The two Zhaixinglou franchise stores in Sifangcheng and Wangjing have been finalized, and now we're just waiting for the restaurants there to start construction.
The menu is still being compiled, and the restaurant is not yet ready, so the menu has not been delivered yet. Tao Wanniang has agreed with both sides that the next thousand taels of silver will be given when the menu is handed over.
Before the franchise store's money arrived, Zhao Zhe came to Zhaixinglou, his low-key demeanor revealing his extraordinary nature, bringing two hundred taels of gold.
"Your Majesty, you're not suggesting I go to Youzhou right now, are you?" Tao Wanniang asked, looking at Jinzi. She had only been back in the capital for a short time!
"No, I just want to know if you usually correspond with them?" Zhao Zhe asked. "If not, would you like to write a letter?"
Tao Wanniang knew that this was not a request for advice, but a demand.
"Does His Majesty have some official business to attend to? Wouldn't it be faster to have the imperial edict delivered by the post station?" Tao Wanniang asked tentatively.
“I have already sent a secret letter regarding official business. My elder sister’s marriage will inevitably pass through Youzhou,” Zhao Zhe said. “Xiao Yi and I grew up together, and my aunt has never suffered any hardship. They will not tell me how she is doing there.”
"Sister Tao, I would like you to inquire about their current situation in the context of the Star-Picking Tower matter."
Hearing Zhao Zhe's words, Tao Wanniang was speechless. Was it really just this little thing?
"Your Majesty, if you write the letter yourself, I believe they will be even more moved," Tao Wanniang said, feigning ignorance.
Xiao Yi chuckled self-deprecatingly. The way Xiao Yi had broken with him was still vivid in his mind; he also remembered the way his uncle had scolded him. If he were to inquire about Xiao Yi's recent situation, they would surely think he was still thinking about him. But he had already said that as long as he was in power, Xiao Yi could not enter the capital. He had cut off his own escape route and restrained his unexpressed feelings. However, the longing for Xiao Yi lingered in his heart every day.
“Sister Tao, you don’t understand. I banished the Imperial Uncle’s family from the capital, and they must be resentful of me.” Zhao Zhe said slowly, “But the Imperial Uncle insulted me and even wanted to beat me. In order to silence the officials and to prevent the Prince Rui’s mansion from having a reputation for being arrogant because of his favor, I had no choice.”
Ha, how grand and dignified! Tao Wanniang couldn't say anything to Zhao Zhe. When Xiao Yi didn't know, he had ruined three of Xiao Yi's wives and made Xiao Yi's reputation as a wife-killer spread throughout the capital. Who told him to be so ruthless?
"This humble woman is foolish and doesn't understand those things," Tao Wanniang said. "It's this letter that I'm unsure how to write. Should I just ask how they are doing? Has the turmoil in Youzhou improved?"
"Either is fine. As for Xiao Yi and his wife... are they on good terms?" Zhao Zhe's words were somewhat cryptic, and Tao Wanniang pretended not to understand.
"The last time I saw them, they seemed to have a good relationship. Hongzhu is a straightforward and stubborn person. She's willing to go through life and death with Xiao Yi. How could they not get along?" Tao Wanniang said. "If they could have a son or daughter, that would be even better!"
Zhao Zhe's clenched fists were so tight that his nails had dug through his palms. Watching Xiao Yi marry someone and have children was truly agonizing for him.
"You could ask," he said calmly.
Tao Wanniang secretly glanced at Zhao Zhe; his expression was so calm! If she didn't know that Zhao Zhe had been ruthless before, she would really think that he and Xiao Yi had a true brotherly relationship!
"This humble woman...will give it a try." Tao Wanniang looked somewhat hesitant. "Should I write it now?"
“Okay!” Zhao Zhe replied.
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment." Tao Wanniang was inwardly criticizing Zhao Zhe, but her face remained impassive. She went to get paper and pen, and in front of Zhao Zhe, she wrote a letter, similar to a family letter.
