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

Chapter 272 Calculation
Young Master Qi simply stopped pretending. "It would be better if she really seduced me, hmph."

These words added fuel to the fire, making Zeng Mingzhu even more furious: "Pah! You think too highly of her. She's just pretending to be high and mighty, playing hard to get. She won't agree yet because she wants more. Do you think I don't know what that lowly woman is thinking? She can only fool fools like you who are blinded by lust."

Young Master Qi's face darkened: "Who are you calling an idiot?"

Zeng Mingzhu choked, but stubbornly insisted, "What do you men know? You're just stupid when it comes to this."

"Ridiculous!"

Young Master Qi was extremely bored. Knowing that she couldn't help, he lost interest in continuing to talk to her and got up to leave.

Zeng Mingzhu panicked and quickly chased after him, grabbing his sleeve: "Where are you going?"

"Let go, it's none of your business."

"Are you still going to go find that little bitch?"

"It has nothing to do with you!"

"No, I don't agree! I won't let you go."

“Ms. Zeng, mind your place. Do you think you can stop me from doing what I’m about to do? Don’t blame me for not warning you. If you ruin my plans, humph, see if I’ll ever talk to you again.”

"you--"

Zeng Mingzhu was so angry that her whole body went limp. In the blink of an eye, Young Master Qi had already broken free from her and left.

Zeng Mingzhu burst into tears.

One Zeng Xiaoyan wasn't enough, and then Xu Zhichun appeared.

She said that the reason she disliked Xu Zhichun so much was not just because of Zeng Xiaoyan!
The thought that her husband had fallen for such a person, and what was even more infuriating was that the other person didn't even like her husband, made Zeng Mingzhu even angrier.

She felt humiliated.

In the afternoon, when Zeng Mingzhu went to pay her respects to her mother-in-law, her second sister-in-law was also there. The three women, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law, chatted about everyday matters. After Zeng Mingzhu returned to her room, she asked Cuixiang to inquire carefully about who had bought the Zhen family's estate and land in Hekou Town, which is right next to the county town.
The fact that the Zhen family's business ran into trouble, and they were forced to sell their estate in Hekou Town because they didn't have enough money to cover the losses, is something that all the wealthy families in Qingyang County knew about.
Some sympathized, while others gloated. But those who had the money and could come up with such a large sum of money were eager to take over the Zhen family's estate and land.

However, after all the calculations, six or seven thousand taels of silver is not a small amount. Once the estate is bought, so many fields will require hiring tenants, adding farmhands, arranging managers, adding a considerable number of oxen and various farm tools, purchasing seeds, and hiring laborers if there are not enough farmhands for spring plowing.
All things considered, this additional investment would amount to approximately another thousand taels of silver.

Even if someone owns several shops, it's rare for them to be able to easily come up with so much cash all at once.

Some regretfully gave up, some are waiting to see what happens, and some want to buy it together with two or three other families. But even if they want to buy, they want to wait and see if the Zhen family will lower the price.

Unexpectedly, it was bought by someone from out of town.

Xu Zhichun and Liang Mingxuan kept a low profile and asked the Zhen family not to reveal their background or identities.

But it's impossible to say nothing at all, since everyone will find out sooner or later. If we say nothing, it will only pique people's curiosity and attract more attention.

So all everyone knew was that it was bought by the Liang family from the neighboring Qingshan County. Madam Liang, accompanied by her brother-in-law, the family's nanny, and friends, spent a fortune to buy the estate in one fell swoop.

Everyone felt extremely sorry for him.

They all exclaimed: The Zhen family is really lucky. Who would have thought that Qingyang County, which is much more prosperous and has more wealthy families than Qingshan County, would have such a large estate bought by people from Qingshan County?

As a wealthy family in Qingyang County, it's a bit embarrassing to think about.
The Qi family had originally wanted this estate as well, and had approached another family, intending to acquire it together and then divide it. However, the Zhen family acted swiftly, so they had to give up on the idea.

Speaking of which, Madam Qi still felt a little regretful, "Last year, Madam Zhen held a flower-viewing banquet at that estate, and I went there. The garden on the estate was truly beautiful. They had running water and built a pond, planting many lotus flowers. The scenery was best in spring and summer. The estate was backed by a gentle hill, and there were many fruit trees planted there, which was quite interesting. I was originally thinking that if we bought it, we could go there twice a year to relax and unwind."

Madam Qi, the second young mistress, quickly smiled and comforted her mother-in-law: "That garden is nice, but if we decorate our own estate properly, it will be even better than theirs. If you trust me, Mother, why don't I personally oversee the construction of a garden for you?"

Zeng Mingzhu, of course, was not to be outdone and competed with her sister-in-law with a smile that concealed a knife.

Back in the house, Zeng Mingzhu found the matter increasingly suspicious.

Qingshan County? The Liang family? Madam Liang with her brother-in-law? And a nanny and friends?
What a coincidence!

She initially thought she was mistaken, but upon further reflection, she realized that Xu Zhichun had put together so many things and had even received praise from Magistrate Lu of Qingshan County; he might actually be able to come up with several thousand taels of silver.

Zeng Mingzhu couldn't sit still any longer and hurriedly sent her maid to inquire the next day.

Xu Zhichun did not deliberately hide this matter, and it was not difficult for someone with a keen eye to find out.

When Cuixiang returned to the manor and reported everything, Zeng Mingzhu was completely dumbfounded.
"It really is her? How is that possible!"

Although she had long suspected it was true, Zeng Mingzhu still found it hard to accept when the evidence was finally confirmed.

Seven or eight thousand taels of silver is no small sum. How could Xu Zhichun be so rich?

She tinkered with those shabby things, earning ten or eight taels, at most three or five hundred taels, but she never expected to make so much!

Even she had never held so much silver in her hands before.

Xu Zhichun actually paid in one go without even blinking?

She had never been to that estate before. Since her mother-in-law praised it so sincerely, it must be a good place, but now it had become Xu Zhichun's territory.

Zeng Mingzhu felt a little sour for no reason.

The Zeng family never took Xu Zhichun seriously. When did she and her mother ever even glance at Zeng Xiaoyan?
But now——

Xu Zhichun ate meat, and Zeng Xiaoyan probably drank a lot of soup with him, right? Otherwise, she wouldn't have blindly flattered Xu Zhichun to that extent.

It turns out that everything has a traceable origin.
No wonder that brat Zeng Xiaoyan has become increasingly arrogant in front of her mother and herself.

Zeng Mingzhu sneered.

That day, she specially took out her private savings and instructed the kitchen to prepare two dishes that her husband loved, and invited him over for dinner.

Young Master Qi isn't so easily discouraged by Xu Zhichun. His wife's humble gesture means she's probably come to her senses and is willing to help with this matter.

Young Master Qi gladly gave her face.

Women, if their husbands coax them a little more, what's there to complain about?

(End of this chapter)