Chapter 162 Mr. Tao
Mengxi saw a jade pendant that was exactly the same as the one she wore in her previous life, which made her want to buy it back. She hurriedly told Zhiqiu to pay for it. The shopkeeper heard what the second wife said and said:
"Madam, I see that you are a connoisseur of goods. I won't charge you much. One hundred taels will be enough. I guarantee that your purchase is worth it. Please wait a moment. I will pack it for you."
Zhiqiu quietly pulled Mengxi and whispered:
"Second Madam, I didn't expect to buy anything, so I only brought fifty taels with me. How about we ask the shopkeeper if we can keep it in deposit first, and let my brother pay for it tomorrow?"
"Okay"
Mengxi thought about it and nodded. The two of them had completely forgotten that there was a God of Wealth following them. They were drinking tea and looked up at the shopkeeper and said:
"Boss, we don't have enough silver today. I've taken a fancy to this jade pendant. Can I order it first and leave it with you? You can pick it up tomorrow when I send someone to deliver the silver to you."
The shopkeeper was stunned when he heard this. Isn't Mr. Xiao sitting there? How could he be short of this little money? He stole a glance at Mr. Xiao and saw that he was drinking tea with his head down.
It turns out that they are not in the same group! I have worked so hard for nothing! They can't even come up with a hundred taels. It's obvious that there is no profit.
Thinking of this, he had already begun to despise it. Seeing that this jade pendant could not earn him much money, he immediately raised his voice by eight octaves and said unhappily:
"What! Sir, you should have told me earlier that you didn't have money. I have been serving you for a long time, and now you don't have money to buy it. This jade pendant may be taken away by someone else the next moment if all customers are like you. We won't be able to do business with you tomorrow."
The shopkeeper yelled so loudly that everyone in the store stopped and looked over. When the second master, who was drinking tea, heard this, his face immediately darkened. He put down his teacup and was about to stand up when he heard Zhiqiu say:
"Shopkeeper, what are you talking about? We are not really short of money. We just happened to not bring any today. Don't look down on us. If you push us too hard, you can buy this little shop!"
Zhiqiu saw the shopkeeper's face change when he heard that there was no money. Seeing that all the customers in the store were looking at him, he could no longer keep a straight face. Forgetting the occasion, he opened his mouth and retorted.
After hearing what Zhiqiu said, the Second Master calmed down, picked up his teacup and watched the excitement.
The shopkeeper didn't expect to meet such a little hot pepper. His face turned red. He hesitated for a long time and said indifferently:
"Sir, you are a wealthy man. Our inn cannot afford to accommodate you. Please go somewhere else. Our inn is humble and shabby. Please do not pollute your eyes."
The shopkeeper's words: "Drive people away."
Seeing that Second Mistress really liked the jade pendant, Zhichun secretly blamed Zhiqiu for being quick-witted. He quietly pulled Second Mistress's sleeve and whispered:
"Second Madam likes it, but it's not worth much money. I'll ask Second Master to pay for it."
As Zhichun was speaking, she was about to turn around, but Zhiqiu grabbed her and glared at her.
Mengxi felt her face flushed when she saw that everyone in the store was looking at her. She was annoyed at the shopkeeper for looking down on her, but after all, she had no money on her and was in the wrong. It would be embarrassing if she continued to be in a stalemate.
Looking at the jade pendant in his hand, he thought to himself, never mind, even if I buy it back, I can't go back to my previous life, and keeping it around will only add to my sadness. Thinking of this, he put the jade pendant on the counter with a "pop" and said:
"let's go!"
After saying that, he helped Zhiqiu out. Zhiqiu was so angry that he turned to the shopkeeper and said:
"Boss, you'd better count the goods tonight, or I will send someone to take over your store tomorrow."
After Zhiqiu finished speaking, without looking at the shopkeeper's purple eggplant-like face, he supported the second wife and walked out without looking back.
The second master who was drinking tea at the side was stunned. He left just like that?
Seeing that the shopkeeper was rude to Mengxi, he wanted to step forward and teach her a lesson, but when he saw Zhiqiu's hot-tempered attitude, he remembered that she had been preventing him and Mengxi from getting close at all times. He was angry and wanted to make her suffer, thinking that she would be so angry that she would come to beg him.
While she was waiting, she saw that the three men seemed to have forgotten about him and walked out. Her face suddenly darkened. Didn't she know that he could hold up the sky for her?
How could she not remember that he was behind her at the critical moment? She was angry and worried that the three of them would go too far in anger and something might happen. She gave Xiao Xia a look and stood up to chase after them.
Mengxi and the other two walked out in anger. Zhichun complained to Zhiqiu as he walked:
"It's all your fault. You didn't let me go to the Second Master. It's so embarrassing in public. It's rare for the Second Madam to like something. It's a pity to miss it. It's not like I'm really short of money."
"If the Second Master could pay the money, he would have paid it long ago. He could just watch us being bullied and drink tea leisurely! If you point at him, the cucumber dish will get cold!"
"That doesn't mean they will come to collect it tomorrow. What can we use to collect it? If they say they will come, even if they have money, they have opened the store for such a long time and have some background. No matter how much money you offer, they won't sell it. What can you do?"
"The prince's guard Sun Cheng once told my brother that if we have any problems in Pingyang, we just need . Second Madam, I just can't stand the way the Second Master doesn't care about you. I will ask my brother to ask the prince to take over this jade shop tomorrow. I don't believe that without the Second Master's rotten eggs, we can't make this mung bean cake!"
"Prince! Second Madam, when did you first meet the Prince?"
