good season

Chapter 153 Ah Huang, let's go shopping (Two chapters combined)

Zhao Shiqing's mind went blank for a moment. No, the tofu beauty on East Street, is that the tofu beauty Ah Huang was talking about?
Since she had nothing better to do, she decided to take a stroll down East Street.

"Grandpa, let's go shopping!"

"Shen Wangxing, let's go shopping!"

"Ah Huang, let's go shopping!"

It was nearly dusk, the perfect time to go out hunting.

There was another important reason why Zhao Shiqing decided to go shopping now. Ah Huang said that Dongda Street is lively from morning to night. In the morning, there are breakfast stalls, vegetable stalls, and meat stalls, and in the evening, it becomes a snack stall and general merchandise stall.

Tong'an is just a county town, so why does it have a bustling market street?
That's because Tong'an, though small, has a famous person.

Speaking of which, this celebrity has some connection with Zhao Shiqing; he is Mr. Fang Er.

The last time Zhao Shiqing gave Master Bai was a copy of the Spring and Autumn Annals annotated by Mr. Fang.

Mr. Fang was not from Tong'an, but his wife, Madam Lin, was a native of Tong'an.

Fifteen years ago, Madam Lin passed away. To commemorate his late wife, Mr. Fang founded the Huiwen Academy in Tong'an. It wasn't until three years ago that Mr. Fang returned to the capital to participate in book compilation and also presided over last year's provincial examination.

When he was in Tong'an, Mr. Fang personally taught and nurtured students. Over the past fifteen years, Tong'an Huiwen Academy has produced eight Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), twelve Tongjinshi, and many Juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examinations).

Therefore, in recent years, the students who come to study at Huiwen Academy are no longer limited to Tong'an and nearby counties; many students from the capital have also come here to study through connections.

Dongda Street is only one street away from Huiwen Academy. It won't be too noisy and will affect students' studies, but it's also convenient for students to come over to eat, play, and shop. So, to put it bluntly, Dongda Street is all about serving students.

Zhao Shiqing even learned from Ah Huang that there were even secret doors on East Street!
Zhao Shiqing was also very curious whether Ah Huang knew what the secret door was.

She strongly suspected that the tofu seller was a shady character.

Sure enough, when they arrived at East Street, Zhen Wuduo easily found out that the tofu seller's name was Yinniang. She was a widow. After her husband died, her mother-in-law wanted her to marry her deceased husband's adopted brother, but she refused and returned to her parents' home.

Her family owned a tofu shop. At first, she helped out at home, but later she went out on her own. Because of her good looks, she attracted a lot of suitors, which is why she was nicknamed "Tofu Beauty".

Moreover, she initially wanted to find a good family to marry into, but she failed to do so. Instead, she was cheated out of money and her virtue one after another. Later, she simply gave up and started selling tofu on the street during the day and letting people "eat tofu" at home at night. Of course, she didn't eat for free; she charged money.

Many people on this street remember Manager Jin. He came from a country village and didn't have much money, but he liked to put on a show of wealth. Every time he came to the city, he would visit the tofu seller. The tofu seller complained to people that he was stingy and didn't want to entertain him, but he was persistent and annoying.

By this time, the tofu seller had already closed her stall. Following directions from others, Zhao Shiqing and her group quickly found the house where the tofu seller was renting.

Zhao Shiqing released the little demon, which returned a moment later with a disgusted look: "That fatso pooped in the outhouse, it stinks like hell!"

Zhao Shiqing asked, "What is that woman doing?"

Little Demon: [That woman was smirking, saying he deserved it.]

Zhao Shiqing was taken aback. Could it be that Manager Jin's diarrhea was caused by the tofu seller?
She gestured to Jiang Han: "Go and invite that Manager Jin out."

Lingbo had already found a secluded spot not far from this courtyard. The gate of that house was locked, and the back of the house was overgrown with weeds, indicating that no one had been there for a long time.

A short while later, Jiang Han came running over carrying a fat man.

Zhao Shiqing asked curiously, "Why did you carry him over here? Didn't you put him in a sack?"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Shiqing smelled a foul odor.

Jiang Han: "I was worried that he would poop in my sack, so I just carried him over. Fortunately, it was already dark, and we didn't encounter anyone along the way."

Zhao Shiqing covered her nose and said to Jiang Han, "Wake him up."

Jiang Han stabbed Manager Jin in the philtrum with the tip of his knife, and Manager Jin slowly woke up. He was startled to see several people standing in the darkness and begged for mercy. Jiang Han raised the knife in his hand and waved it in front of him. A cold light caught his eye, and Manager Jin immediately fell silent.

