107: Do you have someone you like?

“It's like this, I want to open two businesses down the mountain…”

After listening to Jiang Hanwen's explanation, Chen Qingzhi looked at Jiang Hanwen with a puzzled expression.

Opening a foot massage parlor, and also having women with Cultivation do shoulder and foot massages, back stepping, and waist rubbing.

Although we have Medicinal Cuisine and massages that follow the meridians to clear the Qi and blood throughout the body.

But, are you sure what you're talking about isn't a brothel?

He was too familiar with this routine; wasn't it the same as picking girls in a brothel?

“Try this.” Jiang Hanwen took out a bag of tea and handed it over.

“Gurgle gurgle~” Hot boiling water was poured into a bronze teapot, and in just three breaths, a unique aroma wafted out from the curling steam.

Chen Qingzhi's eyes lit up; it seemed a little different.

He poured it from the teapot into a teacup, brought it to his lips, and took a sip.

Instantly, a coolness flowed down his throat, reaching his five internal organs directly, a refreshing chill, like drinking ice water; at the same time, it went to his mind, like the refreshed feeling of waking up from a nap, full of energy after sufficient sleep.

“This tea has a calming effect. If we also have our guards spar in the courtyard, and people can watch while enjoying a comfortable massage, do you think they'd be willing to come?”

Jiang Hanwen's voice was melodious and captivating, like a devil's whisper, carrying an unknown temptation.

Chen Qingzhi pointed at the tea and said, “This tea?”

Jiang Hanwen said without batting an eyelid:

“The cost of this tea is very high; it needs to be brewed with qi gathering grass, and currently, only I can make it.

To outsiders, one catty of tea is one hundred taels. If the family wants it, I can sell it for only sixty taels per catty, at cost price.”

Cost price?

Chen Qingzhi looked at Jiang Hanwen like a colleague, a smirk playing on his lips, as if saying, “We're all thousand-year-old foxes, Chief Steward Jiang, do you also like to play Liaozhai?”

When doing business, the most untrustworthy phrases are:

Cost price, we are brothers, truly the lowest price, I'd only sell it to you, just a small loss.

“Chief Steward Jiang, that's too high. We're family. For both public and private reasons, this price hurts our feelings.” Chen Qingzhi began to play the emotional card.

“…”

After haggling for a long time, finally, under Jiang Hanwen's firm stance, the internal price of the calming tea was cut from sixty taels per catty to fifty-two taels per catty.

Chen Qingzhi waved his hand, first taking twenty catties from Jiang Hanwen for Patriarch Zhuang Kongming. Jiang Hanwen agreed, saying that since it was for the Patriarch, he would personally give another ten catties.

A total of thirty catties of tea, with a cost of three taels per catty. In just a quarter of an hour, Jiang Hanwen “tearfully” earned nine hundred and fifty taels from Chen Qingzhi.

Chen Qingzhi narrowed his eyes. With the gimmick of this calming tea, plus people sparring, and combined with Medicinal Cuisine, under the slogan of “Cultivate and enjoy,” this so-called foot massage parlor really had a great chance of opening successfully.

With Jiang Hanwen providing the tea, Tianyuan Residence providing the Medicinal Cuisine, and the Zhuang family providing people and management as the basic setup, the plan for the foot massage parlor was initially finalized.

As long as the Patriarch approved, work could begin.

“No problem, then I'll be leaving.” With that, Jiang Hanwen stood up.

“Wait.” Chen Qingzhi called out to him and shouted to the outside, “Xiao Bo, take Chief Steward Jiang to retrieve his Genius Little Accountant.”

Genius Little Accountant?

Jiang Hanwen looked puzzled.

Until Chen Bo led him into the small courtyard next door, and then the one next to that.

A young man in a gray robe was rapidly working an abacus, carefully checking account books.

Jiang Hanwen's pupils constricted slightly; it was him!

“Da!” With the final click of the abacus, the young man drew a circle on the paper in front of him before looking up.

