Chapter 1018: Chapter 1018 The Right Way to Ask for Money_1 Chapter 1018: Chapter 1018 The Right Way to Ask for Money_1 “Hmm? What happened?” Tong Sanlang asked.

“Previously, he bungled up and offended the young mistress by being foolish. Ever since the braised pork incident, the young mistress has kept her distance from Zuixian Building. The folks upstairs thought it was him who had angered the young mistress, and since our hold in the Capital City has kept Zuixian Building from raising its head, he can’t hold on to his position as shopkeeper any longer.”

Speaking of Zhou, the shopkeeper, his old adversary, a smile of schadenfreude was unstoppable on He Zhanggui’s face.

He had offended Qiao Xiaomai, all for the sake of a braised pork recipe.

Served him right!

Qiao Xiaomai, upon hearing this, recalled the previous time when shopkeeper Zhou blocked her carriage in town. She couldn’t help but click her tongue and asked, “Who will be the shopkeeper of Zuixian Building from now on?”

“Not here yet, we’ll know after the New Year. But whoever they send is futile, useless,” He Zhanggui said, his face struggling to contain his laughter.

Qiao Xiaomai clicked her tongue again, “Hopefully.”

The Prime Minister and Yu Ang are secretly colluding, and now Zuixian Building is desperately earning silver. What’s the Prime Minister’s attitude toward this?

Will he cause trouble for Yu Ang?

Will he stir up new schemes?

Tong Sanlang also harbored the same worries, “You write to grandfather and see if he can find out what’s happening at Zuixian Building.”

“Sure,” He Zhanggui was also very concerned and immediately agreed.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, He Zhanggui chuckled, “Mahjong and Fight the Landlord sledding haven’t been sold in Bailu Town, which really is a pity. The townspeople are missing out on so much fun.”

“Those are just playthings. Bailu Town is mostly scholars; we can’t sell them here.”

Apart from the scholars, there were not many wealthy people in town. Most were like the former Tong Family – running small businesses.

They couldn’t make much money and decided it wasn’t worth the trouble.

“That’s true, if those scholars got their hands on Mahjong and Fight the Landlord, Principal Gu would definitely want to speak with you,” thinking of his own addiction to Mahjong, He Zhanggui laughed and then changed the subject.

After chatting a little more, Tong Sanlang stood up to take his leave. It was getting late; time to head back.

Driving the carriage slowly back to the manor, by the time they arrived, it was already dusk. Qiao Zhaodi and Qiao Yindi had the dinner ready. Seeing them return, the sisters quickly brought over hot water for them to wash up, their attitude attentive.

Qiao Xiaomai blinked and asked, “Why so attentive? What happened?”

Although the sisters were diligent, Qiao Xiaomai never truly treated them as maids, so she never had them do the task of bringing washing water. This unusual behavior must mean something was up.

No sooner had Qiao Xiaomai spoken than tears welled up in Qiao Zhaodi’s eyes, and then, to her surprise, the two sisters kneeled down.

“Xiaomai, Mother, she… she’s taken all the silver you gave us… wuwuwu…”

Qiao Xiaomai, “…You two get up, explain yourselves clearly. What exactly happened?”

Qiao Zhaodi wiped her tears and choked out, “She tricked information out of us. We were naive. A few questions and we told her everything.”

Zhao Shufen, compared to the Sun Family’s crude and simple banditry, had a bit more cunning.

Today, when the sisters returned, she was unusually kind, showing a motherly love they had never seen, which overwhelmed them.

When one is overwhelmed, one’s mind becomes muddled.

Watching Zhao Shufen wipe away tears while lamenting how much she would miss them, the sisters immediately handed over the forty taels of silver they had brought.

Zhao Shufen, seeing the forty taels, not only didn’t snatch them but even pushed it back, suggesting they keep it as private money for their future dowries.