Chapter Nineteen: Acting Spoiled and Throwing a Tantrum

“Someone stirred up the craftsmen and assistants to replace the good ones with inferior ones, taking advantage of the opportunity to skim off part of the profits.”

Su Changling finally understood clearly: “And this person is very likely one of your Cheng family’s own!”

“Yes, and not just any member, but a direct descendant who has already stepped into the business world and holds some real influence,” Cheng Yingxue responded with a clap of her hands.

“Such a person would usually have some idle funds and certain connections—enough to control the craftsmen and assistants in the shop, as well as silence the wealthy customers he’s cheated, so that news of him selling fake goods doesn’t reach the ears of the elders.”

“But at the same time, his standing within the clan wouldn’t be too high; he’d likely be one of the more marginal direct descendants—otherwise, he wouldn’t bother with the small profits of a modest cosmetics shop.”

The Cheng family had been established in Xiuning for over a century. Anyone looking in would inevitably say, “Such a grand and prosperous clan.”

In a family of such stature, direct descendants generally wouldn’t concern themselves with the meager earnings of a small shop, while collateral branches rarely had the reach to meddle in a city shop so close to home.

Therefore, throughout the entire clan, only a handful could commit such shortsighted, self-sabotaging acts.

All she needed to do was finish auditing the current accounts, then assign a couple of capable people to carefully observe which branch’s members frequently visited the shop.

After that, deciding how to deal with these black sheep would be a headache for her uncles.

After all, her task was simply to uncover the fundamental reasons behind the shop’s years of losses, eliminate the corruption, and provide a practical plan for reform.

No one said she had to turn the shop profitable overnight.

Feeling that she had already completed most of her mission, the young woman was full of energy. Su Changling, watching her so eager, unable to wait to expose the “mole,” couldn’t help but lightly curve the corner of her lips: “Looks like you have a busy day ahead, Miss Cheng.”

“Then about our foot treatment… could we postpone it for another half day or so?”

“Oh, in that case, it seems we really must delay it… Wait, Sister Su, did you just say delay it?”

Cheng Yingxue’s black eyes suddenly widened, staring blankly, “Foot treatment?”

“Yes,” Su Changling lifted her chin and gestured toward the girl’s foot, which was halfway healed, teasing her, “Foot treatment.”

“You seem quite busy today. Why don’t I come again tomorrow morning—or tomorrow afternoon?”

“No~ no, tomorrow absolutely won’t do! You can’t delay it!” Cheng Yingxue instantly panicked, jumping up and clutching the young girl’s sleeve tightly, shaking her hands back and forth. “Dear sister, I can put off everything else, but this foot treatment, no way!”

“I’m counting on my foot healing so I can roam the world and do business everywhere!”

“Sister, dear sister, let’s just do it today, please don’t postpone it again—”

The little girl blinked and whimpered, and Su Changling smiled at her playful stubbornness: “Alright, don’t worry, I was just teasing.”

“Come, sit over there on the small couch.”

The curve of the girl’s lips softened without any stiffness; that smile instantly melted her whole face into something warm and gentle.

Cheng Yingxue’s eyes widened as if she had discovered a new world: “Wow, Sister Su, so you do smile after all!”

“…Look at what you’re saying.” Su Changling realized belatedly that she had genuinely smiled and awkwardly touched her cheek. “I’m just naturally slower and more subdued in expressing emotions than most, but it doesn’t mean I have none.”

“Oh, I know. But this isn’t the first time I’ve seen you smile! It’s just so rare,” the girl teased with a sly grin. After spending these couple of days together, she had seen through the woman’s cold exterior but warm heart, so she spoke more freely and boldly.

“Sister, how about you smile again for me?”

“No more smiles,” Su Changling blinked and returned to her usual impassive expression. “But the divine whip my master passed down still has some tricks.”

“Miss Cheng, want to see?”

Su Changling said as she made a move to take out the mystical tool from her pocket, but Cheng Yingxue quickly clasped her hands in surrender: “No, no, Sister Su, I was wrong. Let’s just get the foot treatment done first!”

—What a joke, she wasn’t eager to live forever!

The girl rolled her eyes playfully, then ran to the small couch, ready for her bones to be reset.

With the carefully prepared pills from the second senior sister aiding her, the process of resetting bones was no longer as agonizing as before.

When Su Changling skillfully fed the miraculous pill into the girl’s mouth and waited for the medicinal power to fully heal the various wounds on Cheng Yingxue’s foot, the “three-inch golden lotus” that had imprisoned the girl’s foot for nearly eight years was finally broken free.

“All done, but don’t rush to stand just yet—stay on the couch and shift your weight for a while, let your foot get used to it before you try walking.”

Su Changling’s calm voice instructed, and Cheng Yingxue tilted her head in confusion: “Huh? Sister Su, why is that?”

“Because the way you exert force when walking is different.” Su Changling explained concisely, “Before, your sole was almost broken; you walked mainly using your heel and big toe.”

“But now, you need to relearn to use your entire sole and all five toes together to support your steps.”

“The difference between these two ways is huge—if you don’t adapt properly, you might only take a few steps before falling.”

“I see.” The girl frowned thoughtfully. “Then why didn’t you tell me to take it easy last time?”

“Because last time, your other four toes were still broken, and the front of your foot barely touched the ground.” Su Changling remained expressionless. “You were still mainly relying on your heel and big toe for strength—just with a little more support in the middle of your sole, like having a small crutch with you.”

“That difference isn’t as big.”

“I understand now.” The girl scrunched her nose, suddenly brimming with bold ideas. “Then, Sister Su, what if I…”

Su Changling immediately saw through the little girl’s thoughts: “If you insist on challenging your control over your limbs, I have no objection.”

“But I must warn you—if you lose balance and fall, no crying afterward.”

“Hehe! Don’t worry, I’ll only try a few steps, I promise no crying!” Cheng Yingxue grinned and quickly got up, standing firmly on the ground. As soon as she let go of the couch edge, she confidently took a few strides—

Only to come crashing down flat on her face with a loud thud.