Chapter 91: Worthy

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Worthy

Hearing He Rong’s name, Qin Yao was startled. "He’s had fermented tofu too?"

"I’m the one who gave it to him." Su Wan described He Rong’s behavior from the day before. "Lu Zhengchuan just told me today that He Rong even takes the jar of fermented tofu with him to the cafeteria to eat with his flatbreads. He won’t share with anyone."

After hearing this, Qin Yao had a strange expression. "Oh. I see."

"That’s why, Yaoyao, I suggest you find a partner to sell fermented tofu. The country is opening up the economy now. As a police officer, you should understand that better than anyone."

"...Mm, I’ll think about it. The main problem is I don’t have any help here..."

"That’s simple. Just ask some close friends and relatives from your hometown to come over."

Su Wan’s side of the family were all good people, and she hoped every one of them could have a job.

Qin Yao couldn’t help but envy the trust in family that Su Wan subconsciously revealed. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

She couldn’t resist asking, "Wanwan, you must have a great relationship with your family, don’t you?"

"Yes, it’s great. My mom gave me three older brothers, and the wives they married are all good to me too. My nieces and nephews are all very sensible. I’ve been in the Southwest for so long that I really miss them. I wonder how they’re all doing back home."

The Su family, whom Su Wan was just thinking about, were at that very moment all gathered at home for a meeting.

"Wanwan, I’ll definitely consider what you said." Qin Yao also wanted a comfortable life like Su Wan’s. She didn’t want to be the kind of person who couldn’t even bear to buy herself a meat dish at the cafeteria.

’A woman should live like Wanwan,’ she thought. ’That’s the only way to live a life you don’t regret.’

She had seen too many women who, after getting married, spent their entire lives sacrificing for their families, husbands, and children. They toiled endlessly but never bought anything for themselves, accepting grievances as if it were their lot in life.

"Good. And if you end up making a lot of fermented tofu, I’d like to buy some more."

"If you took it to the Capital to sell, it would definitely sell very well."

Qin Yao’s spirits were instantly lifted. "Wanwan, you want to take it to the Capital to sell? Won’t it be embarrassing? It’s too niche. It’s just a condiment. I’m afraid city folk will look down on it."

Su Wan sensed her insecurity and responded with bright confidence, raising an eyebrow with a brilliant smile. "Look down on it? As long as it’s a good product, all it needs is some new packaging to become a high-end item. There will be plenty of people willing to buy it."

"Look at clam cream. It’s really popular here in our country, right? But in foreign countries, it’s considered cheap, street-stall stuff."

It was an eye-opener for Qin Yao. She felt that just talking to Su Wan made her feel more confident.

"Okay, I understand now!"

Qin Yao took this matter completely to heart.

After seeing them off on the train, she went straight to Songshan Road to buy all sorts of ingredients. Every night after work, she would go home and start making it.

The fermented tofu needed time to ferment, but she had enough savings to get by.

Normally, aside from her police duties, she would patrol the newly designated street vendor zones to see how the sellers at that time conducted their business.

Several times, she ran into He Rong.

Qin Yao had learned her lesson and would hide whenever she saw He Rong.

"What are you hiding from? Afraid I’ll get revenge on you?" He Rong cornered her in an alley.

Qin Yao deliberately put some distance between them. "I’m not afraid of you getting revenge. I’m just on patrol. Could you please not interfere with my work?"

Qin Yao turned to leave, but He Rong reached out and blocked her way again.

"What do you want!" Qin Yao watched him warily.

"...Is your family’s fermented tofu for sale?" He Rong’s question left Qin Yao stunned for a moment.

Noticing that He Rong was getting embarrassed and annoyed, she subconsciously nodded. "It is, but this batch is from before. The new batch isn’t ready yet. How much do you want?"

"I’ll buy one jar for now. We’ll see after I finish it." He Rong pulled out some money and handed it to her.

