CHAPTER 642: EPISODE 341: TESTING THE WATERS

Hua Xiaomai didn’t get annoyed but simply grinned and winked at Old Lady Meng, effortlessly spewing out one flattering remark after another.

"I know you think I’m not clever, and I’ve always been aware of my own silliness, but no matter what, I’ve been married into the family for over a year now. Don’t I deserve a little progress? You’re known throughout Fire Knife Village for having a heart as clear as crystal, and Yuhuai is so meticulously thoughtful and steady in his work. I’m with the two of you all day long, learning through osmosis, so isn’t it normal for me to get a bit smarter?"

"Ah..."

Old Lady Meng was covered in goosebumps from all this flattery, shivering for a good while before she recovered, and with a face full of distaste, she said, "According to you, do you suspect those two men aren’t really looking to buy our sauces?"

"They came so suddenly, and the deal was agreed upon so quickly, it’s impossible not to be suspicious!"

Hua Xiaomai sighed softly, "When business is booming, it’s inevitable others will be jealous and stir up trouble. If they truly intend to buy, it’s all well and good, but if they’re only here to cause chaos and then vanish without a trace once Zhenwei Garden is all flustered, who will I cry to? Every month, the sauce we make already has a buyer. Suddenly having an extra ten thousand jars, if we can’t sell them, then we can only watch them go bad, losing money, and wasting products all the while!"

"Hmm, considering that, we really should be more cautious." Old Lady Meng mulled it over for a moment and nodded, "So, are you planning on not proceeding with this deal?"

"I’ll see how things go tomorrow," Hua Xiaomai said with a sigh, giving her a smile.

After dinner, in accordance with their routine, Hua Xiaomai and Old Lady Meng took Little Walnut for a stroll around Daoxiang Garden. They avoided the crowded dining area at the front and strolled by the fish pond, using it as an excuse to walk off their meal.

With Meng Yuhuai absent, Old Lady Meng, worried that Hua Xiaomai would have her hands full at night, proposed they take turns looking after Little Walnut, allowing Hua Xiaomai some time to catch some uninterrupted sleep.

Of course, she was well-intentioned but invariably expressed herself with less than kind words. After returning home, she held Little Walnut all the way to the back yard, continuously muttering under her breath.

"With your dazed nature, if the child cries himself hoarse during the night, I’m afraid you wouldn’t even hear it! With me, though I’ll be more tired, at least I can have peace of mind!"

Left alone in the front courtyard, Hua Xiaomai didn’t know what to do with herself. Thinking back on the matter Pan Ping’an spoke of that afternoon, she felt a little annoyed. After going back and forth in her mind, she decided to head to the kitchen, lit a distant lamp at the window, took a stone mortar, and selected some dried chilies, Sichuan peppercorns, nutmeg, and other spices to roast and grind one by one into powder.

It’s said that those with refined tastes in the city, when idle, enjoy preparing fragrances to pass the time, and because it’s about meticulous effort, one must cultivate extreme tranquility in their thoughts, which is also a way of cultivating one’s character.

These common household seasoning materials, cheap and available everywhere, truly couldn’t be considered refined in any sense and instead carried with them the scent of the common market. Nonetheless, the entire process of grinding and pressing gradually settled one’s mind.

The stone mortar clunked continuously, the dried red chilies making a faint cracking sound as they were ground into powder, the pungent aroma interspersed with spiciness entering one’s nose and instantly clearing the head.

Hua Xiaomai poured the freshly ground chili powder into a small ceramic jar, sealed the lid tightly, and stored it in a dry, dark cabinet, exhaling deeply.

She understood why Pan Ping’an was so overjoyed and why he became so dejected after her skepticism.

A deal for seven hundred taels, after subtracting expenses, could net Pan Ping’an alone several tens to a hundred taels—a sum that would tempt anyone in front of it.

She also knew that her concerns might be unnecessary, but... she just couldn’t shake the intuition that persisted in her heart.

This deal probably couldn’t be done.

Truthfully, she didn’t want to easily let go of such a major transaction, the very thought of it hurt, but she decided to suss out those two men tomorrow before doing anything else. Soon she calmed down, ground the remaining spices into powder, put everything away neatly, tidied up the kitchen, blew out the light, and stepped outside.

It was nearly summer, yet the night was still quite cool. After standing by the warm stove for a while, Hua Xiaomai was taken aback by the chill as she stepped into the courtyard. It caused her to sneeze twice and hunch her neck; she quickly scampered back to her room.