Yesterday, when everyone mentioned buying an electric stir-fry machine, Xiao Cheng's face turned so ugly that it seemed he could kill someone.

Today, Wang Cuihua dared to come and buy again. Bai Lu admired her courage but remained firm: "Not for sale."

"If you don't sell it to me, are you planning to sell it to someone else? Bai Lu, how can you be so biased?"

Wang Cuihua looked heartbroken: "My husband Ah Biao and Big Brother Xiao Cheng are brothers. Logically, I'm the closest to you. How can you sell the electric chestnut roaster to someone else? This is unfair..."

In her desperate attempt to buy the electric chestnut roaster, Wang Cuihua played every card she had, including the sibling card.

In the end, she was still rejected by Bai Lu.

Frustrated, she was on the verge of tears.

As soon as she saw Xiao Cheng coming out, she couldn't hold back any longer: "Big Brother Xiao Cheng..."

Wang Cuihua, with her face full of makeup and flushed cheeks, shed two tears, looking pitiful.

Bai Lu finally opened the door; otherwise, the passing neighbors would think she was bullying someone.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the door opened, Xiao Cheng, who was originally walking out, stopped in his tracks.

Without even coming over, he asked from a distance, "What's the matter?"

If it weren't for the fact that Wang Cuihua was the last one to speak, she wouldn't believe that Xiao Cheng was talking to her.

Waiting for her to walk over on her own, surely that's what he intended.

Bai Lu and Xiao Wei sympathized with Wang Cuihua's courage. Xiao Cheng's impatience was evident, yet she dared to approach and complain.

Indeed, before she could get close to the dangerous three-meter zone, she was sternly interrupted by the big brother: "Speak if you have something to say."

Wang Cuihua thought she must not have shed enough tears, as Xiao Cheng hadn't seen her crying. She forgot even to console her and went straight to the point.

Suddenly, tears burst out like a fountain. Wang Cuihua, crying and pitiful, extended her reddened hand.

"Big Brother Xiao Cheng, roasting chestnuts is too hard. I practiced for a long time last night, and my hands are all red..."

"With so many chestnuts to roast every day, continuously flipping them will surely wear out my hands. How can I cook and do laundry later? Big Brother Xiao Cheng, you're not selling chestnuts now, and it's a waste to leave the electric chestnut roaster idle. Just give it to me..."

She went from buying to directly asking.

Bai Lu and Xiao Wei exchanged glances, simultaneously seeing the three words "no shame" in each other's eyes.

As they exchanged a knowing look, they turned their eyes to the cold and stern big brother.

Xiao Cheng impatience had accumulated into a mountain in his eyes, and it seemed ready to explode into tons of cold knives.

But the surprised voice from outside the door stole the show: "Wang Cuihua, are you going crazy so early in the morning?"

This novel way of greeting made Wang Cuihua forget about her tears instantly. Who else but Chen Dafu.

Bai Lu and Xiao Wei smelled gunpowder in the air.

Without saying a word, they took elegant and swift steps, quickly walking to Xiao Cheng's side to watch the drama.

Xiao Cheng's impatience gradually disappeared.

"You're the one going crazy!" Wang Cuihua suddenly had a tear cut-off, unable to squeeze any more out, and angrily scolded Chen Dafu.

Chen Dafu took a big step back to avoid getting splashed by Wang Cuihua's spit, and then logically and justifiably said, "Crazy people cry and wail early in the morning with heavy makeup on. Yesterday Bai Lu already said it's not for sale, and yet you insist on running over so early to buy the electric chestnut roaster."

Wang Cuihua, embarrassed, gasped for breath and accused Chen Dafu, "You came so early just to buy the electric chestnut roaster. Who are you to criticize me?"

"I came to see who's going crazy to buy the electric chestnut roaster."

"You're the crazy one!"

"People going crazy cry and howl like ghosts and wolves early in the morning."

"Ugly duckling, you're too much!"

"Crazy people are called beggars."

Bai Lu is a very generous person; she won't laugh at others early in the morning. She hides behind Xiao Cheng to avoid being seen.

As long as she doesn't make a sound, it's not considered laughing.

Xiao Wei is not generous. After laughing, he immediately covers his mouth, fearing to be rewarded with a cold knife by his big brother.

He decisively hides behind and unifies the front with Bai Lu, tilting his little head to watch the intense battle.

Xiao Cheng became the protective umbrella.

Originally, he was annoyed by the noisy quarrel, wanting to drive them away. But in the hidden laughter and breath behind him, he stopped repeatedly.

Chen Dafu and Wang Cuihua are sworn enemies, born rivals, always arguing whenever they meet.

Tang Fu and others have arrived but haven't stopped the argument.

Everyone greeted Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu, started assigning seats, figuring out who would ride in each truck.

Before leaving yesterday, Xiao Cheng asked Yu Fugui and others to rent trucks from the brick factory to transport the chestnut boards.

The small three-wheeler had a small cargo capacity, obviously not the best choice. Relying on Xiao Cheng's face, Yu Fugui and others rented trucks from the brick factory but didn't know how to drive them. They had to hire drivers to transport the goods.

The whole convoy on the Ten Sales Road had only the partners from Lu Shi's three sales routes who knew how to drive the trucks. The others couldn't drive and had to bring the drivers along.

Chen Dafu and Wang Cuihua were not invited.

Wang Cuihua bought all the remaining chestnut boards from Bai Lu, so she didn't need to buy more for a short time. She just needed to place an order.

The truck rented by Chen Dafu was driven by Xiao Cheng, and he was assigned to compete with others.

Of course, the truck rented by Chen Dafu would also transport the chestnuts he bought from the countryside, and Xiao Cheng would bring them back when he came.

People and trucks were assigned, and Chen Dafu and Wang Cuihua were still arguing, seemingly unwilling to stop until a clear victory or defeat was determined.

Xiao Wei had already gone to school.

Everyone was about to set off for Xiao's village.

Bai Lu knocked on the door with the key. Inside, the two didn't seem to hear or were too engrossed in their argument, showing no response.

"I'm going to lock the door."

Saying that, she reached out to close the door.

Wang Cuihua and Chen Dafu "whooshed" out of the door, colliding at the entrance.

Out the door, the quarrel continued without stopping.

Bai Lu locked the door and stepped onto the brick truck Xiao Cheng had driven to the door. Just about to close the door, a hand reached over.

"Bai Lu, I want to ride with you guys."

Seeing Bai Lu getting on Xiao Cheng's truck, Wang Cuihua, who had no intention of continuing the argument, rushed over to compete for the ride.

She also wanted to ride with Xiao Cheng.

"Xiao Wei has gone to school. Can I ride with you this time? I'm not fat, and I can sit with you."

Xiao Cheng took a white blanket and covered Bai Lu: "Your sister-in-law didn't sleep well last night; she wants to rest today."

Bai Lu, feeling a little lost, sniffed the blanket on her body and yawned: "So sleepy. I need to take a nap. If I fall asleep, my legs will kick randomly. If I accidentally kick you out of the car, it'll be dangerous. You better sit in another car."

Wang Cuihua chose to ignore Xiao Cheng's address, looking at Bai Lu with concern: "The mountain road to the countryside is so bumpy. If you fall asleep, you'll hit the car door. Why don't I get on and support you?"

"No need."

Bai Lu smiled and declined: "I like leaning on Ah cheng when I sleep. His shoulder gives a sense of security."

Xiao Cheng tapped the fingertips holding the steering wheel rhythmically, and his mouth slightly curled.

Not very noticeable, but enough for Wang Cuihua to see clearly.

Chapter 199: I'm Here

Xiao Wei's dirty little heart trembled as he nervously pinched his fingers and weakly spoke, "I accidentally saw it when I went to the bathroom."

Xiao Cheng glanced at him indifferently, silent and profound eyes making it impossible for anyone to stare.

Xiao Wei's dirty heart trembled again, lowering his head to pretend he knew nothing. He wouldn't reveal the truth.

In the past, his parents used to argue and fight frequently, and after the fights, they would disappear, never to return.

