At this time, in the flower hall of Lin's house, after sending off Zhao Sheng, Lin Guanjia came back to find Lin Qingyuan and asked: "Madam, what should we do about this matter? Should we drag it out or..."

  Lin Qingwan smiled, "Whatever it is, tell Fang Datong and the others that I'm giving them a holiday. They can expand their business further, no need to be confined to Suzhou City, they can also go to neighboring counties and towns."

  "Is Auntie going to have a showdown with Zhao Jiaming?"

  "Of course not," Lin Qingyan sneered: "Originally wanted a quick battle, but he gave me a wake-up call."

  Lin Qingwan told Zhao Sheng that he was willing to let the Zhao family's paper shop sell some of their xuan paper, and she coldly said: "The bamboo paper has not been produced yet, and the grass paper is still not yielding results. Recently, the Hanmo Pavilion has become even more unbearable. Since Zhao Sheng can alleviate our pressure, why don't we accept? Later, you let Liu Guanshi go to the Zhao family's paper shop to buy paper. Remember, the price must not be higher than what we used to get from Xuan City. If it doesn't work out, keep negotiating."

  She wants to see who will give in first. Anyway, the situation of Hanmo Studio can't get any worse, but Baoxiang Building can be closed directly.

  It depends on whether Zhao Sheng wants to take a small loss at the bookstore or directly close down the restaurant.

  Zhao Sheng certainly couldn't shut down the Piaoyilou, and instead saw the tenants of Lin's estate increase their production even more, filling both inside and outside Suzhou city with a strong tofu smell. It was said that several wine houses had also reached an agreement with Lin's estate to directly purchase goods from them in the future.

  For this reason, the chef also studied out several dishes.

  He found out from Hu Zhanggui that Lin's family had been suppressing the price of Xuan paper, and they couldn't come to an agreement. He realized that Lin Qingwen was waiting for him to make concessions.

  Zhao Sheng didn't think Lin Qingyan could hold her breath for so long and couldn't help but go find his sister for help.

  But Shang Er's wife is not as good as him, because Lin Jiang passed away, one less worry, Shang Er's wife treated Lin Qingyuan and her niece with a superficial affection, if the old lady was not around, she would not let these two people come to the door.

  Zhao Sheng suddenly came to find her to plead, she was a bit dizzy, but she quickly reacted and said after a moment of contemplation: "I'm afraid it's not enough for me to take the lead in this matter, it's better to ask Old Lady to plead."

  Zhao Sheng's eyes lit up, "It would be even better if the old lady could show her face, sister, so I'll leave this matter to you."

  Mrs. Shang nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll definitely take care of it for you."

  But she was soon slapped in the face, as Mrs. Shang was unmoved by her request and even said a few words for Lin Qingwan, "She is a master, after all, can't go with the slaves to fight for benefits, the skills that have been taught are naturally not good to take back, your brother is capable, there are thousands of recipes in the world, maybe you can change a batch."

  Mrs. Shang's eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting Old Mrs. Shang to take Lin Qingwan's side.

  The old lady, however, sneered coldly in her heart. Originally, the Lin and Zhao families had conflicts, and she was supposed to mediate, but since the Zhao family took action against the Lin family first, she didn't speak up at the time, so it's impossible for her to turn around now and help the Zhao family persuade the Lin family.

  After all, in terms of closeness, a granddaughter is closer than her mother-in-law's natal family.

  Mrs. Shang was now getting anxious, and she called for Danzhu and Mingjie, but this time the old lady did not soften, and the two children were of no use either.

  If it weren't for the two children, she would have asked Mrs. Zhao about the grudge between the Lin and Zhao families, why harm those two cousins?

  Mrs. Shang became anxious when she saw that the two children were also useless, so she thought for a moment and then borrowed the old lady's name to send a message to Lin's other house, saying that the old lady missed Lin Yuhong and wanted to take her over to live for a few days.

