Free Web NovelChapter 168: Chapter 150: Striking Camp and Leaving the City, The Price of Borrowing Power (Part 2)
After reading them, she placed the papers on the table and suddenly shook her head with a light chuckle.
"Miss, what are you laughing at?" Her young maid, Taotao, asked curiously, even though she was so sleepy her eyes could barely stay open.
"It’s nothing. I just find this whole affair too interesting. Not only did Wu Liangchen kill Mo Daoyuan, but he also nailed his head to the flagpole of the Black Banner Camp. As a result, Zhang Pengcheng was so scared he moved his troops out overnight, claiming it was for training. In reality, he was making a statement to Wu Liangchen, proving he has no other intentions and will stay in line," Zhu Wan’Er said with a smile.
Taotao scratched her head, not understanding what was so interesting about it.
But since her miss said it was interesting, it must be interesting.
"What time is it?" Zhu Wan’Er asked.
"It’s nearly dawn. The sun will be up soon."
"Mm, have someone prepare the carriage. I’m going to Flower Square as soon as it’s light out."
"Yes... Huh?" Taotao had already agreed, but then she suddenly realized something was wrong and couldn’t help but gasp.
"What is it?" Zhu Wan’Er asked.
"Miss, are you sure you want to go to Flower Square yourself?"
"Of course!"
"Why don’t I go for you? After all, that place is..." Taotao’s expression turned troubled.
But Zhu Wan’Er was completely unconcerned. "What’s wrong with that place? Isn’t it just a red-light district? Besides, I’m just going to take a look, not to do anything."
Taotao didn’t dare to persuade her further. She knew that once her miss made up her mind, no amount of talking from anyone could change it. Helpless, she could only go and tell the servants to prepare the carriage.
Sure enough.
Just as dawn was breaking, Zhu Wan’Er boarded her carriage and arrived at Flower Square.
Soon, she found Wu Liangchen in the Flower Fragrance Courtyard.
Despite not having slept all night, Wu Liangchen showed no signs of fatigue. He was currently sitting at a table, eating breakfast.
Freshly steamed buns, filled with pork and green onions, were piping hot. One bite, and the flavors of fat and carbs exploded in the mouth, instantly awakening taste buds that had slumbered through the night.
The freshly made soft tofu was as white as jade. It was scooped into a bowl with a tool resembling a small dustpan, then topped with soy sauce, fragrant vinegar, and chili oil. If you liked cilantro, you could add some chopped cilantro, but it was fine without it too.
You didn’t stir it, just ate it by the spoonful. Paired with vibrant green pickled peppers and small salted vegetables, the taste was simply divine.
Having been on the move all night, Wu Liangchen was indeed quite hungry.
He was devouring an adult-fist-sized bun in three bites. In a short while, he had already eaten five full steamers of buns and drunk three large bowls of soft tofu.
Taotao’s eyes widened at the sight of his appetite.
Zhu Wan’Er, however, just smiled faintly. She walked to the table, sat down without any ceremony, picked up a bun from the table, and started eating.
Wu Liangchen didn’t even lift his head, continuing to eat with large mouthfuls.
Steamers of buns were brought out one after another like a flowing river, but it was barely enough to keep up with Wu Liangchen’s eating.
As for Zhu Wan’Er, she could barely eat more after just a few bites.
After all, not everyone could stomach such greasy buns so early in the morning.
And yet, she forced herself to keep eating.
Soon, she finished the first one and picked up a second.
Nearby, Taotao watched her miss, who normally never ate pork, force herself like this. She felt both heartbroken and confused, but didn’t dare to make a sound, waiting anxiously by the side.
Finally.
After finishing his eleventh steamer of buns and eighth bowl of soft tofu, Wu Liangchen looked up at Zhu Wan’Er, who was across from him, struggling to stuff a bun into her mouth.
"You’re here a little earlier than I expected," Wu Liangchen said.
"I received the news before dawn. I told my servants to make preparations, and I came as soon as it was light," Zhu Wan’Er stated frankly.
"If you don’t like it, you don’t have to force yourself." Wu Liangchen’s gaze shifted to the half-eaten bun in Zhu Wan’Er’s hand. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"But to get many things done in this world, one must force oneself."
