Late autumn.

The leaves of the sycamore tree fall from the tree, like a wild goose spreading its wings and flying south. Autumn is quiet and restrained.

When Ah Zheng was carrying Ningxia Qing to the Zuihua Pavilion, there were already a lot of luxury carriages parked in the alley on the west side of the Zuihua Pavilion, and Ningxia Qing's small broken carriage looked a little out of place here.

Ning Xia Qing took Cuiyu to the gate of the Drunken Flower Pavilion, and several sons and brothers in the restaurant opposite were lying on the window and whistling at her, and then, Ning Xia Qing heard a few words of conversation from the private room upstairs of the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

This late autumn morning was unusually quiet, so the conversation sounded exceptionally clear—

"That is the girl who said in front of her father that she was going to recruit money?"

"Probably."

"It's really shameless to wear filial piety clothes to swagger through the market!"

"It's really immoral!"

Ning Xia Qing walked straight into the private room without hearing anything, and didn't see Master Ning Da, nor did he see Master Ning San, and all the people sitting in the private room were young people. Everyone sat on both sides, on one side was Ning Zhiheng with Master Ning, and on the other side was Tan Wenshi with Master Ning San.

As soon as they saw Ning Xia Qing coming in, Ning Zhiheng and Tan Wenshi's expressions lit up, and Ning Zhiheng immediately came to greet him, obviously there was no fork in the road at all, but Ning Zhiheng's arm stretched out three inches in front of Ning Ningqing to lead the way, and it almost stuck to Ning Ningqing's body, and he pretended to be affectionate and said: "Cousin Xia Qing, come and sit!" Come on, come on, don't be inhibited! ”

Tan Wenshi had also gotten up and arched his hand: "Miss Ning is here, sit down." The third master was busy, so he sent me to meet the girl instead of the third master, and Miss Wangning should not be surprised. ”

Ningxia Qingxin Dao has even made excuses like this, and it seems that she has decided that she is not qualified to negotiate with the elders of the clan at all. Ning Ningqing was not annoyed, let alone Ning Zhiheng, did not even look at Ning Zhiheng, sat straight in front of a small case, and told Cuiyu to call the guys in the restaurant to serve tea.

Ning Zhiheng came up with a shy face again, and said with a smile: "It turns out that Cousin Xia Qing wants to drink tea, come and come, come and sit down at our table, I just let the guy serve Wuyi Rock Tea here, Cousin Xia Qing must not have drunk it, right?" Come on, sit next to me, and I'll personally pour tea for Xia Qing's cousin. ”

Ning Xia Qing ignored Ning Zhiheng, let alone moved the place, just raised his eyes coldly and asked, "Where is Uncle Lobby?" ”

"The eldest master said, let me come to see Cousin Xia Qing, what Cousin Xia Qing wants to say, just tell me, I can do it."

Ningxia raised her eyebrows: "Oh? Have you done the Lord? ”

"That's natural. Cousin Xia Qing, cousin, I advise you, don't play too much with the little girl's temper, the people in the clan remember that you are young and have just lost your father, so they are all spoiled and used to you, but if you go too far, the clan will naturally have a way to discipline you. When the time comes, not only will you have to suffer, but your family will also have to suffer, you know what I mean? ”

Ning Xia Qing turned to Tan Wenshi again: "How did Uncle Santang explain to Tan Guanshi?" Is it also to let Steward Tan have full control? Are you also ready to discipline me and my family? ”

"Miss Ning, the third master is not as Miss Ning thinks, the third master does not have any malicious intent, the third master is kind-hearted, and he only wants to help Miss Ning's family."

"How can it help? Please ask Steward Tan to take care of the shop that my father left behind? ”

"Miss Ning, the third master, this is for the good of Miss Ning's family. If Miss Ning can't trust me and asks another shopkeeper from outside to do something, can she be better than the late shopkeeper Ning? Doing business is a matter of course, how can the shopkeeper who was invited from outside compare with the late shopkeeper Ning? Miss Ning, you are from the same family, instead of believing in the shopkeeper invited from outside, you should believe in the arrangement of the third master. ”

Ning Xia Qing sneered in his heart.

