Shuse Jinjia

"Fourth Miss, Bei Yu said some hurtful things to you yesterday, and he is very remorseful. I have come today to thank you, apologize to him, and mediate."

Inside the carriage, Duan Chengyu handed a house deed to Xie Zhaotang.

"Fourth Miss, I haven't offended you. Please forgive Bei Yu this time for my sake! I promise he will respect you from now on and will never talk nonsense again."

"This deed is for a shop in the capital. Consider it a thank-you gift for the Fourth Miss."

Xie Zhaotang did not answer.

Duan Chengyu patiently explained, "It's better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester. Fourth Miss is our partner. If we hold a grudge over every single wrong word she says, how can we work together in the future?"

"I know Fourth Miss is full of ambition, but to achieve her ambitions, she needs a powerful alliance. Looking around the capital, besides me and Bei Yu, can you find a stronger partner who won't bully others?"

Xie Zhaotang remained silent.

She had considered all of Duan Chengyu's points!

But she had a temper when Huo Beiyu doubted her time and time again.

"Fourth Miss, you've known Beiyu for quite some time now. You should know he's a military officer, simple-minded and straightforward, but he's not malicious. He wants to build the pharmaceutical factory not for his own comfort, but for the sake of these wounded and disabled soldiers..."

Duan Chengyu patiently explained, "The three of us are partners, just like a family living together. Only by working together can we make a good life. So why can't we be tolerant and supportive of each other like a family?"

"You're younger than us, we're your older brothers. If an older brother makes a mistake, just point it out, and we'll correct it. With time and adjustment, things will get better!"

Xie Zhaotang lost her temper. Duan Chengyu was like an older brother at this moment, trying his best to resolve the conflict between her and Huo Beiyu. If she continued to be stubborn and refused to listen to advice, that would be willful.

"Fine, I'll let it go this time! But if there's a next time, don't bother trying to persuade me; I won't give you any face."

Xie Zhaotang glanced at the property deed in his hand and said, "I don't want your thank-you gift. We're partners; how can I accept such an expensive gift after helping you with just a little thing? Wouldn't that be too formal?"

"Young Master Duan, you've finished your business, so you don't need to come to my house anymore. Stop the car."

Duan Chengyu thought for a moment, then took back the property deed: "Alright, I'll keep this shop for you. I'll use it to add to your dowry later. By the way, I've already said I'm your older brother, so don't call me 'Young Master' anymore, just call me 'Big Brother'!"

"Little sister, if you ever encounter any problems you can't solve on your own, just ask your big brother for help!"

Xie Zhaotang sensed that Duan Chengyu was trying to curry favor with her. After thinking for a moment, she nodded obediently, "Thank you, brother."

Duan Chengyu asked Wen Tuo to stop the car. Xie Zhaotang was about to get out when Duan Chengyu remembered the matter of building a winery and called Xie Zhaotang back.

"You only told Beiyu about building the winery. Did you write down the bylaws? Also, I've used your toothpaste and toothbrush; they're great. How do we proceed with this?"

Xie Zhaotang went to see Huo Beiyu yesterday, intending to discuss this matter, but Huo Beiyu did not give him the chance.

Seeing that his other partner was very interested, Xie Zhaotang stopped.

"Uncle Li is a good friend of toothbrushes. We can ask him to be the master craftsman to prepare the materials and set up a separate workshop to make them."

"I plan to package tooth powder and toothpaste in smaller bottles. The bottles sold on the market are all very large. Could you find someone to make them smaller? The tooth powder can be packaged in a cardboard box like a face powder box, which is convenient to use and can also reduce costs."

"My plan is to sell this toothpaste to the wealthy. The bottle can be made more exquisite, and I'll draw the design for you when I get back. Exquisite packaging will allow it to fetch a higher price..."

Xie Zhaotang spoke eloquently, telling Duan Chengyu his thoughts, including his idea of ​​giving shares to skilled workers like Lao Liangtou.