  In the past, Lin Qingwen would have let Lin Yuhong stay in the Shang family home, or at least brought her to visit Old Lady Shang during holidays, so that Lin Yuhong could fulfill her filial duties.

  But this time the words had just been sent over, and the servant came back to report: "Lin said that the anniversary of the young master's death is approaching, and Madame Lin plans to go to the temple a month in advance to perform Buddhist rites. For these two months, she and Miss will be copying scriptures and won't be able to go out to visit, so they'll come to pay their respects to the old lady after the anniversary is over."

  Madam Shang furrowed her brow and waved her hand, saying, "Go down, wait a minute." Madam Shang thought for a moment and said, "Also send an invitation to the Lin family, just say I'll visit tomorrow."

  But Second Mistress's post was returned, the reason being that Lin Qingyuan and Lin Yuhong were going to the temple to stay for three days, bathing and fasting, to begin preparations for Lin Jiang's annual memorial service.

  Three days later, the Bao Yu Lou was unbearable, and Second Mistress still anxiously paced back and forth twice before finally turning around to say: "Have someone deliver an invitation card to Madame Xie and tell her I'll be visiting tomorrow."

  The little servant who delivered the message ran out again, panting and puffing, and didn't return until near dusk, saying: "The people in the Lin family's other courtyard said that Mrs. Xie no longer lives there, but has returned to their own Xie family's other courtyard."

  Mrs. Shang slapped the table in annoyance and said angrily, "Then send her to the Thank you family's other courtyard."

  The young servant wiped the sweat from his forehead, held the letter and ran to the Xie family's other courtyard. The gatekeepers sympathized with him, "Has the second madam given you another task?"

  The young servant smiled bitterly, "The letter can't be sent out, what can we do?"

  The servants were amazed, "Who was the letter sent to? How dare someone refuse the invitation from the Shang family?"

  The little servant looked around and lowered his voice, saying: "There's someone else, naturally it was sent to the Lin family, but the aunt and niece wanted to hold an anniversary ceremony for their uncle, so they didn't have time to meet."

  The servants thought of Zhao's uncle's face when he came to the door today, and their eyes sparkled as they lowered their voices: "Is this something going on in the Zhao family that requires the Lin family's help?"

  "Uncle is no longer around, who can help now?"

  "It's naturally the young lady of the Lin family," said the servant in a low voice, "Don't forget, she is also the county princess. Our family's cousin miss is also the county princess, and they can speak to the emperor himself."

  The servants clicked their tongues and made way for him, saying: "Then hurry up and do your thing, don't let the second mistress find out, or you'll be blamed."

  The little servant Xia Erlang hurriedly ran off with the invitation card to deliver it to Xie's family's other courtyard.

  This time, the servants of Xie's family accepted it, but they passed on a message saying: "Our lady is currently closed at home to copy scriptures for the second master. She is now closed to guests, so I will take this letter first, but whether or not to see you needs to be asked with our lady. If a meeting time is set, we will go to your mansion to inform you."

  Mrs. Shang Er heard this and was so angry that she couldn't eat her dinner. After a sleepless night, Mrs. Shang Er still went to see Zhao Sheng, shaking her head: "Lin Qingwen won't see me, I have no way at all. The old lady is also unwilling to show up."

  Zhao Sheng's face turned slightly cold, and he asked, "Old lady, is this a criticism of my Zhao family?"

  Mrs. Shang hesitated for a moment and said, "It seems that our actions towards the aunt and niece have been detected by Old Lady, after all, she is her own granddaughter..."

  Zhao Sheng sneered and said, "Ming Jie is still her own grandson, after all. The two families of Zhao Shang are in the same boat, if one prospers, both prosper; if one suffers a loss, both suffer a loss. Don't forget, even your brother-in-law agrees with this matter."

  Madam Shang sighed and said, "That's why Master has never dared to let Old Madam know about this matter, otherwise..."

  The son is going to deal with his cousin, and if the old lady finds out, it will be a disaster.

  "Never mind, don't bother with this matter, I'll go find her myself."

  "Haven't you gone looking for her once already?"