Xiao Wei was afraid that Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu would also argue, fight, and eventually disappear.

Every time he heard slightly louder noises outside or the sound of the door opening, Xiao Wei would subconsciously run outside, open a gap in the door, and peek.

Fortunately, his sister-in-law was a very gentle person. She never yelled or fought with his big brother.

She even coaxed his big brother like she would with a child.

His sister-in-law was truly wonderful.

Summoning courage, Xiao Wei raised his head and met Xiao Cheng's scrutinizing gaze. "Sister-in-law is really good to you."

Xiao Cheng naturally knew that Bai Lu treated him well when he was drunk; it's just that he didn't know the limits of that tolerance.

"How good is she?"

This... Xiao Wei hesitated in answering.

Isn't it already good enough for his big brother, who could tolerate unreasonable antics? Why would there be a question of "how good"?

If it were their parents, they would have been in a fierce argument long ago.

If it were Chen Chunli, she would have started a fight directly.

Xiao Wei thought for a long time but couldn't figure out how to answer this question to satisfy his big brother.

He could only recall while stating the facts, "On your birthday, when you were drunk and wanted Sister-in-law to shave your head, she never shaved before, didn't know how, and you insisted. You even threw a tantrum."

"But Sister-in-law shaved it for you."

Xiao Wei touched his own recently grown short hair while daring to glance at Xiao Cheng's head.

It was the same; his sister-in-law's skills were really good.

Xiao Cheng knew that his bald hairstyle was given by Bai Lu, but he didn't know exactly how it happened.

Leaning back in his chair with a casual attitude, he smiled faintly, "Continue."

Speaking softly, Xiao Wei said, "You kissed Sister-in-law in front of everyone."

As soon as this was said, it instantly triggered a nerve that had been dormant in Xiao Cheng. His eyes fixed on Xiao Wei.

"How did she react?"

Xiao Wei, scared by his big brother's suddenly intense gaze, was at a loss and weakly said, "No reaction."

Xiao Cheng frowned slightly, his gaze turning more intense.

Xiao Wei held up three fingers to assure, "Sister-in-law really had no reaction, just froze for a moment and then smiled."

Xiao Cheng also froze for a moment, the corner of his mouth slightly lifted. His sharp gaze turned into emptiness.

Xiao Wei felt that his big brother might have misunderstood.

What he said was on his big brother's birthday when everyone was sitting at the same table. His big brother kissed Sister-in-law's hand.

At that moment, Sister-in-law froze for a moment, and then, under the encouragement of Shiliu Ge, Hao Ge, and Da Zhuang Ge, she laughed it off.

But now, his big brother, with a more pleasant smile than usual, seemed to have misunderstood.

Xiao Wei hesitated whether to explain or not.

"Alright, go back to sleep." Although giving the order to leave, big brother's tone was unprecedentedly good.

Xiao Wei's mood instantly improved. Silently picking up his textbooks and workbooks, he walked back to his room under the moonlight.

Big brother and sister-in-law are a couple, and these small misunderstandings should be fine; no need to explain.

The night was calm, the wind gentle.

Xiao Cheng pushed open the door, walked in lightly, saw the test paper full of answers on the table near the window, and couldn't help sighing.

She said she wouldn't study, and she really didn't study.

She kept her word.

Xiao Cheng looked at Bai Lu, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed. He slowly reached out, held her hand that was outside the blanket, and felt the warmth between his fingers.

Her hand, like a person's, gentle as water, soothing everything with its silent warmth.

The warmth from the tightly clasped fingers transmitted to his heart. Xiao Cheng held it for a long time before putting her hand back under the blanket, releasing it, and pulling up the blanket.

Getting up and leaving.

"Mom..."

The word that the girl couldn't forget echoed again, sounding particularly helpless in the empty room.

Xiao Cheng's footsteps paused.

Before exposing the false pregnancy, she called him a few times in his arms, with joy, relaxation, and yearning in her voice.

When she woke up, she didn't see her go to find Li Xuelan.

Xiao Cheng gently closed the door.

Returning to the bedside, he held the girl's hand that was once again outside the blanket, softly calling, "LuLu."

As usual, when the girl heard the call, her frowning brows gradually relaxed. But this time, it was different.

The tightly closed eyes shed a tear.

Xiao Cheng saw Bai Lu cry for the first time, a bit at a loss. He raised his fingers to wipe away the wetness at the corner of her eyes but was burned by the second tear that fell, scalding his palm.

Panic-stricken, he patted her back gently, comforting her.

"Don't be afraid, LuLu."

"I'm here."

In his arms, as the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh tears were soothed, they fell from the corners of her eyes back into the depths of her eyes.

...

Early in the morning, a knocking sound rang out.

Wang Cuihua, seeing that it was Xiao Wei who opened the door, hurriedly asked, "Where are Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu?"

Xiao Wei, swallowing the last dumpling, spoke slowly, "Having breakfast."

"Still not done?" Wang Cuihua looked worried.

Xiao Wei, unhurried, turned his head to look at the clock in the main house and reported, "Six thirty-five."

"It's not even seven yet. Why are you here so early?"

Wang Cuihua, afraid of being discovered, quickly looked around the surroundings. Seeing no suspicious figures, she whispered to Xiao Wei, "I came to buy an electric chestnut roaster."

Xiao Wei, who had heard the excited buying frenzy in the kitchen yesterday afternoon, also heard Bai Lu refusing to sell.

"Big sister-in-law said she won't sell."

Wang Cuihua wanted to go inside but was stopped by Xiao Wei. He suddenly turned pitiful, "Let me in. Let me tell Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu about your hardship. You can't fry so many chestnuts alone."

Xiao Wei had seen Bai Lu fry a lot of chestnuts, and Bai Lu never complained about hardship or exhaustion. Wang Cuihua, who said it was too hard and tiring after frying a little, was really weak.

Really had to be hit: "At the beginning, there was no electric chestnut roaster. Big sister-in-law also fried them manually and fried several times more than you sell. She never said it was hard. You just fried a bit and said it's hard. If it's hard, don't sell."

A little kid with a big brother style in speaking.

Hearing that, just finished breakfast and came out, Bai Lu laughed, "Xiao Wei is right. If you want to make money, you have to put in some effort. You can only sell as much as you can fry."

Wang Cuihua, upon seeing Bai Lu, immediately became pitiful, "I practiced for a long time last night. It's really easy to burn sugar-fried chestnuts. It's too wasteful of chestnuts. The electric chestnut roaster won't burn them, and it's not hard at all. Please sell it to me before everyone else comes."

Chapter 198: Big Shot's Persuasion

Xiao Wei dared not utter a word.

Bai Lu had already been discussing problems with Xiao Cheng.

"I admit your problem-solving approach is correct and clear, unprecedented. But Xiao Wei has just entered the second grade. Using methods beyond elementary school level might make him seem like a child prodigy, attracting special attention from the teacher."

Bai Lu felt Xiao Cheng was intentionally making things difficult for Xiao Wei and, consequently, for Xiao Wei's teacher.

The suggestion was tactfully rejected, and Xiao Cheng didn't argue. Instead, he proposed another solution.

Bai Lu rejected it again, saying, "Your process is too complicated; Xiao Wei won't understand."

Xiao Wei: "... Just pretend I'm not here."

Xiao Cheng proposed another problem-solving method, only to be rejected by Bai Lu once more, repeatedly.

He gave up, saying, "You tell me how to solve it."

"I only know how to calculate the answers; I haven't learned how to explain to kids." Bai Lu looked innocent.

Her bright eyes were also full of innocence.

Xiao Cheng couldn't resist and pinched her cheek. After realizing what he did, he casually brushed a strand of hair blown onto her face by the evening breeze back behind her ear.

Solemnly, he said, "I'll think about it."

After thinking, he started explaining, ignoring the stunned Bai Lu.

Xiao Wei listened with great interest. There's a difference between understanding a problem on the surface and comprehensively understanding it.

The problems he prepared himself, even if the answers were correct, he couldn't apply them flexibly.

