He thought to himself: Truly, the most successful merchant in the Northern Territory. His words were as watertight as could be.
Back in the main room of the small courtyard, Fu Yu saw Madam Fang and their daughter chatting.
“Xiao Yun, Ci'er.”
“Father.”
“Husband, has Second Master Cao left?”
“Not yet.”
Fu Yu looked at his wife and daughter and recounted how Second Master Cao had reasoned with him, appealed to his emotions, and persuaded him to accept the flower crown.
“It’s as if I’d committed a sin by not accepting his gift.”
“Why would you think that?”
“That’s exactly how I feel. I couldn’t win the argument with him, so I came to you, my wife and daughter, for ideas.”
Fu Yu looked pleadingly at his wife and daughter, his expression one of helplessness.
Madam Fang hadn’t expected them to encounter someone like Second Master Cao. However, as a woman confined to the inner chambers, apart from her culinary skills, she dared not say much elsewhere, always fearing her limited knowledge might lead her to speak incorrectly.
Seeing both her parents looking at her, Fu Xinci quickly came up with an impromptu solution.
“Father, Mother, wait for me a moment.” She finished speaking and hurried back to the west wing where she was temporarily staying.
Fu Yu and Madam Fang were left exchanging bewildered glances, wondering what their daughter was up to.
Once back in the west wing and seeing no one nearby, Fu Xinci retrieved three boxes from her spatial dimension. Inside were longevity locks, dragon and phoenix bracelets, and seven-star hairpins. These were modern craft items made in an antique style, and she believed Second Master Cao would be interested.
Fu Yu stood with his hands clasped behind his back by the doorway of the main room, his eyes darting left and right. His left eye glanced towards the small hall, and his right eye peeked at the west wing.
Finally, his daughter emerged from the west wing, carrying three boxes. Fu Yu felt a twinge of curiosity about what was inside.
Fu Xinci offered her father advice: “Father, if Second Master Cao insists on giving me the flower crown, give him these instead. We cannot accept his gift for nothing.”
“Indeed.” Fu Yu had the same thought. He took the boxes from his daughter and headed towards the small hall.
Madam Fang wanted to see what her daughter had prepared, but she was too slow; Fu Yu had already entered the small hall with quick steps.
Second Master Cao was seated comfortably, looking like a fisherman waiting for his catch, humming a popular opera tune with a rhythm tapped out by his hand.
He refused to believe that if he had no match in the business world, he would have one in Fu Yu, who only knew how to study the classics.
Especially after their casual conversation face-to-face, his confidence had soared.
“Ah~ ah ah~ yi ah.” Second Master Cao was engrossed in his humming, his expressions perfectly fitting the tune. Abruptly, he saw Fu Yu enter with three exquisite boxes.
“…Brother Fu?”
Fu Yu: He, too, was curious about what good things his daughter had brought him.
However, recalling his daughter’s usual demeanor, he smiled, sat down, and then spoke to Second Master Cao with a gentle expression: “My daughter says that if Second Master Cao insists on giving the flower crown, these few small items are a token of our gratitude.”
Fu Yu finished speaking and pushed the boxes in his hands towards Second Master Cao.
Second Master Cao hadn't expected Miss Fu to reciprocate with a gift.
“This…” Second Master Cao, who always navigated social situations with ease, found himself at a loss.
Fu Yu was amused. This man had previously made him feel like fleeing; now, Ci'er had given him leverage, allowing this fellow to be caught off guard, which was no small feat.
Heh, to make Second Master Cao wear a troubled expression, he and his daughter were quite something.
Second Master Cao gazed at the three boxes, his mind engaged in an internal battle.
These gifts of gratitude were clearly not inexpensive. If he accepted them, it would seem a bit petty.
If he refused, it might imply that Miss Fu did not wish to accept his gift.
“…??”
Second Master Cao rubbed his gleaming bald head, as if making a momentous decision. He pushed the box containing the flower crown back towards Fu Yu. He stubbornly stated: “A good sword is given to a hero, and a flower crown is perfectly suited for Miss Fu.”
Second Master Cao thought that as an elder, he couldn't utter something as frivolous as “Flowers are for beauties.”
Fu Yu: He mimicked Second Master Cao’s gesture, rubbing his own forehead. However, his forehead wasn’t as broad as Second Master Cao’s, and the gesture seemed to lack some of his imposing aura.
Nevertheless, he remembered his daughter’s words and pushed the three boxes closer to Second Master Cao.
Second Master Cao: This Miss Fu is truly extraordinary. When other young ladies receive gifts, they simply grin with joy.
But this Miss Fu refused to take advantage of others.
Ah, how rare.
With nothing more to say, Second Master Cao picked up the three boxes, ready to leave. Just then, Fu Yu kindly reminded him: “Doesn’t Second Master Cao want to see what’s inside?”
Well, actually, Fu Yu himself wanted to know what these boxes contained.
“I’ll look when I get back,” Second Master Cao said, then left with the boxes.
Seeing that the guest had finally departed, Fu Yu picked up the box with the flower crown and delivered it to his daughter.
Ning'er, who had been hiding in the east wing the whole time, immediately came bouncing over once the guest had left.
“Father, can we go shopping now?”
“Yes, we’ll deliver this to your sister, and then we’ll set off.”
Seeing her father agree, Ning'er enthusiastically took his arm and started to lead him out.
“Wait.” Fu Yu spoke, then nimbly handed the box to his daughter. He further instructed his daughter to put the items away safely before saying, “Let’s go.”
The entire family automatically followed.
They strolled until dusk, and it was only then that they returned, tired and somewhat weary.
As soon as they entered the main hall, Liu Hai, who was examining the account books, greeted them.
“What do you want for dinner? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it for you.”
Fu Yu dangled the freshly roasted chicken in his hand and said, “For us, please prepare braised river delicacies, preserved egg tofu, shiitake mushrooms with bok choy, and blanched shrimp.”
“Father, Father, I want braised pig trotters,” Ning'er said. She then thoughtfully requested dishes for her elder brother and brother-in-law as well: stir-fried meat strips and braised pork ribs, which they both liked.
“Hahaha, Ning'er knows our family’s preferences better than I do.”
“Yes, yes.” Ning'er nodded vigorously. “Sister likes pig trotters as much as I do. Dad and Mom love chicken. Grandpa loves braised lamb and lamb hot pot. Hehe, Ning’er likes them too.”
“Oh my, our Ning'er has such a good memory,” Madam Fang said. She had never imagined her younger son would remember each person’s favorite dishes.
“Mother, I know many more things.”
Watching the family’s joyous laughter, Liu Hai quietly slipped a small piece of paper to Miss Fu.
Fu Xinci’s brows furrowed after just a quick glance.
Glass, that was fine; they could make money from it, the more the better.
But the sword? She genuinely didn’t want to give it to Liu Chenfeng.
His mother was utterly detestable.
Alas!
Fu Xinci’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter.
Seeing Miss Fu’s face fall, Liu Hai’s heart began to feel troubled.