Zhao Zhe took it and read it carefully. Although the vernacular was simple and direct, it was well-organized. It talked about the affairs of Zhaixing Tower and then led to daily life. There was no awkwardness in it.
"Not bad, Sister Tao has beautiful handwriting," Zhao Zhe said, "except for a few mistakes."
"Really? I didn't know!" Tao Wanniang didn't bother to refute. What she wrote wasn't a typo, it was simplified characters. Although she could write both traditional and simplified characters, she naturally wrote a few simplified characters when she wrote quickly.
“But this is undoubtedly your own handwriting, and I imagine they wouldn’t suspect anything upon receiving it. However…” Zhao Zhe looked up at Tao Wanniang, “Why did you write it to your aunt?”
"Huh? Isn't this wrong? Would it be inappropriate if I wrote it to the Prince?" Tao Wanniang asked, puzzled. "If I write it to Xiao Yi, well... there's a difference between men and women, it just doesn't seem right!"
Indeed, although Zhao Zhe only wanted to know about Xiao Yi, after hearing what Tao Wanniang said, it seemed reasonable.
"Very good, I will have someone deliver this letter." Zhao Zhe took the letter. "Sister Tao, please serve the dishes!"
"Yes, yes!" Tao Wanniang immediately replied, but after taking a few steps, she turned back. "Your Majesty, my gold!"
Zhao Zhe chuckled and gestured for Tao Wan's mother to move the small box away. He couldn't help but tease her, "Sister Tao, what do you need so much money for?"
"Who told me to be a single woman with my whole family to support?" Tao Wanniang sighed. "Food and clothing cost money. In the capital, everything costs money. I simply bought land outside the city and started growing rice myself. The rice for the whole family is not a small amount."
Zhao Zhe couldn't help but chuckle at Tao Wanniang's feigned poverty, for he had heard that she was not short of money.
"Sister Tao, why do I feel like you're pressuring me to provide enough gold?"
"No, no, how could I dare!" Tao Wanniang immediately denied, but in her heart she couldn't help but think, "If you know, why don't you hurry up and do it?"
Zhao Zhe smiled, deciding not to make things difficult for Tao Wanniang. Watching her carry the box out, he shook his head helplessly, thinking she was quite an interesting woman.
Tao Wanniang temporarily placed the gold with Bai Yumei. When Bai Yumei saw the box full of gold ingots, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Sister Tao, where did you get so much money?"
"This is nothing, there's more!" Tao Wanniang said nonchalantly. "Yumei, put it aside for me, I'm going to go cook."
Bai Yumei looked at Tao Wanniang with admiration. She had witnessed Tao Wanniang's persuasive skills firsthand, and the money coming in was like snowflakes falling. "Sister Tao, I think I made the right choice in following you. With you, I'll never be short of money."
"Hmm, clever!" Tao Wanniang smiled and went to the kitchen to get busy.
When they returned home that evening, Tao Wan's mother was carrying this small box. Wang Hongyu was very curious and couldn't help but ask, "Mother, what's in here? Why are you treasuring it so much?"
“It is a treasure, so don’t ask too many questions.” Tao Wan’s mother didn’t want her wealth to be known by others. “Aren’t you and Da Hu resting tomorrow? Let Zhang Liang take you to my estate. Zhang Liang didn’t used to farm, so he doesn’t know about many crops. You and Da Hu go and take a look and come back to tell me.”
Wang Hongyu immediately agreed. She knew that Tao Wanniang had a farm, but she really didn't know where it was or what she grew.
“Mother, if we go to the estate, then… what about Dapeng and Xiaoyun…” Wang Hongyu asked tentatively.
“They’re not on my estate, so you shouldn’t concern yourself with their affairs. They’re useless at everything, and they have no sense of propriety. It’s no wonder they get taken advantage of!” Tao Wan’s mother said disdainfully, referring to her second son.
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