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When Chu Xujin heard the waiter’s words, he immediately rushed over. “Fifth Sister, Shopkeeper Qian.”

Chu Qingzhi briefly explained the situation. “Third Brother, come and see what’s wrong with the rice dumplings.”

Chu Xujin’s eyes were filled with determination. He looked energetic. “Fifth Sister, sit for a while. 1’11 try to figure things out as quickly as possible.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled and nodded. “Okay.”

Two constables followed Chu Xujin over. They were assigned by the county magistrate to be his assistants. They looked decent, but there was no need for them for the time being. The two of them stood aside.

Chu Xujin walked up to the group of women and asked with a serious expression, “Did you all buy rice dumplings from Shopkeeper Qian?”

The few of them said in unison, “Yes.”

Chu Xujin glanced at everyone and observed their expressions. “Which waiter did you buy it from?”

The tall, thin woman looked around, then pointed. “I bought it from him.”

It was a waiter in gray. He quickly walked out. “I’m only in charge of selling rice dumplings. The rice dumplings are kept in the kitchen.”

Chu Xujin asked him, “Who’s the person keeping the rice dumplings?”

Shopkeeper Qian looked around but did not find the person he wanted to see. He turned back and said, “It’s Li San, a relative of mine.”

Chu Xujin said politely, “Shopkeeper, please call him out.”

Shopkeeper Qian raised his voice and shouted, “Li San, come out.”

If Li San really did something immoral, he would not tolerate him.

Li San was wearing a dark brown brocade cloth. When he saw Shopkeeper Qian, he revealed a fawning expression. “Uncle, what’s the matter?”

Shopkeeper Qian pointed at Chu Xujin. “He’s someone from the government.

No matter what he asks you, tell him the truth.”

Li San glanced at Chu Xujin with a hint of timidity and guilt in his eyes. “Yes, Uncle.”

Chu Xujin’s tone was heavy and fast, creating a strong sense of oppression. “How many rice dumplings do you help sell every day?”

Li San did not expect Chu Xujin to ask this question at all. He subconsciously replied, “Two hundred.”

With his answer, the entire restaurant instantly fell silent.

Chu Qingzhi crossed her arms and smiled. Third Brother had learned the essence of interrogation!

Smack!

Shopkeeper Qian slapped Li San’s face and scolded agitatedly, “You traitor, do you know what you’ve done?”

Nowadays, rice dumplings were the mainstay of the restaurant. If people stopped buying the rice dumplings from him, he would not be far from closing the restaurant.

Li San knew that the matter had blown up. He covered his face and quickly knelt down. “Uncle, Uncle, I was wrong. I know 1 was wrong. Don’t chase me away. I know I was wrong!”

Chu Xujin interrupted and asked, “Who else is giving you rice dumplings to sell?”

Now that this matter could no longer be hidden, Li San hurriedly explained, “There’s a person called Li Mei in our village. She went to the Chu Village to help make rice dumplings for two days. She thought that making rice dumplings was not difficult, so she tried to make them on her own and sell them herself. However, people only bought rice dumplings from our restaurant, so she came to me and asked me to help her sell them. She will give me some money.”

Shopkeeper Qian slapped Li San again. “If I had known that you were so disappointing, 1 would never have let you work here. Pack your things and get lost immediately. You have to compensate me for today’s losses!”

Li San hugged Shopkeeper Qian’s thigh and begged tearfully, “Uncle, don’t chase me away. I won’t dare to do it again. I won’t do it again.”

“Get lost!” Shopkeeper Qian kicked Li San away. Then, he turned around and said to the women kindly, “Please forgive me. What happened today is a misunderstanding. It’s all a misunderstanding. Please forgive me. How about this? Take your rice dumplings back first. Tomorrow, you can come to the restaurant to exchange for new ones. I’ll give you double. What do you think?”

Everyone was satisfied with this outcome. “Shopkeeper, do you mean what you say?”

The shopkeeper smiled apologetically. These were all old customers. He could not offend them. “You’ve been my customers for many years. 1 believe you know that I’m a man of my words.”

The women were reasonable. “For your sake, we won’t blow this matter up. Let’s go and come back tomorrow.”

A few women carried the rice dumplings and walked out of the restaurant.

Li San still wanted to plead for leniency, but he was slapped a few more times. It was not easy for Shopkeeper Qian to rely on the rice dumplings to stabilize his business, but it was almost ruined by Li San. One could imagine how angry Shopkeeper Qian must be.

“Don’t waste your breath,” Shopkeeper Qian said coldly. “One rice dumpling costs 32 copper coins. 400 is 12 taels of silver and 800 copper coins. You can take the 800 copper coins, but you have to compensate me 12 taels.”

“12 taels?” Li San was stunned and his face turned pale. “Uncle, 1 know I was wrong. Can you give me a chance?”

Shopkeeper Qian said ruthlessly, “1 already said that there’s no chance. Go back and think of a way to pay me back. Otherwise, you’ll go to jail.”

Li San fell to the ground, his face filled with regret.

A moment later, his expression changed. He rushed out and scolded, “It’s all your fault. You said that the rice dumplings you made are as good as the ones from the Chu Village. You should pay the money…”

There was still one thing that confused Chu Qingzhi.

According to what Li San said just now, the place where that person secretly learned to make rice dumplings was her family. When did her family let people from the other villages work?

“Fifth Sister, what are you thinking about?” Chu Xujin waved his hand in front of Chu Qingzhi’s eyes. His fingers were very long and straight.

Chu Qingzhi looked up, revealing her pitch-black eyes. “Nothing, Third Brother. Go back to the government office. 1’11 go buy furniture.”

Chu Xujin was worried. “1’11 go with you. I’ll go back to the government office after you finish buying.”

Chu Qingzhi did not reject Chu Xujin’s good intentions. “Alright then.”

She had already written down every piece of furniture she needed. When she came to the furniture shop, she took out the paper and showed it to the shopkeeper.

This was the first time the shopkeeper had met such a straightforward customer. “Miss, you’ve come to the right place. We have all the furniture here.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “Then get it ready and send it to the Chu Village. I will pay you when the furniture is sent over.”

The shopkeeper said happily, “Alright, 1’11 arrange it immediately.”

After buying the things, Chu Qingzhi and Chu Xujin went back to the village and the government office respectively.

County City, Cloud Embroidery Workshop.

Chu Qingyue looked around at the entrance. She had asked around and found out that the embroiderer, Luo Yinhuan, would come to the shop today.

At this moment, two girls walked over from behind her. One of them, a purple-clothed girl, gently patted Chu Qingyue’s shoulder. “Sister, are you also here to be a disciple?”

Chu Qingyue turned around to see two girls in front of her, one in purple and one in pink. “I am, and so are you?”

The girl in purple was very friendly. “Yes, there are many people here today. Let’s go in quickly.”

Chu Qingyue was very happy to have someone to accompany her. “Okay.”

The three girls walked side by side into the Cloud Embroidery Workshop..