Chapter 509 - 509: nting Vegetables


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    In September, Chu Qingzhi nned to nt cowpeas, radishes, tomatoes, spinach, peas, green onions, garlic, sesame leaves, mustard greens, cabbages, and other vegetables.


    She bought arge quantity of seeds for each type, intending to nt all the vacant farnd with vegetables. Vegetables were scarce in the city during the New Year, which presented an opportunity to make a profit.


    After leaving the store, Chu Qingzhi nced at the disy paintings ced at the entrance and noticed many other shops on the street doing the same. She smiled, recognizing that these cute-style paintings had be a unique attraction in Shuiyun County.


    Everyone took the paintings back from the food festival. As if they had discussed it, they ced them at the entrance of the shop to continue attracting customers.


    It had to be said that there were benefits to being unique. These shops that disyed the cute-style paintings would have better business.<div>


    People usually went directly to the workshops to buy water tanks, as there were no stores selling this. The porcin workshops in Shuiyun County were concentrated near the Li Family Porcin Workshop, forming a district conducive for doing business.


    At the Li Family Porcin Workshop.


    Li Zhenzong summoned Chu Qingshuang, Li Shaoliang, and Yan Yanrong into a room, his expression stern and his gaze oppressive as he scrutinized the three of them.


    Seeing him like this, the three of them did not know what had happened and felt uneasy.


    Li Shaoliang was the first to speak. “Father, now that the business of the shop 1 manage is getting better, why are you still unhappy?”


    When Chu Qingshuang and Li Shaoliang saw that the porcin with cute-shaped pictures was easy to sell, they immediately used this as a gimmick to promote the shop. Now, the shop’s business was very goodpared to before.


    Li Zhenzong nced at his youngest son, “My displeasure isn’t about the business, but because someone among you is lying.”


    These words made Yan Yanrong’s heart skip a beat. Her eyes immediately flickered and she lowered her head, not daring to look at Li Zhenzong.


    Chu Qingshuang and Li Shaoliang felt confused but soon remembered the incident of the most expensive porcin piece being broken. Unsure of how to confess to Li Zhenzong, they guiltily lowered their heads.


    Li Zhenzong narrowed his eyes.


    Clearly, all three were hiding something. Li Zhenzong’s anger intensified upon seeing their reactions.


    The air grew tense, and the three felt like small animals with their necks caught, breathing cautiously.


    Li Zhenzong’s gaze swept over his disciple and his disappointing youngest son, “I’m giving you a chance to confess now. I won’t me you afterward, but if you don’t, you’ll bear the consequences.”


    Li Shaoliang and Chu Qingshuang, after exchanging nces, both said in unison, “I’ll confess.”


    Li Zhenzong narrowed his eyes.


    Yan Yanrong, looking enviously at Chu Qingshuang, wondered why her cousin seemed closer to Chu Qingshuang than to her.


    His disciple was a sessor, not a scapegoat. The scapegoat role was suitable for his son, so Li Zhenzong pointed at his youngest son with an angry expression. “Shaoliang, tell me.”


    Li Shaoliang began slowly, “Father, the most expensive piece of porcin for the exhibition broke before it was disyed. We reced it with another one. We nned to tell you, but you found out first!”


    Li Zhenzong’s face darkened instantly. He hurried to the warehouse where the porcin was stored and returned with a box containing the broken piece.


    That piece was worth five thousand taels!


    Returning to the room, Li Zhenzong’s face was as dark as ink. He sat down and mmed the broken porcin onto the table with a sharp crack, heightening the already tense atmosphere.


    “Who broke it?”


    Li Shaoliang said, “Father, it must have been an ident. When we took it out for disy, it was already broken.”


    Li Zhenzong was furious, “Out of the entire batch, it just had to be the most expensive one that got broken. That piece, because it was the most expensive, was handled with the utmost care. Li Shaoliang, can’t you use that not-so-bright brain of yours to think?”


    Yan Yanrong’s head sank lower, her palms sweating profusely with nervousness.


    Li Shaoliang looked at Li Zhenzong with a sense of grievance, “Father, my mind might not be sharp, but can you leave me some dignity? Qingshuang is here too!”


    Li Zhenzong countered, “Is this a matter of dignity? It’s about five thousand taels. What are you going to do about it?”


    What could he do? Was he expected to pay it off with his savings from over the years? Li Shaoliang remained silent. Five thousand taels was not a small amount, and he thought it best to let his father figure it out.


    Yan Yanrong took a deep breath, pushing her emotions down, and slowly raised her head, ncing at Chu Qingshuang before saying, “Master, based on what you said, it must have been someone who deliberately broke the porcin?”


    Li Zhenzong turned to Yan Yanrong with an even more serious expression, “Yanrong, be careful with your words.”


    Yan Yanrong’s heart sank, but then she thought it was an opportunity to make her master dislike Chu Qingshuang, so she pressed on, “Master, you said that out of all the porcin, the best-kept piece was broken. There must be something fishy. And since Chu Qingshuang and my cousin were responsible for transporting it, if it wasn’t my cousin who broke it, then it must have been Chu Qingshuang.”


    Chu Qingshuang, seeing Yan Yanrong trying to frame her again, red back, “You’re saying 1 broke it? Why would 1 intentionally do that? If it’s broken, I would be the main one responsible. Am 1 stupid?”


    Yan Yanrong aggressively retorted, “How would I know if you’re stupid or not? Anyway, it broke in your hands, so you have to take responsibility.”


    Chu Qingshuang looked at Yan Yanrong suspiciously, “That’s not right. 1 remember there was a time when you were alone with the porcin…”


    Yan Yanrong, like a cat on hot bricks and clearly guilty, protested, “1 didn’t break the porcin, don’t frame me!”


    Chu Qingshuang confidently replied, “Why would 1 frame you? You know if you did it or not.”


    Li Zhenzong, observing their reactions, had a good idea of what happened, “Yanrong…”


    Yan Yanrong immediately became defensive, “Master, it wasn’t me who broke the porcin, it was Chu Qingshuang who broke it to frame me. It’s not my fault.”


    Li Shaoliang interjected, “Qingshuang never said it was you who broke the porcin, yet you im she broke it to frame you.”


    Turning to Li Zhenzong, Li Shaoliang continued, “Father, during the food festival, Qingshuang and I were together all the time. It’s impossible that she broke the porcin.”


    Yan Yanrong was on edge, “Cousin, I’m closer to you, why won’t you help me?”


    Li Shaoliang pressed Yan Yanrong, “Did you break the porcin to frame Qingshuang?”


    Though not sharp in business, Li Shaoliang wasn’t foolish. Seeing Yan Yanrong’s reactions and her words, it was clear the broken porcin had something to do with her..