70: Chapter 70: Planting Vegetables (1)_1 70: Chapter 70: Planting Vegetables (1)_1 The next morning
News that Scholar Mu’s family and the Zhou Family had moved to the town spread throughout the village.
Soon, a group of villagers gathered around the old well, vividly describing the scene to one another.
“I observed it clearly.
There were two horse carriages with cabins.
Scholar Mu’s family was in one and Zhou Laowu and his wife in the other.
Jiujin was leading his own cow cart, the same one filled with the wild boar he picked up the day before yesterday…”
I heard that the two families each received a reward of one hundred taels of silver.
They’re so rich now, they couldn’t care less about living in our old, decrepit village…”
“What’s so surprising about that?
Scholar Mu’s wife has suffered so much in the village; it’s not surprising they’ve moved now that they have money.
Why would she stay and risk the main house taking it all away?”
The crowd gathered around the well, forgetting all about fetching water, and started their boisterous discussion.
When Mu Zhongli heard this news, he was on his way out to see the Clan Leader.
He had planned to confront Lady Du over her trip to the town the day before.
He heard there was a man who fought with Butcher Zhang on her behalf.
He figured the harm to a woman’s virtue could force her to surrender easily, handing over the one hundred taels of silver.
However, before he could do anything, she had already silently moved away without any notice.
Now, even if the Clan Leader agreed to help him confront Lady Du, it was too late!
What a pity, we lost the one hundred taels of silver!” Mu Zhongli’s heart ached.
His daughter, Cai Ping, tried to comfort him.
“Dad, why are you anxious?
One hundred taels is not a small amount.
Second Aunt is always careful with money and would hardly spend a penny.
Once she returns, we can reconsider.
That silver still belongs to us!”
Lady Mu Bai raised her slack eyelids and glanced at her eldest son.
“You, a man in his forties, are less calculating than a little girl.
When Second Brother returns and discovers that his wife and child have quietly left, wouldn’t he be suspicious?
By then, whatever we say becomes their reality.
We don’t care if she runs to the ends of the earth!”
“Yes, mother, you’re right!”
Although Mu Zhongli was unwilling, he had no other recourse at this point.
He could only suppress his greed and look forward to Second Brother’s quick return.
Just after Sishi (9-11 a.m.), two ordinary double-wheeled carriages stopped at the entrance of Bafu Restaurant.
The curtain of the carriage lifted.
A girl in a pink cross-collared blouse jumped out, followed by a three- or four-year-old child from the carriage.
The child wore a brand-new blue cotton jacket and new tiger-head shoes.
Clinging tightly to the girl, he looked nervously, yet excitedly, at the lavish restaurant in front of him.
“Older sister, is this the restaurant we co-own?” Cai Fei walked down from the carriage, looking at the magnificent view in disbelief.
“Yes, it is!” Lady Du also got out of the carriage, took Wen’er’s hand, smiled and said, “Now, let’s go in and take a look.”
Zhou Laowu and his wife had also come down from the carriage behind them.
Following Lady Du’s group, a mighty crowd entered the inn.
It was not mealtime yet.
Cui Zhanggui, the tavern owner, was sitting idly at the counter, chatting with the accountant.
Seeing Cai Wei and the others come in, he quickly rose to greet them.
“Sorry for barging in, Cui,” Cai Wei said with a smile.
“I brought the family to get accustomed to this place—today we moved in.”
Cui Zhanggui responded courteously, “There’s no need to apologize.
I was thinking that our shop assistants should meet you.
Luckily, you’ve come.” After speaking, he summoned all the restaurant’s employees.
Bafu Restaurant hired two shop assistants, one head chef, an accountant, and a dishwasher—a total of five people.