After staying at the inn for a few days to do odd jobs, I figured out the daily routine of the businessman named Qin, that is, Qin Yougui.
Qin Yougui's life is very regular. He gets up at midnight every day, and after breakfast, he reads his account books in his room. He takes a half-hour lunch break at noon, and when he wakes up from his lunch break, he goes to his warehouse to deal with trivial business matters.
If nothing happens in the evening, Qin Yougui will come back very early.
During this period, not many people came to see Qin Yougui, so Liu Hao left an impression on everyone who came to see Qin Yougui.
What impressed him most was that a fat middle-aged man came to see Qin Yougui twice, and each time they closed the doors and windows and talked secretly in the room.
Liu Hao once dared to eavesdrop outside and only heard the word "silk".
When Shen Xiu heard the word silk, her expression changed slightly, "Are you sure it's these two words?"
Liu Hao nodded affirmatively: "I heard it right, it is indeed these two words."
Shen Xiu was silent for a moment. It seemed that her guess was correct. There was indeed something wrong with the silk embroidery thread.
"By the way, do you recognize that middle-aged man?"
Liu Hao thought for a moment and said, "I don't know."
Shen Xiu originally thought that this middle-aged man would be shopkeeper Zhang from the Nishang Embroidery Workshop, but Liu Hai had seen shopkeeper Zhang before, so he would definitely recognize him.
So who is this man?
Shen Xiu suddenly thought of someone, "Have you ever met the owner of Nishang Embroidery Studio, the old man?"
Liu Hai shook his head and said, "I haven't seen him before. That old man rarely goes to Nishang Embroidery Workshop. But I know where his home is."
Shen Xiu didn't ask Liu Boy to go out of his way to recognize anyone. Even if the middle-aged man was not an old man, he was from the Nishang Embroidery Workshop. She had more important things in her heart, and she asked Liu Boy to take care of it.
"There's no need to keep an eye on Qin Yougui. I have other things for you to do now. You first go to the county town for me and give this silk embroidery thread to someone."
Shen Xiu repeatedly asked Liu Hao to return to Fucheng as soon as possible after receiving the answer.
After leaving the child, Shen Xiu felt that there was no need to rest at home, so she returned to the embroidery workshop.
The embroidery shop is still full of people coming and going, and business seems to be good.
Shen Xiugang said a few words to Tan Xiu Niang, and Fan Guangzu ran up from downstairs. Even though he was out of breath, he couldn't hide the joy on his face, "Ms. Shen, there is a distinguished guest downstairs. Follow me quickly.
I will go together to greet the distinguished guests."
"What distinguished guest?" Shen Xiu stood up and asked.
Fan Guangzu said: "The prefect's wife is here, and her daughter-in-law, the young lady, is also here."
In the private room, Mrs. Gu picked up the hot tea brought by the waiter, took a sip, and said to her daughter-in-law Shen: "You have also seen Shen Xiu Niang's double-sided embroidery. Needless to say, her embroidery skills are rare.
The skill of double-sided embroidery is not inferior to that of famous embroidery masters in Suzhou. I intend to ask Ms. Shen Embroidery to embroider another screen as a return gift, but I don't know what you think?"
Shen also had a cup of tea in front of her, but she didn't move at all. After Mrs. Gu looked over, she smiled softly and said, "Since mother thinks that Shen Xiu Niang's double-sided embroidery skills are exquisite, then let it be as you wish!"
Although she and Mrs. Gu are mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, they don't agree with this stepmother in their hearts. Especially because Mrs. Gu is very skillful, Mrs. Shen has to be on guard against her.
Now Mrs. Gu mentioned that she wanted to customize embroidery at Jinxin Embroidery Workshop, and she wanted to give it to her mother-in-law. Mrs. Shen felt that this was done for the prefect Qin, so that the prefect Qin would think that she, the mother-in-law, was good to her daughter-in-law.
I have nothing to say.
Therefore, Mrs. Shen had only resentment in her heart, feeling that this mother-in-law wanted to show off her good reputation at every turn. But as a junior, what could she say, she could only sit here with her.
