Chapter Forty-Two: Taking an Equity Stake

Gu Xirou had never expected Jiang Han to be so heartless and utterly unappreciative.
Who did he think he was? How dared he speak to her in such a tone now!
The current Jiang Han made her feel both estranged and furious.
After a voice sounded behind her, Gu Xirou grew even angrier. She turned around to look, and could not help being momentarily stunned.
It was a strikingly beautiful young girl of about seventeen or eighteen. She wore a moon-white long dress, deer-skin boots on her feet, and her hair was styled into a simple bun secured with a sparkling gold hairpin.
Gu Xirou was instantly dazed. The girl possessed a breathtaking appearance, a cold and ethereal temperament, and an inherent noble aura. This nobility did not come from her clothes or accessories, but emanated from deep within.
Though Gu Xirou prided herself on her own beauty, seeing this girl instantly filled her with a sense of inferiority.
Noticing the girl walking toward the courtyard, Gu Xirou snapped back to her senses and snapped angrily, "Who are you? What business is it of yours when I am talking to Jiang Han?"
Paying no attention to Gu Xirou, Qin Yunmian walked straight up to Jiang Han. Her cool eyes brightened slightly as she said, "Jiang Han, let's find somewhere to talk."
Delighted at the sight of the little heiress, Jiang Han said, "Miss Qin, let's go inside."
He then raised his voice and called out, "Wu Wenhua, go fetch the tea the young master just bought!"
Watching Jiang Han and Qin Yunmian walk inward, Gu Xirou stood frozen in place.
Who was that woman?
How could Jiang Han possibly know such a woman?
Recalling the past, she realized she had seen this woman before. On the opening day of the Fragrant Dew shop, among the women who stepped down from the lavish sedan chairs, one of them had been her.
Gu Xirou watched their disappearing backs, a film of moisture welling up in her eyes as she bit her lip until it turned red.
A wave of inexplicable distress, anger, and grievance washed over her.
She even felt an urge to chase after them and demand to know what relationship Jiang Han had with that woman.
She did not even consider herself fond of Jiang Han; it was simply that he had always fawned over her in the past. Now that he was walking away with an even prettier girl, it left a sour, inexplicable displeasure in her heart.
Gritting her teeth bitterly, Gu Xirou got into her sedan chair and ordered, "Home!"
If it is a clean break, then a clean break it is! From now on, don't ever expect me, Gu Xirou, to seek you out!
Humph! He must have used the poems written by his father to hoodwink that woman. What is there to be proud of?
A good-for-nothing is still a good-for-nothing. I, Gu Xirou, will surely expose your true colors.

***

Wu Wenhua scratched his head as he watched the young master walk inside with an impossibly pretty woman, and then watched another pretty woman march angrily toward a carriage. He found it rather strange what kind of relationship the young master had with these two women.
However, that was none of his business.
Inside the courtyard, the tea had already been brewed.
Qin Yunmian lowered her head, feeling a flutter of anxiety in her heart.
She had discovered that Gu Xirou was still in contact with Jiang Han, which brought another unsettling possibility to mind.
Now that Jiang Han had displayed his literary talent, would Gu Xirou regret breaking off the engagement and come looking for him? After all, the sole reason Gu Xirou had broken it off in the first place was because Jiang Han had been good for nothing.
The three poems titled *A Longing* that Jiang Han had written sufficiently demonstrated how deeply devoted he was to Gu Xirou. If she were to change her mind, would Jiang Han accept her back...
Though judging from today, the two of them still seemed to harbor some friction.
Yet, complications arise from delay; who knew if the two of them might suddenly make up one day?
She had to win Jiang Han over as soon as possible!
With a warm smile, Jiang Han poured tea for the little heiress and said, "Miss Qin, my younger sister told me everything. I must thank you for stepping in to rescue me last time, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten out of the county yamen so quickly."
Qin Yunmian raised her head, a flash of joy dancing in her clear eyes. "It's nothing. Even without me, Grand Academician Zhongli could have gotten you out."
"Even so, I still must thank you for sending someone to my rescue."
Sitting opposite Qin Yunmian and looking at her from close range, Jiang Han realized just how exceptionally lovely the little heiress truly was. Her features were delicate and refined, her skin smooth and white as cream, her radiant eyes as bright as lacquered pearls and clear as water, her cherry lips neat and proper, and her teeth like shattered jade. She possessed a tall and graceful figure.
Although Gu Xirou was also pretty, standing beside Qin Yunmian made the difference instantly apparent.
It was not merely Qin Yunmian's breathtaking appearance, but also the cool, aloof grace that defined her.
"Actually, I came here today to discuss a matter with you," Qin Yunmian said softly.
"Oh? I wonder what business Miss Qin has in mind?" Jiang Han asked curiously.
"Your Fragrant Dew is wonderful. Have you ever thought about expanding it?" Qin Yunmian asked.
Of course Jiang Han had thoughts of expansion. "Naturally. I plan to buy a larger estate and build a proper workshop, but the expenses are substantial. Although Fragrant Dew has earned me some money so far, it's still not quite enough... Does Miss Qin mean to invest?"
Qin Yunmian nodded. "Mm-hmm! How do you think we should structure the investment?"
Hearing this, Jiang Han was overjoyed. This Miss Qin was simply his lucky star!
Back then, she bought poems from him, earning him his first pot of gold.
Later, when Fragrant Dew opened, she brought a whole group of her female friends to make purchases.
And now, she intended to invest.
This little heiress truly needed to be firmly secured.

"Let me think... buying land, building a workshop, hiring workers, purchasing flowers and alcohol, along with bottles and other materials... the preliminary investment is quite large."
Jiang Han continued, "If Miss Qin wishes to invest, how about two thousand taels of silver per share?"
With that, he looked at the little heiress with a hint of trepidation. Two thousand taels a share was no small sum. Wealthy though she was, she might not necessarily be willing to fork it over.
Jiang Han quickly added, "However, once the workshop is built, not only can I produce the floral dew, but I can also concoct an alcohol even superior to Drunken Immortal. That liquor will definitely outsell Fragrant Dew by miles! It will allow you to recoup your capital within a year, and start turning a profit in the second year."
Without hesitation, Qin Yunmian nodded and said, "Very well, I'll buy three shares... No, let's make it four shares!"
Jiang Han's eyes lit up, and a wide smile bloomed across his face.
This little heiress was simply too lavish! Four shares meant eight thousand taels of silver!
Was she really this wealthy?
Not only was she rich, but she had an eye for potential!
Fragrant Dew could be made even better, and once he figured out how to manufacture glass, the price could be driven even higher, making it even more sought-after.
By then, even Bloom Fragrance Workshop wouldn't be able to compete with Fragrant Dew.
Of course, the most important thing was distilled liquor; that stuff was the ultimate cash cow!
Distilled alcohol of over forty proof would be an absolute killer application in this world—there was unequivocally nothing here that could compare to it!
Before long, he would be rolling in wealth.
Not only was Miss Qin wealthy, but she also appeared to hold considerable clout and maintained connections with official circles... Once she invested, it would ward off unnecessary trouble and shield him from hidden arrows and open spears.
"Miss Qin has a discerning eye! Since you trust me, I guarantee that by next year, you'll earn back ten thousand taels of silver!" Jiang Han smiled.
"Mm." Qin Yunmian cared nothing for whether she would make a profit, nor did she care if she lost money.
What she cared about was whether she could seize this opportunity to win Jiang Han's heart.