Chapter 213: The Roast Duck Business Is Stolen

Chapter 213

Jiang Sheng had been feeling very depressed recently.

Eldest Brother was elusive, chatting with people all day, and often frowning while mumbling about something serious he seemed to be doing.

Second Brother had gone far away, and although he had urged over and over again to come home early for the new year, there was still no sign of him yet, which was really worrying.

Fourth Brother was at home, but went to the clinic from dawn to dusk every day, so busy he barely touched the ground. Even when he went to the toilet he would flip through a medical book.

The once lively courtyard had suddenly become strangely quiet, and even Zhang Auntie's laughing face was gone from the back yard where she usually gathered shoes.

Jiang Sheng couldn't help feeling melancholy and sighing repeatedly for several days in a row.

Finally, Chang Yan couldn't stand it anymore. "Little sister, it's like you're pretending Fifth Brother doesn't exist?"

Although she felt a little lost without her brothers around, Fifth Brother was still her brother after all. How could he be overlooked like this?

Hearing this, Jiang Sheng hurriedly let go of the little hand on her round belly, stuttering as she opened her mouth, "I didn't... I'm not... I just..."

She just liked it more when everyone was together, happy and lively.

But Fifth Brother's grievance was written all over his face, leaving Jiang Sheng at a loss over how to explain and comfort him.

Fortunately, the sound of a carriage stopping at the door saved her.

Jiang Sheng blinked her eyes ingratiatingly and flatteringly, "Fifth Brother is the best. There are people outside, it might be Eldest Brother, or Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother. Let's go open the door."

Even Third Brother off at the frontier got dragged into this.

Chang Yan pressed down the corners of his upturned lips and nodded heavily.

Jiang Sheng felt as if she had received a great pardon, and scurried out, not seeing Fifth Brother's open laughter behind her, or the mischievous look in his eyes.

As children growing up in the same courtyard, how could he not miss the happy times when everyone was together, when even his little sister yearned for it?

If he pretended to be aggrieved on purpose, it was only to divert Jiang Sheng's attention.

Chang Yan straightened his clothes unhurriedly before following to the courtyard gate.

Jiang Sheng had already opened the big door and was staring at the dusty monkey on the carriage, taking a good while to recognize him. "Xiao Song Brother!" Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com

Yet in just over half a year, before the invested money was recovered, You Ran House directly hired a roast duck chef and unilaterally ended the duck transportation route.

"This, this is just too much!" Jiang Sheng cried mournfully, "Isn't this what Eldest Brother called drawing water without replenishing the source?"

Moreover, You Ran House didn't just draw water, they secretly raised ducks for half a year until they could be slaughtered and roasted, before cutting off the firewood from under the cauldron.

She used to hear merchants were profit-seeking, but this time she really witnessed it.

Thinking of Zheng Ruqian's business in Anshui Prefecture, half was supported by the roast duck transport. Without the roast duck, the ice would be useless, the villa as good as wasted money, and future profits greatly reduced.

What to do, what to do?

In her life Jiang Sheng had stolen and fought, suffered cold and hunger, cried for others, and wept from pain, but she had never encountered any difficulties in business.

With her innate courage and fearlessness, she dared to go up the mountains to pick mushrooms and sell them to Master Bai, and was also able to obediently be a good little sister when Zheng Ruqian was trying to prove himself. When Zheng Ruqian later wanted to give up the workshop, she was able to take on the responsibility again for the sake of the love and kindness in her heart.

Jiang Sheng's thoughts were simple - eat your fill, drink your fill, with brothers by your side.

She had no business sense, no ambition, no greed, no extravagant hopes.

If the roast duck business was her own, perhaps she would have accepted defeat and moped for a few days.

But it wasn't.

This was Zheng Ruqian's business, the fruits of Second Brother's labor, the root he never mentioned but all his brothers and sisters could see, that would allow Second Brother to stand tall and straight-backed in front of his other brothers.

It was also the key for him have confidence and poise.

Wang Xiaosong was still anxiously asking at the side, "Then what should we do about the ice and the villa?"

Jiang Sheng's vision blurred for a moment, as if seeing Second Brother's phantom.

He still liked flashy clothes, but as a businessman running a shop he was restricted from wearing silks and satins, and could only wear plain silk, waving a fan with a solemn expression on his face.

Jiang Sheng followed his phantom and recited word for word, "Keep the ice and the villa. Even without transporting roast duck, other things can be transported."

If they could ice and transport roast duck back, they could ice and transport other items too.

With the ice and villa, the invested money would definitely earn back!