Chapter 162 Eavesdropping (revised + supplemented)
Song Qingci and Yin Xing were standing outside the back window of the conference room. Because of the stained glass windows and screens, the people inside didn't notice them at all.
"Madam, why don't we go in?" Yin Xing lowered her voice and asked in Song Qingci's ear.
Song Qingci made a hushing gesture.
It’s not the time to go in yet. She wants to listen more and see if the people inside can say anything else.
As Song Qingci expected, other voices soon rang out in the conference room.
"Tell me, what is the reason why the young lady asked us to come here this time?!" Manager Xing seemed to be more low-key than the others, not only in his dress, but also in his demeanor.
He was also very careful in what he said.
"Maybe he just got the power to manage the family, and he wants us to recognize him." Shopkeeper Li didn't care.
The Moon Viewing Tower is very busy. As one of the most popular restaurants in Beijing, it has a lot of things to deal with every day.
The reason he came this time was entirely to give face to the new head of the family.
If it was the eldest lady who invited him, he really wouldn't have the time to make this trip.
"I think so too." Manager He didn't want to come at first. But then he thought that it would be bad if he didn't show up since the new manager had just taken over. So he came.
"I heard that the young general's new wife is the most famous lady in the capital. I wonder what she looks like and whether she lives up to her reputation." Shopkeeper Qian's tone was full of ridicule. He didn't care why he came at all.
He just wanted to see what the young lady looked like. He didn't care about anything else.
After so many years, I'm familiar with the patterns and routines.
He didn't believe that a new person could come up with anything new, especially a new bride.
Isn't it true that every new bride is submissive and serves as a servant?
He is familiar with this matter.
Including his legal wife, he had nine women in his life. Not counting those maids who had no status or position. All the women were almost the same. There was nothing new.
"This is the general's mansion. Shopkeeper Qian, please be careful with your words." Shopkeeper Sun, who had been silent the whole time, heard what Shopkeeper Qian said and looked outside. After finding that there was no one else, he said to him helplessly.
This shopkeeper Qian, it seems like his brain goes offline when it comes to women.
If you say something like this in someone else's house, what would happen if the host heard it?
"Hey, it's just a joke, Shopkeeper Sun, don't take it seriously." Shopkeeper Qian was reminded, and his heart skipped a beat. But there was no one else here now. He quickly made up for it.
Everything they said was heard word for word by Song Qingci and Yin Xing, the master and servant.
There was no visible reaction on Song Qingci's face, but Yin Xing looked like a puffer fish that was about to explode with anger.
Just when she was about to curse out loud, Song Qingci quickly covered her mouth.
And signaled her with his eyes to shut up.
Yin Xing received the look and blinked, indicating that she understood. Song Qingci then slowly let go of her hand.
But Yinxing's face still didn't look good.
After a long while, there was gradually no sound coming from inside, and Song Qingci raised his chin towards Yinxing, meaning that they could go in now.
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Without informing the servants, Song Qingci took Yinxing directly into the conference room.
The appearance of the master and servant really frightened the shopkeepers present. One of them almost dropped his teacup.
They had no idea who these two people were or when they appeared.
Seeing Song Qingci sitting in the main seat in the conference hall, everyone looked at each other tacitly and confirmed from each other's eyes that this person was probably the young general's newly married wife.
For a moment, the entire conference hall was silent.
But everyone, including Song Qingci, had mixed feelings in their hearts.
Song Qingci looked at the managers sitting below her and gave each of them a small label of her own in her heart based on her first impression.
Each of them looks like a successful person in their previous life.
Even when he is not talking, his whole attire and the aura of a superior revealed between his brows are still quite intimidating.
If her mother-in-law were here, she would definitely be frightened.
But, she~
Sorry, totally unimpressed.
And those in charge, looking at Song Qingci sitting in the main seat, all kinds of thoughts went around in their minds.
Especially Manager Qian.
He has always had no resistance to beauty.
The new lady had the best color of any woman he had ever seen.
Not only is the color good, but the overall temperament is simply unmatched.
This young general is really lucky. He is just a reckless man, but he can have such a beautiful woman. He has a good family background, which is an advantage.
Shopkeeper Li looked as if he didn't take Song Qingci seriously.
There are so many good-looking ladies from high-class families. Among the high-class ladies in the capital, there are few ugly ones. Moreover, this young general’s wife not only looks young, but she probably doesn’t have any special abilities.
Otherwise, she wouldn't dress so plainly. She's obviously not favored. She was lucky to be able to take charge of the family. After all, she's the eldest grandson's wife and comes from a Shangshu Mansion. She has to give her some face.
Shopkeeper He silently withdrew his gaze and did not linger on Song Qingci's face for long.
This atmosphere actually only lasted for a few breaths.
Yin Xing interrupted the atmosphere at the right time. She stood up and said, "Dear shopkeepers, this is my young general's wife, and the new head of the general's mansion."
After Yin Xing finished speaking, all the managers stood up, clasped their fists and bowed to Song Qingci, saying, "Greetings, Madam."
Song Qingci did not shout in a hurry, but looked at them one by one from the front to the back.
The people who were swept by her eyes looked away inexplicably, not daring to look at her at all. She suddenly felt uneasy in her heart.
Even the always arrogant shopkeeper Li is like this.
Just when everyone was beginning to doubt, Song Qingci finally spoke, "Please take a seat, everyone."
These words were like an amnesty, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
At this time, several servants came in from outside the hall and replaced the tea for the shopkeepers.
Yinxing also took a cup of tea from the tray held by one of the servants and handed it to Song Qingci.
"This is my first meeting with all the shopkeepers. Don't be too reserved. Just be casual. I'm a very easygoing person. You'll get to know me after we get to know each other for a long time."
After hearing Song Qingci's words, his heart, which had been a little frightened by her stare, suddenly relaxed. His stiff back also relaxed at once.
Shopkeeper He also picked up the teacup and started drinking again.
Sure enough, it's just a showpiece.
I was almost scared just now.
"Since this is our first meeting, I don't know much about you, so why don't you introduce yourselves? I'll get to know you. Let's start with this one."
As he spoke, Song Qingci pointed his finger at Shopkeeper Qian who was sitting in the first seat on the left.
Being named by the beauty, Qian the shopkeeper did not feel unhappy at all. After all, the beauty's requests were all reasonable.
Thinking of this, he stood up, bowed to Song Qingci and said, "My name is Qian Ming, and I am the shopkeeper of Mingyue Cloth Shop."
Qian Ming sat down after he finished speaking, and then Shopkeeper He, who was sitting below him, stood up and bowed in the same manner, saying, "My name is He Xiang, and I am the shopkeeper of Dahong Rice Shop."
"My name is Xing Qingshu, and I am the shopkeeper of the Hairpin Flower Pavilion."
"My name is Liu Zhipeng, and I am the owner of Langyue Bookstore."
"My name is Liang Fei, and I am the shopkeeper of Yulanxuan."
"My name is Xu He, and I am the shopkeeper of Ruixin Pawn Shop."
There are seven shopkeepers in total, six of whom have already introduced themselves, leaving only Shopkeeper Li, who is sitting at the front row on the right, as the only one who has not spoken yet.
Song Qingci shifted his gaze to him, and then said to him, "Master, it's your turn."
When Shopkeeper Li was called, he stood up very reluctantly, bowed casually and said, "I am Li Cai, the shopkeeper of the Moon Viewing Tower."
After saying that, he sat down without waiting for Song Qingci's reaction.