Chapter 12: Big Brother, Let’s Act Together

Fang Ning’s reading speed was far beyond the ordinary. A mere glance was enough for her to grasp the contents of the document. It was nothing like what they had negotiated; there was not a single clause that worked in her favor. Why did this young man keep testing her? Her original family had no prior dealings with the Quanwei Restaurant! Fang Ning was thoroughly baffled.

"Brother Yu, I cannot read," Fang Ning said, clutching the document helplessly. Life is a stage, and success depends on one’s performance. Let’s act together, brother!

"Does your mother read?" Si Yuheng asked, his expression unchanging. "If she does, it would be fine for her to come and sign it."

"My father can read. Shall I have him come tomorrow?"

"That works too. But the one hundred taels can only be given to you tomorrow."

"Can’t you give it to us now?" Fang Ning looked at Si Yuheng pitifully. "We are almost out of food. Can we sign the document tomorrow instead?" The original girl was naturally cute, though her wicked behavior had made her detestable. Now that Fang Ning was acting so docile and adorable, Si Yuheng found it hard to refuse.

"No. We will sign the document tomorrow, then I will pay." Si Yuheng was a man of iron will; what he decided, he stuck to.

"Oh." The charm offensive had failed, and Fang Ning puffed out her cheeks, clearly unhappy.

"Uncle Lin, go to the kitchen and get some of today’s pastries for Fang Ning." He might as well appease her. After all, she was his "fiancée"!

Fang Ning’s face instantly lit up, her ten-year-old persona perfectly maintained. "Thank you, Brother Yu. It’s free, right?"

"Yes, a gift for you."

"Brother Yu, you are truly a good person."

Si Yuheng: "..." If she didn't look exactly the same, he would have doubted whether the girl who had been chasing him for a free meal yesterday was even the same person!

After taking the pastries, Fang Ning left the remaining candied bayberries, slung her basket over her arm, and left happily. Only then did You An emerge.

"Young Master, do you really intend to buy it?"

"Yes, this treat is novel. People in the capital will surely love it!" Si Yuheng’s eyes were deep, a flicker of intense killing intent crossing his gaze.

After leaving the Quanwei Restaurant, Fang Ning returned to the spot where they had been vending, and Liang Anrong was already waiting there. She had a brand-new basket in front of her, filled with various seasonings, as well as ten pounds of rice and flour.

"How did it go?"

"One hundred taels. I sold the recipe for the candied bayberries."

"You sold it?"

"Yes. The young master of Quanwei Restaurant is too sharp; he figured out how we made them the moment he tasted them."

"Oh, then we’ll have to make something else."

"It’s fine. The young master said he would buy our bayberries for five wen per pound."

"Five wen? That’s not a bad price; there's still a decent profit to be made."

"Yes, I was thinking of asking the main family to help. Making a few hundred wen a day is better than farming, isn't it?"

"Let’s go back and talk to them about it."

"No, let’s wait until we get the hundred taels tomorrow. By the way, that young master is not a simple person. Mother, speak less in front of him to avoid being probed for information."

Just from that brief encounter, Fang Ning knew the handsome youth was a total wolf in sheep's clothing. He laid one trap after another, leaving people defenseless. Her parents were not as calculating as she was and would easily fall into his schemes.

Fang Ning put the lighter seasonings into her basket and headed back to the village. The journey from Shichuan Town to Futian Village took about forty-five minutes, and she arrived home just in time for lunch. Fang Cinian had already prepared the meal. Seeing them return with so many supplies, he hurried to help.

"How did it go?" Fang Cinian asked. "Did you sell everything?"

"Yes, we sold it. But Father, you need to go to Quanwei Restaurant tomorrow to sign a contract for the recipe. The young master there is a fox. When you are in front of him, just act like someone who fears the strong and bullies the weak, and keep your talking to a minimum."

"Oh, I see. Any other advice, daughter?"

"I told him that Mother and I are illiterate, and that only you can read."

"All right, I’ve got it. Where did these pastries come from? Did you buy them?"

"No, the young master gave them to me."

Liang Anrong opened the oil paper and saw common southern-style steamed cakes and radish cakes. She took a bite and, out of professional habit, gave her verdict: "The flavor is lacking. The steamed cake isn't fluffy enough, and the radish cake is a bit hard."

"The ingredients are different, so you can't compare them. Don't let your professional habits take over, dear."

"So I can't even comment now?"

"Fine, fine, I’m sorry, dear."

Fang Cinian’s swift apology left Fang Ning speechless.

"Ningning, do you want to eat these? If not, we can send them over to the main house later."

"Sure."

"Come, let's eat first. Try my cooking."

Fang Cinian brought out the dishes as if presenting treasures. Fang Ning looked at the food and was at a loss for words. "Father, don't cook anymore. It’s a waste of oil, salt, and ingredients."

"Is the presentation really that bad?"

"Forget it, just don't cook anymore." Liang Anrong couldn't bear it either. However, complaints aside, given their poor conditions, they had to swallow it even if it tasted bad.

After she was full, Fang Ning took the two packages of pastries and went to the main house. They were just having lunch. Seeing Fang Ning arrive, Old Mrs. Fang’s temple twitched, and the people at the table exchanged awkward glances.

Fang Hong was the exception. He put down his bowl and went to greet her. "Have you had lunch yet? I haven't finished mine; you can have it."

Fang Ning looked at his bowl—it was mostly wild greens with a few grains of rice floating in the thin porridge—and immediately shook her head. "I’ve already eaten at home."

"Grandpa, Grandma, Second Uncle..." She trotted over the threshold on her short legs and ran up to Old Man Fang at the head of the table, her words as sweet as honey as she greeted everyone. Everyone subconsciously looked toward the door; the sun surely hadn't risen in the west.

"Have you eaten?" Old Man Fang maintained his patriarch’s dignity, his face stern.

"I have. These were given to me by the young master of the Quanwei Restaurant in town. I brought them for Grandpa and Grandma to taste." Fang Ning placed the two packages on the table. Everyone was stunned. Usually, it was the eldest branch coming over to scavenge food; why was it the other way around today?

Old Man Fang frowned. "Did you swindle these from him?"

"No, I traded them for the candied bayberry recipe. Grandpa, try them—they are steamed cakes and radish cakes. They are delicious."

Fang Ning unwrapped the oil paper, and the aroma of the radish cakes instantly filled the air. The children at the table swallowed hard, staring intently at the packages.

Nine-year-old Fang Fei tugged at Mrs. Chen’s sleeve. "Mother, I want some." Fang Fei was the daughter of the third branch, Fang Wenchang, and they also had a twelve-year-old son, Fang Yu.

Fang Yu snorted. "Don't eat it, sister. Fang Ning has bad intentions."

"Second Brother, what are you saying? Fang Ning isn't the same as she used to be. You aren't allowed to say that!" Fang Hong defended her.

"Yu, stop talking nonsense," Fang Wenchang chided sternly.

Mrs. Zhao smiled to smooth things over. "Ningning, your second brother is just blunt. Don't take it to heart."

"It's fine. I know I was a brat before; it's natural for Second Brother to dislike me." Fang Ning picked up a piece of radish cake, broke it in half, and ran over to Fang Yu. "Second Brother, have some. Don't be angry with me anymore. Fifth Sister, this is for you."

"I don't want it!" Fang Yu slapped Fang Ning’s hand away, and the piece of radish cake fell to the ground.