Just when Shen was feeling agitated, Shen Xiu followed Fan Guangzu in.
Initially, Mrs. Shen did not pay attention to the Shen Xiu Niang mentioned by Mrs. Gu. It was not until Fan Guangzu took a few steps forward that Ms. Shen clearly saw Shen Xiu standing behind him.
Because Shen Xiu was in the embroidery workshop, she didn't dress too much, just ordinary clothes and makeup.
After seeing Shen Xiu, Shen was slightly startled. She recognized this woman. She had followed them at the fire party that day, and she didn't know how many words she had heard.
Thinking that what she said might be told to Mrs. Gu by Shen Xiu Niang, Mrs. Shen couldn't help but glance at Mrs. Gu.
Mrs. Gu still looked as gentle as usual, and she seemed to have no grudge at all.
Mrs. Shen knew that Mrs. Gu had always been tolerant, and even if she knew what she said, she probably wouldn't show any abnormality.
She took a deep breath. Anyway, she had already said everything. Let Mrs. Gu think whatever she wants!
Even though Shen thought so, she still felt a little uneasy, so when she faced Shen Xiu, her face naturally didn't look good.
Shen Xiu knew that Mrs. Shen had misunderstood her. She couldn't explain it in front of Mrs. Gu, so she just stood aside quietly and listened to Fan Guangzu flattering Mrs. Gu.
Mrs. Gu listened patiently, and after Fan Guangzu finished pouring out those flattering words, she smiled and said: "Shopkeeper Fan doesn't have to be so polite. I came here this time to order another double-sided embroidery. As for the pattern and size, Just ask my daughter-in-law! She has the final say."
Ms. Shen stood up and wanted to say something else. Mrs. Gu waved her hand and said, "This is a return gift to the Shen family. Of course, you have the final say."
What could Mrs. Shen say, except thank Mrs. Gu for her kindness.
Shen Xiu saw it in her eyes, and what she heard that day, she knew that although the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were affectionate and affectionate on the surface, that was not the case on the inside.
"Since Madam has said so, please invite Young Madam to come with me!" Shen Xiu suddenly said: "This is the first time Young Madam has come to our embroidery workshop. She probably hasn't seen the embroidery from our embroidery workshop yet. Why don't you invite me?" On the second floor, we will discuss what pattern to use after seeing other embroidery products in our embroidery workshop."
Mrs. Gu naturally had no objection, so she persuaded Mrs. Shen to follow Shen Xiu to the second floor. Mrs. Shen was very reluctant, but in the end she followed Shen Xiu.
The westmost room on the second floor contains a lot of embroidery. There are Bian embroidery embroidered by Tan Xiu Niang and some Hunan embroidery embroidered by Shen Xiu.
"Some of these embroideries have been preserved over the years, and some have been recently embroidered and have not yet been sent to the guests."
Shen Xiudao: "Young lady, if you have a favorite style or pattern, you can tell me."
Mrs. Shen had no intention of looking at these embroideries. She glanced at them briefly and then pointed at a lotus screen.
"That lotus screen looks nice. Just embroider lotus flowers."
Shen Xiu glanced at the screen and said, "We have the pattern, but what about the size?"
"You just have to figure it out!" Mrs. Shen said impatiently, "Do you even have to ask me about such a trivial matter?"
She was obviously in no mood, and she thought Shen Xiu was from Mrs. Gu's side, so her attitude became even worse.
Shen Xiu was not angry. She finally called Shen out, so naturally she would not forget her purpose because of these words.
"Young Madam, don't leave yet. I have something to explain to you."
Shen had already stepped out. When she heard Shen Xiu's words, she stopped and turned around, "What do you want to say?"
Shen Xiu smiled and said, "I didn't mean to hear those words that day."
When Shen heard Shen Xiu mention what happened that day, a trace of discomfort flashed across her face, "I have forgotten what happened that day."