"Besides, compared to most people, this is nothing."
Saying this, Zhu Wan’Er started taking big bites again, and she actually managed to finish the rest of the large bun.
Even though she was on the verge of gagging, with tears even welling up in the corners of her eyes, the smile on her face didn’t change in the slightest.
Her smile was as pleasant as a spring breeze, just as it always was.
Seeing this, Wu Liangchen finally began to truly take her seriously.
’Because she’s even more ruthless than that woman I met in my past life.’
’With a background like hers, combined with such a ruthless personality, it’d be hard for her not to succeed.’
"Speak. What is it you really want?"
"My idea is the same as before. I plan to open a high-end restaurant in your esteemed Square. I will provide the money, the labor, and everything else in my power. In the end, I only want a thirty percent share, and I’m even willing to hand over the actual management rights to you at Flower Square."
The terms were incredibly generous.
One could even say there could be no better offer.
To provide the money and the labor for only a thirty percent share, and even hand over management rights.
It was practically a giveaway.
But faced with an offer that almost anyone would find impossible to refuse, Wu Liangchen remained unmoved. Instead, he stared coldly at Zhu Wan’Er across from him.
Zhu Wan’Er sat there with a smile, but in her heart, she felt as though she weren’t facing a person, but a ferocious tiger ready to pounce and devour its prey at any moment.
This made her body tremble slightly, but even so, she forced herself to hold firm, refusing to waver.
Fortunately, Wu Liangchen soon retracted his gaze and said coolly, "Why?"
Zhu Wan’Er let out a long breath. The moment had felt impossibly long, and her back was already soaked with sweat.
But she still forced herself to say calmly, "There is no why. This is just business!"
Then Zhu Wan’Er added, "I am a businesswoman. If I’m offering this price, it proves that it’s worth it."
Wu Liangchen realized he had underestimated this Zhu Wan’Er.
He had previously thought she was just another "famous socialite" who would do anything to achieve her goals.
Now, he felt that Zhu Wan’Er truly possessed some of the ruthlessness a merchant ought to have.
So he nodded. "Fine, I can agree. But I still have to tell Third Brother Xie about this, so you’ll have to wait a while longer."
"No problem. I will await your news." Zhu Wan’Er smiled, then stood up to take her leave.
After she left the Flower Fragrance Courtyard and boarded her carriage, the smile on Zhu Wan’Er’s face instantly vanished. She opened her mouth and began to vomit violently.
Taotao’s face went pale with fright. She fumbled to grab a spittoon and began patting Zhu Wan’Er on the back.
Finally, Zhu Wan’Er threw up everything she had just eaten. Only then did she catch her breath slightly, taking a teacup to rinse her mouth.
Taotao asked from the side, her heart aching, "Miss, why do you put yourself through this?"
Zhu Wan’Er leaned back on the soft couch, taking a few ragged breaths, then shook her head gently. "You wouldn’t understand."
"A man like him is hard to move without showing sufficient sincerity."
"But Miss, the worst that can happen is we don’t open the restaurant. Is it really worth abusing your body for this?" Taotao asked, confused.
Zhu Wan’Er smiled. "I don’t want a restaurant. I want to borrow his influence! You wouldn’t get it even if I explained more. Leave me. I need to sleep."
"Yes!"
Taotao didn’t dare say more and quickly left.
At the same time, Yang Lian’Er watched the luxurious carriage depart with some surprise, unable to help but exclaim.
"That woman is really ruthless to herself."
"Is she? I don’t think so. She wants to borrow my influence, so naturally, she has to pay a price. Comparatively, I’ve been soft enough on her," Wu Liangchen said.
"That’s true. Any other man probably would have taken advantage of the situation by now," Yang Lian’Er said with a laugh.
But after a few dry laughs, she noticed Wu Liangchen staring at her coldly. Realizing she’d overstepped, she shut her mouth and mumbled.
"Oh dear, I forgot to put out the fire in the stove when I came out. I have to go back and check on it."
With that, she fled in disarray.
Just then, Wen Yunlong walked in hurriedly. Before he could speak, Wu Liangchen had already stood up.
"Let’s go. We’re going to see Third Brother Xie!"