Mengxi didn't want anyone to know about her sworn brotherhood with the prince, so as to avoid causing trouble, so she never told Zhichun about it. When she asked about it, Zhiqiu was at a loss for a moment and looked at the second wife.
Mengxi glanced at Zhiqiu and secretly blamed her for being too impatient. Just to prove her point, she was going to ask the prince to buy back the shop. Not to mention whether it was worth asking the prince for such a small matter, there was no one around her who knew about jade, so who would run the business if she bought it back?
I also know that she was angry at being wronged, and even more angry at the Second Master for not standing up for her, so I didn't blame her too much, and just said lightly:
"The prince's guards often go to Yichuntang to buy medicine. They have become familiar with each other over time. Zhiqiu, don't be so reckless in the future. You should learn to stay calm. Even if we sell the store out of spite, we don't have the energy to run it. Let's talk about this later. By the way, where is the Second Master? Why didn't he come out?"
After hearing what Second Madam said, Zhiqiu felt that he was too impulsive and nodded in agreement. When Second Madam mentioned Second Master, he turned around and found that Second Master had not come out. The three of them looked at each other, and no one wanted to go back and call. Finally, Mengxi said:
"Forget it. After being disturbed by the shopkeeper, I'm in no good mood. Let's just wait here. The Second Master will come out sooner or later. It's almost noon now. When the Second Master comes out, we can go back early."
Xiao Jun hurriedly chased out and saw the three people waiting outside. He was so angry. He remembered that they were waiting for him. What were they doing just now? They didn't even call him when they were bullied!
Seeing them standing on the street, he knew they wouldn't go far. He became confident, put on a cold face, didn't even look at them, and walked straight to the painting pavilion next to him.
Seeing that the Second Master ignored them and walked towards Huaxuan, Mengxi knew that the Second Master was angry. She looked at the two little girls, who were also standing there stupidly looking at the Second Master.
I rolled my eyes at them. What are you so stupid about? Come on, follow me.
The three followed the Second Master into the painting pavilion. When the Second Master heard the footsteps behind him, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He walked in a square step and began to look at the calligraphy and paintings with confidence.
In ancient times, painting pavilions were elegant places, mostly visited by literati and poets. Although there were many guests inside, it was very quiet. Occasionally, a guest would comment on a painting, but they would talk in a low voice for fear of disturbing others' interest.
Mengxi has no particular hobby for paintings, but she likes this tranquil cultural atmosphere, which reminds her of the 21st century coffee culture. Seeing Erye appreciating the calligraphy and paintings on the wall with an intoxicated look on his face, completely devoid of his usual coldness, she didn't expect that this iceberg had a special liking for calligraphy and paintings. She followed him and began to take a quick look.
The sound of a piano piece broke the tranquility of the pavilion. It was the song "Swordsman" that Mengxi was very familiar with.
"The prince is upstairs!"
Mengxi looked at Zhiqiu inquiringly, and Zhiqiu also looked at her in confusion. After careful consideration, she realized that this method was definitely not that of the prince. Seeing Zhiqiu gently shaking his head at her, she became more certain of her judgment.
Like a stone thrown into the lake of one's heart, it created ripples. No one else knew this song except her and the prince. Could it be that she met a colleague who had traveled through time? It is said that those who have traveled through time all love this song "Swordsman" very much.
A feeling of meeting an old friend in a foreign land arose spontaneously, a feeling of intimacy and anxiety, which stirred her heart. She turned around and hurriedly went to the second floor following the sound of the piano.
"Second Grandma, what are you going to do?"
When Zhiqiu saw this, he cried out in panic.
Hearing Zhiqiu's call, Xiao Jun turned his head and followed her gaze, and saw Mengxi running hurriedly to the second floor. He was secretly shocked, as he had never seen her steps so messy before, so he turned around and followed her.
Mengxi followed the sound of the piano to the door of a private room on the second floor. The book boy at the door just said:
"Please stay, guest"
The door had been pushed open by Mengxi. Looking inside, I saw an elegant young man wearing a moon-white satin-embroidered gown. His long hair was simply tied into a ponytail. He was not wearing a crown. His white clothes and black hair made him look even more elegant. He was sitting cross-legged in front of a guqin, vigorously stroking the strings with his hands.
Looking at the young man in front of him, Mengxi was at a loss for a moment. The sound of the piano stopped abruptly. The young man looked up and met Mengxi's eyes. His eyes lit up and he asked softly:
"Girl, you..."
Before he could finish his words, Xiao Jun, who had arrived from behind, stretched out his hand to take Mengxi away and walked in.
When the young man saw Xiao Jun coming in, he hurriedly stood up and greeted him:
"Brother Xiao, long time no see. Why didn't you tell me you were here? I'm sorry. Who is this..."
Xiao Jun let go of Meng Xi's hand, took a step forward, and bowed with both hands:
"I was wondering who had such a refined taste, it turned out to be Brother Tao"
After the greetings, seeing that Master Tao looked at Mengxi with a strange look in his eyes, Xiao Jun subconsciously hugged Mengxi again and introduced them to each other:
"Xi'er, this person is the famous poet Tao Jundong in Pingyang City. My dear brother, this is your sister-in-law."
After hearing this, Mengxi broke away from the Second Master's embrace, walked slowly forward and bowed softly:
"Mengxi greets Master Tao. I apologize for interrupting you. I was shocked to hear your song just now. It is so heroic, like a raging wave that is afraid of the shore. The huge waves wash away everything and I can roam freely in the vast land. I was amazed for a moment. May I ask if this song was composed by you?"
