The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 772 - 771 As You Wish

Chapter 772: Chapter 771 As You Wish

At a loss, I didn’t know what kind of expression to put on.

Only when I heard Wang Yongzhu press on did I stammer out, "I received a letter today, stating that they have already set out. I think they will arrive by tomorrow!"

Wang Yongzhu clapped her hands in excitement, "There’s nothing better than timely arrival! That’s wonderful, as I also have matters to discuss with Ninth Young Master of your family. I was considering sending him a letter. If he did not come, I would have traveled to the county town to meet him in person! Now, this is perfect!"

The moment Shopkeeper Wu heard this, he realized it was about official business?

Looking at Wang Yongzhu’s open face and clear eyes, he could see she harbored no ulterior motives.

He felt ashamed of his dirty thoughts just moments before.

He asked vaguely, "May I know what important matter Lady Wang is seeking to discuss with our Ninth Young Master?"

It was then that Wang Yongzhu slowly explained the business of the wild tea.

Shopkeeper Wu was seated at first, but as he listened, he stood up halfway through, not being foolish at all. Instead, he immediately grasped the substantial profit at stake.

He was utterly thrilled!

Especially when he heard Wang Yongzhu say that she had already negotiated with the other parties, and the Lee family’s share was almost allotted, he was nearly stunned.

He hadn’t expected Wang Yongzhu to slice off a piece of the potential pie for the Lee Family. To be honest, if the tea leaves were really that good, even without the Lee Family’s help, they could persevere for a couple of hard years, invest more silver, and find success—after all, good wine needs no bush, and neither does good tea.

The stage would definitely be set in the Capital City!

Why would Wang Yongzhu hand over the profits that were within her grasp to the Lee Family? Shopkeeper Wu’s gaze was filled with confusion as he looked at her.

Compared to Shopkeeper Wu’s subtlety, Ninth Young Master Lee, who arrived in Shiqiao Town the next day, was directly challenged with this shocking news before he could even catch his breath. After calming down, he quite straightforwardly posed his question.

Could it be that she fancied his good looks and, realizing she was like a married woman pining for her lover, decided to quietly support the growth of his business?

Ninth Young Master Lee would have liked to indulge in such narcissism, but he was very aware that Wang Yongzhu was not such a person.

So he became even more eager to know the reason.

Wang Yongzhu smiled, "In this world, there’s no such thing as a free lunch! If I’m offering such a deal to the Lee Family, to Ninth Young Master, naturally, I have my intentions!"

With Wang Yongzhu admitting she had intentions, Ninth Young Master Lee’s face stiffened, but he still spoke up, "Lady Wang, please speak your mind. Our Lee Family is always generous with friends and partners!"

"This matter involves my husband, and it’s not the right time to discuss it now. However, if one day, our family arrives in the Capital City and needs the help of the Lee Family, I hope the Lee Family can lend a hand!" said Wang Yongzhu.

She was planning ahead; the Capital City was the Song Family of Duke Weiguo’s turf. Even if Song Chongjin and she went to the Capital City, even if they were powerful and unwilling to be involved with Duke Weiguo’s household, it might still be inevitable.

If any conflict arose, or if someone from the Duke Weiguo Residence took action against her and Song Chongjin, it would be difficult to fight against many hands on their own; outside help would likely be necessary.

The only ones they could rely on at present were the Lee Family!

As long as she could offer benefits to the Lee Family, provide them with what they desired, considering those interests, she hoped that in any future emergency, she would have some room to maneuver.

After hearing Wang Yongzhu’s words, Ninth Young Master Lee was silent for a long while before he squeezed a few words from between clenched teeth, "As you wish!"

That counted as an agreement!

Then, as if wearied by the journey, he directly set a case down, "Inside here are ten thousand silver notes. Count them yourself. I am unwell, so please excuse me!"

She rose and walked away.

Wang Yongzhu, having received Ninth Master Lee’s promise, also saw the case on the table, and her smile was so wide that her eyebrows disappeared, her eyes not visible. She stood up and waved to Ninth Young Master Lee, "You’ve worked hard, Ninth Young Master, please take care," she said with a smile.

She then opened the case and began to count the silver notes.

This was ten thousand taels, not a small sum!

Upon opening the case, inside was a stack of silver notes, including fifty-tael notes, twenty-tael notes, one hundred-tael notes, and even several one thousand-tael notes at the bottom.

Ninth Master Lee had considered everything very thoroughly, these silver notes were from the largest money house in the country, and they could be exchanged nationwide.

Wang Yongzhu couldn’t help but feel inwardly moved, this haughty Ninth Master Lee, who seemed to have his eyes on top of his head every day, was actually very thorough and considerate in handling matters.

From this, one could see the depth of the Lee Family.

Initially, Wang Yongzhu even thought that Ninth Master Lee was unreliable, prettier than a woman, narcissistic and proud, which made him difficult to get along with.

But now, she had discovered that Ninth Master Lee actually had his advantages.

Not to mention handling matters, as a person, he was generous and straightforward! Although he either had a cold or stern face, Wang Yongzhu had gotten used to seeing Song Chongjin’s somber face; what did she care if Ninth Master Lee put on airs with his pretty little face?

For a business partner, being straightforward and generous was all that mattered, what else could one ask for?

After counting the silver notes, Wang Yongzhu remembered, "Wait, there’s still important business I haven’t discussed with Ninth Master Lee, and he’s already left. What about the tea matter?"

Shopkeeper Wu had followed Ninth Master Lee out earlier, but now he came in and quickly said, "Niece, rest assured, Ninth Master Lee has gone to wash up and change clothes, and he will be back to discuss the details with you soon."

Even he could see an opportunity that Ninth Master Lee, despite his youth, was part of the Lee Family’s core circle in the Capital City, and knew far more than peripheral people like Shopkeeper Wu.

If this wild tea was really as good as rumored, with the right handling, the Lee Family might catch the current Emperor’s eye with this tea.

If it really worked out, the Lee Family would owe Wang Yongzhu a huge favor.

This was also why he didn’t even ask what Wang Yongzhu would eventually ask for in return, and still agreed to it.

One reason was that he trusted Wang Yongzhu to have moderation and not to make excessive demands.

Secondly, of course, was that the gift was too significant, and hence the reciprocity could not be too modest—whatever the Lee Family promised, it was bound to be worthwhile.

Although feeling somewhat sour at heart, he thought that if he had not been foolishly tempted to accept Wang Yongzhu as a concubine in the first place, then perhaps such meticulous and intimate considerations, plotting for the sake of her own man, could have all been for him.

To be treated so sincerely and unreservedly by someone was precious to Ninth Master Lee as well.

He felt even more envious of Song Chongjin; that man really hit the jackpot!

After finishing his grooming, Ninth Young Master Lee quickly adjusted his mood and came out to meet Wang Yongzhu again.

After a string of detailed questioning and thorough explanation of the situation, including fierce haggling,

in the presence of Shopkeeper Wu, Ninth Young Master Lee and Wang Yongzhu reached an agreement: if the wild tea truly was of excellent quality, then Wang Yongzhu would take a ten percent share, the hunters from Yingzi Gully would take another ten percent, and the rest would be divided between the Lee Family and the Zhang Family. As for how it would be divided, that naturally would come down to each party’s own capabilities!

For Wang Yongzhu to secure her own ten percent and the hunters’ ten percent was already quite an achievement.

She also saw the businesslike side of Ninth Young Master Lee—sharp, ruthless, in pursuit of the greatest profit! In that moment of negotiation, Ninth Young Master Lee shed his excessively beautiful facade, becoming like a true businessman.