Chapter 53 Yao Zhongbao

The Yao Residence.

This was Tong Chuxue's first time setting foot on the Yao family's property. From the moment she stepped into the courtyard, Xu Jinniang's expression was as dark as charred coal. She had not forgotten that when the Tong family desperately scrambled to break off and replace Chuxue's engagement, the Yao family had not said a single word.

At this moment, the other members of the Yao family were busy working in the fields, leaving only the eldest son, Yao Zhongbao, and his daughter-in-law, Tong Yu'er, at home.

Aside from herself, Tong Chuxue had brought Xu Jinniang, Lin Chunyan, and Luo Hui'an, making a total of four people in their party.

Tong Yu'er had originally been sweeping the floor at home, but when she raised her eyes and saw Tong Chuxue's group standing in the courtyard, her gaze seemed as though it wanted to pierce straight through Tong Chuxue's body. "Why are you here!"

Tong Chuxue raised her brows slightly, feeling somewhat helpless. Truly, enemies often crossed paths. "Tong Yu'er, as the saying goes, visitors are guests. Is this an appropriate attitude to treat guests with?"

Immediately after, she watched as Tong Yu'er heavily dropped the broom onto the ground. "If you don't say right now what you're here for today, I'll chase you out."

"Yu'er," a middle-aged man's voice suddenly called out from inside the house, halting Tong Yu'er's actions.

This voice was incomparably familiar to Xu Jinniang, because Chuxue's father—her late husband—had once been close brothers with him.

"Sister, you're here!" The smiling man walked up to Xu Jinniang, wearing a look of great familiarity.

His face was covered in crisscrossing wrinkles, but his skin was not completely dark, lacking the appearance of someone who toiled in the fields every day.

Seeing that Xu Jinniang's complexion was terrible, Tong Chuxue stepped forward and blocked her. "Uncle Yao, you can't possibly not know why we are here today."

Yao Zhongbao grinned from ear to ear, deliberately evading Tong Chuxue's question as he exchanged pleasantries. "I even held you when you were little, though you certainly don't remember it. Come, since you've managed to visit your uncle's home today, stay for a meal."

The words sounded extremely affectionate, but everyone knew very well that the two families had long since ceased all contact.

Tong Yu'er, standing to the side, was furious to the extreme, but since Yao Zhongbao's attitude was so cordial, there was nothing she could do.

"Yu'er, pour a few bowls of sugar water," Yao Zhongbao instructed.

"Yes, Father." No matter how unwilling Tong Yu'er felt in her heart, she could not defy her father-in-law, so she had no choice but to obediently go to the kitchen to pour the sugar water.

Soon, she returned carrying several bowls of sugar water, placing them on the table one by one.

Tong Chuxue clearly saw that before leaving, Tong Yu'er shot her a fierce glare.

Strange to say, Tong Yu'er had already successfully married into the Yao family to Tianyuan, yet she still held such intense hostility toward her.

"Sister, are you thirsty? Have some sugar water first," Yao Zhongbao greeted everyone with great enthusiasm.

Too lazy to ponder why the other party was acting this way, Tong Chuxue cut straight to the purpose of their visit. "Uncle, we're here today because we want to know whether you've collected a large quantity of cottonseed hulls."

"As for that," Yao Zhongbao deliberately paused, "it is indeed the case."

As long as Yao Zhongbao admitted to it, the problem became much simpler. His attitude made it obvious that he intended to bargain with Tong Chuxue.

"Uncle, what use do you have for collecting so many cottonseed hulls?" Tong Chuxue asked.

"To be honest, I have no use for them," Yao Zhongbao's eyes flashed with cunning. "However, I heard that you need them very much."

She didn't know where he had heard such news, but it was certain that the content of their conversation had been overheard.

The surrounding bamboo grove blocked the prying gazes of the villagers while also obstructing outsiders from eavesdropping. It seemed she would still have to find a way to put another layer of fencing around the perimeter when she got back.

