After Qing Yang left, Meng Anzhi asked curiously, "Auntie, how did you know all this?"
Jin Shanyao and said, "You don't have to go to the manor, but you need to have spies..."
Meng Anci nodded. "Are the Lin family ancestors spies for the Second Estate?"
"Of course not. We sent the Lin family grandfather and grandson there, and Lin Mo and Lin Yue are learning accounting. This is called 'open business'."
Meng Anzhi asked in a low voice, "Then who is suitable for eyeliner?"
Jin Shanyao pondered, "The old woman in the kitchen, the old man on night patrol, the handyman in the storeroom—these are the easiest to overlook, and also the most suitable to act as informants."
Meng Anci asked curiously, "Who is the informant for the First Manor?"
The Jin Shanyao a finger to Meng Anci's eyes and waved it... "Remember, you can't tell anyone about your informant except yourself."
"Can't we do it either?"
Seeing Meng Anci's slight disappointment, Jin Shanyao said gently, "The informant must live in the shadows. The fewer people who know, the safer the shadow is."
She pointed to the flowerpot on the table, "Look at Xiaobai, it doesn't speak or move, but it has heard all our conversations."
The century-old ginseng trembled in fright... What does the ancestor mean? Does he intend to kill me to silence me?... The century-old ginseng's branches and leaves trembled slightly with fear.
Why are the fates of different ginsengs so different...? If it had replaced Xiaoqi (a 70-year-old ginseng) in the ginseng competition, it would already be enjoying wealth and luxury in the capital with Qin Baitang...
These days, we live under the watchful eyes of our ancestors, barely daring to breathe. We even have to suppress our sleep-talking in our dreams, lest we utter a single wrong word and be... cooked into soup.
Jin Shanyao earnestly said to the two children, "You must observe for yourselves, discover for yourselves..."
I understand... Auntie isn't keeping it from them; she's testing them. There are spies in the village, and there are spies from other people.
Therefore... they need to observe for themselves; this is the key to growth.
The siblings realized...
The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year.
Qing He specially made a small couplet and pasted it on the stove door, and also placed candies and rice cakes... Just as she was about to offer sacrifices, she heard a knock on the door outside.
Qing He turned and called out to the door, " Xiaosi... open the door."
" Xiaosi..." she called twice but received no answer. She got up and muttered, "Always reading in the room, all the time... Doesn't she know how to rest for even a couple of days during the New Year?"
Qing He walked to the courtyard gate and asked, "Who is it?"
"Greetings, young lady... I am Zhang Jiuwei, the manager of Jade Flask Spring Tea House... I have come here specifically to wish Shopkeeper Jin a Happy New Year."
Qing He opened the courtyard gate and saw a woman wearing a lotus-blue satin cloak standing outside. Behind her was a maid carrying wine and gifts.
Qing He smiled and said, "Wait a moment, I'll go inform them right away..." As she spoke, she walked towards the study.
Zhang Jiuwei peered through the gate. The courtyard was large, clean, and tidy. Frozen dumplings were still on the stone table in the courtyard, presumably freshly made that morning.
The study door opened, Zhang Jiuwei stepped out Jin Shanyao.
He instantly put on a smile, " Shopkeeper Jin... it's been a long time."
Jin Shanyao, remembering that she had once asked her to be her husband, coughed lightly twice, feeling somewhat uneasy.
"Did you need something from me?"
Zhang Jiuwei entered the courtyard with her maid. "We have a few jars of aged wine at home. I thought you'd be drinking during the New Year, so I brought two jars for you to try."
As she spoke, she took the gift from the maid, "Here are also braised pig's trotters, made by my mother herself... all the front trotters."
Jin Shanyao her head in confusion, "Front hooves??"
Zhang Jiuwei and said, "Digging for money... Eating pig's trotters during the New Year symbolizes digging money into the family throughout the year..."
Seeing that she was looking at her with eyes full of flattery, Jin Shanyao realized that she still harbored illusions about him, so she decided to cut her losses and end this ill-fated relationship.
" Miss Zhang... to tell you the truth, I don't like you... please take these things back."
Zhang Jiuwei stood there, holding the wine, stunned. Recalling the scene when she came into contact with Jin Shanyao, she didn't feel there was anything wrong with it.
