Chapter 840: Able to Make Gu Jingzhe Fail the Spring Imperial Exam

“Smack, smack, smack.”

Gu Honglian and Tong Pandi slapped Fan Tong left and right without hesitation.

…

“Manager Tong, these buns are for you.”

Tong Huaqiong walked out of Taohua Dessert and bumped into Granny Xu, who had specially kept buns for Tong Huaqiong after closing up.

“Is your grandson better?” Tong Huaqiong asked.

Upon learning that Granny Xu’s grandson caught a cold, He Chao sent her medicine.

Granny Xu smiled and said, “Thank you, Manager Tong, for your concern, he’s better now. I’m here to thank you, Manager Tong, for letting me set up a stall in front of your shop and for giving me a few bun recipes, which became my lifeline.”

When Tong Huaqiong had just arrived in Shengjing, Granny Xu was a mobile vendor.

Her buns were clean.

More importantly, she was clean herself, always smiling at customers, with no hint of a widow’s sorrow.

One time, when Granny Xu was harassed by thugs, she encountered Tong Huaqiong.

Perhaps as a fellow widow, Tong Huaqiong felt compassion for Granny Xu and helped her deal with the thugs, allowing Granny Xu to set up her stall next to Taohua Dessert.

That’s when Granny Xu got a fixed spot and wasn’t chased away by others.

Tong Huaqiong tasted Granny Xu’s buns, which were clean but unremarkable, and gave her several bun recipes, resulting in a booming business.

Tong Huaqiong thought simply that she couldn’t take over the entire world’s business.

In this era, it wasn’t easy for women to step out of the house to do business; she was willing to pass on recipes she couldn’t use so others could make a living.

“It’s because you made delicious buns,” Tong Huaqiong said. “Your livelihood came from yourself.”

Granny Xu said, “Manager Tong, starting tomorrow, I won’t set up my stall here anymore.”

Tong Huaqiong was surprised.

Thinking Granny Xu faced some trouble.

Granny Xu quickly explained, “I’ve taken over a shop, just at the east end of West Street, not far from here. If you want buns, send someone to tell me, and I’ll bring them over.”

Tong Huaqiong immediately congratulated her.

Having a shop meant no more enduring the elements, and since Granny Xu’s buns were out there, business in the shop would surely be better.

Tong Huaqiong couldn’t help but think that her casual charity might lead to the emergence of a bun queen.

Before Tong Huaqiong’s eyes, Granny Xu didn’t hold back, pouring her heart out to Tong Huaqiong.

“Manager Tong, I’ve always had the idea of taking over a shop, but you know it would take years of setting up a bun stall to achieve that. Taking over this shop now feels like an incredible stroke of luck.”

Tong Huaqiong perked up and asked, “What stroke of luck?”

Granny Xu lowered her voice and said, “On the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, while my grandson and I were struggling for survival, we encountered someone lying in the snow in an alley. After all, it was a human life, and my grandson covered the person with his coat while I left a few buns.”

“Guess what? A few days ago, someone suddenly came to find me, saying I saved an adult. I didn’t know who the adult was, but apparently, their steward recognized the coat and came to my house.”

Chief Historian Deng didn’t show up himself, but sent his steward.

Granny Xu lost her father when young, her son in middle age, and lived a difficult life supporting her grandson, never expecting such an incredible encounter in her old age.

The steward offered repayment, and Granny Xu didn’t hesitate, directly stating she wanted to take over a shop but lacked silver.

She wanted them to help her acquire a shop, clearing any debt of gratitude.

The steward initially thought Granny Xu wouldn’t dare make demands, but was surprised by her straightforwardness. He was relieved, since he feared dealing with people who were morally upright to the point of being blindingly reflective.

One must have some motive, even when doing good deeds.

The steward promptly acquired a shop for Granny Xu, who didn’t make excessive demands, only requesting a small shop sufficient for bun sales.

Granny Xu said, “Initially, I felt awkward asking for someone else’s shop, but then I realized they surely wouldn’t care about one shop, and trading a life for a shop was fair.”

Tong Huaqiong said, “Good deeds bring good returns; saving a life and asking for a shop is perfectly fair.”

After more conversation, Granny Xu bid farewell.

Tong Huaqiong’s eyes narrowed.

How coincidental that on the fifteenth night of the first month, Fan Tong was saving someone in an alley, and Granny Xu was doing the same.

Tong Huaqiong was certain that Fan Tong claimed Granny Xu’s credit.

Now that Granny Xu was confirmed as a lifesaver by Chief Historian Deng, it showed Chief Historian Deng had investigated thoroughly.

Fan Tong’s bad days were coming.

Tong Huaqiong, in a great mood, headed to Jufu Supermarket.

Not only was Fan Tong in trouble, which pleased her, but she also planned to take over East Wind Pavilion.

On the fifteenth night of the first month, some scoundrels took advantage to loot.

The next day, they were escorted to the government.

The scoundrels didn’t lie; they were indeed sent by the Shopkeepers of East Wind Pavilion.

Pulling out the radish brought out the mud, confirming Prince Five was East Wind Pavilion’s backing.

East Wind Pavilion had always secretly funded Prince Five’s rebellion.

Thus, East Wind Pavilion was eliminated entirely.

At this point, Tong Huaqiong not seizing the opportunity to take over would go against her business nature.

Soon, East Wind Pavilion changed ownership, and there was no supermarket in Shengjing able to rival Jufu Supermarket.

Delighted, she reached East Street, where she saw a crowd gathered watching the commotion. Within the circle, a familiar cry echoed loudly.

There’s gossip to enjoy.

Tong Huaqiong stopped her carriage to watch the excitement.

Through the crowd, Tong Huaqiong saw two women frantically slapping a man.

The more she watched, the more familiar it seemed; weren’t the women Tong Pandi and Gu Honglian?

Interesting.

Tong Huaqiong guessed Fan Tong was probably being obnoxious, danced in front of them, angering them to take action.

Gu Honglian and Tong Pandi were tired of hitting him, stopped, and Fan Tong in the crowd was already beaten into a pig’s head.

“You dare hit me? Do you know who my backing is?”

Fan Tong was dizzy from the beating, attempted to fight back, but with his weak physique, he couldn’t stand up to them.

Gu Honglian and Tong Pandi were women who could tame 200-pound sows in the pigsty.

Embarrassed by being watched, Fan Tong wished to disappear through the ground, and he glanced at his Jie Yuhua, who was standing by, watching with no expression on her face.

Frustrated, Fan Tong threatened aloud.

He had made it into Deng Mansion; befriending Prince Ning was only a matter of time, no need to hide his new backing.

“No matter who your backing is, if we want to hit you, we hit you.” Gu Honglian said.

Fan Tong gritted his teeth and said fiercely, “My backing can make Gu Jingzhe fail the spring examinations.”

They acted so fearlessly now, simply because they thought he had no backing, while Gu Jingzhe was about to shine in the spring examinations.

He intended to ruin Gu Jingzhe’s spring examinations.

At this, the crowd burst into laughter.

“Are you crazy?” someone shouted from the crowd.

The crowd talked about Fan Tong’s nonsense; the spring examination was the most important exam in the empire, selecting talents for the empire. Who dared tamper with it?

Even the emperor wouldn’t risk being scolded by scholars and historians to tamper with the spring examinations.