Xiao Cheng's problem-solving approach was indeed complex, but it covered a broad spectrum. Xiao Wei had an epiphany; he felt like he could solve a hundred more problems.

After explaining the assignment, Xiao Cheng also covered the next unit's topics. Xiao Wei grasped it instantly.

Bai Lu confirmed once again that these two brothers' intelligence and talents far exceeded their peers, standing at the top among them.

One understood immediately, the other mastered at a glance—simply extraordinary.

The consequence of being extraordinary was finishing homework quickly.

Xiao Wei was not satisfied; he thought he should be a bit slower. Finishing the assignment abruptly silenced his big brother.

The wall clock chimed nine times.

It was already nine o'clock without them noticing.

"Alright, it's late. Go to bed." Bai Lu stood up and stretched lazily, showing signs of weariness.

Xiao Cheng handed a candle from Xiao Wei's desk to her. "You go to sleep first."

"Aren't you two sleeping yet?" Bai Lu took the candle, finding it hard to believe these two brothers made such rapid progress after solving just one problem.

Was this an all-night discussion?

Xiao Wei, still tidying up his books, was taken aback when his candle was taken away. Did big brother take his candle?

Did big brother give his candle to big sister-in-law?

He thought the tone improved when discussing problems just now. Why the partiality again?

Xiao Cheng glanced at Xiao Wei, who was busy packing up. "We still have something to discuss."

Bai Lu, slightly surprised by his serious tone, couldn't help but advise, "Don't bully Xiao Wei."

Before Xiao Cheng could reply, Xiao Wei earnestly interjected, "Big brother won't bully me. Big sister-in-law, rest assured."

Xiao Cheng also gave Bai Lu a reassuring look, implying he wouldn't mistreat Xiao Wei.

Bai Lu, recalling the cheek-pinching incident, quickly touched Xiao Cheng's head and then Xiao Wei's head. Feeling balanced, she went back to her room satisfied.

"I'll go to sleep now. You guys sleep early too. Goodnight."

Xiao Cheng: "..."

Xiao Wei: "..."

Were they ambushed?

Or were they ambushed?

Watching the gentle figure disappear into the room under the moonlight, the joyful and relaxed atmosphere also disappeared.

Xiao Wei got nervous, instinctively straightening his back. He didn't know where to put his hands, fidgeted with his clothes, then put his hands under the table, and started pinching his fingers.

Xiao Cheng, withdrawing his gaze from where Bai Lu disappeared, looked at the small figure bowing his head.

He cleared his throat and casually asked, "What do I do when I'm drunk?"

Xiao Wei's heart suddenly stopped. So, it wasn't about something he did wrong; big brother wasn't here to blame him.

Just asking a simple question.

Xiao Wei answered honestly, "You vomit."

In the past, when Xiao Cheng came home drunk, he often vomited into the yard's broken pot, flooding Xiao Wei's planted ginger and green onions.

Or he vomited in the yard, and Xiao Wei would sneakily hide behind the door, waiting to clean up once Xiao Cheng returned to his room.

Although not frequent, those memories were deep. Xiao Wei wouldn't forget anything about his big brother.

Unfortunately, Xiao Cheng often had no memory after getting drunk. Now he wanted to know something other than vomiting.

"In addition to vomiting, what else?"

Xiao Wei didn't quite understand Xiao Cheng's meaning.

He sneakily glanced up, noticing that Xiao Cheng occasionally looked in the direction of the room where Bai Lu disappeared. Suddenly, everything made sense.

Big brother wanted to know what he did to big sister-in-law after getting drunk.

Xiao Wei recalled for a moment and answered seriously, "Before, when you came home drunk, you would wash without taking off your clothes. Every time, big sister-in-law had to bring you clothes. She said it's not good to bathe when drunk, asking you to wait until the next day. You wouldn't listen and insisted on bathing. Big sister-in-law had to pour hot water for you."

Xiao Wei's description was straightforward and honest.

Xiao Cheng's expression went from slightly relieved to slightly surprised, then furrowed: "Insisted on bathing?"

Xiao Wei quickly changed the adjective, "Absolutely insisted."

Xiao Cheng reluctantly accepted this description and skipped to the next question: "How did she react at that time?"

Xiao Wei had gotten used to his big brother's straightforward way of speaking, understanding what he wanted to know.

He truthfully replied, "I don't know if big sister-in-law was angry. I didn't hear her scold you or see her hit you. I only saw her finding clothes for you."

"Her tone when talking to you was also very gentle, as if coaxing a child."

Xiao Cheng's face went from slightly relieved to slightly surprised, then wrinkled again: "What do you mean by her tone when talking to me?"

Xiao Wei finally understood why Bai Lu made vinegar-glazed cabbage, sweet and sour spare ribs, etc., for dinner tonight.

Big brother was really good at being jealous.

"I said it wrong. It's big sister-in-law's tone when talking to me, like her tone when talking to you."

Xiao Cheng reluctantly accepted this wording, and with a calm face, he asked, "Anything else?"

Xiao Wei thought for a moment, "That night, after big sister-in-law picked you and Hao ge up from the city, when you came back, you sent Chen Chunli home. When you came back with big sister-in-law on your back, she found out about your injury and brought you back."

"After coming home, big sister-in-law found out and got very angry. She applied medicine to your back with quite a bit of force."

"You said, 'LuLu, be gentle.' Speaking of which, your voice changed as if I couldn't believe it but had to believe it: 'LuLu, it hurts...'"

Xiao Cheng couldn't believe he spoke so explicitly, so vulnerably.

His cool gaze was fixed on Xiao Wei, "Speak honestly. Did you see it with your own eyes, or did you hear it with your own ears?"

Chapter 197: Jealousy

The others, realizing that Bai Lu fried so many chestnuts every morning, suspected she must have more than one chestnut roasting machine.

Expressing their desire to buy electric chestnut roasters, their excitement blinded them to Xiao Cheng's darkening expression.

Bai Lu, noticing, quickly explained, "We still need our electric roasters; they're not for sale."

Lu Shi wanted to negotiate, "You surely have more than one electric roaster with the amount of chestnuts you fry daily. If not this one, I'll buy another."

"I want one too," said Wang Cuihua, and Chen Dafu followed suit.

These two, one was the deceased husband of Bai Lu's brother, and the other was Bai Lu's sister-in-law. Given their relationships, they would get priority.

Amidst the disappointment of others, Bai Lu firmly refused their offers, sensing Xiao Cheng's deepening displeasure.

"Our electric roasters are still in use, not for sale. The sun is setting; everyone, go home and prepare dinner. Remember to gather here at 7 am tomorrow."

With a reluctant farewell, they left, understanding Xiao Cheng's mood. It was better to prioritize life than argue for an electric chestnut roaster.

Closing the door, Bai Lu gave Xiao Cheng an apologetic smile, "Alright, alright, don't be angry. I won't sell the electric roaster you gave me; it's a gift from you, and I promised to cherish it. I won't break my word."

Looking at the girl's obedient and bright smile, Xiao Cheng's gloomy expression reluctantly improved.

Bai Lu decisively pulled his sleeve, "Let's go back and cook. Suddenly, I'm craving hot and sour shredded potatoes. What do you feel like eating?"

Xiao Cheng's face brightened without a trace of gloom, "Anything is fine."

"What do you mean 'anything'? How about I make sweet and sour cabbage for you? Sweet and sour fish? Sweet and sour ribs? Sweet and sour pork? Sweet and sour crispy tofu? Sweet and sour eggplant..."

"Why all sweet and sour?"

"You like sugar... and vinegar! Ate it yesterday, eating it today, so naturally, we'll eat it every day."

The dusk descended, lingering in the twilight, and the town lit up with a festive atmosphere. The aroma of meals filled the streets and alleys.

The best thing in the world is to go home and eat, to eat with family, savoring simple meals filled with love.

The worst thing in the world is a power outage.

"Did the light bulb burn out?"

Bai Lu, with a piece of sweet and sour ribs in her chopsticks, saw the sudden darkness and thought the light bulb had blown.

