Chapter 97 Double Agent: The Bai Family Madam Chooses a Daughter-in-Law
"What is it that you seek, young lady?"
Shopkeeper Chen hadn't yet realized he'd been tricked into setting a trap, but he vaguely sensed that this young woman was not to be underestimated, so he became more cautious.
Li Yang tilted her head and said, "As you can see, Manager Chen, we are all women who have just arrived in the capital and have nowhere to stay. We would like to trouble you to help us find a courtyard that is clean, safe, and close to the restaurant."
Manager Chen looked troubled; if he took on this task, wouldn't he be doing free labor?
"I won't let you work for nothing." Li Yang handed over a purse. "This is a deposit. I'll reward you handsomely once I find a place to stay."
They couldn't possibly stay in the inn every day, but it wasn't a good idea for several women speaking with accents from other places to rent a courtyard in the capital.
Manager Chen accepted the purse, his expression no longer showing any reluctance. "Alright, I will find you a satisfactory place to stay within three days."
After leaving the inn, he went straight back to the restaurant.
Bai Liheng was looking through sheet music in the backyard when he asked someone to take him to the counter, saying that the shopkeeper had something important to discuss with him.
"Uncle Chen, what's the matter?"
"Quickly, pack your things and come with me."
"Uncle Chen, where are we going?" Bai Liheng asked, puzzled. He took off his shirt and had someone pull him out the door.
In the afternoon, the two first returned to the inn to sign the pledge, then went to the gambling den to pay off the debt, and with the IOU in hand, returned to the restaurant.
Manager Chen felt as if he were waking up from a nightmare.
Bai Liheng asked, "Uncle Chen, didn't you say you'd let it sit for a few days? Why are you in such a hurry to sign the contract and pay back the money today? Is this amount a lot or a little?"
Old Chen rolled his eyes at his young boss, saying, "He's really putting on a good show of conscience over there."
The amount Li Yang offered today was not only enough for the Bai family to pay off their debts, but also left them with a considerable surplus, far exceeding Manager Chen's estimate.
In the past, he wouldn't have even flinched at the thought of spending that much money.
Who told the Bai family to fall on hard times? Not many years after the old master Bai passed away, this young master's cronies started coming to the restaurant to run up debts every day. Now they've even been tricked into going to the gambling den, damaging the Bai family's foundation.
If this gambling debt is not repaid in time, it will either be used to mortgage the shop or the Bai family mansion.
Old Chen suddenly felt a lump in his throat. These damned days were finally over. "How have you been lately, Madam? Today I'll escort you back to your residence to pay your respects to Madam. Our Bai family is about to turn things around."
Bai Liheng, like a child, was carried home by Manager Chen.
The Bai couple had a son late in life, and they doted on him, raising him to be like a spoiled young lady.
She loves studying musical scores all day long, and is also soft-hearted, always ready to help anyone who comes to her.
Before his father passed away, he told him to listen to Manager Chen in everything, and he really did leave everything to Manager Chen, while he just stayed in the backyard looking at sheet music.
Within two days, news came from Bai Family Restaurant that Li Yang and his group hurriedly packed up and were taken to their lodgings by Manager Chen that afternoon.
Do not say that the snow is stingy; its pure fragrance has already filled the capital. The snow in the capital arrived quietly.
The group stood at the entrance of the house, dumbfounded.
The little deer looked delighted and stretched its neck to peer inside.
Youfeng couldn't hold back any longer, "Manager Chen, you're not just going to let me stay here, are you?"
Old Chen stroked his beard, nodded, and smiled without saying a word.
The house has a wide entrance, flanked by two round stone lions with piercing eyes.
There is a plaque above that reads "Bai Residence".
You Feng puffed out her cheeks and said, "Manager Chen, our boss gave you quite a lot of money that day. You didn't pocket it yourself, did you?"
"Ahem," Manager Chen said, regaining his composure. "Gentlemen, please follow me."
