Chapter 47: Could It Be That I Was Right?

After finishing her steamed buns, Ning Yaxin went to the village chief’s house to visit the injured men. At the same time, she asked the chief to send two villagers back to the city to inform Ning Yongqiang.

During their casual conversation, Ning Yaxin learned from the chief that Xu Mo was planning to set up a workshop in the village. However, the chief didn’t know what kind of workshop it would be. Ning Yaxin suddenly thought of the soft, fragrant steamed buns she had just eaten and couldn’t help but wonder: could it be a steamed bun workshop? But on second thought, she found it unlikely—a steamed bun workshop should logically be set up in a bustling city, not in a remote, impoverished village like this.

With this question in mind, Ning Yaxin went to find Xu Mo. When she arrived at Xu Tieshu’s house, the whole family was busy repairing the roof. Xu Tieshu and his son were working atop the house, while Xu Mo, Chen Miaoyi, and Xu Hui passed up supplies from below.

Seeing Ning Yaxin approach, Xu Tieshu quickly greeted her from the roof and prepared to climb down to receive her. But Ning Yaxin stopped him at once, “Uncle Xu, please, don’t mind me. Go on with your work; I’m just taking a stroll and happened to pass by.”

Xu Tieshu uttered a few polite words, then returned to his repairs.

Xu Mo came forward and said, “Miss Ning, I’m sorry, our house is a mess with all the repairs. I can’t offer you a proper seat.”

“Think nothing of it. I’m more worried about disturbing your work,” Ning Yaxin replied courteously.

At that moment, Chen Miaoyi walked over and asked, “Miss Ning, did you try the steamed buns? How did they taste?”

Ning Yaxin nodded. “Madam Xu, they were delicious. Ling’er and I both loved them.”

Hearing this, Chen Miaoyi beamed. “Miss Ning, there are still some buns in the kitchen. I’ll fetch some more for you.”

Before she even finished her sentence, Chen Miaoyi strode briskly toward the kitchen.

“There’s really no need to trouble yourself, Madam Xu,” Ning Yaxin said, following her into the kitchen with Ling’er in tow.

Xu Mo, seeing this, didn’t ask further and turned back to oversee the roof repairs.

In the kitchen, Chen Miaoyi quickly filled a basket with steamed buns and handed it to Ling’er. “Miss Ling, take these buns with you. Just steam them a bit when you want to eat.”

Ling’er glanced at Ning Yaxin, and seeing her nod, accepted the basket.

Looking around the kitchen, Ning Yaxin asked, “Madam Xu, did Young Master Xu put something special in the buns? Otherwise, why do they taste so different from everyone else’s?”

Chen Miaoyi hesitated, looking troubled. “Miss Ning, I… I really can’t say. Perhaps you should ask my husband yourself.”

Ning Yaxin hastened to explain, “Oh, Madam Xu, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to pry into your family’s secrets. I just found the buns especially tasty and couldn’t help but ask.”

Chen Miaoyi smiled awkwardly, unsure what to say next. Sensing the awkwardness, she quickly added, “Miss Ning, you must be thirsty. I’ll fetch some water for you.”

With that, she picked up the wooden bucket and went out to draw water.

“Ling’er, go help her,” Ning Yaxin said.

Ling’er put down the basket and went after Chen Miaoyi.

Just as Ning Yaxin was about to leave the kitchen, something in an inconspicuous ceramic bowl by the water jar caught her eye. She knelt down in surprise and picked up the bowl. “Isn’t this… soap?”

She recognized the precious soap at a glance, amazed that such a valuable thing was left so casually in their kitchen.

Suddenly, Xu Mo’s voice came from outside the kitchen. “Miss Ning, why are you in here alone?”

Startled, Ning Yaxin stood and turned, still holding the bowl.

Xu Mo’s heart skipped a beat. How did she find the soap? No one outside the family should know about it yet!

Ning Yaxin asked coolly, “Young Master Xu, I didn’t expect your family to be using soap. It’s a rare commodity in Xinchou City these days.”

Xu Mo avoided her gaze, trying to change the subject. “Miss Ning, why don’t we step outside? The kitchen’s terribly dirty. It’d be a shame to soil your dress.”

But Ning Yaxin saw through his evasion at once. “By the way, Young Master Xu, the other day I heard from Yongqiang that you recently made a sizable sum, enough to pay off your gambling debt at Changlong Gambling Hall with ease. Is that so?”

Xu Mo didn’t respond, his mind racing.

Ning Yaxin placed the bowl on the stove and continued, “I’m very curious, Young Master Xu, what clever business have you found to make so much money in such a short time? I, too, am a merchant—would you care to share a tip or two?”

Xu Mo managed an awkward smile. “Miss Ning, you’re flattering me. I had no clever business… It was my uncle—he knew I was in debt and kindly helped me out.”

Ning Yaxin could hardly believe such a clumsy excuse. She pressed, “Young Master Xu, I just heard from the village chief that you plan to open a workshop here in the village, and have even chosen a site…”

With that, she walked out of the kitchen.

Ning Yaxin stopped in front of Xu Mo and looked him in the eye. “If I’m not mistaken, the workshop you’re planning is a soap workshop, isn’t it?”

Xu Mo was startled—how could she know about the soap workshop? No outsider was supposed to be aware! His brow furrowed as a wild thought flashed through his mind: did she guess from the piece of soap just now? Impossible! If so, this woman’s intellect was truly frightening.

“Why are you silent, Young Master Xu? Did I guess correctly?” Ning Yaxin’s eyes sparkled with a hint of triumph.

Xu Mo realized there was no hiding it—sooner or later the workshop would open and everyone would know. He nodded in admission.

Then he asked, “Miss Ning, very few people know about the soap. How did you figure it out?”

Ning Yaxin replied honestly, “You may not know, Young Master Xu, but I visited Sundry Goods Hall a few days ago and asked Manager Liu about the origin of the soap. She said she bought it from some Western merchants…”

Xu Mo listened intently.

A confident smile curled on Ning Yaxin’s lips. “That story might fool others, but not me…”

She then repeated for Xu Mo the analysis she had previously shared with Ling’er.

When Xu Mo heard her, he was sincerely impressed. “Miss Ning, your intelligence is extraordinary! Simply by deducing from a piece of red paper and the choice of peony patterns, you concluded that the soap wasn’t made by Westerners! Truly impressive!”

Ning Yaxin shook her head modestly. “Don’t say that, Young Master Xu. If anyone deserves praise for ingenuity, it’s you.”

Xu Mo, still puzzled, asked, “Miss Ning, are you saying that just because of a piece of soap in the kitchen, you concluded I’m setting up a soap workshop? Isn’t that a bit far-fetched?”

Ning Yaxin smiled. “If you stand in my shoes, you’d see it’s not far-fetched at all.”

“What do you mean?” Xu Mo asked, confused.

Ning Yaxin explained, “In just a few days, you not only revived Zhenxiu Restaurant and made it the talk of the city, but also invented magical things like MSG and the iron wok. Add to that the delicious steamed buns I tasted this morning…”

She paused deliberately, her expression turning serious. “So when I saw that bar of soap, the first thing that came to mind was—it must be connected to you, Young Master Xu!”