After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 255 The Fang Family Residence in the Suburbs

At this moment, the third master of the Fang family was excitedly telling the eldest and second masters of the Fang family the good news that he had persuaded Manager Guo.

Grandpa Fang was delighted to hear this.

After half a year, the Fang family had finally waited for this day.

Second Master Fang nodded slightly, but his tightly furrowed brows did not relax.

Thinking there might be something wrong with the matter, Third Master Fang hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Second Brother, is there something amiss with this matter?"

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Fang immediately sat up straight and looked at Second Master Fang, knowing that the fate of the Fang family now rested entirely on this matter.

If they cannot successfully drive the Du and Zhang families out of the cloth business, the Fang family will likely have no place to stand.

What will the Fang family of over a hundred people live on then? Won't all those they offended before come crawling back like leeches?
Grandpa Fang dared not think any further.

Fang Erye noticed his elder brother's reaction and immediately explained, "Elder brother, third brother, there's nothing wrong with it."

"I was just feeling a little disappointed."

Upon hearing this, Third Master Fang and First Master Fang glared angrily at Second Master Fang, saying, "At this point, what are you still lamenting about? Now it's either the Du family who will die, or our Fang family who will die."

"Second brother, I know you are meticulous, but sometimes you can be a bit indecisive."

Master Fang pursed his lips and remained silent, but a strange feeling lingered in his heart, making him feel somewhat uneasy.

But if you think about it in more detail, you don't have any clue.

Seeing that Second Master Fang still looked preoccupied, Grandpa Fang had no choice but to turn to Third Master Fang and say, "Third Master Fang, you can handle the rest of the matter as well."

Fang Sanye suddenly looked up and his eyes lit up. You see, he had always been a tool of his eldest and second eldest brothers in the Fang family. Although his eldest and second eldest brothers had asked him to participate this time, it was only to ask him to go and have a drink with the manager of the Du family and talk about small business.

As for the subsequent operational arrangements, his eldest and second eldest brothers never allowed him to get involved.

Master Fang quickly shook his head, "Brother, I've always handled the goods, so let me do it this time."

Seeing that his second brother still didn't believe him, Third Master Fang pouted in annoyance.

Grandpa Fang said, "Second brother, third brother has made some progress these days, and we two have been watching over Manager Guo's affairs."

"Let him handle this one."

Master Fang knew that Master Fang was annoyed by his hesitant attitude earlier, so he could not say anything more and could only nod in agreement.

Third Master Fang walked excitedly to Second Master Fang and stretched out his hand with a grin.

"Second brother, can I have the key?"

Second Master Fang glanced at Third Master Fang, sighed softly, and handed a bunch of keys from his pocket to Third Master Fang. He then instructed, "Third Brother, Bai Wanqing is no pushover. You must be careful in your actions."

Third Master Fang nodded and said, "I know, Second Brother, don't worry."

“I’ve already suffered at the hands of that woman, and I’m determined not to suffer again this time.”

After everything was settled, Grandpa Fang and Second Grandpa Fang each returned to their respective courtyards.

Master Fang was secretly delighted. He had finally gotten to show off in the Fang family. He usually looked down on his steward, and now he wasn't going to let this opportunity to put on airs slip by.

So he ordered someone to summon the Fang family's steward.

At this moment, Cheng Susu and Bai Wanqing were secretly observing everything from the rooftop.

Perhaps because she had been in the same position for too long, Cheng Susu felt a sharp pain in her chest and almost fell off the roof, but was fortunately caught by Bai Wanqing.

Bai Wanqing looked at Cheng Susu with concern, her eyes asking: Are you alright?

Cheng Susu quickly regained her composure and gave Bai Wanqing a reassuring look, "I'm fine."

Bai Wanqing still felt uneasy, so she reached out and grabbed Cheng Susu's wrist, intending to leave first.

Cheng Susu knew that Bai Wanqing had not yet found out what she was waiting for, so she stubbornly refused to move.

Bai Wanqing pulled, and Cheng Susu tugged, but neither of them moved an inch.

Just as Bai Wanqing was about to speak, Cheng Susu suddenly made a shushing gesture and pointed down.

The head steward of the Fang family had already arrived, so Bai Wanqing had no choice but to give up and the two listened carefully to the conversation of the servants below.

The head steward of the Fang family has always looked down on the third master of the Fang family, so he never bows or scrapes when he sees the third master.

This had been making Third Master Fang very unhappy, and now he was watching the Fang family's head steward with great interest.

Uncle Kui, the head steward of the Fang family, stood up straight and looked directly at the Third Master without the slightest fear.

Fang Sanye gritted his teeth, took out the key that his second brother had just given him, and waved it in front of Uncle Kui.

"Uncle Kui, you'll probably be at my beck and call for the next few days."

The head steward of the Fang family replied expressionlessly, "Then please give your instructions, Third Master."

What Fang Sanye hated most was Uncle Kui's cold and aloof demeanor. He was always kind and loving to his eldest and second brothers, but when it came to him, he acted as if Uncle Kui was a sinner of the Fang family, and was just so unlikable.

