TFWYH – Chapter 167 Negotiating Cooperation

On her face were dense scars that were already beginning to fade; some of the scars had been reduced to little more than faint marks.

Yu Ziqing’s expression wavered. “This is…”

“Her name is Yuan Yuan. She suffered from a venereal disease, but Sister Wan treated her and she’s nearly healed. The scars on her face have started to fade thanks to a facial mask Sister Wan prepared,” Yuan Yuan said calmly and with composure.

Yu Ziqing stumbled backward several steps, eyes wide with alarm. “A… venereal disease?”

“What’s with that look? Listen to the important part!” Tang Wan snapped—she just couldn’t stand to see Yuan Yuan bullied.

“Sister Wan, it’s nothing to worry about!” Yuan Yuan was unconcerned; she bowed politely to Yu Ziqing. “Sir, don’t be afraid. I’m almost fully recovered. Sister Wan said that as long as one does not have intimate contact with me, it won’t be transmitted.”

Yu Ziqing, who had seen the world and its dangers, quickly calmed and stepped forward for a closer look at Yuan Yuan’s face. “You said Lady Ling prepared… what was it again?”

“A facial mask made by Sister Wan,” Yuan Yuan answered. “That mask is miraculous — it whitens and removes scars. I owe my restored appearance entirely to Sister Wan’s mask.”

“Really?” Yu Ziqing’s eyes lit up instantly.

Yuan Yuan nodded. “If you don’t believe me, pick a woman with bad skin and have her try it — you’ll see for yourself.”

Yu Ziqing was thrilled. If this mask truly had such an effect, he’d be rich!

But then there was the price…

“Lady Ling, of course I believe you, but about the sixty percent—” Yu Ziqing began, then stopped, smiling at Tang Wan.

Tang Wan had no patience for his bargaining. “Sixty percent is non-negotiable. Otherwise forget it.”

Yu Ziqing: …

…

Damn!

You’re gouging me!

Still, Yu Ziqing knew the capital was full of crazed women desperate for beauty; if he owned this mask, even a forty-percent share would be a gold mine.

Not only would he not lose money, he’d make twice his usual profits.

But he was unwilling to settle for less than half. He even thought Tang Wan was losing sight of her place.

Anger hardened Yu Ziqing’s face. “Lady Ling, are you being ungrateful? I’m the one willing to discuss partnership with you — with someone else it wouldn’t be a partnership.”

When someone in a higher position put on that air, it was indeed intimidating.

Ling Canghe was taken aback and stepped forward to wipe his brow, intending to reason with Tang Wan.

Tang Wan waved him off coolly, looking at Yu Ziqing without flattery. “If you won’t cooperate, someone else will. Please leave.”

Yu Ziqing sneered. “Oh? Who else dares to partner with you?”

Tang Wan made the dismissive gesture again.

Yu Ziqing, sputtering with indignation, finally relented as if beaten down. “Fine, fine, you win — happy now?”

The audacity of this woman — driven by money, reckless of consequences, preying on honest men like him.

“At least be grateful I’m not a bad man,” Yu Ziqing muttered.

Tang Wan offered a perfunctory compliment. “Mm, Young Master Yu doesn’t seem ruthless.”

Yu Ziqing rolled his eyes. “Alright, I’ll agree — but on one condition: you must also hand over that slimming remedy of yours.”

Tang Wan frowned. “Slimming works differently for different people. There’s no universal remedy.”

Yu Ziqing didn’t buy it. “Then how did you slim down so fast?”

Tang Wan studied him for a moment. She knew that unless she gave him some answer today, he would keep pestering her.

“You want it? I have it. But it has a side effect.”

“What?”

“It causes infertility.”

Yu Ziqing: “!!”

Inside the house Ling Yu paused mid-movement; his face went dark at once.

Yu Ziqing, baffled, regarded Tang Wan with suspicion. “You…”

“Do you want it?” Tang Wan asked, impatient. “Aside from infertility, there are no other side effects, and it is extraordinarily effective — you’ll lose at least thirty jin in a month.”

Yu Ziqing: …

A woman who can’t bear children — how is that any different from a man being castrated? If women can’t reproduce, why not just kill them?

Yu Ziqing hadn’t expected Tang Wan to be such a fanatic, willing to take such drastic measures for the sake of slimming. But then he thought of other kinds of women who might use it: those in great families who were out of favor — once they lost favor, who cared whether they could bear children? Or women who already had children.

“All right!” Yu Ziqing said. “I’ll take it. But I don’t need much of the slimming remedy — my main interest is that whitening mask of yours. Draw up the terms: it should be manufacturable in batches. Tell me what’s needed; I can provide people or materials.”