"
Cheng Yue continued, "The shop is important, but you people are even more important. But don't worry too much. Lai Xing has asked the little beggar to keep an eye on things. He'll remind you if anything happens."
A shop can be reopened if it's gone, but if something happens to a person, that's a real problem.
Fortunately, we found a few more beggars. Besides the ones who followed Chen Ping and Chen Xianghua, there were two others circling around the shop. If anything happened, we could immediately knock on the door to alert them.
After explaining the matter, everyone was mentally prepared. Although they didn't know what would happen next, at least they weren't completely in the dark.
Chen An thought for a moment and said, "A-Yue, why don't Xiao Tong stop coming recently? She and Xiao Ning can stay at home with you, and I can stay at the shop with Lai Xing and Lai Wang."
During the day, nothing much is likely to happen in the village, so it's safer to leave the child at home. It's more unsafe to travel back and forth with him on the road.
Cheng Yue thought there was no need to be so cautious, but as a father, it was only right that Chen An considered things thoroughly, so she nodded and replied, "Okay!"
While the group discussed their options, Chen Xianghua was thinking about getting home quickly so she could persuade Zeng Youcai to cooperate.
With such a large piece of fatty meat hanging in front of you, how could you not immediately put it in your mouth?
They dare to sell such a small pastry for such a high price; I wonder how much they make in a day? Probably more than their two shops combined!
She also inquired about braised food; although the price wasn't high, the main thing was that many people bought it!
Chen Xianghua's eyes grew brighter as she calculated, and she quickened her pace.
Zeng Youcai had just returned from the shop when he bumped into Chen Xianghua at the door. Seeing her carrying several bags of pastries and grinning from ear to ear, he immediately frowned.
"Where have you been again? What are you carrying?"
He was sighing and lamenting in the shop, wondering how this spendthrift woman dared to go out shopping.
If the shop had been doing well in the past, it would have been fine. Chen Xianghua was much younger than him, and he was willing to spoil her. After all, she had given him two precious sons.
But now that the shop is doing poorly, he's so worried, yet Chen Xianghua is still laughing so happily and doesn't know how to restrain herself. The more he sees her, the angrier he gets.
Zeng Youcai was never a good-tempered person, and now with a gloomy face, even if Chen Xianghua was happy, she had to suppress her expression.
But men are easy to coax, and Chen Xianghua knew this well. She immediately took Zeng Youcai's arm and led him into the house, whispering as they went:
"Don't be angry, my husband. I know you've been worried about money lately, and it really pains me. That's why I went out today and came up with a solution for you. Let's go back inside and talk about it slowly."
Zeng Youcai's expression softened slightly, but he still frowned and asked, "What can you do?"
If it weren't for Chen Xianghua's good looks, her younger age, and her outgoing and fun-loving nature, he would never have married a village girl. What could a village girl know, and what help could she be to him?
But now that she says she has a solution, we might as well listen to it.
After the two entered the room, Chen Xianghua opened the pastries and eagerly handed them to Zeng Youcai, saying, "Husband, why don't you try them first and see how they taste?"
Zeng Youcai didn't know what Chen Xianghua was up to, but seeing that the pastry was small and exquisite with a glossy crust, he still reluctantly took a bite.
After taking a bite, her eyes lit up. "This is mung bean cake? I can't believe it tastes like this! Where did you buy it?"
Zeng Youcai has always loved sweets, otherwise he wouldn't be so round. But he's never tasted this before. Could it be a new product from some shop?
Chen Xianghua also ate one, marveling at how delicious it was while secretly feeling envious. How could Cheng Yue have such skill? It's truly a miracle that she could make something so good!
If I had this skill, would I still worry about not making money?
Just as she was getting angry, she saw Zeng Youcai looking at her expectantly, so she had no choice but to force a smile and say, "Husband, you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but these pastries were bought from my second brother and sister-in-law's shop. They own the shop!"
Moreover, this is the cheapest pastry; the expensive kind can sell for 300 coins per pound! How do you think they have this skill?
They don't just sell pastries, they also sell braised food! The queues stretch for two whole blocks! I can't even imagine how much money they make in a day!
Chen Xianghua's expression was exaggerated, clicking her tongue and shaking her head at times, while Zeng Youcai asked suspiciously, "The two of them? Are you sure?"
He hadn't even given those two poor bastards a second glance; he only remembered one as timid and the other as honest and unassuming. How could those two possibly have such abilities? He just couldn't believe it!
Knowing that Zeng Youcai didn't believe it, Chen Xianghua continued, "It's true. My older brother told me about it a few days ago. I didn't believe it at first either, but I went today to verify it with my own eyes!"
"My lord, you have no idea, that shop is located on the main street of the county town, in the best location. I went inside and saw it; the decor is incredibly upscale. The lobby alone is equivalent to two of our shops!"
She knew Zeng Youcai well; he liked to compare himself to others, pretend to be rich, and couldn't stand being outdone by others, especially those who were inferior to him. That was absolutely unacceptable!
However, Zeng Youcai was not a brainless person. If she had directly told him about her and Chen Ping's plan, he would definitely not have taken the risk of doing such a thing.
The only way is to stir up his jealousy first. That way, she won't have to say much; Zeng Youcai will find it hard to accept on his own.
Zeng Youcai looked at Chen Xianghua intently for a moment, and seeing that her tone didn't seem like she was lying, he began to believe her a little.
However, even the smallest shop on the main street without a courtyard costs six or seven hundred taels. Could those two poor scoundrels really afford such a nice shop?
But if it were true, where would he put his face? His shop, which he had worked so hard to build, was getting worse day by day, while his brother-in-law, whom he looked down on the most, was more capable than him?
Zeng Youcai glanced at the table with his fingers, and after a while, he finally spoke: "They definitely can't afford that shop. It's hard to say if they have someone backing them. Have you inquired about it?"
Upon calm reflection, he felt something was off about the matter; even if someone was capable, it was impossible for them to have such abilities in such a short time.
Zeng Youcai looked at the mung bean cakes on the table and thought that the couple might have met by some kind of coincidence.
Chen Xianghua had already heard from Chen Ping who was behind Cheng Yue, and she didn't intend to hide it from him. "My elder brother said it was someone called Third Master Chen."
Oh, by the way, my second sister-in-law also said today that all the prominent figures in the county have placed orders for these pastries.
But that's what she said, who knows if it's true or not! She might just be trying to fool me!
Bah! They don't deserve such good luck. They're just trying to shut her up because they want to have a good tongue!
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