The merchant's rebirth led to the complete downfall of the Marquis's mansion.

The Wu family's situation is very vague.

The message that came back on the 29th was only that Lord Wu had been betrothed to someone before he became wealthy, and the two sides had exchanged tokens of their betrothal.

However, details about that family are unclear, and they never reappeared afterward.

Wu Shiyun was still as happy as ever, as if she wasn't the one who was supposed to be engaged.

Qin Yao invited her to Guozhongxian, but unexpectedly, Madam Wu also came.

Upon seeing Qin Yao, Madam Wu smiled and said, "Yao Yao, you don't need to greet us. I've been here before, we're acquaintances. I'll take care of this little rascal, you go and do your own thing."

Madam Wu was extremely satisfied with Qin Yao.

She single-handedly built such a large family business, which shows her remarkable abilities. It's a pity that her status is too low, otherwise, her eldest son would definitely have betrothed Qin Yao to her.

Her youngest son was too young, and given Qin Yao's refusal to become a concubine, she had no choice but to abandon the plan.

However, she was happy to see her daughter become friends with Qin Yao.

Qin Yao knew that this was Madam Wu's family having a private conversation, so she had no reason to refuse. She told the waiter to treat them well and then withdrew.

As for the others around Madam Wu, she naturally didn't go to see them.

They are probably the two sons of the Wu family.

With nothing else to do, Qin Yao went to the backyard. The hot pot restaurant was still packed with people, and the backyard was bustling with activity.

Neither the chef nor the waiters paid any attention to her.

Qin Yao looked around and then left.

The accounts were sent to the mansion regularly, and there was a manager in the shop, so she didn't have much to worry about.

Qin Yao planned to go to Diancui Pavilion to check on the progress, and also to take a look at the new fabrics that the clothing shop had received.

The carriage bumped along the road and suddenly stopped at an intersection.

"What's wrong?" Qiu Liu asked Er Jiu outside.

Erjiu's voice soon followed.

"It's alright, a few people are arguing and blocking our way, let's wait."

Arguing? Qiu Liu peeked out through a crack in the window.

Several women were arguing in front of the carriage.

"What's wrong?" Qingzhi asked curiously, looking around.

"It seems like a woman was washing clothes and ruined them," Qiu Liu replied.

Qin Yao understood.

"If I ruin something while washing it, I'll have to pay for it, but if I end up washing clothes, I probably won't have the money to pay for it."

Qingzhi frowned and looked around. Seeing that they still hadn't stopped, she suggested:

"Should I pay for her?" It wouldn't cost much anyway, so I might as well do her a favor.

"I'm afraid that won't work!" Qiu Liu said without turning her head.

"Why?" Qingzhi asked, puzzled.

Qin Yao: "Don't you think this voice sounds familiar?"

Qingzhi listened intently for a while, and it seemed somewhat familiar.

"Miss, shall we go around that?" Qiu Liu asked Qin Yao.

Qin Yao nodded, but before she could tell Er Jiu, the argument on the other end had already stopped.

Qin Yao had a bad feeling, and sure enough, she heard Liu's voice the next moment.

"It's the Qin family's carriage! Qin Yao! Qin Yao!" Madam Liu stretched out her arm and patted the carriage.

"Hey! Get away! Don't harass my young lady!!"

Erjiu cracked his whip, but he held the reins tightly, not daring to let go, which gave Liu an opportunity.

"Qin Yao, come out! I won't let go if you don't come out today." Liu Shi shamelessly clung to the carriage with her hands.

"Miss?"

Qingzhi now knows who it is. She's incredibly unlucky to run into such a shameless person when she goes out.

Haven't you been humiliated enough? You still dare to come back!

Qingzhi still wanted to get rid of her, so she took out two qian of silver from her bosom.

Qiu Liu quickly stopped her.

"What do you want to do?"

Qingzhi leaned closer and whispered their plan in a voice that the three of them could hear.

"I'll give it to her first. There are too many people around now, so it's hard to make a move. We'll find someone to take it back after it gets dark, and then we'll beat her up!"

"That's a good idea," Qin Yao nodded. "However, I'd prefer to resolve this now."

