Chapter 99 The Dead Don't Block the Road

After finally passing the fifteenth day of the lunar month, I finally have some peace and quiet.

After the fifteenth day of the lunar month, the festive atmosphere gradually fades away and everything begins to return to normal.

Because the goal of opening a branch in Beijing was set this year, both Xu Shuhe and Chen Zhi were full of fighting spirit and enthusiasm.

It was almost seamless and I got right into work.

"Young Madam, I heard today that Madam sent someone to deliver a letter to the Liang family these two days, asking the eldest daughter to bring the child back to stay for a few days, but the eldest daughter refused."

Xu Shuhe returned home in the afternoon. Xinyue, who stayed in the mansion to handle miscellaneous affairs, reported in.

"Rejected?" Xu Shuhe was a little surprised. He took off his thick cloak and walked to the stove to warm his hands. "That's strange. I think they are usually very close."

"I also find it strange, but the eldest lady seemed to say that the weather has been cold recently and she has been feeling unwell, so she doesn't go out since she is pregnant." Xinyue handed over a cup of hot tea.

Xu Shuhe took it and said, "Then I'm afraid my mother-in-law will be very disappointed."

"That's right. She has never been truly kind to the eldest girl and our third young master. I can see that. Every time she calls the eldest girl back, she is using her as a weapon to make trouble for you." Xinyue showed disgust on her face.

Meixiang continued, "But I think the eldest brother-in-law is a sensible person, and so is the wife of the Liang family. Ever since the eldest daughter got pregnant with her second child, the Liang family has been keeping a closer eye on her. They probably don't want the eldest daughter to have much contact with the man in our house."

Indeed, according to Chen Yurong's own personality, as soon as Feng Shi had any trouble, she would rush back to her parents' home to support her.

If he doesn't come now, maybe someone won't allow him to, or maybe he really has a brain?
Anyway, it doesn't look like he's not feeling well. After all, I heard from the servants in the mansion that when the second day of the New Year came, the man had a rosy complexion and looked in very good spirits.

"Anyway, keep an eye on it. My mother-in-law will be very troublesome." Xu Shuhe said, and finally raised his hand to rub his temple. "This business is too good and it's tiring. The Rouge Shop is more prosperous than Yunshang Pavilion. I feel dizzy from checking the accounts."

Rouge is cheaper than cloth and ready-made clothes, making it something that girls can afford.

Now that the quality and reputation have improved, business is naturally good.

Mei Xiang smiled lightly, "Young Madam feels tired, I will give you a shoulder massage. The rouge in our store is indeed selling well, especially after Young Madam's instruction, the master has mixed more colors. Just the lip balm alone has many more varieties than other stores. The store also sells it according to the sales tactics taught by Young Madam. Not to mention others, I am also tempted. I also bought two boxes of lip balm during the Chinese New Year."

"It is indeed beautiful. Many maids in the mansion are saving their monthly allowance to buy it." Xinyue followed.

Xu Shuhe was naturally happy to hear that.

"It seems like you two are very excited. Go to the store tomorrow and pick out two boxes of what you like. It doesn't matter what they are. I'll pay for them."

Hearing this, Xinyue and Meixiang were also happy and hurried to express their gratitude.

However, the atmosphere in Fuyunju is good, but the scene in Wanshuangzhai is completely different.

"What has Jin'er been busy with recently? Is she doing well?" Feng lowered her eyes and twisted a string of emerald jade beads in her hand.

Li Mingzhu sat next to him, carefully and respectfully, "Mother-in-law, my husband has been working in the store on time every day recently, and has not been involved in any bad things."

Hearing this, Feng raised her eyelids and raised her hand.

"Mother-in-law, have some tea." Li Mingzhu immediately offered the teacup tactfully.

Feng took it and took a sip. "That's good. If Jin'er causes the same trouble again, you can't escape the blame. I only have two children, Jin'er and Xun'er. Xun'er will definitely pass the imperial examination this autumn. I don't think you want to see the gap between the two brothers in the future. It will be embarrassing for you then."

