Wanjin Lady

Chapter 93: Killing Pigs Again
Wen Wan understood.

These two people are just like the leeks chasing high prices in the stock market.

The grain collected near Ping County was not so lost that they had nothing left, but these two people were greedy and bought a lot of it at high prices along the way.

I thought I could make a fortune this time, but the trend took a sharp turn for the worse and was finally cut in half!
These two people...I'm afraid they lost everything in Bingzhou.

Thinking of Yuan Liulang's distorted face, Wen Wan made up her mind to hide her true identity.

Although she was not afraid of Yuan Liulang, she did not want to make enemies.

The Wen family winery is currently under attack from all sides and has no qualifications to compete with the Cheng family.

Zhu Wang's eyes were red with anxiety. He took two steps forward and took Wen Weiming's hand. "Brother Wen, I was wrong. I, Old Zhu, sincerely apologize to you. Our families have been friends for more than ten years. I shouldn't have abandoned my old brother for a few small things. I originally thought that climbing up the ladder of Yuan Liulang was equivalent to climbing up the Cheng family, but who knew that such a high branch is not so easy to climb? This time, I fell to pieces and realized the severity of the situation. But there is no medicine for regret in this world..."

Wen Wan asked curiously, "What benefits did Yuan Liulang promise you?"

Zhu Wang's eyes flashed. He thought that since he had already torn his relationship with Yuan Jing, he naturally had to win over the Wen family, who were also at odds with the Yuan family. So he said without hiding anything, "He said that after the matter is completed, I will provide the food and fodder needed for the Cheng family winery."

Shopkeeper Zhu's face was filled with annoyance again, and he looked at Wen Weiming hesitantly, "Come to think of it, this Yuan Liulang is after you, my brother!"

Wen Weiming's eyelids twitched.

Although he had heard Wen Wan analyze Yuan Liulang's purpose before, Wen Weiming was still frightened when he heard Manager Zhu confirm it with his own ears.

"This matter... anyone with a discerning eye can see it." Wen Wan's slender fingers tapped on the table. The young lady's face was calm, and her tone was neither arrogant nor impatient. "The news about Manager Zhu is outdated."

"Then I'll serve you a real dish!" Zhu Wang's expression turned fierce. "Does your niece know why Yuan Liulang is interested in your Wen family's winery?"

Oh?
I really don’t know this.

"The Cheng family has two or three workshops in the southeast, but the Changchun wine they've produced has been subpar since last year, lacking the richness and sweetness of the past. I heard that the Director of the Shangyun Bureau intends to withdraw the Cheng family's tribute wine, so the Cheng family is searching for a replacement. The Wen family's winery... has an underground spring, perfect for making wine. This time, the Third Branch of the Yuan family is here prepared, determined to seize the winery and claim credit from Madam Yuan."

Wen Weiming and Wen Wan's expressions changed slightly.

If this is true, the situation is worse than Wen Wan expected.

"Is the news authentic?"

"Absolutely true!" Zhu Wang patted his chest and assured, "Yuan Jia Liu Lang is a brat with a straight face. After three cups of yellow wine, he will spit out everything."

Wenwan frowned and remained silent.

Wen Weiming also stood there in silence.

Seeing that he had frightened the two men, Zhu Wang continued, "So, our two families are brothers in distress. Given the current situation, we should join forces to deal with Yuan Liulang."

Wen Wan stared at Zhu Wang and asked, "Was it Yuan Liulang who ordered Shi Jinquan to take away the account books?"

Zhu Wang sighed in his heart: This young lady has such sharp eyes! And such a quick mind!
He actually connected these things together so quickly!
"I don't know. But before Shi Jinquan left, he met Yuan Liulang. At that time, Yuan Liulang wanted to win over Shi Jinquan, but Shi Jinquan refused. I don't know what the two talked about afterwards."