Qin Yao took out the stick that she had been hiding in the carriage and handed it to Qingzhi.

Qingzhi didn't understand, but Qiuliu whispered something in her ear, and then she understood.

He grabbed the stick and went outside.

Amidst Erjiu's puzzled gaze, Qingzhi struck Liu's hand with a stick.

Liu cried out in pain and released her grip.

Qingzhi stood with her hands on her hips, looking at her with disdain.

"Where did this scoundrel come from! How dare he try to extort us? If we don't teach him a lesson, you'll think the Qin family is easy to bully!"

"Are you coming or not! If you don't leave, this girl's stick doesn't have eyes!"

Qingzhi made a move as if to strike again, but Liu shrank back, ultimately not daring to gamble.

The people who had just argued with Liu thought she had found help when they saw her stopping the carriage, so they didn't dare to step forward. But now that they saw her being beaten, they were no longer afraid.

He immediately started cursing at Liu.

"Pay up! You filthy whore, if you don't pay up today, I'll have the boss sell your daughter to a brothel."

A perfectly good new dress has been ruined with a hole after washing; how can I stand it!

It was worn by his son when he was preparing to marry a new bride.

"Auntie." Qiu Liu stuck her head out and threw out two coins.

The woman who had been cursing Liu immediately raised her hand to take it.

"Could you please resolve your matter elsewhere? My master is in a hurry to get on his way, so could you please do me a favor?"

"Hey! Hey! Okay! Okay!" the woman thanked her repeatedly, and together with the woman behind her, they pulled Liu to the roadside.

Qingzhi put away the stick and went back. The carriage started moving as soon as she sat down.

That felt so good! Although following her method would have achieved the same goal, it would have been rather frustrating.

Now the person has been beaten, the anger has been vented, and the problem has been solved.

"I'm so angry! I won't give her any money! That old woman, she's so wicked!" Qingzhi spat.

Then, when Liu saw the silver in the other person's hand, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Let me go! We've got the money, what else do you want?!"

The woman was still looking at the magnificent carriage; she knew perfectly well that the person inside had a grudge against Liu.

"If you take someone's money, you have to solve their problems. It was just about the clothes a moment ago, but now..."

"What does this money have to do with you? It was given to me by a benefactor! As for you... well, your clothes are quite nice..."

Liu never expected that she would actually dare to do it.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

No matter how much Liu struggled, it was no use; her outer garment was ripped off.

"Xiaoxiao!..."

Jiang Xiaoxiao hiding in the corner...

How dare she go out!

How could she possibly be a match for those two fierce-looking women?

She only dared to come out after the other party had stripped Liu of her outer garment and left.

Knowing that the Wu family was going to Guozhongxian, they specially wore their best clothes, but they were stopped before they had taken more than a few steps.

Liu engaged in a fierce debate with the assembled experts, but Jiang Xiaoxiao hid in fear.

"Mother?" Jiang Xiaoxiao didn't help the person who had fallen to the ground, but instead called out to her from above.

She felt that Liu was a disgrace.

Liu was unaware of her ulterior motives and shakily reached out her hand.

"Pull me!"

This time, Jiang Xiaoxiao did not refuse and helped Liu up.

The two of them helped each other walk back.

There weren't many people in the alley, but that doesn't mean there wasn't anyone there.

Jiang Xiaoxiao felt very embarrassed.

She used to be a young lady of high society, always traveling in the most luxurious carriages. She would never be like this now, being pointed at and gossiped about by them.

If only Qin Yao were still here! It's all Qin Yao's fault for leaving her brother.

He has ruined himself and now has nothing left.

The two returned home, but no one was there.

They've only rented one room so far.

Jiang Liu went to find her brother, and never came back.

Xia Qiutang took her maid and went to become someone's concubine.

As for Liu's nanny and her maid Changwu, they were sold off because they had no money.

The mother and daughter had no money and could only do laundry work.

Jiang Xiaoxiao helped Liu Shi into the house and continued to plan her way back to her life of wealth and luxury.

Qin Yao and Wu Shiyun were both stepping stones for her!

……