Chapter 57

"Really? Such a thing exists? How come I didn't know?" Li Qi said with a feigned surprise.

Bai Qianruo, seeing him still putting up a front, smiled lightly and said, "Your 'indirect tactics' are truly brilliant!"

At this point, Li Qi was completely speechless. He had long seen that Song Yuchen was a big fool, but he never expected him to be such a fool. No wonder he was a complete failure in courting women.

Little did they know, Song Yuchen was usually quite quick-witted, but when it came to Bai Qianruo, he was like tofu being set by brine—ineffective and only able to take a beating.

In recent days, Song Yuchen had adopted Li Qi's suggestion and started using the indirect tactics, trying hard to please the people around Bai Qianruo, and it had achieved good results.

However, the second most talented woman in Tokyo was not just a name. Bai Qianruo suddenly noticed that everyone around her was praising Song Yuchen, and she knew something was amiss. She then gave Song Yuchen a few smiles and started to probe indirectly.

Seeing Bai Qianruo's attitude towards him greatly improve, Song Yuchen was overjoyed, almost ready to spill his heart out.

Bai Qianruo used a few more tricks, and how could Song Yuchen resist? He told Bai Qianruo everything about his conversation with Li Qi at the Jade Pavilion.

"So? Got nothing to say now?" Bai Qianruo asked with a smile, seeing Li Qi speechless.

At this point, Li Qi had no choice but to admit it. He nodded and said, "Alright, I admit it. This was indeed my mistake. Fine, you don't need to thank me. We're even."

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Qianruo suddenly bowed and said, "This humble woman is deeply grateful to Master Li."

Seeing this, Li Qi couldn't help but laugh and say, "Hey, Miss Bai, do you really want me to apologize so much?"

Bai Qianruo smiled and said, "I always distinguish between right and wrong. Besides, these are two different matters and shouldn't be mixed up."

"You're ruthless!"

Li Qi finally admitted defeat, bowed deeply, and said, "If I have offended you, I hope Miss Bai will forgive me. I'm sorry!"

Bai Qianruo, having won this round, immediately beamed and nodded, "Alright! Seeing your sincere apology, I'll let it go this time. But if I find out you're secretly slandering me again, I won't let it go so easily."

Damn! Even if someone puts a knife to my neck, I won't do such a stupid thing again.

Li Qi rolled his eyes and huffed.

Seeing his puffed-up appearance, Bai Qianruo covered her mouth and giggled.

During their conversation, the steamed buns Bai Qianruo brought were all distributed. The refugees who received the buns came to thank Bai Qianruo.

"Miss Bai, you truly have a heart like a bodhisattva—!"

"Thank you, Miss Bai—!"

...

Bai Qianruo was slightly taken aback and hurriedly stepped forward to help them up, saying, "Please get up quickly. I can't bear such a grand gesture. Please get up quickly."

Xing'er and the three servants also hurried over to help the refugees up.

This act made Li Qi feel a mix of emotions. He sighed, stepped forward, and helped them up.

After they all stood up, Li Qi, feeling excited, shouted to the crowd, "Tomorrow at this time, Miss Bai will be here to distribute food again. Remember to come early!"

A simple sentence made the refugees so moved that they were about to fall to the ground in gratitude, but Li Qi and Bai Qianruo stopped them in time.

After some persuasion, the refugees finally left.

After the refugees left, Li Qi sighed deeply, glanced at Bai Qianruo, and saw her staring at him. He smiled and said, "You don't need to look at me like that. I can afford a few steamed buns. But it will be a bit of trouble for you to make another trip."

Bai Qianruo opened her mouth but couldn't say anything, her eyes filled with complex emotions. Finally, she softly said, "Thank you!"

Li Qi joked, "If you really want to thank me, take me back. To be honest, I'm actually lost, which is why I ended up here."

Bai Qianruo was taken aback and giggled.

After instructing Xing'er to handle the aftermath, Bai Qianruo led Li Qi into the city.

On the way, Li Qi, seeing the refugees by the roadside, asked curiously, "Miss Bai, where do these refugees come from?"

Bai Qianruo sighed lightly and said, "They used to live in the Liao Kingdom. Recently, the Liao Kingdom has been at war with the Jin Kingdom, and their homes have been occupied by the Jin Kingdom, so they fled here."

"I see!"

Li Qi knew this history. In the end, the Liao Kingdom was conquered by the Jin Kingdom. He sighed and said, "Unfortunately, our capabilities are limited, and we can only help them temporarily."

"Help as much as we can. I only hope to have a clear conscience," Bai Qianruo said softly.