In a daze, he saw a long-awaited spiritual leader and Deputy Chief Steward Chen Bo standing under the sun.

“I haven't been sleeping well lately,” Zhang Ping mumbled, rubbing his eyes, and continued to look at the account book in front of him.

“How much have you learned?”

Suddenly, a strange yet familiar heavenly sound rang in his ears. That voice had appeared many times in his dreams.

Zhang Ping's eyes snapped open, and he looked in the direction of the voice.

“What, you don't recognize me?” Jiang Hanwen smiled. At that time, he lacked an accountant, so he simply had this young man follow Chen Hong to learn accounting.

Almost a year had passed in a flash. It was the age of growth, and the little fellow had grown several inches taller.

“Clang~” The abacus fell onto the table.

“Chief… Chief Steward Jiang!” Zhang Ping's voice quickly rose, completely excited, with both hands pressed tightly to his waist.

Chen Bo turned and left, leaving the long-awaited reunion to the two of them.

Jiang Hanwen picked up the account book on the table. It recorded Lei He's expenses and returns from the herb collectors down the mountain, a considerable sum, over two thousand one hundred taels a month.

“Tell me, what have you learned?”

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Ping said seriously, “I learned how to check and reconcile accounts, project timelines…”

After chatting for a while, Jiang Hanwen finally understood what Chen Qingzhi meant by “Genius Little Accountant.”

Although Zhang Ping had only just started practicing martial arts and his Realm was low, only at the first stage of Body Transformation, he had an excellent memory and photographic recall. He learned everything about accounting in three months, mastered it in five, and became proficient in seven.

“Chief Steward Jiang, are you here today to take me away?” After speaking, Zhang Ping lowered his head, like a young girl.

“Now, it's different from before.

Following me, there might be danger in the future. Do you still want to go?” Jiang Hanwen looked at Zhang Ping seriously.

At any time, one must be responsible for one's own life.

If one day he fell out with the Zhuang family, Zhang Ping, who followed him, would certainly face a deadly calamity.

“Yes!” Zhang Ping answered decisively, just as he had risked his life for a vague opportunity back then.

“Then—” Jiang Hanwen's words were cut short.

Intensive footsteps sounded in his ears, followed by cheerful shouts.

“Zhang Ping, I just heard that Chief Steward Jiang is out!”

Looking through the archway, a graceful figure in a green dress rushed into the courtyard, speaking as she went.

Seeing Jiang Hanwen, Chen Hong, who had rushed into the courtyard, froze.

“Chief… Chief Steward Jiang, hello.” The young girl's cheeks were flushed, even her earlobes were red.

Jiang Hanwen glanced at Zhang Ping in surprise. This young man was quite good; looking at Chen Hong's reaction, it seemed she was somewhat smitten.

“Hmm, I'm here to take him away.” Jiang Hanwen smiled slightly and turned to walk towards the main gate.

Chen Hong looked at Zhang Ping and smiled, “Congratulations.”

“Mm-hmm.” Zhang Ping pursed his lips, hesitated to speak, then quickly followed, taking three steps in two.

Watching Zhang Ping's retreating figure, Chen Hong's face instantly paled by three shades. She knew this day would come, but when it actually arrived, she still felt a pang of sadness, like a piece of her heart had been suddenly dug out.

Jiang Hanwen stood twenty meters from the entrance. Hearing footsteps behind him, he looked back in confusion. Zhang Ping had followed him.

“You won't be in the accounting room anymore. Aren't you going to say something to her?” Jiang Hanwen asked. The girl had reacted like that; was this young man so heartless?

“N-nothing to say.” Zhang Ping shook his head, a flicker of distraction in his eyes.

“Do you like her?” Jiang Hanwen asked.

“I—”

“Tell the truth!”

Stared at by Jiang Hanwen, Zhang Ping nodded seriously:

“Yes, I do!”

“Is she betrothed?”

Zhang Ping shook his head: “No.”

