Wanjin Lady

Chapter 43: Running Pig
Father Wen smiled reluctantly: "Whether you are willing to give up or not, what does it matter? In the end, the situation is stronger than people."

Shopkeeper Zhu patted Wen Weiming on the shoulder and said, "It's good that you can think positively, brother."

Wen Weiming found the meal tasteless.

Wen Wan, on the other hand, drank two bowls of rice with a grunt and a laugh, and during that time, she had a few drinks with the shopkeeper Zhu, calling him Uncle Zhu all the time, which made Old Zhu almost accept Wen Wan as his adopted daughter.

Wen Weiming couldn't help but wonder.

Who did his daughter look like?

After a hearty meal and a hearty drink, Wen Wan and Old Man Wen took a carriage home. Wen Weiming, who had been furious with Wen Wan since earlier, asked, "If I hadn't stopped you, would you still have considered this thief your father?"

Wen Wan laughed twice, "Dad, I'm just walking the pig."

His eyes were clear and there was no sign of drunkenness at all, which showed that the drinking and chatting at the table were all fake.

His daughter is almost a spirit!

Father Wen snorted coldly, "As long as you still remember your last name is Wen!"

"Don't worry, Dad. After we get rid of the pig, we'll kill it."

Father Wen clenched his fists and said, "It's not time to kill the pig yet. Wait a little longer, I want to see who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes."

Wen Weiming didn't notice at all that he had changed from being called "Shopkeeper Zhu" to being called "Dead Pig" without anyone noticing.

Birds of a feather flock together.

When it comes to slaughtering pigs, Wen Wan thinks of Concubine Liu's matter again, "Daddy, how are you going to deal with Concubine Liu's matter?"

Wen Weiming didn't seem willing to talk more and just perfunctorily said, "Let's talk about it later."

Wen Wan thought that the Wen family was under attack from all sides, so a temporary divorce between Aunt Liu and Old Man Wen to preserve their property was also an option.

After the Wen family father and daughter left, Shopkeeper Zhu went to the private room next door. Although separated by a wall, he could hear the excitement clearly.

Shopkeeper Zhu saw the tall figure standing in the room and smiled, cupping his hands and saying, "Congratulations, Sixth Master Yuan, on having your dream come true. The Wen family's winery will surely fall into your hands soon."

The man named Yuan Liuye was wearing a brocade white robe and a jade pendant around his waist. He was twenty years old and looked very young, with a pair of narrow eyes that revealed a bit of femininity.

To Shopkeeper Zhu's courtesy, the man responded indifferently, "Everything is thanks to Brother Zhu."

"Then will Sixth Master show up tomorrow to discuss the winery matter with the Wen family?"

"Don't worry. Hold him for two days so we can bargain down the price."

But Shopkeeper Zhu reminded him, "Sixth Master, the Wen family winery still has some aged wine that's worth quite a bit of money. Aren't you afraid he'll get away with it after raising the money?"

Master Yuan Liu sneered, his expression contemptuous. "If Wen Weiming is willing to clear out his inventory, then I'll buy it back at a low price. I'll take whatever he has and make sure he loses everything and has no choice but to ask me to take over the winery."

If we put the Wen family's old wines under the Cheng family's brand and sell them slowly, wouldn't we make another fortune?
"Yes, yes, yes. Sixth Master is truly thoughtful." Shopkeeper Zhu seemed unfazed by Sixth Master Yuan's indifference, always smiling. "I heard that the young master of the Cheng family has arrived in our area today. I, Old Zhu, have always admired scholars. Furthermore, I heard that Young Master Cheng passed the imperial examination at only seventeen. I just wonder... if I'll have the honor of meeting the Star of Literature."

Sixth Master Yuan, looking down at Old Zhu with a casual glance, seemed to see through his little scheme. He then smiled and said, "Don't worry, Manager Zhu. As long as we take over the Wen family's winery, our cooperation is a done deal. My cousin is here in Ping County to become an apprentice. If I disturb his studies, my aunt in Bozhou won't let me off the hook! I can make the decisions on business matters." Manager Zhu, his thoughts exposed, could only scratch his head and smile, "Then I'll have to rely on Sixth Master's help from now on."

Shopkeeper Zhu's smile had a more sincere meaning.

Climbing onto the big tree of the Bozhou Cheng family, the royal merchant, has more prospects than the dead branch of the Wen family!
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The father and daughter's carriages slowly moved back. The night was as cold as water and gradually became bleak.

Wen Wan saw a mother and son on the side of the road through the car window. The young woman had thin shoulders and was carrying two loads of heavy luggage. The weight of the shoulder pole made her walk a little unsteadily.

She struggled to hold onto the shoulder pole with one hand while holding her young son with the other. The little boy was also very sensible. At only five or six years old, he knew how to care for his mother. Even though he was carrying a lot of luggage, he kept reaching into the shoulder pole with one hand, saying, "Mother, Rong'er is a little man. Rong'er can carry it. Please give Rong'er more."

Isn’t this the woman who came to her this morning and offered to be the accountant?
Wen Wan stopped the carriage, then lifted the curtain and called to the mother and son, "Madam Mei... curfew is almost here. Where are you and your son going? Do you need me to give you a ride?"

When Mei Qing saw that it was Wen Wan, a smile appeared on her pale face. "Madam Wen, thank you for your concern. We will be there soon."

Anyone could see Mrs. Mei's embarrassment, but Mei Qing never mentioned it.

She is a resilient woman.

The little boy, however, held back his lips, as if about to cry. His sparkling eyes looked at Wen Wan for help, "Shopkeeper Wen, please help my mother. We've been kicked out by the landlord and have nowhere to stay. If you take my mother in, I'll be your slave from now on!"

Mei Qing scolded her son, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll beat you up!"

After saying that, he glanced at Wen Wan with embarrassment and forced a smile, "Shopkeeper Wen, don't listen to the kid's nonsense. The kid is ignorant and is causing you trouble."

Wen Wan glanced at the cuts on Mei Qing's hands as she held down the carrying pole, and the woman's sallow and rough face.

The mother looked pale, but the child was fair, tender and well-behaved.

Wen Wan was just hesitating when Old Man Wen behind her spoke first: "Where are you planning to stay at this late hour?"

Mei Qing hesitated for a moment before saying, "Let's find an inn to stay in first, and then look for a place to stay tomorrow."

The little boy pouted and his eyes were red, but he did not expose his mother's lie.

Don’t think he doesn’t know that there are only a few dozen copper coins left at home, how can he afford to stay in an inn!
Old Man Wen naturally saw that the mother and son were poor and destitute. He didn't want to invite the orphan and widow to come to his house, so he just secretly poked Wen Wan with his elbow.

Wen Wan secretly pulled away Old Man Wen's hand, then leaned against the window again, "Madam Mei, if you don't mind, please stay at my house for a few days."

Mei Qing refused, but Wen Wan silenced her with one sentence, "Starting tomorrow, you must keep the Wen family's account books in order. If there are any mistakes or omissions, your wages will be deducted."

Arriving at the Wen residence, Wen Wan immediately ushered the person inside and instructed Lu Ping, "This is Madam Mei. There are no extra rooms in the house, so I will temporarily place her in the study. You make a bed in the study and have her three meals a day delivered on time."

Lu Ping wondered, there are several rooms in the backyard, why did the girl put him in the study?
Could it be that the eldest girl wants to use the name of "temporary residence" to let Madam Mei settle the accounts of the Wen family?

Lu Ping didn't dare to ask, but she vaguely realized that the girl and Mei Niang had something to talk about, so she took An Zhongrong away.

(End of this chapter)