Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs

Chapter 52

The next morning, Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan went to the restaurant to deliver tofu.

Xu Bin wasn't at the restaurant, so they went to the station but still couldn't find him. After inquiring from a clerk, they learned that Xu Bin lived on Dongchang Street, so they went directly to his house.

Last night, the two of them had discussed matters until midnight and concluded that besides Xu Bin, they couldn't find anyone else who could help them.

Xu Bin, who ran both the station and the restaurant, had a wide network of friends. Many influential people in town had eaten at his place. Lu Yao wanted to ask him about the Fourth Master and how much power he held. He wondered if giving away the tofu recipe would secure their tofu shop.

Arriving at Xu Bin's large gate by donkey cart, Lu Yao got off and knocked. After a moment, a servant led them inside.

Xu Bin's residence was a two-compound courtyard with blue brick houses, looking very grand. Such a house was one of the best in town, indicating considerable wealth.

The two followed the servant to the main hall, where Xu Bin soon appeared, "What brings you here today?"

Lu Yao gave a bitter smile, "We wouldn't come if we didn't need something."

Without Lu Yao saying more, Xu Bin guessed the reason, "It's about the tofu shop, isn't it?"

Zhao Beichuan added, "Yesterday, after you mentioned someone was targeting us, some ruffians came to our shop in the afternoon, claiming our tofu made them sick and demanded a hundred taels of silver."

"Did you give them the money?"

"How could we? Even if the tofu shop is profitable, we can't save that much in just a few days." Lu Yao paused, "Da Chuan chased them away. Before leaving, they mentioned the Fourth Master, saying we'd never be able to run our shop in Qiushui Town again. I don't know who this Fourth Master is, so we came to seek your advice."

Lu Yao hadn't come empty-handed; he brought thirty taels of silver and a tofu recipe.

He took out the items and handed them to Xu Bin, "Though tofu is cheap, it's fresh and delicious. If taken to Shang Jing, it might win favor among the nobles."

Xu Bin raised an eyebrow, surprised that Lu Xiaolang would share the tofu recipe. After a moment, he said, "The Fourth Master they mentioned is surnamed Huang, the owner of the gambling den in Qiushui Town. He often bullies others with his gang. Don't worry about this; I have some influence in town and can handle it."

Picking up the wooden board, he continued, "With this tofu recipe, the restaurant won't need your supply anymore."

Lu Yao had anticipated this, "Our business is small, and we don't aim for huge profits. We just want peace."

In this feudal society, without sufficient power, making too much money could be dangerous. Today it was Huang Siye extorting them; tomorrow it could be Li Siye or Zhang Siye. They couldn't always rely on Xu Bin for help.

Xu Bin pushed the silver back, "You understand well. I'll keep the recipe, and you don't need to worry about Huang Siye. In a few days, the restaurant will also sell tofu at the same price as yours. How much you earn depends on your skills, not on me taking your business."

"Thank you, thank you!"

Leaving Xu Bin's house, Lu Yao sighed deeply, feeling relieved. The cold air felt refreshing.

They hurried home and moved the tofu to the shop, selling until evening.

*

After Xu Bin promised to resolve the issue, no one bothered them again.