Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 263: 261: The Big Fox Shaking its Tail

Looking at the face in front of her that was both familiar and unfamiliar, she didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Subconsciously, she looked back to find Di Cheng’s figure but discovered that Di Cheng had already gone to the other side, greeting a customer who had just entered the door.

“I came back last night, so I came to see you first thing this morning.”

With a full-faced smile, Nan Tianzong’s squinted eyes seemed like warm sunlight, and his upturned mouth corners seemed like a crescent moon. After glancing at the surroundings, he nodded.

“Hmm, you’ve managed this shop quite well, very good.”

When Liu Sisi opened her mouth, she suddenly felt unsure about what to say in the current situation.

“Of course, we agreed that you would help me save Ye Lei, and I would look after your shop for a year for free.”

“Hmph! Little girl, you still remember those playful words from back then!”

Nan Tianzong raised his folding fan and gently tapped her forehead, “We are now siblings in the eyes of others. Are you still blaming me for leaving in such a hurry and not personally telling you before I left?” His clear laughter echoed.

“No, no, there’s no such thing.”

Liu Sisi felt her cheeks getting hotter and was somewhat overwhelmed by Nan Tianzong’s sudden kindness.

Liu Sisi still remembered the last time they met when they left Juxian Restaurant.

But then there was that unpleasant conversation. She clearly remembered the gloomy expression on his face when they parted at that time.

As for the reason for Nan Tianzong’s departure, Liu Sisi had speculated about it several times.

But precisely because she had figured it out, seeing him now made her feel a sense of surrealism.

With such warm eyes gazing at her, Liu Sisi couldn’t help but smile!

“At least you’re back now! That’s always a good thing.”

This way, she could restore the property to its rightful owner and not worry about occupying it herself.

“By the way, the account books for the recent period are here. I’ll show you, and the list of goods brought in during this time is also here, so you can…”

Before Liu Sisi could finish speaking, a large hand suddenly appeared in front of her holding account books, and she stopped talking.

She stood up awkwardly from the edge of the counter, mumbling and at a loss.

Nan Tianzong still had a pleasant expression: “I’ve read the account books. It’s really surprising that you’re so good at managing the shop. It’s truly rare!”

In this era, it was rare for a woman to be literate. Skilled shopkeepers would only appear among favored legitimate children of wealthy families who were taught day and night.

At the moment, when Nan Tianzong deliberately mentioned it, Liu Sisi paused for a moment and then let out a chuckle.

“Well… it’s because you left, and I was forced to do it. Anyway, now that you’re back, I’ll hand the accounts over to you. I’ve recorded the accounts from when you left; I think it’s on the first page of the account book…”

Liu Sisi quickly opened the account book, but in the next moment, she was stopped by a folding fan.

“Sisi, I didn’t come back this time to take over the shop.”

His eyes were fixed on her, “Here’s the thing; I opened two more shops in the county, but I’m short on funds. I’d like to invite you to invest and help manage them. What do you say?”

He’s short on funds?

Liu Sisi’s gaze swept over his outfit.

The collar and cuffs were adorned with colorful gold-threaded gilding and green silvery patterns. The cloak was decorated with tiny, evenly-sized pearls. Golden threads outlined a large and two small eagles with outstretched wings, and he wore a pair of high-top deer skin horse-riding boots. The workmanship rivaled that of high-quality boots from her time…

Just by taking off this outfit and taking it to a pawnshop, it would easily be worth hundreds of taels of silver.

“Brother Nan, don’t you know how much Sisi has? The funds you lack are not something Sisi can provide. So, please don’t bring this up again.”

“Ai! I, Nan Tianzong, don’t really lack silver, but I lack talented people to manage the shops!”

Nan Tianzong laughed like a cunning fox, “How about this! Just invest in it, and I’ll give you a 40-60 split on the profit. Is that okay?”

“….”

So, he was just waiting here for her to jump in!

Liu Sisi narrowed her eyes slightly, secretly calculating in her heart.

All the money she had right now came from this shop. Even if she were to really lose this money, it was originally Nan Tianzong’s.

With that thought, she felt herself being overly cautious!

The man in front of her had handed her the shop directly and disappeared for several months. He probably didn’t care about the money in the first place.

“What do you think? How are you considering it? If you think the 40-60 split is too little, let’s go 50-50. How about that?”

Nan Tianzong urged softly, seemingly mischievous.

But in the shadows, his hands tightly held the fan, almost breaking the fan’s bones.

Liu Sisi pondered for a moment, “Alright! I currently only have the money on the account books. As you said, 40-60 split, I get 40, and you get 60. If we make money, we’ll both be happy. It won’t matter if we lose.”

Another fan hit her shoulder, “That’s a beating! You haven’t even started yet, but you’re already talking about losing. Who does business like this?”

Liu Sisi immediately shrank her shoulders, forgetting that mentioning losses was taboo for businessmen.

He casually took out an abacus from his pocket and clicked on it.

“Alright! You have 387 taels of silver on the account, minus the costs and expenses along with the 125 taels for Di Cheng, is 232 taels of silver remaining. You keep the 32 taels for spending, and the rest of the 200 taels of silver you give me as capital.”

Watching the slender fingers constantly moving on the abacus, Liu Sisi felt as if she had fallen into a trap.

But can she go back on her word now?

Without waiting for her to figure it out, the man had quickly crossed out 200 taels of silver from the account.

Only then did he look up at her, smiling like a large fox wagging its tail, “Alright, let’s discuss what we should sell at the new shop.”

Liu Sisi: “….”

Until she left the bookstore, Liu Sisi’s head was still a bit dizzy.

Looking back at the shop, she sighed deeply. It was just going to the county every five days…

Calm down! Liu Sisi must calm down!

At least now, Di Cheng doesn’t have to leave the bookstore, which could be considered a blessing in disguise.