Minna was flustered for a while, but she couldn't hide her joy, panicked because she was worried that Riddle would suddenly bring her, I don't know if she guessed her true identity, and she was happy that she found the Xiao family firm without a little effort, and then, as long as she found the white-bearded steward, she would be able to go home?

However, to her surprise, instead of walking into the merchant, Riddle entered a small grocery store next door and greeted the owner: "How are you?" How's the body? The disease has not recurred, has it? ”

"I am in good health, thank you for your concern, Father, thanks to your treatment for me." As soon as the shopkeeper saw Riddle, he was greeted with joy, he was a somewhat fat middle-aged man, bald, with a large black mole on his face, and he looked very kind.

After Riddle confirmed that he was fully healthy, he sat down to chat with him, Minna was standing on the side, but her eyes looked next door from time to time, and she felt a little strange in her heart, the Xiao family firm has always been prosperous, why is the shop next door not patronized?

At this time, Riddle lowered his voice and asked the shopkeeper, "Did the chief steward next door also drink today?" I wonder if he's awake now? ”

Minna paused and immediately pricked up her ears.

"Drink, how can you not drink? I only got drunk once at noon, and I drank it again just now, and I might go crazy later. The shopkeeper shook his head and sighed, "The guests who came to the door were almost driven away by him, and the deputy steward ignored them, how can they do business if they continue like this?" I think when the old steward was here, their business was very good. Even we got a lot of light. Since the old steward died, the deputy steward retired, and the new steward couldn't suppress the others at all, and most of the clerks were gone, and the rest were almost resigned. Our neighbors also felt sad when they saw the Xiao family firm become like this. ”

Minna was secretly surprised. Did the white-bearded butler grandfather die? And what about Uncle Boyman? Still not there?

Riddle comforted the shopkeeper for a few words, and said, "I heard that these two stewards are very important in Yini's side?" Then they must be very capable. It was probably because he was suddenly transferred to Encore City and felt uncomfortable, so he gave up on himself. Sooner or later, it will be reinvigorated, and then the Xiao family firm will be prosperous again. ”

The shopkeeper smiled: "I hope your words can come true, so that we, the small shops that do business next to the Xiao family's firm, can also get more good goods and sell more money." ”

His voice had just fallen. Next door, there was the sound of breaking things, followed by a roar: "Get out!" I can do whatever I want, you don't need to care! ”

An old clerk with gray hair staggered out of the business house next door, wiped the corners of his eyes and went to the nearby store, many people went to comfort him, but the shouting and scolding in the business house was endless. The grocer let out a sigh and said to Riddle, "Father." It's a pity. Looks like you're going to be disappointed today. ”

Riddle smiled: "I still have to give it a try, if it doesn't work, then I can only find someone else" The shopkeeper smiled and turned around and took a few silver coins and stuffed them into Riddle's hand, and gave him a large bag of salt and sugar, the latter thanked him again and again, and then took Minna to the store next door.

Minna's attention was always on the shouting and scolding coming from the Xiao family's trading house, and she was shocked to hear the man crying, "Lord Earl! How can you do this to me?! I've worked for you for most of my life, and now I'm stuck in this little place! I can't even get a pension! Even if you're going to die, you should have arranged for me. Now I'm going to be miserable by your bastard son—" The man scolded with a faint cry. Sometimes a sentence is repeated two or three times and does not seem very coherent.

Minna followed Riddle through the door. I smelled the smell of wine all over the room, and I knew in my heart that the man was probably going crazy. But even if you're drunk, you shouldn't just curse, right? Grandpa isn't dead, and Dad isn't a bad person.

Minna stared angrily at the drunken man who had collapsed on the floor of the shop, feeling that he was somewhat familiar, and soon remembered that he seemed to be the head of the Yini branch, so how did he get here?

The more the man scolded, the more ugly it became: "The surname Xiao - Cardo is not a good person!" The ones with the surname Cardo are all badasses! The surname Xiao... The surname Xiao is not a good thing..."

