Gu Nanjiao said, "Those are the stones! I call them saltpeter. It works by using saltpeter to absorb a lot of heat when it dissolves in water, which cools the water down to freezing point. That's how I made ice in the summer."

She had no intention of hiding it from Bai Luochen. Since she had her eye on the saltpeter, Bai Luochen would find out sooner or later. It was better to tell him now than to have to cover it up with countless lies later.

Bai Luochen said thoughtfully, "So those ice really were made of stone!"

Gu Nanjiao nodded seriously, and Bai Luochen didn't say anything. Although he seemed to understand, he didn't know how to make it.

Thinking of this, he asked Gu Nanjiao, "You came here because you're willing to sell the back mountain to me?"

"No!"

Bai Luochen's pupils narrowed. He knew Gu Nanjiao was unwilling. Such a big piece of meat, who wouldn't want to eat it all by themselves?

Gu Nanjiao continued, "I won't sell the back mountain to you. My kudzu is almost ready for harvest, and I need to keep the land to continue planting. How about I sell you the saltpeter mine on the back mountain instead?"

Bai Luochen looked at Gu Nanjiao suspiciously: "Are you sure?" He was a little confused now. Didn't Gu Nanjiao want to have complete control? It was a mine, and she just sold it to him so easily.

Gu Nanjiao naturally wouldn't sell herself to Bai Luochen so easily. She said, "I'll sell it to you for five thousand taels, isn't that cheap?" After saying that, she blinked her big eyes and looked at Bai Luochen.

See how generous she is? She sold it to Bai Luochen for five thousand taels of silver. Once his business is established, Bai Luochen will make a fortune.

Bai Luochen almost laughed in anger: "I heard you spent less than 500 taels to buy the back mountain. You made ten times more money than me."

"Who told you I bought it for five hundred taels?"

"After asking around through connections, I found out there are things I don't know!" Bai Luochen looked at Gu Nanjiao and asked, "I'm just wondering why you're willing to sell it to me. You should know that the value of saltpeter ore far exceeds five thousand taels, and the profits are immeasurable."

"Do not be elated by external gains, nor saddened by personal losses; cook only as much rice as your pot can hold."

Gu Nanjiao was well aware of her place: a country woman in ancient times, without status, background, or connections. Just being able to live well in the present was good enough. What's yours can't be taken away, and what's not yours, you can't force. Only by being unmoved by self-interest can you protect yourself and your family.

Bai Luochen thought about it and agreed. Gu Nanjiao was just a country woman with no powerful backing or connections. Such a large sum of money would likely bring trouble. At this moment, Bai Luochen admired her a little. She remained unmoved in the face of such a large fortune and knew her place. However, the thought of spending five thousand taels while Gu Nanjiao only spent five hundred taels made him somewhat unhappy.

Gritting his teeth, Bai Luochen agreed to buy it.

Gu Nanjiao smiled and said, "But I have one condition!"

Bai Luochen's eyes were wary: "What are your conditions? Don't go back on your word."

"Look how nervous you are. You mustn't tell anyone how saltpeter can make ice. I plan to open a restaurant or a cold drink shop in the future. I don't have any connections or influence, so I hope you can help me out."

In this fictional ancient world, Gu Nanjiao has no background, no clan influence, and relies on connections to do business, which she lacks. Having been here for so long, the only powerful and influential people she knows besides her father's classmate are Bai Luochen. With Bai Luochen's help, her business ventures should be much smoother.

Hearing Gu Nanjiao say this, Bai Luochen breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought Gu Nanjiao was going to make some harsh demands, but she just wanted to take advantage of the situation, which was not difficult for Bai Luochen.

After they finished talking, Gu Nanjiao saw Bai Luochen out.

Just then, a joyful female voice rang in my ears: "Young Master Bai!"

Bai Luochen's expression was rather unpleasant. Gu Nanjiao felt that the voice was somewhat familiar. She looked up and saw that it was Wang Fu!