Ziyan gently tapped Liyang's arm with her elbow, "Really living here?"
The latter then came to his senses, "Let's leave it like this for now..."
With a creak, the gate opened, and a person ran out.
The young maid, dressed in a thick, light pink coat and skirt, curtsied upon seeing everyone and said, "Manager Chen, you've arrived."
Then, he led the group into the flower hall and served tea.
"Please wait a moment, everyone. Grandma is coming right away."
The courtyard has about four sections and occupies the most bustling area in the capital, so it is naturally very valuable.
The courtyard was not very lively, and the furnishings were simple. There was not even a gatekeeper when we entered.
A soft cough was heard, and the pink-faced maidservant helped a woman into the flower hall.
The woman wore an orange pomegranate-feathered vest with a pale white stand-up collar and diagonal front. A black bun hung obliquely behind her head. Her face was unhealthy and pale, and she seemed to have to exert all her strength to walk a few steps.
After everyone was seated, Madam Bai looked at all the women in the room and said calmly, "Gentlemen, Manager Chen has already told me that I thank you all for lending a helping hand to my Bai family when we were in trouble."
Li Yang said, "Madam Bai, you're too kind."
The old lady's tone didn't convey much gratitude, perhaps because the patient was overworked.
Then the voice said again, "Please feel free to stay in my residence. The restaurant is the foundation of my Bai family and the property that my late husband valued most. Thank you all for your help."
Li Yang frowned slightly.
It seems that Baijia Restaurant is not a long-term solution.
The lady listened as if they were Bai family servants, and that as time went on, it was inevitable that some discord would arise among them.
Then she smiled and said, "Madam Bai, you flatter us. Business is business. We paid for the restaurant to run our business and had no other intentions."
Upon hearing this, Madam Bai chuckled and nodded. She then summoned a servant to arrange accommodations for the group, only mentioning that they would have dinner together that night as a gesture of welcome, and said nothing more.
After the old woman left, Ziyan looked at Liyang and asked, "Zhaozhao, what are your plans?"
"Sister Ziyan, let's get through this first." She gently shook her head, not making any long-term plans.
Aside from the young master, the Bai family consists of a house full of women who huddle together, inevitably leading to constant chaos and conflict. They came here specifically for the Kui Long Pearl and simply didn't have the energy to get involved in the Bai family's private affairs.
At this moment, the mistress of the Bai family sat listlessly in the room, a glimmer of light suddenly appearing in her dull and lifeless eyes.
"Madam, what do you think of the young ladies who came today?"
The old woman gently twirled her prayer beads. “The girl in charge is quite opinionated. I noticed she combed her hair. That’s good. Heng’er is simple-minded, so a girl with such a strong opinion isn’t suitable for her.”
The pink-haired maidservant smiled and said, "Madam, could it be that you have taken a fancy to that fairy-like lady?"
The old woman chuckled, "The other two girls seem to lack discernment, but that woman is dignified and proper, and appears to be a gentle person."
They were referring to Ziyan.
To make things easier, Li Yang undressed and combed her hair after arriving in the capital. Also, because she was eager to distance herself during their conversation, she asked Madam Bai to exclude her. She disliked people who were too opinionated.
Ziyan is beautiful, and her son will definitely like her. In addition, the woman looks delicate and is obedient.
This time, when Manager Chen came to find her, he said that the young lady who had rented the shop had paid off Heng'er's gambling debts and was looking for a place to stay, so she immediately agreed.
Her son Heng'er had always been obedient and sensible since childhood, but this time, she didn't know who had tricked him into committing such a terrible disaster. However, after this incident, coupled with the Bai family's gradual decline after the master's death, Heng'er's marriage became increasingly difficult. In the past, when the master was alive, those merchants and officials would even send matchmakers to arrange marriages for their children, but now they all avoided him.
Now, Manager Chen has arranged four beautiful young women from out of town for her, showing that his family is quite well-off, so how could she not be happy?
