As soon as Manager Zhao finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement.

“Yes.”

“Manager Zhao is absolutely right.”

“This manager position should indeed be filled by Miss Su or Manager Wu.”

“I agree!”

“…”

Everyone echoed in agreement. Manager Zhao cupped his hands to Su Yujin and Wu Jiantong and smiled, “This is what everyone wants.”

Su Yujin curtsied. “Then I’ll respectfully accept. However, I have other matters to attend to on weekdays, and Manager Wu is more proficient than me in business and many other matters. Let Manager Wu handle these matters and take on the manager position.”

They were both from the same family; either one was fine.

Everyone nodded.

Manager Qian roared in exasperation, “I disagree!”

He couldn’t compete with them in business, and now he was being outshone in reputation—what kind of nonsense was that?

Everyone glanced at Manager Qian, ignoring him completely, and simply surrounded Su Yujin and Wu Jiantong as they went to find Feng Yuandong.

“Manager Feng, we recommend Manager Wu as the manager!”

Manager Qian, “…”

Felt a chill run down his spine, and his heart sank…

Damn it!

Manager Qian wanted to stomp the blue bricks beneath his feet to pieces.

“Manager Qian,” Madam Zhou Li approached.

“Madam Zhou.” Manager Qian quickly cupped his hands, his face beaming. “May I ask what brings you here, Madam?”

Madam Zhou was now the head of the Chamber of Commerce and held considerable prestige in Qinghe County. She had probably come to speak on his behalf because she couldn’t stand these sycophants.

“It concerns the matter of the manager…” Madam Li began.

Manager Qian’s heart leaped into his throat.

So that was what she was after!

“Madam also thinks this matter…”

Madam Li interrupted Manager Qian. “Miss Su and Manager Wu are the popular choices; Manager Qian shouldn’t be greedy and overthink it. Besides, I’ve recently heard that Manager Qian often spreads rumors and slanders against Huibinlou, damaging its reputation. This is really inappropriate.”

“According to the rules of our Chamber of Commerce, business must be conducted honorably. Manager Qian’s underhanded tricks should be stopped; otherwise, he will be dealt with according to the Chamber’s rules. Manager Qian, you’d better watch yourself.” After saying this, Madam Li turned and left.

Manager Qian, “…”

So she came to give him a warning!

Seeing Madam Li walk up to Su Yujin and talk to her, seemingly quite intimately, Manager Qian stomped his feet until they went numb.

Damn it!

Why was everyone siding with that brat, everyone revolving around her? He refused to believe it; couldn’t he live without revolving around that damned girl?

“Miss Su.”

“Madam,” Su Yujin smiled broadly. “Madam looks to be in excellent health; everything must be going well.”

“Thanks to Miss Su, everything is fine,” Madam Li replied with a smile.

Since Zhou Ruoyi’s allergic reaction, both Old Madam Zhou and Li Yujin had taken it very seriously, meticulously reviewing all the servants in the courtyard, from top to bottom, and thoroughly dealing with the second and third branches of the family.

Old Madam Zhou had already asked the elders of the clan to witness that the second and third branches of the family had been separated, leaving only a small amount of houses and land for their livelihood, and that the various businesses and assets of the main house had nothing to do with them.

The four members of the second and third branches of the family had also been punished with caning and forced labor for plotting against Zhou Ruoyi and would not be able to return for eight to ten years. Even if they did return, Zhou Ruoyi would have grown up by then, and the second and third branches of the family would have long lost their foundation and would not be able to cause any more trouble.

The remaining concubines, grandchildren, and servants, having lost their leader and witnessed the methods and determination of the eldest son’s family, all lived their lives with their heads down, daring not to cause any more trouble. With everything at home stable, Madam Li was able to focus much of her energy on business.

The Zhou family was, after all, a family of merchants, and the managers they had trained were all very capable. Some time ago, Madam Li had made connections with merchants in Suzhou and signed contracts, meaning she would be able to secure her profits for the next few years. Naturally, Madam Li was quite pleased with herself.

Most importantly, these past few days…

Madam Li unconsciously glanced at the tall figure beside her but quickly looked away, saying to Su Yujin, “I went to Suzhou a while ago and got some excellent Suzhou embroidery. I thought the colors were bright and suitable for someone your age, so I saved some for you.”

“There is also some fine jasmine powder, cloud-like frost, and the like. I’ve tried some, and they’re all quite nice. I’ll send them all over to you later.”

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony with you, Madam, and will accept them all.”

“Of course, you don’t need to stand on ceremony with me.” Madam Li smiled.

“Madam, Manager Feng says he has something to say.” Yun Yongnian walked over.

“I’m coming right now.” Madam Li nodded, patting Su Yujin’s hand. “When you have time, I’ll go talk to Miss Su.”

“Okay.”

Su Yujin agreed with a smile.

Each trade had nominated its manager, and Feng Yuandong announced the list, the responsibilities of the organizers, and the rules that each merchant needed to follow. The meeting was then concluded.

Su Yujin and Wu Jiantong returned to Huibinlou together. Wu Jiantong went inside to work, while Su Yujin went back with Ai Cao, who was waiting at Huibinlou.

Upon arriving home, they saw a basket placed at the door, covered with a cloth.

“This is…”

Ai Cao took it down and lifted it. “A sesame seed cake?”

A genuine oven-baked sesame seed cake, sprinkled with sesame seeds, its crust golden brown and still slightly steaming, as if it had just been placed there.

“Who put this sesame seed cake here?” Ai Cao asked.

“Probably someone who knows how to make oven-baked sesame seed cakes,” Su Yujin replied casually.

Speaking of sesame seed cakes, she could only think of Zhang Huaihua, who had been bribed by the Liao family to mix croton oil into the cakes.

Speaking of which, Zhang Huaihua was sentenced to hard labor back then, and judging by the time, she should be back by now.

She just wondered if sending these sesame cakes was an apology?

“No wonder,” Ai Cao suddenly realized. “A couple of days ago, when I was talking to someone, they mentioned that Aunt Sun’s house was going to be sold. At first, I thought Aunt Sun was struggling financially and wanted to sell the house to support herself, but now I think she’s probably moving away.”

Having committed such a crime, Zhang Huaihua’s reputation was ruined; she absolutely couldn’t continue living here. Selling the house and settling down elsewhere with her widowed mother was the only way to start a new life.

This was someone else’s business, and Su Yujin didn’t intend to dwell on it.

“Miss, what should we do with these sesame cakes?”

“The weather is getting colder, and there are more beggars on the streets. Let’s give these to them; they can fill their stomachs, and it’s a good deed,” Su Yujin instructed.

“Yes,” Ai Cao agreed, and together with Su Yujin, they carried the basket full of sesame cakes to the street.

Just as they stepped from the alley onto the street, the two saw Yu Xiucai and Hu Qiaohui.

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