"I don't know where you got this news, but your calculations might not turn out right. It's true that we need cottonseed hulls, but we don't necessarily have to get them from you." Tong Chuxue straightened her posture, assuming the stance of a negotiator.

"Little Xue, Uncle means no harm, don't misunderstand. I simply want to participate in this business of yours as well." Dropping the beating around the bush, Yao Zhongbao laid out his true intentions completely.

Tong Chuxue understood now. No wonder Yao Zhongbao had been so polite the moment they stepped through the Yao family's gates—he had been waiting right here.

Yet, no matter how well he planned, what use was it? Not only were the members of the Yao family at odds with her one by one, but even if the Yao family harbored no grievances against her, she could never accept someone using such scheming tactics to force their way into a partnership.

"I never imagined Uncle would be so interested in our business," Tong Chuxue remarked.

"Well, young people have ideas, while old folks like us have brains that no longer turn quickly and lack grand ambitions. We just want to tag along behind and drink some soup," Yao Zhongbao said. "As for the cottonseed hulls I have at home, I won't ask you for money. Consider it our share contributed to the venture. When we make money later, you can cut us in for a share; if we don't make money, you won't have to compensate us for the cost of the raw materials. How about that?"

Yao Zhongbao probably felt he had proposed an extremely tempting scheme, and he looked at Tong Chuxue with an expectant gaze.

In truth, the Yao family had spent practically no money acquiring these cottonseed hulls, yet he was now speaking as if he had contributed precious raw materials, hoping to grab a slice of the ganoderma mushroom business.

"In my opinion... not very good," Tong Chuxue stated bluntly, watching with satisfaction as the smile on Yao Zhongbao's face nearly collapsed.

"Uncle Yao, you are thinking much too wishfully. Cottonseed hulls are not exclusive to Qingshan Village. If I can't collect them here, can't I go to other villages to collect them?"

She was not some foolish person who would carve a mark on the boat to find a lost sword; how could she possibly be restricted solely to the borders of Qingshan Village?

"Haha," Yao Zhongbao clapped his hands and laughed. "Little Xue, you truly are no ordinary person."

However, his smile quickly faded. "To be frank with you, I've already bought up the cottonseed hulls from all the surrounding villages."

That was right. He had spent a day and a night running through every surrounding village, collecting the cottonseed hulls from every single household. Otherwise, how could he have dared to propose such terms to Tong Chuxue?

Tong Chuxue genuinely had not anticipated that Yao Zhongbao possessed such bold resolve.

"You—you are deliberately making things difficult for our family out of spite," Xu Jinniang said angrily, still remembering how close Tong Qingyong had been to Yao Zhongbao while he was alive, yet this former good brother's sole obsession now was scheming against his deceased friend's daughter.

"Sister, what kind of talk is that? I have always regarded Chuxue as my own daughter," Yao Zhongbao said, looking entirely sincere.

Tong Chuxue sneered inwardly. To this point, Yao Zhongbao was still trying to play the emotional card, completely unfazed by the prospect of losing everything he currently had.

"Mother." Tong Chuxue gripped Xu Jinniang's hand. "It's fine."

Full of confidence, Yao Zhongbao seemed certain that Tong Chuxue would inevitably agree to his demands. Therefore, although he was sitting at the same table with her, his attitude was immensely arrogant, carrying a faint air of condescension.

Under the current circumstances, no matter how one looked at it, Tong Chuxue had been driven into a corner by Yao Zhongbao with no room to maneuver.

"Uncle Yao, what if I insist on buying them?" Tong Chuxue asked.

"Heh," the smile on Yao Zhongbao's face grew considerably stiffer. "Buy them? That will be a different price. I dare say not a single household within a radius of several miles can supply you with the cottonseed hulls you need."

"It seems Uncle Yao has already worked out all the calculations." Tong Chuxue stared straight into Yao Zhongbao's eyes, her expression full of defiance.