Chapter 114: Li Sanshui's Request

On this morning, Li Sanshui left his delivery team right after finishing his work, hurrying toward the teahouse agreed upon previously.

Upon reaching the teahouse, Li did not go straight in. Instead, he circled the area for a while, and only after confirming that no one was watching did he step quickly inside.

Jiang Zhaoming had not yet arrived, so Li ordered a pot of the cheapest tea, hunching his shoulders as he sipped and waited.

About the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Jiang Zhaoming finally entered. As he approached the table, Li complained, "Young Master Jiang, why are you only just arriving? I've been waiting for ages."

Ignoring this, Jiang sat down and asked, "Brother Li, three days have passed. Have you thought of a way?"

Li looked around cautiously and whispered, "Young Master Jiang, I won't waste time with extra words. In short, I have a way to make this happen, but if it's only one hundred taels, I'm not doing it!"

Jiang was secretly shocked by this response, though his expression remained unchanged. "Brother Li, do you truly have a way to obtain the soap formula and the production process?" His interest was fully piqued now.

Li raised an eyebrow, a smug look on his face. "Young Master Jiang, to be honest, I already know the formula well enough."

"Oh?" Jiang couldn't help but lean forward slightly.

Li continued, "But knowing the formula is useless on its own. The most important thing is to understand the production process. While that is a bit more difficult, it is nothing I cannot handle." He took a sip of tea, his eyes filled with confidence.

Jiang immediately replied, "If you succeed, I will add another one hundred taels!"

Li looked visibly disgusted and said coldly, "Young Master Jiang, are you trying to brush off a beggar?"

Over these past three days, Li had done the math. Every shipment he transported was worth over two thousand taels; he absolutely refused to work for such a pittance.

Jiang thought for a moment before asking, "How much do you want?"

Li held up two fingers. "At least two thousand taels!"

"Two thousand taels?" Jiang frowned, feeling the price was too high.

Before Li could finish, he added, "Also, I want to visit the Lishui Pavilion. You will cover the expenses for the women!"

Because Li was lazy and shiftless, he had remained unmarried well into his thirties. He was determined to use this opportunity to experience the company of women. Upon hearing this request, a smile touched the corners of Jiang's mouth, though he felt extreme contempt, thinking Li was truly pathetic.

After stating his terms, Li added, "Young Master Jiang, don't try to bargain with me. These are my only two conditions. If you agree, we cooperate; if not, let's pretend we never met."

With that, Li turned his gaze to the window, sipping his tea with feigned indifference. Despite his calm appearance, he was quite nervous, fearing Jiang would haggle. He repeatedly warned himself not to accept less than one thousand taels.

To his surprise, Jiang did not hesitate for long. "Fine, let it be as you say!"

Hearing this, Li’s hand trembled with excitement, causing some tea to spill. Fortunately, it was subtle enough that Jiang did not notice.

After a pause, Jiang added, "Brother Li, two thousand taels is not a problem. But I must say this first: if you cannot produce the soap using the method you uncover, don't expect to receive a single copper!"

"Agreed!" Li replied immediately.

Jiang nodded and arranged to meet at the Old Lord Temple outside the city in five days. He then prepared to leave.

As he stood up, Li reached out. "Young Master Jiang, how can you leave without paying?"

"What money? You haven't accomplished anything yet, and you want money?"

Li retorted, "Young Master Jiang, you clearly said last time that you would provide the funds and I would handle the lobbying. If you don't give me money, how am I supposed to persuade the others?" He gestured with his hand, urging Jiang to pay up.

Jiang pondered for a moment. "How much?"

"Ten taels for now," Li said.

Jiang took out ten taels of silver and placed them on the table. Li snatched the silver up and tucked it into his robes.

Jiang said sternly, "Li Sanshui, don't think about scamming me for food and drink. You had best get this done; otherwise, not only will you have to return this silver, but you will also suffer physical pain!"

With that, Jiang turned and left the teahouse.

Li was overcome with excitement. The thought of earning two thousand taels was so exhilarating that he could hardly sit still; he wanted to find a place to shout and vent his joy. He immediately ordered two servings of expensive pastries and began to eat with gusto.

The reason Li dared to agree to Jiang's terms was that he had indeed found a way.

Among the villagers working in the soap workshop, there was a man named Shen Hao.

Shen was twenty-eight and a bachelor. He had previously worked around Xinzhou City, earning thirty or forty copper coins a day—enough to support himself. However, he had met a girl in the city who was a third-rank maid for a wealthy family.

Third-rank maids were the lowest level, forbidden from entering the masters' rooms, and were only tasked with chores like watering flowers, feeding birds, carrying water, and tending stoves. Shen wanted to marry her, but her father demanded a bride price of ten strings of cash—an astronomical sum for a pauper like Shen.

Shen had not given up, working even harder to save, but he grew desperate when the girl's father visited Gushan Village and told him that if he couldn't produce the ten strings of cash within two months, his daughter would be married to someone else.

Li Sanshui had learned of this news, which was why he had the confidence to persuade Shen.

***

Back at Gushan Village.

Xu Tieshu and Xu Pingan moved into Qin Mutou's house that afternoon, and Xu Hui reluctantly moved into her father and brother's room.

After Ling'er cleaned and organized, Ning Yaxin moved into Xu Hui's former room. Initially, Ning felt a bit out of place, but after two days, she integrated into their daily life.

Ning’s height and build were similar to Chen Miaoyi’s, so she simply changed into Chen’s coarse cloth garments and often helped with chores. To outsiders, the two looked like sisters.

However, Ning's presence caused some inconveniences for Xu Mo, most notably regarding the outhouse. Twice in the last two nights, Xu Mo ran into Ning using the facility. Fortunately, Ling'er was waiting outside each time; otherwise, an accidental encounter would have been truly awkward.