Chapter 445: Chapter 432: The Capital City’s Top Money Fanatic

“You did promise me you wouldn’t marry within the next two years.” reminded Chu Yunzhao.

“Times change, back then I didn’t even know I had a marriage pact. But now that I do, and if the other person is to my liking…” Chu Jinnian touched his nose, “I can’t guarantee what I might do.”

So, it turns out that Chu Jinnian, who I thought wasn’t interested in marriage at all, is actually someone who breaks promises as soon as he learns about his arrangement.

What a scoundrel!

“You… are despicable!” Chu Yunzhao grumbled through gritted teeth.

“There’s no need for the Fourth Prince to get so upset, everything can be negotiated.” A meaningful smile spread across Chu Jinnian’s lips. “Why not discuss it with me? Perhaps I might agree with the Fourth Prince’s request and postpone it.”

“Oh?” Upon hearing this, Chu Yunzhao’s anger subsided considerably. He pondered for a moment before asking, “How can we negotiate?”

“If the Fourth Prince gives me another shop, I might consider delaying this marriage for two or three years.” Chu Jinnian replied,

Chu Yunzhao, “…”

So, after all the roundabout talk, he still wants my shop.

Chu Jinnian, from now on, don’t call yourself the Stoic King of Hades. Change your name to the Capital City’s Number One Money Fanatic!

—-

When evening fell, Zhuang Jingye arrived at Zhuang Qingning’s house, looking very excited.

“What was the outcome of Village Chief’s visit to the County Government Office?”

As Zhuang Qingning asked, she poured a cup of tea for Zhuang Jingye.

It was Chrysanthemum tea, with a bit of rock sugar added, slightly sweet to taste, moistening and cooling. It was neither cold nor hot, just the right temperature.

Zhuang Jingye took a sip of tea and smiled, “After going there, I sought out Master Ding. Just so happened Master Ding was at the County Office today, so I told him about this situation.”

“Upon hearing this, Master Ding’s face turned serious. He said that Zhaojiazhuang had gone too far and that he was going to reprimand Zhao Qiancheng. He also assured me not to worry and would definitely get our village justice.”

“With Master Ding around, I think we can rest easy.”

Zhuang Jingye remembered how courteous Ding Gaochang was to him today at the County Government Office, his spirits soared.

“Master Ding is always fair in his dealings, he certainly wouldn’t let Zhao Qiancheng go easily. But for such matters, we can’t rely solely on Master Ding,”

Zhuang Qingning laughed, “Village Chief, you must know who among our villagers loves to gossip the most and enjoys chatting aimlessly with folks from neighboring villages.”

“Of course.”

Zhuang Jingye nodded.

He has been the Village Chief for many years. Enji Village isn’t large and has a small population. He knows the character and habits of those who live there very well.

“Don’t worry Ning’er, I’ll make sure everyone keeps quiet about this and doesn’t spread unnecessary rumors,”

To avoid their accusation—or rather, blaming—of Zhaojiazhuang’s covetousness of our workshop being twisted into something else, which may end up being disadvantageous to us.

“Village Chief, we can’t keep quiet about this. In fact, we need to speak loud and clear.” Zhuang Qingning laughed, her smile filled with slyness.

“We need to speak?” Zhuang Jingye was taken aback.

“Yes, we need to speak.” Zhuang Qingning nodded, “and the more we speak the better.”

“What?” Zhuang Jingye was increasingly confused.

—-

“Have you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“About Zhaojiazhuang’s scandal.”

“Gosh, I thought you had some major news. So you’re talking about that old scoundrel Zhao Qiancheng?”

“Who else could I mean? The story is all over the place, every village around us knows about it. This Zhao Qiancheng is something else. As a village chief, he can’t lead his people to make money. Instead, he gets envious when he sees others prospering. It’s embarrassing.”

“It’s more than just embarrassing. He has lost face for his entire ancestry. If he too wants to make money, he should set up his own workshop instead of trying to steal others’,”

“Absolutely, I heard that Zhao Qiancheng tried everything to steal from our workshop, but our place was as secure as a locked barrel. When he ran out of tricks, he even forced his nephew Zhao Ziping into taking part. Having Zhao Ziping pretend to woo Miss Zhou, claiming he was attracted to her and intended to propose. All this just to trick Miss Zhou into divulging the workshop secrets.”

“But Miss Zhou is clever, she saw through Zhao Ziping’s lies and gave him a piece of her mind. Even Zhuang Sifu, who was in charge of deliveries at the workshop, couldn’t stand it anymore and gave Zhao Ziping a beating, warning him not to mess with the workshop.”

“Normally, this should have ended then and there, but Zhao Ziping and Zhao Qiancheng have skins thicker than city walls. They actually insisted on seeking justice from Vu Qiancheng when Zhao Ziping was beaten, only to end up with a walloping of their own. It’s hilarious.”

“The funniest part is yet to come. Zhaojiazhuang has spread the rumor that Miss Zhou from Enji village has been flirting with Zhao Ziping, violating female virtue. Can you believe that people can say such things? We all know what kind of person he is and what he has done. When he failed to steal the prescription, he tried to tarnish a girl’s reputation. Tch, tch, this Zhaojiazhuang is – ”

“Like father, like son. If the village chief of Zhaojiazhuang is of this character, those villagers underneath him mustn’t be any better. From now on, everyone should be careful when they marry off their daughters or choose a bride. Avoid picking someone from Zhaojiazhuang, who knows what would happen. If you bring back a troublemaker, you won’t have a moment of peace.”

“Definitely, we should all take this to heart.”

These topics began to surface during meals and casual chats around different villages, though the rumors became increasingly outrageous.

Like how someone saw Miss Zhou shouting at Zhao Ziping, which made him so furious that his face turned the color of a pig’s liver. When he tried to strike Miss Zhou, she turned the tables and lectured him instead.

Or how someone actually saw people from Zhaojiazhuang sneaking around Enji Village in an attempt to steal prescriptions, but were spotted by villagers and beaten until they didn’t even recognize their own mothers.

…

The rumors were highly detailed and colorful.

As these rumors spread, they eventually found their way back to Zhaojiazhuang.

When Zhao Qiancheng heard these rumors, he was so furious he smashed a cup.

“Uncle, these people from Enji village are blatantly playing the victim!” exclaimed Zhao Ziping angrily.