Chapter 131
After finishing the meal, Wang Jin, remembering that he needed to finish a plan for Cheng Bai, returned to his room.
In the past, Yuan Heng would definitely have followed him. But this time, Yuan Heng did not return to the room to stay by his side either. Instead, he was busy with something on his own, though it was unclear what.
Wang Jin didn't pay much attention.
The next day.
After eating the breakfast Yuan Heng prepared for him, Wang Jin brought Xiao Yu to Cheng Bai's courtyard.
It seemed Cheng Bai hadn't expected Wang Jin to come so early. He stood up somewhat flustered. The table inside the room was a mess, and a dim, yellow lamp was still lit on one side. His clothes and hair were somewhat disheveled, his eyes were red, as if he hadn't slept all night...
Seeing Wang Jin enter, he hid his hands behind his back, as if concealing something. He didn't show the usual happiness upon seeing Wang Jin, instead appearing somewhat nervous. To cover this nervousness, he immediately scolded the ger who had brought Wang Jin into the courtyard: "What's the matter with you? Why didn't you tell me his arrival?"
That ger muttered with clear grievance: "Didn't you, young master, specifically instruct us last night that the young gentleman would be coming today and we absolutely must not stop him?"
Although it was a mutter, it wasn't quiet, and everyone present heard it.
"..." Cheng Bai coughed lightly in embarrassment and said to the ger, "Alright, you may withdraw. Prepare some fruit."
"Little delicate one, come, sit over here." Cheng Bai guided Wang Jin to the outer partition room, where the table was neat and tidy.
Wang Jin sat down. Cheng Bai sat down as well and asked, "Have you eaten breakfast? What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."
"..." Wang Jin blinked: "I've told you many times, I have a beastman. I won't eat food you make anymore. Besides, I came here full."
"..." Cheng Bai's fingers trembled slightly, and he didn't speak.
Wang Jin took a deep breath and said, "Let's talk business."
As he spoke, Wang Jin retrieved two written plans from his sleeve and handed them to Cheng Bai: "The formula for the fireworks is inside here. The specific production arrangements, profit sharing, sales, and so on are all written down. If you agree, sign and stamp it. I've already signed mine."
Cheng Bai opened it and skimmed through it, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
This plan was far more thorough and well-structured than he had anticipated. Back when Xi Yao was always following him around, he never seemed to have many ideas of his own. Cheng Bai had assumed he simply had no aptitude for such matters.
It appeared now... he just hadn't shown it before.
Cheng Bai took the brush and swiftly signed his name and pressed his fingerprint on it.
Wang Jin picked out one copy and said, "I'll keep one copy, you take the other. That means we are cooperating. I will have someone deliver the materials for making the fireworks later."
"Okay," Cheng Bai agreed.
Wang Jin said, "Once those materials are used up, our cooperation ends. I'll give you the firework formula. If you can source those materials yourself after our cooperation ends, you can continue making them on your own."
It would probably take many years for the beastman world to move beyond basic food and shelter concerns. Fireworks, at times like these, could only be used occasionally by wealthy families, so demand certainly wouldn't be high. Wang Jin couldn't be bothered to deal with it either.
He had decided that if, many years later, people's lives improved and demand for fireworks grew, he could revive the venture then.
"But..." Wang Jin paused and said, "I must remind you, the proportions in the formula must not be wrong, otherwise it could be dangerous."
"Okay," Cheng Bai nodded.
Hearing this, Wang Jin frowned. Why did it feel like this person would agree with "okay" to anything he said?
This was different from the Cheng Bai back in the Danmu tribe who often looked down on and mocked him...
That Cheng Bai was as arrogant as a peacock every day, holding his head high, walking as if floating... But this person later... became completely different towards him.
Day by day, he had become more tolerant.
This version of Cheng Bai was actually quite amiable, far more agreeable than the man he had been before.
Wang Jin shook his head, shaking off the strange thoughts. "Alright, the business is done with the signing. What was it you said yesterday you wanted to give me?"
"Uh..." Cheng Bai hesitated, then somewhat awkwardly took something from behind his back, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards Wang Jin.
Wang Jin looked down. It was a white jade hairpin carved with patterns, though the person carving it didn't seem to have great skill, as the patterns were somewhat crooked.
Wang Jin's gaze followed from the hairpin to Cheng Bai's hands on the table. His fingers were covered with cuts and bloodstains. His gaze moved further up, meeting those bloodshot eyes.
When Wang Jin had first entered, he had assumed Cheng Bai simply hadn't slept. But seeing the scene before him now, it was clear the man had spent the entire night carving the hairpin.
And yet he had claimed the gift wasn't a significant effort.
"...Why suddenly think of giving me a hairpin?" Wang Jin asked hesitantly.
Cheng Bai nodded and said, "When I was in the Danmu tribe, I heard Mu ger mention that your hairpin was lost during the beast horde. I always wanted to buy you one, but you didn't accept the one I bought. So I thought of carving one for you."
The previous hairpin... was given by Yuan Heng. It had fallen during the confrontation with Yue ger, and he had never seen it again after that.
Afraid of upsetting Yuan Heng, he never mentioned losing the hairpin. Fortunately, the man never brought it up either.
Wang Jin touched the hairpin in his hair and took it down. This hairpin was bought after coming to Ning'an City, a simple style without any patterns, much plainer than the one Cheng Bai made.
Wang Jin pinned his own hairpin back in. "This gift is still too valuable for me. But I promised I would accept your gift, so I will take it."
Having said that, Wang Jin picked up the hairpin and put it into his sleeve. "Thank you."
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