Judging from the familiar way Bai Luochen and Master Zheng were behaving, their relationship was quite extraordinary.
Gu Nanjiao didn't want to disturb them, so she only glanced at them twice before deciding to leave.
Bai Luochen tried to find a way to cheer up his grandfather. This old man was so stingy after eating a little of his food; no matter how he tried to coax him, he remained indifferent.
"If you don't talk to me, I'm leaving!" Bai Luochen pretended to leave.
Master Zheng twitched his beard, snorted coldly, and turned his head away, ignoring him.
Bai Luochen chuckled: "Still ignoring me? I have some good news to share this time! I found something great near a mountain village!"
Old Master Zheng paused, turned around, and stared intently at Bai Luochen, asking, "Have you found the mine?"
Bai Luochen slowly sat down, opened his jade fan, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes.
Seeing the determination in his grandson's eyes, Old Master Zheng sat down next to Bai Luochen.
Upon hearing the words "mineral vein," Gu Nanjiao paused, quickly finding a corner to hide. She strained her ears to listen, but when they spoke the key words, both lowered their voices, so Gu Nanjiao couldn't hear anything.
Gu Nanjiao had no choice but to leave quietly, afraid of disturbing the two by stepping on the bricks and tiles.
What you fear most is what happens. Gu Nanjiao felt she had been very careful, but she still managed to alarm Bai Luochen.
"Who?" Bai Luochen reacted quickly, lightly touching the ground with his toes, and strode up to Gu Nanjiao.
Gu Nanjiao said awkwardly, "Young Master Bai, what a coincidence! I run into you everywhere!"
She had intended to sneak away, but she was caught red-handed. However, there was nothing to be afraid of; she had come to the Zheng residence openly to cook for Master Zheng, not to eavesdrop in a corner.
Bai Luochen glanced at Gu Nanjiao, a half-smile on his face: "What a coincidence! It seems Madam Lu and I are truly destined for each other!" Then, Bai Luochen's expression suddenly turned cold, his tone icy: "What did you just hear?"
Gu Nanjiao feigned confusion and asked, "What? What are you listening to?"
Bai Luochen stared at her for a long while, and just as Gu Nanjiao was about to lose her composure, he chuckled softly: "Nothing, I was just asking why Madam Lu is here?"
Gu Nanjiao told Bai Luochen the reason for her trip.
Bai Luochen raised an eyebrow. So those colorful dishes he ate for lunch were made by her. No wonder they tasted so familiar!
Master Zheng approached the two of them, glanced at Gu Nanjiao, and teased Bai Luochen, "So that's why you were frozen in place. Turns out your old habit has kicked in again!"
Bai Luochen's expression turned somewhat unpleasant: "Grandpa, how can you expose someone's past like this?"
Master Zheng laughed heartily, then turned his gaze to Gu Nanjiao and asked in confusion, "Are you one of my family members?"
Gu Nanjiao said, "No, I'm the one Brother Zheng brought to cook for you. I'm the stall owner who sells braised offal on Changyang Street."
Master Zheng nodded, thinking to himself, "He's not from the manor, so why does he feel so familiar, as if I've seen him before?"
Gu Nanjiao was unaware of what Master Zheng was thinking. She was in a hurry to leave; she needed to get back quickly and ask the village chief if the land deep within the back mountain, now that she had completely taken it over, belonged to her. If it did, everything would be easy; if not, she would find a way to buy the land before Bai Luochen made his move, no matter the cost.
Of course, she couldn't possibly use up all that saltpeter, and she didn't know how to make gunpowder. All she knew was how to make ice, and she could earn countless riches just from making ice.
Gu Nanjiao said to Master Zheng, "Master Zheng, I have to go back quickly, my mother is still waiting for me at the stall."
Mr. Zheng nodded, and Gu Nanjiao nodded politely before turning to leave.
Watching Gu Nanjiao walk away, Bai Luochen cupped his hands in greeting to Master Zheng: "Grandpa, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now!"
"You brat, you ran off as soon as you finished eating! You don't even spend more time with your old man." Old Master Zheng said with some resentment. Whatever the reason, he probably couldn't resist the sight of a beautiful woman. His grandson, who looked like a refined gentleman in white robes, was completely captivated by delicious food, beautiful women, and beautiful scenery.
Gu Nanjiao walked very fast, and by the time Bai Luochen came out, she had already disappeared.
