Chapter 6

Human nature really couldn’t withstand the test. Tang Jin had just praised her sisters for their honesty when the System rewarded her with a bowl of Steamed Pork.

She immediately turned to Chu Lingyue. “Wife, before it gets completely dark, let’s go visit Grandmother.”

These little sisters had better step up. She didn’t want to be disappointed.

Understanding dawned in Chu Lingyue’s eyes. “Alright.”

Tang Laidi was stunned. They weren’t taking her along?

She wanted to cry. She felt utterly helpless.

The noodles really were delicious—they’d definitely sell well at a restaurant. But her savings truly amounted to just twenty taels of silver.

After agonizing for a moment between lending it or not, Tang Laidi gritted her teeth and asked, “I can lend you these twenty taels, but you have to tell me first how we’ll split the profits.”

Even blood sisters settled accounts clearly. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Tang Jin. Well, alright, she didn’t trust her.

After all, that was her entire savings!

She didn’t even trust her own mother!

Tang Jin perked up at once. “We’ll split it four-four. You provide the silver, I provide the labor. I won’t let you lose out.”

She was always fair in her dealings.

Tang Laidi blinked. “What about the remaining two shares? That doesn’t add up neatly.”

Tang Jin replied matter-of-factly, “Those two shares go to my wife, of course. You can’t expect her to work for free, can you? Unless you have extra silver to hire help?”

Hearing this, Tang Laidi instinctively glanced at Chu Lingyue.

Chu Lingyue’s expression remained calm as she gazed back at Tang Laidi, as if saying she was being petty—after all, she was helping too.

Tang Laidi’s mouth twitched slightly. She looked away. “Fine. Consider the twenty taels lent.”

She was a generous person, after all.

But Tang Jin shook her head. “If you’re getting a share, it’s not a loan anymore. This is your investment. Otherwise, I could just borrow from someone else. Laidi, it seems you haven’t thought this through. Maybe we should call the whole thing off.”

Tang Laidi froze. “Not a loan? What if we don’t make any money? Won’t you pay me back?”

Tang Jin nodded without batting an eye. As if that wasn’t obvious.

Tears welled up silently in Tang Laidi’s heart. Suddenly, she felt like she’d jumped into a huge pit—and worse, she’d done it willingly.

“Tang Jin, I trust you. You absolutely have to make those dishes well.”

Otherwise, she’d not only be homeless but penniless too. That would be truly disastrous.

Tang Jin promised solemnly, “Don’t worry. I’ll do my utmost.”

With the System on her side, she just needed to chat more with Chu Lingyue, listen to more lies, and stockpile more food.

Once the partnership was settled and they’d each signed and thumbprinted three copies of the contract, Tang Jin beamed and extended her hand. “Hand over the silver.”

Staring at Tang Jin’s confident face, Tang Laidi didn’t bother mentioning that half the silver was still with her mother. Heart aching, she pulled out her money pouch and passed over the silver.

Tang Jin tucked it away neatly and said pleasantly, “You rest for now. Lingyue and I will go inside and make up the bed.”

Tang Laidi nodded dazedly, her mind a blank whirl. Had she really just invested her entire savings?

It was the money she’d scrimped and saved for a whole year…

She’d only planned to stay a few days at first…

After closing the bedroom door, Tang Jin held out her hand to Chu Lingyue. “We need to amend your contract.”

Giving away two shares for free was too generous for this woman. She wasn’t running a charity.

Right now, money needed to be spent wisely—like getting this woman to pull more weight.

Chu Lingyue frowned slightly. Amend it?

She had no idea how Tang Jin had conjured those gourmet dishes out of thin air, but since she’d made such bold promises and signed a contract with Tang Laidi, she must have some trick up her sleeve. The restaurant should succeed.

If Chu Lingyue did nothing at all, she wouldn’t deserve a cut.

So…

After a pause, Chu Lingyue said coolly, “I can wash vegetables.”

Tang Jin shook her head. “No need.”

The System provided everything ready-made. They wouldn’t even need to buy produce, let alone wash it.

Chu Lingyue pressed her lips together. “I can wash dishes.”

Tang Jin said nothing. Washing dishes alone wasn’t enough.

Chu Lingyue continued, “I can clean the tables and chairs.”

“I can sweep the restaurant every day.”

“I can help serve customers.”

Tang Jin remained silent. That was two shares—two taels out of ten going to this woman. But the restaurant didn’t really require much manual labor anyway. Maybe this would do?

At that moment, Chu Lingyue’s lips curved faintly. She stared straight at Tang Jin. “I can ask no questions, say nothing, and cooperate with you fully wherever needed.”

She didn’t remember her past. Back then, out of gratitude for saving her life and with nowhere else to turn, she’d married Tang Jin.

Now, though they were nominally wives, they were strangers. She had to look out for herself.

She suspected the pre-amnesia version of herself wasn’t a good person—marrying for protection, then hoarding silver and grain, and now even resorting to threats…

Tang Jin arched a brow. What did that mean? If she didn’t get those two shares, this woman would start prying and talking?

Well played. That was a threat.

And damn it, it worked. To keep things under wraps going forward, she’d need Chu Lingyue’s cooperation.

The situation had suddenly flipped against her…

Seeing Tang Jin stay quiet, Chu Lingyue said calmly, “The restaurant hasn’t opened yet. Arguing over this is pointless. I suggest you focus on how to get it started instead.”

Tang Jin knew the woman was changing the subject but found herself persuaded anyway.

To open a restaurant, she’d need plenty of rewards. Otherwise, they’d end up selling air.

And rewards…

Tang Jin steadied herself and feigned reluctance. “Fine. I agree. You had better hold up your end, or we’ll all go hungry.”

Things were developing more or less as she’d expected. She could be the hands-off boss from here on out, leaving all the chores to this woman. As for Tang Laidi—well, she was the investor, so squeezing her for labor too would be unfair.

Chu Lingyue’s expression eased slightly. “Renting a modest storefront with twenty taels isn’t hard, but outfitting it will likely exhaust the funds.”

Since she had a stake now, she ought to contribute ideas. Free benefits never sat entirely right.

Tang Jin grinned. “As long as we can rent a place and open, I’ll handle the rest.”

Chu Lingyue lowered her gaze, murmuring softly, “Very well.”

This person truly had secrets—like a magician pulling delicious dishes out of nowhere.

And it had only started today…

At this point, Tang Jin remembered the main event. She probed, “Wife, do you really trust me completely?”

With the capital secured, it was time to farm rewards.

The fastest way, of course, was to listen to lies.

Since Chu Lingyue had agreed to help, Tang Jin could milk this woman for all she was worth.

As long as Chu Lingyue wasn’t an idiot—and she was doing it for the silver—she wouldn’t expose her.

Chu Lingyue’s eyes flickered. “Why say such a thing, A-Jin? Of course I trust you.”

【Ding, rewarded one plate of Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs】

Tang Jin’s lips curved. Listening to Chu Lingyue lie was becoming second nature.

“Is that really what you think, wife?”