nashuaworldcup Chapter 441: Don’t even think about this cloth shop
Chapter 441: Don’t even think about this cloth shop
Mrs. Bai gently stroked a piece of dusty Shu brocade with her fingertips. It felt rough and far less delicate than the ones from the First Silk Shop.
Hearing the steward's remarks, she raised her eyebrows and said slowly:
"What you said is a bit biased. If a woman has courage and strategy, she may not be inferior to a man.
Furthermore, how can we know that the decline of this brocade silk shop is not due to bad luck or poor management?"
Just as Mrs. Bai was talking to the steward, a violent cough was heard from deep inside the shop.
Two thin girls came out, supporting a haggard woman.
The woman's face was as pale as paper, her eye sockets were sunken, and her cheeks were abnormally flushed. Although the silk gown she was wearing looked like it was once of high quality, it was now worn in many places.
She looked straight at Mrs. Bai and said in a hoarse voice, "Are you here to buy this silk shop?"
Madam Bai nodded slightly, her eyes calm. "That's right. This is a prosperous area, and the location of the shop is really good, so I came to check it out first."
The woman heard this and gave a bitter laugh, her laughter full of helplessness:
“Madam has a keen eye. This shop is in a great location, but it has never been sold.
The owner of the No. 1 silk shop opposite was bent on seizing the property by force at a low price.
My shop, no matter how poor it is, is worth 150,000 taels of silver, but she is only willing to pay 10,000 taels."
As the woman said this, her eyes became red and her body trembled slightly. The two girls beside her patted her back gently, their eyes also filled with tears.
"Not only that," the woman paused, her voice choked with sobs:
"My family originally had more than a hundred embroiderers, all of whom were bribed by her with huge sums of money.
Without the embroiderer, the store could not produce new goods and business plummeted.
She also spread rumors everywhere, slandering the quality of our silk, and completely cut off our customer base."
The woman became increasingly agitated and began coughing violently, taking a long time to recover.
"My head of the family was already in poor health, and after this blow, he became seriously ill.
Qingyu didn't give up yet. He bribed the pharmacy and sent fake medicine to the boss.
The head of the family passed away with hatred, leaving my two daughters and me alone and helpless. She sent people to harass us every day, trying to force us to sell the shop at a low price..."
The two girls couldn't hold back their tears any longer, and threw themselves into the woman's arms: "Mom, it's all our fault that we are useless and can't help you."
The woman stroked her daughter's hair and tears fell like rain.
Mrs. Bai could never have imagined that the once gentle and considerate Qingyu had become so cruel and ruthless.
Looking at the miserable appearance of the mother and daughter before her, she couldn't help but sigh. Her voice was soft but firm: "If you really want to sell the shop, I am willing to buy it for 150,000 taels."
Her eyes fell on the woman's pale face: "Judging from the way you're coughing, you've been sick for quite a while, right?"
The woman nodded, a glimmer of relief in her eyes:
“Yeah, this body can’t be healed.
Once the shop is sold, I will take my two daughters and leave Bianjing to find a quiet place to spend the rest of my life..."
Madam Bai reached out and gently pressed the woman's shoulder: "Madam, why don't you let me feel your pulse? Perhaps there is still hope."
After saying that, she sat down steadily beside her, stretched out her finger, and placed it on the woman's wrist.
The room was silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on Mrs. Bai.
I saw her eyebrows slightly frowned, her expression became more solemn, after a moment, she said in a deep voice:
"Madam has been poisoned, and this poison is extremely rare. Ordinary doctors have no idea how to treat it.
Qiao Niang, come here and feel my pulse."
A full cup of tea passed before Zhao Qiaoniang said, "This poison is too hidden. I searched for a long time before I found its trace."
Upon hearing this, Madam Bai's expression grew more solemn, and she nodded slowly, "Indeed, this poison is extremely rare, and ordinary doctors simply can't find a clue."
She picked up Lin Wanwan, walked sideways to the side, and the two whispered for a while.
Lin Wanwan then called out Milk Bottle, who flew out sleepily, flapping its wings weakly, obviously not fully awake from its sleep.
The bottle dangled and flew to the woman's bedside, swirled around her body, and quickly neutralized the poison.
Mrs. Bai picked up her brush and wrote down several prescriptions on the rice paper in one go. Her handwriting was elegant yet powerful. "Follow this prescription and take it for a few days, and your condition will improve."
The woman's eyes were red, her legs softened, and she knelt on the ground with a plop, her forehead touching the ground lightly.
"Madam, I have no way to repay your kindness. If you don't mind, I will only charge fifty thousand taels for this shop.
My two daughters and I can embroider, and our skills are absolutely excellent.
My daughter has been learning various needlework techniques since she was young. If Madam is willing to take her in, we are willing to work for you in the shop and be at your disposal."
There was a sound of footsteps approaching from afar, and Qingyu's sharp voice came from outside the door:
"Mrs. Zhou, what do you think of my proposal last time? I advise you to sell the shop to me as soon as possible to save yourself from unnecessary suffering.
Now, most of the silk business in Bianjing is in my hands. You are just making a meaningless struggle by keeping this shabby shop.
Be smart and hand over the shop, and I can still leave you a way out."
Qingyu suddenly pushed open the door of the shop and glanced around the room. His eyes first fell on Mrs. Zhou's pale face, and a sarcastic smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Then he glanced at Mrs. Bai and was slightly startled.
Qingyu looked Madam Bai up and down, his tone full of sarcasm:
"Hey, Su Wan'er! I didn't expect that since you couldn't get any benefits from me, you would come here?
"You have a good idea, but unfortunately this Jinxiu Cloth Shop is already broke. What can you get out of it?"
Madam Bai stared at Qingyu coldly and said:
"It's none of your business to tell me what to do!
No matter how bad it is, it's better than you using those despicable means to rob other people's shops!"
Qingyu raised his head and laughed:
"Su Wan'er, don't say such harsh words.
The business world is like a battlefield, where everyone wins based on their own abilities.
I'm just doing business as usual, how come that's not legitimate?"
A hint of cruelty flashed in her eyes, and her tone became colder:
"I advise you to mind your own business, I'm determined to get this shop.
If you dare to ruin my good deeds, don't blame me for turning my back on you!"
Madam Zhou's eyes burned with anger. She glared at Qingyu fiercely, sneered, and spat:
"Bah! Qingyu, you're daydreaming! Even if I burn this shop down, I won't let you off easily!
Do you think you can hide the things you did behind the scenes?
In fact, we know everything in our hearts! I tell you, don’t even think about this cloth shop!
Qingyu raised an evil smile and approached Madam Zhou step by step.
She looked down at Madam Zhou and said:
"Mrs. Zhou, I'm afraid this is not up to you.
Today, I must have this cloth shop."
She looked at Mrs. Zhou's two daughters and said:
"Not only the cloth shop, I also want to take your two beautiful daughters away with me.
Let them come to my First Jinxiu Manor and work as embroiderers for the rest of their lives, earning money for me."