Chapter 160: Passion

Chapter 160: Passion

Not only was Old Man Liao bewildered, but Lin Zhaodi was also somewhat taken aback, though she quickly understood Lin Shu's intention.

To secure Old Man Liao's cooperation, inviting him to join the venture and earn money together was indeed a more reliable approach.

But how should the profits be divided? Would it be like her share, giving him ten or twenty percent?

Wasn’t that too much?

Lin Zhaodi remained silent, waiting for Lin Shu to speak.

Lin Shu continued, "Once Aunt Lin and I get this ice jelly business off the ground, there will be more and more things to transport. I’m afraid we’ll have to rely on Old Man Liao’s ox cart. I’d like to offer Old Man Liao eighty copper coins a day. You’d help Aunt Lin load the goods onto the ox cart and deliver them to the stall. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Old Man Liao quickly refused, "Girl, saying that means you’re treating me like a stranger. I’m already going to town anyway—just pay me for the ox cart. There’s no need for eighty copper coins!"

Wasn't he tempted by eighty copper coins? Of course he was!

On ordinary days, he hardly had any passengers—only on market days were there more. Not to mention the grain he got from helping villagers transport goods, just the fares from passengers alone would amount to six or seven hundred copper coins in a month if he was lucky, and three or four hundred if he wasn’t. But A Shu was offering eighty copper coins a day—that would add up to over two strings of cash a month!

Even hard labor in town didn’t pay that much. How could he compare to those laborers? He just drove an ox cart every day.

Old Man Liao didn’t want to take advantage of a young girl.

"Old Man Liao, don’t be so quick. Let me finish. If the ice jelly sells well, Aunt Lin and I plan to rent a fixed stall. That means we’ll have to go to town every day. Originally, you went to town just to pass the time—you could go or not as you pleased. But now, because of our ice jelly business, you’ll have to set out early every morning. Besides, Aunt Lin and I have a lot of gear for selling ice jelly—not just buckets, but also tables and chairs. These will take up space on the ox cart, so you won’t be able to take other passengers."

"On top of that, I have another concern. Aunt Lin is alone after all, and sometimes she might not be able to keep an eye on the stall. I’d like Old Man Liao to help watch over it when you have time. You wouldn’t need to stay long—just stop by briefly."

Hearing this, Lin Zhaodi was deeply touched.

She hadn’t expected A Shu to be so thoughtful. There were many women selling goods at the marketplace, but they were mostly village women engaged in small trades—selling fruits, vegetables, pickles, or, like Zhang Qiaohua, selling handmade straw sandals or insoles. But the vendors running proper businesses were typically all men. A Shu was afraid she, as a woman, might be bullied.

Old Man Liao didn't answer right away but mulled over Lin Shu’s words carefully.

He had thought he only needed to give Lin Zhaodi a ride, but now it seemed he’d have to transport many things and also help watch the stall. However, he usually had little to do in town, so helping out at the stall wasn’t a big deal. Besides, there usually weren’t many villagers going to town—his ox cart often carried only one or two people, or even went empty. His main concern was whether villagers who usually took his ox cart on market days would no longer be able to do so.

Lin Shu figured out what was on his mind and said after a moment’s thought, "Old Man Liao, on ordinary days, there aren’t many regular villagers taking the ox cart—only on market days. On market days, Aunt Lin will also have to get up early. If you don’t mind the trouble, you could first take Aunt Lin to town and then return to pick up the villagers."

If it were up to Lin Shu, she thought that since the ox cart belonged to Old Man Liao, he could decide whom to take and how many.

Long before Old Man Liao had the ox cart, the villagers of Tianshui Village had got by perfectly well.

If it were Lin Shu, she wouldn’t waste time worrying—she’d use her own things however she pleased, regardless of whether others were happy or not.

Hearing Lin Shu’s suggestion, Old Man Liao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He was lazy, he admitted, and didn’t want to tire his old ox, so he usually made only one round trip a day. Otherwise, even on market days, he could make at least two trips and take more people.

But…

Ah, forget it. It was only on market days that he’d have to work harder and make an extra run.

Seeing he was softening, Lin Shu immediately asked, "So, Old Man Liao, do you agree?"

Old Man Liao grinned, "I agree, I agree," he chuckled. "But A Shu, eighty copper coins a day is still too much."

"Old Man Liao, it’s really not too much. After all, you’re the only one in Tianshui Village with an ox cart—you’re irreplaceable. I actually feel like I’m offering too little. But don’t worry, if the ice jelly business takes off, I’ll give you a big red envelope as a bonus at the end of the month…"

Lin Shu’s words delighted and excited Old Man Liao.

And so, the matter was settled. Once Lin Zhaodi was ready, Old Man Liao would drive his ox cart to the end of the village to pick her up.

After Old Man Liao left, Lin Zhaodi felt both happy and ashamed. "A Shu, this is something I should have worried about. I didn’t expect you to solve it."

She had originally thought of just giving Old Man Liao a little extra money each day. If the ox cart couldn’t be used on market days, she’d pay more to secure a spot and have the larger items like tables and chairs transported by ox cart, while she and Zhao San carried the rest to the market. That was why she hadn’t rushed to discuss it with Old Man Liao.

But A Shu had directly invited Old Man Liao to join the partnership, arranging for dedicated daily transport and even considering help with watching the stall.

Lin Shu waved it off. "This is my business after all. I’m just slacking off by having Aunt Lin handle the selling, so these are things I should consider."