Shen Xiu smiled and said: "What a coincidence, I forgot about it too, and I forgot about it when I heard it, so I didn't tell anyone."
Shen Shi glanced at Shen Xiu hesitantly, obviously not believing her.
Shen Xiu further explained: "Does Madam Gu know why Madam Gu invited me to the fireplace party?"
Shen shook her head: "How do I know?"
Shen Xiu smiled lightly and said, "If you knew who my husband was, you would understand why Mrs. Gu invited me to the fire party."
"Who is your husband?" Mrs. Shen looked at Shen Xiu and asked curiously.
Shen Xiudao: "My husband is Wei Yan, I believe the young lady has heard of this name."
"Wei Yan." Shen knew who this person was just by thinking about it, "Are you Wei Yan's wife?"
Shen Xiu smiled and nodded: "Now young lady, you understand!"
She wanted to say that Mrs. Gu gave her the invitation for the sake of Magistrate Qin. So she and Mrs. Gu had no friendship, so naturally they would not tell each other those words.
Unexpectedly, after Mrs. Shen learned about the relationship between Shen Xiu and Wei Yan, she completely forgot what happened that day, and even changed her friendly expression, "If I had known that you were Wei Yan's wife, I should have
I went to visit you on the second day of the meeting. You don’t know, but I’ve wanted to see you for a long time.”
Shen Xiu was a little surprised. Shen had wanted to see her for a long time. Why?
Seeing her expression, Mrs. Shen guessed what she was thinking.
"Don't think too much, I want to see you because of my biological brother." Mrs. Shen looked a little embarrassed when she mentioned her biological brother.
"I know everything he did." Shen said softly, "I have already given him a lesson."
Shen Xiu later remembered that Shen's younger brother was Shen Shiqi, the person who bought away the Wei Yan case.
"My little brother has been accustomed to everything going well since he was a child. He has never known how high the sky is. How could this happen? So after I found out, I felt very uneasy and always wanted to see you."
When Shen Xiu heard this, she understood why Shen was so kind to her.
To put it more deeply, this matter is actually fraud. If we really want to investigate, Shen Shiqi, the person who paid for the case, is the mastermind.
Shen Xiu can understand Shen's worries. Shen Shiqi has such a handle in the hands of the couple. As Shen Shiqi's sister, Shen naturally knows how powerful it is.
If Wei Yan has a good life in the future, forget about it. If he doesn't, if this matter is revealed, Shen Shiqi's future will be completely ruined.
Shen Xiuyi understood the stakes involved, and seeing the uneasiness on Shen's face, she couldn't help but have an idea in her mind.
"Young lady, you don't need to think too much. It's just like what I said before. My husband-in-law forgot about that matter after he took the college exam."
Shen wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Shen Xiu.
"Young Madam, in order to cause unnecessary trouble, I hope you will not mention it to anyone about your knowledge that I am Mrs. Wei Yan. Especially not to Mrs. Gu."
Shen asked in confusion: "Why is this?"
Shen Xiudao: "I can't elaborate on the reason here. I can only tell you that Mrs. Gu actually wants to embarrass Jinxinxiufang, and I don't want to alarm her."
Shen was not stupid. After a second thought, she understood what Shen Xiu meant, "I know. She is here for the embroidery workshop."
Shen Xiu nodded: "As long as Young Madam understands."
She vaguely guessed that the purpose of Mrs. Gu's visit this time was to order an embroidery in Shen's name, and then wait for problems with the embroidery to ask Shen to come forward and hold the embroidery workshop accountable.
That's why Mrs. Gu didn't mention that Shen Xiu was the wife of Wei Yan, in order to allow Shen to target Shen Xiu without any scruples. This would kill two birds with one stone and indirectly cause the prefect of Qin to be dissatisfied with his daughter-in-law.
I have to say that Mrs. Gu’s idea is indeed a good one.
But she didn't expect that she would reveal her identity to Shen, and she didn't expect that Shen's brother and Wei Yan would have a secret in common.
In this way, it was natural for Shen to side with Shen Xiu.