Xu Qiuqiang was tempted.
Although he still harbored doubts about whether his sister could truly produce tofu, he understood Xu Chunhua's character all too well. If her son were to come to the county town for schooling in the future, she would still have to rely on him. No matter how audacious she was, she wouldn't joke with his livelihood.
Unaware that his sister was attempting nothing more than an empty-handed con, Xu Qiuqiang ultimately agreed.
Xu Chunhua had always heard from others just how wealthy the Yan household was. Yet it was only when she followed Xu Qiuqiang to the outer courtyard of the Second Young Master that she truly understood what "immense fortune" meant.
White marble smoother than her own skin was used for the steps beneath her feet. The railings she held onto gleamed faintly. Even the maids she glimpsed in passing—what they wore and adorned themselves with—were worth a hundred times more than anything she owned.
The sight dazzled her eyes and hardened her resolve to make use of Jiang Huaiyu.
After all, Jiang Huaiyu was a lone woman, fairly good-looking. If Xu Chunhua stirred things up just right, perhaps the Second Young Master would even take a fancy to her and keep her as an outer mistress. No matter how one calculated it, that would still be doing Jiang Huaiyu a favor!
Every man for himself, or heaven will strike you down.
With her conscience fully appeased, Xu Chunhua finally behaved herself, shrinking obediently to the side as she waited to be summoned outside the courtyard.
Xu Qiuqiang entered alone, his heart pounding. He vaguely sensed something was amiss, yet the promised benefits after success ultimately persuaded him.
The Yan family had risen to wealth through the medicinal trade and were merchants through and through. Their family rule was simple: once a man came of age, he would be given one hundred taels of silver to start his own business. Success or failure aside, after five years, he would be expelled from the Yan household to establish himself independently.
There was, however, an unspoken rule—whoever performed best in business would become the Yan family's heir.
Even a single young master's courtyard was as lavish as a landscaped garden, enough to reveal the Yan family's deep foundation. Raised in luxury from birth, the Yan sons viewed one hundred taels of silver as little more than the cost of a leisurely trip to the capital. Trying to do business on their own? Naturally, they met setback after setback.
Xu Qiuqiang knew that the Second Young Master had recently been troubled over business matters. And tofu—anyone with eyes could see how well it was selling.
Steadying himself, Xu Qiuqiang stopped the senior maid attending the young master. He dared not lift his head, staring at the ground as he spoke respectfully.
"Miss Juan'er, could I trouble you to report to the young master? This humble servant has an urgent matter to report."
"Ha." Juan'er let out a mocking laugh, her disdain undisguised.
"You're nothing but a lowly attendant. What important matter could you possibly have? Do you think the young master is someone you can see just because you wish to?"
Xu Qiuqiang was long accustomed to such treatment. He continued calmly,
"It concerns the tofu that has been selling extremely well in the city these past few days. The details… must be explained directly to the young master."
At the word tofu, Juan'er's beautiful eyes widened. She could hardly imagine that something as smooth and tender as tofu had anything to do with a mere servant.
"I suppose you wouldn't risk your own rice bowl for a joke," she said after a pause. "Wait here."
She moved lightly down the corridor, through a small garden, and into the dining hall where the Second Young Master was taking his morning meal.
The hall was filled with young maidens of delicate beauty, all attending a richly dressed young man at breakfast.
The young man leaned lazily against one of the girls, chopsticks in hand. He lifted a piece of golden, crispy fried tofu into the air, turning it back and forth as he muttered,
"How exactly is such a small piece of tofu made? Fried, it's crisp outside and tender inside; mixed cold, it's refreshing and light. It works savory, and it works sweet…"
Juan'er entered just in time to hear his musing. She suppressed her irritation toward the other maids, put on a sweet smile, and curtsied.
"Young Master, there is a servant in the household who claims to have important information regarding tofu. Would you like to see him?"
The Second Young Master immediately perked up, sitting straight. He paid no mind to the maid beside him who had been about to feed him soy milk, spilling it all over herself.
Without sparing her a glance, he stood.
"Have him meet me in the White Peony Courtyard."
Afterward, his gaze lingered, burning, on the tofu dishes spread across the table.
The five-year deadline was approaching fast. The Yan family's bloodline carried the pure instincts of merchants—fail to establish yourself, and you would be cast out. The one hundred taels he'd received at the start? He didn't even know where it had all gone.
With his mother's help, he'd tried his hand at business several times. Each attempt ended either in losses or lukewarm returns.
With the deadline looming, anxiety gnawed at him. Whether the servant's words were true or false didn't matter—he would hear them first.
Upon arriving at the White Peony Courtyard, the Second Young Master frowned.
"Wasn't it a servant? Who is this woman?"
Xu Qiuqiang immediately bent low.
"Young Master, this is my younger sister, married into Wangjia Village. The tofu comes from there."
"Oh?" The young master waved dismissively. "Fine. Speak. What business do you have with me?"
He already felt he was being toyed with. A country woman whose eyes wandered about the room like she'd never seen the world—what could she possibly know?
Xu Chunhua was also somewhat disappointed. She had imagined the Second Young Master to be a refined and handsome gentleman. Instead, he looked rather like a monkey.
