He leaned back against the chair, gazing calmly at the others.
As the one telling the jokes, it was perfectly normal for him not to laugh; no one faulted him for it—they simply urged him to tell another one.
"Let's discuss the matter of that plot of land first." He had effortlessly seized control of the conversation. Most people didn't even notice anything amiss; they were still savoring his jokes, eagerly anticipating another one just as entertaining later on.
It was the kind of story that, when retold to others, would surely make everyone roar with laughter!
An hour later, Jiang Baiye successfully slipped away with He Jun. The officials remained behind to revel in the brothel; having satisfied their spirits, how could they resist indulging their bodies as well?
Fortunately, while they hadn't finalized the purchase of the land yet, they had secured the eligibility to buy it—meaning there was no longer a requirement to transfer their household registration to the area.
"That bunch of good-for-nothing gluttons—their partying doesn't stop them from getting actual business done," He Jun cursed, swallowing a sobering pill. The wine had contained aphrodisiac ingredients that left him feeling flushed and overheated, though he had come prepared.
"Here, have one."
"I didn't drink any." Although it appeared Jiang Baiye had been drinking heavily with the others, he hadn't actually touched a drop. They assumed he had an incredible tolerance for alcohol, but in reality, he had used clever diversions—mere sleight-of-hand tricks at the table—to avoid consuming it.
How could Jiang Baiye possibly risk drinking the alcohol there? One wrong move, and he could lose his wife. He Yun was full of admiration. "It turns out you're really cut out for business negotiations; in this regard, even Ah Lin isn't quite your match. If it hadn't been for you just now, I would have made a fool of myself!"
He Yun certainly had his own strengths, but Jiang Baiye knew his own presence here was necessary—especially for what came next.
"I want to draw up a proposal for utilizing that plot of land to gain some leverage."
He Yun didn't fully grasp the details, but he understood the concept: it was like a modern project tender—drafting a proposal to show the stakeholders the potential benefits.
"But if they see there's profit to be made, won't they just jack up the price?"
"That’s why this document isn't meant for *them* to see." Jiang Baiye certainly wouldn't reveal the core details or leak trade secrets; the proposal was merely a pretext—a hook to spark interest and gain access to specific people, such as the County Magistrate's aide.
And, of course, the retired Vice Director of the Bureau of Waterways, who was likely still in Chongzhou Prefecture compiling books.
Otherwise, even if they managed to acquire the land cheaply now, dealing with those people later would be a nightmare.
"Tell you what—you head back to the inn first. I’ll walk back and give this some more thought," Jiang Baiye said to He Yun.
"It’s not a long walk; I’ll go with you." He Yun wasn't in a rush to return anyway; a walk would help clear the lingering effects of the alcohol. Unexpectedly, Jiang Baiye acted somewhat unusually, saying, "With you right next to me, I can't really think things through."
He Jun glanced at him, realizing he didn't want company; he nodded and left, though he remained curious about what Jiang Baiye was up to.
Jiang Baiye retraced his steps and re-entered the brothel.
A group of charming young women waiting on the ground floor immediately flocked toward him.
Jiang Baiye tried to mimic his wife’s "stay away" demeanor; he only managed to capture about thirty percent of the look, yet the effect was striking.
He ended up looking downright menacing.
The women immediately shrank back in fear, not daring to approach—except for the madam, who stepped forward with a forced, ingratiating smile. "Young Master Jiang, what brings you back?"
The way he looked, he didn't seem to be here for a good time—he looked like he was here to tear the place down!
"Do you have men here, too?" Jiang Baiye asked, carefully choosing his words. The madam immediately grasped his meaning and offered a tactful, knowing smile. "Young Master Jiang, are you perhaps interested in our courtesans? We have quite a few—especially our top beauty, Meng'er; her figure is simply intoxicating..."
Jiang Baiye cut off her ceaseless sales pitch. "I just want to know..." He gave a slight cough. "...how a man goes about the act."
Many people came for exactly that reason—out of sheer curiosity. Accustomed to such requests, the madam smiled even more obsequiously. "How about I have Qingmei—who knows this craft better than anyone—show you the ropes and let you experience the pleasure firsthand?"
Jiang Baiye’s face darkened; he decided to get straight to the point. "You surely have manuals or tools here that teach a novice how to get started, don't you?"
The madam was taken aback. "Young Master Jiang, you mean... Well, usually we just have people observe and learn through hands-on practice..."
Jiang Baiye instantly felt like an idiot for ever thinking he could learn the technique here.
He hadn't really thought through the details before—his knowledge was sketchy at best—but he felt that Li Zhi was likely mentally prepared for what was to come.
He had simply thought it might be wise to familiarize himself with the process beforehand, so he wouldn't be flustered and leave a bad impression on Li Zhi.
Fortunately, the madam finally understood what he was after. She sold him a few trinkets and produced an exquisite illustrated booklet. "This details the entire process; I guarantee that once you look at it, Young Master Jiang, you'll know exactly what to do!"
Jiang Baiye took the items and turned to leave immediately; he didn't want to stay a moment longer. The men and women who had been secretly watching him gazed regretfully at his tall, upright figure as he walked away, wondering who the item he was carrying was meant for.
Later, as Jiang Baiye casually flipped through the booklet while walking down the street, the tips of his ears turned a rare shade of red.
Compared to this, the book he had previously bought from Shopkeeper Ning—which Li Zhi had confiscated and refused to return—was mere child's play!
This particular volume was not only a deluxe edition with exquisite color illustrations, but every detail and facial expression was rendered so vividly that it looked just like a real-life performance.
Jiang Baiye snapped the book shut, a surge of restless heat rising within him.
The mere thought of himself and Li Zhi in those scenarios was enough to make his composure crumble...
Everything that followed went smoothly; the "agritainment" project successfully caught the attention of the authorities. When the proposal was presented to the elderly official, he immediately recognized whose handiwork it was.
Consequently, purchasing that three-hundred-mu plot of land became an easy task for Jiang Baiye; furthermore, he was granted a significant discount in recognition of his meritorious service in digging the irrigation canals.
Xu Biao had originally thought that securing the land for just over a thousand taels would be a massive bargain.
Yet, Jiang Baiye acquired it for a mere five hundred taels—a price vastly lower than the five-thousand-plus taels originally demanded by the officials of Nanyuan County. Most importantly, upon learning that he had powerful backing, they no longer dared to mess with him and simply wanted to steer clear of him.
By the time Jiang Baiye returned to the prefectural city—seven or eight days later—he was so eager to get home that he found the carriage a hindrance and simply rode a horse the rest of the way.
He Jun, who had also become a "hindrance" in this context, came to see Jiang Baiye to discuss plans for the farmstead.
The five hundred taels spent on the land were a trifle; Jiang Baiye had paid for it out of his own pocket, making it his private property. The real focus was the subsequent "agritainment" project—a venture into which He Jun had invested thirty percent of the capital, so he naturally wanted to put some effort into it.
However, all that awaited him was Jiang Baiye’s carriage body, left sitting bare and abandoned on the spot—while the horse itself was nowhere to be found.
He Jun stood there in a daze, suddenly feeling a sense of shared commiseration.
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