The Wealthy Eldest Sister Rules Supreme

“Once I have completed the tofu pot addition, then we can produce more tofu. I’ll trouble Brother Dong to relay a message, telling them that I’m trying my best to get everything ready as soon as possible. I don’t want to delay either of our businesses.”

“Sure, no problem. I’ll pass the message along,” Dong Dazhu chuckled broadly.

Every time he came to discuss matters at this tofu factory, he always managed to make things work out smoothly. Miss Zhuang was indeed an understanding and good-natured woman.

Having settled the matter, it was routine to load the tofu onto the bullock cart. Dong Dazhu drove away, and not long after, Bai San arrived.

Zhuang Qingning instructed Zhuang Mingliang to go back and inform Zhuang Yonghe to make preparations for the daytime tofu-making workforce. After that, Zhuang Qingning, accompanied by Zhuang Qingsui, left with the tofu to head to the town with Bai San.

Both Mrs. Cao and Zhang Qiuying were already waiting at the shop. Upon seeing Zhuang Qingning and the others arrive, they hurriedly helped to unload the tofu.

“You must have been in a hurry,” said Zhuang Qingning.

“We just arrived as well,” Zhang Qiuying said with a smile: “But as soon as we got here, people saw the shop was open and came to buy tofu. Unfortunately, the tofu hadn’t arrived yet, but while they were waiting, they bought my fried rice cakes.”

“Thanks to you, Sister Ning, my rice cakes will be selling like hot cakes.”

“That’s great,” Zhuang Qingning laughed. “You could call it an unexpected delight.”

“Exactly,” Zhang Qiuying chuckled, her eyes glinting.

With Zhuang Qingning present, the unexpected delights in her life were increasing.

The several of them bustled about, moving the tofu into the shop. Once everything was in place and Bai San had taken his portion of tofu and left, Zhuang Qingning and the others opened the door to start their business.

As soon as the tofu shop opened, customers began to trickle in to buy tofu.

After a bout of busyness, Zhuang Qingning stretched her body, took a sip of the tea passed by Mrs. Cao, and took a rest by the side.

“Sister, look,” Zhuang Qingsui tugged at Zhuang Qingning’s sleeve and pointed outside.

“What’s up?” Zhuang Qingning looked in the direction pointed out by Zhuang Qingsui and saw another stall set up next to Zhang Qiuying’s, right at the entrance to their tofu shop.

It was Ge Hetong selling pea cakes.

Zhuang Qingning immediately pursed her lips and her eyebrows twitched slightly.

“That is…Uncle Ge,” said Mrs. Cao, recognizing Ge Hetong. “My mother once told me that when he was selling fried rice cakes in the town, another man selling pea cakes named Ge had a bad reputation. She warned us to keep our distance to avoid trouble.”

“Yes. When he saw how well my tofu stall was doing, he feared I might get into trouble with Changji tofu factory, so he moved his stall away. But once he saw that my business was thriving, he wanted to buy tofu from me to resell and supplement his income.”

Zhuang Qingning said, “I’m not familiar with this old man. I only met him on the first day I came to sell tofu. Naturally, I couldn’t agree to something so easily, so I said no, and he left.”

“He hadn’t approached me since, so I almost forgot about him. Now he’s moved his stall here, probably hoping to piggyback off the success of the tofu shop.”

“That’s probably what he’s thinking.”

Mrs. Cao furrowed her brow and fiddled anxiously with her hands: “But this is kind of tricky. Anyone can set up a stall in the street, you can’t just drive them away. Knowing exactly what he’s up to and not being able to do anything about it is particularly vexing.”

“Let him be,” said Zhuang Qingning dismissively. “Human nature is such that everyone races for the advantage. No big deal.”

“Yes, that’s true,” said Mrs. Cao with a smile.

However, she felt a bit uneasy.

Having someone outside the door scheming to take advantage of your business all day is certainly uncomfortable. But there’s nothing you can do about it since he’s not directly blocking your business. So, you just have to put up with it and swallow your anger.

Mrs. Cao looked at Zhuang Qingning somewhat worriedly, concerned that as vivacious as she might be, her youth might not allow her to tolerate such frustration.

“Don’t worry, Auntie,” Zhuang Qingning caught Mrs. Cao’s gaze and smiled. “This issue will be resolved very soon. Just wait and see. He won’t be able to stay here for more than a couple of days. Without us saying anything, he will move to another location.”

“Ah? Why is that?”

Would a seize-the-moment type of person like Ge Hetong willingly give up such a prime location?

Zhuang Qingning laughed softly: “Didn’t I just say? People are like this. Wherever there’s good grounds, they gravitate toward it for their own benefit. The likes of Ge would know. So would others.”

“If his pea cakes aren’t selling, it’s fine. However, if his business starts to thrive, others will take note and secretly plan to take his spot thereby nullifying his scheme.”

“If there’s no improvement in his sales, others won’t pay him any heed. But he would feel frustrated, and we would feel relieved.”

“Given that Ge is prone to seeking benefit and avoiding harm, and has been running his stall in the town for a long time, he must have offended many people over the years. So, the first eventuality is highly likely.”

“We don’t have to do anything, just wait here and enjoy the show when the time comes.”

After hearing Zhuang Qingning’s confident explanation, Mrs. Cao was taken aback.

At first, she thought Zhuang Qingning was inexperienced and unfocused compared to the adults. But now, it’s clear that Zhuang Qingning sees all and understands all.

No wonder she was able to start this tofu shop at such a young age and continually expand the tofu factory, handling everything smoothly and steadily.

With such far-reaching foresight, there really is nothing to fear in the future.

Mrs. Cao suddenly understood why her mother-in-law praised Zhuang Qingning so highly, lauding her like a brilliant star in the sky, and couldn’t stop singing her praises.

Look at Zhuang Qingning, isn’t she like a star in the sky? She’s irreplaceable in this world.

“That really makes sense,” Mrs. Cao regained her composure, nodded, and laughed. “In this case, we don’t need to do anything, just sit back and watch the show.”

Zhuang Qingning chuckled to herself..