Zhao Shiqing asked, "What is your relationship with the Marquis of Baoqing's mansion?"

Manager Jin quickly shook his head: "No...it's alright!"

"Then what is your relationship with the Wei family?" Zhao Shiqing asked again.

“Wei…Wei family? My…my father…is…a servant of the Wei family.”

Zhao Shiqing understood: "Your father was a servant of the Wei family, and in your generation, the old lady Wei gave you the indenture?"

Manager Jin quickly explained, "It wasn't given to my generation, but only to me, my brother, and my sister. Their indentures are still in the hands of Old Madam Wei."

Zhao Shiqing nodded: "Is there a person with a hooked nose in your village?"

Manager Jin: "It's not one, it's three. Xu Lin and his two sons all have hooked noses."

Zhao Shiqing looked at him, her bright eyes sparkling in the darkness: "You and Xu Lin are very close?"

Manager Jin frowned: "Heroines, you wouldn't be here for Xu Lin, would you? Let me tell you, Xu Lin is no good. I don't get along with him either. If you have a grudge against him, go find him. Don't come to me. I'd rather he were dead."

Zhao Shiqing laughed: "It seems you're the one who has a grudge against him, right? Let me guess what kind of grudge you have against him? It's definitely not a blood feud, could it be the hatred of having your wife stolen? Did Xu Lin steal your wife?"

Manager Jin's mouth gaped open. It was already completely dark, and he couldn't see the person's face clearly, but he could tell from her voice that she was a young woman.

These young girls nowadays are really daring! They can even say things like "stealing a wife" so easily, and she actually got it right.

Manager Jin was furious: "What a load of rubbish about a wife! I've already divorced that woman. I have no relationship with Xu Lin now. No, we're just working in the same estate."

Zhao Shiqing said calmly, "You guessed right, we do have a grudge against Xu Lin. Tell me everything you know about Xu Lin and his sons, including your wife. If I'm satisfied, I'll let you go. If not... I heard the tofu seller's outhouse is pretty decent. I bet you'll like it. Listen carefully, if what he says doesn't satisfy me, I'll shove his head into the latrine!"

Jiang Han immediately responded, "Your subordinate obeys!" Manager Jin shuddered. This was no female knight-errant; she was clearly a female king!

"Your Majesty, spare me! I'll tell you everything! I was transferred to Tong'an Manor fifteen years ago. Before that, the manager of the manor was Old Yan. After Old Yan died, I was transferred here to replace him."

At that time, Xu Lin and his son were already in the manor. Xu Lin was in charge, but his position was just a title. That old fellow was good for nothing. He only knew a few more words than me, but he had to put on the airs of a pedantic scholar. He was as hypocritical as could be. On the surface, he was dignified, but in reality, he was a scoundrel.

Every woman in the village who was even remotely attractive had an affair with him.

To be honest, heroine, if I had known there was such a scoundrel in the manor, I would have rather offended the old lady than take advantage of him.

Yes, I was after that indenture. With it, my son could study and take the imperial examinations, and my daughter could marry with dignity and become a proper wife. But I never imagined that my wife would actually get involved with that scoundrel Xu Lin!
I am the manager of the estate. Xu Lin even dared to sleep with my wife, what else wouldn't he dare to do?

"That's a coward, all he does is whack women in the stomach. I broke one of his legs. If I wasn't afraid of upsetting the old lady, I would have broken all three of his legs. Let's see if he dares to steal other men's wives again!"

Zhao Shiqing quickly asked, "What about your wife? Is she still living with you?"

Manager Jin sneered: "That year my son was eight years old and my daughter was six. Those two adulterers didn't even hide their affair from my son and daughter. After doing such a shameful thing, how could I possibly want that harlot?"

I divorced her on the spot, and that adulterous woman moved into Xu Lin's room that very night to become the stepmother of Xu Lin's two sons.

Zhao Shiqing hurriedly asked, "So, are they still together now?"

Manager Jin gritted his teeth: "They're doing fine. That Xu Lin is always flirting with other women, and his stupid wife argues and fights with him. That pair of adulterers has turned the whole estate into a mess."

"Does Madam Wei know about these things?" Zhao Shiqing asked.

“I know, there’s nothing in this world that can be hidden from Old Madam Wei! But Old Madam Wei only sent Granny Niu over to reprimand him, which was nothing to worry about, and that bastard became even more arrogant.”

Zhao Shiqing looked at Steward Jin. He had suffered such a great loss at Xu Lin's hands, but he had only broken one of Xu Lin's legs, and they could still live in the same manor for fifteen years. Zhao Shiqing did not believe that he had not benefited from this incident.

"Did Old Madam Wei just stand by and watch you suffer a great loss? And offer you no compensation?"