After settling the man into the house, she wanted to carefully select a wife for her son.
“That young lady seems to be the oldest, but I don’t know how old she is. Chun Tao, find a chance to ask her later.” The woman frowned and said softly, then paused and added, “Don’t ask those clever ones, just look for the one whose eyes haven’t stopped moving since she came in. Go to my makeup box and find a hairpin.”
Upon hearing this, Chuntao smiled and picked up a silver hairpin, which she then showed to Madam Bai.
She also noticed that one of the women had been looking around constantly since she entered the room; she was a fool.
The people they were talking about were unaware that they had become someone else's prospective daughter-in-law, and were preoccupied with making a living.
As soon as Li Yang entered the room, he said, "Tomorrow, Sister Ziyan, come with me to the Bai Family Restaurant to see how to renovate the shop on the first floor. Youfeng, take our tea and go door to door to ask in the restaurants and eateries. If anyone likes it, consign it to their shop. Follow my example from last time and leave some poems on the tea bags."
Xiao Lu asked in confusion, "Young Madam, what's the purpose of writing these poems? With manpower so tight these days, writing poems on so many tea bags, won't it keep us up until the wee hours of the morning?"
Li Yang smiled and said, "There are many scholars in the capital who have passed the imperial examinations. These people are all like Mr. Zheng. If they leave behind some poems, they will definitely attract attention. It's better than nothing."
Little Deer pouted. Anyway, copying poems was none of her business; she couldn't even write all the characters.
Seeing everyone busy at work, she offered to do something: "Young Madam, I'll go get some hot water. Everyone's been busy all morning, so please wash up first."
-
Chen's Salt Shop.
Bi Fang handed the letter to Chen Junbai, "Young Master, Xiao Lu wrote that the young mistress and the others have found a place to stay and have moved into the Bai family's house."
"The Bai family?"
"The restaurant that the young mistress took over was originally owned by the Bai family. After the old master passed away, only the old mistress and the young master remained."
"Hehe, she always manages to find places like this."
Bi Fang: "...Now all four of them have moved into the Bai family's house."
Chen Junbo looked up from the case file and said, "What are you writing? Go and fetch Manager Zhong."
-
Miaoxiang Tea House was filled with joy at this moment.
"Our branch in Beijing is now open!" Fang Yuan received the letter and immediately shared the good news with everyone.
Aunt Zhong was the most excited. "I'll go to the banquet hall and buy some fermented rice chicken. We'll celebrate tonight. Oh, and I'll also throw in a jar of plum wine. Manager Fang, could you close up shop early tonight?"
"Okay, I'll do as Aunt Zhong says."
"I still need to buy some tripe to make a lung and tripe soup. I'm so hungry for it!" Aunt Zhong said happily, listing all her favorite winter dishes. "Old Zhong, Old Zhong..."
Where is Old Zhong?
Luo Yinhua said in a low voice, "It was here just now, but it seems like it went out."
Manager Zhong is very busy these days.
Upon hearing the news from the teahouse, he hurriedly went to the salt shop to report it, and then relayed the news from the salt shop to the teahouse. After a while, no one noticed anything amiss.
It's all thanks to his silver tongue.
These days, besides selling tea, I've been preoccupied with figuring out how to act as a 'messenger between the two countries'.
If I can help bring about a good thing, wouldn't I be a matchmaker myself?
He rubbed his hands excitedly, then looked up and saw Bi Fang approaching him from afar.
"Manager Zhong, it's just in time for you. I was just looking for you."
Bi Fang is very polite to Zhong Qian now, after all, the young master gets angry when he sees him, but is happy when he sees Zhong Qian, and there's nothing he can do about it.
"Pen Butler, what's wrong?"
"Manager Zhong, is there news about the young mistress at this hour? Please come with me quickly. The young master is furious to learn that the young mistress has moved into the Bai family's residence."
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