Chapter 120: Li Sanshui Succeeds

Meanwhile, behind a dilapidated small courtyard in Gushan Village, Li Sanshui was tapping lightly on a window while casting nervous glances in every direction behind him.

A moment later, the window was pushed open.

Li Sanshui lowered his voice, his tone laced with a hint of resentment. "Shen Hao, what is going on with you? Didn’t we agree to meet by the small river after dark? Why didn't you show up?"

The person inside was indeed Shen Hao. He was of average height, sturdily built, with a square face and thick eyebrows that gave him an air of complete honesty.

Shen Hao frowned. "Brother Sanshui, I’ve thought about it carefully. You’d better find someone else for that business."

With that, Shen Hao moved to close the window.

Li Sanshui grew anxious and immediately blocked the gap with his arm. "Shen Hao, don't you want to marry your sweetheart anymore?"

"How could I not?" Shen Hao retorted immediately, before adding, "But I cannot do something that would betray Uncle Xu and Young Master Xu!"

Just as Li Sanshui was about to speak, the sound of barking dogs echoed from not far away. Startled, Li Sanshui urged, "Shen Hao, let me in first! It would be disastrous if someone saw us!"

Helpless, Shen Hao helped Li Sanshui climb in through the window. Once inside, Li Sanshui quickly shut the window and listened intently to the silence outside. Only after confirming no one was near did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Li Sanshui lowered his voice again. "Brother Hao, since you call me brother, I am determined to help you with this matter of getting married."

As he spoke, he pulled half a silver ingot from his robes and pressed it into Shen Hao's hand. "This is five taels of silver. Take it for now," Li Sanshui said generously.

The ten-tael ingot given to him by Jiang Zhaoming had been cut in two. He only gave half to Shen Hao to lure him into his scheme.

Shen Hao looked surprised. "Brother Sanshui, where did you get so much money?"

Li Sanshui said solemnly, "Brother Hao, I told you a few days ago that the young master I know is very generous! He said this is just a meeting gift. As long as you reveal the soap production process to him, he is willing to give you this much..." Li Sanshui held up a finger. "One hundred taels!"

"One hundred taels?" Shen Hao was astonished.

Li Sanshui nodded firmly. "Brother Hao, this is a golden opportunity to make a fortune. Once you succeed, not only will you marry the girl you love, but you can also use the remaining money to build a new house, buy a few acres of paddy fields, and raise some livestock. Do you think your future father-in-law will still look down on you then?"

Despite his talk of one hundred taels, Li Sanshui had no intention of actually paying it. His plan was to secure the two thousand taels from Jiang Zhaoming and immediately flee Gushan Village, heading to a place where no one knew him to start a life of leisure.

But Shen Hao was an honest man and never suspected that Li Sanshui was dangling a carrot in front of him. Staring at the five taels in his hand, his resolve began to waver. The last time his future father-in-law had visited, he had said many unpleasant things, all boiling down to one point: he despised Shen Hao for being poor. A deep resentment had been building inside Shen Hao, and he longed for the day he could be wealthy enough to make the old man see him in a new light.

Shen Hao hesitated for a moment, his expression worried. "Brother Sanshui, if people find out that I leaked the process, how will my family continue to live in this village? Uncle Xu and Young Master Xu have been so good to us; we would be the talk of the village!"

"Brother Hao, are you stupid?" Li Sanshui poked him in the forehead. "You aren't the only one working in that workshop. How would the Xu family ever know it was you? Just act like you don't know anything. They have no evidence—what could they possibly do to you?"

He poked his forehead again. "Besides, by then you’ll have one hundred taels. Does your family really need to stay in this poor mountain ravine? Is it necessary, huh?"

Shen Hao had a sudden epiphany. *That's right! Once I have one hundred taels, I can take my parents to my bride's hometown, build a house, buy land, and live a much more comfortable life than we ever could in Gushan Village.*

Li Sanshui continued to paint a vivid picture of a beautiful future, leaving Shen Hao filled with longing and daydreams.

"Well, Brother Hao? Give me a straight answer!" Li Sanshui looked at him with anticipation.

Shen Hao was still hesitant, unable to commit. Losing patience after all his persuasion, Li Sanshui hardened his face and unceremoniously snatched the silver back from Shen Hao's hand.

"Brother Hao, since you don't want to get married or get rich, I won't force you. Let's just pretend I was never here tonight! Farewell!"

Li Sanshui had learned this tactic from Jiang Zhaoming. Having only just felt the warmth of the silver, Shen Hao grew frantic when it was taken away.

"Brother Sanshui, I agree! I agree, isn't that enough?"

Shen Hao grabbed Li Sanshui and retrieved the silver from his hand. Li Sanshui was jubilant inside, though he dared not show it.

"Brother Hao, tell me the production process now." Li Sanshui was nervous, his heart racing.

Shen Hao scratched his head and looked down. "Brother Sanshui, what about that one hundred taels..."

Li Sanshui immediately replied, "Brother Hao, the one hundred taels will definitely be yours. But that young master said he must verify the authenticity of the process first. If he can't make the soap, how can he pay? Does that make sense?"

Shen Hao thought it over and agreed, so he foolishly revealed the soap-making process to Li Sanshui.

"Brother Hao, I... I didn't hear that wrong, did I? It's that simple?"

Li Sanshui was stunned. He had expected the process to be long and complex, but it turned out to be just mixing wood ash water with lard.

Shen Hao explained earnestly, "Brother Sanshui, it's true! Soap is that simple. As for scented soap, there's just one extra step: you add some flower petals and spices during the mixing process."

Li Sanshui shook his head silently, cursing inwardly: *Damn it, Xu Ran, you profiteer. To sell such cheap things for so much money—you are truly heartless!*

"Brother Sanshui? Brother Sanshui?" Seeing Li Sanshui lost in thought, Shen Hao nudged him.

Li Sanshui snapped back to reality and said solemnly, "Brother Hao, give me ten days. I've arranged to meet that young master in ten days. Once he verifies it's real, I will bring you that one hundred taels immediately!"

"Good, good! Brother Sanshui, I leave this to you!" Shen Hao was ecstatic, his face beaming with excitement.

"Don't worry! You're my brother; if I don't help you, who would I help?" Li Sanshui laughed and patted Shen Hao on the shoulder.

He had actually arranged to meet Jiang Zhaoming in five days at the Laojun Temple, but he had intentionally added five more days for Shen Hao. His goal was to use that time to run as far away as possible.

Shortly after, Li Sanshui climbed out of the window and disappeared into the night. Shen Hao lay on his bed, filled with excitement, dreaming of his future life of happiness and prosperity.