Xiao Wei, unfazed, said, "Power outage."

Saying that, he got up to fetch candles with ease, but before he took a step, the bright candlelight returned with his footsteps, landing on the table.

The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow, illuminating the delicious dishes on the table and the surprised face of the girl.

Xiao Cheng explained, "The flashlight's batteries are dead. I'll buy new ones after dinner."

"No need," Bai Lu said, "candles are enough, and the shops won't be open at night."

It was the '90s, and the town didn't have night streets; going out would be in vain.

Of course, if Xiao Cheng insisted on waking up shopkeepers to do business, they would comply.

Bai Lu thought candlelit dinners were quite nice, sparing the big brother from scaring children outside.

Probably a faulty line somewhere, and maintenance should fix it soon.

Or not.

Dinner finished, but the power was still out.

Even after a shower, the power remained off.

Having just bought a television, they were now confined to listening to it.

Bai Lu, uninterested in TV, sat in the yard, gazing at the moon and stars, feeling the gentle evening breeze.

The candlelight was dim, not suitable for reading; eyes and books alike needed a break.

Pity for Xiao Wei, who hadn't finished his homework, set up a small table next to Bai Lu, lit a candle, and diligently worked on math problems.

Still, Bai Lu was sympathetic. Math required more brainpower than copying language passages.

Xiao Wei's eyes were overworked.

Bai Lu thought about offering help but changed her mind upon seeing a passing figure.

"Ah Cheng."

Xiao Cheng paused, explaining, "I'm going to buy batteries."

Of course, Bai Lu knew his intention, but she said, "There's something I want to tell you."

With Xiao Wei around, Bai Lu seldom brought up unpleasant matters or disagreements.

Xiao Cheng, about to step out, changed direction, nonchalantly returning.

Bai Lu had already prepared a seat, pulling him down. "Xiao Wei is struggling with his math homework. Can you help him out?"

Xiao Wei, head buried in his assignment, looked up, puzzled, glancing between Bai Lu and Xiao Cheng.

"My homework isn't..." Before Xiao Wei could finish, Bai Lu shot him a cool look.

"You said the math problem earlier was difficult. Hurry, bring it here, and let your brother help you understand."

Xiao Cheng, originally planning to leave, was now stuck. Bai Lu had used "we" to suggest his involvement.

Xiao Wei reluctantly passed his half-solved math problem to Xiao Cheng, who, after a moment, furrowed his brows.

"Can't figure out such a simple problem?"

Xiao Wei didn't dare to speak.

Bai Lu, defending her little flower, said, "Don't use an adult's perspective to judge a child's world. You've learned it, so naturally, it seems easy. Xiao Wei just started this unit; the teacher hasn't finished teaching, how could he understand such profound problems?"

Xiao Wei thought Bai Lu was too smart; she knew everything.

Xiao Cheng glanced at the little bald head, already working on a partially solved question. "Can't solve such a simple problem?"

Chapter 196: Teaching Through Torment

After two days of intensive torment-style learning, the male group finally managed to stir-fry chestnuts that looked decent.

They weren't burnt, but they still didn't meet the standards.

Xiao Cheng glanced at their chestnuts without even tasting them, just giving them a curt evaluation.

Not meeting the stall's standards would harm the reputation of the sugar-fried chestnuts, and the male group understood this.

However, in an atmosphere devoid of encouragement and filled only with cutting remarks, achieving the essence of sugar-fried chestnuts at the fastest pace acceptable to the accomplished individuals was truly challenging.

They couldn't do it!

On the other side, in the rotation of frying chestnuts, under Bai Lu's one-on-one guidance, everyone in the female group, except for Wang Cuihua, could now fry chestnuts without burning them.

But they were still a bit short of reaching the qualified standard.

The slight shortfall was expressed by Bai Lu as a gentle encouragement, understood by Wu Xiuyun and others, motivating them to put in double the effort.

Just moments before sunset, both the male and female groups were exhausted, but they finally met the stall's standards.

Bai Lu gave a thumbs up to everyone in the female group, praising generously, "Impressive! The sugar-fried chestnuts are delicious and have met the standards for starting a profitable business."

Wu Xiuyun, Wu Fangli, and Zhang Huiru were overjoyed, returning the compliments, "Well taught, Teacher Bai Lu!"

Wang Cuihua, learning the slowest and least proficient, progressed from nine out of ten times burning to eight, seven, six times.

The taste barely passed, just reaching the acceptable level.

However, Bai Lu advised her to continue practicing at home. Once she could successfully fry chestnuts eight out of ten times, the taste would catch up. She could get the chestnuts from Bai Lu and buy the chestnut boards by weight.

Wang Cuihua was not pleased at all, feeling that Bai Lu was making things difficult for her. She wanted to learn from Big Brother Xiao Cheng.

However, at this moment, Xiao Cheng was cold-faced, succinctly commenting on the male group's hard-earned achievements.

"Qualified."

Just two words.

Chen Dafu and others almost teared up with joy. The stressful and nervous feeling had reached their throats, finally settling down. A group of big men hugged each other.

It was really not easy!

Getting a simple "qualified" from the accomplished individual was exceptionally challenging!

High demands that ordinary people couldn't meet – only monstrous geniuses could match the accomplished individual's one-pass standard.

Bai Lu poured tea for everyone, starting with Xiao Cheng. Side by side, they raised their cups, substituting tea for alcohol, to congratulate, "Congratulations, everyone, on successfully completing the training."

The male and female groups raised their cups in return, "Thanks for Teacher's guidance."

"Brother Cheng."

Just as Bai Lu and Xiao Cheng were about to see everyone off, a male voice suddenly rang out from the crowd. Those gathered around the stove immediately made way, revealing the figure.

A tall and thin, square-faced man – Lu Shi. He sat at the same table with Bai Lu during the celebration of Wen Xiuyun and Yu Fugui's new house, later joining the ranks of selling sugar-fried chestnuts. He was one of the business partners.

Xiao Cheng spoke indifferently, "Any more questions?"

Lu Shi had been holding back some words since yesterday, and it seemed he couldn't hold back any longer, about to leave Xiao Cheng's house.

"Brother Cheng, that pot on the stove, can it also fry chestnuts?" Lu Shi pointed to the pot at the end of the stove.

His tone was cautious and filled with anticipation.

Yu Fugui and others, upon hearing this, all followed Lu Shi's pointed direction and walked over.

Seeing the structure inside the pot, their eyes widened instantly. After careful exploration, their expressions changed from curiosity to excitement.

Chen Dafu, being closest to the situation as the brother-in-law of Chen Chunli, Wang Hao's wife, and having the closest relationship with Wang Hao, felt the pulse of the situation. He asked the question everyone was dying to know.

"Brother Cheng, there are movable blade pieces in this pot, and there's even an electric plug on the side. The pot is quite deep, and if you sniff carefully, there's a faint scent of scorching. It's just like the aroma of sugar-fried chestnuts. Is this an automatic chestnut-frying machine? A motorized stir-fryer, isn't it?"

Everyone present, being business people with sharp eyes, immediately saw through the true nature of the electric chestnut-frying machine.

After scrutinizing and confirming, they were certain that the pot on the stove was indeed an electric chestnut-frying machine.

All eyes turned to Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu.

"That's correct," Bai Lu, no longer selling sugar-fried chestnuts, had no reason to conceal it anymore.

"This is an electric chestnut-frying machine made by Ah Cheng, not available on the market."

"Where can we buy it?" Yu Fugui, taking advantage of his good relationship with Wu Xiuyun and Bai Lu, directly asked the key question.

As soon as these words came out, others immediately sensed the business opportunity.

Lu Shi preemptively spoke, "From what I know, neither the county nor my place of residence has this kind of machine for sale. I've been to the southern city before, and I haven't seen it in the appliance stores there. The machinery factory also doesn't have such a thing. But I want to buy it."

"I want to buy it too!"

The electric chestnut-frying machine was much easier than manual frying. Wang Cuihua had the least skill in handling things, so she had to be the first to snatch it. "Big Brother Xiao Cheng, where can we buy this machine?"

