Chapter 328: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 328: Arrogance Backed by Power (3)
Saying that, Shopkeeper Gou turned to leave.
"Hold on!" Young Master Xue called out.
Shopkeeper Gou thought there might be a turnaround, and his heart lifted with hope. His face donned a flattering smile, "What can I do for you, Young Master? Just say the word, and I’ll make sure it’s done right!"
Young Master Xue, growing impatient, said, "Go call Shopkeeper Song here for me. All you're good for is running errands!"
Shopkeeper Gou seethed with anger, barely keeping his smile intact. "I’ll go right away!" He turned and left quickly.
At that moment, Shopkeeper Song was lounging in a corridor, basking in the sun with a pot of fragrant tea nearby. The tea, a rare Pu'er gifted by Young Master Xue, was highly valuable.
When Shopkeeper Gou entered and saw this leisurely scene, his already smoldering anger flared up, and he spoke in a sarcastic tone, "Shopkeeper Song, you truly know how to live. Your days seem more relaxed than those of our masters."
Shopkeeper Song raised an eyebrow but didn't get angry. "Those who are capable work harder! I could never compare to Brother Gou."
His attempt at mockery backfired, making Shopkeeper Gou even angrier. He wanted to beat this favored man senseless but restrained himself, gritting his teeth. "Young Master is in his study and wants to see you immediately. If you're late, don't blame me for not warning you."
Shopkeeper Song wasn't surprised. He stood up and cupped his hands toward Shopkeeper Gou. "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Gou. I'll head there right away."
Shopkeeper Gou glared at him with hatred before turning and leaving in a huff. He hurried home to ask his wife to send a message to their beloved daughter in the inner courtyard. He wanted his daughter to sweet-talk Young Master Xue on his behalf, as long as Shopkeeper Song was around, he wouldn't have a place in Young Master Xue's good graces!
Watching Shopkeeper Gou leave hurriedly, a sneer crossed Shopkeeper Song's face. He brushed off non-existent dust from his lapel and strode confidently towards Young Master Xue's study.
Unlike Shopkeeper Gou, who had risen through connections, Shopkeeper Song relied on his capabilities. Among all the Shopkeepers, he was the most trusted by Young Master Xue.
Unaware of the infighting within the Xue family, Mo Yan remained vigilant at her shop, expecting more trouble from the Xue family. However, three days passed without any sign of them, and the shop remained undisturbed, an eerie calmness prevailing.
"Grandpa Li, what do you think the Xue family is planning?" Mo Yan was puzzled. She didn't believe the Xue family had simply given up.
Li Zhong felt uneasy. "The Xue family might be scheming something. It's best to stay alert."
Mo Yan nodded seriously, instructing Wang Pangtou and Tie Tou to keep an eye on the customers and report any suspicious behavior immediately.
Wang Pangtou took the warning to heart, becoming overly suspicious of everyone, while Tie Tou, aware of his own limitations, responded to all questions with a silly laugh, frustrating customers.
This morning, there were many customers buying grain. Seeing that cornmeal and flour were running low, Li Zhong handed the warehouse key to Wang Pangtou, asking him and Tie Tou to fetch more supplies.
Wang Pangtou, eager to drive the cart again, took the key with a grin and hurried off with Tie Tou. He had learned the basics of driving the cart from Li Zhong and was keen to practice. Though his skills were still rough, the horse Xiao Hei, being intelligent and calm, managed to safely transport the grain despite Wang Pangtou's inexperience.
Wang Pangtou chatted away while driving, and Tie Tou, finding it hard to follow, began counting the people along the road to practice his arithmetic.
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