They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 117: Beat it up with a rake

Both father and son were extremely embarrassed.

They certainly knew better than anyone what remedies they might have at home.

Not to mention that the women in the family don't care about business at all, even if they occasionally get some business tips, they will definitely pass them on to them.

To put it another way, neither the father nor the son believed that Zeng Xiaoyan had the ability to steal the prescription from the Zeng family.

Which master's courtyard or house doesn't have servants? How could she possibly steal from there?
This is incredibly embarrassing!
Young Master Zeng refused to admit to such a shameful thing. "Is there some misunderstanding here? My uncle couldn't possibly be that kind of person. It must be someone below instigating this."

Master Zeng naturally agreed, "I think that must be it."

Young Master Zeng was somewhat annoyed and embarrassed, and couldn't help but sneer: "Even if it was instigated by the subordinates, it doesn't necessarily mean there wasn't a reason. Madam Xu, if I may be so bold as to ask, I'm actually quite curious as well. How did you obtain these formulas? When did you obtain them? Why didn't you seek out others, but instead chose to cooperate with Xiao Yan and that Lin family?"

These words were very impolite, and Xu Zhichun and the other two all changed their expressions.

Zeng Xiaoyan almost argued with him, but Xu Zhichun stopped her with a look.

"This doesn't seem to have anything to do with Young Master Zeng, does it?"

"Hehe, it's not really related, but I'm very curious. I think it's not just me who's curious, most people would be too. There are no outsiders here, and if I may be frank, Madam Xu is just a country woman who doesn't know anything. Suddenly she got a recipe, suddenly she went to the city to set up a stall and start a business, and her partner happens to be Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yan happens to be from our Zeng family. Our Zeng family happens to be a business family, so it's not surprising that some people might think or speculate. My uncle is a man who can't tolerate any nonsense, so it's understandable that he couldn't hold back when he heard about this."

"Xiao Yan has a bad temper. When she speaks, she deliberately hits where people hurt, as if she's afraid of upsetting them. She must have been like that when she talked to my uncle. It's understandable that my uncle said or did something in a fit of anger. My mother doesn't understand these outside matters, so she guessed that my uncle told her."

"So, Madam Xu, can you explain this?"

Liang Mingliang's head was spinning. He scratched his head, looked at his wife, and then at Xu Zhichun, feeling like stars were popping into his head. He didn't seem to understand anything.

However, Zhichun and his wife both looked very angry, so it certainly wasn't something nice they said.

Yes, what good things could the eldest son of the Zeng family possibly say?

Zeng Xiaoyan, unable to bear it any longer, exclaimed: "Shameless!"

Xu Zhichun: "Young Master Zeng, what kind of recipes do you have? Where did they come from? Why don't you tell me about them one by one to broaden my horizons? It's only fair that we reciprocate."

Young Master Zeng, enraged, sneered, "How can these be the same?"

"How is it different? Just because your Zeng family is rich and a merchant, you can get whatever recipes you want as a matter of course, while I am a farmer, so if I have any recipes, their origins must be unknown? What kind of logic is that?"

Young Master Zeng not only didn't think he was wrong, but also felt that Xu Zhichun was being unreasonable: "Isn't what Madam Xu said reasonable? How could a country family have the opportunity to get such a thing!"

Xu Zhichun sneered: "Emperors have always been men, but there were empresses in previous dynasties. There are always exceptions, aren't there? If you have evidence, then present it. Making baseless speculations and forcing people to prove their innocence, Young Master Zeng, I would like to ask you, what gives you the right?"

"You!" Young Master Zeng was somewhat embarrassed and angry: "And what makes you think you're the exception?"

Xu Zhichun: "Because, that's me!"

Although, if it really came down to explaining, Xu Zhichun had very reasonable answers to all of Young Master Zeng's questions, and she could easily explain them all.

But why?

It was clearly the Zeng family who were in the wrong, and the father and son had admitted it, yet the eldest son of the Zeng family still resorted to sophistry, turning Xu Zhichun, a victim, into a suspect.

Who could tolerate this?

The Zeng family values ​​face, but does she not? Is she just an ordinary peasant woman? She's the sister-in-law of a child prodigy! She's going to lead Liangjia Village to prosperity in the future. Can she just let someone take away her face so easily?
If the Zeng family cares about their reputation, they shouldn't do such a barbaric and immoral thing.

Young Master Zeng had hoped to regain his face, but instead he lost both face and dignity. He sneered angrily, "Madam Xu is indeed sharp-tongued."

Xu Zhichun: "I stated the facts and sought a solution, but Young Master Zeng's robber logic was sophistry. I refuted him according to his logic, but he had nothing to say and resorted to personal attacks. What kind of logic is that? I have no interest in arguing or cursing with Young Master Zeng."

Young Master Zeng was even angrier and retorted, "Madam Xu is truly courageous and resourceful! Now I'm starting to believe that Madam Xu is capable of setting up a stall in the city!"

Xu Zhichun gave him a cool look: "So, are Young Master Zeng and Master Zeng able to solve the problem now?"

Both father and son seemed somewhat awkward.

suffocated.

They considered themselves superior to Xu Zhichun, but their own family members did something so shameful that they couldn't make amends and were instead subjected to even more ridicule.

This was something they had never experienced before, so how could they not feel frustrated?

Xu Zhichun: "Master Zeng, Young Master Zeng, I am somewhat similar to Manager Fang in some ways. I also cannot tolerate any falsehoods. I will speak frankly and ask you both to let it go. There are no outsiders here. If the Zeng family ultimately chooses to deny everything and accept Manager Fang's nonsense, insisting that the prescription in my hand was stolen by Xiao Yan from your house, I will have no other choice but to report it to the authorities. Lord Lu is a good official, and I believe he will be able to find out the truth."

So, if you're thinking of resorting to any underhanded tactics, you should shut up now.

What isn't yours was never yours to begin with.

Does your Zeng family intend to call a deer a horse and coerce people?
Master Zeng's face darkened slightly, and he gave a soft snort, as if he felt that Xu Zhichun's words had insulted his family.

Young Master Zeng was also furious.

Whether they ever had such thoughts in their minds, only they themselves know.

Master Zeng: "Ahem, Madam Xu, you are indeed straightforward. As you said, the profit from selling a single bolt of fine silk in our silk shop is more than you could earn in several days of setting up your stall. Why would the Zeng family be greedy for two or three small prescriptions? This matter certainly wasn't my wife's or brother-in-law's intention; there must be some misunderstanding. I will investigate as soon as possible and give Madam Xu an explanation."

Xu Zhichun, taking the opportunity, softened his tone: "What Master Zeng said is true. If there is any misunderstanding, it can be explained away. However, we country folk are timid and cannot be frightened. I will not have peace of mind until this matter is resolved. I wonder when Master Zeng will be able to find out the truth?"

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(End of this chapter)