With the machine, there would be no need for manual work. The production and sales volume would definitely skyrocket. Zhang Huiru and her husband instantly had the idea of opening a branch store. "We want to buy too."

"Teacher Bai Lu, where can we buy the electric chestnut-frying machine?"

"We also want the electric chestnut-frying machine."

For a moment, the electric chestnut-frying machine became the center of attention and was eagerly grabbed by everyone.

Bai Lu looked at Xiao Cheng beside her, who remained expressionless. Instead, she turned to the excited and expectant crowd.

"Brother Cheng made the electric chestnut-frying machine. It's not available on the market."

"This..."

What is falling from heaven to hell, then being acidified in hell, the male and female groups fully experienced it at this moment. This electric chestnut-frying machine, created by the accomplished individual, wasn't available for sale.

But thinking it over, Bai Lu wasn't selling sugar-fried chestnuts anymore. She could sell the electric chestnut-frying machine!

"Teacher Bai Lu, I want to buy your family's electric chestnut-frying machine. How much is it?"

Chapter 195: Big Shot's Jealousy Edition Teaching

Bai Lu remembered that Xiao Cheng had something to do in the city and asked in a low voice, "Aren't you supposed to go to the city?"

Xiao Cheng coldly glanced at Chen Dafu, "Not in a hurry."

Chen Dafu stiffened, feeling as if he had been stabbed by an ancient ice blade, and he was in a bad situation.

The upcoming learning session seemed like torture.

As expected, the premonition was correct.

Xiao Cheng immediately assigned the teaching roles: he would teach the men, and Bai Lu would teach the women.

Despite Wang Cuihua and Chen Dafu trying to exchange roles, Xiao Cheng rejected them outright.

Moreover, the teaching methods of Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu were vastly different, making the men's class feel quite miserable.

Bai Lu demonstrated by actually roasting chestnuts while explaining every step and precaution in the simplest language, ensuring everyone understood. Questions were welcomed, and she provided on-the-spot answers.

Even when faced with Wang Cuihua, who struggled to grasp the skill after ten repetitions, Bai Lu remained patient. She set up a separate pot for Wang Cuihua and allowed her to practice until she got it right.

On the other hand, Xiao Cheng's approach was different.

He explained the steps while roasting, then had Chen Dafu and others take turns trying.

Unable to get it right after one attempt, Xiao Cheng frowned.

Failing twice, he looked at them as if they were idiots.

It seemed like he was saying, "You're so dull-witted that you can't even grasp such a simple process."

Chen Dafu, feeling like a dull-witted pig, received cold glares every time he asked a question, like being scraped by cold knives.

He wished for Bai Lu's gentle and patient teaching.

Meng Youliang and others weren't faring any better. While they avoided Xiao Cheng's icy glares, they received a silent, piercing gaze, as if a doctor saying, "We did our best" after saving a critically ill patient.

Feeling judged by Xiao Cheng, they couldn't help but wonder if they were truly as foolish as he implied. Learning such a skill in one go was impossible even for a genius.

In their hearts, they silently cried out, yearning for the gentle and patient Bai Lu.

However, despite the desire for Bai Lu's teaching, the reality was that Xiao Cheng was the one teaching.

"I can evenly heat the sand and sugar syrup now, Bai Lu, come take a look," Wang Cuihua thought roasting chestnuts was simple, but she struggled.

Looking at the sand clumped together in the pot, Bai Lu advised, "Not good enough. If you pour chestnuts in like this, they will stick to the pot and burn. You need to roast the sand until the grains are dry and distinct."

Wang Cuihua pouted, "I'm exhausted. Isn't this sufficient? Bai Lu, your standards are too high. Who can be the best at everything?"

Turning to Xiao Cheng, she sought his support with a pitiful face.

Unfortunately, Xiao Cheng didn't even spare her a glance.

Bai Lu, with a slight smile, calmly suggested, "If your right hand is tired, you can use your left hand."

"I can't use my left hand with strength. Who does anything using the left hand? Bai Lu, don't make things difficult for me," Wang Cuihua disagreed.

Rolling her eyes, Bai Lu replied, "Ah Cheng can roast chestnuts with his left hand and even both hands together. Isn't that impressive?"

"Is this considered making things difficult?" Wu Fangli, enjoying the spectacle, teased along with a smile.

Hearing Bai Lu's words, Wang Cuihua's eyes lit up, "Xiao Cheng can roast chestnuts with his left hand and even both hands together?"

Bai Lu nodded, "Yes, quite impressive."

"Of course!" Wang Cuihua instantly changed, full of admiration, "Xiao Cheng is truly amazing."

Saying so, she picked up the spatula and continued roasting sand.

Wu Fangli and others chuckled and continued learning from Bai Lu.

As the women's class enjoyed a happy learning experience, Chen Dafu and the men's class faced Xiao Cheng's stern gaze.

Xiao Cheng's cold remarks, like "Not adding sugar syrup, saving it for the New Year?" froze their hearts.

They reluctantly picked up spoons, scooped out sugar syrup from the bucket, and rushed to add it to the pot.

Chen Dafu and others, who had roasted sand for an entire afternoon, finally succeeded. However, as soon as the chestnuts were poured into the pot, they frantically added sugar syrup, resulting in a burnt mess.

The men's class no longer received Xiao Cheng's disdainful looks, but instead, they all experienced the chilling effect of his silent criticism.

In contrast, Bai Lu, who faced similar situations, consoled and encouraged the women's class with warmth.

"Failure is the mother of success. Reflect on the experience this time, and you'll succeed next time. Keep going."

The men's class also wanted some words of encouragement!

"Still not adding sugar syrup? Planning to save it for the New Year?"

Xiao Cheng's cold words shattered their envy of the women's class.

Each one, with a pained expression, picked up a spoon and hurriedly scooped sugar syrup from the bucket, muttering, "Adding now, not saving for later..."

Chapter 194: Opening a Teaching Class

Breaking the old path to forge a new one.

The new path has already opened up the market, a path to wealth holding the secret recipe, where both production and sales can be determined at will.

Yu Fugui and the others were extremely excited, and their perception of Xiao Cheng's social status had already been refreshed to the highest.

In just one night, there was a massive change in Nan City.

They truly witnessed the saying, "Things can change drastically overnight."

Amidst the awe-struck gazes, Bai Lu spoke again, "We will provide a supply channel for chestnuts. After you've learned, Ah Cheng and I will take you to the countryside to discuss the long-term procurement of chestnuts with the villagers."

"Don't worry about the quantity of chestnuts; even if a hundred more stalls open, it will be enough. There won't be any shortage before the off-season sales end."

With a stable and high-quality supply channel established, Yufugui and the others had no worries.

Before, they were curious about where Bai Lu sourced her chestnuts. Despite dealing with a significant amount daily, there had never been any shortage, and all the chestnuts were plump and free of defects.

Unfortunately, they didn't know how to make candied chestnuts, and knowing wouldn't have made much of a difference. So, they didn't think much about it.

Now, not only did they unexpectedly learn a profitable skill, but also, under the guidance of Bai Lu and Xiao Cheng, they secured a long-term and stable procurement collaboration with the villagers, ensuring a constant supply even if competitors emerged.

Bai Lu's teaching not only included mastering the skill but also opening up the candied chestnut market, guaranteeing a steady profit.

Meng Youliang and the others didn't hesitate; they immediately paid for the class. Being even a second late would be disrespectful to the opportunity of making big money.

Upon receiving a brief explanation from Bai Lu about the tuition fees for the recipe teaching, everyone, based on their trust in Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu, handed over the money without asking too many questions.

Bitterly, they realized that the money they earned from cooperating with Bai Lu in selling candied chestnuts during this period was not enough to cover the tuition fees. They had to dip into their savings to make up the difference.

It felt like working for Bai Lu for free, and they were not even breaking even.

However, the prospect of learning a money-making skill outweighed their unease.

Fortunately, coming to Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu's home, their trust was not betrayed. Xiao Cheng had already solved all the tricky problems.

