Chapter 92 A Loud Drum and a Heavy Hammer: How could that bastard Chen Junbo be in her dream...?
The lights crackled.
Chen Junbo's eyes were like deep pools as he said coldly, "Manager Zhong, have you thought this through?"
Besides the maid surnamed Fang, the only other person in charge of the teahouse was Manager Zhong. He didn't remember ever offending the Fang maid, but every time that young lady saw him, she was like a hot pepper in a wok, and she would never tell him where Zhaozhao was.
Right now, he could only summon Manager Zhong and interrogate him. Manager Zhong was timid, and his family depended on his monthly allowance, so he figured he could get something out of him.
“Young Master Chen, I truly do not know.” Zhong Qian looked at the young master of the Chen family with innocent eyes.
Chen Junbo lowered his eyes. "It's alright. How is everything at Manager Zhong's home? I heard that your mother has been suffering from a chronic cough without any cure. Fortunately, I recently met a traveling doctor who specializes in coughs. He can take your father's pulse."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Qian was overjoyed.
My mother has been suffering from a persistent cough and asthma for years, and is bedridden. My wife has to stay home to care for her, and the entire family's income depends on her alone. If this itinerant doctor could cure my mother's illness, the burden on the family would be much lighter.
"However, Manager Zhong, you'd better help me recall carefully whether your master left any message or letter?" Chen Junbai smiled. He knew that with a scoundrel like Zhong Qian, he would readily comply if he was offered something in return.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Qian's joy was halved, and after hesitating for a while, he said, "Thank you, Young Master Chen. Please allow me to go home and recall it carefully."
How could he not know where his master had gone? He had eagerly offered to escort him, but his master had entrusted him with an important task. Now, Young Master Chen's move was clearly an attempt to entice him, but the temptation was too great, making his heart waver.
He rushed home, and before he could even close the door, he whispered the story in his wife's ear.
A curse suddenly erupted from inside the small house: "Zhong Qian, how dare you! What has Madam Chen ever done to you that you dare to betray her? Are you even human?!"
As soon as the door opened, Zhong Qian scurried out, covering his head. "Madam, Madam, didn't Young Master Chen say he could cure Mother?" As he spoke, a broom came flying at him, but he jumped over it with one foot. "Hey, hey, hey, I was just thinking of easing your burden. I haven't even said anything yet."
Since Li Yang personally visited the Zhong family to offer his condolences, Zhong's sister-in-law's attitude towards Li Yang has changed dramatically. Every day at home, she repeatedly reminds her husband to obey the master's orders and not to be distracted.
Zhong Qian was not one to be easily swayed, but this time Chen Junbo used his mother as bait, and as a filial son, he found it hard to refuse.
Aunt Zhong couldn't outrun her husband, so she threw down the broom, put her hands on her hips, and angrily scolded, "How many doctors have we seen for this illness? Is Dr. Chen, the general manager, the only one who works? I don't know where he found this quack. At most, he'll give you a couple of cough medicines, and you actually believe him. Let me tell you, if you dare utter a single word about this, I'll never forgive you!"
Seeing his wife drop her weapon, Zhong Qian jumped to his sister-in-law's side, wrapped his arms around her to prevent her from throwing a punch, and said with a smile, "I know, I know, that's why I came back to discuss it with you. Mr. Chen has a wide network of business connections. If that itinerant doctor can really cure Mother's illness, our children can be brought to town to study and take exams. Isn't that what you've been hoping for every day?"
Aunt Zhong's anger subsided halfway after he hugged her, but she glared at him and said, "Don't think I don't know. You've already decided to tell that young master Chen."
“Hehe,” Zhong Qian’s face flushed, “Nothing can be hidden from the lady.”
“Starting tomorrow, you’ll go out and run your own business. Don’t go to that teahouse anymore. I’ll go there and run errands for you.” Aunt Zhong’s eyes lit up as she came up with an idea.
No matter how powerful Mr. Chen is, and how difficult it is for his husband to refuse, she, a village woman, has no face to say anything.
