Five Years After My Death, the Mad Emperor Still Summons My Spirit

Chapter 216: Chapter 216: An 80-20 Split

Feng Shuyu lowered her head, revealing a slender nape. "This restaurant was originally the Hu family’s property, but after I divorced my ex-husband, it was registered under my name as compensation. But people’s hearts change..." As she spoke, she stroked the Jade Bracelet on her wrist. "The Hu family isn’t exactly willing to let me have the restaurant. Back when it was still their establishment, I wanted nothing to do with them, so I never proactively went to collect the Silver. But no one from the Hu family ever sent any over, either. So, it’s clear they intend to keep occupying it."

Feng Shuyu continued, "The restaurant business is failing, but the Hu family certainly doesn’t want me to take it back. Otherwise, why do you think I’m so anxious to partner with you? This is one of the reasons—I want to take back what’s mine."

A flicker of understanding crossed Ming Lingyi’s face.

She didn’t pry into Feng Shuyu’s affairs with her ex-husband, nor did she urge her to go collect all the rent Silver she was owed over the years. She was just an observer who didn’t even know the other woman’s past clearly. To offer advice would have been far too presumptuous.

"So you want to borrow my strength to take back the restaurant," Ming Lingyi said.

"Yes, that’s right," Feng Shuyu said. "I’m so sorry. I... I should have explained this to you sooner, but I didn’t know how to bring it up."

Ming Lingyi could understand.

Everyone had a past they didn’t want to face, pain and secrets they didn’t want others to see. ’Wasn’t she the same?’

Besides, in this world, it took immense courage for a woman to walk away from a marriage.

"Alright." After hearing Feng Shuyu’s explanation, Ming Lingyi actually felt more at ease. "Let’s sign the contract now."

Feng Shuyu, who had kept her head lowered, snapped it up the instant Ming Lingyi spoke.

Her eyes were wide with surprise. "Now?"

"That’s right."

"Don’t you need to think it over?"

"Boss Feng is offering to let me use the restaurant for free. I’m a businesswoman, so of course I can’t pass up such a good deal. But we really should discuss how we’ll split the profits once you’ve invested," Ming Lingyi said.

Feng Shuyu said, "...Was that the point of what I just said? Shouldn’t the point be..."

’Shouldn’t the point be that if Ming’s Restaurant really uses the building that’s supposed to be mine, the Hu family will very likely come looking for trouble?’

Ming Lingyi replied, "The point is splitting the Silver. Everything else is no big deal. When you open a business, you’re bound to run into all sorts of problems. We’ll solve them as they come. Worrying now about problems that haven’t even happened yet—isn’t that just borrowing trouble?"

These words made Feng Shuyu’s face break into a smile, and she laughed.

"Boss Ming, you’re as straightforward as ever. In that case, I won’t beat around the bush either. For the profit split, let’s do two-eight," Feng Shuyu said. "You take eight, and I’ll take two."

Ming Lingyi was speechless.

’That hardly seems fair.’

If they really split it that way, her payments to Feng Shuyu probably wouldn’t even amount to twenty or thirty percent of the restaurant’s original rent.

"If you hadn’t come, I likely wouldn’t have collected a single cent of rent. Most people in the East and West Markets with the financial means to lease the restaurant would just send the Silver Coins directly to the Hu family. With you here, I can actually collect some Silver. This split is very reasonable. You don’t need to discuss it with me further; I won’t budge," Feng Shuyu said.

Her words left Ming Lingyi not knowing whether to laugh or cry, as if she were the one suffering a great loss.

"In that case," Ming Lingyi paused, "I’ll just have to make this restaurant extremely profitable, so Boss Feng won’t be losing any Silver."

"Let’s toast with tea instead of wine." Feng Shuyu raised her cup.

Ming Lingyi lifted her hand, and the two teacups clinked together with a crisp sound.

After Ming Lingyi and Feng Shuyu signed the contract, she casually asked, "So, which families here in Shangjing City did the young ladies of the Hu family marry into?"

She previously had no knowledge of the Hu family whatsoever. After all, their paths were never likely to cross, and Ming Lingyi just wanted to tend to her own little patch of land.

Now, however, things were different. Naturally, one had to fully understand one’s opponent.

Feng Shuyu pressed her thumbprint onto the documents, then carefully put away her copy of the contract. "The Hu family has quite a few daughters. The most prominent one today is Hu Erniangzi, who married the General of Shuo Bei."

Ming Lingyi was just thinking that the title sounded vaguely familiar when the realization hit her, and her jaw dropped.

’The Great General of the Shuobei Army who still holds some power in Shangjing City... isn’t there only one?’

Qin Wenwu was a capable man, at least not like his own crude father, who did nothing but make enemies everywhere.

He had gone to temper himself in the Shuobei Army back when Li Yun had not yet ascended the throne.

Over the years, he had made quite a name for himself.

The reason a crude man like Qin Shiqi, who was constantly bickering with countless families in Shangjing City, could still stand firm as a mountain was more or less thanks to his accomplished eldest son.

Ming Lingyi’s expression turned complicated. Shangjing City was truly too small; you were always running into acquaintances at every turn.

"Are you close with her?" Ming Lingyi asked.

’If Feng Shuyu had been on good terms with this Hu Erniangzi back when she was with the Hu family, then what I’m doing now... hmm, it seems that would place me in opposition to Feng Shuyu.’

Hearing this, Feng Shuyu just smiled.

"Miss Ming, have you never heard of Hu Erniangzi’s reputation before?" Feng Shuyu asked in return.

Ming Lingyi thought about it. ’I really haven’t heard of her,’ she realized.

Even during her years as the Empress, Li Yun had rarely allowed her to listen to the idle gossip of the women outside the palace. Instead, he would often have her mother come to the palace to keep her company and chat.

Later, when she was pregnant with Li Yan, the pregnancy had been very difficult, and she had even less of a mind to pay attention to the commotions of the outside world.

Seeing that she truly knew nothing, Feng Shuyu explained, "Hu Erniangzi’s reputation is completely different from that of her sister-in-law. But if you see the two of them together, it’s best to steer clear. Hu Erniangzi has always had a reputation for being virtuous and gentle, but as for what she’s really like... well, I suppose that’s in the eye of the beholder."

Feng Shuyu shook her head, as if just thinking about it gave her a headache.

Clearly, Feng Shuyu did not endorse Hu Erniangzi’s "virtuous reputation."

One could imagine that her time in the Hu family had not been easy.

Hu Erniangzi was born beautiful, and from a young age, the Hu family groomed her to be a perfect, high-born lady, hoping she would one day marry into power and nobility.

In the end, Hu Erniangzi did not disappoint her family’s expectations, marrying a fine husband indeed. In a single leap, she went from a mere merchant’s daughter to the official young mistress of the General Mansion.

Ming Lingyi never expected that she would meet this daughter of the Hu family so soon.