Chapter 500: Chapter 492: Boss and the Clerk Are of the Same Ilk
Qin Liuxi had been away for more than twenty days, and by the time she returned, the New Year had already passed. Naturally, she had to check on whether her family had spent the New Year peacefully.
Qi Huang pressed her lips together and smiled. "I found Madam to be quite an interesting person."
"Oh?"
Qi Huang said: "On the first day of the New Year, Madam had prepared New Year’s gifts for the Fifth Young Master to present to Master Tang of Tang Mountain, the gift was a bit lavish, and after Second Madam made a sour comment, Madam retorted that the Fifth Young Master was visiting his teacher, which warranted an elaborate gift. Second Madam was stunned at first, and once she regained her composure, she had the Fourth Young Master go along to pay respects, and upon returning, she attempted to take Master Tang as the Fourth Young Master’s teacher."
Qin Liuxi thought to herself, that was a move Mrs. Xie would come up with after all. Master Tang’s stature was well-known, and not to mention if the Qin family had fallen, even if it hadn’t, it was uncertain whether they could secure him as a teacher. Learning that Qin Mingchun had actually succeeded in taking him as a teacher, she naturally became restless.
"And then?"
Qi Huang laughed: "Madam said it was not up to her as a mere woman of the household to decide, and told Second Madam to ask you about it. The Second Madam immediately backed off."
Qin Liuxi scoffed.
"On New Year’s Eve, Second Madam also complained that you weren’t home during such an important time of the year, showing no regard for the family. Madam clapped back, suggesting that you might be dealing with some disrespectful sort or engaged in ghost hunting or expelling evil." Qi Huang said with a smile: "You should have seen Second Madam’s face; it turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and she dared not say anything else."
Qin Liuxi couldn’t help but laugh, "It seems she was scared by the incident with the Ding family. Not bad, the Ding family unwittingly provided some support. A few more incidents like this, and my Second Aunt will tremble at the mention of my name."
Ding Family: Who would dare to provoke you and risk misfortune?
"Even if the Ding family dares not act, the reputation you’ve built seems to have already intimidated Second Madam. During the New Year, the Ding family even sent an invitation, and on the first day, the eldest son of the Ding family came to kowtow and wish the Old Lady a happy New Year. However, Madam did not let him in, citing the inconvenience of having lots of women and children at home."
After hearing several pieces of gossip, Qin Liuxi said: "This year there is the Imperial Examination, and it’s also the Emperor’s fiftieth birthday - a year of celebrating longevity, perhaps there will be a draft selection, and some families might sell off fields and shops. Last year’s dividends from Feichang Dao, the main branch’s share, give it to Chief Li to buy some properties and shops. It doesn’t have to be in Li City, Prefecture City is fine too."
Qi Huang asked: "Not going to do any other business?"
"No more other businesses, they are troublesome to manage, and who would manage them? Expecting me? Impossible!" Qin Liuxi shook her head, "If given to Madam, she could manage it, but if Second Aunt and others came to know, who knows if they might become jealous."
Qi Huang agreed with her reasoning and asked: "After purchasing, should the contracts be given to Madam?"
"No need for the time being," Qin Liuxi said: "As long as the Old Lady is alive, and the Qin family has yet to divide, giving them to her might lead to unclear claims and endless lawsuits, which could make her position difficult."
She had not been involved in the inner court’s strife but had heard enough of it.
After discussing these matters, Qin Liuxi said: "I’m going to visit the shop."
Qi Huang, pointing to her legs: "With your mobility issues, are you still going?"
"They have an old wheelchair in storage, don’t they? Take that out for use. The shop can be lively, I want to take a look." Qin Liuxi said with a smile.
Qi Huang had no choice but to acquiesce to her wish. She brought out and cleaned the wheelchair, having Li Cheng escort her, and this time Wang Chuan insisted on accompanying her.
...
Feichang Dao’s shop was also interesting in its own right. Since opening, the shop operated sporadically, without set hours, sometimes not even opening doors. Before the New Year, it had closed early, only reopening on the tenth day of the year.