Master Fang wanted to point his finger at Uncle Kui and teach him a lesson, but just as he was about to stand up, he realized he didn't have the guts and had to sit back down.

"The Fang family is about to receive a large shipment of goods."

"Uncle Kui, could you arrange a place for us to store our goods?"

Uncle Kui raised his eyelids, stared at Third Master Fang and said, "Third Master is very thoughtful. Second Master had already given instructions about the goods, and I have made all the arrangements. We are just waiting for the goods to arrive."

Third Master Fang tightened his grip on the key slightly. It was Second Brother again. How come it looked like he had gotten a great credit?

"Uncle Kui, you may not know the quantity of this shipment."

"The original warehouse probably won't be able to hold it."

Before Master Fang could finish speaking, Uncle Kui interjected, "Don't worry, Third Master. Second Master instructed us long ago that our warehouse is now more than enough to handle the amount of goods you mentioned."

"We could fit even twice as many."

Third Master Fang's face instantly fell. Second Master Fang, Second Master Fang, it's Second Master Fang again.
"Is that so!" Third Master Fang's tone instantly turned cold. "Then I'll trouble Uncle Kui to take me there now."

"Let me learn more from my second brother and see where exactly this place is that can hold so many goods?"

"I'm afraid that's not appropriate," Uncle Kui refused decisively.

Third Master Fang's face was contorted with rage. "Uncle Kui!" Third Master Fang roared, "Have you forgotten that no matter how much your elder brothers dote on you, you're still just a dog of the Fang family?"

Uncle Kui's expression finally changed.

Seeing Uncle Kui's grim expression, Third Master Fang's anger subsided by half. He smiled and said, "Uncle Kui, now I want to go see the warehouse you mentioned. Is that alright or not?"

Uncle Kui was clearly somewhat helpless, but knowing his own position, he could only reply, "Of course."

The gloom in Third Master Fang's heart instantly dissipated, and he burst into laughter.

That's more like it! As the dignified third master of the Fang family, he deserves this kind of treatment.

Uncle Kui quickly arranged a carriage, and under the cover of night, Third Master Fang quietly boarded the carriage. Uncle Kui personally drove the carriage, and the two soon left the Fang family.

Bai Wanqing and Cheng Susu rode their horses behind them, heading towards the outskirts of Yangzhou.

Fang Sanye's carriage stopped outside a house in the far suburbs.

Uncle Kui said something to Third Master Fang while standing by the carriage, and Third Master Fang jumped down from the carriage.

The two entered the house one after the other.

Bai Wanqing and Cheng Susu then followed behind them and jumped in as well.

Fang Sanye was so shocked by the huge mansion in front of him that he was speechless. "Uncle Kui, I remember this place is haunted. Why did you bring me here?"

Third Master Fang grew up in Yangzhou. From as far back as he could remember, he knew that many strange things had happened on this wasteland. As a result, the surrounding families moved away one after another, and over time, the land became deserted. He didn't know when his Fang family had built a house here, let alone such a large one.

Uncle Kui glanced at the startled Third Master Fang beside him and sighed, "Third Master, this house was built by the Great Master when Second Master was six years old."

"It's a secret of the Fang family, so please don't reveal it to anyone, Third Master."

Third Master Fang was stunned. What? Six years old? His second brother was already suggesting building a house at the age of six?
Master Fang was quite shocked. He knew his second brother had been pampered since childhood, but he didn't know that his second brother had displayed talent at such a young age. No wonder his father and eldest brother didn't think much of him.
Although Fang Sanye still looked unconvinced, he was inwardly apprehensive.

He followed Uncle Kui to a courtyard in the southwest corner of the house. There were dozens of rooms in the house, and Uncle Kui casually pushed open one of them.

Master Fang gasped. The environment of this room must have been prepared by his second brother. It was quite suitable for storing cloth.

"Are all the houses in this courtyard empty?"

"Are they all in the same condition as this room?" Third Master Fang asked, somewhat stammering.

The head steward of the Fang family nodded, "That's right, Third Master, that's exactly right."

Master Fang then had Uncle Kui show him two more houses, and just as Uncle Kui had said, they were both empty and the conditions were dry and suitable.

Just as Master Fang was about to wander around some more, he suddenly heard the sound of tiles breaking on the roof.

Fang Sanye felt a jolt in his heart, and his back instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

Uncle Kui looked up at the roof with a sense of alertness, but he found nothing except the vast darkness of night.

Master Fang shuddered and instantly lost interest in the house. He began urging Uncle Kui to leave as soon as possible.

He simply remembered the rumors about this place, and the more he thought about it, the more eerie it seemed.

The head steward of the Fang family knew what kind of personality their third master had, and it would be better if he wanted to leave.

So, following Master Fang's instructions, the two quickly left the house.

Before leaving, Uncle Kui carefully checked the courtyard again, inside and out, and only left with Third Master Fang after confirming that no one was there.

