Chapter 129

At first, Jiang Sheng just stared in shock with round eyes.

After the gaunt woman finished speaking, the little girl also tasted it out, pulling on Zhang Qiquan's sleeve and asking in a low voice, "Uncle Zhang, is this what my elder brother meant by overbearing on the weak?"

Relying on her status as the weaker party, the woman forced the workshop to take her in under the public gaze. If they didn't take her, it meant they lacked humaneness and were going too far and bullying the weak.

Looking at the sympathy in the eyes of the surrounding commoners, it was clear the gaunt woman had succeeded in inciting them.

Zhang Qiquan rolled up his sleeves, originally intending to punish the arrogant commoner, but upon hearing these words he halted instead, looking towards the little girl, "What does the young miss think is the best course of action?"

Jiang Sheng pursed her lips. "Of course we can't take her."

Selling this kind of thing, once was enough, twice would be too much. The recipe for the cured meat was something she and Auntie Zhang had worked desperately hard on, they absolutely could not let it leak.

"But we also can't refuse outright." Jiang Sheng furrowed her brows again. "We have to think of a way that satisfies both sides, where we don't take her but also don't tarnish the workshop's reputation."

But was there really such a good solution, and where could it be found so quickly?

Just as Jiang Sheng was tilting her little head, racking her brains for an idea, suddenly two people strode over quickly, grabbed the gaunt woman, and dragged her outside.

The people around were all startled.

The gaunt woman was even more panicked, screaming hoarsely, "Who are you, what are you doing, let me go, openly robbing a common woman!"

One of the two seemed vaguely familiar. Frowning deeply, he shouted, "Don't speak nonsense. Our master said that last time you helped the Wang family steal the cured meat recipe for only ten taels of silver, this time we're taking you to give you money."

Having said that, he dragged the woman onto a carriage.

The woman seemed to believe it too, no longer screaming, happily cooperating as she left. Only stunned silence remained around them. The commoners knitted their brows, no longer sympathizing with this family.

Zhang Qiquan also hurried the carriage, taking Jiang Sheng back to the workshop.

Halfway there, Jiang Sheng couldn't help but mutter, "Uncle Zhang, did you see that person? I feel like I've seen him at Brother Fufeng's place."

Zhang Qiquan said nothing, but Master Changyan's calm gaze flashed through his mind, and he seemed to understand something.

Back at Hairpin courtyard.

Auntie Zhang and Auntie Cui were already making cured sausages, with the Wang Xiaosong siblings helping. But he was after all a boy, chopping meat and stuffing intestines were delicate tasks he did clumsily, not as good as his thirteen year old sister Wang Xiaozhu.

After he had cut nine of his ten fingers and only one wiping finger remained, Zheng Ruqian couldn't stand it anymore. "Brother, you're not cut out for making cured meat. Come deliver vegetables with me."

Wang Xiaosong looked up in shock, thick brows and big eyes full of - really? Really? Really?

"Of course it's true." Zheng Ruqian loaded more than ten jin of cured meat from Xieyang County onto the donkey cart, planning to deliver some to shopkeeper Hao of You Ran House for a taste, and also take some to Anyang County. "I just happen to have sold all the dried bean sprouts I hoarded over new year, so I need to go get more."

Wang Xiaosong put down the chopping knife, nodding eagerly. "Good, good, good."

The two chatted about precautions for delivering vegetables, and planned their route, as they walked.

Right at the entrance they happened to meet Jiang Sheng and Zhang Qiquan returning.

"Uncle Zhang, little Jiang Sheng, the workshop can get running again tomorrow right." Zheng Ruqian said jokingly as he went up, casually squeezing his sister's soft little cheeks. "I'm going now to have shopkeeper Hao taste the cured meat, you have to be able to supply the goods in time."

"Of course." Jiang Sheng thumped her chest in assurance. "Second brother can rest easy, as much as you need, as much as we have."

Only then did Zheng Ruqian take Wang Xiaosong onto the donkey cart.

Cracking the whip as they left, Wang Xiaosong felt something wasn't right the whole time. He remembered his mother only made cured meat in spring and winter, never in summer or autumn.

But his mother hadn't explained, and he didn't really understand the seasonal differences, so he could only follow Zheng Ruqian dazedly, turning into You Ran House, then heading towards Anyang County.

This trip took over half a month.

Anshui Prefecture was still cool in May, but had a touch of heat in June.

After wave upon wave of drama, the Wang family finally settled into tranquility.

Wang Fufeng's iron-blooded methods exceeded everyone's expectations. Not only did he not recognize his father, he didn't recognize his mother either, only recognizing what was right. The Wang family business all fell into his hands, as did the Wang family's life and death.

When he was free he even wanted to marry Sun Shi off to the man who was caught in adultery that day.

When Wang Third Master heard the news he was utterly furious, charging directly to Wang Fufeng's courtyard, happening to see two young masters discussing matters.

"You unfilial son." He pointed at Wang Fufeng's nose and angrily shouted. "She is your eldest uncle's wife, yet you dare marry her off. As a junior, have you no shame?"

Wang Fufeng raised his head, seeming to laugh and not laugh. "How deep was her affection for that failed scholar, willing to commit adultery? Is it not better that I marry her openly and upright?"

Wang Third Master was rendered speechless, taking a long time before stomping and saying, "No, we can't be so shameless. The Wang family's woman cannot remarry."

Although Sun Shi committed adultery, as long as no one spoke of it, it was a secret.

To blatantly remarry would be slapping the Wang family's face.

At the side, Chang Yan nodded, having gained some understanding of these prominent families' obsession with face from this suggestion he had raised.

"Father, whether this happens still depends on eldest uncle's wife." Wang Fufeng raised the corners of his lips in an odd smile.

Sun Shi and the failed scholar were childhood sweethearts who had deep affection. Because the scholar's family background was too low and he had no achievements to his name, Sun Shi was married off by the Sun family into the Wangs.

Although their marriage was broken, their feelings were hard to break. Over the years, Sun Shi's heart had always been with the failed scholar. They had already reconnected in the second year after her husband's death, just not becoming physically intimate.

It was Wang Fufeng who had given them a push, leading to that day's drama in the courtyard.

Now, Sun Shi was past caring, openly intimate with the failed scholar. Upon hearing Wang Fufeng's proposal, she would likely be moved on her own initiative.

Sure enough, in the main courtyard, when Sun Shi heard Wang Fufeng's intentions, she first froze, her eyes rapidly shifting, glancing at Wang Yuyao, the main room's only daughter.

"Mother," Wang Yuyao tightly pursed her lips. "Don't have any improper thoughts. Your daughter is already engaged to the Fang family."

Originally lacking a father, this engagement to the Fangs was already a reach.

If her widowed mother were to remarry now, the Fangs would truly look down on her.

"Don't forget why we wanted to ally with the Fangs." Wang Yuyao said sadly. "And don't forget how uncle died."

Sun Shi froze, the stirrings in her eyes gradually fading, leaving only grief and regret.