Still, no matter his appearance, he was the Second Young Master of the Yan family. She tore her gaze away from the jade ruyi on the antique shelf and plastered on a fawning smile.
"This tofu, you see, was actually made by the little widow living next door to me. She only handed it over to the Wang couple next door to avoid attention. Tsk—watching her every day, I really do pity her."
Xu Chunhua knew nothing of Jiang Huaiyu's background. In her mind, women like that were cursed—any man who married them would die young or fall ill. So she conveniently gave Jiang Huaiyu the identity of a widow.
Hearing this, the Second Young Master felt disappointed. What nonsense is this? If it was made by your neighbor, what does that have to do with you?
Just as he turned to leave, Xu Chunhua hurriedly continued,
"Today I saw them dividing the silver. The Wang couple were utterly shameless—they split it into three portions and took two for themselves. That poor widow—the tofu recipe is hers, yet she only gets the smallest share.
I remembered how people always say the Second Young Master of the Yan household is righteous and wise, so I came hoping you would seek justice for her.
Besides, the Wang couple are hoarding the tofu, selling only a small amount each day. So much potential profit is wasted—I can't bear to see it. If you were to rescue the widow and buy her recipe, with your capabilities, you could let everyone in the county eat tofu. Wouldn't that be a great good deed?"
The flattery was clumsy—but it made the Second Young Master stop.
His eyes lit up.
That's it.
If he couldn't succeed through his own ventures, he could simply spend some silver to buy the tofu recipe, then control the widow Xu Chunhua mentioned. With the Yan family's connections, it would be a guaranteed profit.
And if the story were true—that the widow was being coerced by vicious neighbors—then he'd be doing a good deed as well. After all, such a unique recipe would only be safe in his hands.
The Second Young Master returned to his seat, smiling faintly as he nodded at Juan'er. She understood at once, stepped out, and soon returned holding two embroidered sachets, which she handed to Xu Chunhua.
"Since you came to me to speak up for someone, you've done a good thing and deserve a reward," the young master said, eyes narrowing slightly.
"But—if there is even the slightest falsehood in what you've said, then consider this silver your family's medical expenses. Understood?"
Xu Qiuqiang broke into a cold sweat.
Xu Chunhua, however, weighed the sachets in her hand, listening to the jingle of silver inside. She immediately knelt and kowtowed with a beaming smile.
"I understand."
She refused to believe that the Second Young Master wouldn't be tempted once he saw Jiang Huaiyu. Tofu and a beauty—would he really give up either?
Uneducated and unsophisticated as she was, at this moment Xu Chunhua wielded human nature with chilling precision.
After gaining the Second Young Master's approval, she and Xu Qiuqiang withdrew together. Only when they reached an empty corner did Xu Qiuqiang finally erupt.
"If the tofu recipe isn't yours, how could you speak to the young master like that? Aren't you harming the widow you mentioned?!"
Having served the Yan family for years, Xu Qiuqiang understood merchants all too well—especially these young masters. In their eyes, silver and gold were the true law. They might appear gentle one moment, only to turn ruthless for profit the next.
Previously, the tofu business had been too conspicuous, and the seller was a burly man, with villagers united against outsiders. That was why these wealthy young men hadn't dared to interfere.
But Xu Chunhua's words had given the Second Young Master an opening. A widow holding the recipe—no different from throwing open a treasury vault.
Xu Qiuqiang hadn't expected his sister to be this vicious. He frowned deeply.
"Is this because you can't stand seeing her live well? I should've known—if the tofu had anything to do with you, you wouldn't even have come to acknowledge me as your brother!"
Xu Chunhua curled her lips, finding his moral outrage utterly hypocritical.
"Here, two sachets—take one," she said. "What are you yelling for? Once the Second Young Master buys the recipe and opens a tofu shop, do you think our family won't benefit? Do I look like someone who can't stand seeing others do well? Everyone's just trying to live a better life."
"Unreasonable!"
Xu Qiuqiang refused the sachet. He suddenly felt that he'd been blind to ever believe his sister might change.
"Tch—fine, more for me!"
Rolling her eyes, Xu Chunhua opened the sachet, pulled out a piece of silver, and bit down on it without caring how dirty it was. Her face lit up instantly.
In a corner of the room, freshly shaved agarwood burned, its heavy fragrance lingering in the air. Juan'er voiced her doubts.
"Young Master… could a small village like Wangjia really produce tofu? Could that peasant woman be lying just to get a reward?"
The Second Young Master narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at the account books just delivered. If not for his mother secretly supplying silver, the losses would have been humiliating.
"Send Yan Yang with some men to investigate Wangjia Village," he said irritably, waving his hand.
"If the tofu isn't made by the neighbor family she mentioned—break her husband's legs."
—
In Wangjia Village, Jiang Huaiyu hung freshly washed clothes on a bamboo pole. The Wang couple were diligent and reliable; with the tofu business in their hands, things were progressing steadily. Once the shop opened, it wouldn't take long to buy a house in the county.
That was why Jiang Huaiyu rarely left the village. She had no patience for gossiping women—she even washed her clothes at home using well water.