When Zhang Shou, with the personal farewell of Shopkeeper Hua, left Hua's silk shop and got on his horse, he walked a short distance along Jile Street, where he had walked that day, when he heard Ah Liu's voice behind him: "Are you going to the cloth shop owned by the man from Songjiang?"
Zhang Shou looked back and saw that Peanut looked confused. He obviously didn't understand what Liu said. He thought for a moment and said with a smile, "I won't go... Peanut, this time you, the local tyrant, should go and ask about the price. Ask how much cloth is shipped from Songjiang to his cloth shop every month, how much can be sold every month, and what the price is..."
Xiao Huasheng hurriedly tried to write down every question Zhang Shou asked. After he had memorized them one by one, he asked hesitantly, "But what if they refuse to tell me, or kick me out?"
This time, he didn't hear Zhang Shou speak, but heard Ah Liu laugh. Now, let alone saying that he was not stupid, even if he was stupid, he knew that he was probably wrong.
Zhang Shou laughed even more and said, "Look at the silk clothes you are wearing now. People will always give you some respect at first sight. Besides, just now Manager Hua made a scene by tying up a swindler and sending him to the county government office. I'm afraid there are many pairs of eyes watching him near his door. They must have seen him personally escort us out. Otherwise, I could have gone there instead of sending you."
"No, no, I'm happy to be sent!" Peanut quickly explained, and then added, "I was just worried that the cloth shop owner from Songjiang was snobbish and forgot that I'm different now! I'm running errands for you!"
As he spoke, he held his head high, shook the reins and rode towards the cloth shop. But before he had ridden his horse a few steps, he heard Ah Liu's faint voice behind him: "I said once is new, twice is familiar, right? Master, look, Xiao Huasheng can ride a horse. Which shop owner would treat a young man who looks clean and fresh, wearing a silk robe and riding a tall horse, with a clean appearance, with poor service?"
Peanut's body froze, and he almost lost his grip on the reins. Then he heard Zhang Shou's laughter: "You are gloating, aren't you? Peanut is smart, and riding a horse is something he is very good at. As for judging people by their clothes, it's inevitable for everyone in the world. You are so talkative, are you worried that he will be bullied?"
Hearing Ah Liu fall silent, realizing that he was actually concerned about him, Peanut felt an indescribable surge of energy and spirit, instantly refreshing. Thinking that he was riding a royal horse, he was even less afraid, and actually followed Ah Liu's instructions before, gently squeezing the horse's belly and speeding up.
Seeing him go to do the work with great vigor, Zhang Shou couldn't help but smile. Seeing that Ah Liu really just stopped and watched, and didn't follow him, he deliberately asked: "Are you really relieved?"
Ah Liu hummed softly, and then said seriously: "If jade is not polished, it will not become a useful object."
Zhang Shou was almost choked by Ah Liu's cold joke, but then he heard Ah Liu's soft voice: "By the way, that day the young master deliberately spoke to Cao Wu from Shunhe Escort Agency. Did he want him to spread the news, or did he not want him to spread the news?"
Seeing that Xiao Huasheng had dismounted and entered the cloth shop beside the road, Zhang Shou did not answer, but turned his horse around and headed back to the county government office to see what happened to Bi Shiye, who was sent there by Manager Hua. He did not speak until he left Jile Street, which was busy during the day and all other places were open except for the brothels.