Chapter 105: The Worst Deal of a Lifetime (Two-in-One)

Master Qin nearly died of rage. After getting a good look at Wu Ning, he finally realized that beneath that pockmarked face was indeed that familiar, detestable expression.

"You... how are you here?"

Wu Ning chuckled. *Well, I came here with the heart of a prospective son-in-law, didn't I? Who would have thought you’d hold such a grudge against me?*

He glanced at Qin Miaoniang, thinking, *If I start bickering with him, it’ll definitely put Miaoniang in a tough spot. But if I don't...* Old Nine Wu simply couldn't swallow this insult. *How on earth did I swindle his money and seduce his daughter?*

After weighing his options, Wu Ning ignored Qin Wenyuan, turned around, and walked out.

"Brother Ning..." Qin Miaoniang, fearing Wu Ning had taken offense, called out urgently. But Wu Ning didn't listen and slammed the door shut behind him.

"Why did he leave?" Master Qin felt incredibly awkward. In all his years, he had never been spoken to like that "to his face."

Qin Miaoniang was speechless. She gave her father a reproachful look. "Why wouldn't he leave? Is that any way for a father to talk about someone?"

"Uh." Qin Wenyuan’s face flushed. "I was only speaking the truth."

...

*Knock, knock, knock!*

Just as the father and daughter were wondering what to do, three light knocks came from the door.

Qin Wenyuan was stunned. "Who is it?"

"Your junior, Wu Ning, here to pay his respects to Master Qin!"

"Pfft!"

Qin Wenyuan spat out a mouthful of blood. *How did this brat come back again?*

Under the bewildered gazes of Qin Wenyuan and Qin Miaoniang, Wu Ning walked in with his head held high and chest puffed out, a warm, spring-breeze smile on his face as if nothing had just happened.

He stopped before Qin Wenyuan, flicked his sleeves, and bowed. "Junior Wu Ning pays his respects to Master Qin!"

Qin Wenyuan: "..."

Qin Miaoniang: "..."

"It’s been many days. Is Master in good health?"

Qin Wenyuan: "..."

Qin Miaoniang: "..."

"I have been caught up in trifles lately and failed to visit you. It is truly my fault!"

Qin Wenyuan: "..."

*What is this guy playing at?* The old man was so dumbfounded he couldn't even speak; he had never seen anyone like this.

Qin Miaoniang couldn't help but giggle. She was speechless at Wu Ning. "Brother Ning! What are you doing?"

Wu Ning threw up his hands, putting on a pained expression. "The situation was so awkward, what else could I do?" He looked at Qin Wenyuan. "Master, just pretend I’ve only just arrived, and let’s talk as if nothing happened."

Qin Wenyuan rolled his eyes, caught between laughter and tears. *Can you even do that?* However, he was genuinely impressed by Wu Ning’s audacity. After this stunt, the earlier awkwardness had largely evaporated.

He looked deeply at Wu Ning, then turned to his daughter. "Daughter!"

"Yes?" Miaoniang replied. "What are your instructions, Father?"

The old man’s face darkened. *I shouldn't play along with him. If this scoundrel wants to keep acting, I don't have the face for it.* What was he waiting for? He had to get his daughter out of the room so he could have a showdown with Wu the Ninth. *Want to covet my daughter? Not a chance!*

"You go out for a moment. I have things to discuss with your 'Brother Ning'."

"Father..." Qin Miaoniang said, worried. "Is there something you can't let your daughter hear?"

"Sister," Wu Ning interrupted, cutting her off. *Looking at the old man’s expression, he’s determined to fight me to the end, isn't he? Unfortunately for you, Master Qin, you've miscalculated. Does Wu the Ninth look like someone who fears that?*

"You go ahead."

Qin Miaoniang had no choice but to leave. She never expected that her father and Brother Ning would be like bitter enemies the moment they met. As she passed by Wu Ning, she didn't forget to whisper, "You... you go easy on my father."

Wu Ning patted the back of her hand. "Don't worry, I won't go for the kill."

"..."

*Great,* Qin Miaoniang thought, *now I’m even more worried.*

...

After she left the room with a heavy heart, only the old man and the young man remained, staring each other down.

Qin Wenyuan sat back down at the low table. Seeing the old man sit, Wu Ning didn't stand on ceremony and sat down firmly opposite him. Qin Wenyuan picked up the teapot to brew more tea, and Wu Ning pulled the cup the old man had just filled toward himself.

Qin Wenyuan poured another cup and drank it himself. Wu Ning lifted his own cup and took a sip.

"Pfft!"

"It's salty and spicy! What kind of stuff is this!"

Qin Wenyuan: "..."

*Fine,* the old man thought, *you win! I can't outlast you, can I?* He said coldly, "My daughter will never marry you."

Wu Ning set down his cup with a look of disdain and gave Master Qin a wide, bright smile. "Too late."

