Chapter 20

“What! You’re saying Mu Wanwan is getting close with another man? Sister Xiaoru, are you sure you didn’t see wrong?”

Wen Xin’s face was full of disbelief.

That morning, just after finishing breakfast, she had been called out by Lin Huiru. Seeing Lin Huiru’s serious face and hesitant manner, she knew there must be something important. But she never expected what Lin Huiru wanted to say would be this.

“I’m sure I didn’t see wrong. Mu Wanwan really was very intimate with that man. Xin Xin, I’ve actually thought about this for a long time, worried it might be a misunderstanding.

But this concerns Brother Wen Lin. I’m afraid Mu Wanwan… that she might lose her head for a moment and do something unfaithful to him.

Still, I can’t bring myself to tell Brother Wen Lin directly. If it turns out to be a misunderstanding, that would only damage his relationship with her. So I could only tell you.”

On the surface, Lin Huiru sounded as if she was thinking only of Wen Lin’s well-being. In truth, she had long since decided to plant this seed with Wen Xin.

She knew Wen Xin’s temperament all too well—straightforward, spoiled by her family, quick to anger.

If one wanted to stir up trouble and ruin Mu Wanwan’s reputation, Wen Xin was the perfect person to exploit.

“That Mu Wanwan! How dare she get involved with another man—so disgusting! No, I have to tell my brother immediately!”

Of course Wen Xin believed Lin Huiru. She would never think of it as some “misunderstanding.” More likely, Mu Wanwan really had betrayed her brother.

That country bumpkin from the village was never worthy of being her sister-in-law to begin with. To be such a loose woman on top of that—she would make sure her brother divorced her!

Seeing Wen Xin about to storm off, Lin Huiru quickly grabbed her arm.

“Xin Xin, don’t be impulsive. This might still be a misunderstanding. We can’t let Brother Wen Lin know yet. We have to confirm the truth first.”

Inside, Lin Huiru cursed Wen Xin for being a fool, but outwardly she coaxed her with gentle words.

Wen Xin thought it over and admitted that Lin Huiru had a point. They needed evidence. Otherwise, Mu Wanwan would just deny it, and what then?

“Sister Xiaoru, then how do we investigate?”

“Don’t worry. I know what that man looks like. For now, we only need to keep watch on Mu Wanwan. Let’s see if the two of them really have that kind of relationship.”

“You’re right, Sister Xiaoru. Whatever you say, I’ll do. I’ll listen to you!”

Lin Huiru smiled. Dealing with someone like Wen Xin was far too easy—she hardly needed to make any effort to hide her intentions.

With Wen Xin at her disposal, whatever she wanted to accomplish could be done.

---

That afternoon, Huzi came early to deliver pork offal to Mu Wanwan.

“Sister Wanwan, when I brought the marinated goods to Ke Lai Ju this morning, Boss Ju asked me to tell you—if you’re free this afternoon, he’d like you to come by.”

Every day Huzi delivered pork offal in the afternoon, then picked up the finished marinated products the next morning.

The errand money was decent, and lately his family’s life had improved. At least they no longer had to worry about paying for his grandmother’s medicine.

“All right, I understand.”

Mu Wanwan thought for a moment. Since she had nothing else planned that afternoon, she decided she might as well go.

After telling the old master at home, she headed out for Ke Lai Ju.

From a distance, she could already hear a noisy commotion. Once closer, she saw a line of people waiting outside the restaurant.

“I swear, they never make enough of that marinated food. Every time I buy some, it’s barely enough for myself!”

“Exactly! How can such a big restaurant make so little every day? If they made more, we wouldn’t have to stand in line like this.”

“Well, they’re the only ones selling it. For something that delicious, waiting a while isn’t so bad.”

Though they grumbled under the blazing sun, not a single person left the queue.

Inside, Mu Wanwan found Ju Boran sitting in the main hall.

“Wanwan, you’re here!”

At the sight of her, he walked over with a smile.

In recent days the two had grown familiar with each other, their way of address less formal.

“I heard from Huzi you wanted to see me?”

“Yes. I wanted to ask if you could supply us with a bit more marinated goods. You must have seen it yourself just now—the lines outside grow longer each day.

But still many customers leave empty-handed. Complaints are increasing. The twenty catties you make simply aren’t enough to sell.”

Ju Boran kept some aside for his own family, leaving even fewer to sell.

He had expected the marinated foods to be popular, but not this popular. His restaurant’s business had been lackluster, but in recent days the marinated dishes had attracted many new diners.

If supply could be increased, business would improve even more. Besides, making customers queue endlessly was bound to cause resentment.

Mu Wanwan lowered her head, considering. She had always been confident in her cooking, but even she hadn’t foreseen this level of demand.

Originally, she just wanted to earn some money through the marinated goods. Twenty catties a day was already her limit. Any more, and she would spend endless hours just cleaning ingredients.

After some thought, a new idea formed in her mind.

“Boran, twenty catties is the most I can manage. But… we could switch to a different kind of partnership.”

“What kind of partnership?” Ju Boran asked quickly.

“I can give you the recipe for the marinated goods. In return, I want thirty percent of the sales revenue.”

This, she felt, was a fair arrangement for both sides.

She had never intended to rely on selling marinated food long-term, and had already planned to sell the recipe eventually—just not so soon.

But Ju Boran was reliable and upright. She was willing to entrust it to him.

“Agreed! I accept!”

Ju Boran answered almost without hesitation.

Thirty percent was no small cut, but the potential profits for his restaurant would still be immense. For him, the deal was well worth it.

Mu Wanwan hadn’t expected him to agree so readily.

“I’ll draft a contract in the coming days. Once we sign, we can move forward.”

Ju Boran was thorough in his thinking. Mu Wanwan nodded in satisfaction.

They chatted a little longer before he walked her out.

In good spirits, Mu Wanwan hummed a tune as she strolled away, oblivious to the furtive figure watching from a distance.

Only after she left did Lin Huiru step up to the entrance of Ke Lai Ju. Casually asking a few customers in line, she learned that the man seen often with Mu Wanwan was none other than the restaurant’s owner.

Lately, Ke Lai Ju’s marinated foods had become a sensation, making it one of the busiest restaurants in the capital.

The last time she came with Song Meijuan to buy food, she hadn’t seen this Ju Boran. But now it seemed Mu Wanwan had somehow gotten close to him.

The owner of Ke Lai Ju—without a strong family background, there was no way he could have opened such a restaurant.

Jealousy pricked at Lin Huiru again. Mu Wanwan really was lucky. If she had secured a man like that, he was no less than Wen Lin.

Though her target was Wen Lin, she could not bear to let Mu Wanwan live comfortably either.

Clenching her fists, Lin Huiru felt a new scheme beginning to take shape in her mind…