Chapter 16: The Pants Nearly Got Torn Off

Page (1/3)

Shopkeeper Lin: "Still not enough?"

"Yes, we risked our lives hunting it," Fang Ning stretched out her hand, showing Shopkeeper Lin the small wound that had already healed. "It hurt a lot back then."

Shopkeeper Lin was speechless.

"Eight hundred, no less."

"This... I can't decide. I'll ask the young master."

Shopkeeper Lin was in a difficult spot.

"What's going on?"

The door to the left of the backyard opened.

Si Yuheng, dressed in black, stepped out.

He looked groggy, as if he had just woken up.

"Young master, you’re awake? The Fang family sent over a freshly killed tiger, asking for eight hundred taels! I dare not decide; please have a look..."

Si Yuheng inwardly sneered.

"Five hundred taels. If they won’t sell, just send it away!"

He had hunted the tiger himself; was he supposed to be taken for a fool?

"But a word of advice: this tiger must be processed soon, or it’ll lose its value."

"Seven hundred."

"Four hundred."

"Six hundred."

"Three hundred."

Fang Ning: "..."

Faced with a rival, he was ruthless!

"Five hundred and fifty, lowest price. Brother Yu, look how fresh this tiger is."

"Do you think this is a freshly cooked dish?"

"Brother Yu..."

Fang Ning rushed over, clinging to Si Yuheng’s leg, swaying back and forth.

Being a child, she had no qualms about using her charm and cuteness.

Si Yuheng noticed his trousers were slipping down!

"Let go," he snapped angrily.

"Brother Yu, just buy it for five hundred and fifty. You almost missed out on someone as clever and adorable as me for this tiger, boohoo, Brother Yu..."

"Five hundred fifty, let go!"

Si Yuheng gritted his teeth, pulling hard on his belt.

He was truly at the mercy of this little rascal!

Yet he couldn’t bring himself to be harsh.

Only then did Fang Ning, satisfied, release him.

The trouser-pulling trick really worked.

Page (2/3)

Liang Anrong and the Fang brothers were amazed—bargaining could be done like this?

"Young master, my mother has also arrived. Since it’s still early, let her teach your cooks how to make rock sugar bayberries. Then you can pay me the money all at once, alright?"

Si Yuheng no longer wished to see Fang Ning.

"I have other matters. Let Shopkeeper Lin decide."

With that, he turned and went back inside.

Better to avoid losing his temper and beating this little troublemaker.

It was the first time Shopkeeper Lin had seen his young master so frustrated.

"Madam Fang, please come to the kitchen with me," Shopkeeper Lin said, not daring to linger for fear of Si Yuheng’s wrath.

Liang Anrong carried the bayberries to the kitchen.

Fang Wenqin looked worried. "Ningning, is it okay to let your mother go alone?"

"The cook is learning from Madam Fang. Don’t worry," Shopkeeper Lin quickly reassured.

The Fang brothers relaxed.

Shopkeeper Lin then invited Fang Ning and the brothers upstairs to a private room to wait for Liang Anrong. He brought the money for the tiger and the recipe: "Count it carefully. Here are six hundred and fifty taels."

The Fang brothers had never seen so much silver and felt like they were in a dream.

Fang Ning remained calm. "Second uncle, third uncle, see if that’s enough."

They snapped out of it and quickly weighed the silver—no more, no less, exactly six hundred and fifty taels.

"Shopkeeper Lin, do you have any convertible silver certificates? If not, give me four hundred taels in certificates, two hundred in silver ingots, and the remaining fifty in forty-five taels of small silver coins plus five thousand copper coins."

"Alright, I’ll exchange it for you."

Shopkeeper Lin was quick to return with the exchange.

There was still business downstairs, so after Fang Ning finished counting, she went down.

"Ningning, why carry certificates? What if they get wet and become useless?" Fang Wenqin asked anxiously.

"No worries. Wealth shouldn’t be flaunted. Four hundred taels in certificates is less conspicuous and avoids trouble. When we get back, just say the restaurant gave us one hundred taels, don’t mention more."

"Got it," Fang Wenqin replied quickly.

Fang Wenchang, usually taciturn, simply nodded.

Shopkeeper Lin had someone bring up some food.

The Fang brothers were uneasy, not daring to eat.

"Second uncle, third uncle, you’ve worked hard. Please eat, don’t be shy."

Fang Ning took the initiative to serve them some meat, and only then did they pick up their chopsticks.

Halfway through the meal, Liang Anrong arrived.

"Mother, did you teach the cooks so quickly?"

"That girl is smart. I only needed to explain once. Your father is coming to town tomorrow, so I’ll check how they’re doing then."

"Sister-in-law, let’s... eat..." Fang Wenqin was quite intimidated by this formidable sister-in-law, hesitant even to eat for fear she might suddenly turn hostile.

"Alright, second and third brothers, eat too. You’ve worked hard today. Let’s eat our fill before going back," Liang Anrong said cheerfully.

In the past, Fang Cinian’s brothers, all successful businessmen, had looked down on their family.

But now, with these two modest younger uncles—one honest, one quiet—Liang Anrong was happy to get along well with them.

Page (3/3)

Liang Anrong called the waiter over.

The two brothers tensed up, instinctively touching their waists. Oh no, they hadn’t brought any money; the sister-in-law was probably going to lose it...

"Roast chicken, white-cut chicken, white-cut duck—one each. Also pack a portion of braised pork for me to take away."

The Fang brothers were speechless.

Could they work here without getting paid?

No one had ever dared take advantage of their sister-in-law before.

If only they had endured and not eaten.

Fang Ning saw the worried looks on their faces and immediately guessed what they were fretting about.

"Young master, please come up and tell me the total so I can settle the bill."

"Alright."

The Fang brothers looked at Liang Anrong, who was already eating and made no move to stop Fang Ning. Only then did they relax somewhat.

After finishing the meal, the four returned to Futian Village; dusk was falling.

Fang Ning followed them to the old family home.

The old house was still waiting for the second and third uncles to return for dinner.

"Grandma, look what delicious food we brought for you!" Fang Ning, skilled at acting sweet and clever, ran over carrying the food box.

Old Madam Fang’s heart fluttered. "Slow down, why run so fast?"

Fang Ning went to the dining table, grabbed a stool to stand on, opened the box, and laid out four meat dishes.

Fang Yu and Fang Hong swallowed hard. "So much meat?"

"Yeah, hurry and eat. It’s delicious," Fang Ning said, setting down the dishes before pulling Old Grandpa Fang over. "Grandpa, sit down quickly. It won’t taste good when it cools."

"Just a few coins spent, and you waste it like this?" Old Grandpa Fang scolded with a stern face, though he was clearly pleased. "Don’t you know you should save some money?"

"Old man, that’s enough. Ningning means well. Why scold her? If you don’t want to eat, go outside," Old Madam Fang shot him a glare.

Old Grandpa Fang immediately backed down and quietly sat down.

"Eldest brothers, come eat too."

"Mother, we already ate in town."

The younger kids were already eyeing the meat dishes hungrily, and the Zhao and Chen families smiled warmly.

"Second brother, go call the eldest to come eat with us."

"Alright."

Fang Wenqin hurried out.

This was the quietest meal the old family had ever had with the main branch present.

After they finished, Fang Ning secretly took Old Madam Fang back to her room and handed her one hundred taels of silver.

"Grandma, here’s some money for you."

Old Madam Fang’s eyes darkened. "What scamming scheme did you get into again?"