The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 170 The Person of Madam Tang

"My lady, Madam Miao had a big argument with Master Han last night and went back to her parents' home early this morning. Soon after, someone came to visit her." He Sui reported the news she had found out. "The servants of the Miao family that we bribed came to report that it was a distant relative of the Miao family that they had not been in contact with for many years."

"Has Madam Tang made any unusual moves?" Shang Mingshu fiddled with the abacus; opening a shop was just too much trouble.

The shopkeeper is a trustworthy person; she can delegate authority, but you still need to be aware of everything.

At this moment, she couldn't help but miss Shang Wenshu. Shang Wenshu could see the intricacies of these accounts with just a glance, without needing her to meticulously calculate and verify them...

"Madam Tang is no different from yesterday. She went out at Chenshi (7-9 AM) and went around looking at shops with the brokers..." He Sui finished speaking and asked, "Madam, will Madam Han and Madam Tang join forces against us?"

He Sui couldn't understand it. Madam Tang had no relation to them. Perhaps Miao was just brainless, making her own wife lose face, just to find a sense of superiority and dignity.

Shang Mingshu did not deny that He Sui's guess was correct, but her cautious nature, cultivated since childhood, prevented her from always looking for the most beneficial aspect in everything: "Whether it will happen or not, let's see if anyone causes trouble on the day we open our business."

“I’ve been staying at the shop these past few days, personally overseeing things,” He Sui said hurriedly.

He Mu was sent to continue exploring the stores. The person Shang Ming Shu trusted and relied on the most was herself, while her younger sister He Mai could only stay at home to take care of Shang Ming Shu.

Shang Mingshu nodded, as she had already planned to: "Send someone to inform Old Madam Han that for some reason, Madam Han harbors hostility towards me. I hope she will take the trouble to help."

"My lady, will Old Madam Han be angry?" He Sui was unsure.

The Han family was once a prestigious clan, and although it had fallen from grace, its reputation remained. Old Madam Han had already given clear orders to restrain the people of the Han family, yet Shang Mingshu still came to deliver a message. This was undoubtedly a sign of distrust towards Old Madam Han. If Old Madam Han were to overthink it, she would think that Shang Mingshu did not take the Han family seriously...

"Given the old lady's magnanimity, she won't do anything even if she's angry. I won't need to rely on the Han family in the future." Shang Mingshu never expected to gain the old lady's special favor. Giving gifts was merely her instinctive business principle of making money through harmony. If things really came down to it, she wasn't afraid of the old lady or even the entire Han family. To be frank, she repeatedly reminded her that Miao hadn't made any mistakes; she had only been mocked behind her back by the Han family. Only if Miao truly became emboldened could she use swift and decisive measures to leave the old lady speechless.

"I'll make arrangements right away."

Shang Mingshu continued to work on her abacus. A few streets away at the Miao residence, Madam Miao saw Madam Tang, who had come in disguise, and looked puzzled: "Why are you being so cautious? Is the Shang family worth your fear?"

Miao was used to being flamboyant in Yingtian Prefecture, and she really looked down on Madam Tang's secretive ways. If it weren't for the generous gifts Madam Tang gave her, she wouldn't even want to see anyone.

"I have some grudges with Shang San. The eldest mistress stood up for me, which displeased the old lady and Master Han. I'm worried that if Shang San finds out, he'll come to make trouble again and implicate the eldest mistress." Madam Tang seemed oblivious to Miao's disgust. She knew best how to stir up the emotions of someone as impulsive and easily angered as Miao.

Sure enough, Madam Miao's face darkened: "What is a merchant's daughter? If she dares to come to our door again, I'll make her pay!"

"Madam, please don't underestimate this woman. She was the one who single-handedly caused the downfall of the Shi family in Huizhou..." Madam Tang advised softly.

"How do you know? Do you have any connection with the Shi family?" Miao asked curiously.

"It has nothing to do with it."

Miao was naturally unaware that the Tang lady in front of her had once been called Shi Qingyu.

(End of this chapter)