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Felt a bit creeped out by Lin Yuan’s look, Xia Zheng instantly became more alert and asked cautiously, "Our account? What account between us? Oh, you mean the tofu, right? Hasn’t there been an IOU signed for that?

Rest assured, although I’m avaricious, I’m still quite trustworthy.

Since we agreed on one year to settle the debt, I definitely won’t ask you for silver early. "

Having said that, he proudly patted his chest and boasted, "How’s that?

I’m such a magnanimous person, aren’t you moved?

Ah, right, you better not be thinking about offering yourself to me to settle the account, I’m not that superficial a man, but well, if you want to come and cook for me for free, I’d welcome that.

Hey, little girl, what’s that look for?"

What look? A murderous one! Quite convincing at that!

With her arms crossed, Lin Yuan suddenly cracked a smile, "My Lord, aren’t the baked buns a bit too salty?"

Xia Zheng, stunned by her sudden change of demeanor, replied subconsciously, "Not salty at all, it’s just that there’s not enough meat. Uhmm!"

Before he could finish, Xia Zheng quickly realized his mistake and covered his mouth, sensing trouble.

Sure enough, he saw Lin Yuan with her arms folded, humming, "So it was you, the big rat! I kept wondering, we haven’t seen any rats in our house for more than half a year, then suddenly such a big one springs out and scoffs down five of my baked buns in one go! Hmph, you thieving glutton!"

At first, she truly thought there had been a rat, but then she pondered, if there were really a rat, why would it only steal the freshly baked buns and not anything else?

Moreover, she had placed them rather high, and there were no drag marks from a rat on the stove.

Initially, she wondered if her silver had been exposed and coveted by a thief, but on closer thought, that didn’t seem right; she always kept her silver well guarded, to the point where even Lady Xin Liu from the Lin family knew only that she had made some money without knowing the exact amount.

After all, her family was now well-known in the village as a household in difficulty, even her own grandparents had stopped caring— who would come to steal from them?

It wasn’t until the Fuman Building’s Young Master showed up that she began to suspect the day’s events.

Old Lao Fan had come earlier today, although slightly later than last time, and he didn’t complain about being forced to taste this and that upon entering.

He even made a point to instruct Liuzi to park the carriage behind the woods near her home, obviously waiting for someone to follow.

Of course, there was also the pile of potatoes and the message conveyed by Liuzi.

Since the Young Master had forced the entirety of Fuman Building to eat cold noodles in his quest to figure out the recipe, wouldn’t he be curious about who came up with the more profitable and attractive tofu?

Clearly, the potatoes were just a ruse; his real purpose was to meet her!

With just a bit of thought, Lin Yuan had already pieced together the clues, and she had to admit, she was quite impressed with the Young Master.

He had determination, brains, and most importantly, he knew how to make money.

Without someone like him, Fuman Building with its several branches couldn’t have been achieved by someone like Old Lao Fan who only knew how to eat.

Suddenly exposed by Lin Yuan, Xia Zheng’s handsome face instantly turned as red as if a dye shop had opened up on it. When had he ever had to sneakily take food like this before, when every time, people were eager to present him with things to taste?

"Ahem, well, you see, I... "

Seeing Xia Zheng looking embarrassed and at a loss, Old Lao Fan, who had been hiding and watching for quite a while, finally couldn’t resist speaking up, "What’s this and that, girl?

This fellow stole your baked buns, and you can’t let him off easily!

Need any help? I’ll go get you a cleaver!

Kid, aren’t you going to fetch the cleaver? "

"Got it!" Xiao Linshuang, her eyes sparkling, dashed into the kitchen and quickly returned, carrying a cleaver which she raised high in front of her sister, "Big sister, here’s your knife!"