I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 4 Face to Face Confrontation
"what happened?"

Zhao Sheng cried, "Miss, I am useless. Not only did the Cloth Shop not make any profit this year, but it suffered a serious loss."

Tang Zhao was curious, "How much is the loss?"

"My preliminary calculations put the total at around eight hundred taels."

Tang Zhao laughed out of anger. No wonder the previous manager gave the money so readily. It turned out that he was waiting here!
"Could you please explain why Bu Yi Fang, located in one of the busiest commercial areas on Zhengyang Street, has become unprofitable under your management?"

"Besides, the account book you submitted clearly states that Buyifang received a large order worth over a hundred taels in the first half of the year."

Zhao Sheng stopped crying. Didn’t Nanny An guarantee that the eldest lady only knew how to eat, drink and have fun, and knew nothing about other things?

He had carefully corrected the account book before handing it in, and hid this account carefully. How did the young lady see it?!
After all, Zhao Sheng had been the head shopkeeper for over twenty years. He quickly recovered after the panic and said, "Miss, you are wise. The Cloth Shop did receive a large order worth over a hundred taels. It is precisely because of this order that the Cloth Shop suffered such a serious loss."

"In May of this year, the Liaozhou Cloth Shop placed an order with our Cloth Shop for twenty rolls of silk and satin and over a hundred rolls of linen. They were scheduled to be delivered before winter. As soon as I received the order, I immediately ordered preparations and arranged for the caravan to deliver the goods in batches. Everything was going smoothly, but who knew..."

Zhao Sheng paused here, raised his head quietly, but met the eldest lady's cold eyes, and his hair stood on end instantly.

"Who knows what?" Seeing that no one responded, Nanny An hurriedly spoke.

Zhao Sheng's eyes darted around, and he spoke more cautiously. "Who knew that half a month ago, the caravan received news that a night watchman accidentally knocked over an oil lamp and burned the last batch of goods?"

"Bu Yi Fang failed to deliver on time. According to the contract, they were required to pay one thousand taels of silver in compensation, including principal and interest. However, there was only a little over two hundred taels of silver in cash on hand. After deducting the amount reserved for the shop's turnover, there was still a shortfall of eight hundred taels of silver."

There was dead silence in the room.

"You mean, you want me to pay this money?"

Although the tone was calm, Zhao Sheng could hear three parts anger and seven parts unkindness in it, and beads of sweat the size of beans covered his forehead.

"I dare not! I only ask for the young lady's grace to help Buyifang overcome its difficulties. I swear that next year I will work hard to manage the business and repay the young lady's money!"

"Let's talk about next year's affairs next year." Tang Zhao didn't like to make empty promises to her employees, and she also didn't like her employees making empty promises to her, especially those that were so dry and smelly. "Manager Zhao, answer me a question."

"I will tell you everything I know."

"Since Bu Yi Fang is struggling to make a living," Tang Zhao said slowly, "then where did you get the money to hold a banquet and take in a concubine ten days ago?"

Like a loud thunder exploding beside his ears, Zhao Sheng looked up in horror and saw a girl of about seventeen or eighteen years old sitting upright on a high seat, looking at him with her head tilted. There was only curiosity on her face, and no trace of anger could be found.

He smiled apologetically and said, "I have already married a wife thanks to Madam's kindness, so where did I get a concubine?"

"So what you're saying is that Little Peach Lady at the end of Taohua Village in Xinli County has nothing to do with you anymore?"

Zhao Sheng's vision went dark and he had to bite his tongue hard to stay awake.

He didn't know why the eldest lady still found out about this matter even though he did it so secretly, but he would never admit it!
"My dear Miss, please understand. I really don't know what you mean. Someone must have framed me!"

Yes, someone must have framed him! Who was it, the second-in-command, or one of the employees?

Nanny An was also startled. Seeing Zhao Sheng so panicked, she knew that this story was probably true. She hated him to death, but she could only chime in. "Miss, Zhao Sheng's family is a first-class maidservant by Madam's side, and is the most valued by Madam. How could he have the guts to take a concubine behind her back?"

"So that's how it is, no wonder..."

No wonder? Nanny An always felt that this sentence had a profound meaning, but she couldn't figure it out for the time being.

"It doesn't matter if you don't recognize him, someone will help you identify him," Tang Zhao ordered, "Bring him in." Chunfeng quickly led the person in.

It was Xiao Tao Niang's family of five.

Zhao Sheng looked at the person who came with trembling hands, feeling dizzy.

It was the first time for Xiao Taoniang and her family to enter the palace. They were so frightened that they turned pale. As soon as they entered, they knelt on the ground and dared not look up.

Chunfeng said gently, "Don't be afraid. I just want to ask you a question. As long as you tell the truth, I will definitely not make things difficult for you."

"Look at this person kneeling next to you. Do you recognize him?"

After hearing this, Xiao Taoniang and her family felt relieved. They mustered up the courage to look to the side, and were horrified. "Mr. Zhao, are you Mr. Zhao?"

Zhao Sheng lowered his head and dodged.

How could Xiao Tao Niang not recognize her new husband? Although she grew up in the village, she also understood the situation. Her family had lived in Taohua Village all their lives. Not to mention coming to Luoyang, they had only been to the county town a few times. How could they possibly provoke the royal palace!

That’s the royal palace!

"Mr. Zhao, what did you do? I asked you what you did! Didn't you say you were going out for business? How could you," end up offending the palace?

Xiao Tao Niang was shocked, frightened and angry, and fought desperately.

Zhao Sheng didn't dare to fight back. He dodged and said, "How dare you, crazy woman, bite me so recklessly? I don't even know you!"

"You don't know me?" Xiao Tao Niang cried angrily, "Why did you marry me if you didn't know me? Why did you spend your wedding night with me if you didn't know me?"

Seeing that things were getting increasingly amiss, Chun Feng quickly interrupted and asked Xiao Tao Niang, "Are you sure he's the husband you married ten days ago?"

"I'm sure," Xiao Tao Niang said, not daring to make any more noise in front of the people in the palace. "The man I married will naturally not admit his mistake."

"Is there any evidence?"

"Yes, he has a red mole on the inside of his thigh," Xiao Tao Niang cried.

"Someone, come and drag him down to have a look," Chunfeng said outside.

"Yes," the two black-clad guards responded.

When Nanny An saw Zhao Sheng being dragged away like a dead pig by the guards covering his mouth, she felt truly terrified.

The young lady was well prepared!
Less than a cup of tea later, the guard returned with someone, "Madam, this person does have a red mole on the inside of his right leg."

Tang Zhao nodded, "Thank you for your hard work."

“I dare not,” the guard retreated back to guard the door.

"Mr. Zhao, at this point, are you still trying to quibble?!" Qiuyu couldn't stand it anymore and asked sternly.

"Miss, please spare my life, please spare my life!" Zhao Sheng was stunned for a long time, and suddenly he woke up with a start and crawled forward with all four limbs. "Miss, I was wrong, I know I was wrong! Please spare my life, I will be loyal to you and repay your kindness!"

Seeing the man who used to be so domineering in front of her family now begging for mercy like a dog, calling her "young lady" over and over again, Xiao Taoniang knew that the girl sitting in the main seat was the real boss. She immediately kowtowed and said, "Please, my dear, make the decision!"

(End of this chapter)