Miss and farmhand

Huang Chu didn't answer but laughed instead: "Listen to what kind of talk this is! What kind of father talks about marriage so shamelessly in front of his own daughter? Be careful, or I'll tell Mother!"

Huang Xingtong snorted, "Even if you tell your mother, she'll still be on my side. Don't try to change the subject, just answer honestly."

Huang Chu shook his head, casually fiddling with a small pastry on the plate, and said without much thought, "Alright, then it'll be Manager Zhou. Next time he comes, I'll tell him I want to take him as my son-in-law. He's the youngest son, with several older brothers, so he definitely won't object. He'll happily go back and tell his father."

Now it was Huang Xingtong's turn to have a dark expression.

He scolded, "You really treat marriage like a child's game."

"What? Didn't Father ask me? I agreed as soon as Father asked, so what else is Father dissatisfied with?"

Huang Xingtong said anxiously, "Is this something you can just agree to after asking? Don't you think about it carefully? How long have you known Zhou Shitai? How do you know what kind of person he is?"

"..."

Huang Chu then fell silent, looking at her father with a smile.

Huang Xingtong also realized what was happening, lightly slapped his thigh, and sighed.

Huang Chu then gave him a way out: "Doesn't Father already know? Why ask?"

Huang Xingtong shook his head: "I don't know anything anymore. I don't understand what you kids are thinking. When I saw your mother, I liked her at first sight and was determined to marry her. Even if your father-in-law made things difficult for me to my face, I wasn't afraid. So what if I had to take the exam? Three or five years? Your mother was always waiting for me."

He looked at his daughter. At her age, he and Shen Xuying were already engaged. Everything was going smoothly. Even if there were obstacles, they were external. There had never been any barriers between him and Shen Xuying.

He never understood that feelings were such a simple thing. You either like someone or you don't like someone, so why did it become so complicated when it came to Huang Chu?

Huang Chu smiled, pursing her lips.

As if sensing something, and willing to share her thoughts, she suddenly asked Huang Xingtong, "Father, what kind of person do you think is suitable to entrust one's life to?"

"Naturally, it's someone you like, someone of good character..."

"So, in Dad's opinion, someone who is willing to give their life for you is of good character?"

Huang Xingtong blinked and said with a wry smile, "Don't even mention that you're looking for someone like that. It would be nice, but how do you prove it? In peaceful times, you can't exactly hold a knife to someone's throat. It's too absurd, just a young girl's fantasy."

Unexpectedly, Huang Chu didn't feel slighted after hearing this. Instead, she nodded and said, "Yes, that's what I think too. Life and death, it doesn't sound like something that would happen in ordinary days. Although it's fascinating, we can't be too attached to it. We should be more flexible in life."

Huang Xingtong was completely confused. "Flexibility what?"

Huang Chu seemed to be really thinking seriously, her fingertips resting on the back of her other hand, touching it little by little.

"...Give them two more chances. If someone doesn't know how, they can be taught. If they can't be taught, then it's truly not meant to be."

It seems like I've come to terms with things a bit.

Huang Xingtong blinked. Although she still didn't understand what Huang Chu had come to terms with, it seemed as if Huang Chu was very confident in her and not afraid that she really couldn't teach her.

……

A few days later, Zhou Shitai came to visit as usual. Huang Chu told him the specific plan. Huang Xingtong wouldn't come forward, and neither would she. Only Shi Tou would be in charge. Since they didn't lack capital, they didn't need to worry about what kind of business to do. This aspect could be left to Zhou Shitai to decide. Zhou Shitai listened and nodded repeatedly in agreement, saying that he would go back and discuss it with his father to come up with a reliable plan.

The very next day, Manager Zhou's carriage stopped outside the Huang residence, and he personally paid a visit, bringing many gifts.

When Huang Chu met him, Old Manager Zhou was naturally honored to learn that the Huang family was willing to invest heavily in doing business with him. He thought he would personally come to express his gratitude and also to meet Huang Xingtong.

Huang Chu then laughed and said, "This has nothing to do with my father. It's just that he loves me and supports whatever I want to do, as long as I don't go too far, he won't interfere."

Shopkeeper Zhou nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Mr. Huang is such a busy man, he naturally wouldn't personally concern himself with such a small matter."

"Manager Zhou, please don't say that. You are no ordinary person. Your pharmacy is thriving, and you own three or four ships at sea. Your family business is very prosperous. This time, it's just a few of us juniors wanting to try our hand at something. You can just give us pointers from behind. Why bother coming here in person?"

Huang Chu was impeccably courteous, and Old Zhou, the shopkeeper, remained all smiles throughout. He knew Huang Chu was interested in the topic and enjoyed listening, so he was willing to share stories of his own youth at sea. He recounted how difficult those times were, how different the trade routes were, how they had to figure things out step by step, how the seas were rough, how they dared not stray too far from land, how many reefs near the shore made it easy for ships to sink, and how new ships always suffered greatly without a captain familiar with the routes to guide them. The first voyage was usually very unprofitable, and it wasn't until the routes were established that they began to earn money. He also talked about how, in those places in Southeast Asia where they couldn't speak the language, they gained the trust of the other side, how they communicated, and how they found reliable intermediaries.

"Many of the people in Southeast Asia are fugitives who have fled with criminal charges. They are vicious and unreasonable, and they are also the best at acting and deceiving people. Doing business with them is extremely difficult at first."

Huang Chu couldn't help but show fear, exclaiming in surprise, "It was so dangerous! Luckily I found you first, Manager Zhou, otherwise I would have suffered all of this. Just thinking about it is astonishing."

Old Zhou, the shopkeeper, smiled knowingly. The smiles of seasoned businessmen were always ambiguous, like a reassurance to a younger generation, or perhaps satisfaction that his story had elicited the expected reaction. He looked with satisfaction at the innocent yet slightly apprehensive expression on Huang Chu's face.

"Don't worry, Miss Huang. With my family's resources, these problems are minor. Even my good-for-nothing youngest son," he said, pulling out Zhou Shitai who had been standing by his side, his tone full of praise, "can handle anything at sea, except for encounters with pirates and bandits."

Huang Chu naturally followed his lead and praised Zhou Shitai as well.

When she saw Old Zhou off, she exchanged pleasantries with him at the door for a while longer.

After the carriage drove away from the Huang residence, the father and son, Old Zhou and Young Zhou, sat facing each other inside. Zhou Shitai then spoke up, "Father, you saw it all. What I said is true. Miss Huang has no experience whatsoever; she was easily intimidated. And yet, she values ​​only one servant who used to be a slave on a ship so highly and is willing to let him manage things, and he's so generous with his money. That's exactly what we need. When we get back, we should have the accountant draft the contract as soon as possible, finalize things, and get the money in our pockets. That's the most important thing."

Old Zhou, the shopkeeper, closed his eyes as soon as he got on the bus. Now, he lazily opened his eyes and glanced at his son: "Still too naive, all he sees is money."

Zhou Shitai said somewhat anxiously, "But Father, this money can't wait—"

Old Manager Zhou waved his hand, not taking his son's words to heart, and instead drifted into his own thoughts: "If only I could see Master Huang this time..."