Chapter 292: He Doesn’t Actually Have the Purchasing Power
After repeatedly encountering Ye Lu by “coincidence,” Yu Luo figured that since avoiding him was impossible, she might as well observe him. Choosing an unassuming spot, she sat down in the inn’s main hall.
She ordered a selection of the inn’s signature dishes, but as she stared at the unappetizing food, she became even more determined to turn Luo City into a food haven.
Most dishes in this era were either boiled, stewed, or dry-fried, with seasonings limited to vinegar, bean oil, and salt—nothing more. Meat was cut into large, rough chunks, and even the knife work was crude.
Wu Er and Zhang Hu, however, were content—for them, this was already rare gourmet fare. They ate with great satisfaction, while Yu Luo only sampled a few bites before losing interest.
“Master, we’ve almost spent all our silver. Are we still heading to Feng City?”
“Of course! Since we’re already here, why wouldn’t we? It’s not just about buying things, we can also have some fun.”
Hearing his master’s carefree response, Ah Zan let out a helpless sigh.
“I just hope that batch of goods sells for a good price. If it does, maybe we can still make a few tens of thousands of taels.”
“What are you worried about? Have I ever deprived you of food or clothing? I’ve only temporarily spent all my money—it’s not like I can’t earn it back.”
“But Master, we haven’t gathered the rest of the payment yet! You’ve risked your entire fortune just to impress that lady. If you fail to come up with the remaining silver, how will you ever face her again?”
Finally, Ah Zan voiced the harsh reality.
Ye Lu, who had been enjoying his wine, suddenly furrowed his brows with concern.
“You’re right… If my estate doesn’t sell, I really won’t have the money to cover the balance. I can’t afford to lose face in front of her. No, I need to go to Feng City tomorrow, then return to the capital to personally handle the sale. I don’t trust leaving it to anyone else.”
Seeing his master finally worrying about finances, Ah Zan shook his head.
“Master, I’ve been meaning to say this—you own multiple shops in the capital, but every year, you end up losing money. Out of seven properties, five are operating at a loss. One barely breaks even, and only one turns a profit—but not enough to cover the others’ losses. Master, you’re not suited for business! Now, you’ve even poured your remaining wealth into fruit trade—the risk is too great!”
“How is this my fault? It’s because the staff my mother left behind are all useless! Other merchants on the same street are thriving, but my shops are struggling. If not for my mother’s sentimental attachment, I would’ve replaced them all!”
“But whatever, let them lose money. I still have estates, and the profits from those cover the shop losses. I even have a few thousand taels left for leisure—that’s all I need! But… if I could marry that lady, that would be even better.”
With that, Ye Lu stood up, tossing a ten-tael silver ingot onto the table before preparing to leave.
“Master! The meal was only two taels! Why are you overpaying when you’re already short on money?”
Ah Zan hurriedly snatched back the ingot, replaced it with two taels of small silver, and followed Ye Lu, grumbling the whole way.
“Young Master, it looks like that nobleman is just putting on a show—he doesn’t actually have the purchasing power.”
Yu Luo retracted her gaze from the inn’s entrance, while Zhang Hu spoke in a serious tone beside her.
“I agree! That guy was clearly trying to impress you! Hah! I knew he was up to no good!”
Wu Er was fuming, as if Ye Lu’s interest in Yu Luo had created some personal crisis for him.
“If that’s all there is to him, then he’s not dangerous. I initially thought he might be a threat, but now… I don’t mind a long-term business relationship with him.”
Yu Luo murmured her thoughts, but Wu Er’s eyes widened in shock.
“Young Master, you still want to work with him?!”
“Young Master must have her own reasoning,” Zhang Hu interjected. “Perhaps she’s eyeing his properties in the capital. If Young Master partners with him, he wouldn’t be able to run a business alone. With her skills, she could easily turn his losses around.”
Hearing that Yu Luo was seriously considering cooperation, Wu Er frowned even deeper.
“I disagree! Young Master, that man has ulterior motives toward you!”
“He is quite handsome, though,” Zhang Hu added lightly. “If he weren’t so flirtatious, and if he remained loyal to Young Master, he wouldn’t necessarily be a bad match.”
Yu Luo: …
The moment Zhang Hu finished speaking, Wu Er’s face darkened, and he glared fiercely at him.
“What the hell are you saying?! That guy is nothing but a rich playboy! Who are you to decide for Young Master?!”
“Young Master is of marriageable age. But in our remote land, she doesn’t have many chances to meet eligible men. I wasn’t saying she should marry him—just that she should consider it. Why are you so worked up?”
“Why am I worked up?! Zhang Hu, you—”
“Enough.”
Yu Luo rubbed her temples as their quarreling escalated.
“We’re still inside the inn—show some restraint.”
Both men shut up immediately, though Wu Er still looked irritated.
The meal was barely touched, so they packed it up and left.
Next, the three of them visited two more upscale restaurants, but found that all the food was equally bland.
Yu Luo became even more confident in her Luo City food venture.
“The city gates are closed for the night. Tomorrow morning, we’ll head back. I wonder how Storm’s group is doing… If they also secured major orders, we might not have enough produce to meet demand.”
Yu Luo suddenly realized the issue. Even though her system warehouse had additional watermelons and tomatoes, pulling out large quantities could arouse suspicion.
“True. But luckily, Miss already planned ahead,” Zhang Hu reassured her. “If supply runs short, we’ll simply refund the deposits—we won’t suffer any financial loss. The contracts already state this.”