  "Go find her again," Zhao Sheng said with a cold smile: "Last time there were some things that hadn't been said, does she think the Lin family is still the same as when Lin Jiang was around?"

  But this time even Zhao Sheng couldn't see Lin Qingyuan, Lin Qingyuan directly closed the door and refused to see guests.

  Zhao Sheng thought of directly forcing his way in, but the Lin family's guards immediately drew their knives and blocked him. At that moment, Zhao Sheng suddenly had a feeling that if he dared to force his way in, they would dare to really cut him down.

  Although Zhao Sheng was reluctant, he didn't dare to risk his life, so he could only compose himself and leave behind a sentence "I'll visit again another day" before departing.

  "Let Manager Hu relax and agree to sell the rice paper to the Lin family at the same price as before in Xuan City." After careful consideration, Zhao Sheng still did not want to drag it out any longer.

  The shopkeeper of the Zhao family's bookstore was shocked, "In that case, won't our bookstore suffer a loss?"

  To think that this batch of Xuan paper was actually snatched from the Lin family by the Zhao family after they raised the price, and now it's not making any money. If they sell it to the Lin family at a price lower than cost, won't the Zhao family be the ones to suffer in the end?

  Zhao Sheng naturally understood this point too, so he was even more annoyed. "There's still a long way to go, let's settle the matter of the Piao Yu Lou first."

  Zhao Sheng gave the order, and the next day Liu Guanshi purchased a batch of Xuan paper from Hu Zhanggui, with both sides settling the account in silver and signing the contract.

  Lin Qingwan finally saw Zhao Sheng.

  Zhao Sheng looked at Lin Qingyu with a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling expression and said, "Sister Wan is even more formidable than your brother. How is it that you've finished copying the scriptures now?"

  "No, it's not because Master Zhao is in a hurry, so I can only put down the scripture temporarily and come to see you when I have time?"

  "Now even Hanmo Studio has started selling rice paper, and that tofu business..."

  Lin Qingwan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Master Zhao. I'll have Lin Guan go down and give the order right away. The tofu that's already been made today doesn't count, but from tomorrow on, none of my tenants or farmhands will dare to make and sell tofu without my permission."

  Zhao Sheng let out a sigh of relief, and Lin Qingyan smiled as she took a sip of tea: "However, when it comes to food from my own home, I just can't help myself."

  Zhao Sheng raised an eyebrow and said: "If you make it yourself and eat it yourself, I naturally can't stop you, as long as you don't sell it again."

  When the tofu disappears from the market, those who have eaten tofu can't find a place to buy it and will definitely come back to the restaurant. By then, he can think of ways to change the impression of the restaurant.

  Although the bookstore suffered a loss, Zhao Sheng couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth as he left the Lin's house.

  Lin Guan's family silently saw him off as he left, and in his heart, he thought, still a seasoned businessman, not even comparable to his own aunt.

  Lin Qingwan said to Lin Guanjia, "Tell Fang Datong and the others that during this period of time, they should not make tofu, but instead put their energy into farming. It's just the right time to start plowing the winter wheat."

  "Those tenant farmers over there..."

  Lin Qingwan curled up her lips and said, "As long as they are tenants of the Lin family for this period of time, they cannot sell tofu again. If it is discovered, their tenancy qualification will be cancelled next year. However, if they give it to relatives and friends to eat or teach them how to make it, I have no opinion."

  "That clan over there..."

  "No need to worry," Lin Qingyan said with a smile in her eyes: "I can manage the farmers and tenants under my care, but I still can't manage the relatives within our clan."

  Lin Guanjia thought of the letter Lin Qingwan had sent to their clan a few days ago and couldn't help but smile, but still worried: "After this matter is over, I'm afraid we and the Zhao family will not just be fighting in secret."

  Lin Qingwan said indifferently: "Light and darkness don't make much of a difference to us, as long as we can get by on the surface and not let people think it's the Lin family's fault."

  "She sneered: 'Anyway, our two families have long been unable to get along.'"