Qin Yao glanced at the large ten-yuan bill, then pulled out an assortment of change from her simple wallet—one-yuan bills, ten-cent pieces, and even single cents.

"One jar of fermented tofu is fifty cents. Take the rest back."

He Rong raised an eyebrow. "I’ve never met someone who turns down money. You keep it. When I come to buy more fermented tofu later, you can just deduct the cost from this."

Qin Yao rejected the offer outright. "No. When I do business, I don’t offer credit or accept advance payments. If you don’t take it back, I’m not selling."

Qin Yao waited for a moment. Seeing He Rong leaning against the wall in silence, his stance a little imposing, she grew impatient.

She frowned and turned to leave.

"Hey..." Seeing her leave without a second thought, He Rong laughed in exasperation. "I’m not the one who’s angry. What are you so mad about?"

"If you have something to say, say it directly. I don’t like guessing what other people are thinking. Besides, I’ve already stated my rules. If you’re not willing to follow them, then our deal is off. What else is there for me to wait for?" Qin Yao’s emotions remained stable as she articulated her thoughts clearly.

A flicker of interest flashed in He Rong’s eyes. "Are you like this with everyone? So sincere and straightforward?"

Qin Yao frowned. "I’m sorry, but we’re not friends, nor are we family. I see no reason to have such a deep conversation with you."

He Rong’s lips pressed into a thin line at her deliberate attempt to put distance between them.

"You..."

"Mr. He, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving." Without a backward glance, Qin Yao placed the money on the ground and turned to leave.

He Rong stared at her retreating back. After she was far away, he looked at the money on the ground and, in a fit of anger, couldn’t stop himself from kicking out.

The bill fluttered in the air.

"Someone who doesn’t love money? I don’t believe it!"

In a fit of pique, He Rong turned, picked up the money, and stormed back to the military compound. He called over a subordinate and began practicing his punches with a vengeance.

-

「Meanwhile, Su Wan and Lu Zhengchuan had arrived at the Capital Railway Station.」

Before they had even exited the station, Su Wan saw Su Jue approaching with two other men to meet them.

"Alright guys, get all this stuff onto the tricycle," Su Jue directed them in an orderly manner.

His two underlings saw Lu Zhengchuan’s military uniform and jumped in surprise. They pulled Su Jue aside and whispered, "Boss, you know a soldier?"

"What’s wrong with him being a soldier?"

"A soldier involved in speculating... This isn’t a setup, is it?" The two underlings looked at Lu Zhengchuan with wariness and suspicion.

They were terrified that the moment they took the goods, these soldiers would arrest them.

Su Jue smacked them on the head. "That’s my brother-in-law! You think my brother-in-law is going to arrest me, his third brother, right in front of my little sister?"

The two underlings’ faces instantly turned beet red with embarrassment.

"Third Brother, and these two are?" Su Wan stepped forward to break the awkward silence, giving them a gentle smile.

The two men’s faces instantly flushed, their eyes filled with awe.

Su Jue knew exactly what was on these young guys’ minds. ’They get tongue-tied whenever they see a pretty girl, and my sister has been attracting admirers since she was little.’ He’d already dealt with countless swarms of these pests.

Despite his thoughts, he puffed out his chest proudly. "Wanwan, this is Zhang Shun, and this is Wei Hong."

"Shunzi, Ah Hong, this is my little sister, Su Wan."

"Nice to meet you, Sister Wanwan!" The two of them jostled to be the first to shake her hand.

Although Su Wan was pregnant, her slightly rounded belly, combined with her simple white dress, an intricate and beautiful fishtail braid, snow-white skin, and rosy complexion, didn’t detract from her appearance at all. In fact, her pregnancy added a certain graceful charm.

Su Wan extended her hand.

But Lu Zhengchuan intercepted it midway.

"Hello. I’m Lu Zhengchuan, Wanwan’s husband." Lu Zhengchuan smoothly positioned himself between the three of them, blocking Zhang Shun and Wei Hong’s view of Su Wan.