Jiang Hanwen pointed towards the courtyard:

“Good. This will be the first thing you do while following me.

Go in and tell her your true feelings.

I'll wait for you at the main gate. You have a quarter of an hour.”

After speaking, Jiang Hanwen turned and left.

Not expecting this, Zhang Ping's mouth opened and closed, then he turned to look at the courtyard and strode back.

Chen Hong sat dejectedly by the abacus, staring blankly at the account book on the table.

Suddenly, a rustling sound of footsteps reached her ears. She looked up.

Zhang Ping walked towards her with a somber face, deep in thought.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that Chief Steward Jiang didn't want Zhang Ping anymore?

Chen Hong felt a mix of joy and sorrow. She, of course, knew Chief Steward Jiang's importance in Zhang Ping's heart.

If Chief Steward Jiang didn't want Zhang Ping, how sad he would be.

Chen Hong asked uncertainly, “Chief Steward Jiang, he—”

Looking at the beautiful woman, Zhang Ping said clearly and distinctly, “I like you!”

The moment the words left his mouth, the heavy burden on his shoulders was lifted, and he felt an unprecedented lightness.

“Ah!” Chen Hong's face was flushed, her hands tightly clasped, looking at Zhang Ping in surprise.

Zhang Ping continued, “I want to ask you to be my wife.”

“Zhang Ping!” Chen Hong cried out sweetly, her eyes filled with a maiden's shyness. She had never heard such words before.

“Chief Steward Jiang told me to tell you what's in my heart, and I've said it.”

With that, Zhang Ping turned and left.

“Stop!” Chen Hong called out to him, biting her lip, “If he hadn't told you to say it, would you never have intended to say it your whole life?!”

Zhang Ping's mouth opened and closed, then he turned and walked quickly towards the door.

Despite Chen Hong calling out twice, Zhang Ping didn't pause once, walking with determination.

Just as he was about to walk out the main gate, Chen Hong shouted, “Zhang Ping, if you have the guts, marry me!”

Zhang Ping paused, then left the courtyard without looking back… On the way down the mountain, after hearing the entire confession process, Jiang Hanwen didn't know what to say.

This young man was truly like his father, a bit slow-witted, and his emotional intelligence was somewhat lacking.

“Tell me, why didn't you dare to answer her last question?” Jiang Hanwen asked.

“My father said that when looking for a wife, you need to be well-matched in social status. I'm not worthy of her.”

After saying this, Zhang Ping's eyes dimmed.

No man is willing to give up the girl he truly loves.

But the sharp knife of reality always likes to cut love, so deep that one could die for it, into fragments of daily necessities, houses, jobs, futures, income, and so on, then chop them into pieces.

Adding cold water, it forms an unbreakable ice wall, standing between the two, making them the most familiar strangers.

“Let me ask you a question: why do you want to follow me?” Jiang Hanwen looked directly into Zhang Ping's eyes.

The answer to this question seemed to be already etched in his blood.

As soon as Jiang Hanwen asked, Zhang Ping blurted out, saying extremely seriously, “I want to become a person like Lord Jiang!”

Jiang Hanwen retracted his gaze and pointed up the mountain:

“I will never give up on the person I love.

If you want to become like me, you must at least marry Chen Hong, understand?”

The next second, Zhang Ping said:

“Then, Lord Jiang, will you marry the person you love?”

Goodness, he's cornering me.

Jiang Hanwen turned his head, ready to kick this young man, but was met with a pair of clear and innocent eyes, full of curiosity.

“My standards are high, you know.”

“Oh, then you'll have to hurry. My father told me that if you're too old, it's easy to not be able to have children.” Zhang Ping said seriously, looking like he was sincerely offering advice.

Jiang Hanwen was certain, absolutely certain, that this young man in front of him, who was missing a screw, would definitely not be anyone's spy.

Because he spoke without thinking too much!

“Ah!”

Jiang Hanwen grabbed Zhang Ping and threw him directly into the sky…