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墨書 Inktalez
Zhang Da Bo, with a confident smirk, narrowed his eyes and said, "The provincial examination not only tests knowledge but also character. With local recommendations, one can stand out among the candidates. Conversely, if the teachers from the local academy give a poor evaluation of a candidate, how do you think you, esteemed examiner, would choose?"
"You!" Ye Xiaohan's willow-like brows furrowed in disbelief. She never expected that a teacher, an engineer of human souls, would resort to using his students' academic performance as leverage: "Zhang Da Bo, as an educator, how can you stoop to such tactics? Aren't you ashamed after studying the classics?"
Zhang Da Bo scoffed, "I've made my position clear. As for your decision, I trust you'll provide me with a satisfactory response."
"Oh, by the way," Zhang Da Bo continued, "recently, Liu Yang has been coming to me with questions. Whether my answers are right or wrong depends on you."
He then stood up to see her off. Ye Xiaohan suppressed her anger as she left the private school.
She couldn't believe how despicable he was, dragging innocent children into his schemes. Ye Xiaohan felt like tearing down the school and throwing the bricks into Zhang Da Bo's courtyard.
However, there was only this one private school within ten miles. If she didn't go here, she would have to seek education elsewhere. This was precisely why Zhang Da Bo felt so emboldened.
For Liu Yang's future, Ye Xiaohan chose to endure.
Aunt Zhang came with her son and upon seeing Ye Xiaohan, spoke in a sarcastic tone, "You should have agreed long ago instead of making things difficult for yourself. Liu Bei's daughter-in-law, aren't you just making a fool of yourself?"
Ye Xiaohan forced a laugh. "If he stays behind, Auntie, you can go back now. Or does your family plan to stay here indefinitely?"
Since they had no shame, she felt no need to be polite. She had already been suppressed in action; if she couldn't win verbally as well, she would suffocate.
"Hmph! What a piece of work!" Aunt Zhang muttered under her breath. "If you ignore me, I won't bother with you either!"
With that, she turned and walked away.
Zhang Family's son stood awkwardly in the shop, feeling out of place. Most customers were women; suddenly having a man among them made them glance over and stifle their laughter.
Ye Xiaohan turned her back on him and ignored him completely. She had already made her choice to stay. Whether or not she would teach him depended on her mood. Given the Zhang family's coercive attitude, they could forget about learning even a petal of knowledge from her!
With an extra person in the shop, work continued as usual; Ye Xiaohan acted as if he didn't exist.
Zhang Family's son was also disappointing; his father held high hopes for him, yet he had never enjoyed studying. The moment he picked up a book, he would doze off.
Having failed to meet the family's hopes for advancement, Zhang Da Bo could only settle for hoping his son would become wealthy instead.
Unfortunately, he was not cut out for business. After following others for half a year, he had not grasped any of the tricks of the trade and had lost all the capital his family had given him.
Thus, the Zhang Family was even more envious of Ye Xiaohan's Peach Blossom Studio than others, wishing they could snatch it away.
In order to get his son involved, Zhang Da Bo swallowed his pride and resorted to underhanded tactics.
They were convinced that Ye Xiaohan's success was solely due to that secret recipe. Otherwise, how could she possibly be better than anyone else?
As long as they obtained the recipe, anyone could become the second Ye Xiaohan.
With ulterior motives, Zhang Da Bo kept a close watch on Ye Xiaohan's every move, trying to figure out where she hid the secret recipe.
As for the business in the shop, he paid it no mind at all.
Ye Xiaohan found his thoughts amusing and chose to let him be. Not interfering with the shop would only benefit her, preventing it from becoming a chaotic mess.
While the Zhang Family was dreaming of easy profits, Sixth Aunt felt an overwhelming sense of crisis upon seeing them helping out in the shop.
"Sixth Daughter-in-law, you’re being foolish!" Sixth Aunt exclaimed, slapping her thigh. "How can you bring in outsiders? They are all after our money! Especially the Zhang Family; you have no idea what kind of people they are. They are ruthless and will strip us bare if we let them into the shop."
Ye Xiaohan looked at her expressionlessly as she flitted around like a headless fly.
Sixth Bei worriedly said, "Xiao Han, I don't think Zhang's son is suitable. Shouldn't you hire someone else?"
Ye Xiaohan had no intention of letting the threat from the Zhang Family affect her. If the Liu family found out, Sixth Bei would surely want to teach them a lesson, which would only create more trouble.
And knowing Liu Yang's character, if he discovered he was being used as a pawn to pressure Ye Xiaohan, he would likely refuse to attend private school again. In that case, all her patience would have been for nothing.
Feigning indifference, Ye Xiaohan replied, "You don’t understand business. Don’t underestimate Zhang; he actually has potential. Besides, with me around, is there any student I can't teach? You all just relax and stop worrying unnecessarily."
Suppressing her disgust at having to say such unpleasant things made Ye Xiaohan feel nauseous; it was truly revolting.
Sixth Bei looked worried but decided to trust Ye Xiaohan since she was so determined.
