164 Look Dumb
500 taels of silver was indeed a lot, but she thought that she might not be able to live to spend it.
Madam Yang dared not to mess with Zhao Chuchu again.
After all, what happened to Niu Ziming and Zhao You’s family had made it clear to her what she should do.
But Madam Yang did not show her emotions.
She just looked at Manager Li suspiciously. “500 taels of silver and I sell the recipe to you? Then, why don’t I learn how to make tofu and sell it myself? That way I can earn more than 500 taels. Sir, you think country people are stupid, right?”
After saying that, Madam Yang made a move to leave.
“Wait, Madam.” Manager Li stopped her quickly. “I see you look a bit like Zhao Chuchu. I wonder if you’re related.”
“What do you think?” Madam Yang felt that Manager Li seemed a little dumb.
She started to think of a way to convince him into giving her the money without telling him the recipe.
Madam Yang secretly observed Manager Li, thinking about how to carry out her plan.
Manager Li was so eager to set up Zhao Chuchu that he didn’t even notice Madam Yang’s move.
“Are you Zhao Chuchu’s grandmother?”
Madam Yang didn’t say anything.
She thought Manager Li must be a complete stranger in the village, or he wouldn’t be asking these questions.
Manager Li took Madam Yang’s silence as a yes.
He took out another tael of silver and said, “Madam, think about the recipe. If you can’t get me the recipe, why don’t you take me to the tofu maker’s house and negotiate with them? I’ll pay you if you help me take care of this.”
“I can do that. Guitang is my nephew. You want to do business with him?”
“Yes, you got it.”
Once he heard that Madam Yang and Zhao Guitang were close, he thought his plan would work.
“Madam, if you can get your nephew to do business with me, you will get a lot of benefits.”
Manager Li slipped the one tael of silver to Madam Yang.
Madam Yang almost burst into laughter when she got two taels of silver for nothing.
But she held back.
She thought the fool could have given her more money.
Also, since she did not do anything, she thought Zhao Chuchu would not give her a hard time.
She would never say no to easy money like this.
“Well, it’s not impossible. But I can’t intervene in your business as a woman. It’s not that I don’t want to help you.” Madam Yang glanced at Manager Li. “Although my nephew grew up under my eyes, he has his family. I have no right to tell him what to do, do I?”
Manager Li immediately got the message. He knew she wanted more money.
He gritted his teeth and took out another five taels of silver. “Please, Madam.”
Madam Yang weighed the silver and led Manager Li to Zhao Guitang’s house.
“Guitang, there is a gentleman who wants to do business with you. Why don’t you come out and talk?” Madam Yang entered the courtyard of Zhao Guitang and shouted loudly.
Zhao Guitang heard the sound and came out on crutches with Madam He.
Seeing Manager Li beside Madam Yang, Zhao Guitang frowned. “Auntie, what’s this about?”
“Oh, I met this gentleman at the entrance of the village and he said he wanted to do business with you. But I don’t know anything about business. He asked me to do him a favor and I brought him here. The rest has nothing to do with me.” Madam Yang knew that Zhao Guitang was very obedient to Zhao Chuchu, so she didn’t want to get involved.
“Guitang, don’t rush to any conclusion yet. Listen to what this gentleman has to offer. If the offer is good, you can do business with him. I heard he wants a lot. He came here because he has seen Chuchu.”
This was also part of Madam Yang’s plan. She was suggesting to Zhao Guitang that Zhao Chuchu’s business had nothing to do with her.
Manager Li had been checking out Zhao Guitang’s yard. His attention fell on the stone mill in the shed, so he did not hear what Madam Yang said.
After Madam Yang explained everything, she took off.
Now that she got what she wanted, what happened to Zhao Guitang would have nothing to do with her!
Even if Zhao Chuchu took issue with her, she knew she could justify herself.
Madam He heard what Madam Yang really meant.
Although she didn’t like the fact that Madam Yang was so nosy, she could only deal with Manager Li.
“Would you like to buy tofu, sir?”
“Well, I’ll take all the tofu you have.” Manager Li regained his sense. When he saw Zhao Guitang was a cripple and that Madam He was a woman, the contempt in his eyes became obvious. “I want a lot of tofu. We can talk about the price. I also have my own conditions…”
“I’m so sorry, sir. We’re not in the position to decide this. We work for people.” Zhao Chuchu said that if they got visitors, they should say that line. When Manager Li came, she immediately did so because she could tell that he was not easy to deal with.
Manager Li was interrupted before he finished speaking and his face darkened. “Madam, do you know how big a deal you’re missing? I want the tofu that can be three times what you sell on a regular basis!”
“Well, just as I said, we can’t make this deal ourselves. Also, we are already struggling with one day’s volume. Too much is simply difficult to take care of,” Madam He patiently explained.
She didn’t care who he was.
All her customers were nice and polite, except him.
He was grumpy and arrogant as if he was more important than them.
Because of the tofu business, Madam He got to meet more people than before and became much bolder. She was no longer a coward like she used to be.
“Do you know what you are talking about?” Manager Li flew into a rage. “You should feel blessed that I’m doing business with you. Otherwise, you’re not in a position to do business with me. Look at your yard, the hygiene here should really be doubted. How come people want to come here to buy your tofu?”
“No one is begging you to buy our tofu.” Zhao Guitang was furious. “We may be operating in the countryside, but the tofu we make is hygienic. Since you think it’s dirty, don’t talk such nonsense and get out!”
“Outrageous, how dare you talk to me like that?”
Zhao Guitang raised his cane. “I’ll beat the crap out of you! Who the fuck do you think you are?”
Manager Li saw that Zhao Guitang looked like he was going to fight for his life, so he was scared and ran outside.
“Just wait, you punk. I’ll make you regret it!” Manager Li ran out of the door before pointing at Zhao Guitang’s nose and cursing, “I already gave you a chance. Don’t beg me to let you go by then!”
“How dare you say that? Are you in charge in Yuanjiang County?” a cold voice rang out behind Manager Li.
He subconsciously turned around and met the dark and deep eyes of a teenager.
It was clear that the teenager did not have any particular emotions, but Manager Li just felt an indescribable feeling of suffocation.
The person who came was exactly Xie Heng.
After Madam Yang took the silver and ran away, she was worried that Manager Li might take advantage of Zhao Guitang and that she might lose the 7 taels of silver in the end. So, she rushed to the Xie clan. Then she told Xie Heng that Zhao Guitang was in trouble.
Xie Heng originally did not want to pay attention to it, but he remembered that Zhao Chuchu had taken care of Zhao Guitang’s family. So, he went over there just in time to hear Manager Li cursing Zhao Guitang.