Chapter 540 - 539: Business Negotiation

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

“Confessing is fine, but I want to know how you found me?” The stout man felt that he wouldn’t be able to rest in peace without understanding this.

“Once you tell me everything, I’ll let you know,” Tang Jinghong replied calmly, seemingly indifferent to the man’s response.

The stout man, plagued by a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, was almost on the verge of kneeling down in distress. “Quick, tell me, hurry up…” Tang Jinghong just silently watched him, making no move.

The short clenched his sleeves, looking like he was about to break down. After a few breaths, he knelt on the ground dejectedly.

“I work for the lord of the eastern border. I don’t do much but collect information about the capital for him. Just now, one of my men happened to encounter your secret guard and intercepted the letter using some methods.” The stout man looked up at Tang Jinghong, sweating profusely. “Can you tell me now?”

Tang Jinghong signaled his subordinate, who stepped forward and pulled a letter from the stout man’s clothes.

Tang Jinghong pointed at the secret letter. “Smell this.”

The stout man sniffed the letter, then burst into tears, crying loudly. “I’ve been hunting eagles all day, only to be pecked by one eventually…”

Tang Jinghong gestured, and the shadow guards took the three men with them to an interrogation site. The last drop of value must be wrung from an enemy before their demise.

In the Chu Village.

Li Qingyu brought the gifts from Fan Yuru and Rong Shiyu to Chu Qingzhi’s room.

“Mother, why did you bring the box here?”

“Those two young ladies are of no ordinary status. If they invite you in the future, you need to reciprocate. Keep these gifts, so you have an idea of what to give in return.”

Chu Qingzhi thought to herself that her mother was really a woman of the world. “Mother, I understand.”

Li Qingyu set down the box and after a few caring words, left the room.

Three small boxes were in front of Chu Qingzhi. She sat on a chair, looking at them for a while, then opened each one.

The two young ladies were indeed pragmatic, each gifting her a small box of silver ingots. The third box contained two small cases, presumably one from each of them.

Chu Qingzhi opened the small cases. Inside one was a pair of red doll ornaments, resembling the chubby dolls from New Year paintings, very cute. The other held a palm-sized miniature bok choy ornament, intricately carved and looking almost real.

Although the ornaments were of different types, they seemed to be of similar value. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Chu Qingzhi placed both the dolls and the miniature bok choy on her table, touching them and feeling a childlike sense of joy.

I low pretty!

And fun too!

As the moon set and the sun rose, casting a golden glow, Chu Hongxiu excitedly ran to the Chu house, “Chu Qingyan, Chu Eight…”

Chu Qingyan was doing her hair when she heard the commotion and rushed out. “What’s wrong? Is your house on fire?”

Chu Hongxiu pinched Chu Qingyan’s cheek playfully, “It’s your house that’s on fire!” She pointed at her own face excitedly, “Look.”

Chu Qingyan looked at Chu Hongxiu’s face carefully and was surprised. “The freckles on your face have faded a lot.”

Chu Hongxiu nodded vigorously, “Yes, yes, yes. I couldn’t believe it when I looked in the mirror this morning.”

“Wait here.” Chu Qingyan went to fetch Chu Qingzhi, excitedly saying, “Sister, you have to come see this, you’re amazing…”

Chu Qingzhi followed Chu Qingyan to the front door.

Chu Hongxiu greeted her with a bright smile, “Sister Qingzhi.”

Chu Qingzhi looked at Chu Hongxiu’s face and said, “It’s healing well. A few more applications should completely remove it.”

Chu Hongxiu fidgeted with her fingers, asking somewhat nervously, “Sister Qingzhi, now that it’s better, will it come back again?”

Chu Qingzhi comforted her by patting her head, “No, don’t worry.”

Chu Hongxiu beamed at Chu Qingzhi, “That’s great.” She grabbed Chu

Qingyan’s hand, “Chu Eighth, can you apply it for me again?”

Chu Qingyan nodded, “Sure, come with me.”

Soon, everyone who had tried the cream the previous day arrived at the Chu house. Without exception, the freckles on their faces had all faded.

Chu Qingyan applied the cream to each person’s face again and continued to observe the results.

Du Xiu’e changed into her light red work uniform and left her house, heading towards the workshop.

Soon, she ran into Fang Cuiyun on the road.

“Auntie Cuiyun.”

Fang Cuiyun examined Du Xiu’e and smiled, “Hmm, not bad, you look good.”

Du Xiue looked down at her own clothes and liked them too, “I think so too. I’ll wear this when working from now on.”

Fang Cuiyun praised her, “It’s really good working for Qingzhi’s family. They even provide uniforms, and the quality of the fabric is good too. It will save quite a bit of money.”

Du Xiu’e said, “Qingzhi mentioned that we’ll get two sets every quarter, making it eight sets a year. It really does save a lot of money.”

Fang Cuiyun covered her chest, “If 1 were a few years younger, I would go work too.”

Her daughters-in-law were working for Qingzhi, and her son was running a business with some success, so the family didn’t need her to work anymore. Zhao Qiu approached them, looking quite spirited, “Auntie Cuiyun.” Fang Cuiyun looked at Zhao Qiu, “Aren’t you the senior manager? Why aren’t you wearing your new uniform?”

Zhao Qiu smiled and explained, “The uniforms for the senior managers haven’t been made yet. They will be distributed later.”

Fang Cuiyun nodded understandingly, “It’s getting late. You better head to work now. Don’t be late.”

“Thank you, Auntie Cuiyun. We’re leaving now.”

“Ok.”

Fang Cuiyun stood watching as more and more villagers dressed in white headed towards the workshop. She couldn’t help but smile, feeling proud of their Chu Village, where everything seemed to be getting better.

After breakfast, Chu Xuhua stopped Chu Qingzhi as she was about to leave. “Sister, 1 have some good news for you.”

Chu Qingzhi turned around, “Big brother, what’s the good news?”

Chu Xuhua’s handsome face lit up, “About the soybean paste. Several restaurants have signed contracts for it, each ordering a hundred catties. However, they hope you can visit their kitchens and teach their chefs how to cook with it.”

The situation was such that soybean paste was a new invention in their world. Chu Qingzhi had promised that anyone ordering over a hundred catties would receive a cooking lesson using soybean paste as an ingredient.

Chu Qingzhi said, “Big brother, give me the addresses of these restaurants, and I’ll visit them later when I’m free.”

“I’ve prepared them already.” Chu Xuhua handed her a piece of paper.

Chu Qingzhi glanced at it and tucked it into her bag before heading out.

At the Xu Paper Mill.

Manager Xu waited anxiously at the entrance and kept looking around. Why wasn’t he here yet?

A young servant beside him tried to reassure him, “Manager, it’s still early.

Miss Qingzhi probably hasn’t left yet..”