Chapter 237: Curse
Fortunately, it was discovered in time, and no major mistake was made.
But Qiao Weiwei seemed bewitched, wholeheartedly throwing herself at a wild man, resenting her own older brother Qiao Yu’an for ruining her marriage fate, and even saying she hoped Qiao Yu Gui was her real older brother.
If Qiao Weiwei weren’t a woman, Qiao Yu’an would have slapped her long ago.
He was so angry that his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys all hurt, but he didn’t dare let his mother know about this.
With Yan Lan’s temper, if she knew Qiao Weiwei was so shameless as to secretly exchange intimacies with someone, she would probably personally break Qiao Weiwei’s legs and quickly pick a family to marry her off to, out of sight out of mind.
Qiao Yu’an locked Qiao Weiwei in the separate courtyard, and unable to think of a good solution for the moment, he went to seek help from his good friend Lu Chengjing.
Shang Wan was present at the time, and after hearing the gossip from the boss ladies, she had been waiting for Qiao Yu’an to come knocking.
It was she who had someone leak the news to Qiao Yu’an, otherwise Qiao Yu’an wouldn’t have found out about Qiao Yu Gui so quickly.
Shang Wan wanted to deal with Qiao Yu Gui, cut off his funding, and leave him without money to keep subsidizing Qionghua Restaurant.
And Qiao Yu’an wanted to thoroughly thrash Qiao Yu Gui and make him take a big fall.
The two hit it off immediately, and in just a few words, they came up with the plan to bankrupt Qiao Yu Gui.
Anyway, if Qiao Yu Gui had no money, it would be the main branch footing the bill, and with Master Qiao the Second’s soft ear root, he wouldn’t use the second branch’s money to subsidize the main branch.
Things progressed very smoothly; Qionghua Restaurant went bankrupt, and Qiao Yu’an vented his anger.
As for Qiao Weiwei, after what happened last night, Qiao Yu’an had already told everything to his parents.
It wouldn’t be long before Qiao Mansion’s second branch splits off.
Many thoughts flashed through Shang Wan’s mind in an instant, but on her face, she cooperatively made a surprised expression, perfectly integrating into the group of boss ladies.
Catching her expression out of the corner of her eye, Niangzi Lou’s eye corner twitched involuntarily, but she didn’t say anything extra.
One boss lady made the definitive statement, “Just watch, after the festival, Qiao Mansion’s main branch and second branch will probably split the family.”
These words proved prophetic.
On the fifth day, Qiao Mansion split the family.
It was so chaotic that it didn’t seem like a family split, more like a confiscation, and reportedly even officials went there.
Shang Wan didn’t go to join the excitement, but was invited to talk business with the Lancang Association’s boss ladies at Bao Yue Zhai.
It was still the same private room from before the festival, but there were two more people present.
“Cough cough.”
Shang Wan withdrew her gaze from the open window and looked toward the person coughing.
The woman wore a scarlet red short jacket, with her hair in a bun, adorned with a silk flower of the same color. Her small face was round, her skin fair, and a plum blossom patch on her forehead added a touch of charm to her originally naive features.
There wasn’t a single fine line on her face; just looking at her face, no one could tell she was already thirty-five.
The woman was the boss lady of Shu Textile Shop, and also the founder of the Lancang Association.
Today’s small gathering was also proposed by Niangzi Shu.
“To rashly invite Shopkeeper Shang over during the festival is due to an urgent matter; please don’t mind, Shopkeeper Shang.”
Shang Wan smiled at the corners of her lips, but there was no smile in her eyes, “I don’t like beating around the bush; tell me directly what Niangzi Shu wants from me.”
Niangzi Shu pursed her lips, staring straight at Shang Wan, “I wonder if Shopkeeper Shang has any interest in forming a merchant caravan?”
Merchant caravan?
Shang Wan’s heart stirred slightly, but her face remained composed, “I’d like to hear the details.”
Seeing Shang Wan’s interest, Niangzi Shu’s smile grew a bit more.
The other boss ladies clearly already knew and were just there to keep company this time. Their gazes darted between the two, but none spoke.
“I got the news that Boss Zhan in the prefectural city has a merchant caravan of one hundred people he wants to sell off. I sent people to check, and the people in this caravan are all veterans, well-configured members, complete with camels, horses, and vehicles, and it’s operated quite well.”
Shang Wan raised an eyebrow, “If it’s operated so well, why sell it off?”
The benefits a well-operated merchant caravan can bring are enormous, and the effort to integrate such a caravan is considerable; this sudden sale makes it hard not to suspect problems within the caravan.
Clearly, Shang Wan’s doubts were shared by Niangzi Shu, but the difference was that she had already found out the causes and effects.
“Boss Zhan wants to partner with someone to go to sea for business, and has cash flow problems. He wants to sell the merchant caravan to fill this gap.”
Shang Wan: “…”
Because he wants to make money, he’s first selling off the money tree at home?
How foolish does someone have to be to come up with this brilliant idea?
She stared at Niangzi Shu.
The founder of the Lancang Association shouldn’t be a silly sweet one, right? She didn’t seem like it either.
“Is there something on my face?” Niangzi Shu touched her cheek, a hint of confusion in her expression.
Shang Wan withdrew her gaze, picked up the hot goat milk on the table and took a sip before saying: “If that’s all you’ve found out, there’s no need to say more.”
Acquiring a merchant caravan requires a lot of silver; she didn’t want to throw her money into the water without even a splash.
Hearing such straightforward words, Niangzi Shu was stunned for a moment, then smiled broadly: “Naturally there’s more; don’t be hasty, Shopkeeper Shang, let me explain in detail.”
Shang Wan lowered her gaze, sipping the goat milk in small mouthfuls while listening.
It was true that Boss Zhan wanted to sell the merchant caravan, but the reason wasn’t just cash flow issues.
The merchant caravan itself had a problem.
In short, the merchant caravan was hit by a curse, and it had already killed one cargo escort, two guards, and one horse driver because of the curse.
Shang Wan never believed in curses; she looked at Niangzi Shu, “Are they really dead because of the curse?”
Niangzi Shu nodded, “The curse has already caused panic in the merchant caravan; the caravan leader is worried about being targeted by the curse and plans to resign, otherwise Boss Zhan wouldn’t be so eager to sell it off.”
For a merchant caravan to operate well, the caravan leader’s judgment is extremely important.
When the merchant caravan arrives at a place, what to buy and sell all depends on the caravan leader’s judgment. If the judgment is wrong, forget making money; it could lead to total loss.
Therefore, having an experienced and discerning caravan leader is very important.
If the caravan leader resigns, and the others in the caravan are scattered due to the curse, this merchant caravan is doomed sooner or later.
Boss Zhan clearly wanted to cash in one last time before the news spread.
“What curse is so powerful?”
Niangzi Shu shook her head, “Boss Zhan kept the news tightly under wraps; my people could only find out this much.”
Shang Wan lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then asked: “Since you know the merchant caravan is cursed, why do you still want to acquire it?”
Normal thinking wouldn’t be to stay far away and avoid it if possible?
Niangzi Shu said something unexpected to Shang Wan, “I don’t believe in curses.”
Shang Wan looked at her and saw her smiling brightly, her voice full of confidence, “Fortune favors the bold; I hope to cooperate with Shopkeeper Shang—what do you think, Shopkeeper Shang?”
Shang Wan slowly finished the last bit of goat milk in her bowl, a hint of smile appearing in her eyes as she asked: “What price did Boss Zhan set?”