They could now comfortably hand over the money to learn the skill.

Only Wang Cuihua, who was confused, had a question: "What if our stalls get overturned again?"

Chen Dafu thought she had a playful mind, "Didn't you watch the news on TV? Can't you understand human language? Bai Lu said those people who overturned the stalls are too busy dealing with their own problems. They won't bother us anymore. Why worry about being overturned? If you want to overturn something, do it to your own head and save yourself from asking such brain-dead questions all day long."

Wang Cuihua, embarrassed, glared at Chen Dafu.

After glaring, she quickly switched to a worshipful look at Xiao Cheng, "Big Brother Xiao Cheng is indeed the most powerful. He can handle anything."

Aunt Fangli completed the tuition payment and made a pointed remark with a smile, "Indeed, Xiao Cheng is amazing, and Bai Lu is clever. The two of them are a perfect match."

Wang Cuihua's hidden thoughts were exposed, and she choked for a moment before finding words to counter, "Big Brother Xiao Cheng is very clever too."

Wu Xiuyun nodded in agreement, "That's right. Smart people together can discuss common topics, support each other, and go further. Bai Lu and Xiao Cheng are truly well-matched."

Wang Cuihua was successively rebuked and chose to remain silent.

Being mentioned twice, Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu looked at each other as if they had a tacit understanding.

After a moment, one seemed unperturbed, and the other pretended to be nonchalant, once again avoiding eye contact.

The husband and wife, Zhang Huiru and Zhang Wanjun, jointly operated a fruit shop. They currently had no plans to open a branch, but since both of them came, it was only natural to inform Bai Lu. They decided that if they could learn, they would learn together; if not, Zhang Huiru would learn alone.

As a gesture of goodwill, the couple brought two boxes of the best-selling local pastries from the city, presenting them to Bai Lu.

Since Bai Lu had already set a precedent by accepting gifts from Wu Xiuyun and Yu fugui, she naturally accepted these as well.

Everyone had brought fruits and local specialties as gifts for Bai Lu when they took the candied chestnuts. This time was no exception, except for Wang Cuihua, who brought nothing.

Living next door to Xiao Cheng's house, she often saw Bai Lu receiving gifts, and her heart was full of envy and jealousy.

She thought Bai Lu wouldn't care about those small gifts, so she felt justified in not bringing any.

Seeing everyone else paying the tuition fees, Wang Cuihua reluctantly took out money from her pocket, "This is all I have left in my entire fortune. Bai Lu, you have to teach me how to make candied chestnuts."

"Even with on-site teaching, you won't learn. You might as well go home and farm," Chen Dafu mercilessly commented.

Wang Cuihua's face turned red, "You're the one who can't learn!"

"Alright, everyone, come with me to the kitchen." Bai Lu began the teaching after collecting the tuition fees.

The three electric chestnut roasting machines in the kitchen had already been dismantled by Xiao Cheng yesterday afternoon and placed in the firewood room.

The remaining empty stoves were equipped with large pots for manual roasting.

As Bai Lu explained the precautions for selecting sand, she lit the firewood in the hearth.

After lighting the fire, she picked up the spatula and started turning the sand in the pot. "Choose sand that is uniformly sized for even heating of the chestnuts. If the size difference is too big, some chestnuts will be cooked while others are still raw, leading to failure."

"So, we need sand for this... no wonder..."

Everyone finally realized why their candied chestnuts turned into a sticky mess when they mixed sugar with chestnuts while roasting.

No matter how many times they adjusted the ratio or changed the malt syrup, white sugar, brown sugar, or any edible sugar available in the market, it never worked.

It still turned out sticky.

Boiling chestnuts with sugar was a success, but it lacked the delicious, perfectly balanced taste of sugar-roasted chestnuts.

It turns out they needed to add sand while roasting.

"Where did this sand come from? I feel like I've seen it somewhere." Wang Cuihua thought hard but couldn't remember.

"It was sieved out during the construction of houses, the unwanted coarse sand and gravel." Yu fugui recognized it at a glance.

Their new house was built not long ago, and the memory was vivid.

Meng Youliang also nodded, "This should be the sand from the riverbank, polished smooth by water erosion."

"Exactly."

Bai Lu handed the spatula to the nearby Chen Dafu, "Choose sand with a smooth surface; too rough or damaged sand is unusable. When pouring sugar syrup, it will stick to impurities, and when chestnuts are added, they will stick to the surface, resulting in uneven color, making it look dirty and unappetizing, and it's prone to scorching, making it unappetizing."

Everyone quickly took out notebooks to jot down the key points.

Xiao Cheng originally planned to go to the city but, seeing that Chen Dafu struggled to learn how to roast sand for half a day without success, Bai Lu was about to demonstrate it herself. Xiao Cheng immediately changed his direction and went over.

"I'll do it."

 Chapter 193: Hand-in-hand Mastery

Living under the same roof, when one person learns to roast chestnuts, it's equivalent to the whole family learning. Paying two tuitions or just one, the difference lies in the comparison between legitimate learning and "borrowing" at home, which might lead to unpleasant cooperation in the end.

Offering a favor that secures cooperation is a wise move. Bai Lu readily agrees, "Sure, Aunt Wu and Uncle Fugui can come over after lunch to learn."

Grateful, Wu Xiuyun quickly goes home to fetch a ham for Bai Lu, "This is a large ham that Fugui brought back from the countryside last night. It's been salted and sun-dried, won't spoil no matter how long it's kept. You can cut the meat off the leg and stir-fry or boil it. Also, boiling the ham hock for soup enhances the flavor."

Bai Lu, looking at the enormous ham, recalls the famous Jinhua ham from the future. Even though they're not in Jinhua, the ham here shines with luster and firm texture, clearly a successful creation.

The wisdom of the working people is truly remarkable.

Accepting such a valuable ham as a gift, Bai Lu feels a bit overwhelmed, "Aunt Wu, there's no need to be so polite. This ham is too precious; you could sell it for a good amount. The fruits you gave us yesterday were delicious enough."

"The fruits are good, but the ham is even better." Wu Xiuyun places the ham on the table, "We have more at home, all made for personal consumption, not for sale. It's not about money; it's about the taste you like."

Wu Xiuyun smiles and leaves.

Looking at the huge pig leg on the table, Bai Lu contemplates and starts planning the menu.

Ham stir-fried with garlic shoots, ham boiled with shredded vegetables, ham stir-fried with peas... and, of course, simmering ham hock soup!

Ham and pig hock soup should be good for bone health. Add some other ingredients, and it'll be a substantial boost.

Satisfied, Bai Lu's face lights up.

When marinating the ham, a generous amount of salt was used. It's best to soak it in warm water before consuming, which can be done later in the afternoon before preparing dinner.

After placing the ham properly, Bai Lu goes inside to make phone calls, contacting the eight other partners with different sales routes.

Having exchanged contact information initially, those with phones provided their numbers, and those without left the number of a neighbor or a nearby phone.

After making the calls and notifying all partners to gather for discussions, Xiao Wei also returns home from school.

Bai Lu plans to pick vegetables from the backyard garden but doesn't have time to inform Wang Cuihua, so she sends Xiao Wei instead.

Wang Cuihua, who has been dreaming of learning how to make sugar-roasted chestnuts, receives Xiao Wei's notification and rushes to Bai Lu's house.

Arriving there, Xiao Wei blocks her at the door, "I told you the time. No need to come so early."

"I want to learn how to make sugar-roasted chestnuts sooner." Wang Cuihua tries to push past Xiao Wei.

Xiao Wei firmly closed the door, "We haven't had lunch yet. Sister-in-law said we would teach together in the afternoon."

Wang Cuihua managed to squeeze one foot inside, hand clinging to the door, and begged earnestly, "Just let me in. I'll cook for you. I'm really good at it, and I guarantee you'll want more. Big brother Xiao Cheng will like it too."

Xiao Wei was momentarily speechless. He then called out, "Big brother."

Wang Cuihua instinctively turned around.

The door immediately closed.

Her hand and foot were both pushed out.

