Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 289

Chapter 289: Chapter 289

The young master of the He family seemed incredulous and ignored He Fu as he hurriedly headed for the study.

"Father! Father!" The young master didn’t bother knocking, but barged in anxiously.

As a result, he saw his older brother.

"Big brother, you’re here too." The young master paused, speaking rather awkwardly.

"You’re always jittery; not very fitting for a young master." Old Master He coldly snorted at his behavior, ignoring him and instead handing the He family’s jade token to his eldest son.

"I’ll temporarily entrust these matters to you, do not disappoint me."

Feeling the weight in his hands, the Young Master He was overjoyed, but his face remained serious: "Thank you for your trust, father."

"Alright, off you go."

Old Master He waved his hand, looking somewhat tired.

Seeing his elder brother leaving, the young master was left a little clueless; he stammered for a while before he managed to ask: "Father, you wanted to see me for something?"

"What is the origin of Su Tao?"

Old Master He asked soulessly, his eyes on his younger son.

"She, she’s a peasant girl." As the young master said this, an unnatural expression flickered across his face, but he quickly added: "But she’s very capable. She developed formulas for the rouge and the beauty cream. Also, our Zuitingxuan restaurant started thanks to her new methods; I am rather taken with her. If only mother hadn’t made a fuss about her background at the matchmaking event, her beauty cream might have caught the attention of the nobility and we would have been able to build connections..."

As he spoke, he seemed quite confident, Old Master He looked at him with disappointment.

"Our He family is large and wealthy, and we need a woman for a connection?

True, Zuitingxuan used her method, but didn’t I also benefit her?

I placed you in charge of the rouge firm, yet you secretly used other people’s formulas. Did you save her life? Did she give you permission to use her high-quality formula?

I won’t speak of the past, but now, the rouge firm has lost twenty thousand taels. What have you been doing?"

As Old Master He’s words fell, the young master’s face has completely drained of color.

"I, I... "

"Okay, then let me ask you. You claimed to be deeply attracted to Miss Su, yet you did nothing when your mother publicly humiliated her in front of so many people. What did you do then?"

Old Master He’s face darkened, he looked at his incompetent son with a hint of mockery.

Since he was a child, he had always said that he needed to treat him strictly to prepare him to bear the weight of responsibility. Despite his wife’s complaints about him being too harsh, it turned out to be for naught. The He family’s legitimate heir had turned out to be so spineless.

"Father!"

The young master turned pale, as if he couldn’t believe that his father would say such a thing.

Why didn’t he stop his mother back then?

Why did he let his mother publicly humiliate Miss Su in front of so many people?

Only he knew the true intentions in his heart.

"The rouge firm and Zuitingxuan restaurant will be managed by your elder brother. If you want to continue your hunger strike, then go ahead and make a fuss. While Su Tao’s background may be poor, with your character, it’s not like you’re in any position to take advantage of her." Master He coldly snorted and visibly dismissed him from the room.

When the young master walked out of the study, he felt a chill throughout his body. He knew that his father had seen through his tricks.

Regardless of Su Tao’s origin, the formulas she held and the respect the people of Yan City held for her were great benefits for any gentleman or young master who married her.

And him?

He merely wanted her to be disappointed in everyone else, so he could monopolize her benefits.

In the Sanwei Residence, Nanzhi was calculating the accounts with Shen Miaomiao.

"Miaomiao, look, we made thirty-three taels last month. You get nine taels and nine coins, and I get twenty-three taels and one coin. Now that we’ve opened the private rooms on the second floor, we should break a hundred this month."

Nanzhi was very satisfied after going through the numbers in the ledger.

"But our restaurant’s costs are high." Shen Miaomiao was worried about the renovation costs and other expenses.

Just taking over the restaurant cost them a thousand taels.

"It’s good that we made a profit in the first month. It will slowly get better," Nanzhi comforted her by patting her shoulder.

Since Zuitingxuan had been closed for half a month, the customers had chosen Hongfu Building. None of them came to their Sanwei Residence, perhaps because they didn’t want to dine in the main hall in front of so many people.

Now that the private rooms on the second floor were open, business was likely to improve.

Shen Yuntian no longer had his previous cheerfulness. He was preoccupied with his work all day, which left Nanzhi and Shen Miaomiao feeling uneasy.

"Yun Tian, you should take a break." Looking at his back dripping with sweat, Nanzhi’s expression was complicated.

"Sister-in-law, I’m fine," Yun Tian shook his head, wiped away his sweat with his own towel, and continued his work.

If he had time to rest, he would remember how his mother looked when she left.

Seeing that he couldn’t be persuaded to rest, Nanzhi could only shake her head and leave.

She knew the pain of losing a family member; it was rarely easy to let go.

With the restaurant gradually getting back on track and Uncle Ping still there, Nanzhi and Miaomiao didn’t have to stay in the restaurant all day.

The two young ladies, other than occasionally checking on the customers’ reactions, were contemplating what to do with the third floor.

It was problematic that the third floor had remained vacant since the restaurant’s opening a month ago.

"Sister Nanzhi, if all else fails, we can put some tables and chairs on the third floor and have a space in the middle for performances," Miaomiao suggested, appearing troubled by the problem night and day.

"That won’t work," Nanzhi shook her head, appearing a bit exasperated.

While Nanzhi was scratching her head in Yan City, Shen Wenchen was also worried in Kyoto.

"General, what does that dignitary mean by keeping me here? I need to go back now." Shen Wenchen was a bit agitated as he looked at the grinning man by his side.

His promotion had been granted, and he had been elevated from the sixth rank to the full sixth rank. He received a thousand taels of silver and a hundred taels of gold. He had planned to joyfully return home to marry after receiving the rewards, but this delay kept him from going home.

"What’s the rush? Dare I guess the dignitary’s intentions?" Song Lian took a sip of tea, finding Shen Wenchen’s near-frenzy amusing.

"I have to return to take a wife," Shen Wenchen said bluntly.

"Have someone special in mind?" Song Lian hadn’t expected this reason and was taken aback.

It had only been two years since Shen Wenchen had refused to take up a post in Kyoto, and now he was already ready to settle down?

"General, could you give me some insight? I really am in a hurry." Shen Wenchen didn’t care about maintaining face anymore, had he not had a son, he might have even pulled on Song Lian’s sleeve.

"Are you really in love?" Song Lian looked at him in surprise, a bit hesitant.

The higher-up intended to arrange marriages for unmarried soldiers, the delay was because a suitable match had been found. But now, he was unsure how to proceed.

"Yes."

Shen Wenchen nodded quickly.