Today, Wang Fu was dressed in a white dress, the same color as Bai Luochen's robe, as if she had worn it intentionally. She was accompanied by four young women. Gu Nanjiao took a closer look and realized they were the same group of girls in red, yellow, blue, and green who had ambushed Lu Yanzhao at the entrance of Nanxiang Academy.

Seeing how familiar Wang Fuhe was with the red, yellow, blue, and green colors, Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but sigh, "Birds of a feather flock together."

Bai Luochen didn't want to talk to Wang Fu, so he stepped aside and said casually, "I have something to take care of, so I'll take my leave first." This was directed at Gu Nanjiao, but Wang Fu blushed involuntarily: "Young Master Bai, please go ahead and attend to your business!"

Gu Nanjiao felt a chill. Bai Luochen was really unfair. Every time something like this happened, he would run away and leave her with the mess. It seemed that asking him for five thousand taels was really a loss.

At this moment, the girl in red whispered something in Wang Fu's ear, her eyes glancing at Gu Nanjiao from time to time.

Noticing that Bai Luochen had walked away, Wang Fu's gaze fell on Gu Nanjiao, who was smiling in the eyes, and he said coldly, "What a clever trick. You're eating from the pot but not forgetting to look at the bowl. If you want the blessing of having two women, I might as well send you to a brothel. There are plenty of men there, so you won't have to shamelessly seduce other men everywhere."

Gu Nanjiao chuckled softly, said nothing, and moved her right leg and then turned her neck left and right.

"You slut, what are you doing, striking such a pose?" Wang Fu and the others were puzzled, but the words they uttered were truly vicious.

Before Wang Fu could react, Gu Nanjiao kicked him.

Wang Fu was kicked to the ground, and the footprints on her white dress were obvious. The red, yellow, blue and green people were immediately dumbfounded.

Wang Fu winced in pain, clutching his stomach and roaring angrily, "Gu Nanjiao, I won't let you get away with this!"

Hearing the commotion, Cuihong and Juzi came out excitedly with their clothes-carrying poles: "Who's picking a fight with our second manager? Let's see if this pole in my hand will allow it."

Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but give a thumbs up. Lü Siniang had found a good person. Although he was illiterate, he was united and righteous. He deserved a raise.

The red, yellow, blue, and green characters all accused Gu Nanjiao: "You country bumpkin, how dare you hit Sister Wang! Uncle Wang will definitely not let you off the hook!"

"Exactly, you've got some nerve."

Gu Nanjiao sneered and squatted down in front of Wang Fu: "I've really gone too far today." Suddenly, Gu Nanjiao grabbed Wang Fu's hair and pulled her toward the water bucket in the corner.

The water in the bucket is for mopping the floor tonight, but Orange forgot about it in her busy schedule and hasn't emptied it yet.

"What are you doing, you wicked woman!"

Gu Nanjiao was very strong, far stronger than Wang Fu, a pampered young lady. She pressed down hard on Wang Fu's neck and shoved her head into the bucket of water. Wang Fu choked on the dirty water, feeling both uncomfortable and nauseous, and couldn't say a word.

"What are you saying I'm doing?"

Gu Nanjiao lifted her head and said coldly, "What have I done to offend you? You keep picking fights with me and cursing me whenever we meet. If I don't teach you a lesson, do you really think I'm easy to bully?"

The four girls, red, yellow, blue, and green, wanted to step forward to help, but Gu Nanjiao gave them a cold, sharp look: "If any of you, emerald, red, or orange, dare to step forward, beat them all up. I'll take responsibility if anything happens." The four girls froze in place, terrified.

Such is the extent of fake sisterhood.

Wang Fu desperately tried to push Gu Nanjiao's hand away, but Gu Nanjiao held her down tightly. Just when Wang Fu thought she was about to die, Gu Nanjiao released her.