She pursed her lips and said, " Shopkeeper Jin, did I do something wrong?"
Jin Shanyao cruelly turned her face away, "No, you're not wrong... it's my fault."
What does that mean??? Zhang Jiuwei didn't quite understand. " Shopkeeper Jin... I've come to discuss a collaboration with you."
Jin Shanyao secretly glanced at her, "Here it comes... that's how it's written in the storybooks."
She'll first show you kindness, and if you clearly reject her, she'll use business as an excuse to get closer to you, gradually making you accept her—this is like boiling a frog in slowly heating water...
Jin Shanyao sighed deeply, gazing up at the sky... her damned charm...
" Miss Zhang, please leave. I can't give you what you want."
Zhang Jiuwei felt as if a heavy hammer had struck her head. With a buzzing sound, she realized that she had been with her father since she was five years old and had taken over the family business at fifteen, having negotiated countless deals, both big and small.
This was the first time she had been rejected without saying a word. Considering the medicinal effects of the Anzhi Hall's herbs, Zhang Jiuwei decided to try again.
" Shopkeeper Jin... I don't need much, just a little bit, is that not enough?"
She understood that people liked trees... So why should Zhang Jiuwei be so fixated on her? Jin Shanyao sighed helplessly, " Miss Zhang, the fate between people is determined by heaven. You and I are ultimately destined to be apart."
Seeing Jin Shanyao's resolute attitude, Zhang Jiuwei placed the wine jar at her feet with a dejected expression.
"It was my fault for insisting... I shouldn't have bothered you, Shopkeeper Jin. I'm so sorry. These two jars of wine are indeed very good, I hope Shopkeeper Jin won't find them too bad." With that, he left silently with his maid.
Jin Shanyao gazed at her lonely figure, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart... Having lived in the mortal realm for so long, this was the first 'person' to pursue her so passionately.
But she couldn't respond... Jin Shanyao a pang of sorrow in her heart; she had betrayed a woman's deep affection.
Qing He, standing to the side, was completely confused. "Master, why don't you cooperate with Jade Flask Spring? I heard their medicinal wine sells exceptionally well, and they use a lot of medicinal herbs every year."
Jin Shanyao taken aback. "How could you have guessed she wanted to buy medicinal herbs?"
"Huh... isn't she saying in every sentence that she wants to cooperate with you?" Qing He also confused. Had she misunderstood something?
Jin Shanyao shook her head helplessly at her. Having never been confessed to before, she didn't understand the meaning behind Miss Zhang's words, but she could understand.
She patted Qing He on the shoulder, "I told you to read more books, read more books, just staring at recipes... Alright, go worship your Kitchen God."
What does that mean? Does the master think she's stupid?
Zhang Jiuwei left Anzhi Hall, still wondering what exactly went wrong.
"Miss, how about sending someone from the manor over tomorrow to give it a try?"
"How can we let outsiders interfere in our family business?"
The maid muttered softly, "They're not exactly outsiders."
"Alright... let me go back and think about it," Zhang Jiuwei sat in the carriage and closed his eyes to rest... Everyone says that Anzhi Hall's medicinal herbs are good, but they are never sold in large quantities in Qingzhou Prefecture.
A few days ago, on a whim, she bought some herbs to make medicinal wine, and I must say... both the taste and the therapeutic effect are far superior to ordinary medicinal herbs.
If we can establish a connection with the Anzhi Hall, how can Jade Flask Spring not prosper?
Zhang Jiuwei suddenly opened her eyes. No, she had to secure Anzhi Hall's order.
"Start with the two children around Shopkeeper Jin, find some games they like to play with, I'll come back tomorrow."
"Again? Miss, Shopkeeper Jin has already said so much, aren't we just making a fool of ourselves?"
"Business isn't that easy. If people stop coming after a few words, how can we make any money..."
The maid realized she had spoken out of turn and dared not say another word.
Zhang Jiuwei tapped the windowsill with her fingertips, frowning in thought. Fate? Or no fate?
She suddenly realized, could Jin Shanyao a Buddhist...? Damn it, she had offered her wine and meat, no wonder Jin Shanyao wouldn't cooperate with her. The fact that she hadn't beaten her out was already quite polite.