"Yes, your daughter-in-law will definitely encourage your husband to make progress." Li Mingzhu said obediently.

"What's the point of just urging him to make progress?" Feng snorted coldly, with a fierce light flashing in her eyes. "Xun'er is the only one in our family who can study, but Jin'er is in business, but there is a third brother blocking his way. If the third brother keeps blocking him, when will Jin'er be able to stand out in front of his father? And the one-tenth of the shares will really be crushed in the hands of the third brother."

Hearing this, Li Mingzhu's pupils shrank slightly, and then she pursed her lips and said.

"Mother-in-law, do you want your daughter-in-law to find a way to deal with the third brother and his wife?"

Feng naturally had this idea. After all, she now saw the constraints that the Liang family had on Chen Yurong, and her hope of using Chen Yurong to get things done was almost shattered. The best knife at hand was only Li Mingzhu.

"My daughter-in-law is dull, please tell me clearly." Li Mingzhu lowered her head. Just kidding, she would not charge into battle, she had to drag Feng along.

Otherwise, when something happens, the idea was hers, the thing was done by her, Feng will clear herself of all responsibility, and she will be the only one to bear the consequences.

Feng took a glance at her and knew that this daughter-in-law was not Chen Yurong and was not so stupid and easy to control.

So he put down the teacup and said, "When a person dies, he won't get in the way."

After saying this, Li Mingzhu was shocked and subconsciously looked up at Feng. However, she saw a terrifying sinister look in Feng's eyes, which didn't seem like a joke at all.

"Think about it carefully. Now that they are gone, all their money and property will be ours." Feng said coldly.

Li Mingzhu pursed her lips tightly and did not dare to respond immediately.

This matter is too big. She is young and cannot be as ruthless as Feng.

When leaving Wanshuangzhai, the cold wind made people feel chilled.

Li Mingzhu quickly returned to Ju Rui Tang and sat by the fireplace with a cup of hot tea. Only then did her mood calm down a little.

However, before she could think carefully about what Feng had just said, she heard hurried footsteps coming from the yard.

The next moment, Chen Jin's personal servant Liu Qiao rushed into the room and knelt down in front of her.

"Second Young Madam, please save the Second Young Master!"

"What are you doing? What happened to the second young master?" Li Mingzhu frowned and asked sternly.

Liu Qiao raised his head and saw several bruises on his face. It was obvious that he had been beaten. He cried now.

"Liushuntang said that if you don't send 1,000 taels of silver notes today, they will chop off one of the young master's hands!"

Upon hearing this, Li Mingzhu was stunned.

It was the head maid Qiao Xing who stepped forward to ask, "What is Liu Shun Tang? Why are you trying to blackmail me?"

"Liushuntang is... a gambling house. The young master went there to play a few rounds during the New Year and owed some money. Now the interest is compounded."

Before Liu Qiao could finish his words, Li Mingzhu screamed sharply.

"Gambling house?! He went to the gambling house again?!"

"Young Madam"

Liu Qiao, lying on the ground, was trembling.

Li Mingzhu didn't give him a chance to speak. She grabbed the teacup beside her and threw it at him, eyes full of anger.

"I don't have any money, you should ask Liu Shun Tang to kill him!"

"Madam, Liu Shun Tang has the support of the government. Even if they really kill the young master, we can't do anything about it. Please think of a way to redeem the young master with 1,000 taels. They said that if I don't bring the money before dark, they will send the young master's severed hand to the door of our house!"

Liu Qiao continued to beg with gritted teeth.

Li Mingzhu was so angry that her chest ached and she could barely stand.

But what else could she do? Could she really just watch Chen Jin get his hands chopped off?

In the end, he gritted his teeth and paid another thousand taels to let Liu Qiao redeem the person.

But Li Mingzhu didn't expect that the trouble Chen Jin had caused was much more than just a mere one thousand taels.