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“How much can you sell in one day in your shop, for pickled vegetables?” Tan Xiaomei asked, inserting herself into the conversation.
Tan Erqian thought for a moment and replied, “At least ten jin of pickled vegetables per day, which earns about two thousand wen.”
Wan Chunmei was stunned. “That’s a full two liang of silver! If you calculate it, that’s over sixty liang per month, even more than what Eunuch Xu offered us.”
Tan Erqian nodded. “Exactly. Not only that, ever since Eunuch Xu took the pickles to the capital, more and more people there have started liking our pickles. Master Bai told me to make more, and once sealed, he’ll send them to the capital.”
Wan Chunmei beamed with joy, slowly rising to her feet. “If that’s the case, we won’t have to worry about food and clothing anymore.”
Tan Erqian twirled Little Qiyue in his arms and said, “Mother, not just food and clothing, we’re going to get rich.”
Wan Chunmei waved her hand dismissively. “Rich? Who gets rich so easily? Don’t always dream of jumping to the top in one go. Just work hard at Master Bai’s shop, and you’ll eventually make something of yourself.”
Tan Erqian didn’t argue, simply nodding obediently before setting Little Qiyue down.
Afterward, Wan Chunmei told Tan Erqian about the plan to build a larger house for the family.
Tan Erqian fully supported it. “That sounds great. This way, our family will have more space.”
Wan Chunmei took the opportunity to ask, “Erqian, when will you be heading back?”
Tan Erqian glanced at the nearly sold-out pickles and said, “Soon. I’ll head back in a few days.”
As he spoke, he gently touched Little Qiyue’s face, his expression full of anticipation.
He was also beginning to miss his Lingzhi.
Wan Chunmei and Tan Xiaomei didn’t want to disturb Tan Erqian while he worked, so after a few more casual words, they prepared to leave with Little Qiyue.
However, just as they were about to leave, they bumped into a woman coming in.
The woman wasn’t very old, dressed in an elegant gown, and looked far from ordinary.
Tan Erqian stepped forward, greeting her, “Miss Cao Liu, Miss Cao Qi, what would you like to buy?”
These two were the daughters of Magistrate Cao’s second concubine.
Although their looks were nothing extraordinary, their temperaments were another story. They acted as though they were noble ladies, despite being born as concubines’ daughters.
Tan Erqian was accustomed to dealing with such people, so he responded with ease.
Wan Chunmei’s expression changed when she heard the Cao family name.
After all, these two were Little Qiyue’s biological half-sisters.
She slightly turned her body, preparing to continue walking, but in her haste, accidentally stepped on one of the women’s embroidered shoes.
It wasn’t a heavy step, and it didn’t hurt, but it did stain the woman’s delicate shoes.
Wan Chunmei quickly apologized, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it, I didn’t mean to.”
However, Miss Cao Liu was furious. “Are you blind? You clearly saw me coming, and you stepped on my shoe!”
Wan Chunmei hurriedly explained, “I really didn’t notice, please don’t take offense. I’ll pay for the shoe right away.”
Miss Cao Liu raised her eyebrows, looked Wan Chunmei up and down, and sneered, “This pair of shoes costs a full three liang of silver. Can you afford to pay that?”
Wan Chunmei froze for a moment. Three liang of silver could feed them for quite a while, but it was just for one pair of shoes.
Her thoughts drifted to Little Qiyue. If she hadn’t been abandoned, Little Qiyue should have been living this kind of life.
Seeing Wan Chunmei’s silence, Miss Cao Liu grew bolder, saying, “If you can’t afford it, just wipe them clean for me.”
With that, she slowly walked into the shop, lifting her foot arrogantly.
“Wipe it clean with your hands, thoroughly.”
Tan Xiaomei and Tan Erqian, who had been watching in anger, each spoke out in turn.
“Miss Cao, if you want us to pay for your shoes, we’ll pay the three liang of silver without hesitation. But if you think you can bully us, that’s not going to happen!”
“Exactly, Miss Cao, it’s only three liang of silver. We’ll give it to you right now.”
Tan Erqian said this while taking out silver from his pocket and offering it to them.
Miss Cao Liu’s face immediately fell. She straightened up and said, “Do you know who we are? How dare you speak to me like that?”
Wan Chunmei, now angry herself, retorted, “What’s so special about the concubine’s daughters of Magistrate Cao’s family? Do you think you’re the legitimate daughters of the main wife?”
Miss Cao Liu and Miss Cao Qi’s faces turned pale with embarrassment.
Wan Chunmei, seeing their awkwardness, continued, “You’re just concubine-born, after all. In the end, you’re still the children of servants. There’s no need to act all high and mighty in front of common folk like us.”
Miss Cao Liu froze, her anger rising. She snarled, “You country woman, I’m the daughter of the magistrate! Don’t think you can talk down to me!”
Wan Chunmei didn’t back down. “Young lady, it’s clearly you who are causing a scene here.”
Miss Cao Liu fumed even more, but seeing Wan Chunmei holding her child, she didn’t want to escalate the confrontation. She held her temper and said to Tan Erqian with a sharp tone, “Looks like you don’t want to do business here anymore.”
The people in the shop paused, looking at Miss Cao Liu in confusion.
Miss Cao Liu slowly stood up, preparing to leave.
However, just as she was about to go, her eyes accidentally caught sight of Little Qiyue’s face.
She froze in surprise, stared for a moment, and then said, “This child looks so familiar!”
She called to Miss Cao Qi, “Seventh sister, come look! Doesn’t this child’s face look familiar?”
Miss Cao Qi hurried over to take a look. She glanced at Little Qiyue and shook her head. “Sixth sister, you’re mistaken. This child looks unfamiliar to me.”
Miss Cao Liu furrowed her brow, lost in thought. After a long pause, she murmured to herself, “I just feel like I’ve seen this child somewhere before.”