The woman’s figure was slender and graceful. Though she was thin, she was full in all the right places. Beneath her delicate collarbones was a soft, abundant curve of springtime beauty.
Further down was her slim waist—so narrow it looked as if he could wrap it in one hand. Her long legs were straight and elegant, her proportions nearly perfect.
Wen Lin suddenly felt a rush of heat. His throat tightened, and even the tips of his ears hidden in the darkness turned red.
“What are you staring at?! Turn around!”
After realizing what had happened, Mu Wanwan flushed with embarrassment and anger, snapping at him.
Only then did Wen Lin realize how inappropriate he had been. He hurriedly turned his back to her and coughed awkwardly a few times.
“Um… are you hurt?”
Mu Wanwan gritted her teeth and stood up. Why was she so unlucky?! Not only had she slipped and fallen, she had also been completely seen by that dog of a man, Wen Lin!
Ahhh!
Ignoring him entirely, she limped into the bathroom with the wooden bucket in hand.
Fortunately, the water in the bucket hadn’t spilled out completely. She had only bruised her knee. Otherwise, it would have delayed her plan to sell braised goods tomorrow.
She quickly rinsed off her hair and body, changed into clean clothes, and only then came out of the bathroom.
Wen Lin was still sitting on the living room sofa and hadn’t left. When he saw her come out, the heat that had just subsided returned to his face.
Pretending to be calm, he said, “This is medicated oil. It works pretty well. If you’re hurt, rub some on—it’ll heal faster.”
Mu Wanwan glanced at the bottle on the table. She didn’t refuse his kindness and took it into the guest room.
Watching her slender back, Wen Lin tugged at his collar. Why did it suddenly feel so hot?
It must be because of the power outage!
He hurried into the bathroom and took a cold shower.
Early the next morning, when Mu Wanwan woke up, Wen Lin was already gone. She didn’t care where he had gone. After eating something simple, she took her braised goods and headed out.
Compared to other places, the capital was relatively prosperous. There were several state-owned restaurants, and a few privately run ones as well—but not many overall.
Although policies had loosened somewhat, certain things were still not openly acknowledged. Anyone daring to open a private restaurant at this time definitely had strong backing.
Mu Wanwan had originally planned to try the state-owned restaurants. However, employees there weren’t exactly known for good service.
The moment they heard she wasn’t there to eat but to sell something, their faces turned cold and they immediately drove her out.
Feeling helpless, Mu Wanwan went to a nearby privately owned restaurant instead.
The place wasn’t small and was located in a high-traffic area. Above the entrance hung three bright red characters: Ke Lai Ju.
She stepped into the lobby. The receptionist was a clean-cut young man. Seeing her, he smiled and asked, “What would you like to eat? We can make anything on the menu!”
The service attitude was pretty good. Mu Wanwan noticed the restaurant was tidy and the menu had quite a variety of dishes—though there wasn’t a single customer inside.
“I’m not here to eat. Is your boss in? I’d like to discuss a business deal.”
The young man paused and instinctively sized her up.
“You’re here to talk business? You’re not joking, are you?”
It wasn’t that he looked down on her, but she appeared quite young. Although she was pretty, her clothes were plain—she didn’t look like a business owner at all.
“I’m not joking. Please call your boss for me.”
She was from the south; her voice was soft and carried a distinct southern charm. Combined with her beauty, it made the young man blush slightly. He willingly went to fetch the boss.
After a short wait, he returned with a very young man.
“You’re the one who wants to talk business with me?”
The young man looked puzzled. He was well-dressed—at a time when most people still struggled with food and clothing, he wore a sharp suit. His hair was neatly parted, revealing a full forehead. His features weren’t particularly delicate but were upright and proper, and the gold-rimmed glasses on his face gave him a refined air.
With just one glance, Mu Wanwan knew he came from an extraordinary background. But she didn’t shrink back.
In her previous life, she might have felt inferior. But now she had been reborn. Earning money through her own ability was nothing to be ashamed of.
“Yes. I made some braised goods and wanted to see if you’d be interested in purchasing them. It’s my own secret recipe—I guarantee once you try it, you’ll want more!”
As she spoke, she took out a sizable jar from the basket on her back. The moment she lifted the lid, a rich, domineering aroma filled the air.
After sitting overnight, the braised goods had fully absorbed the flavors, and their color was rich and appealing.
The young man paused, then subconsciously swallowed.
The receptionist did the same.
Satisfied with their reaction, Mu Wanwan smiled. “Why not have a taste?”
The young man nodded.
Several pieces were picked out and placed into their mouths. Both men’s eyes widened immediately.
Many people made braised goods at home these days, but most simply marinated them with salt and soy sauce. The flavor was acceptable—but far from delicious.
Mu Wanwan’s version used a blend of spices she had perfected herself. It was sweet and spicy, appetizing and addictive.
She truly had to thank all the effort she’d put in for Wen Lin in her previous life—otherwise, she wouldn’t have developed such excellent cooking skills.
“Your braised goods are delicious!” the young man said. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Ju Bairan. I’ll take all of this. How do you plan to price it?”
After just one bite, Ju Bairan knew this business was worth doing. If sold in his restaurant, these braised goods would definitely be popular.
“Boss Ju, my name is Mu Wanwan. It’s 1.2 yuan per jin. If you’re willing to purchase, I can deliver twenty jin daily.”
She had already calculated the price. Pork cost eighty cents per jin, and offal was even cheaper. Including spices, she could earn at least fifty cents per jin.
Twenty jin a day meant ten yuan profit daily.
What did that mean? Some factory workers earned only forty or fifty yuan a month. She could make that in just a few days selling braised goods.
After considering the price carefully, Ju Bairan found it reasonable. He didn’t haggle and bought all the braised goods she had brought.
Since today was only a trial run, she had prepared just about five jin. Ju Bairan gave her six yuan.
Mu Wanwan happily tucked the money away.
This was her first pot of gold.
After agreeing on a delivery time for the next day, Mu Wanwan left and headed toward the department store building.