High-class maid

"This is?"

Shen Kun didn't rush to accept it, but looked at the materials on the table with a puzzled expression.

"These are the addresses of twelve pharmacies, along with the family backgrounds and personalities of the shopkeepers. I've compiled all of this so you won't be completely clueless and get fooled by them."

"I'm not ready yet."

Shen Kun hesitated. Did he really want to take over these twelve pharmacies? Was he really capable of doing it?

But if they don't take it over, are they just going to watch the property that rightfully belongs to their mother fall into someone else's hands? Especially since that person is such an ingrate!

“Child, I believe in you. I haven’t been in good health these past few years, and Lao Cai has been looking after the shop for me. I’m afraid the scheming shopkeeper has already started to have ulterior motives. Now that you’re going in my place, it will put their minds at ease.”

Seeing that Shen Kun was somewhat moved and less resistant than before, Master Hou gently persuaded him.

"But a round trip would probably take several months. My wife and daughters are still in the capital. How can I be at ease? Besides, if Steward Cai accompanies me, wouldn't you be walking on thin ice alone in the Marquis's mansion?"

Shen Kun asked with concern.

It was a minor matter that his wife and daughters stayed in the capital, since Song Wenyang was there to help take care of them, and the neighbors in the alley were all very kind. What he was really worried about was the old man. How could he face the vicious Bai Mo all by himself?

How could Master Hou not understand the implication in his words? It was a good thing that his child cared about him, but the business was more important.

"It's alright, I'm not one to be trifled with either. I've already gathered most of the evidence against him, and all I need to do is put on a show for you tonight, Old Cai." Master Hou smiled slyly.

Want to control him? You'll need decades more practice! Do you really think he's a pushover? If you didn't have the skills, how could you have opened so many clinics in the capital and elsewhere?

"But you are old and frail. Can the two of you manage?"

Shen Kun said with concern.

"Silly child, do you really think I have nothing left? The Chief Clerk of the Court of Judicial Review is an old friend of mine. I have already sent someone to deliver the collected evidence to him. Now everything is ready, we just need the final push."

Master Hou stroked his gray beard, a shrewd and calculating expression on his face.

Seeing his confidence, Shen Kun gradually relaxed. He didn't know the intricacies of the situation, and an afternoon wasn't enough to understand it. Rather than that, he decided to stay hidden in the shadows and guard the Marquis's residence tonight. If the old man really failed, he could save him, right?

"Alright, it's getting late, let's go back and not arouse that person's suspicion."

Shen Kun was afraid of alerting the enemy.

"Alright, I'll have Lao Cai find you the day after tomorrow, and the two of you can set off to visit the Nanshan Halls in various places."

Although Master Hou was reluctant to part with his grandson, he understood what was important right now. So be it, he decided to wait until things were settled before spending more time with his grandson.

"I need to go home and discuss this with my wife and daughters, after all, this is not a small matter."

Shen Kun did not immediately agree to his request.

"This is Xing'er's dowry! I'm not giving it to you! If she doesn't agree, let her come see me!"

Master Hou's stubborn temper flared up again, and because he used all his strength, the beard on his chin moved wildly.

Shen Kun had figured out his temperament. He smiled nonchalantly, then said goodbye and took the documents home.

"Master! Can't you just soften your tone and say something nice? With such a temper, which child would want to be near you?"

After Shen Kun had walked away, the housekeeper said with a sense of disappointment.

"What? I've already given him my entire fortune, can't I even throw a little tantrum? This kid won't just hand over his family's assets to someone else."

Looking at Shen Kun's retreating figure, Master Hou said confidently.

The housekeeper shook his head helplessly. His master was good in every way, except that he was too stubborn!

"Mother, two more places ordered pickled vegetables today. Here are their addresses. One of them specifically asked for the sweet and spicy kind."

As soon as Ms. Wang entered the store, Shen Xing'er gave her the orders from the customers that morning.

“I used to only do small-scale things, but I never thought that there would actually be people who can get used to my pickled vegetables. I just finished the order from General Cao’s mansion today, so I rushed over to do it for you.”

Looking at the order on the paper, Wang explained to Xing'er with some unease.

Wasn't she always helping her daughter at the shop? How did she become a burden to her daughter now, having to help her with business?

“Mom, it’s a good thing that someone likes to eat! It gives you something to do and helps you find the value in life.”

Shen Xing'er knew what Wang was thinking, but she didn't expose her; she just kept comforting her.

"Value? Do I still have value? I'm getting busier and busier, I don't even have time to take care of you anymore, don't you resent your mother?"

Wang was somewhat uneasy.

She still couldn't adapt to the change in her identity. Moreover, in her mind, a woman should stay at home to take care of her husband and raise her children. Now that she was getting on in years, she wasn't helping out at her daughter's shop and was busy every day. It was a bit of a reversal of priorities.

But she really loves her life now. Not only is her family together, but her pickled vegetables are also appreciated by so many people. She feels that her life has been worthwhile!

Shen Xing'er knew exactly what Wang Shi was thinking, and she smiled as she comforted her.

"Why should I resent my mother? I'm overjoyed."

Wang breathed a sigh of relief, then teased...

"It's only in the capital that people eat the pickled vegetables I make. Who would be willing to spend money to buy them in the village? The things that people in the village are tired of eating are suddenly in short supply in the capital."

"The tastes of nobles are peculiar. They eat delicacies every day. Wouldn't it be novel to suddenly eat pickled vegetables to cleanse their palates? Besides, the pickled vegetables that my mother makes are delicious."

Shen Xing'er flattered him.

"Why don't you open a small shop, Mother? It doesn't seem right for people to come here to buy pickled vegetables all the time."

"Okay! Let's discuss it properly when my dad gets back."

Shen Xing'er was extremely supportive of her mother opening a shop.

In the original owner's memories, when she was a child or even two years ago, she could always see Wang sitting alone by the bed wiping away tears through the window and the reflection of the candlelight.

Back then, she didn't understand anything and would always run up to her mother and ask her what was wrong.

Wang would always hurriedly wipe away her tears, and with a smile mixed with tears, she would cup her face and say it was okay.

Later she learned that Wang was secretly missing the child who had never been born.

She overheard her mother telling her father, "Every time I have a moment of free time, I think of that poor child. If I hadn't been so weak, if we had separated from the family back then, the child wouldn't have died so young."

After learning the truth, Shen Xing'er wisely stopped asking. She had long wanted Wang Shi to do something, and now that her pickled vegetable business was thriving, how could she not support her?

Keep busy, the busier the better!

Just as the mother and daughter were chatting, Shen Kun walked back from the street, looking lost and dejected.

"Father, what's wrong with you?"

Shen Xing'er stepped forward with concern and asked.