"Sister Tao, are you saying that Master Huang's family is in Wangjing?" Bai Yumei's mind was in a daze after hearing Tao Wanniang's words.
“Yes, I went to Prince Rui’s residence today, and that’s what the Prince Rui’s heir told me!” Tao Wanniang said. “Yu Mei, what are your plans?”
"I'm going to Wangjing, a place I don't know at all. How am I supposed to get justice?" Bai Yumei muttered to herself. "I thought that once I found out where Master and Madam were, I could accuse Madam of plotting against me, but now I'm afraid. Eldest sister, am I really that useless?"
“No, this means you’ve matured!” Tao Wanniang replied. Being able to consider these things meant that Bai Yumei was no longer naive.
"It's alright, there's plenty of time. As the saying goes, evil deeds last a thousand years. Once we've established ourselves in the capital, we'll go and pay our respects to that wicked Madam Huang," Tao Wanniang comforted Bai Yumei.
“However, I have a plan, Yu Mei. Come, let me tell you.” Tao Wan Niang said, beckoning Bai Yu Mei to a private room on the side.
"The way Mother looks is like she's asking someone to do something bad," Ling Dahu said to his wife, Wang Hongyu, in a low voice.
"Say less. Mother is really amazing. She went to Prince Rui's mansion as soon as she said she would. How can she face those high-ranking officials without batting an eye?" Wang Hongyu exclaimed. "When will I be able to do that?"
"Wife, what you said is making me a little scared. Mother is so fierce, please don't act like that!" Ling Dahu said. "Dapeng should be back by now, he's gone to be with Xiaoyun!"
“Why are you in such a hurry? Second brother and Xiaoyun are close. They’re just resting at the restaurant anyway, so let them stay home with the kids!” Wang Hongyu said, glancing at Xiao Qiao’er reading a book beside her, she couldn’t help but sigh.
“Look how hard Xiao Qiao is working. In a few years, we should let Rui’er and Xiao Feng start their education.”
Xiao Qiao'er was not disturbed by Wang Hongyu and Ling Dahu's chatter and continued to study diligently.
In the private room, Tao Wanniang took out a pair of gold bracelets and a jade pendant that Bai Yumei had given her before.
“This is your personal belongings, I’ll return it to you,” Tao Wanniang said. “My suggestion is that you write a letter. That lady must think you’re dead, so you could write to her to express your condolences. Or, you could write directly to Master Huang. Maybe they’ll come to the capital to find you themselves then?”
"But what if it brings you trouble?" Bai Yumei said with some concern.
"Don't worry, we're not without backers in the capital," Tao Wanniang said confidently. "Just go for it, go all out! Since we can't send people, let's scare them to death!"
Bai Yumei was encouraged by Tao Wanniang's appearance, but she didn't want to accept the bracelet and jade pendant.
"Big sister, these are yours now, you don't need to give them back to me."
"Here you go. I'm not short of money now. The silver you gave me back then was more than enough. I can't take your jewelry anymore!" Tao Wanniang stuffed it back into Bai Yumei's hand. "I believe you'll need these things someday."
Thinking about the money in Tao Wanniang's hands, Bai Yumei knew that it was dispensable to her.
“Then I’ll take it back,” Bai Yumei said. “Don’t you think if I gave this jade pendant to Madam, it would scare her half to death?”
"Do whatever you want, just go for it. Just know that I'll be there to support you!" Tao Wanniang encouraged.
"Yes!" Bai Yumei nodded. Although her elder sister wasn't her biological sister, she was even better than a real sister to her!
Tao Wanniang felt that relying solely on Prince Rui's mansion wouldn't be enough. If the troublemaker was someone like Zhang Xinlan, would the officials really arrest and beat her?
After much thought, I suddenly realized that the five thugs might actually be useful. The only problem is... where can I find this guy?
"Manager Jiang, if you see those scoundrels, tell me about them," Tao Wanniang said to the manager, Jiang Youfu, after browsing the nearby general store and buying a few items.
"I was just about to ask you that, what was that crazy woman doing at noon?" Jiang Youfu asked curiously, "She caused quite a stir."
"That woman's name is Zhang Xinlan. She is the daughter of the prefect of Shanhai Prefecture, the high-ranking official who was beheaded before. We came from Shanhai Prefecture before, and she drove us out." Tao Wanniang said half-truthfully, "She probably went a little crazy after giving birth and her family fell into decline! She thinks that we killed her father."
"If I really brought down such a high-ranking official, the imperial court would surely reward me. I'd even want to become a Lady of the Imperial Decree. So, this woman is just crazy!"
Jiang Youfu looked Tao Wanniang up and down as if he were listening to a storyteller's play.
"Manager Tao, have you met that prefect?"
“How could that be!” Tao Wanniang said indignantly. “We’ve never even seen it before. We used to run a wonton shop in Shanhai Prefecture, but somehow we offended the prefect’s daughter and she wanted to kick us out. Heaven knows how difficult it was for me to bring my family to the capital.”
"That's not right. Don't you have the Prince Rui's Mansion as your backer?" Jiang Youfu had heard plenty of rumors about it.
“That’s a different matter. We met Prince Rui’s son in Shanhai Prefecture. I cooked a few meals for him. Putting everything else aside, my cooking skills are just that good.”
"Then what do you want to see Yang Song and the others for?" Jiang Youfu asked curiously, his interest piqued.
"To prevent that crazy woman from coming again, I need Yang Song and a few others to guard the place for me!" Tao Wanniang replied directly.
"Then... do we have to pay protection money?" Jiang Youfu felt a strange unease as he said this, and when he met Tao Wanniang's suddenly silent face, they both fell silent!
Tao Wanniang felt a bit embarrassed, since she had once ridiculed Yang Song and the others.
"Have there been any disturbances at your shop in the past?" Tao Wanniang couldn't help but ask.
"No, this street has no business as good as yours when there's no one around."
"If you run into them, just tell me, and I'll talk to them myself," Tao Wanniang said after thinking for a moment. At worst, she'd just get a few sarcastic remarks from those boys.
It was almost dinnertime, so Tao Wanniang said goodbye to Jiang Youfu and went back to the restaurant to prepare.
For the next few days, everything was peaceful. Zhang Xinlan and Liang Laifu did not cause any trouble. Just as Tao Wanniang was thinking that perhaps she was overthinking things, Jiang Youfu came to tell her that Yang Song and the others had arrived.
"You're looking for us?" Yang Song looked more haggard than before, with dark circles under his eyes, as if he had been in a fight not long ago.
"Yes, I'm looking for you. I want you to protect this street. If anyone causes trouble, you have to help us resolve the problem immediately!"
After Tao Wanniang finished speaking, Yang Song and the others were stunned. Yang Song even picked at his ear and tilted his head, saying, "What? What did you say? I can't hear you?"
Tao Wanniang rolled her eyes at Yang Song, cleared her throat, and said, "Since you can't hear well, I'll find someone else to do this job!"
"No, no, I heard you, but Manager Tao, didn't you say you didn't need protection?" Yang Song said with a hint of arrogance, looking at Tao Wanniang as if waiting to see her make a fool of herself!
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