The Wealthy Eldest Sister Rules Supreme

Zhuang Qingning had always been selling her wares in stalls, a fact Zhang Yongchang was aware of. He also knew that she was worried about the cost of renting a shop, which was not small. The tofu she sold every day wasn’t much, and after deducting various expenses, the profit was meager.

Now that Zhuang Qingning’s tofu was being sold in the county town, and the salted duck egg business would soon begin, she would undoubtedly have more than enough to cover the rent.

It would also save her the trouble of setting up a stall outdoors, which would hamper business when it rains.

“I’ve been thinking about this too, but I haven’t found someone who can help watch the shop yet. If it’s just Qing Si and me, honestly, we couldn’t handle the day and night shifts,” Zhuang Qingning said.

“I’ll look around for someone to help manage my shop in these few days. Uncle Zhang, could you also help me find a suitable shop?” Zhuang Qingning asked.

“It doesn’t have to be huge. As long as it’s in a decent location and clean. It’d be best if the owner is willing to lease it long-term,” Zhuang added.

If you rent a place only to have the owner reclaim it after a few days to do business themselves, that would be even more troublesome.

Originally, Zhuang Qingning considered the idea of renting a shop only after she had enough tedious work points to exchange for the tofu-making prescription and to diversify the number and types of products she sold.

However, after thinking more seriously, she realized that finding a suitable shop might not be immediate. It would be better to start looking earlier so she could compare several options and find the best one.

Therefore, Zhuang Qingning thought it was reasonable to expedite this matter when Zhang Yongchang suggested it.

“Okay, you can count on me for this task,” Zhang Yongchang promised.

“I have been living in this town for so many years. I know the size of each shop, the type of the owner. I guarantee to find the best one for you,” Zhang added.

“Thank you in advance, Uncle Zhang. When I open my tofu shop, I would like to invite you to unveil the signboard,” Zhuang Qingning said, squinting with laughter.

“There’s no problem with unveiling the signboard. You don’t need to thank me. Just supply me with enough salted duck eggs at that time,” Zhang Yongchang joked.

Salted duck eggs!

Zhuang Qingning felt her head was about to explode.

“Oh right, Ning. Something important just came to my mind,” said Zhang Yongchang suddenly. “In the last two days, did the shopkeeper or anyone come looking for you?”

The manager he refers to is probably Feng Yongkang, Manager Feng.

But why would he be looking for her?

Zhuang Qingning was a little puzzled, “No, why? Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing…” Zhang Yongchang laughed, but his smile seemed a little forced. “If nothing has happened, then let’s forget about it…”

“Alright, I’ll head back to the kitchen now, you should get back to your business too. Don’t worry about the shop,” Zhang said.

“Alright.” Zhuang Qingning watched with a smile as Zhang Yongchang returned to Fushun Tower before she went back to selling her tofu.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Yongchang returned to the kitchen, where Lian Rong was busy chopping. Lian Rong grinned when he saw Zhang enter, “Master, you’re back.”

“Mhm.”

Zhang Yongchang paced around the kitchen. “Right, about last time, when I asked you to go and ask the shopkeeper when he was going to invite Ning for dinner at Fushun Tower, did you go and ask?”

“I did.” Lian Rong paused his chopping. “What’s wrong? Hasn’t the shopkeeper arranged it yet?”

Seeing Zhang Yongchang didn’t respond, Lian Rong used a cloth to wipe his hands, “Should I go ask the shopkeeper again?”

“No need, don’t mention it again,” Zhang Yongchang said, frowning slightly.

If there’s still no response at this time, it means that Feng Yongkang has no intention to make any arrangements. Lian Rong won’t get any results by asking. Why can’t this shopkeeper just understand…

Zhang Yongchang’s frown deepened.

After selling all the tofu, Zhuang Qingning bought two meat buns to eat with a bowl of mung bean porridge before she headed home.

Upon arriving home, she didn’t have time to rest. She let Zhuang Qingsui rest at home while she went to Zhuang Jingye’s house.

“Ning is here,” Mrs. Ye said. She had just finished her meal and was washing the dishes. When she went to pour out the water used to clean the pot, she saw Zhuang Qingning standing at the door, “Have you had lunch yet? We have some noodle soup left from lunch, want me to serve you a bowl?”

“Thank you for your concern, but I already had my lunch,” Zhuang Qingning replied with a grin.

Since Mrs. Ye was a kind-hearted person, and Zhuang Qingning held a good impression of her, she cut straight to the chase, “Is the village chief at home? I have something to talk to him about.”

“Yes, he’s at home,” Mrs. Ye replied after emptying the wooden bucket. She stepped inside, calling upon Zhuang Qingning to follow, “Come in.”

“Honey, honey, Ning is here to see you…”

Ning? Zhuang Qingning?

Zhuang Jingye, who was in the house sipping tea and preparing to take a siesta, nearly sprang from his seat after hearing this.

That’s right, he sprang up.

He even circled around the room twice.

What did Zhuang Qingning come here for?

What would this girl, who threw a kitchen knife at her aunt and frightened her to the point of wetting her pants, who didn’t even care to apologize to her aunt, and who even hung dead rats at their door to intimidate them—a girl who had gained a notorious reputation in the village—what was she going to do?

Zhuang Jingye racked his brains but still couldn’t figure out an answer.

Wait, he didn’t have any feuds with Zhuang Qingning, what did he have to be afraid of?

Besides, he was the village chief, and Zhuang Qingning was just a young girl. Was he going to let her intimidate him?

Zhuang Jingye suddenly came to his senses, feeling embarrassed about his earlier fear. He cleared his throat and walked out of the house with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Ning, you’re here. Do you need something?”

Good, his voice didn’t tremble at all.

Zhuang Jingye couldn’t help but straighten his back a little more.

“Village Chief,” Zhuang Qingning said while smiling, “Yes, I do have something to discuss.”

“First of all, regarding what we initially agreed upon, I am renting the house from Butcher Hua. With the rental fee due annually, it should be paid to the village’s ancestral hall. I’ve been busy and haven’t gotten around to it until today. I’ve brought the rental fee to give to you, Village Chief.”

“As we agreed before, it’s one hundred and fifty copper coins. It’s all here. Could you count it?” Zhuang Qingning handed him the coins she had prepared.

She had prepared copper coins in bundles of one hundred, and an additional bundle of fifty, which could quickly be seen as being half the weight of a full bundle without needing to be counted.

Handing over the rent was a good thing.

Zhuang Jingye was reassured at once, so he took the money, “You’ve proven to be trustworthy by delivering the money.”

This was a direct compliment without any insincity.

After all, if Zhuang Qingning really decided to make a fuss and insist that she had no money to pay the annual rent, Zhuang Jingye wouldn’t really kick out the helpless sisters..