Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 71: Drunk
"A shortcut?" Shen Tu Zhuo pondered for a moment and guessed, "Are you planning to take this opportunity to join forces with the Tan family to rapidly expand your business in the four Hexi counties, using this as a stepping stone to participate in the selection of imperial merchants?"

"No, it's not a collaboration," Tan Huaike said, "it's a merger."

The candlelight danced in her eyes, like a slowly burning spark dormant in the pitch-black night. She spoke so calmly, as calm as a casual drunken joke, yet one could truly feel the long-suppressed ambition breathing and flickering, waiting only for a gust of wind to unleash a fire powerful enough to set the whole field ablaze.

Looking into her eyes, Shentu Zhuo drank two cups of wine in a daze.

He had never felt that the Mohe-flavored fruit wine was so intoxicating, just like the woman from the Western Territory in front of him. From the moment she suddenly appeared in his life, she had been constantly bringing him mysterious and novel experiences.

She was once bought into slavery by the Tan family, manipulated by them into marrying off and becoming a widow. However, she did not become self-pitying because of these hardships, nor was she intimidated by her seemingly powerful "masters" and succumbed to the shackles imposed by the secular world. On the contrary, she despised them, resisting in her own way, and gradually strengthening herself.

She carefully cultivated the five acres of land she had won so that she could cook and eat; she revamped two shops that were on the verge of closing and turned them from losses into profits; she resolutely invested all her savings to open her own restaurant and gain a firm foothold on Xiangling Street... The stronger she became, the more chances she had of winning.

But she knew very well that this was far from enough to qualify for selection as an imperial merchant.

After calming his head, which had been shaken by her shock, Shen Tuzhuo leaned forward and reminded her, "Swallow...you want to swallow up the entire Tan family's assets? If you want to make a big profit with a small investment, the risks involved are much higher than if you just follow the rules."

Having been on edge all day, he seemed to relax upon seeing this man. After drinking two cups of wine, Tan Huaike felt dizzy and started talking more. "For me, no matter what I do, the risk is very high. My identity is fake, and Tan Li still holds my indenture in his hand. Talking about cooperation with them is like trying to get the skin of a tiger. It is definitely not a long-term solution."

"Besides, I can't wait that long. My father and brother's vengeance remains unresolved, and the princess's marriage is blocked. I must break free from these shackles as soon as possible to even consider the stakes of those powerful figures. So, rather than letting the Tan family manipulate me and threaten me like they did this time to force me to take over the shop, it would be better to use them as bait and swallow them whole. I can completely cut down the rotten trees in this forest, cleanse the roots of the mud, and then participate in the selection of imperial merchants with a new business name. This will be in my best interest."

"You need an opportunity."

"I have a feeling that this opportunity is coming soon."

"You know there's something wrong with those ten new shops?"

"I'm not sure. All the major businesses in the four counties have been making moves lately. It's a chaotic mess. I think everyone's preparing for the selection of the Imperial Merchant. But I have a vague feeling that there's an invisible hand secretly manipulating this, playing everyone around in circles." Tan Huaike said, half-lying on the table. "Tan Li was fooled once before and lost a lot of cash. This time, he must have received some reliable information, and he was so proud that he invested a lot of money. But like you said, if this matter was really foolproof, why would this old fox urge me to help him share the burden?"

"Someone is muddying the waters..."

"That's right. The muddier the water, the easier it is for us small fry to profit." Tan Huaike smiled slyly. At this point, he regained his spirits, propped up on his elbows, and walked to the wooden platform in the middle of the restaurant. He danced the Kupsu-Niro dance steps he had practiced for a long time and said briskly, "As the saying goes, the carp leaps over the dragon gate. It all depends on whether I can jump high enough this time."

She entered the game with her own hands and made plans very early on. She did not want to beg for mercy from the Tan family, nor did she want to work hand in hand with them. Instead, she wanted to overthrow them completely and become the boss herself.

Shentu Zhuo understood her, and at the same time, he became more and more unable to extricate himself.

He also walked to the stage and sang for her, clapping his hands and singing: "Then I will dance with you, Abduilsalani..." He brushed off the layers of sand, making her an incomparably dazzling colorful bead.

There was a girl as beautiful as pearls and jade, dancing on the stage.

My body is in the starry sky, my mind is on the nine-layered curtain. The past is like dust, and the future has nothing to fear.

If your shadow is not your true love, why would your mind be so confused?

He recalled the moment he made up his mind to pursue a career in government, lying in his brother's coffin. Later, upon stepping out, he saw in those unfamiliar eyes the same reluctance and yearning he had himself. From then on, she became the spring that washed him, the fire that warmed him. Whenever he felt tired and anxious, he would come to her side, and all his worries would dissipate.

He originally just wanted to save the dilapidated Shentu Mansion, but now he also wants to be with her forever.

This night is so beautiful.

Someone was whispering plans in his ears, and a faint smile was dancing in his heart.

The deep red fruit wine created ripples, and the sweet and mellow aroma lingered between his lips and teeth. He was drunken and dazed, wanting to hold tightly the hand that was so close to him, and gently kiss the bright red lips.

But he couldn't advance or retreat.

Exhausted from dancing, Tan Huaike sat on the ground, panting lightly with exhaustion, holding his forehead and said, "I can't take it anymore, I feel dizzy..."

Like a bewitched moth, Shen Tu Zhuo knelt on one knee in front of her, frowning and angrily saying, "I don't want to acknowledge you as my sister-in-law, so why do you have to be my sister-in-law?"

Tan Huaike asked, "What if I'm not your sister-in-law?"

Reaching out and lifting her sweat-soaked hair, Shen Tu Zhuo tucked it behind her ear: "If you weren't, I would..."

Tan Huaike did not avoid him, but raised his eyes and interrupted him: "Shen Tu Zhuo, you are drunk."
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Shentu Zhuo couldn't quite remember how he got home after that. The next day, when he asked Ah Shuo about it, he learned roughly what had happened the night before, after he'd gotten drunk.

Pei'er waited until the mistress returned, then came with a lantern to fetch her master. When Tan Huaike returned to the mansion, he told Ah Shuo and Ah Hui to hurry to the restaurant and bring him back, who was already half drunk and asleep at the table.

After Shentu Zhuo washed up, a few words of Tan Huaike suddenly flashed through his mind.

What about "The old lady allowed Shen Tuji to patronize the restaurant, which is considered to save my face as the eldest lady". He knew this in his heart. Even though the old lady had some complaints about Tan Huaike's actions, she was happy to see this restaurant succeed. Shen Tuji, that girl, had many prejudices against her as her sister-in-law, and she probably wouldn't say anything good. It was hard for Tan Huaike not to make a fuss about her.

What about "His Highness Aisha has also come to show his support and offered many useful suggestions? He is truly a distinguished guest who understands the taste of delicious food." Tsk, what does that pretentious eldest prince know? He is just a noble from a small country in the western border. Their Shentu Mansion is also considered a noble of Daxuan. Aren't they more knowledgeable than him? It's better not to listen to the advice of such a person.

Something like, "Here comes a nobleman. He doesn't look like an ordinary person. You should meet him..." He couldn't remember what came after that. What nobleman? A nobleman with such good looks and grace as him is rare. Is it worth paying so much attention to him? He should have returned earlier yesterday. He couldn't let her be deceived by those fancy-sounding dandies.

Thinking of this, he turned his attention to the need to modify the quota diversion map.
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　Next chapter: Is it you?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)