Besides, she also realized that the Chen family was still ruled by that young mistress of the Chen family.
The next day, Chen Junbo witnessed firsthand what it meant to be a difficult shrew.
“Mr. Chen, my husband, Mr. Zhong, has been running around tirelessly these past few days trying to sell tea. That’s why I came to the teahouse to lend him a hand. I heard that Mr. Chen found a traveling doctor for my mother-in-law, and I’m truly grateful.” As she spoke, she turned and stopped the person who was trying to leave. “Mr. Chen, don’t go! Why don’t you write down the address of this traveling doctor for me, and we can go and invite him ourselves? That way, it will save you the trouble of worrying about these small matters.”
Blocked from leaving and unable to escape, with Zhong Qian hiding behind his wife, Chen Junbai, despite his anger, couldn't bring himself to lash out at Zhong's wife.
Now, in this teahouse, he is completely impervious to the presence of the Fang family's maid and the Zhong family's sister-in-law.
"Sister-in-law Zhong, to be honest, I only asked Manager Zhong for help in finding my wife. Please make an exception."
They've already been thoroughly humiliated; if they can't find out where Zhaozhao is, then it'll be a losing proposition.
Aunt Zhong was very polite. She turned around and took a teacup from her younger sister. "Mr. Chen, have a cup of tea first. This young mistress is young and has a strong temper. If she can't be found right away, then search for her for a few more days. You are still young and have a long life ahead of you."
After hearing this nonsense, Chen Junbo pursed his lips tightly. "In that case, thank you, Aunt Zhong."
Bi Fang followed behind him and asked in a low voice, "Young Master, Sister-in-law Zhong must know where the Young Madam is, given what she said."
"nonsense."
"Young Master, should we send someone to look for Manager Zhong again?"
What do you think?
Bi Fang pouted. "Young Master only takes his anger out on me. Why wasn't he so fierce towards that woman from the Zhong family just now?"
Where could the young mistress have gone? So many branches have sent people out, yet not a single trace has been seen.
-
The young mistress, whom the writer was thinking about, was currently sniffing the pills in one hand and writing a 'family letter' in the other.
"Yuanyuan, it's like seeing you in person. The ship was rocking and I was seasick for several days, but I'm doing well, don't worry." Then, she happily drew a turtle with its neck tilted and vomiting at the end of the letter.
She grabbed the letter, let it air dry, blew on it for a while, folded it up, stuffed it into a thin bamboo tube, and ran out.
"Lu Jie, Lu Jie, quick! I've written a letter. Try to see if you can deliver this pigeon to the teahouse."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jie reluctantly picked up a carrier pigeon, tied the bamboo tube to its leg, and with a flick of his wrists, the experienced bird knew the way and asked, "The pigeon has flown away, but Zhao Zhao is on the ship now. Even if the other party wanted to reply, it couldn't be delivered. How can you know if the other party received the letter?"
"Ha." Li Yang choked, "You're right. Haha. Hahaha." He turned away awkwardly, forcing a laugh.
Back in his room, he tapped the back of his head a few times. A bizarre attempt had wasted a precious carrier pigeon. Li Yang, Li Yang, you really are crazy.
She suddenly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, she was smiling as she wrote down the things she needed to do after arriving in the capital.
Two more days later the ship will dock at Tongzhou, and as Lu Jie said, we can hire carriages and horses and soon arrive in the capital.
She listed all the jumbled thoughts in her mind, threw down her pen, and lay back on the bed.
I wonder if everything is alright in Songshan Town. She took half of the tea with her this time. If Manager Zhong is diligent, even if the tea company comes knocking, the amount of tea in the shop won't be subject to any punishment.
With Yuanyuan in charge, everything in the shop should be fine. And with Zhongqian running around outside, he must have earned quite a bit of money these days.
With eyes closed, sweet dreams began.
Night fell in a desolate place, shrouded in smoke. She had no idea where she was, only that she felt a chilling atmosphere all around her.
"Is anyone there?" she called out, looking around, but only the cawing of crows could be heard.
