Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 94

“Just look at this mirror, I think it’s really something. If even a rough man like me likes it, then those beauty-loving young ladies will go crazy over it!” Wang Ba exclaimed, full of praise.

Bai Chuyu accepted the mirror, though he showed none of Wang Ba’s exaggerated reaction. He only studied it carefully for a while before saying, “Miss Shen, you truly have remarkable skills. I once saw such a mirror among the tribute goods from Xialiu, only the size of a palm. His Majesty gave it to Consort Ning, and she was so fond of it that she wouldn’t part with it. Did you get this formula from the Xialiu people?”

Ying Su’s brows arched slightly, her phoenix eyes narrowing into a graceful curve. “No. I came across mention of such a mirror in an old miscellany. I was curious, so I experimented and managed to make it myself.”

She recalled how Li Dalang had once said that relations between Xialiu and Great Qing weren’t good these days, there were frequent border skirmishes, and trade had already ceased. If she claimed she got it from Xialiu, it might dispel Bai Chuyu’s suspicions, but dragging Xialiu into this was far too risky.

Bai Chuyu nodded slightly, half-believing. “The lady is indeed wise and quick-witted. Truly, fine talent grows from green hills and clear waters.”

Ying Su smiled faintly. “Second Young Master Bai, why don’t we talk about the profit-sharing for this business?”

At his signal, a servant stepped forward with several sheets of paper, each line written in black and white, the contract terms were clear. Ying Su and Wang Ba would each hold thirty percent, while Bai Chuyu would take forty.

Her brows lifted, the corners of her lips curling into a cool smile. “Second Young Master Bai, you certainly know how to make your calculations. I won’t object to you stepping in halfway, but taking the lion’s share, don’t you think that’s rather inappropriate?”

The moment she saw the papers, Ying Su realized Bai Chuyu had come prepared. No matter where he’d heard of her invention, he was clearly determined to seize it. 

She knew well the saying, ‘An innocent man holding a treasure invites his own doom.’ That was why she had partnered with Wang Ba, because behind him stood the Hall Master of Heiwutang Hall. If anyone coveted these things, they would have to weigh the Canal Gang’s influence.

As for Bai Chuyu forcing his way in, she hadn’t rejected him, because he was indeed a powerful ally. She understood the wisdom of sheltering under the Bai family’s great tree. For that reason, when she noticed the trick Bai Chuyu had played in his earlier bet with Wang Ba, she hadn’t exposed him.

But Bai Chuyu understood this game even better than she did. That was why he dared demand forty percent, because then the reins of the business would be firmly in his hands. And she despised being under anyone’s thumb.

Bai Chuyu’s elegant brows arched ever so slightly, amusement glinting in his black eyes. This woman truly dared say anything. Tapping his temple lightly with pale fingers, he mused. Since taking control of the Bai family four years ago, not a single person had ever dared tell him something he did was “inappropriate.”

This woman was proving more and more interesting. Just a country woman, where did she get such nerve? A bit of martial skill might frighten riffraff like Liu Huang, but he, Bai Chuyu, was not someone so easily cowed.

The more gently his master smiled, the more uneasy the servant behind him grew. He stole a glance at Ying Su and thought, She’s finished.

That day when she first met Wang Ba, he had been lurking in the shadows. He’d later reported everything word-for-word to his master, who surprisingly showed genuine interest in her business, even going to such lengths to join in.

At the time, he had been puzzled. If the master wanted this venture, why not just take it outright? Why bother with contracts and profit-sharing? The master had only said it was out of consideration for her saving the young mistress, that they would begin with courtesy…

But now, since she refused the cup of wine, perhaps the master would serve the blade instead. In his heart, the servant muttered, ‘Truly unnecessary.’ He could’ve just paid her off and bought the formula directly. Traveling with the master has spoiled me, I’ve grown too used to seeing clever ploys and subtle theft.

Wang Ba, on the other hand, had no objection to Bai Chuyu’s forty percent. With his ability and the Bai family’s influence, it would have been stranger if he’d asked for less. But this venture ultimately belonged to Cuihua, she was the one who’d brought it up, and she’d even helped his gambling den. Naturally, he had to take her side.

So he frowned and said, “Second Young Master Bai, the formula belongs to Cuihua. Let her take forty, and you and I thirty each. How about that?”

“Do you think the Bai family taking forty percent is too much?” Bai Chuyu’s jade-pale fingers traced the rim of his teacup as he lazily tossed out the words.

That was not easy to respond to. The Bai family’s name alone carried weight. Wang Ba looked helplessly toward Ying Su. Clearly, Bai Chuyu was unwilling to budge.

Ying Su shook her head slightly, signaling Wang Ba not to press further. She stepped to the table, slid her finger across the dice cup, and lifted it lightly into her hand. With her chin tilted, she said to Bai Chuyu, seated opposite, “Why don’t we settle it with a bet? Since you won your way into this business through gambling, why not gamble once more?”

Her dark eyes sparkled like stars against the night sky, brimming with confidence, dazzling in their brilliance.

The curve of Bai Chuyu’s lips deepened, his handsome face growing ever more gentle. “Very well.”

It had been a long time since he’d met someone so intriguing. Perhaps the saying ‘Rugged mountains breed rogues’ wasn’t entirely true, sometimes the wilds produced rare and fascinating people.

“How shall we bet?”

“Same as before, high or low. We’ll wager on who gets the lower roll,” Ying Su said, her tone light, her smile serene.

Anyone with sense, having seen Bai Chuyu throw a “towering pillar,” would never again choose to bet small against him. But Ying Su thrived on doing what others wouldn’t dare.

“Little sister…” Wang Ba started to object. Even if she rolled the same towering pillar, it would only result in a tie.

But Ying Su only smiled calmly at him. Seeing her resolve, he could only fall silent.

Bai Chuyu nodded. “You know the mountain is full of tigers, yet you insist on walking right in.”

“Perhaps. But sometimes even a tiger stumbles and gets bullied by dogs,” Ying Su replied, tossing the dice into the cup. She spun it casually, up and down, left and right, sometimes tossing it into the air and catching it again. It looked almost like a performance, but not a single die slipped free.

Bai Chuyu, too, picked up his cup and gave it a shake. Still no fancy tricks, just a few steady shakes before slamming it down on the table.