The business was unusual; the shop sold items like talisman cards, peace charms, and it was said they could diagnose rare diseases, even though they did not prescribe medicine. Furthermore, seeing the practitioner depended on fate.
In addition, they provided exorcism and ghost hunting services. In urgent cases, one could ask for assistance from a Heavenly Master at Shangqing Temple, given that the shop owner and the temple belonged to the same spiritual lineage.
Thus, although there were not many customers, the shop never saw closure, instead often attracting well-dressed wealthy individuals, leaving other businesses in the area both envious and jealous.
This shop should not be called a Daoist establishment; it would be more fitting to name it a Buddhist-inspired shop, as the Boss is too wilful.
This is also what Ding Yongliang thought.
When he heard from his father that the girl from the Qin family was the Junior Temple Master of Qingping Temple, he was completely dumbfounded, unable to believe that the obstinate and willful young lady standing at their doorstep was actually a female crown practicing the female Dao.
And the Ding family had suffered a significant loss at her hands, yet dared not retaliate but had to apologize profusely; even so, she ignored them completely, which was truly insufferable.
Still, Ding Yongliang endured it and even sought her out.
His visit was not to start trouble, but to help his schoolmate, who had seemed off since New Year’s, as if afflicted by something evil.
As the saying goes, "a wise son does not speak of strange forces and gods," this schoolmate named He Shou felt that he was entangled by some evil spirit yet dared not divulge it, fearing disapproval from his elders. Once Ding Yongliang became aware of this, he thought of Qin Liuxi.
Wasn’t it rumored that the Junior Temple Master was exceptionally powerful, having even caused trouble for their family? But rumors are just rumors, not yet witnessed personally. Since his schoolmate appeared to have encountered evil, he brought him along to seek help while also probing the abilities of that person.
However, upon arriving at Qingping Temple, they found the temple was closed for renovations, and not open to the public. Still, a Taoist there pointed them on the right path, suggesting they go to a shop in Shouxi Square called Feichang Dao, owned by their Junior Temple Master, where they could seek the person in question.
Ding Yongliang thought he was hallucinating—Taoists opening shops was unheard of.
So, he went looking for her, but she was not there, having wasted three days in vain, his patience wore thin.
"When exactly will your Junior Temple Master return? Is there no fixed date, leaving guests waiting indefinitely?" Ding Yongliang asked Chen Pi with a frown.
He suspected it was deliberate, knowing he was from the Ding family, so they intentionally made it difficult for him.
Chen Pi replied, "Our shop conducts unusual business, and naturally operates in an unconventional manner; it all depends on fate. If you can wait, then wait. If not, seek others more capable; we’re not stopping you."
"You." Ding Yongliang was livid.
Just a shop assistant, and yet so arrogant. If any other shop did this, it would surely fail!
Just like the Boss, the subordinates also behaved arrogantly, as if they were above all!
"Brother Ding, I can wait," said He Shou, tugging at Ding Yongliang’s sleeve. "Also, I feel more at ease here. Moreover, you don’t have to accompany me while waiting; I can come by myself."
"How could that be okay? I brought you here, how can I just leave you?" responded Ding Yongliang.
Chen Pi scoffed lightly, wondering what charade of deep affection was being played out here—it was all just self-serving schemes at heart.
He Shou managed a reluctant smile, then turned to Chen Pi, saying, "Young man, please exchange this Amulet for me; the one I bought yesterday has failed again."
"One hundred taels."
Ding Yongliang’s eyes widened. "Why the change in price? The first time it was fifty, the second time eighty, now a hundred?"
"One fails each day; whatever is clinging to him is not trivial. Buy it if you will; I’m not forcing you. Drawing talismans doesn’t consume Spiritual Power, does it?" Chen Pi snorted. "If you haggle any further, it’ll be a thousand per talisman!"
Ding Yongliang: "..."
Absolutely infuriating; Brother He, let go of me, I need to have a word with this person!