Although Ning Zhiheng and Tan Wenshi have very different attitudes, they are actually just threatening Ningxia Qing in different ways, which Ningxia Qing can still hear.

Master Ning is quite unreasonable, so he sent Ning Zhiheng to threaten him directly in person, if he is discussed, he will only say that Ning Zhiheng is young and vigorous and speaks out of proportion, after all, it is Lord Ning who said it to Ning Xia Qing personally, and Master Ning can put all the fault on Ning Zhiheng, so as not to say that he is bullying the younger generations of the same clan.

Master Ning San is hypocritical and cunning, so naturally he will not let Tan Wenshi speak straightforwardly like Ning Zhiheng, but the meaning of his words is also clearly conveyed to Ning Ningqing. It is said that doing business pays attention to the way, but it means that with Ning Yongda's identity as a member of the Ning clan in the past, he can still be pressed to death by Ning San, if he hires a shopkeeper from outside, he will only be cleaned up more ruthlessly by Ning San.

Ning Ningqing didn't hear the unkindness in his words, but said calmly: "I understand what you mean." Please ask Steward Tan to go back and tell Uncle Santang, I don't need Uncle Santang to bother for me, if Uncle Santang is really good for me, then he should follow my wishes, if you don't want to follow my wishes, don't keep saying anything that is good for me, that would inevitably seem hypocritical, you say yes, Steward Tan? ”

Tan Wenshi couldn't hear the sarcasm of the third master in Ningxia Qinghua, sighed, and didn't know how to answer for a while.

Ning Ningqing is sure that Tan Wenshi will not confront her head-on, after all, Tan Wenshi's ultimate goal is to gain her trust, so as to swallow her family's property, in this case, Tan Wenshi must be obedient to her, even if he is dissatisfied, he will not show anything.

Ning Xia Qing said again: "Since the matter on the third uncle's side is clear, let's talk about the uncle's side." ”

Ning Zhiheng immediately leaned up with a smile and waited for Ning Xia Qing to say.

"Please tell Uncle Heng that the mulberry garden is mine and mine, I will not give it to anyone, whoever dares to come and rob my family's things, I will fight everything, and I will never give in."

Ning Zhiheng's smile froze, and he was speechless for a while.

"When my father was alive, Uncle Lobby rented my mulberry garden from my father, and now there are five years left on the lease. I plan to take back my family's mulberry garden two years in advance, but of course, since I have broken the contract, I will naturally compensate Uncle Lobby. ”

Ningxia Qing turned his head and ordered: "Jade, bring it up." Cuiyu handed an envelope to Ning Xia Qing, and Ning Xia Qing took out two pieces of paper from it and handed them to Ning Zhiheng.

"Cousin Zhiheng, look at this, this is a contract, it says that I am going to take back the mulberry garden two years in advance, in order to compensate Uncle Tang, when I take back the mulberry garden, I will give 50,000 taels of silver."

Ning Zhiheng took the paper and said, "Cousin Xia Qing, I'll just say that you are naïve, you don't like to hear it, do you know what fifty thousand taels of silver means!" What if you can't come up with 50,000 taels? You just wrote a piece of paper and wanted to bluff us? ”

Ning Zhiheng tore the paper in his hand without looking at it, and said with a smile: "You are a girl's family, you don't honestly do needlework at home, you have to touch things you shouldn't touch, what mulberry garden, what business, what paper and pen, what does it have to do with you? You are a woman, can you figure these things out? ”

Cuiyu looked at Ning Zhiheng angrily: "That...... That's a contract written by my girl, how can you tear it up? You ......"

