“Father, Mother, go ahead and eat first. I’m going to the back to relieve myself.”
Song Xiaoyu casually made up an excuse and slipped away.
Moving quietly, she approached the table occupied by Song Beihai and Song Beishan.
Sitting across from them was a man she had never seen before, a thin fellow with a sparse mustache.
Concealing herself behind a wooden pillar, she listened carefully to their conversation.
…
“Song Beishan, your family promised to deliver the girl for the ghost marriage several days ago.”
The mustached man looked extremely displeased.
“My young master’s first seven days are almost over.”
He lowered his voice.
“The squire issued orders today. If a person isn’t delivered by tomorrow, he’ll have my head.”
Song Beishan immediately forced a flattering smile.
“Steward Chen, please calm down.”
The man continued coldly,
“Your family accepted the deposit long ago.”
His eyes narrowed.
“If you’re thinking about backing out, let me tell you now, plenty of families are waiting to offer up their daughters.”
He snorted.
“This arrangement can be canceled at any time.”
Song Beishan’s smile grew even more ingratiating.
“Steward Chen, don’t worry.”
He leaned closer.
“My niece is just stubborn. She couldn’t bear to leave her mother and caused a scene at home.”
“My parents have already agreed to the marriage.”
He patted his chest confidently.
“At the latest, I’ll personally deliver her to your estate tomorrow morning.”
Only then did Steward Chen’s expression ease slightly.
After glancing around to make sure nobody was listening, he pulled a small yellow paper packet from his sleeve.
“My master values his reputation above everything else.”
He lowered his voice even further.
“This is a packet of stupefying powder.”
Song Beishan’s eyes immediately lit up.
Steward Chen continued,
“Mix it into water and have your niece drink it.”
His tone was indifferent.
“That way she won’t make a scene on the journey to the burial site.”
Then his expression hardened again.
“Tomorrow, at the Hour of the Rabbit, I’ll be waiting at the village entrance.”
“If this matter falls through again, your Song family can bear the consequences.”
Song Beishan hurriedly accepted the packet.
“Understood, Steward Chen.”
He nodded repeatedly.
“I’ll make sure everything is handled perfectly.”
After another round of excessive flattery, Steward Chen finally left in satisfaction.
…
A layer of frost settled over Song Xiaoyu’s eyes.
Just as she expected.
The old Song family had finally made their move.
Since Song Beishan had promised to deliver her tomorrow, it meant they would undoubtedly try something soon.
Fortunately, she now knew exactly what they were planning.
Knowing the enemy’s scheme in advance gave her ample time to prepare.
…
The meal her family enjoyed was considered a luxury by village standards.
Even so, it consisted of only a few ordinary home-style dishes.
Compared to the sour leftovers and coarse flatbread they had eaten in the past, however, it was a tremendous improvement.
After lunch, they resumed shopping for the remaining household necessities.
As they wandered through the county streets, Song Xiaoyu couldn’t help admiring the ingenuity of ancient merchants.
Most commoners had never received any education.
Many couldn’t read the characters displayed on shop signs.
Without some kind of solution, it would have been easy to walk into the wrong store.
The ancients had already solved that problem.
They used a system known as huangzi, shop banners that identified businesses through visual symbols.
These cloth banners hung outside storefronts and served as commercial trademarks.
Different trades displayed different banners.
Some shops even hung actual examples of the goods they sold.
A straw hat seller might suspend a large straw hat outside the entrance.
Others created oversized wooden replicas to attract attention.
For example, candle shops often hung giant red wooden candles outside their doors.
Wine shops typically displayed wine banners decorated with characters or poetic verses.
As they walked, Song Xiaoyu even spotted a barber’s shop.
A white banner hung outside with a phrase that read:
“Shaving Hair Beneath the Lamp, Cleaning Ears Facing the Morning Sun.”
She found it surprisingly interesting.
…
Eventually, they arrived at the carpenter’s shop.
Master Carpenter Liu had already completed a rough prototype of the wheelchair based on the blueprint Song Xiaoyu had provided.
