Chapter 245: Scraping The Pot
Tan Zhang detailed his own abilities and contributions to the merchant caravan, hoping the Second Owner would give him a chance.
Niangzi Shu nodded, not even waiting for the other two people to speak, and directly said: “From now on, you will be the leader of the merchant caravan. I hope you can lead the merchant caravan to get better and better.”
Hearing this, Tan Zhang’s dark-skinned face immediately broke into a grin.
The other two did not have such a good mood as him and wanted to strive hard for themselves.
But Niangzi Shu did not give them a chance to speak, and bluntly said: “A leader must not only be steady but also have drive when encountering special situations.”
The implication was that even daring to actively strive was something they did not dare to do, so they were not suitable to be the leader of the merchant caravan.
The two could only smile bitterly. How were they not daring to strive?
Wasn’t it because they had just met the new owner and had not yet gauged the new owner’s intentions? What if they displeased the new owner?
The deeds of sale for their entire families, old and young, were all in the owner’s hands.
Regardless of what ideas the two had, the leader of the merchant caravan was thus decided.
Niangzi Shu had not discussed it with Shang Wan beforehand, worrying that making this decision on her own would make Shang Wan, this head owner, unhappy.
Shang Wan, however, felt she had done well. A merchant caravan leader should indeed have some adventurous spirit.
Half a hour later, Wu Liang finished circling the merchant caravan personnel list.
The four of Shang Wan divided the list evenly and interviewed them one by one individually.
Those who needed a warning got a warning, those who needed to be resold got resold. Their merchant caravan would not keep people with disloyal intentions who only wanted to slack off.
The tooth agency people came and went.
The merchant caravan reduced by twenty members and added thirty.
This straightforward and decisive style made the veterans in the merchant caravan all tuck in their tails, not daring to have other thoughts amid the chaos.
The merchant caravan added new members, so naturally they had to learn some rules and integrate a bit.
This new leader Tan Zhang’s three fires now had scope for action.
The four of Shang Wan directly became hands-off shopkeepers, waiting for Tan Zhang to rectify the merchant caravan before leading the merchant caravan all to settle in Dongning County.
Tan Zhang accompanied them with a smile and saw the four owners off at the large courtyard doorway.
“Owner, walk slowly.”
Shang Wan was the last to board the carriage. Suddenly remembering something, she turned back and exhorted: “Wu Liang’s mother is ill. If he wants to go back to take care of his mother, don’t hold him back.”
“Yes.” Tan Zhang hurriedly agreed, but sighed inwardly that Wu Liang this kid had some skills. He had won the head owner’s attention so quickly. He had underestimated this person before.
How he guessed, Shang Wan did not know. Once she got into the carriage, like the other three, she leaned against the carriage and rested with eyes closed, too tired to say a word.
From catching the murderer last night, she had been busy all along. Today it was bargaining and rectifying merchant caravan members, without even a bit of leisure. Now she could finally rest a while.
The carriage swayed, making people drowsy.
·
At the Red Plum Inn doorway, Yuan Yuan sat on a small bench, staring eagerly at the street, not even wanting to play with the cluster of cats squatting at her feet.
Meng Niangzi coaxed her with pastry.
Yuan Yuan pouted and did not eat.
Meng Niangzi was troubled when Liu Zhong drove the carriage toward the inn.
“Mother!”
Seeing the carriage, Yuan Yuan’s eyes lit up. She jumped up and charged toward the carriage like a little cannonball with her short legs, scaring Meng Niangzi into chasing after her quickly.
Getting kicked by a horse hoof would be no small matter.
But the horse was more intelligent than she thought. Seeing Yuan Yuan rushing over, it surprisingly stopped docilely, without the slightest intention of kicking.
Liu Zhong pulled the reins and comfortingly patted the horse.
Hearing the shout, Shang Wan came out of the carriage.
“Mother,” Yuan Yuan looked up with her little face and reached out her small hands to her, “Hug!”
Shang Wan jumped down from the carriage, picked her up, and planted two hard kisses on her little cheek.
“Good girl, have you eaten dinner?”