Seeing that neither the Wen father nor daughter reacted, Zhu Wang grew anxious. He had a falling out with Yuan Liulang over the grain sale, and looking back, he realized he had acted too impulsively. Yuan Liulang was a petty and vindictive man; having angered him, he feared his fate would be no different from that of the Wen family's winery.

Zhu Wang finally revealed his true intentions and urged the two of them to join forces. "Brother Wen, instead of fighting alone, why don't we join forces to deal with Yuan Liulang? Let's get rid of Yuan Liulang... It doesn't matter where he goes, as long as he stays out of the territory of Ping County!"

Old Man Wen was completely bewildered and had no idea what to do. Wen Wan smiled and said, "Manager Zhu, please don't try to fool us. The Cheng family's winery is a wealthy and powerful family. How could they look down on a small workshop like ours in a remote village? We are separated from Bozhou by hundreds of miles of mountain roads."

Wen Weiming looked at Wen Wan in confusion.

Isn’t my daughter certain that Yuan Liulang and Shi Jinquan are in collusion?

Why are you denying it now?

Zhu Wang was so anxious that he jumped up and down. "Niece, you seem smart on weekdays, but why are you so confused at the critical moment? They're almost at your door, and you still don't believe that the Yuan family has evil intentions towards you?"

Wen Wan said nonchalantly, "Didn't Uncle Zhu just say that? Shi Jinquan refused Yuan Liulang's solicitation. Shi Jinquan emptied the account books himself and ran away because he was afraid that I would audit the accounts after taking over the winery. This shows that this matter has nothing to do with Yuan Liulang."

"Besides, the story about him wanting to seize my winery is completely false. We just so happen to owe Xinlong Bank one thousand taels of silver. If Yuan Liulang offers a reasonable price, we can sell this winery. Then I can take my father back home and retire to enjoy my remaining years."

Zhu Wang was so anxious that he slapped his thigh and said "ouch". He thought to himself that Wen Wan was short of knowledge and that the Wen family winery would be ruined sooner or later if Wen Wan was the one in charge!
"Niece, how could you be so foolish? Forget about anything else, just why did Yuan Liulang come all the way to Ping County to collect grain? Wasn't it just to cut off your Wen Family Winery's escape route? Who in business doesn't have a ruthless heart? When they take advantage of you and rob you, you won't even have a place to cry!"

Wen Wan shook her head with a look of conviction. "The Cheng family is a royal merchant family after all. I don't believe they would act so despicable. Shopkeeper Zhu is the same. The two families are just having some business frictions. We can just set up a table and talk it out. Why make a big fuss? When it comes to business, it's better to be amicable."

"I... I can't make sense to you!" Zhu Wang looked at Wen Weiming again, his eyes burning with anticipation for him to speak. Wen Weiming scratched his hands, coughed softly, and also looked bewildered. "This... this... Wan Niang is right. When doing business, everyone has to be friendly."

"I do it!" Zhu Wang stormed out in anger. "Damn, what a room full of idiots!"

"Sooner or later, the Yuan family will eat them until nothing is left!"

"Forget it! If I hang out with you fools, sooner or later I'll be brought down!"

Zhu Wang cursed as he walked, and soon his voice disappeared in the winery.

Wen Wan squinted her eyes and smiled: "Oh, this pig is very angry."

Wen Weiming rubbed his hands together like a child and excitedly came behind Wen Wan, his eyes sparking with fire. "Daughter, the New Year is almost here. Are we going to slaughter a pig?"

Wen Wan was speechless, "Why kill a pig?"

"You...just fooled Zhu Wang for a long time, weren't you preparing to kill the pig?"

Old Man Wen sounded quite disappointed.

Wen Wan smiled, "Shopkeeper Zhu is a thousand-year-old man, who knows if what he said is true or not?"

"But what if it's true?"

"If it's true... he'll be jumping up and down like he was when he left just now, and even anxiously looking for evidence to convince us. If it's fake, we won't go along with him."

(End of this chapter)