Holding the design in his hands, he frowned thoughtfully.
“This resembles a donkey cart or horse carriage in certain aspects.”
He pointed toward the wheels.
“Both rely on wheels for movement.”
Then he tapped the braking mechanism.
“However, I don’t understand this part.”
Looking at Song Xiaoyu sincerely, he asked,
“Why does pressing these handles stop the chair?”
“A horse carriage stops when the reins are pulled.”
He scratched his head.
“But this wheelchair doesn’t have a horse.”
The apprentices gathered around immediately, eager to learn.
Seeing their curiosity, Song Xiaoyu patiently explained.
“This uses a lever-operated brake.”
She demonstrated the mechanism.
“When a person sitting in the chair presses these handles, the brake locks the wheels.”
“The wheels can no longer rotate, so the chair stops moving.”
Then she climbed into the wheelchair and pushed herself across the workshop floor.
Master Liu’s eyes widened.
He had built the wheelchair exactly according to the blueprint, but he had never fully understood the design.
Now that he saw it operating in person, everything suddenly clicked.
“Amazing!”
He circled the wheelchair several times.
“So that’s how it works!”
His gaze toward Song Xiaoyu became increasingly respectful.
“Your parents told me that you designed this yourself.”
He paused.
“I would like to manufacture these wheelchairs in large quantities.”
Looking at her expectantly, he asked,
“Would you be willing to sell me the blueprint?”
“You can name your price.”
…
Song Xiaoyu glanced around the shop.
The carpenter’s workshop was modest and somewhat worn down.
Master Liu’s clothing was faded and heavily patched.
Most of the items sold here were ordinary household goods for common people.
This was nothing like the prestigious carving workshops that produced expensive decorative pieces.
The shop likely earned very little profit each month.
Furthermore, after building the wheelchair once, a skilled craftsman like Master Liu had undoubtedly memorized most of its structure.
If he wished, he could probably reproduce it himself.
Yet he still chose to ask permission.
That alone spoke volumes about his character.
Song Xiaoyu genuinely respected honest craftsmen.
As her mind worked rapidly, a better idea emerged.
Selling the blueprint outright would bring a single payment.
But there was a far more profitable option.
…
“Master Liu.”
She smiled.
“You’ve been a carpenter for decades.”
“I’m sure you understand the value of this blueprint.”
She gestured toward the wheelchair.
“Anyone who recognized its potential would want to work with me.”
Master Liu nodded.
“That’s true.”
Song Xiaoyu continued,
“And I greatly admire your integrity.”
“Therefore, I don’t intend to sell the blueprint.”
The entire workshop fell silent.
Master Liu blinked.
“Then what do you propose?”
Song Xiaoyu smiled.
“Let’s treat the blueprint as my investment.”
Her words stunned everyone present.
“You won’t need to pay for the design upfront.”
“Your workshop can immediately begin manufacturing wheelchairs.”
She folded her arms.
“At the end of each year, we’ll divide the profits according to sales.”
“What do you think?”
…
The moment those words left her mouth, Song Beichen and the others looked completely bewildered.
Zhou Rong quickly pulled her daughter aside.
“Daughter.”
Her voice carried concern.
“Wouldn’t it be simpler to sell the blueprint for silver right now?”
She frowned.
“Why become a shareholder?”
“If something happens to the shop in the future, won’t we be affected too?”
From her perspective, accepting a lump sum was safer and more practical.
However, Song Xiaoyu had already made up her mind.
She wanted a stake in the carpenter’s shop.
Although Zhou Rong and the others were worried, they ultimately chose to trust her.
Even if the investment failed entirely, they didn’t mind.
As long as Song Xiaoyu was happy, they would support her.
…
After all, Song Xiaoyu wasn’t an ordinary village girl.
In her previous life, she had been the founder and CEO of a successful corporation.
Under her leadership, hundreds of business professionals had worked together across multiple industries.
She had broken numerous commercial records and earned a reputation as a legendary businesswoman.
How could she possibly fail to understand the enormous difference between a one-time transaction and a stable source of long-term profit?