Before Cuiyu's words could speak, Ning Zhiheng raised his hand and slapped Cuiyu, and scolded angrily: "You little girl, this is a place where men talk, what's the matter with you?" ”

Ning Xia Qing sneered: "This is my family's maid, what qualifications does Cousin Zhiheng have to scold?" Although Cousin Zhiheng is accusing my maid, isn't it actually referring to Sang scolding Huai, saying that I am a woman who is not qualified to discuss matters? ”

Ning Zhiheng sneered: "Cousin Xia Qing misunderstood, how could I have been disrespectful to Cousin Xia Qing......"

Ning Xia Qing interrupted: "Cousin Zhiheng is a conceited man, but he can't even be upright, first referring to Sang scolding Huai and then prevaricating and denying, but he is even more sour and mean than the most troublesome mother-in-law in the deep mansion compound!" ”

"Cousin Xia Qing, how can you talk to your cousin......"

"To Cousin Heng, I advise you to give me this piece of paper and glue it to the end. You just asked me what to do if I can't take out 50,000 taels, it's because you haven't read my contract at all, and I tell you, the deed says that if I can't pay 50,000 taels of silver after three years, the title deed of the mulberry garden will belong to Uncle Lobby. ”

Ning Zhiheng looked at the shredded paper he was holding in his hand, pouted a little embarrassedly, and said, "Really?" Then he said stiffly: "Cousin Xia Qing...... Why are you doing this? Are you trying to bet on whether you will get 50,000 taels in three years? ”

Ning Ningqing asked: "What about gambling?" ”

"Why are you so naïve? Don't even think about it, you're definitely going to lose. If you make this kind of bet, if I come down for the eldest lord, won't it seem that the eldest lord is bullying. Ning Zhiheng immediately came up again, and said with a smooth smile: "If Cousin Xia Qing likes to bet, I will play a few games alone with Cousin Xia Qing another day, let's gamble in private, how about it?" ”

Ning Xia Qing's cold gaze swept over, Ning Zhiheng's smile shrank back a little, and Ning Xia Qing said calmly: "Since Uncle Lobby does not agree to this contract, then when the five-year lease passes, Uncle Lobby will vomit out my family's mulberry garden." ”

"Cousin Xia Qing, you are so naïve, you actually think about this matter so easily......"

"No, it's Cousin Zhiheng who thinks about this matter too easily." Ning Xia Qing smiled slightly: "If Uncle Lobby doesn't agree to this contract, I will take the title deed of Mulberry Garden to Wansheng for auction." ”

Ning Zhiheng said in disbelief: "Cousin Xia Qing, I can remind you that there are rules in the clan, and the Mulberry Garden must not fall into the hands of foreign surnames, if you sell the Mulberry Garden, you will be the sinner of the Ning clan through the ages!" Don't be stupid! ”

"What does my cousin think? Why did I say I was going to sell the mulberry garden? Ning Xia Qing smiled playfully and said, "What I want to take to Wansheng for auction is a ten-year lease of Mulberry Garden after the five-year lease expires." ”

"What did you say?" Ning Zhiheng's face stiffened: "Auction...... Lease? ”

"Exactly. I'm just auctioning the lease, not buying and selling mulberry orchards, so I don't violate the clan rules at all. ”

Ning Zhiheng's face became worse and worse, and said: "Cousin Xia Qing, your grandfather signed a contract with the eldest lord back then, and it said that as long as he handed over the mulberry garden after the end, as long as the eldest lord took this contract to the auction place, people will naturally know that your land deed is invalid after reading this contract, so how can they buy your lease?" ”

"Cousin Zhiheng didn't forget, the contract said that it was a desperate queen, and I had already said that I wanted to recruit a son-in-law, so naturally it was not a desperate queen. When Uncle Lobby bullied me to my house with my grandfather's contract, he was still able to force his words, but if he took that contract to Wanshengxing, do you think Wanshengxing would seek justice for me? ”

Ning Zhiheng's forehead was slightly sweaty: "Wan Shengxing is a businessman, and doing business pays attention to harmony and wealth, how can he be idle and have nothing to do to ask for justice for you, isn't that offending the old man......"

