NOVPUB
Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Moving Cautiously
"Very good." The woman’s voice was not loud, but it carried a deep authority.
She lifted the carriage curtain and handed over two silver notes, which the Poisonous Insect Granny immediately took.
The woman in the carriage watched the excited eyes of the Poisonous Insect Granny and continued, "After this matter is successfully completed, I will give you the other half."
"Yes, miss, rest assured, while helping that man remove the poisonous insect, I administered the sterilization powder to him; he will never be able to have offspring in this lifetime!"
After finishing her words, the Poisonous Insect Granny left with the silver notes, and the woman in the carriage removed the veil from her face.
A slight smile lifted the corners of Zhan Lan’s stunning face. From the moment she made contact with the Poisonous Insect Granny, Zhan Lan had been watching her.
Zhan Lan, having been reborn, had taken the initiative early and found the Poisonous Insect Granny, buying her loyalty with a higher price.
She indirectly made Mrs. Wang suspicious of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zhang, and had the information about the Poisonous Insect Granny leaked to Mrs. Wang’s confidant.
Thus, she meticulously arranged this play to cause a complete rift between Zhan Xincheng and Mrs. Zhang.
Mrs. Wang, valuing males over females, had already planned to find concubines for her son Zhan Xincheng on the day Zhan Feng left for Ningguta, hoping he would soon produce offspring so that their second branch would not be without an heir!
But Zhan Lan would not let them have their way.
The people of the second branch of the Zhan Family did not yet know that news had come from Ningguta that Zhan Feng had already died.
Before his death, not a single grain of rice was in his stomach; he lay on the ground, skin and bones, with vultures pecking at his body, mutilated.
It was expected that his skeletal remains would be sent back in a few days.
Someday, if Mrs. Wang knew her son was no longer capable of producing heirs, unable to continue the family line, I wonder if her facial expression would be quite a sight!
By then, Zhan Xincheng, having lost his only son, would surely turn against Mrs. Zhang, who prevented him from taking concubines sooner to produce more offspring.
Such scenes of family severance and spousal estrangement, Zhan Lan looked forward to watching!
Zhan Lan wiped her hands with a handkerchief. As for that Poisonous Insect Granny, the silver note she just gave was covered with mute powder. Once inhaled, she would never have the chance to reveal Zhan Lan.
The Poisonous Insect Granny, for silver, would harm anyone, Zhan Lan never trusted such people who the highest bidder could buy!
...
Zhan Lan sat in the carriage and stopped in front of a shop.
Zhan Lan lifted the curtain of the palanquin and looked up at the brand-new sign that read four big characters.
Shen Family’s Trading House.
A sharp-eyed servant saw Zhan Lan, immediately approached with a smile, and respectfully brought over a footstool, saying, "Miss, you’ve arrived! Our master has been mentioning you these past few days!"
Zhan Lan stepped off the carriage using the footstool.
Before she could steady herself, a man came out from the trading house, draped in a black bear fur cloak, beaming as he approached from inside.
"Sister-in-law, you’re here!" Shen Shan welcomed Zhan Lan inside.
As soon as Zhan Lan entered, someone handed her a hand warmer, and the two went up to a private room on the second floor.
Zhan Lan looked at Shen Shan and affectionately asked, "Brother, how have you been recently?"
The two had grown more familiar and simply addressed each other as sworn brother and sister.
Shen Shan was in a great mood; noticing the fur on Zhan Lan’s cloak had dulled, he expressed his concern, "Sister, aren’t you cold? I recently acquired a rare piece of red fox fur cloak; it would definitely keep you warm and look great on you!"
Zhan Lan chuckled, "No need, such an ostentatious cloak doesn’t suit me."
Shen Shan waved his hand, "I think it suits you the best, I reserved it for you as soon as it arrived! I was just about to have it sent to your mansion!"
Zhan Lan changed the subject, "How has business been for Brother recently?"
Shen Shan arrogantly extended one hand, "I’m not going to lie, I am now among the top five in terms of strength among the merchants in Ding’an City!"
"Back in the day, I couldn’t even dare to imagine it! If it weren’t for my sister frequently giving me advice, how could I have turned things around!"
Shen Shan’s eyes were filled with gratitude, and as he spoke, he took out a beautifully crafted golden nanmu box and handed Zhan Lan the silver note he had already prepared.
"This is the dividend for last month, totaling two hundred thousand silver!"
Zhan Lan was surprised, "That much!"
Shen Shan smiled like a beckoning cat, "Why else would I say, you are my God of Wealth!"
In the past few months, Zhan Lan, based on her experience from a past life, told Shen Shan about several businesses he could engage in. Shen Shan quickly got the hang of it and, relying on his good reputation and popularity, his business thrived.
Zhan Lan thought to herself that, at this rate, it wouldn’t take a year for Shen Shan to possibly become the wealthiest man in Nanjin.
However, Zhan Lan understood one thing, with the current political instability, if Shen Shan rises too quickly and becomes the richest man, it would definitely attract the attention of the court.
If the court were to wage war, they would certainly find a pretext to confiscate the riches of the wealthiest first, using that silver to fund the war.
Zhan Lan decided that she wouldn’t give Shen Shan any more business advice.
She sincerely said, "Dear brother, just maintain your current state, don’t flash your wealth, and continue accumulating wealth slowly."
Shen Shan nodded. Zhan Lan often analyzed the situation with him, and if a war were to break out, becoming the richest man would definitely not end well for him.
If someone else mentioned the possibility of war, Shen Shan would never believe it, but he believed everything Zhan Lan said!
In his eyes, Zhan Lan was like a deity!
Zhan Lan returned home with the two hundred thousand silver note given by Shen Shan.
Mrs. Li returned from the second branch of the Zhan Family and fell ill with anger, lying in bed, grumbling and cursing.
As Zhan Lan passed by, Mrs. Li exclaimed, "Where have you been again!"
Zhan Lan stood at her door and said, "I went to fetch a doctor!"
Mrs. Li scolded, "Let Xiao Tao and Liu Xi take care of me!"
She really couldn’t stand how Tie Chui and Tie Tou watched over her as if she were a prisoner.
Zhan Lan said with a smile, "Oh, both Xiao Tao and Liu Xi have caught typhoid."
Mrs. Li’s nose was almost crooked with anger; she clearly saw three figures outside the door.
"Let’s go!" Zhan Lan left with Xiao Tao and Liu Xi, who were barely holding back their laughter.
The weather was chilly, and Zhan Lan sat in the carriage with the two, holding a hand warmer to her stomach, the warmth making her feel comfortable all over.
"Miss, should we get a doctor for the lady?" Xiao Tao rubbed her hands.
Zhan Lan said with a smile, "Get a doctor for what? She has hysteria, she’ll be fine once she calms down! Today, I’m taking you two out for fun!"
"Miss, are you taking us to a restaurant?" Xiao Tao asked excitedly.
Liu Xi laughed, "You, you’ve gotten fatter, yet you still want to eat!"
"Eat, let’s dig in, right, little pig!" Zhan Lan lifted her chin towards Xiao Tao.
"Ah, miss, I’m not a little pig, it’s Xiao Tao!" Xiao Tao pouted playfully.
Liu Xi covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed lightly.
Zhan Lan also laughed, "Today we are going to some nice places to enjoy ourselves!"