He wanted to discuss the Imperial Concubine Soup with her. Now that the kudzu root powder was out of stock again, he wanted to take this opportunity to get Gu Nanjiao to supply the goods as soon as possible, and also give her nearly half a year's share of the profits. He didn't expect her to leave so quickly.
As Bai Luochen walked, he thought to himself, "She said she would set up a stall nearby. There's only one street nearby, Changyang Street, so that must be it."
Gu Nanjiao returned to the stall, where Lu's mother and Lu Xiaomei were tidying up.
After noon, the weather got hot again, and there weren't many people on the streets, so the three packed up their stall and prepared to go home.
Bai Luochen searched for a long time before finally spotting Gu Nanjiao at an inconspicuous stall. He hurried over to the stall and greeted her.
"Bai Luochen?" Gu Nanjiao was surprised. She didn't believe that Bai Luochen had come here just to eat. Was he here to test her?
God knows, they were speaking so softly that she heard nothing at all; the matter of the nitrate mine was all her speculation.
Bai Luochen raised an eyebrow and teased, "You've got a wide range of interests, haven't you? Now you're in the snack business too?"
Gu Nanjiao said calmly, "Likewise!" As she spoke, she didn't forget to keep busy with her work. The Bai family has a wider range of industries, and now they're even eyeing minerals. What is she compared to them?
Bai Luochen swiped open his white jade fan and chuckled dryly, "You owe me a meal from last time, and you promised to treat me. Why don't you treat me to this meal after you've finished cleaning up your business?"
Lu's mother and younger sister peeked over, and Gu Nanjiao had a bit of a headache. Why did Bai Luochen insist on making her treat everyone at this time?
Seeing Gu Nanjiao hesitate, Bai Luochen suddenly took two steps forward, got closer, and said with a smile in his eyes, "I haven't paid you your share of the kudzu root powder for several months. It's a lot of money. They say you shouldn't flaunt your wealth, so I don't dare to give it to you openly."
It turned out to be about splitting the silver. Gu Nanjiao breathed a sigh of relief and readily agreed: "Okay, wait for me a moment."
Seeing this, Lu Xiaomei became anxious and said to her mother, "Mother, look at that young man in white. He's chatting and laughing with my sister-in-law, as if they're very familiar with each other. Don't you think he might be trying to steal my brother's girlfriend?"
Mother Lu couldn't help but look at Bai Luochen. He was handsome and elegant, just like her son. Judging from his clothes, he seemed to be from a wealthy family. His smiling face was very endearing.
Lu's mother said worriedly, "I think it's possible!"
Lu Xiaomei was extremely anxious. Her wonderful sister-in-law must not be taken away. If she left, where would she eat so many rare and delicious things?
No, she had to do something. Lu Xiaomei stepped forward, stopping Bai Luochen, and said sternly, "Young master, are you here for dinner?"
Bai Luochen was amused by the indignant little boy in front of him, and smiled with narrowed eyes, "Yes!"
I'm here to eat; Gu Nanjiao is treating me!
Lu Xiaomei said, "I'm sorry, young master, we've sold out of all our dishes and won't be setting up a stall for a while. Even if we were to set up a stall, we'd have someone watch it. You should go home now!"
Bai Luochen was amused and asked Gu Nanjiao, "And who is this?"
Before Gu Nanjiao could answer, Lu Xiaomei hurriedly said, "She's my sister-in-law, my brother's wife. Who do you think I am?"
Bai Luochen...
If he's not mistaken, this little girl probably thinks he's trying to steal her boyfriend; no wonder she's so hostile.
"Little sister, don't be rude!" Mother Lu quickly pulled Lu Xiaomei aside and looked at Bai Luochen somewhat embarrassedly.
Bai Luochen's eyes flickered as he asked Gu Nanjiao, "Are you all ready? You promised to treat me to dinner, and I don't want to wait too long."
What...what? This young man in white is indeed acquainted with Gu Nanjiao, and the two of them are going to have dinner together?
Oh no, this guy really did steal his brother's girlfriend; the two of them are going out to eat now.
Lu's mother and younger sister were dumbfounded, and an unprecedented sense of crisis arose in their hearts.
Sure enough, someone tried to steal his girlfriend!
Lu's mother leaned down and whispered in Lu's younger sister's ear, "Go find your brother right away!"
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