novelraw Chapter 378: All Hearts Are Made of Flesh
Chapter 378: All Hearts Are Made of Flesh
Pei Shu’er smiled and said, "Mother, I have a bottle of facial cleanser for you. This thing, ah, is a bit gentler to use than this beauty soap, and the effect on rejuvenating skin is more significant."
Hearing this, Shen Wanqing’s eyes lit up.
"You child, even hiding things from your mother."
Pei Shu’er handed the facial cleanser to Shen Wanqing, demonstrating its use for her, and the two of them chatted about recent events while taking care of their skin.
Pei Shu’er picked some interesting things to talk about, and while Shen Wanqing was wiping her face, she listened with great interest, occasionally asking, "And then?"
And that phrase which had almost become a mantra: "Shu’er, you’re amazing!"
Pei Shu’er, who was usually not very talkative, continued speaking, making Shen Wanqing giggle.
After chatting with Shen Wanqing for a while, Pei Shu’er felt much more relaxed.
Then, she knocked on Liu Xu’s door and talked about Tang Peizhong’s matters. Finally, Pei Shu’er asked a question.
"Mother, do you know where Father might be taking Jing Ci? The two of them always being outside is a potential hazard."
This was the purpose of Pei Shu’er’s words. Initially, she didn’t want to trouble Liu Xu with such concerns.
However, Liu Xu knew Tang Peizhong’s nature best, after all, they had been married for more than twenty years, and naturally, she knew his habits of hiding as well.
Liu Xu was silent for quite a while, her face carrying a hint of sarcasm.
"Tang Peizhong, oh Tang Peizhong, he really thinks for the Tang Family. He broke Jing Ci out of prison, still in the capacity of Zan’er’s uncle. Luckily, Zan’er suppressed it; otherwise, Zan’er would have had to bear responsibility."
Pei Shu’er pressed her lips together, "Mother, and Father’s identity is actually also a hidden danger."
Liu Xu patted Pei Shu’er’s hand, her eyes a bit red, but then that redness faded away lightly.
"Over twenty years, Tang Peizhong is truly sentimental. For a woman, he wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice the lives of everyone in the Tang Family. He knows very well what consequences his identity being exposed would bring."
Afterward, thinking of something, the sarcasm deepened at the corners of her mouth.
"Or, perhaps your father trusts Jing Ci enough that he didn’t have time to consider the people of the Tang Family. Clearly, he is such a rational person, but when facing Jing Ci, he is always impulsive."
Pei Shu’er silently listened to Liu Xu’s words for a while, and then Liu Xu returned to her gentle demeanor.
"Shu’er, I used to think I understood Tang Peizhong, but now I realize I don’t, so I can’t help you."
She looked at Pei Shu’er apologetically, and Pei Shu’er shook her head, "No, I shouldn’t have said such things to trouble Mother’s peace of mind, but we’ve searched for a long time and haven’t found anything."
Liu Xu pondered for a moment and then said, "Tang Peizhong trusts Jing Ci, but I don’t. Jing Ci has even become the Khan’s Kedun, and the Tazi forces aren’t weak, they can fully contend with Dayan."
At this point, Liu Xu’s eyes flickered.
"So, I think it’s highly likely he was taken back to the Tazi Camp by Jing Ci."
"If Tang Peizhong really followed Jing Ci to the Tazi, then I would only regret not divorcing sooner."
Pei Shu’er’s eyes lit up, yes, they had searched many places before, but hadn’t found the Tazi Camp because they were considering the two getting married.
But Liu Xu gave her a new perspective.
Pei Shu’er immediately went to find Tang Zan and told him about it, and Tang Zan immediately sent someone to scout the Tazi Camp.
That day they slaughtered another pig, the pork had already been neutered, so the meat would taste better, without a bit of gaminess.
During the New Year, the Deserted Mountain was bustling and lively, the atmosphere was very good.
As for those refugees outside the walls, they were all envious and jealous of the people inside the Deserted Mountain.
Seeing them live so well, while they could only make do with what they had, they yearned all the more for a life in the Deserted Mountain.
Although the residents outside the walls were also given land, the quality of that land was always felt to be far inferior to the Deserted Mountain, as was the produce it yielded.
Especially after hearing from the residents outside the walls about the changes in people after entering the Deserted Mountain, they were even more eager to live inside the walls.
During the New Year’s Eve dinner, the third house invited the second and fourth houses, along with Old Mrs. Tang, to gather together.
It was clear that Old Mrs. Tang was very satisfied with their current life, she was even a bit plumper than when she was in the Prince Zhan Mansion, and her complexion was rosier.
Old Mrs. Tang patted Pei Shu’er’s hand, her eyes full of satisfaction, she had said enough words of gratitude.
Now she just wished for Tang Zan and Pei Shu’er to have children soon, to make the family more lively.
Old Mrs. Tang reached out to pull Liu Xu, this daughter-in-law, at the outset, she particularly disliked her.
After all, there was the perfection of a girl like Jing Ci before.
But after many years of getting along, especially during Tang Peizhong’s exile, Liu Xu’s unwavering support and responsibility moved Old Mrs. Tang.
"Xuxu, it’s Peizhong’s fault, he was wrong to treat you as a stand-in, and he shouldn’t have told you about having Jing Ci as a concubine."
"Previously, I saw you were very magnanimous with Peizhong taking one concubine after another; you are a model of a household matron."
"Rest assured, Mother is on your side, and will never agree to let Jing Ci enter the family."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xu felt no waves in her heart.
"Mother, don’t worry, even if I divorce Tang Peizhong, you will always be my mother, and Ning’er, Zan’er, Shuo’er, and Huan’er will always recognize you."
Old Mrs. Tang sighed, see, where can you find such a good daughter-in-law?
Jing Ci in this regard, how could she compare to Liu Xu?
Ordinary people, if married to such a good wife, would cherish her, but my muddle-headed son still can’t let go of his old flame.
Pei Shu’er also comforted Liu Xu with a few words, and after the New Year’s Eve dinner till the second day of the New Year, Pei Shu’er discussed with Liu Xu the arrangements for the refugees.
"Mother, about those refugees, my plan is to have them work in the soap factory doing miscellaneous tasks."
"As for the core aspects of the formula, they will still be handled by those from the Deserted Mountain. The people previously making soap will be assigned to make beauty soap, and I will conduct uniform training later."
"Additionally, we will keep Ma He to manage everyone among those who were previously making soap, and the rest will go to make beauty soap."
"Everyone involved will have to sign a confidentiality agreement. If the secret formula is disclosed, they will have to compensate with 2000 taels of silver."
The formula for beauty soap is more complex and also more profitable, meanwhile it’s also the core.
Liu Xu listened through Pei Shu’er’s ideas and then smiled as she spoke.
"In my opinion, we can allow a few of the best-performing refugees to participate, we don’t need everyone. This won’t just serve as motivation, but also makes management easier."
Pei Shu’er’s eyes gleamed, "That’s doable, whenever they finish the daily allotted tasks, there’s an additional commission."
The two of them made a decision together, and Pei Shu’er increasingly found that when it comes to business, consulting with her mother-in-law is indeed necessary.
Concurrently, Pei Shu’er found Tang Qingning, as what matters most for beauty soap is the beauty ingredients.
The components are all medicinal, and Tang Qingning knows the herbs, so Pei Shu’er believed Tang Qingning was the most suitable person to handle it.