"What’s too late?"

"It’s not like she can avoid it now." Wu Ning shrugged. "Almost everyone in Fangzhou knows your daughter and I are a couple. If she doesn't marry me, I doubt she’ll be able to marry anyone else."

"You!!" Qin Wenyuan was infuriated. *How can someone be so shameless?* His anger flared. "If she can't get married in Fangzhou, I’ll find her a match in Xiangzhou!"

Wu Ning didn't panic; instead, he began to advise the old man earnestly. "Save your breath. Your daughter wouldn't go for it anyway."

"I..." Qin Wenyuan refused to believe it. "She is my daughter. The instructions of parents and the words of matchmakers—she has no choice but to obey."

Wu Ning gave a wry smile. "That won't work either. You’re heading to Yizhou soon, and your wife will be the one in charge of the household." He paused, adding with a hint of pity, "Why don't you just accept your fate?"

*Oh, my!* Master Qin let out a moan. His teeth ached. The old man couldn't fathom how he had ended up provoking such a disaster!

After suffering in silence for a while, he thought, *I can't give up. She’s my only precious daughter; I have to keep worrying for her!*

He softened his expression and looked up at Wu Ning. "Ninth Young Master, you are... you have the knowledge and the ability. As an Aide to the Regional Governor, your future is bright. I heard you’ve even struck up a friendship with Princess Taiping..."

"With such a promising future ahead of you, why waste your efforts on a merchant’s daughter?" The old man almost begged. "I have only this one daughter. I hope you can show some mercy!"

"What a coincidence!!"

Wu Ning’s mouth curled into a smirk. "It really is a coincidence. Master has only one daughter, and I just happen to be the one who wants to spend the rest of my life with her."

Qin Wenyuan: "..." *He was at his wit's end.*

Seeing the old man’s helpless expression, Wu the Ninth thought, *That’s enough. I’ve regained my footing; time to talk business.* He slapped his thigh. "I say, Father-in-law!"

That phrase nearly gave Master Qin another heart attack. Just as he was about to explode, Wu Ning continued, "Since things have reached this point, your son-in-law would like to speak from the heart."

Qin Wenyuan swallowed his outburst, looking suspicious. "What kind of heart-to-heart?"

Wu Ning dropped the teasing tone, composed himself, and said seriously, "As for the accusation of 'swindling wealth,' you have truly wronged me."

"Though I may be humble and my family poor, the little estate the Qin family possesses..." he smiled and shook his head, "...I truly never gave it a second thought."

Hearing this, Qin Wenyuan was slightly moved. Wu Ning’s demeanor didn't seem like a facade. He realized that Wu Ning was very different from half a year ago. Now, he was a favorite of the Princess and the nephew of the Regional Governor’s aide. Perhaps the Qin family’s wealth really was beneath his notice. The old man realized he might have been biased from the start.

Still, he wasn't entirely convinced. He teased, "If you don't covet the property, then you must be lusting after my daughter's beauty. That is just as unacceptable!"

Wu Ning was blunt. "Why is that unacceptable?"

"You're right. At first, I was indeed drawn to Miaoniang’s beauty, but what’s wrong with that?"

"The sages said: 'A fair maiden is a fine match for a gentleman.' I was a hot-blooded youth of fifteen or sixteen; wanting to marry a beautiful young woman is human nature, isn't it?"

"On the contrary, if someone came along claiming to be a man of virtue, saying, 'I don't covet your wealth, and I don't covet her beauty; I just like her person,' would you believe him?"

"This..." Qin Wenyuan was struck dumb. *He had a point.* And to be honest, he rather appreciated the honesty. However, thinking back to the five hundred strings of cash Wu Ning had extorted from him, the old man still felt bitter.

"Even... even so, it won't do."

"Why not?" Wu Ning was exasperated. "What's the problem? Tell me!"

"Sigh..." Qin Wenyuan let out a long breath, crossed his legs, and thought seriously. "You see... I won't hide it from you. If you were my own son, I’d wake up laughing in my dreams. To have such a capable son, I’d be willing to lose a few years of my life."

"But..." the old man changed his tone, "you cannot be my son-in-law."

"Why?"

"You are too cunning!" Qin Wenyuan confessed. "My silly girl—how could she be your match? Once you're in the family, wouldn't she be completely under your thumb? Wouldn't you bully her for a lifetime?"

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Wu Ning was having none of it. "Father-in-law, we can't talk like that. Treating marriage like a business deal isn't right, is it?"

"When a couple lives together, there’s no such thing as bullying. She is pure and innocent; isn't it a blessing for her to have someone like me, who worries about everything, to help her manage things?"

"That’s different!" Qin Wenyuan waved his hand. "Two separate things. With your schemes, my daughter will suffer a great loss!"

