Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 87

Ying Su soothed, “Since they’ve already sold it, getting anxious now won’t help. We haven’t opened for business yet, so there’s no rush. I’ll draft another set of designs, and we’ll prepare a new style instead!”

“That’s all we can do. But all the furniture in our shop was designed by you personally, how did they manage to produce pieces identical to ours?” Liu Chuncao’s eyes flashed with anger. Her words carried the intent of pressing the matter further.

Wang Guaizi, Shi Fei, and Shi Yuan all hurried to say, “Boss, we haven’t leaked a single word!”

Li Dalang felt a headache coming on. Wang Guaizi and Shi Fei were both people he had brought in. If one of them truly had betrayed them, it would be unbearable.

“No one’s suspecting you. Perhaps on the day of the fire, they happened to pick up our drawings. Don’t worry. From here on, our shop will rely on you to rush out another batch of furniture. Everyone, let’s work harder!” Ying Su acted as if she didn’t take their rivals copying their furniture seriously, and with that, she closed the matter.

Liu Chuncao and Li Dalang, however, were both anxious. The shop had been burned to ruins, how could the rivals just happen to find the drawings? Who would believe that? There was surely a traitor on the inside. But since Ying Su had spoken this way, they had no choice but to let it go.

Ying Su stayed in the shop for only half a day before producing ten new design sketches. Handing them to Li Dalang, she left.

Looking at the newly drawn sketches, Li Dalang was puzzled. Something about the designs felt incomplete, as if they were missing something.

When Liu Chuncao heard this, she quickly grabbed the papers and studied them. After a while, she slapped her forehead. “I see! Cuihua said she wouldn’t pursue it, but she still kept it in mind. Look, these sketches aren’t complete. Even if the rivals copied them, they wouldn’t be able to sell the furniture, it won’t work!”

Li Dalang nodded in agreement, lowering his voice. “We mustn’t say these are incomplete designs. Otherwise, if the traitor overhears, they’ll definitely hold something back. We’ll just say this is the new style we’re releasing.”

After leaving Weixuan Home Textiles, Ying Su went to the largest restaurant on Southeast Street. Da Lu had passed on a message, Liu Huang wanted to meet her at the Yuelai Restaurant. Some matters had to be resolved.

For convenience, Ying Su dressed in men’s clothes. As soon as she entered the restaurant, a waiter came up. Lowering her voice, she said, “Ground Room No. 1.”

The waiter bowed respectfully. “This way, sir!”

Ying Su glanced around. As expected of the largest restaurant in Shili Town, the layout and decoration were impressive. Business was light, and the atmosphere was quiet and refined.

The waiter led her to Ground Room No. 1, knocked, and when an answer came, opened the door for her before leaving.

As Ying Su stepped inside, everyone’s eyes immediately turned toward her.

Da Lu, sitting at the table, stared for a moment before realizing it was the little lady in men’s attire, he had nearly failed to recognize her.

Standing, Da Lu smiled and introduced, “This is Miss Cuihua. And this is Master Liu Huang.”

Ying Su looked at Liu Huang and gave a small nod.

Liu Huang was a short man with a round head and a very ordinary face, he looked a bit like a butcher from the street. Beside him sat five men, with another five standing behind. Clearly, they had come prepared and weren’t planning to let Ying Su off easily.

“What’s this, Master Liu? Are you setting up a Hongmen Banquet for me?” Ying Su curved her lips in a smile, sitting at the table as if utterly at ease, without the slightest hint of fear.

One man behind Liu Huang couldn’t bear her attitude and immediately jumped out, pointing at Ying Su. “How dare you!”

Without lifting her eyelids, Ying Su picked up the teapot and smiled. “You flatter me, I’ve always been daring.”

Liu Huang’s face darkened. With a slight tilt of his chin, the man who had shouted earlier leapt forward. “I’d like to see what kind of guts you’ve got, daring to act this way in front of Master Liu!”

Ying Su showed no panic. Setting down the teapot, she calmly lifted a teacup. The ignored man grew furious and struck at the cup in her hand.

Her lips curled in a slanted, mocking smile. With a flick of her wrist, the cup flipped upward into the air. At the same time, she caught his fist, pulling slightly as she leaned back. Her other hand seized his wrist and twisted sharply. The man’s other hand came up too late, there was a sharp crack as his wrist snapped, making him cry out in pain.

Still holding him, Ying Su let the falling teacup land gently on his arm without spilling a drop. The man struggled desperately, but her strength was astonishing, he couldn’t move at all.

Ying Su calmly took back the cup with one hand, then shoved him forward with the other. Off balance, he crashed into a wooden pillar with a dull thud.

It had all happened in an instant. Ying Su hadn’t even changed her posture. She lifted the lid of the teacup and sipped lightly, smiling. “Perfect temperature. A good warm-up.”

A flicker of anger and shame passed through Liu Huang’s eyes. This woman was bold indeed, she clearly didn’t take him seriously. Still, a master’s skill shows at the first move, and her martial ability was undeniable. But so what?

Liu Huang slammed his teacup down on the table. At once, another of his men stepped forward. “Let me test the young lady’s tea-drinking skills!”

Ying Su only smiled faintly, not even looking up at him.

The man lunged as the first had, sweeping a kick before he was even close. Ying Su flicked the lid of her cup against his leg with the force of thunder. Pain shot through his calf, halting his attack. At the same time, she snatched up the lid from Da Lu’s cup beside her and flicked it toward the man’s eyes.

Startled, he raised his hands to block, only to realize too late it was a feint. The moment he dropped his guard, the lid slammed into his forehead. His vision went black and he screamed as he fell to the floor.

Ying Su flashed a bright smile and looked at Da Lu. “Thanks for lending me the lid of your cup.”