"Wansheng naturally won't, but the buyers who participate in the auction will. As long as my offer is low enough and the profit is large enough, there will naturally be powerful merchants who will be tempted to help me speak. How can Uncle Lobby please him at that time? ”

Ning Zhiheng raised his hand and wiped his forehead: "You, you, you...... It's nonsense! ”

"Tomorrow Wan prevailing will auction the lease period, if Uncle Lobby is free tomorrow, you might as well come to visit, you can also participate in the bidding. It's just that even if Uncle Lobby gets the lease period, it is estimated that the price will not be low. Ning Xia Qing showed an anti-guest expression and said: "So, I advise Uncle Lobby to agree to my conditions just now, after all, it is more cost-effective to get 50,000 taels of silver for nothing." ”

Ning Zhiheng said with little confidence: "Since ancient times, no one has ever auctioned the lease term...... You're too whimsical! That Wansheng is the largest auction house in Meigong County, and there are Wansheng semicolons all over the world, what kind of shop is that? If you take such a ridiculous auction...... Isn't it, isn't it smashing one's own sign? ”

Ning Xia Qing smiled disdainfully: "If Cousin Zhiheng doesn't believe that Wansheng will take this order, I won't force you to believe that the auction is tomorrow, and we can see tomorrow." ”

One of the stewards of the eldest lord leaned into Ning Zhiheng's ear and said a few words, Ning Zhiheng suddenly felt as if he was about to be amnestied, and said with a sinister smile: "Cousin Xia Qing thinks very beautifully, but it's a pity, the eldest lord only needs one sentence to make Wan Shengxing not accept your order, so that all your ideas are in vain." ”

Ning Xia Qing said meaningfully: "I didn't know that my uncle's hand could reach Wansheng." ”

Ning Zhiheng said proudly: "Although Wan prevailing is not the industry of the great master, it is the industry of the Xiao family. The Xiao family and the Ning family are also in the fabric business, and they don't look up when they look down, how can they offend the Ning family's master for your little girl? ”

Ning Xia Qing just smiled and didn't speak.

Ning Zhiheng looked at the silent Ning Xia Qing, and said proudly: "Cousin Xia Qing has nothing to say, right?" Now you know it's amazing, right? Okay, let's talk about the results today, Cousin Xia Qing hurry home, prepare the title deed, and I will pick it up tomorrow. After speaking, he swaggered and beckoned, ready to take the old man's people to triumph.

However, Ning Zhiheng had just opened the door of the private room, and two richly dressed sons were standing outside the door.

Ning Zhiheng didn't recognize these two people, but he could see from his clothes that these two were people who he couldn't be provoked with, so he smiled flatteringly and said, "I'm sorry, I'll borrow it." ”

But neither of them heard of it.

Through the group of Master Ning's subordinates crowded at the door, Tan Wenshi saw the faces of the two sons outside the door, and his expression suddenly stiffened.

Xiao Jingyuan had a smile on his face, but his words were sharp: "I heard that someone wants to meddle in Wansheng's business...... I'd like to see who is so talking. ”

Gu Xuesong, who was beside him, said calmly: "I heard that Jin Junmei of the Drunken Flower Pavilion has a unique flavor, so I came with Brother Xiao, but I didn't expect to meet such a person who has no words. ”

Ning Zhiheng and his entourage, who were about to leave, stood at the door, neither advancing nor retreating, Ning Zhiheng and Tan Wenshi both signaled their subordinates to return to Ning's mansion immediately to report the news, while Wan Shengxing's bosses Xiao Jingyuan and Gu Xuesong had already walked into the private room and sat quietly on the side of the desk on Ning Ningqing's side.

Tan Wenshi looked at all this without moving, knowing that the Xiao family had already intervened in this matter, and this situation was not so simple.