Chapter 669 - 671: Fed Up with You All, Break Up!
In fact, Bai Ruozhu misunderstood the situation. One of Jiang Yichun’s subordinates reported that Zhou Jue’s horsemen had been sighted near the outskirts of the manor. A fight had broken out, and Jiang Yichun had rushed over urgently, determined to prevent the conflict from reaching his wife’s manor.
By the time Jiang Yichun returned, he had dealt with all the matters at hand, his wounds had been bandaged and the poison had been neutralized.
Bai Ruozhu’s face cooled as soon as she set eyes on him, barely suppressing a contemptuous humph.
Startled, Jiang Yichun believed that Bai Ruozhu was angry with him for failing to protect her. Feelings of guilt made him lower his gaze and maintain a chilled silence.
"Have all your injuries been dealt with?" After a while, her concern for him got the better of her and she couldn’t help but to ask.
"Oh, yes, they have been dealt with. You don’t have to worry." Jiang Yichun replied in a low voice, staring at his feet. He only meant to reassure her, but it seemed to Bai Ruozhu that his words carried a different implication.
Bai Ruozhu humphed yet again, this time deciding to keep quiet. She then turned and walked away without another word.
After wrestling with his thoughts for a while, Jiang Yichun was informed by his guard that Zhou Jue’s whereabouts were lost. Wu Yunfeng was also looking for him to manage some tasks.
He thus appointed some guards to remain behind and protect the manor. He tried to find Bai Ruozhu to inform her of this, but soon learned that she and Guizhi had already left for the beauty salon to see female clients. Hurriedly, Jiang Yichun passed on a couple of words to the maid Chixin before he left.
It was only after Bai Ruozhu had finished her duties that she learned from Chixin that Jiang Yichun had already departed, and this news made her mood worsen.
Late in the evening, Bai Ruozhu returned to the yard with her mother and Dengdeng. Guizhi stayed at the Hot Spring Mansion to handle matters there. The fact that Jiang Yichun hadn’t returned the entire night upset Bai Ruozhu further.
Before they became a couple, he would comfort her and choose to trust her no matter what happened. Now that they were together, was it such a big deal that an emasculated fellow had held her in his arms while she was dazed? Did he need to act as though she had cheated on him?
The next morning, Bai Ruozhu didn’t rush to the Hot Spring Mansion. Given what happened the previous day, she was concerned that Zhou Jue might not give up and pose a threat to her en route. She felt it would be safer to stay in Beiyu City for now.
Shortly after breakfast, she heard the sound of a horse carriage and a knock at the door. A maid answered the door and reported that Old Master Du wished to meet with Bai Ruozhu.
Bai Ruozhu’s eyes narrowed. The old fox certainly had a knack for timing.
"Invite him in for a cup of tea," she said nonchalantly.
The maid invited Old Master Du inside. With a broad smile, he greeted Lin Ping’er and then went to the main hall to meet with Bai Ruozhu. Du Zhongshu, who normally shadowed him, was conspicuously absent.
Bai Ruozhu held a tea cup in her hands, appearing as though she was studying it. Upon seeing Old Master Du, she poured him a cup of tea, "Du elder, sit down and have a cup of tea."
"Okay, thank you, Ruozhu." Old Master Du replied with a laugh, casually using a more intimate form of address for Bai Ruozhu as if they were well-acquainted.
Bai Ruozhu played along, taking her time to enjoy her tea. She didn’t ask Old Master Du for his purpose of visit and remained silent, as if waiting for him to break the silence instead.
Unable to outlast her patience, Old Master Du finally coughed and said, "I am here to deliver the item you have been seeking." With that, he took out a wooden box and handed it to Bai Ruozhu.
Bai Ruozhu accepted the box and glanced at the contents. The items were indeed what she needed. With these, combined with the medicinal materials she’d prepared, she could make better dental materials.
"Well, thank you, Du elder." Bai Ruozhu thanked him in a casual manner, a style characteristic of businesspeople.
Old Master Du coughed again and asked, "How’s the business at your Beauty Pavilion?"
"We’ve only been open for a day; it’s hard to tell at this point. I’m worried that it’s inconvenient for our customers as it’s a little out of town." Bai Ruozhu replied in a nonchalant manner. She could guess Old Master Du’s intent, but she had no intention of giving any hope.
Old Master Du chuckled for a moment, "It’s only natural for you to have such concerns. So why not prepare for the future and consider more projects?"
Bai Ruozhu felt that speaking with him was wasting her time. Unlike Shen Lu, he lacked the simplicity and straightforwardness she admired. She raised her eyebrows and asked, "Is Du elder here for my exclusive Xuan Jade and Pearl Jade Cream?"
"Yes, I’ve heard that you don’t have the time or energy to produce in large quantities. Many of the ladies are unhappy about this scarcity, and it’s a pity for you to offend them. So, how about we continue our cooperation? I can help with production and sales. The profit will be shared as originally agreed. How does that sound?" Old Master Du proposed.
Bai Ruozhu scoffed, "Du elder, I have no plans of that sort at the moment. The products are very delicate and not easily replicated. If I were to teach anyone, it would have to be my own disciples, whom I’d have to instruct personally. And I currently don’t have the time for that."
Old Master Du was momentarily lost for words. After thinking for a while, he said, "There’s always a solution. I can recommend a few skilled workers. They would surely learn faster than any disciples you take on. Madam City Master is interested in investing. I hope you can make this concession in consideration of her feelings. Naturally, she will ensure your benefits."
Bai Ruozhu’s face darkened. Was Old Master Du using Wang Miaoshuang to pressure her?
"Madam City Master only wants a 20% stake. I’ll offer you 40%. How about it?" Old Master Du thought Bai Ruozhu was worried about getting less money and quickly blurted out the numbers.
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh, "For my very own product, surely I’d own more than just 40% if I decided to do it myself, wouldn’t I?"
Cold light gleamed in Old Master Du’s eyes and his tone turned icy, "It’s good for young people to have drive but don’t overstep and underestimate others. Beiyu City isn’t a place where one can get their way so easily."
"It’s fine if an old gent is clever, but don’t take others for fools. Beiyu City won’t abide by someone who arrogantly blocks out the rest of the world!" Bai Ruozhu retorted without hesitation.
"You..." Old Master Du’s face darkened, "Are you really going to disrespect the face of the Du and Meng families?"
Bai Ruozhu burst into laughter, "How could I dare to disrespect the Meng Residence? But the Du family, what does it count as? Without the toothpaste formula I gave you, you’d just be small businessmen owning a few pharmacies. Even Wang Miaoshuang wouldn’t waste her time meeting you. You have to learn to be grateful. It’s fine if you are not grateful to me, but don’t repeatedly challenge my bottom line. Otherwise, our cooperation ends here. I, Bai Ruozhu, do not need your bonus money!"
"You’re too arrogant, disagreeing with the given names of the Masters, that is tantamount to major disrespect," Old Master Du yelled.
Bai Ruozhu rolled her eyes at him, "You must not have heard correctly due to your old age, who can prove otherwise?"
"You...you..." Old Master Du was speechless, he hadn’t anticipated Bai Ruozhu denying this.
"What’s with the stutter? I’ve also had enough of your Du family. Since you came here today, let’s be clear. Later, I’ll go to the Commerce Association and terminate our contract. From then on, you don’t need to give me the bonus money, and you can go your own way while I go mine!" Bai Ruozhu stated loudly.