However, Wang Cuihua didn't feel sad or disappointed. Without delaying, she greeted Xiao Cheng, who had indeed returned. Holding groceries from the market, he walked over step by step.

Cold glares were cast at her from a distance. Xiao Wei, who had been clinging to the door just moments ago, received a stern warning, "If you damage the door, you'll have to pay for it."

That warning was left unfinished as Xiao Wei was scared stiff.

"Big brother... it's Wang Cuihua. She insisted on coming in despite Sister-in-law saying we'll teach in the afternoon."

After explaining, Xiao Wei immediately opened the door.

Xiao Cheng responded with a casual "Hmm."

Xiao Wei didn't face the cold knife-like gaze he expected. He knew he had handled it correctly, and his fear eased a bit.

Happily, he closed the door and went home.

Yufugui went to the city to watch television and stuck to his decision. He bought a 21-inch color TV and a satellite dish just like Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu. To celebrate the opening of Xiao Cheng's electronics store, Bai Lu treated him to a piece of large, brightly red-braised pork.

Xiao Cheng wanted to pick up the tab, but Bai Lu insisted, "Congratulations on the successful opening of your electronics store. This is my treat."

Xiao Wei wanted to take a piece but didn't dare. He had been rejected too many times before. Instead, he managed to sneak a piece onto Bai Lu's plate.

He did the same for Sister-in-law.

Celebrating the business of both big brother and big sister-in-law was a joint celebration.

Bai Lu glanced at the self-comforting face of the little guy and decisively placed a piece of red-braised pork in Xiao Cheng's bowl.

Xiao Cheng's bowl had two pieces of red-braised pork—one from Bai Lu and one... from Xiao Wei and Bai Lu.

The shapes and sizes were nearly identical, distinguishable.

"Eat quickly." Bai Lu handed him another piece, smiling and offering one more.

Xiao Cheng had a good memory. Glancing at Bai Lu, he used his chopsticks to pick up the red-braised pork and ate it.

Not a single piece was left.

Xiao Wei retracted his furtive glances, secretly rejoicing in his heart. He had won Big Brother's approval; he knew it because he hadn't received the cold shoulder. He happily enjoyed his meal, devouring the rice.

Suddenly, he felt so fond of Sister-in-law.

Bai Lu didn't enjoy eating fatty meat, so Xiao Cheng served her other dishes with lean meat.

The family happily ate their fill.

Before half-past twelve, all the partners had arrived. Wang Cuihua, who was supposed to be the earliest, just made it on time, wearing a particularly bright floral dress.

Chen Dafu gave her a suggestive look, "Flower chicken."

Wang Cuihua, constrained by Xiao Cheng's presence, bit her lip, choosing not to publicly criticize him as an ugly old duck.

At half-past twelve, Bai Lu turned on the TV, and the channel happened to be the provincial television station.

The news from last night was being replayed on time, "In the early morning hours, there were multiple incidents of group fights and illegal gambling in Nan City. Hospitals are operating 24 hours, and the provincial headquarters takes it seriously, appointing investigators to look into the matter."

Same words, same pictures.

Yufugui, Meng Youliang, and others, even without Bai Lu's precise judgment, guessed from the symbols of power in the corners of the photos and inferred a lot.

Except for Wang Cuihua, who didn't understand anything, everyone in the room was shocked, staring at Bai Lu for confirmation. Even though Xiao Cheng was standing beside her, they didn't dare look at him.

Bai Lu, surrounded by a red halo, seemed to be surrounded by blood shadows. Looking at Xiao Cheng, there might be a splash sound on the ground.

They knew Xiao Cheng had exceptional skills, but they never expected him to be this terrifying.

Even more unimaginable was Bai Lu's calm demeanor, standing side by side with Xiao Cheng.

In the gaze of everyone, Bai Lu confirmed their speculations, "You all saw it. Those people are now busy with their own problems and have no time to interfere with our candied chestnut business. You can rest assured to learn. Once you've mastered it and identified the market, you can open the door to a thriving business."

 Chapter 192: Pain

Xiao Cheng took a sip of tea, "Have you considered letting others teach after learning?"

Bai Lu, confident, replied, "Of course, but when your brothers go to teach, no one will dare snatch business from us until our teaching journey is complete."

This was one reason Bai Lu chose to cooperate with Xiao Cheng—his reputation could fend off troubles.

Those in small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs all understood the rules of the trade. They knew the kings and queens of the market, the big shots on every street, and the consequences of challenging them.

Xiao Cheng observed Bai Lu's confident demeanor, his complex expression gradually fading. "Did you suddenly decide to cooperate today, or was it a preexisting idea?"

"Definitely a preexisting idea," Bai Lu responded.

Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow, "Your vision is not small."

If you asked what it felt like to be praised by a big shot, Bai Lu, with a mischievous look, silently conveyed, "You get it, I get it, we all get it."

Xiao Cheng cleared his throat, "Why didn't you mention it before?"

"Because you were busy opening the store, and I didn't want to bother you." Bai Lu had considered cooperating with Xiao Cheng when she decided to sell the candied chestnut recipe—no other option crossed her mind.

In the 90s, female entrepreneurship was not as common as in the 21st century. In this era, a woman doing business, especially a solo venture, would face more challenges and troubles than men. With time spent on solving problems, there would be no room for a good life.

With a smooth path available, there was no need to strain alone. Cooperation with Xiao Cheng was the best choice.

Xiao Cheng expressed his satisfaction with Bai Lu realizing he was reliable. "I have time."

Selecting a few reliable brothers wouldn't take much time, Bai Lu understood. "Then it's settled."

Xiao Cheng agreed, "Mm."

Bai Lu extended her hand, "Manager Xiao, a pleasant collaboration."

Xiao Cheng looked at the small hand before him, slowly reaching out and gripping it gently. "Pleasant collaboration."

Bai Lu, looking at his hand, suddenly remembered something, "Is your back wound healed? Do you still feel pain? Do you need another application of medicinal liquor?"

Considering the recovery speed she witnessed last night, it should be almost healed. Applying or not wouldn't matter.

Xiao Cheng, no stranger to injuries, knew that the small wound on his back should have healed by now. "Not sure."

Bai Lu, unconsciously moving towards his collar, quickly retracted her hand.

She was facing a big shot, not a child.

Her subconscious actions were too natural!

Bai Lu deeply reflected on her mistake and spoke sincerely, "Take off your top. Let me check the wound. If it's healed, there's no need for more medicinal liquor."

Xiao Cheng, realizing the contrast between the sober and drunk treatments, calmly began unbuttoning.

The room fell into a quiet state, with only the sound of buttons being undone, not too gently.

Under the bright light, Bai Lu saw the nearly healed traces on Xiao Cheng's back and sighed in relief.

"It's healed. No need for more application."

Xiao Cheng, looking at the roses blooming under the moonlight outside the window, spoke in a natural tone, "I still feel pain."

Bai Lu wasn't sure if he had injured the bone. She lightly pressed the faint scar. "Does it hurt?"

Xiao Cheng, refusing to lose face, admitted, "Hurts."

Bai Lu changed her position and pressed the area around the scar, asking, "What about here?"

"Pain."

"What about here?"

"Pain."

"And here?"

"Pain."

Bai Lu stood behind Xiao Cheng, unable to see his facial expressions. She pressed several positions around the scar, and he consistently claimed to feel pain. Unconsciously, she moved to a farther position.

"What about here?"

Xiao Cheng's nerves had been following the soft fingertips on his back, not misled by subconscious actions.

"Can't feel anything."

Bai Lu, sensing the displeasure of being treated like a fool, silently withdrew her hand from his shoulder.

Opening a small bottle, she poured medicinal liquor into her palm and began massaging his back. "Maybe you injured the bone. It takes a hundred days to heal tendons and bones. Tonight, let's apply it again. Tomorrow, I'll buy some bones and make soup for you to nourish."

Her tone was calm, like discussing daily affairs. Her slender figure was reflected on the open window, blurry yet clear.

It resembled a considerate wife caring for her husband.