Yuan Yuan shook her head, hugged Shang Wan’s neck tightly and rubbed her face, “Miss mother.”
“Mother misses you too.” Shang Wan patted the little baby girl acting cute in her arms, “Want to go stroll the night market?”
They had been in the prefectural city for several days, but she had not taken Yuan Yuan out to play properly.
“Yes.” The little baby girl’s voice was soft and tender, her big blinking eyes full of expectation.
“Going to the night market?” Hearing this, Niangzi Lou came over, reached out to pinch Yuan Yuan’s soft cheeks, and said with a grin, “Take auntie along. Auntie will treat treasure to rice cakes.”
Yuan Yuan nodded with a grin: “Okay.”
“Me too, me too!” Hua Niangzi raised her hand and ran over, “I heard the east gate night market in the prefectural city is especially lively. I’ve wanted to go for a long time.”
“How about we don’t eat at the inn tonight? Let’s all go eat at the night market.” Niangzi Shu linked arms with Meng Niangzi and suggested with a smile.
“Sure.”
“Let’s go, let’s go. My stomach is flat from hunger.”
“Yuan Yuan, come, let flower auntie hug.”
“No, mother hug.”
“Oh, she really is your mother’s little padded jacket.”
“You girl are so envious, go have one yourself.”
“No way. I heard giving birth not only hurts but makes you age fast. I don’t want to suffer that for stinky men.”
……
……
Two days later, the group, having eaten and played well, prepared to return to Dongning County.
Meng Niangzi packed two large food boxes for Yuan Yuan, all filled with pastries and fruits that Yuan Yuan loved.
During these two days of shopping, the aunties had not skimped on buying things for Yuan Yuan to wear, wear as accessories, and play with, packing several bundles.
Shang Wan figured she would not need to buy new clothes for her daughter for at least half a year.
“Really not staying two more days?” Meng Niangzi held Yuan Yuan and did not want to let go.
Yuan Yuan, worried about being left behind, flailed her short arms and legs toward her birth mother.
When she really exerted herself, Meng Niangzi really could not hold her, afraid of dropping the child, so she had to hand her back to Shang Wan’s arms.
The little baby girl was finally at ease in her birth mother’s arms, obediently hugging her mother’s neck. Her pair of big black shiny eyes darted around, so well-behaved it was endearing.
The more Meng Niangzi looked, the more reluctant she was. How great it would be if this were her child.
In these two days, Shang Wan had also heard some of Meng Niangzi’s past from Niangzi Lou and Hua Niangzi.
Meng Niangzi had been married before and had miscarried a fully formed baby girl.
Her ex-husband was a scoundrel. After the miscarriage, Meng Niangzi completely gave up and risked her life to divorce him.
Fortunately, Meng Niangzi’s maternal family home was willing to back her. With family support and help, Meng Niangzi opened this Red Plum Inn, and her days gradually got better.
Her ex-husband could not stand seeing Meng Niangzi doing well and came to make trouble at the inn a few times, but never got any benefit from her, and gradually stopped coming.
According to Hua Niangzi, the ex-husband’s family had already moved elsewhere.
“We have to go back to prepare the merchant caravan’s settlement. In two days the shop will also open. Things come one after another, so we really cannot stay long.”
After Shang Wan finished speaking, she held Yuan Yuan’s small hand and waved it at Meng Niangzi, “Yuan Yuan, say goodbye to Meng Auntie.”
“Auntie goodbye.” Yuan Yuan waved with a grin and invited, “Auntie come play, treat auntie to hot pot.”
Meng Niangzi was puzzled: “Pot?”
The one for stir-frying?
“Hot pot.” Shang Wan added with a smile, pinching the little baby girl’s chubby hand, her tone full of indulgence, “She’s a little lazybones, likes to omit words when speaking.”
Meng Niangzi then understood and replied: “When the weather warms up in a few days, Meng Auntie will definitely come see Yuan Yuan.”
“Okay.” Yuan Yuan raised her small hand, put it to her mouth, and blew a kiss to Meng Niangzi.
