Miss and farmhand

Zhou Shitai didn't know that Huang Chu was trying to cover up her guilt and embarrassment. She was also afraid that if she said anything more, she would make a mistake. Before Zhou Shitai even understood what she was trying to do, she had already revealed something. So he could only smile and remain silent.

What kind of thoughts are in a person's mind?

Huang Muyun seemed to see something in Zhou Shitai's eyes.

He relaxed first. Being a tall and slender boy, he stretched out and got closer to Huang Chu, not avoiding Zhou Shitai's gaze, and looked him in the eye.

If Huang Muyun knew how Zhou Shitai viewed Huang Chu, he might agree with the parts about spoiling and manipulating him. As for the parts about himself, he could just laugh it off; after all, he was the one involved, and no one knew better than him what he was in the Huang family.

Unfortunately, Zhou Shitai and he were destined not to have this tacit understanding.

Zhou Shitai felt that he was being provoked, and the anger in his heart only intensified.

However, when he thought about why he had come here, he suddenly took a deep breath and a subtle smile appeared on his lips.

He pulled a note from his sleeve and pushed it to the center of the table.

"Actually, I don't necessarily need to find Brother Shi. I just came to report that the ship ahead has returned."

Huang Chu blinked. Upon hearing that it wasn't the gift list that had been discovered, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He took the invitation, opened it, and found a silver note tucked inside.

She handed the silver note to Huang Muyun and began reading the invitation. It was Old Zhou, the shopkeeper, who was hosting the banquet. After all, they were business partners, and such a banquet to celebrate a successful start was a tradition in their business world, meant to bring good fortune.

Old Manager Zhou, as expected of a seasoned businessman with many years of experience, wrote a very polite invitation, only inviting guests from the Zhou family, without specifying who else was invited, as if he were adopting a very humble attitude, and that anyone who came would be equally honored and treated equally.

This was to make things convenient for Huang Chuxing. They already knew from the previous incidents that Huang Xingtong would absolutely not be involved in this matter, and Huang Chuxing was a woman; she could tolerate banquets at home, but going out to eat was absolutely out of the question.

Huang Chu then said, "I'm sorry, the old shopkeeper invited me to drink so kindly, but I can't go."

Zhou Shitai said, "We don't need to be so polite, otherwise I wouldn't have come in to see Brother Shi right away. Brother Shi and I have become so familiar with each other these days, I consider him half a brother. My father also likes his spirit and wants me to learn from him. It's no big deal to treat him to a drink."

His humble posture, coupled with his statement that Manager Zhou would personally take a seat at the banquet, yet his words only mentioned the stone, made Huang Chu feel even more that there were many inappropriate things going on.

When a big manager like that hosts a banquet, even if the head of your household can't go, you should at least send someone of standing. This guy, Shi Tou, isn't even surnamed Huang, and he has no real influence in the Huang family. There will definitely be other guests at Manager Zhou's banquet. How is he supposed to introduce them? The Huang family's representative, Brother Shi? That sounds ridiculous, like they're showing no respect to Manager Zhou.

Huang Chu frowned and thought for a moment, then turned his head to the person next to him.

Huang Muyun was still holding the silver note, without even looking at it, just placing it on her hand, lost in thought.

Huang Chu then asked him, "Would you mind going?"

Huang Muyun turned to look at her.

Huang Chu tried to negotiate with him: "You're surnamed Huang, after all. Go there on my behalf, say a few good words to Manager Zhou, and come back. You'll have food and drink, how about it?"

Before Huang Muyun could speak, Zhou Shitai cupped his hands and said, "If Brother Huang can really come, that would be wonderful. My father has also heard that Brother Huang's painting skills are superb, and we have a few pieces in our collection that we can bring for Brother Huang to appreciate."

These words sounded polite, but Huang Muyun couldn't help but sneer. It was as if they were implying that everyone knew about his background.

But since the matter had been brought up, Huang Muyun could only agree if she refused again, as that would be disrespectful.

Zhou Shitai took his leave after completing his mission. Before leaving, he even told Huang Muyun, as if in great intimacy, to remember to come.

Stone returned after he left.

He only half understood what he overheard, but he was relieved to know that Zhou Shitai hadn't noticed the gift list.

Huang Chu handed him the invitation and said with a smile, "You two can go together, it's free food, why not?"

Shi Tou didn't quite understand, but he heard Huang Chu give him a general explanation.

He was still shaken by the thought, and when he heard about drinking and socializing, he became even more reluctant to go. He shook his head and said, "I'd better not go. I'm afraid I'll say something inappropriate if I drink. I already have something on my mind, so it's better not to take the risk."

Huang Chu was taken aback. "It can't be that bad, it's just a meal."

Shi Tou laughed and said, "Young lady, don't be afraid. Even Old Zhou, the shopkeeper, has to treat you with utmost respect. Who are we? We'd be half nervous when we see him, and the other half after we've had a drink. If he's trying to get something out of us—humph, I don't believe it's just about drinking. There's bound to be socializing in this kind of situation—I don't trust myself anyway. I'd better not go."

Huang Chu hadn't considered these things. She didn't understand the social niceties of men's interactions; it didn't require anyone to teach her. When a group of men gathered at a table, they would almost instinctively establish a hierarchy of seating arrangements. Whenever Huang Chu met people, everyone flattered her. Even though she had seen a bit of scheming and intrigue thanks to her neighbor, Madam Shen Yurui, she could never have imagined how terrifying men's drinking parties could be in reality.

After Shi Tou said that, she became worried that Huang Muyun might have been tricked into revealing information.

She hesitated and said, "Then... you shouldn't go either. I'll write a note to Old Zhou, saying that I'll pay for this table and treat him to a good meal."

Suddenly, a sneer rang in her ears. She looked up and saw Huang Muyun with a somewhat forced smile, toying with the silver note in his hand.

"You said I'd go, but you changed your mind at the last minute. What are they going to think? It's just a table of drinks, what's the big deal?"

He raised his hand and slapped Stone's head with the silver note. "If you don't want to go, then don't. You're such a coward. You'll only scare yourself if you go."

Stone didn't mind being scolded. "Then it's up to you. Be careful, who knows what other dirty tricks they might have up their sleeves."

Huang Muyun then waved the silver note in his hand, the thin paper making a rustling sound, which, for some reason, carried a hint of mockery, just like his personality.

"If he really wanted to do something, this money wouldn't end up in our hands."

Stone seemed to realize something at first, "Oh right! You were right, they really didn't cause any trouble this time! Let me see how many there are."

He reached out and punched Huang Muyun on the shoulder, took the silver note, and then realized that he couldn't understand it, but he still loved it very much.

"You're so happy about a mere hundred taels of silver? You've never seen anything like it."

Huang Muyun smiled disdainfully, turned around, and found Huang Chu propping his head up and looking at him.

"...What, you still don't believe I can handle a table full of drinks by myself?"

"No." Huang Chu shook her head.

She was thinking about her past life. She never knew how much business the man had done, nor did she care, but he was certainly not short of money, even to the point of being somewhat extravagant. She thought it was something he had honed through experience, but now it seemed to be something he was born with; that was just his temperament.

She didn't know if there were two people like Old Master Zhou and Young Master Zhou in her past life. Maybe there were, but for some reason, Huang Chu was very sure that they must have been completely dominated by the men in their past lives.

Thinking about it this way, she stopped worrying and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face.

"Go ahead. Drink less and come back early."

Upon hearing this, both she and Huang Muyun were stunned.