"No..." Wu Ning laughed in frustration. "I don't think I’ve ever schemed against Miaoniang, have I?"

"Let’s not talk about anything else," Qin Wenyuan said. "Let’s talk about when I bought that secret recipe from you!"

The mention of it made the old man’s heart ache. "Go ask anyone in the Great Tang—what kind of precious recipe is worth five hundred strings of cash?" He pointed at Wu Ning. "You brat, you’re wicked! You leaned on the fact that your Fourth Uncle was the Military Commander of Fangzhou to bleed me for five hundred strings!"

"And you say you don't scheme??"

"Stop!!!"

Wu Ning finally understood. *So that was the problem.* He had helped the Qin family many times, yet he had earned the reputation of a swindler, all because of that one incident! *So the old man is holding a grudge over that?*

"Alright, alright, alright," Wu Ning said, completely speechless. "I finally understand why you don't like me. It’s just about those five hundred strings of cash? Isn't that a bit petty?"

"Hey!" Qin Wenyuan was indignant. "Easy for you to say, standing there! 'Just five hundred strings'?"

"Is that small change? With that money, I might not have been pushed so hard by Wang Hongyi, and perhaps I wouldn't be sitting in this jail today."

"Fine, fine, fine!" Wu Ning pacified the old man. "Five hundred strings! I’ll return it to you, won't I?"

"When the time comes for the betrothal gifts, I’ll send it back to you, every single coin. Will that satisfy you?"

"Send it back?" Qin Wenyuan’s mouth curled up. "That’s more like it."

*Wait,* he thought, *something’s not right.* He immediately widened his eyes. "You brat, how dare you try to fool me? Did I ever promise to give you my daughter?"

"Talking about betrothal gifts..." the old man curled his lip. "In your dreams!"

"Look, look!" Wu Ning also curled his lip. "Look how smug you are. Just because you have a good daughter?"

"What about it? My daughter is good!"

"And she’s mine!" Wu Ning was even smugger. "If you don't want us to elope and abandon you, you’d better just agree to it."

"..."

Seeing Qin Wenyuan brooding again, Wu Ning picked up the teapot, refilled the old man’s cup, and reasoned with him. "Be content. Having a son-in-law like me, you should be laughing up your sleeve!"

"I’m good at business, my family background is solid, and I treat your daughter well. What more could you want?"

"Don't worry, I have no designs on your family’s savings. In fact, I’ll help you watch over them. I guarantee that when you return from Yizhou, your family’s fortune will be even greater than it is now."

"..."

Master Qin pouted. It seemed... it seemed there was no other way.

He glared at Wu Ning, reluctant. "Then you must promise me one thing."

Hearing a chance, Wu Ning was quick to agree. "Name it!"

"Two years!" the old man said seriously. "Within two years, before I return from Yizhou, you two cannot marry, and you cannot bully Miaoniang!"

"Why?"

"Who knows if you’re just sweet-talking me?" Master Qin stared. "If, after two years, you are still as good to Miaoniang as you are today, I will agree to hand her over to you!"

"Fine... then!"

Wu Ning reluctantly agreed. As a time-traveler, waiting a few years to marry wasn't something he couldn't accept.

"And!" seeing Wu Ning agree, "You must look after the house for me. Not a single thing can go wrong."

"Fine!"

"And the betrothal gift is settled: five hundred strings!"

"Fine!!"

Wu Ning cursed inwardly. *Every old person is a handful.*

"Any other requirements?"

"No." Qin Wenyuan breathed a sigh of relief and sipped his tea. "For now... that should be all."

"It’s settled then, no adding anything else!"

"No more." *What else is there to add?* the old man thought. He stole a glance at Wu Ning. *Brat, ginger is still spicier when it's old, right? In the end, didn't that five hundred strings return to my hands?* This burden on his heart was finally lifted.

...

However...

After Wu Ning and Miaoniang left, the old man lay down alone, ruminating over the day’s events...

*Something doesn't feel right.*

Master Qin sat up with a start and began counting on his fingers.

"Back then, for one secret recipe, that little brat extorted five hundred strings from me..."

"And now..."

"I used a little trick, and those five hundred strings came back!!"

"Which means..."

"That secret recipe was essentially free?"

Thinking of this, the old man chuckled. *I made a profit!*

But...

"That five hundred strings was a betrothal gift..."

"If I accepted the betrothal gift..."

"My daughter is gone!!"

*So that means...*

Master Qin finally realized the truth. *He had traded his daughter away!!*

"WU THE NINTH!!"

Qin Wenyuan let out a roar of rage that shook the roof tiles.

He thought he had outsmarted Wu Ning, but in the end...

Wu the Ninth had used Master Qin’s own money as a betrothal gift to pay him back. He hadn't spent a single penny and had walked away with his daughter?

"My daughter!!"

Qin Wenyuan wept. This was the worst deal he had ever made in his entire life!