Bai Wanqing and Cheng Susu climbed out of the water vat in the courtyard only after they saw that there was no more movement outside.

Cheng Susu, leaning against the water vat, gasped for breath, "That scared me to death!"

"I thought I was going to suffocate in the water tank!"

Bai Wanqing was also panting heavily, but her breathing was noticeably less labored than Cheng Susu's. She glanced at Cheng Susu and asked, "Are you alright?"

Cheng Susu touched her chest, shook her head, and said, "I'm fine!"

"But Wanqing, aren't we going back to the Fang family mansion with them now?"

Bai Wanqing shook her head, "No need, this is the place we've been looking for these past few days."

Cheng Susu was somewhat puzzled, "This place? Just an empty house?"

Bai Wanqing didn't know how to answer either. She pulled Cheng Susu along and explored the house by house.

Empty! Empty! It's all empty.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Bai Wanqing's eyes. Could it be that the Fang family really only intended to defeat the Du family with huge losses?

But what's the point? Even if the Du family withdraws from the cloth business in Jiangnan, they still have businesses in the Northwest and the capital.

These losses will eventually be wiped out.

Bai Wanqing suddenly seemed confused, her expression turning serious, which made Cheng Susu tense up as well.

"What's wrong? Did we miss something?" Cheng Susu asked.

Bai Wanqing looked at the empty courtyard and shook her head. "Perhaps I was wrong."

Seeing Bai Wanqing's disappointed expression, Cheng Susu stepped forward and patted her on the shoulder, "So what if you were wrong!"

"At least, we already know most of their secrets."

"When they bring the cloth here, we can just have the prefect of Yangzhou come here to find it!"

"Catch the Fang family and Manager Guo red-handed!"

"Let's see how they deny it now!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a gust of cold wind blew by, and Cheng Susu couldn't help but sneeze.

Bai Wanqing slowly came to her senses. Su Su was right, but why would the Fang family do this? Wasn't this blatantly giving her an opportunity to embarrass the Fang family?

So what exactly did she miss?

Just as Bai Wanqing was deep in thought, Cheng Susu sneezed again.

Bai Wanqing then remembered that the two of them were still soaking wet.

"Susu, let's go back now!" Bai Wanqing suggested.

Cheng Susu crossed her arms over her chest, her whole body shivering from the cold. She tried to speak properly, but didn't realize that her teeth were chattering as she spoke.

"Okay, let's go back now!"

Bai Wanqing looked up at Cheng Susu, whose face was purple from the cold. "Never mind, Susu, let's find a place to dry our clothes first."

Cheng Susu's consciousness began to blur, and she could only nod mechanically.

Bai Wanqing helped Cheng Susu, trying to find the kitchen in the house, but she didn't expect that the Fang family's house was so big, yet there was no place to start a fire.

Bai Wanqing could sense that Susu's body could no longer support her, so she had no choice but to choose the courtyard closest to them and help Susu inside.

As soon as the two entered the courtyard, Bai Wanqing noticed that this courtyard seemed different from the others.

The corridors of the other courtyards were not decorated with lanterns, but the corridors of this courtyard were covered with lanterns.

"Susu, hang in there a little longer. We'll find a place where you can change into my clothes first," Bai Wanqing said, touching the clothes she was wearing.

Cheng Susu was in a daze and wanted to shake her head, but she had no strength at all, so she could only follow Bai Wanqing's strength.

Bai Wanqing pushed open the door of the nearest room. Because it was dark, they couldn't see the furnishings clearly, but Bai Wanqing could tell that this room was not empty like the other rooms they had just visited; there was something inside.

Bai Wanqing carried Cheng Susu on her back and tiptoed slowly into the room.

The room was not small, but it was filled with stacks of wooden crates.

Could this be where the Fang family keeps their silver? Bai Wanqing had a question in her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

If it really is a warehouse, how could it not have a lock, and how could it not be guarded!
Bai Wanqing searched the room thoroughly and, finding no danger, put Su Su down from her back.

Her most important task right now was to help Susu change her soaked clothes. With that in mind, Bai Wanqing reached out to untie Susu's sash.

Cheng Susu frowned, seemingly sensing someone undressing her. She quickly opened her eyes and pushed Bai Wanqing's hand away.

Bai Wanqing cried out in pain, a sound that brought Cheng Susu back to her senses.

"Wanqing, it's you! Did I hurt you just now?" Susu said apologetically, taking Wanqing's hand and stroking it repeatedly.

Bai Wanqing shook her head, enduring the pain, and said, "It's nothing! I'm sorry, I scared you just now."

"Wanqing, where is this? What are you doing?"

Bai Wanqing told Cheng Susu about her idea of ​​having her change into her own clothes, and Cheng Susu quickly waved her hand.

"How can that be! That icy water, that bone-chilling cold, how can I let you experience it a second time!"

"Besides, if you can dry your clothes with your body heat, so can I!" Cheng Susu said defiantly despite her weakness.

(End of this chapter)