Chapter 1089: Not a Good Match

Moreover...

"At the beginning of April, when the ham had just been auctioned, and because of the Dragon Boat Festival, your Young Master Dou wanted to dominate the festival gift market, so he spent twenty percent more to buy six hams back then. According to the rules, his auction eligibility for May has been used up, and if he wants to buy more ham, it has to wait until June. You’ve come too early."

Gu Jinli is highly suspicious of Young Master Dou suddenly sending someone to find her, feeling that Young Master Dou is up to some trickery.

The maid listened and raised a gentle and pleasing smile, saying, "Rest assured, Little Boss Gu, the meeting place is at Yanfu Building, and the Young Master has also brought Nanny Tang along, so it’s not a private meeting. This time, Young Master is seeking you to discuss new drinks; our Young Master is very interested in your new concoctions. If this business can be negotiated, the silver earned will be astronomical, and Little Boss Gu will also receive plenty of silver."

The Young Master mentioned that Little Boss Gu loves money, and using this excuse will almost certainly bring her over.

Gu Jinli considered this... New drinks are essentially modern cocktails, mixed from various beverages, and both the taste and color are superior to Great Chu’s drinks. The Dou Family is an Imperial Merchant, and Young Master Dou has been doing business in Jiangnan for quite some time, with connections in both the Capital and Jiangnan. Collaborating with Young Master Dou could indeed expand the new drinks business, selling the concocted drinks as liquid gold into the hands of nobles, scholars, madmen, and renowned noble families.

Gu Jinli agreed and told Erqing, who was driving the carriage, "Let’s go to Yanfu Building first."

"Yes." Erqing said to the Dou Family maid: "Come on up, sit on the front board, we’ll go together."

"Thank you, Miss." The Dou Family maid was delighted, bowed to Erqing, then sat on the front carriage board. However, the stiff wooden board was uncomfortable, causing her to frown, but she did not complain and instead smiled while conversing with Erqing: "I am Xiao Zhi, gifted the surname Dou by the Young Master, may I know how to address you, Miss?"

Dou Zhi, Dou Juice?

Gu Jinli laughed. The name certainly has... character.

Before long, they arrived at Yanfu Building.

Nevertheless, Gu Jinli did not go directly to the private room to meet Young Master Dou but entered through the back door, first finding Qi Kangle in the back residence, explaining the situation to her: "Cousin Le, let’s go together to meet Young Master Dou, to avoid any trouble."

Young Master Dou is an adult man; even though Dou Zhi mentioned that Nanny Tang would be present, it’s not appropriate to meet him alone.

Moreover, both Nanny Tang and Dou Zhi are Dou Family members, so she’s not foolish enough to put herself in a private room with only Dou Family people.

Qi Kangle agreed after hearing this: "Alright, cousin will go with you for a visit. If that kid dares to play any tricks, he might as well not think about doing business in ham."

Dou Zhi froze. Little Boss Gu is really cautious, even brought someone else... It seems the Young Master’s plan might fall through. She couldn’t do her job well, wouldn’t escape a punishment.

Dou Zhi was a bit displeased, but she didn’t dare to stop Qi Kangle. If she prevented Qi Kangle from going, given Little Boss Gu’s cautiousness, she certainly wouldn’t go either.

"Let’s go." Gu Jinli glanced at Dou Zhi, then led the way to the front of the tavern.

Every move of Dou Zhi was observed by her, and it was clear that Young Master Dou had ulterior motives beyond just discussing new drinks.

...

Young Master Dou was waiting for Gu Jinli in the innermost private room upstairs.

He had dressed meticulously, with a white jade hairpin in his coiffure, a robe of red with gold trims, boots bestowed by the imperial gift, and added to his handsome face, he indeed could daze a crowd of young women.

He believed that even if Gu Jinli liked Company Commander Qin very much, seeing such a charming and wealthy noble young master like him, she would undoubtedly abandon Company Commander Qin.

Nanny Tang sat to the side, watching her Young Master, and asked, "Young Master truly has eyes on Little Boss Gu? Her background is too poor; without a powerful family to rely on, marrying her doesn’t greatly aid the Young Master."

The Young Master wanting to seize control of the Dou Family must marry a noble lady with a family of substantial influence; a farmer girl isn’t even worthy of being a concubine.

Young Master Dou sipped a glass of wine, ambiguously said, "Nanny is overthinking."

Nanny Tang did not ask more, knowing her place in a lifetime as a servant, recognizing her Young Master’s temper. If the Young Master did not wish to speak, she wouldn’t extract the truth.

Young Master Dou, contentedly sipping wine while waiting for Gu Jinli, visibly froze upon seeing her enter, feeling a surge of anger, and rudely said, "Little Boss Gu doesn’t trust Dou? What kind of person does Dou appear to be, bringing along the Qi Family girl?"

Clearly on guard against him.

Gu Jinli was not polite, directly responding, "I am of age and engaged already, naturally cannot meet foreign men alone."

She continued, "You wish to talk business about new drinks with me? How do you intend to proceed? What’s the plan? What’s the split ratio? Speak."

Young Master Dou was at a loss, "You certainly waste no time, talking business right after entering."

Gu Jinli surveyed the private room, confirming there was only one old nanny and no ambush, relieved a bit, sat at the table, and said, "Your Dou Zhi mentioned that you wish to discuss business about new drinks with me, so talking business immediately upon entering is hardly inappropriate."

We’re not familiar, okay? When dealing with unfamiliar people, naturally it’s straight to business, rather than cultivating emotions first, right?

Saying this, she looked at Young Master Dou, stunned a bit... Is he crazy? Dressed like this, are you here for a wedding?

Young Master Dou choked again, Gu Jinli was truly straightforward, merciless in speech. Given such a temper, what’s wrong with Qin San Lang, actually liking her, possibly having mental issues.

However...

Young Master Dou looked at Gu Jinli’s face... Hiss, despite poor temper, her face is attractive, indeed a beauty. Qin San Lang must have been captivated by her looks, wanting to marry her.

But what good is being good-looking? For people like them, marrying an official wife must be a noble lady from a distinguished family, joining the influence of the lady’s family. Gu Family’s poor background, what use is marrying Gu Jinli? Her family’s influence offers nothing.

If Company Commander Qin is indeed whom he assumes as Young Master Qin, then Gu Jinli is truly unqualified to marry him.

Should Young Master Qin fancy her face, accepting her as a concubine would suffice, without needing to marry as an official wife.

With a bang, Gu Jinli grabbed a wine pot, slammed it on the table, looking at Young Master Dou, coldly laughed, "Does it look good? Should I gouge your eyes out and take them home, so these eyes can get their fill?"

Then with a clatter, she smashed the wine pot, terrifying Nanny Tang, turning her face pale.