Second Aunt cursed for a while before rushing in front of Ye Xiaohan, reaching out to grab her. Ye Xiaohan frowned slightly, flicked her fingers, hitting a pressure point, and took the opportunity to step aside.
Having missed her grab, Second Aunt was momentarily stunned and didn’t bother to think further. "You can't do this, daughter-in-law of the Sixth Family. There are outsiders in the shop; what if something important gets lost? Where did you put that secret recipe? Be careful not to let it get stolen!"
Ye Xiaohan looked at her coldly and asked, "So what does Second Aunt think we should do to prevent any issues?"
"Oh!" Second Aunt slapped her thigh. "I've already thought of a solution. You should bring your Second Uncle along. He can keep an eye on that little brat. If he has any funny ideas, just catch him red-handed and kick him out! Let him think twice about trying to steal from our Sixth Family!"
It's our Sixth Family, not including you. Ye Xiaohan and Liu Yang both thought simultaneously.
Liu Bei disagreed and advised, "Second Aunt, that's not appropriate. Second Uncle doesn’t understand the cosmetics in Xiao Han’s shop; he wouldn’t be of any help."
Hearing this, Second Uncle immediately pointed at Liu Bei and scolded, "You unfilial child! Instead of helping your Second Uncle, you’re siding with outsiders to keep me out. How ungrateful!"
Before Liu Bei could respond, Ye Xiaohan interrupted him and asked, "Second Uncle, if you want to help in the shop, how much should I pay you each month?"
Second Uncle hesitated for a moment as if considering an appropriate amount. Before he could answer, Second Aunt jumped in, saying, "We’re all family; there’s no need to worry about such things. Just give him ten taels as a token gesture."
"Yes, yes, ten taels," Second Uncle quickly agreed.
Ye Xiaohan scoffed inwardly; they were really asking for too much without considering if they could handle it.
Liu Yang couldn’t hold back any longer and exclaimed, "You’re robbing us! The workers in other shops only earn two taels a year, and you’re asking for ten right off the bat!"
Second Aunt turned to Liu Bei and complained, "Look at this! What nonsense is this? Second Uncle is family; should we really charge him the same as outsiders? This fool would rather give money to outsiders than his own family. Liu Bei, you need to teach him a lesson; otherwise, he’ll end up emptying the Sixth Family with those outsiders!"
"Stop slandering me! I would never do such a thing!" The unfounded accusations from Second Aunt touched Liu Yang's bottom line. He could no longer hold back and forgot all about Liu Bei's advice as he shouted angrily at Uncle Lu's family, "This is my home; you all need to leave!"
Second Aunt acted as if she had suffered a great injustice and collapsed onto the ground wailing, "This is outrageous! A kid who hasn’t even grown up dares to chase elders out! The Sixth Family is doomed; our home is cursed! Besides this unfilial descendant, anyone who goes out will be ridiculed!"
Seeing Second Aunt start crying and throwing a tantrum, Second Uncle joined in with loud curses. Relying on his status as an elder, he felt emboldened while Liu Yang dared not retaliate but stepped forward as if ready to strike.
Just as it seemed Liu Yang was about to be bullied, Liu Bei pushed forward with determination, blocking Second Uncle with an unhappy expression.
“Second Uncle, what’s wrong with Liu Yang? I can handle this myself, so you don’t need to intervene,” Liu Yang said coldly as he pushed Second Uncle aside.
Perhaps he had been too accommodating before, always yielding to others. Now that he was opposing them, Second Uncle found it hard to accept. He stood there, stunned and unable to react after being pushed away.
However, Second Aunt immediately stopped her wailing upon seeing Second Uncle pushed. She quickly got up from the ground and supported Second Uncle, checking if he was hurt while cursing Liu Bei.
Ye Xiaohan watched the chaotic scene unfold like a spectator and shouted, “Everyone, be quiet!”
She first calmed Liu Yang, who was like a bull ready to charge, urging Liu Bei to keep an eye on him and prevent him from doing anything rash.
Then she turned to Second Uncle’s family and said, “Second Uncle, Second Aunt, my shop barely makes ten taels of silver a month; I can’t afford to pay so many workers. Besides, I already have enough help; I don’t need anyone else crowding around.”
Second Aunt wanted to say something but was interrupted by Ye Xiaohan.
She continued, “It’s rare for you two to visit our home, and you won’t be staying long. It’s not right for guests to do work. If word gets out, people will think we don’t welcome you. It’s better for you to rest at home.”
With that, she took her family and left, ignoring the furious shouts of Second Uncle’s family behind her.
Second Aunt was furious and ran to the village entrance, shouting, “Ye Xiaohan, you vixen! You think everyone is blind and can’t see what you’re doing! You’ve taken Liu Bei’s soul away; he only revolves around you now. Isn’t it just to swindle money from the Liu family? Do you think I don’t know?”
After cursing Ye Xiaohan, she turned her anger on Liu Bei: “You ungrateful wretch! You have no conscience! For the sake of a vixen, you don’t even listen to your own elders! The Liu family is doomed; it’s all over!”
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