"Okay, nobody's here." She grabbed a number and swatted at the weeds, afraid there might be a snake lurking in the grass.
“Waaah…” Suddenly, a sobbing sound came from ahead. She quickly ran forward and saw a man in white squatting on the ground, his back to her, sobbing softly.
"Little brother," Li Yang poked the other's back with a twig, "why are you crying here all by yourself?"
The other person remained silent, only sobbing gradually began, "Waaah, sob sob."
"Say something," she said, annoyed that the other person was still sobbing. "What are you crying about?"
The man's crying stopped abruptly. "Have you seen my wife?"
"Your wife?"
"Yes, my wife doesn't want me anymore, and I can't find her."
"Who is your wife?"
The other person slowly turned around, his eyes fixed on her. "My wife, don't you remember me?"
"Wow!"
Li Yang woke up with a start, covered in cold sweat. How could that bastard Chen Junbo be in her dream? Ugh, that's so unlucky.
She quickly got off her bunk, wrapped a cloak around herself, went to the deck, and asked the boatman for a pot of hot wine, intending to ward off evil spirits tonight.
A cold wind was blowing.
Chen Junbo couldn't help but shiver. Bi Fang walked up to him and handed him a pot of warm wine. "Young Master, it's getting cold. Drink some warm wine and get some rest."
Chen Junbo raised his hand to the glass of wine and emptied it.
Another glass emptied.
Another glass, all gone.
Bi Fang couldn't help but say, "Young Master, excessive drinking is bad for your health."
"Bifang, do you think I treated her badly?"
Bi Fang prioritized self-preservation: "The young master treats the young mistress like a pearl in his palm, which is naturally excellent."
"Is there something wrong with me?"
Bi Fang was filled with melancholy, every question seemed to be asking him a question. "Young Master is as bright as the moon, there is nothing wrong with him."
"Or is there something wrong with the Chen family?"
“The Chen family, what could be wrong with the Chen family…” Bi Fang was annoyed. He had a lot of things to do tomorrow, and he really didn’t have time to sit here with his young master indulging in his love. “The Chen family is now fully managed by the young master and young mistress, and everything is done according to the young mistress’s wishes.”
"Then why did she leave?"
The butler glanced at his young master, pondering the meaning behind his words. Wasn't it obvious why the young mistress wanted to leave? Had his young master lost his mind? Did he really not understand?
After a moment, hoping to get some sleep early that night, Bi Fang couldn't help but speak the truth, "Young Master, you treat the Young Madam very well, but this kindness may not be what the Young Madam wants."
Chen Junbo was taken aback, and looked up to meet the butler's gaze. "Not what she wanted? What exactly does she want?"
"Before the young mistress entered the manor, she was just an orphan. Yet she dared to venture into Songshan Town alone and even set up a wonton shop to make a living... She did quite well. The wontons in that shop were exceptionally delicious, bursting with broth with every bite... Hehe," seeing Chen Junbai's eyes grow colder inch by inch, Bi Fang changed the subject, "After entering the Chen manor, she was initially unfamiliar with the place and people, yet she still dared to challenge the madam to prove her innocence. Later, she devoted herself entirely to the affairs of the flower bureau."
"yes."
Seeing this, Bi Fang continued, "I had the pleasure of reviewing the account books with the young mistress. Her understanding of accounting matters is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Later, she even turned the beggar's brothel from loss to profit, all the way to the birth of the Dragon Pearl. Young master, the young mistress was not joking about any of these things."
"..."
A loud drum doesn't need a heavy hammer; she wasn't joking. She handled every matter of the teahouse with even greater care than he handled the salt administration.
If someone were to ask him to give up the salt administration in Lianghuai, he wouldn't know what else he could do; it would be like taking half his life.
And what did he do?
Chen Junbo suddenly recalled that day when he smiled and said to Zhao Zhao, "Let's close the teahouse."
Zhao Zhao said, "I understand."
I understand, but that doesn't mean I agree; I just know.
Therefore, he no longer needed to know her subsequent decisions...
A wave of bitterness washed over Chen Junbo; what had he done?
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