Duan Chengyu nodded repeatedly as he listened: "That's a good idea. Giving them shares will prevent them from easily switching jobs and will also avoid technology leakage..."

The two discussed the details back and forth, losing track of time.

In the distance, Pei Yun's carriage was parked. Pei Yun and Pei Shu watched as time passed, but the two people inside the carriage did not get off.

Both of them thought that way, believing that Duan Chengyu and Xie Zhaotang were doing something shameful in the carriage.

"Sister, this cannot be tolerated. We must stop Xie Zhaotang before he enters the house..."

Pei Shu was furious, but worried that her sister would soften her stance, so she offered some advice.

"Don't rush, let me think..."

Pei Yun could no longer hide her hatred and clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

Last time, Aunt only injured Concubine Shen, not Xie Zhaotang, which allowed this concubine's daughter to gradually get closer to Duan Chengyu.

Xie Zhaotang, why are you so restless? Fine, you're asking for it, so don't blame me for being ruthless!

This time, when she makes her move, she will surely ensure Xie Zhaotang's utter destruction...

……

Zhu family.

When Zhu Feng returned home from his shift that evening, before he could even have dinner, his mother mysteriously pulled him aside.

"Feng'er, let me tell you something. I asked Madam Zhu to help you find your relatives. Madam Zhu sent word today that she has found the second daughter of General Liu, the Deputy Commander of the Capital Garrison. She is fifteen years old and skilled in both literature and martial arts. Go to Guiyun Tea House tomorrow at noon to meet her."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Feng's face darkened, and he said unhappily, "Mother, didn't I say I admire Fourth Miss and want to marry her? I even took you to see her. Why are you still asking Madam Zhu to find me a husband? I'm not going!"

Zhu Feng's mother scolded anxiously, "I disagree, Feng'er! That fourth young lady is only beautiful; her mother is a concubine, and she herself is an illegitimate daughter. She won't be of any help to your career!"

"Feng'er, I've already inquired about it for you. The Xie family doesn't value illegitimate daughters at all. Not only is the dowry they gave you meager, but her father's official rank is even lower than yours, so he won't be helping you in the future!"

Zhu Feng said impatiently, "I don't need anyone's help. I don't care whether the Xie family gives Fourth Miss a dowry or not. I will take care of my own wife."

Zhu Feng's mother glared at Zhu Feng, then patiently said, "Feng'er, I gave Madam Zhu ten taels of silver to help you find this good marriage. Wouldn't it be a waste if you didn't go? Please go, I'm begging you!"

"The Liu family's daughter is so wonderful. She's a legitimate daughter, and her dowry is so generous. Your children won't be looked down upon... Feng'er, I'm doing this for your own good. Our family has always lived a hard life, and it's only with great difficulty that things have improved. Do you really want to be dragged down by the Fourth Miss?"

Zhu Feng's mother said a lot, but seeing that Zhu Feng was unmoved, she suddenly sat down on the ground, slapped her thigh, and burst into tears.

"Old man, why did you die so soon, leaving me behind? I raised them with so much hardship, and now they're all so disobedient... My two daughters aren't even married yet, and I can't earn enough money for their weddings even if I work myself to the bone. I'm so miserable... I don't want to live anymore, take me with you!"

As soon as Zhu Feng's mother started crying, Zhu Feng's brother and sister-in-law, along with his two younger sisters, who had been hiding inside, all rushed out.

"Brother, Mother is doing this for your own good, so please do as she says!"

The two younger sisters took turns trying to persuade Zhu Feng.

The two sisters-in-law also chimed in, accusing Zhu Feng of being unfilial.

The courtyard was filled with cries, accusations, and curses.

The Zhu family was thrown into chaos.

Huo Ling, who was peeking from a tree outside the Zhu family's house, was dumbfounded. Were Zhu Feng's mother and his sisters-in-law really that difficult to deal with?