Lin Zhaodi quickly said, "A Shu, deduct the money for Old Man Liao from my share."

"I’m the boss. I decide how the money is divided. Aunt Lin, just focus on selling."

Seeing her insistence, Lin Zhaodi let it go.

After the pots, pans, and dishes were cleaned up, Lin Zhaodi and Zhao Laosan left, and the courtyard finally grew quiet again as dusk settled.

A couple of days ago, Lin Shu and A Ye would still be simmering Termitomyces mushroom sauce by the stove at this hour, but now Lin Xiaopu was urging them to go to sleep.

"Big sister, why are you still up since we’re not making Termitomyces mushroom sauce tonight?" Lin Xiaopu asked. Though she was energetic despite her age, she was still a nine-year-old girl. After a day of excitement at the market and an early start, sleepiness crept in as darkness fell.

Lin Shu coughed lightly and explained, "You go ahead and sleep. I’m not sleepy right now. I want to sit in the courtyard with A Ye and enjoy the breeze before bed."

The night breeze was cool, and Lin Shu thought her excuse was perfect.

But a knowing look flashed in Lin Xiaopu’s eyes. "Alright then, big sister, enjoy the breeze a bit longer and come back when you’ve cooled down. Ah, I’m so sleepy—I can’t take it anymore. I’m going to bed first."

Lin Shu: "..."

Darn, she would’ve believed it if not for that last line.

Since they weren’t making Termitomyces mushroom sauce tonight, the stove wasn’t lit, and the unlit oil lamp wasn’t on. The sky was cloudy, and the stars weren’t very bright, but just by looking at Lin Shu sitting hunched on the small bamboo stool, Zhou Ye could tell she was flustered.

Though A Shu was bold in her actions, he knew that boldness didn’t mean she couldn’t be shy—in fact, she blushed easily.

A Shu often remarked that he blushed easily, but she wasn’t much better herself.

Zhou Ye sat with her in the courtyard for a while without saying a word.

After some time, when the soft chatter from inside was replaced by Lin Dashan’s loud, even snores, Zhou Ye finally asked, "A Shu, are we going to the river tonight?"

Lin Shu cupped her face in her hands and looked at him. "Yes. We walked so much today—a relaxing soak in the river will help relieve the fatigue."

Zhou Ye prepared their change of clothes and led her to the river.

"A Ye, why don’t you come down too? We could take a couple's bath together?" Lin Shu teasingly asked, hoping to fluster him.

But Zhou Ye just looked at her calmly and said unhurriedly, "A Shu, it’s cloudy today. The river water probably isn’t very warm. Don’t soak for too long."

Lin Shu sighed inwardly. Well, well, the current A Ye wasn’t the same as before—he didn’t blush easily at her teasing anymore.

However, after the two of them finished bathing in the river—with Zhou Ye behaving properly and not glancing at Lin Shu unnecessarily—he didn’t hurry back. Instead, he grabbed her hand and stopped her from leaving. "A Shu, you napped on my back on the way back. You shouldn’t be sleepy now, right?"

Lin Shu wasn’t exactly sleepy, though that didn’t mean she wasn’t tired. After all, she’d spent the whole day at the market and walked so much. Her calves were still sore, and the soles of her feet hurt a little, though she’d checked and there were no blisters. Soaking in the river had helped a lot.

But Zhou Ye’s question instantly perked her up.

"Why do you care whether I’m sleepy or not? What do you want to do?" Lin Shu poked his chest with her fingertip, then glanced at him mischievously while unbuttoning the collar of the shirt he’d just put on after bathing. "You’re not thinking of doing something shameless to me, are you?"

Zhou Ye drew a sharp breath; A Shu's movements were agonizingly slow. He paused for a moment, and under her wide-eyed gaze, he abruptly tugged open his belt, letting his upper garment fall open, baring his chest and revealing the well-defined muscles she so admired.

Lin Shu was completely stunned—truly stunned.

"A Ye, you... you..."

"A Shu, don’t you like it? Here, touch it." With that, he guided her small hand toward his abdomen.

Lin Shu gulped.

Wait, why was A Ye so forward tonight? She was almost overwhelmed.

But since A Ye had offered himself so willingly, she might as well take advantage.

Yet, her hand had barely had time to caress his taut abdomen a few times before A Ye suddenly lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist, and urgently captured her lips in a desperate kiss, as if he could no longer hold back.

"Mmph... A Ye, be gentler."

"Sorry, A Shu, I can’t help it."

The night was silent and still—a perfect time for mischief. The secluded riverside was free from interruptions, and even if a few soft sounds escaped their lips, there was no fear of being overheard.

Lin Shu relaxed almost instinctively, low gasps and soft moans spilling from her lips. To Zhou Ye, these sounds only fueled his unrestrained actions. He devoured her crimson lips hungrily, his rough hands moving with a mind of their own, roaming and kneading wildly. At one point, A Shu's hips were gripped so firmly they seemed to leave dents in her flesh.

Even after Lin Shu pleaded multiple times for him to be gentler, he paid no heed. Annoyed, she scratched him hard.

Zhou Ye’s pupils contracted abruptly, and he gasped heavily.

"You brute, A Ye! I told you to kiss me gently—you’re hurting me."

"A Shu, I’m sorry..." he panted heavily, his voice husky, yet he dared not let her go.

"If you behave, I’ll give you a treat. Understand?"

"Mmm..." A low groan escaped Zhou Ye’s throat.