Chapter 7: The Countryside Wife and the White Moonlight (7)

Su Yu’s status in the Marshal’s Manor remained somewhat awkward. Aside from Li Hua and Butler Qian, none of the staff truly acknowledged her as the manor’s mistress—fundamentally because she held no authority over household management.

Fortunately, with Butler Qian treating her with respect, no one was foolish enough to slight her.

Before the tutors arrived at the manor, Su Yu took Li Hua out for an excursion.

Su Yu intended to mail the three short poems she had written to Xianhua Press, but she had no wish to reveal her identity. She needed a secure address where mail could be sent and received on her behalf.

With no relatives or friends in Xuancheng, and her newly adopted daughter having only an unreliable father and a spiteful stepmother, Su Yu had nearly given up on earning money through writing until she remembered the inn she had visited once before.

The inn was named the Youth Hostel, and its proprietor knew her identity.

After notifying Butler Qian, Su Yu took Li Hua straight to the Youth Hostel.

The proprietor happened to be stepping outside to solicit guests. Seeing Su Yu approach, he found her familiar, yet could not place where he had seen her.

Su Yu walked up to him. “What, Boss Liang? Have I lost so much weight that you no longer recognize me?”

Boss Liang peered at her more closely, mentally imagining what the woman would look like with more weight on her frame. The realization struck him instantly. “Oh, Madam Mo! What brings you here?”

Beaming, Boss Liang invited her inside to talk.

Watching from the side, Li Hua was filled with wonder. Mother is truly incredible. Even people outside treat her with such deference!

Once inside, Boss Liang seated Su Yu in the front hall. “Propriety dictates that a man and a woman not retire to a private room, so please forgive the simple setting.”

It was already past nine in the morning, and the hall was completely deserted.

Su Yu turned her thoughts over in her mind before speaking softly. “Is business hard to come by, Boss Liang?”

Boss Liang sighed ruefully. “My establishment is out of the way, yet my rates aren’t particularly low. The accommodations are old-fashioned—no Simmons spring mattresses, no flush toilets or bathtubs. Many travelers find it inconvenient and would rather spend a bit more to stay elsewhere.”

After lamenting his troubles, Boss Liang looked at Su Yu. “Does Madam Mo require some assistance? Please speak freely. If it is within my power, I will gladly do it.”

Su Yu was backed by the Marshal’s Manor. If he could attach himself to her favor, it would open up valuable avenues for the future.

Su Yu knew full well that his eagerness was entirely due to the Marshal’s Manor. However, she had not come today merely to demand favors. “Boss Liang is a straightforward man, so I will cut straight to the point. I would like to purchase a stake in your hostel.”

Boss Liang was astonished. “As you can see, Madam, this hostel barely brings in enough to keep food on the table.”

He could not fathom why Su Yu would want to invest in an unprofitable venture.

Su Yu replied calmly, “I have my own ways of making it profitable. It all depends on whether Boss Liang is willing to accept my offer.”

Naturally, Boss Liang had no reason to refuse. Going into business with the Marshal’s wife was an unexpected windfall.

Steeling his resolve, Boss Liang said, “I agree.”

“And the capital?”

Suppressing the pang in his heart, Boss Liang said politely, “Your willingness to seek me out is an honor. For half the shares in this hostel, one hundred silver dollars will suffice.”

Li Hua’s eyes lit up. Could such a good deal really exist?

Su Yu, however, shook her head. “Business is business. Boss Liang need not make concessions out of regard for my status.”

Boss Liang’s expression relaxed considerably; after all, he still had a family to feed. “Three hundred silver dollars, and I will give you a sixty percent stake.”

That would make Su Yu the controlling owner.

Understanding his intentions, Su Yu extended her hand. “A pleasure doing business with you.”

Boss Liang did not dare hold her hand for long, releasing it after a brief, polite clasp.

Since he was betting everything on her, Su Yu was determined not to let him lose a single copper. From this day forward, this establishment would only become more profitable.

However, Su Yu currently had only nineteen silver dollars to her name—a far cry from three hundred. She certainly had no intention of asking Mo Chengyuan for money. Reaching into her sleeve, she placed the poems she had written before Boss Liang. “Boss Liang, I do not have the silver dollars on hand at the moment. These are poems I composed. Mail them to Xianhua Press for me, and keep whatever remuneration they send back. Once the earnings reach three hundred dollars, we will sign the formal contract.”

Boss Liang was flabbergasted. He gave a wry laugh. Madam Mo is truly a born merchant. She had just secured a sixty percent stake in his hostel completely empty-handed!

Yet even without a signed contract, the Marshal’s Manor loomed behind her. If he went back on his word, there would be hell to pay.

“Rest assured, Boss Liang. We are partners now, and our future will be mutually beneficial. You will not regret today’s decision.”

Su Yu continued, “My name is Su Yu. You need not address me as Madam Mo in the future. I will be writing many more articles moving forward, and I will have to trouble you to post them for me. If anyone comes looking for the author, simply tell them that Hanshan is one of the proprietors here and keeps a private room dedicated to writing. Do not mention any of my other identities.”

Hanshan was her chosen pen name.

Boss Liang was puzzled. “Miss Su, if your writing is well received, why not let the world know?”

“That is precisely why I approached you. The Marshal does not look fondly upon my writing. If he discovers this, our partnership will be over. I must also ask Boss Liang to keep this strictly confidential. Even if Adjutant Xue comes inquiring, breathe not a word.”

Hearing this, Boss Liang began to regret stepping onto Su Yu’s ship. Doing something the Marshal disapproved of behind his back—if they were discovered, how could he possibly survive the fallout?

Yet having boarded the ship, disembarking was easier said than done.

“Rest assured, I will not tell a soul.”

Sensing his reluctance, Su Yu arched a brow. “Would Boss Liang mind changing the establishment’s name?”

“What might Miss Su have in mind?” Boss Liang asked weakly, his heart aching. He had spent a great deal of thought coming up with the Youth Hostel—what a progressive, modern ring it had!

“Let us call it Hanshan Literary Studio.”

Su Yu was certain that Hanshan would make a name for herself. She intended to forge the hostel into a salon for literati; when countless writers and progressive youths flocked here, business would flourish as a matter of course.

“One more thing: you might launch a promotion. Long-term lodgers who stay for a full month receive five days free of charge. While that seems like a loss of five silver dollars, keeping them under our roof means they will spend money on food and drink right here. You can do the math yourself, Boss Liang.”

In all his years running the inn, Boss Liang had never heard of offering five free days for a month’s stay. Running a quick mental calculation, he realized that if a guest took three meals a day at the hostel for a month, the profit would amount to at least twenty silver dollars.

Boss Liang could not contain his excitement. “Miss Su, you truly are my savior!”

He had barely managed to scrape by on this inn and had been planning to endure for another two months before cutting his losses and turning to another trade—though whether another venture would turn a profit was anyone’s guess.

The blueprint Su Yu painted before him offered a beacon of hope.