Tianliangyuan

Chapter 292 A Wicked Child!

Xu Zhaozhao understood her mother's hint and pinched Xie Zheng's arm.

Xie Zheng hissed, but didn't dare to shout it out loud. He looked at his wife with a wronged expression. Had he said something wrong again?

"Go talk to my second brother."

"Second Brother is on duty today."

"Then go and talk to my father, and it would be best if you played a game of chess together."

"Didn't my father-in-law go out?"

Xu Zhaozhao was furious: "Then you can wait at the study door!"

Xie Zheng became obedient, bowed to his mother-in-law, and then left quietly.

As soon as he left, Wang Ruolan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Xu Zhaozhao's face darkened: "Mother, is this really okay?"

Wang Ruolan quickly waved her hand and tried her best to stop laughing out loud.

"Alright, let's talk about the drinks first."

“I can’t possibly agree to this. I have people in charge, and many things were already agreed upon a long time ago. Most of them are in contract, and they’re official contracts. I can’t break the contract.”

"I understand, that's why I called you over in a hurry to give you a heads-up, so you won't be put in a difficult position."

“What’s so difficult about this? Even if it were Grandmother, I would still say the same thing: who will bear the risk of breaking our promise? This isn’t just about paying compensation; it will also affect the reputation of the entire Hundred Fruit Orchard. I won’t do something like that. I can’t afford the consequences!”

Wang Ruolan asked in a low voice, "Is it that serious?"

"Of course! What kind of people does Mother think are dealing with Baiguoyuan? Even if they are merchants, do you think any of them don't have some kind of background? Take one of the caravans that specializes in going south, for example. Their owner is related to the Qi Prince's Mansion. Do you think if I were to waive their distribution rights, the Qi Princess would come and have tea with you?"

Wang Ruolan's expression froze. That was a princess consort. She wasn't stupid; how could she possibly go against a princess consort?

"Then what do you mean?"

"I won't help, and I can't help either. Business matters are naturally for those managers to worry about. I'm their master; my job is just to collect the money on time. Do you expect me to go door-to-door negotiating these deals? I'm a county magistrate!"

Wang Ruolan thought about it and agreed.

Let alone Xu Zhaozhao, a county princess, even the property owned by the children of officials in ordinary families would not be managed by their own hands.

"Sigh, I'll think of something when the old lady asks."

"Don't think too much about it, just do as I say. Grandmother is old and just felt sorry for the younger generation crying in front of her. But you are the mistress of this Marquis's mansion, so please don't let these unreliable relatives come to visit again."

Wang Ruolan's eyes flickered. Could she stop Xu Lin?

Just thinking about it gives me a headache!

Xu Zhaozhao also knew her mother's predicament.

“If Grandmother brings this up again, just push the blame onto me. Just say that I am now a member of the Xie family, and my maternal family shouldn't interfere directly in my affairs, lest people gossip. Tell them to go to the Duke of Huguo's mansion to find me.”

How could Wang Ruolan not know to make excuses like this?

But wouldn't that put my daughter in a difficult position?

“No. Sun Qian is fine, but she's your cousin. It doesn't matter whether you give her face or not. But what if your aunt also comes there? If you don't respond, she'll start crying and wailing, and you'll be the one who loses face.”

"Respect is something you earn yourself. If she, as an elder, doesn't care about her reputation, then I'll let her have her way. Mother, don't worry, I'm not someone who's easily manipulated, and I also have leverage over Sun Qian. If they know what's good for them, I'll let them off the hook; if they don't, I won't let them get away with it!"

Wang Ruolan felt a tremor in her heart. She always felt that her daughter seemed to have become more assertive after getting married.

"Alright, as long as you know what you're doing."

Now that we're back, we should still go and pay our respects to the old lady.

Wang Ruolan was a little worried. If the old lady suddenly mentioned Sun Qian, she was really afraid that Xu Zhaozhao would upset the old lady again.

But she was clearly overthinking it.

Since Xu Zhaozhao and Xie Zheng had just paid their respects, the old lady kept yawning, so the two of them took their leave.

The old lady was also puzzled. She didn't feel that sleepy, so why did she start yawning as soon as she saw her granddaughter and grandson-in-law?

Back at the Duke of Huguo's mansion, Xie Zheng took her hand and said, "If Sun Qian gives you any trouble, I'll step in."

"No need! It's nothing serious. However, I am quite curious about how Sun Qian and that Young Master Jia got together."

Xie Zheng was also somewhat curious.

The two exchanged a glance and immediately understood each other's intentions, and then arranged for someone to investigate.

The matter wasn't too difficult to investigate. Although Xu Lin tried to cover up the evidence, someone with a keen eye could still find some clues.

It turns out that Sun Qian had consummated her marriage with that man before the marriage took place.

Moreover, it was Sun Qian who schemed against that Jia Langjun, but Jia Langjun was completely unaware of it from beginning to end.

“My dear cousin is quite cunning! Even with a scar on her face, she managed to scheme against a handsome young man. If she were left in the capital, who knows who she would scheme against.”

Xie Zheng craned his neck and leaned closer: "Beautiful?"

Xu Zhaozhao didn't even glance at him, and pushed his face back with her hand.

"Speak up, but don't get so close."

Xie Zheng's expression changed: "My wife dislikes me?"

Xu Zhaozhao's lips twitched slightly, and she said with a hint of disdain, "This pitiful look doesn't suit you. It's too incongruous. It makes me uncomfortable."

Xie Zheng immediately regained his composure: "It won't happen again."

Xu Zhaozhao nodded, saying that a good husband is one who admits his mistakes and corrects them.

"I'm not familiar with Yunyang County. Do you have any people there?"

"Yes, what are you planning to do?"

"I'm not going to do anything, just cause the Jia family some minor trouble so they won't bother me."

"What about Sun Qian?"

"She's staying at the Sun family's place for a while now, so let her stay. As long as she doesn't bother me, let her do whatever she wants. But my cousin's wife isn't someone to be trifled with. Besides, both Sun Qingyang and Sun Huaizhi have had some trouble with their jobs these past two years. I don't believe Xu Lin would be willing to spoil her daughter, or that Sun Qingyang would be willing to do so either!"

She was absolutely right.

Sun Qingyang was indeed unwilling to let his daughter cause trouble everywhere anymore.

Now that you're married, you should live a good life with your husband's family.

Moreover, Sun Qingyang is an official, and for that reason alone, the Jia family wouldn't dare to bully Sun Qian, which is enough.

But Sun Qian was unwilling.

Marrying Jia Langjun was only a temporary measure; she wanted much more.

Snapped!

Sun Qingyang slapped Sun Qian to the ground and shouted angrily, "You wretched child, what more do you want? Are you only satisfied when you've destroyed our entire Sun family?"