"Enough!" A middle-aged man walked out of the back of the shop, Minna recognized him as the "old Gu" from the Ini branch, only to see him pull up the steward and walk back, saying as he walked: "You can scold anyone, but you can't scold Lord Earl, if it weren't for him, you would be nothing now." Go back to your room and drink, you're going crazy here, and you won't come to your door even if you have business. ”

"Hmph." The steward sneered and broke away, and glanced at him drunkenly, "What kind of serious person are you pretending to be here?" Don't you complain in your heart?! The Earl is indeed very remarkable, he made us stewards, made a fortune, and was considered to have a head and face in the business world, but why did he suddenly die?! And he didn't tell his son to treat us well! Now all the local shops belong to his son, and the stewards have all been replaced by his son's local people, and we, the old employees, have all been driven out and rushed to this small place to be a small steward. Who am I? I'm the branch manager of Ennie! A casual transaction is a few thousand gold coins, and as it is now, even an extra silver coin must be reported. Hmph, let me tell you, I don't want to work for such a boss! No business is good! He gave Lao Gu a push, staggered back, picked up a wine bottle, and drank it again.

Lao Gu snatched the wine bottle from his hand, dragged him up and pushed him to the back of the store: "I don't care what you think, let me in now!" Even if you don't want to do anything, don't deliberately drive away the guests, beware of the young master and lady knowing, take the opportunity to deduct your pension, and then you will really have nothing! ”

"Do you think I don't know how much pension I have left? The amount promised by the Earl is too great for those bastards to promise. The steward squinted at him and smiled a little maliciously, "But are you deliberately provoking this?" Don't think I don't know, you have contact with those old guys from the old headquarters. What's the idea? Want to get your store back? Miss Beryl was almost kidnapped last month, and she can't get rid of you, right? ”

Lao Gu's face changed, and he gritted his teeth and said, "I don't know what you're talking about!" Get me in! ”

"Don't worry, I don't want to care about your." The steward pushed him away and walked back on his own, "The surname is Xiao - Kadodi is a bastard. You people are not a good thing, and now you will suffer, but you are slower than others. The Earl is dead, and of course the property will go to his son, whatever you do. If they can't get it back, will the king and the nobles allow their servants to rob their masters of their property? I also want to kidnap children for ransom... This stupid thing, don't drag me into the water..."

He staggered all the way away, leaving Lao Gu standing alone, his face red and white. I inadvertently turned around and saw Riddle standing at the door of the store, and his face suddenly turned blue again: "What is the priest doing again?!" How did you... Why didn't you tell me you were coming?! ”

"I've always been here." Riddle smiled, "But you and the chief steward are probably in a bad mood so you didn't see me, right?" ”

Lao Gu's face changed, and finally he sighed: "How much do you want this time?" First of all, let's say okay, not too much, all the money in the store has to be handed over. My own salary. It's not enough to raise me nine children. ”

Riddle frowned slightly and smiled, "You can do it." ”

Lao Gu Wenyan touched his body, took out a few copper plates, and rummaged through them after entering the store, scraped together enough money for three or four silver coins, and handed it to Riddle: "That's all, take it." ”

Riddle silently accepted it and nodded to him: "I know what to do, you don't have to worry." But. It's better not to say some things out loud in the store, if you have a grudge in your heart. You can pray to the God of Light and you will feel at peace. ”

Old Gu's mood at the moment couldn't calm down no matter what, and he waved his hand casually to let Riddle go. The latter sighed and called Minna: "Sarah, don't be in a daze, we should go." ”

It took a while for Minna to wake up, answer, and leave the Xiao family firm after him. After that, Riddle went to a few more places, raised a lot of money, and carried a few bags back to the temple, Minna was in a daze, as if her mind was knotted, and she didn't even pay attention to the terrain of the roads in the city.

