Chapter 389: Chapter 398: Wouldn’t It Be Better to Save That Money for a Coffin?
The sounds of firecrackers were incessant from the shop across the street.
Even Shen Qu, who had come to the embroidery workshop to inspect the accounts, was momentarily distracted. He glanced up only to see the crowd that was blocking the way. He did not pay much attention to it.
He was dressed in expensive attire, his demeanor was naturally graceful, and if someone said he was born from a concubine, who would believe it?
He stepped into the embroidery workshop.
"What kind of business is the shop across planning to do?"
Manager Cheng, who had not gone out, replied upon hearing the question, "I am not sure, I’ll send someone to inquire later. It will probably still be a restaurant. If it opens, the increase in foot traffic could also benefit our embroidery business."
This thought was precisely in line with what Shen Qu had in mind.
"Indeed."
His smile was very gentle, yet there was a knife hidden beneath it.
While he examined the account books, Manager Cheng stepped back, his smiling face in front of Shen Qu fading into a sinister expression.
As he walked out, he ran into Er Rong.
"Where have you been loafing around again?"
Er Rong gave a sheepish grin: "I’ve just come out of the latrine."
"You’re the one with the most problems every day."
If it weren’t for the fact that Er Rong could do the work of several people for the pay of one, he would have been fired long ago.
"Manager!"
An old woman hurried over.
"You must come to the front hall quickly. A group of people are here, and they look like troublemakers; we can neither drive them away nor let them be."
Nine men had taken up space in the front hall. Aside from Devoted Li San, who had been specially brought out from jail by Cui Yun, the rest were big fellows all dressed in black robes, each with a sword in hand.
"Why don’t you all also take a look at this embroidery? How is it?"
"Who cares if it looks good or not? We can’t use it anyway, are we supposed to buy it to wipe our feet with?"
The rest were men sent by Xie Xun for Shen Hua.
The simple task they had just received was to treat the embroidery workshop as if it were their own home.
To scare away a customer, miss Shen said, everyone would be rewarded ten silver taels.
This was indeed a great job!
They weren’t planning on leaving today without making at least a hundred and eighty taels.
Among them, Li San stood the most upright!
He never expected that he would be given a new lease on life!
He thought he was going to die!
He would lay down his life for Miss Shen.
Manager Cheng’s brow twitched, sensing trouble. But seeing the ferocious faces of these men, he couldn’t help but feel intimidated.
He mustered his courage and approached them.
"Gentlemen, are you here to buy embroidery? Please tell me which designs you’re interested in, so that I can help you choose."
Li San glanced at him arrogantly, "We have plenty of money! It’s just that the embroidery in your shop isn’t eye-catching enough."
"This tiny piece of embroidery sells for five taels? Why don’t you just rob people?"
The big fellow next to him said, "Five taels is nothing. Look at this set, priced at 500 taels? It’s not that appealing, how do you expect to sell it?"
Li San: "No wonder the shopkeeper at Yifeng Hall didn’t take it."
"Indeed it’s vulgar!"
The Shopkeeper looked them up and down, and still with a smile though gritting his teeth, said, "Only those who understand how to appreciate will recognize the unique preciousness of the embroidery."
Just then, a customer came in from outside.
Before the Shopkeeper could react, the big fellows’ eyes sharply turned towards the newcomer, shining with a threat.
Without hesitation, Li San blew a sleazy whistle.
He walked over and asked lecherously, "Young lady, are you looking for a date?"
The girl who came to buy the embroidery paused her steps and without a word, dashed outside.
The eight big fellows seemed to have heard an extremely pleasant sound.
——Ding dong, ten taels earned.
Devoted Li San was quite regretful: "Looking quite decent, truly a waste."
When he came, Shen Hua specifically instructed him to display the shamelessness at Zou Residence that day to the utmost. This was his strong suit and barely needed any rehearsal.
Besides, no need to speak mouth to mouth with men!!!
Not vile, but can disgust others!
He had followed the right master this time!
Manager Cheng and Shen Qu were engaged in a battle of wits and already exhausted, instantly recognizing that this was a troublemaker arriving, even less willing to argue with them, immediately had someone go invite Shen Qu out to deal with this.
The old woman took the order and hurriedly went to fetch someone.
Shen Qu appeared to be slightly angry upon hearing this.
Manager Cheng was increasingly disregarding him!
The old woman said hesitantly: "Manager Cheng said, since the embroidery workshop belongs to the young master, you should handle things independently, so naturally, it’s most appropriate for the young master to take the lead."
Shen Qu sneered coldly. Then came the grating noise of a chair scraping against the floor.
The business of the embroidery workshop had declined greatly, but there were still quite a few people going inside. Soon, a lively and hale elderly man came in.
He saw eight big men who were very friendly, showing him smiling faces. The old man felt a chill down his back.
"Manager Cheng, have the wedding attire I ordered before the New Year been finished?"
"I paid the deposit early. If it weren’t for the wedding date being moved up, I wouldn’t be rushing you."
Li San walked over: "Brother, are you marrying off your daughter?"
The old man chuckled: "I’m the one getting married; my former old woman finally died, now I can bring the one from outside into my home."
His affairs, people who knew him were aware, and there was no need to hide it; he had been in the public eye for over half his life, so he didn’t feel embarrassed at all.
Li San spat disdainfully: "Isn’t that bit of money better off saved for your coffin?"
He didn’t forget to introduce: "Right across from here, that’s the place that will open a coffin shop in the future. You all should also support the business."
Shen Qu had just come out when he heard this.
If the shop directly opposite was making coffins, could he still do business?
As you know, the common people are most afraid of attracting bad luck.
This won’t do; he must find the housekeeper across the street and have a chat later. At worst, he could spend some silver to take over the shop across the street.
After pondering for a moment, he strode forward towards the group and spoke quite boldly.
"Gentlemen, if you are not purchasing embroidery, please leave quickly and do not delay our shop’s business."
Li San looked at him with contempt: "Visitors are guests, on what basis are you driving people away? Which ear of yours heard me say I wasn’t buying? Do I look like I lack money? Who are you looking down upon?"
The big men didn’t say a word, but just standing there, their presence was enough to unsettle people.
Shen Qu was extremely annoyed. His only option was to scold
"Otherwise, I can only report this to the government."
Li San was shamelessly defiant: "I’m so scared."
He had just stepped out, and Shen Qu wanted to send him back in again!
What nonsense.
He dashed outside, pointing at the Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop, and started howling at the people on the street.
"Someone look, look here, the Shen Family’s Eldest Young Master is bullying people too much. Seeing that I’m from out of town, he’s intimidating me like this."
The crowd drawn by the firecrackers all turned their gazes in unison.
Shen Qu prided himself on dignity; how could he deal with such a ruffian?
"Don’t spout nonsense!"
Li San: "Am I wrong? I came here to select embroidery, and out of nowhere, you turn around wanting to send me to see the government, as if the government is your family’s? Or is it that any customer who comes in, the Shen Family’s Eldest Young Master will invite for a meal in jail?"
"I heard that the Shen Family’s Eldest Young Master is brimming with talent, gentle and generous. I never expected the rumors to be false."
Someone snickered.
A girl lazily leaned against the shop entrance.
"That’s not the Shen Family’s Eldest Young Master. He’s nothing but the offspring of a concubine, trying to take over what’s not his."
The voice was familiar; Shen Qu suddenly looked up, meeting the girl’s icy eyes.
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