8: Chapter 8 I like your daughter-in-law, name your price.

The Cao Family’s reception hall.

Cao Deshuang sat in the main seat, his elderly face so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

Opposite him, Xiao Ye sat with his legs crossed, his expression full of sincerity and his eyes burning with intensity.

“Old Cao,” Xiao Ye said, cutting straight to the chase with an incredibly earnest tone, “I truly like your daughter-in-law. Name your price.”

Standing behind Xiao Ye, Butler Li’s legs had already begun to tremble.

Master, are you negotiating for a concubine or buying groceries? Who is this direct?

“What the hell—”

Just because you like her, does that mean I don’t?

Cao Deshuang couldn't hold back anymore; he slammed his palm onto the table, causing the teacups to jump three feet high.

Old Ghost Xiao had pissed him off with a single sentence. This old thing actually dared to compete with him for a piece of meat?

He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and sneered, “Old Ghost Xiao, you want me to let her go? Fine.”

He held up one finger.

“Give me Xiaos Restaurant.”

Cao Deshuang demanded an astronomical ransom. He was certain Xiao Ye wouldn't be able to part with it—Xiaos Restaurant was the largest in Qingshan Town and the Xiao Family’s only remaining cash cow. Without it, the Xiao Family would be nothing but an empty shell.

If this old thing had even half a brain left, he should know to back off.

“Deal.”

Xiao Ye answered crisply and decisively, without even blinking.

Cao Deshuang: “...”

He suspected he had misheard.

“What did you say?”

“I said deal,” Xiao Ye said with an innocent look. “Old Cao, is your hearing failing you?”

Cao Deshuang’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.

Wait? You just agreed?

His head was buzzing, and his gaze uncontrollably drifted toward his backyard—that was where his daughter-in-law, Bai Susu, lived.

Is Bai Susu made of gold or something?

This old thing must be crazy! Trading a whole restaurant for a woman? Xiaos Restaurant brought in at least several thousand taels of silver a year, yet this old man threw it away without a second thought?

Cao Deshuang suddenly felt like he was the one losing out.

He had named that price to scare Xiao Ye away, not because he actually wanted to marry Bai Susu off! He had been eyeing her for three years, and she was just about to fall into his hands...

“Old Ghost Xiao,” Cao Deshuang narrowed his eyes, trying to push back, “I said Xiaos Restaurant. Did you hear me clearly?”

“I heard you clearly.”

“That is the only profitable industry your Xiao Family has left.”

“I know.”

“Without it, is your Xiao Family going to live on thin air?”

Xiao Ye smiled, revealing a row of white teeth. “That’s none of your concern.”

He stood up, brushed off some non-existent dust from his robes, and said nonchalantly, “I’ll have someone deliver the deed tomorrow. In three days, I’ll come to pick her up.”

After saying that, he turned and left with a light step and a graceful stride.

Cao Deshuang sat in his chair, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

He looked down at his hand—the one that had just slammed the table was still trembling slightly.

It wasn't from anger.

It was from sheer bewilderment.

He suddenly had a very strange feeling—as if he had been schemed against by this old man, but he couldn't figure out exactly how.

A man in his sixties, trading a mountain of gold for a woman?

This Old Ghost Xiao must truly be insane.

Outside, Xiao Ye walked with great strides, the corners of his mouth curling up uncontrollably.

A restaurant?

Just a measly restaurant.

He was an Immortal Master now. In the future, he would have all the Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills he wanted. Why would he care about a bit of measly silver?

Secular properties were already like fleeting clouds in his eyes.

As for whether Cao Deshuang would go back on his word—

Xiao Ye narrowed his eyes.

Would he dare?

Behind him, Butler Li came running to catch up, drenched in sweat. “Master, are you really giving him the restaurant?”

“I am.”

“But that’s our Xiao Family’s...”

“Old Li,” Xiao Ye stopped and looked back at him, “believe it or not, in a few months, I’ll be able to buy ten streets worth of restaurants like that.”

Butler Li opened his mouth, and looking at the glowing, energetic Master before him, he suddenly felt less worried.

Though he still couldn't fathom where the Master’s confidence came from.

But if the Master said he had it, then he probably... really did.

The next day, Cao Deshuang held the deed to Xiaos Restaurant, looking it over seven or eight times, still looking dazed.

It’s really mine now?

A restaurant for a woman?

He felt like something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

The only thing that bothered him was that he had been lusting after Bai Susu for three years. Handing her over like this left him truly unwilling.

Especially since others didn't know, but he knew very well—his short-lived son had died before they even had a chance to consummate the marriage.

Even after being married into the family for three years, Bai Susu was still a virgin.

Three years.

He had waited for three years, and just as things were heating up, Old Ghost Xiao had swooped in out of nowhere.

Cao Deshuang’s eyes darted around as he came up with a plan.

That night, in the dead of night.

Cao Deshuang sneakily crept outside Bai Susu’s room, pressing his ear against the door to listen. It was quiet inside, with only the sound of steady breathing.

She was asleep.

His mouth split into a grin as he moved to the side. He had intentionally left a secret latch on that window; when it was being repaired, he had personally supervised the carpenter to make sure it could be pushed open from the outside.

He gently pushed the window open and began to crawl inside—

Utterly unaware that someone was lying on the roof, looking down and seeing his every move clearly.

Xiao Ye lay on the eaves, a cold sneer playing on his lips.

Heh.

I knew this old dog was up to no good.

Seeing the meat about to be taken away by someone else, he naturally wanted to take a bite first.

He leaped lightly, landing soundlessly on the ground, and followed Cao Deshuang inside.

Since his Breakthrough to the Qi Refinement Stage, although he didn't know any Spells for flying or tunneling yet, things like leaping onto roofs or fighting ten men at once were already child's play.

Inside the room, Cao Deshuang was already grappling with Bai Susu.

“Susu, just let me enjoy it once... just once...” Cao Deshuang gripped Bai Susu’s wrist tightly, his old face leaning in. His shriveled lips were about to kiss those plump peaches, and he was nearly drooling.

Bai Susu struggled desperately, but how could a weak woman overpower him? Like a little lamb, she was pinned against the wall.

“Ah—”

A blood-curdling scream.

It wasn't from Bai Susu, but from Cao Deshuang.

The scream sounded like a slaughtered pig, echoing through the air.

He suddenly clutched his crotch, his whole body hunching over like a shrimp, his face twisting into a grotesque mask of pain.

Xiao Ye retracted his foot and patted his pant leg with a look of disgust.

Crotch Kick.

Specially designed to treat all kinds of old perverts, works every time.

He couldn't stand to see his woman defiled—not even a little. Even if she hadn't officially joined his household yet, she was still his.

“Ah—!”

The other startled cry came from Bai Susu.

She looked in terror at the second old man who had appeared out of thin air, her voice trembling like a leaf in the wind:

“You... who are you!”