As soon as they entered the temple gate, they saw Albert with some boys coming up to them, and while taking what they had brought with them, he said happily: "Father, the owner of the shop just said that I am a diligent worker, and that I will be a full-time worker from next month, and Paul has found a workshop willing to take him as an apprentice." ”

Riddle was also happy for them: "That's great, we must celebrate, it just so happens that someone gave eggs and flour and sugar today, let's make a cake." ”

The boys cheered and carried their things to the kitchen. Minna turned pale and said reluctantly: "I'm sorry, I'm a little uncomfortable, can I go back to my room to rest first?" "She's a mess in her head, and she has to find a place to calm down.

Albert and they were a little surprised, but Riddle nodded understandingly: "Go ahead, child, if you still feel bad, just tell me." ”

Minna nodded in response, and rushed back to the room, her mind in confusion.

Grandpa just went back to the original world, why did the steward say he was dead? And the news of his departure should only be known to himself, right? She obviously told others that her grandfather was going on an adventure?

She quickly thought of Corbyn, and if Corbin could overhear the spell to open the storage ring, could it be said that he had also heard what Grandpa had said before leaving? But if that's the case, he shouldn't have said that grandpa is dead? Grandpa can also return to this world through the cave crystal mirror, or go back to the Arro Forest, no matter what, it is too much to say that grandpa is dead!

Also, why was the steward of the Eni branch sent to Encore City? The steward said, grandpa's son drove them away, who are they referring to? The stewards of the comptoirs? It's not going to be Dad who is chasing them, right?

Definitely not, maybe it was the eldest uncle who did it! But why did the uncle do this? Didn't my grandfather arrange for those people to go to the stores? However, the steward actually scolded all the people with the surname "Xiao - Cardo", which is really hateful! She is also surnamed "Xiao - Cardo".

There seems to be something wrong between dad and uncle, as well as the stewards, what the steward said, the lobby sister Beryl was almost kidnapped, what's going on? Is it the stewards who do the ground? Why? What do they want to extort?

What should she do now? Would you like to contact one of our branches? Will that steward help himself? And that old Gu, will it... What about kidnapping yourself?

Minna lay on the bed, dazed. She was in a daze, she didn't even eat dinner, and it wasn't until the next morning, when she woke up from her sleep, she made a decision: no matter what, now it seems that the Xiao family firm is unreliable, she still relies on her own skills, and goes south to the magic capital to find Teacher Sauron. At the very least, he would only tell himself to memorize the magic book, make cold water, peel snake teeth and slug skin, but never hurt himself.

Having made up her mind, she began to feel hungry, she hadn't eaten at all last night, and now that it's past breakfast time, she doesn't know if she has anything to eat.

She hurriedly got up to wash her face and comb her hair, and was about to go to the kitchen to find something to eat, but saw a little boy of seven or eight years old standing in front of her door with a plate, and said, "The priest asked me to bring it to you, and said that you should not skip meals in the future." Then he shoved something into her arms, turned and ran.

Minna looked at the hot bread and a small piece of cake on the plate in a daze, and suddenly felt a little like crying, so she broke off the corner of the cake and put it in her mouth, only to feel that it was sweet like never before.

After breakfast, she came to the front hall, just as the other boys had finished their prayers and left to do their own business. She walked up to Riddle and thanked him with some awkwardness.

Riddle smiled again and said, "Don't thank me, it's a cake made to celebrate Albert and Paul, and everyone has to eat it." You're now... Think it's okay, right? Even if you're unhappy in the future, you can't skip eating, you know? If you have any troubles, you can tell me. Now, do you have something to say to me? ”

Minna opened her mouth, and suddenly felt the urge to tell him everything, but when she thought of the losses she had suffered in the past, and her grandfather's evaluation of Riddle, she hesitated again, and after a while, she shook her head and said, "It's nothing, thank you." I'll be in the future... will be obedient..."

But in her heart, she had already made up her mind.

(I'm so entangled in this paragraph...) ）