Xiao Cheng, looking at the vivid roses, softly said, "Okay."

The gentle massage dispersed the pain, whether replaced by pleasure or the gentle touch of small, boneless hands.

In the backyard, the small river welcomed a big frog, croaking to inform its nearby friends of the new guest. The crickets in the vegetable garden chirped, perhaps to welcome or warn the potential threat of a new neighbor.

The little fish, in their territory with a new neighbor, continued their carefree play. Bubbles rose joyfully, kissing the moonlight.

Outside the window, everything was peaceful and auspicious. Inside, in the tranquility, the atmosphere silently drew closer.

After applying the medicinal liquor, Bai Lu watched Xiao Cheng put on his clothes and escorted him to the door, bidding him goodnight.

Xiao Cheng had heard White Dew say goodnight many times but had only heard her say goodnight. He didn't know what it meant.

He thought it probably meant saying goodbye at night, so he naturally responded, "Goodnight."

—May 29, 1997, clear, Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu installed their first television at home.

After discussing with Wu Xiuyun and Yu Fugui, they decided on a 21-inch new television.

The next morning, when coming to Bai Lu's house to get chestnuts, Yu Fugui arranged to go to the city with Xiao Cheng to buy the TV.

After Bai Lu mentioned the candied chestnut teaching plan, Wu Xiuyun was thrilled. On the spot, she expressed her desire to learn.

The hard-earned opportunity had come. Even though their budget was not too generous with the new TV, saving a bit would allow them to come up with three thousand. This deal was guaranteed to bring in profits.

Wu Xiuyun postponed setting up her stall, went home first to get money to sign up for the candied chestnut teaching. After signing up, she realized that she and Yu Fugui were family—two potential customers.

After some hesitation, Wu Xiuyun couldn't help but ask for a favor from Bai Lu, "Bai Lu, since Fugui and I are family... can you count us as one person for the tuition?"

 Chapter 191: Doing Business with the Big Boss

Xiao Wei still had homework to do. After watching TV for a while, he voluntarily went back to his room to work on her assignments.

Bai Lu lowered the volume and switched channels during the commercial break. Several channels were showing advertisements; apparently, even popular TV dramas had commercials. Left with lifestyle programs, Bai Lu asked Xiao Cheng if he wanted to watch. Xiao Cheng replied, "Up to you."

So, she changed the channel.

It happened to land on the provincial TV station, currently broadcasting the evening news: "Last night in the early hours, there were multiple incidents of group fights and illegal gambling in South City. Hospitals are on 24-hour alert. The provincial government is taking this seriously and has appointed... to investigate..."

A few official statements, some marginal photos—it was enough to make Bai Lu pause her channel-changing actions.

Official statements were often carefully worded, downplaying significant events to maintain social stability.

Multiple group fights in South City—gang conflicts were erupting in various streets and alleys.

Illegal gambling discovered—issues at He Yongli's gambling den, likely related to the ongoing gang conflicts.

Hospitals on 24-hour alert—overnight, chaos ensued, and hospitals were filled with the injured.

Provincial government taking it seriously—the scale and severity of the incidents prompted intervention from higher authorities.

Appointed... to investigate—until the situation was clarified, South City would be under constant surveillance. The vice mayor would be confined at home for investigation.

The gangs undoubtedly referred to the four major powers in South City—representing the hidden forces of the Big Boss, local bosses, He Yongli, and Li Chengbin.

Looking at those seemingly insignificant photos, the clothes of the injured, tattoos, and scattered weapons on the ground revealed that members of all four powers were present.

Even though Bai Lu knew that the four powers, involved in various illicit activities, would be eliminated twenty years later, witnessing the conflict unfold now was still shocking.

These weren't small gangs in the alleyways; they wouldn't engage in fights over trivial matters.

Only someone extremely familiar with the styles, nature, and underground dealings of the four major powers could orchestrate a plan to incite them into conflict without being detected.

This person had to be an insider or, more specifically, a former insider who had reached a certain level in one of the powers. Someone with broad access to information, connections in all directions—someone like a brother, a friend.

They didn't interfere with each other unless necessary, responding collectively when needed.

In this era and place, having such influence and being able to walk away unscathed meant one thing—a single individual.

There was only one...

Bai Lu suddenly felt a chill down her spine. The fingertip holding the remote control, from the top of her head to her heel, went cold.

Without turning around, she knew that at this moment, Xiao Cheng, seated behind her, was watching her.

Moreover, he wasn't blinking—an intense gaze fixed on her. If she stood up, his eyes would follow her; they wouldn't disappear until she spoke.

Feeling somewhat floaty, Bai Lu hadn't even said thank you and was already thinking of going back to cover herself with a blanket to sleep.

What a dream!

The actions of the four major powers had caused great harm, tearing families apart, breaking marriages, leaving people homeless. Everything that happened from last night until dawn was their deserved retribution.

Bai Lu wasn't ungrateful; it's just that the matter was too significant, beyond her expectations, and needed some time to buffer.

If she couldn't handle it, she could simply change the channel.

It's not that big of a deal.

Bai Lu took a deep breath.

Her formidable emotional control, honed in the field of psychology, quickly processed and dissipated the emotions.

Turning her head, she revealed a perfect smile, just like usual: "Manager Xiao, interested in partnering for a lucrative business?"

Without deviation, Xiao Cheng, directly meeting the clear gaze of the girl, showed a slightly surprised expression.

After the news report, she sat leisurely in the chair, but her body suddenly stiffened.

However, in an instant, she returned to normal.

He hadn't even speculated on what she was thinking, and she had already turned around, flashing a sweet smile at him.

In a few words, she diverted his attention.

Xiao Cheng leaned back, casually crossing his legs, picked up the cup of cold tea on the table, took a sip, and shifted his gaze from staring to focused.

"What business?"

Bai Lu refilled the empty water cup for him and slowly began, "Wait until the dust settles in the next two days. Those people will be dealing with the aftermath, busy with their own matters, and won't have time for us. During this period, I'll teach Auntie Wu and Uncle Fugui, along with eight others, the technique. After learning, let them test the market."

"In the meantime, you contact Luo Shiliu, Xiao Zhuang, and others. They can learn the roasted chestnut business from us. Once we confirm there's no problem in the market, you can let them teach in the towns and cities beyond Shitiao. We'll start with a limited number."

Pausing, Bai Lu glanced at Xiao Cheng, finding no signs of disagreement. She continued, "We won't just provide training but also establish a supply channel. The reputation of roasted chestnuts has already been established for quite some time, and the business won't be bad. You can decide the commission for your brothers. After deducting their share, the remaining profit will be split equally between us."

Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow, "How much is the tuition?"

Bai Lu smiled gently, extending one hand and pressing down with two fingers, showing three fingers in total, "Three thousand per person."

Xiao Cheng furrowed his brows slightly.

"Three thousand is not much," Bai Lu explained, "Before, Gao Jianchuan and Wen Li came to buy the technique, offering twelve thousand. It shows that roasted chestnuts have a considerable market share, and the off-season sales are successful. It's worth this price."

"Moreover, we also provide a supply channel. By limiting the number of students, we ensure that the market for roasted chestnuts won't saturate quickly. This way, the new and old chestnut-selling bosses can make steady profits. Three thousand is really not much."

In the future, classes teaching the art of making roasted chestnuts would charge at least twenty to thirty thousand. Adjusted for the prices of the 90s, three thousand was just right—close enough.

During this time, when buying vegetables at the market, Bai Lu didn't just chat with people. Through their words, clothing, and expenses, she had already deduced their true financial situation.

Although the economic level here was low, there were still families able to afford three thousand. Especially the bosses doing business on the streets, three thousand in savings was considered less.

Xiao Cheng, looking at Bai Lu's face, which appeared a bit anxious, lightly laughed.

"What I meant was that it's too little."

Bai Lu was momentarily stunned, then confirmed that she hadn't misheard—Xiao Cheng said too little, not too much.

"It's not little. Selling one technique is a one-time deal, selling many techniques means popularizing the business on a large scale. Different positioning," she explained.