Bai Qianruo sighed and said, "Unfortunately, the court is only focused on conscription and taxation and will not help them."

"Rely on the court?"

Li Qi sneered and said, "You might as well hope for steamed buns to fall from the sky."

Bai Qianruo smiled and said, "You speak without any consideration, but what you said makes some sense. They will ultimately have to rely on themselves."

Ultimately have to rely on themselves?

Li Qi's brow furrowed, but then his eyes lit up. He smiled at Bai Qianruo and said, "Miss Bai, would you rather help a thousand people for one day or help twenty people for a lifetime?"

Bai Qianruo was slightly taken aback, clearly not understanding why Li Qi asked this. She replied, "Naturally, helping for a lifetime is more difficult. Why do you ask?"

Li Qi smiled mysteriously and said, "I want to do business with you."

"Want to do business again?" Bai Qianruo looked at Li Qi warily and said, "If it's a scam, I advise you to find someone else."

Li Qi smiled bitterly and said, "Don't worry. I already have the money and won't make you sell couplets to Mr. Cai again. My idea is that I will provide the money, and you will help me select ten women and ten men from these refugees, aged between fifteen and thirty, healthy, and with average looks. You will find a place to settle them and teach them to read. I will give you one month to teach them about food-related words. What do you think?"

Bai Qianruo immediately understood and said, "You plan to have them help at the Drunken Immortal Inn?"

Li Qi's eyes flashed with approval, and he nodded, "Exactly, that's my plan."

Bai Qianruo asked curiously, "But the inn is full of men. Why do you need women?"

"That's none of your business. I have my reasons," Li Qi shook his head and smiled. "If you're willing, let's do it. If not, forget it."

Bai Qianruo frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "How much silver are you willing to pay?"

After some calculation, Li Qi said, "One hundred taels. I believe it's enough for steamed buns. Of course, this includes the cost of tomorrow's buns. You can decide how to allocate it."

Bai Qianruo felt something was off. After some thought, she suddenly understood and smiled, "You seem to have forgotten someone."

"Who?" Li Qi was surprised.

Bai Qianruo huffed, "You provided the money, and you got the people, but what about me? I helped settle them and teach them to read. What did I get?"

Li Qi was taken aback and immediately shook his head, "That's not right. How is this helping me? You're helping the Drunken Immortal Inn, helping the madam, and helping the refugees. You always say you and the madam are like sisters. You wouldn't refuse such a small favor, right?"

Come on, Mr. Cai would spend a fortune to get a couplet from you. I, Li Qi, don't have extra money to pay you!

"Stop dragging Wang Jie into this. You said you want to do business with me. If it's business, we need to settle the accounts clearly," Bai Qianruo said with a sly smile.

How can this woman be so shrewd? Don't they say in ancient times that a woman without talent is virtuous?

Li Qi muttered to himself and said, "Tell me what your conditions are, but I have to be clear. I only have so much silver. If you want to make a profit, you can give the refugees one meal a day, one bun per meal. You can probably make fifty to sixty taels."

"Ugh! I'm not as despicable as you."

Bai Qianruo blushed and spat, "Don't worry, I'm not greedy for your money."

If she doesn't want money, everything is easier.

Li Qi chuckled, "You're not after my money, are you after me?"

Bai Qianruo frowned and said angrily, "If you keep talking nonsense, I won't do business with you."

"Hehe, just a joke. Don't take it seriously. Fine, I won't say it. You speak."

Bai Qianruo glared at him and said, "My conditions are simple. First, you must treat them well. Second, when the Drunken Immortal Inn's business improves, you must often come to help the refugees. Third, I can't take care of twenty people alone, so you must help too."

"The first two are no problem, but the third one," Li Qi put on a difficult expression, "You know, the fate of the Drunken Immortal Inn rests on me. I'm so busy that I even have to plan my bathroom visits a day in advance."

"Then find someone else," Bai Qianruo said coolly, clearly not believing Li Qi's lies.

Seeing her unyielding expression, Li Qi pouted. The Drunken Immortal Inn was about to open, and they needed people. These people were in their most difficult times, and if you gave them a meal, they would work hard for you. Moreover, no women in the city would work at an inn. After some consideration, he nodded and said, "Alright, alright, I agree. Who says I'm not destined for hard work?"

"That's better," Bai Qianruo pouted and said.

"So, you agree?"

"Hmph, just to help Wang Jie."

"You just said business is business. Now you're helping the madam?"

"You—walk back yourself. I'm not talking to you anymore."

"Damn! This is a hellhole? Hey, don't run!"