Manager Jin rubbed his messy head and said awkwardly, "Old Madam Wei betrothed her head maid, Haitang, to me and gave me a shop. My eldest son went to school, and now Haitang has given me three more children."

Zhao Shiqing's lips twitched. No wonder, so that's how it is. You've gained both people and money.

What do Xu Lin and his two sons usually do in the village?

Manager Jin shook his head: "They do nothing, and they can't do anything either. They can mess up even the smallest things. These three can't do anything except cheat on their wives."

Zhao Shiqing then asked Xu Lin about the ages and names of his two sons before saying to Steward Jin, "Take us into the estate tomorrow."

Manager Jin was taken aback, thinking that he could get away as long as he mentioned Xu Lin's matter, but he did not expect that the other party would actually want to enter the manor.

"No, no, if Haitang finds out that I brought you in, she will definitely report it to the old lady."

Zhao Shiqing chuckled: "It seems that Haitang is not only your wife, but also someone sent by the old lady to spy on you."

Manager Jin blushed deeply, but fortunately it was dark and the other party couldn't see him. Even so, he could feel his face burning.

"So what if she is? Haitang is ten years younger than me and as beautiful as a flower. I'm willing to let her spy on me!"

Zhao Shiqing said calmly, "Do you think we can't get into the manor on our own without you? Letting you lead us in is giving you a chance. Do you expect us to take knives and storm into the manor under the moonlight?"

Charge into the village?
Manager Jin, drenched in sweat, hurriedly said, "Then you must tell me what you're going to do in the manor? There's plenty of grain and vegetables in the countryside, but no money. You're not going to rob us, are you?"

Zhao Shiqing: "We're not here to steal vegetables, we're here to steal people, Xu Lin and his two sons."

Manager Jin's eyes widened: "No, absolutely not! Those three men are the old lady's people. If they disappear in the manor, the old lady will definitely not forgive me."

"Have you heard of the 'bitter flesh' ruse? We can create a false impression and make everyone believe that Xu Lin and his son injured you before they fled."

Think it over carefully. By cooperating with us, you can take the opportunity to get rid of Xu Lin, this thorn in your side, and it won't arouse the old lady's suspicion. Just imagine, you won't see that hateful face in the manor anymore. Doesn't that make you eat even more deliciously?

"And that woman who betrayed you. You're in charge, and you're an adult. Those people won't laugh at you for being cuckolded to your face, but won't they mock your son and daughter behind your back? You often run into that woman in the village, doesn't it feel awkward and embarrassing? But what if that woman isn't in the village? Don't you feel like you can breathe easily then?" Zhao Shiqing said.

Manager Jin stared blankly at the person standing opposite him in the darkness. He couldn't see the person's face, but what did it matter? This person had shown him a clear path.

Yes, Zhao Shiqing guessed everything correctly. Over the years, his son and daughter had suffered a lot, especially his daughter. Although she had been freed from slavery, she was not married well because of her mother, and she never returned to the village after getting married.

Manager Jin gritted his teeth: "Fine, I'll cooperate with you. Tell me, how do you want me to cooperate?"

Zhao Shiqing smiled: "Okay, do this tomorrow..."

Manager Jin did not return to the tofu seller's house because the fat old man told him that someone like him, with diarrhea flowing down his buttocks, was definitely taking croton oil powder.

If you're a good cook, you won't be able to taste the croton powder in your food.

Manager Jin was so angry he wanted to curse, but with a little effort, another spurt of excrement gushed out.

Lingbo cursed, "Serves you right! You have a young and beautiful wife at home, yet you still go out and mess around. It's obvious that she looks down on you. You deserve to spend the whole night in the outhouse."

Manager Jin was mocked by a young girl, and his old face turned red. He wanted to retort, but he was afraid of angering Jiang Han next to him and getting stabbed, so he had no choice but to shrink back and act like a turtle.

The next morning, Manager Jin, who had finally washed himself clean and was no longer smelly, led Zhao Shiqing and her party to the manor in the countryside.

The group, consisting of old men and young girls, attracted attention as soon as they entered the village. Manager Jin told them that they had come to buy mountain products and asked the tenants to bring out all the mountain products that had been drying in their homes.

The threshing ground was bustling with activity. The tenants brought all the dried mushrooms and various dried vegetables they had dried at home. People used to come and buy mountain produce often. Zhen Wuduo, along with Shen Wangxing, bargained with the tenants. Amidst the noise, Zhao Shiqing and Jiang Han, along with two other people, quietly went deeper into the village.

I had only gone halfway when I saw an old man walking towards me.

The old face was neither beautiful nor ugly, but its hooked nose was particularly eye-catching!