Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

"How did you figure it out?"

Xia Zhining was taken aback. She had been consuming a lot of Tail-eyed Spirit Fish over the past few days, and in the afternoon, she attempted to break through with Blood Ginseng. Unexpectedly, she succeeded, and at this moment, her energy was stable. Moreover, she hadn't yet absorbed the Innate Spiritual Qi, so there was no discernible aura. How did Chen Mo see through it?

"Who am I? I can see it with just a glance." Chen Mo opened his arms, allowing Xia Zhiqing, who approached to help him undress, to take off his outer robe. He then smiled and said, "Not only do I know you've advanced to the Seventh Grade, but I also know the color of the dudou you're wearing..."

The room temperature was high, with an iron furnace burning honeycomb briquettes and a brazier filled with red-hot charcoal near the bedside.

Furthermore, having heard from Song Min that Chen Mo would be back soon, the sisters changed into summer skirts. Through the thin gauze attire, Chen Mo could see Xia Zhining's light red dudou.

Noticing Chen Mo's gaze, Xia Zhining looked down, gritting her teeth instantly, "Where are you looking?"

"What do you think? Anyway, it'll be taken off later." Chen Mo eyed the steaming bath barrel nearby, and with Xia Zhiqing continuing to remove his undergarments, he casually remarked, "Zhiqing is still the best."

Xia Zhiqing blushed at Chen Mo's words.

Xia Zhining squinted her eyes slightly. You rascal, here you go again with the same old trick.

Once Xia Zhiqing finished undressing him, Chen Mo reached out for Xia Zhining's delicate hand, saying, "Zhiqing has helped me undress, now I'll trouble Zhining to assist me in bathing."

Xia Zhining knew what Chen Mo was up to. Though she anticipated it, otherwise she wouldn't have changed into a summer dress in advance, she still said, "You're already getting handsy as soon as you return; such a lecher."

Seeing that she was already by the bath barrel, she hurriedly added, "I have some serious matters to discuss with you."

"We'll talk while bathing, no time wasted." Chen Mo, already skilled in the art of undressing someone, quickly stripped Xia Zhining of her clothes. Her fair skin glistened like natural jade.

Chen Mo carried Xia Zhining into the bath barrel, bathing together.

Since the hot water in the bath barrel was prepared for him alone, the water nearly spilled over when both entered.

Facing each other, Chen Mo caressed the delicate skin of his beloved, slightly lowering his head, and at the sight of that pure, milky skin, he couldn't help but recall the scene of when he saw Ning Wan on his way to the sisters' place.

His heart heated up immediately, "What serious matter? Speak."

"A large batch of honeycomb briquettes has been transported from Pingting County. The clerks have completed the inventory, and Lord Huang has received it in the warehouse. You weren't there, so they told me to... inform you..."

Xia Zhining's delicate brows furrowed, her clear eyes showing a hint of shy annoyance as she looked down at the man indulging in those snowy delights, thinking that this rascal was ruder than usual.

Xia Zhiqing, watching nearby, turned beet red, though this wasn't her first or second time witnessing such a scene. She quickly adapted, going to the door to see if it was tightly shut and the windows securely locked.

Chen Mo steadied himself, as the honeycomb briquettes were requested from Diwu Fusheng to aid in his business dealings, having informed Pingting County to send over briquettes and coal. If the agreement were successful, they could be promptly dispatched to Huai State for sale, stating:

"We must hurry sending these to Linzhou. The honeycomb briquettes can sell exceptionally well for less than three months; once spring arrives, sales will decrease."

Xia Zhining displayed a serious look on her rosy face, whispering, "Lord Huang has already arranged the donkeys; with your approval, it can be dispatched tomorrow."

"Yes, and the transported coal needs to be quickly made into honeycomb briquettes." Chen Mo pinched Xia Zhining's chin, saying, "Coal Ball Smasher should've been brought too, right?"

"Yes, everything is here..." Xia Zhining tried to free her chin from Chen Mo's grasp but saw him swiftly lean over, pressing his warm lips against hers.

Xia Zhining lightly struggled against Chen Mo's arm but soon tightened her delicate fists, lightly hitting him a few times before embracing him as well.

After a while, Xia Zhining nestled her head trustingly against Chen Mo's chest, the hot water covering her shoulders, her eyes holding a faint blush and a touch of coy irritation.

Chen Mo gently caressed Xia Zhining's face, softly asking, "Has the refined salt been transported here?"

"It's not here yet; it should still be on the way."

Chen Mo's fingers were rough, calloused from long hours of sword and arrow practice, incomparable to the smooth hands of scholarly gentlemen.

Yet Xia Zhining liked them, the touch of Chen Mo's fingers against her smooth, delicate skin sending a ticklish delight throughout her heart.

Chen Mo patted the millstone, prompting her to turn around, and embraced Xia Zhining's soft body from behind, saying:

"The South is wealthy, so we can't sell these honeycomb briquettes cheaply like in Pingting County." Chen Mo hoped to make a substantial profit from them; selling cheaply wouldn't yield much.

Xia Zhining couldn't respond to him, her cheeks flushed red as she involuntarily shed tears.

She had long since belonged to Chen Mo, rendering her defenses futile against him.

Her sister, Xia Zhiqing, chimed in: "We shouldn't price them too high either. Although the honeycomb briquettes have many advantages, they're not irreplaceable for the common folk. If priced too high, those who haven't used them won't even give a glance."

As the cold wind rose, waves of water surged, ebbing and flowing.

Momentarily lost in thought, Chen Mo soon remarked, "First, we should occupy the market with low prices. Once people get used to using them, we can blame high transport costs and material shortages for a small price hike, then offer promotions, like buying three hundred honeycomb briquettes and getting fifty free, along with an iron furnace."

Though novel, Xia Zhiqing understood Chen Mo's strategy.

After pondering a bit, she said, "Mo Lang is remarkable, knowledgeable in every aspect, including business."

Chen Mo motioned for Xia Zhiqing to come closer.

Xia Zhiqing approached.

"Zhiqing, lower yourself a bit," Chen Mo instructed.

Xia Zhiqing lowered her body.

"Good girl." Chen Mo embraced Xia Zhining's waist with one hand and caressed Xia Zhiqing's head with the other, sharing a warm kiss with her.

In that moment, Chen Mo's heart overflowed with sheer satisfaction.

Xia Zhining clutched the rim of the bath barrel tightly, her fingers turning white.

A long while passed before their lips parted.

Gazing at Xia Zhiqing's flushed, almost drunken face, Chen Mo stroked her cheek, saying, "I plan to establish an Inspector agency, responsible for intelligence gathering and military discipline oversight. You're clever, Zhiqing, so I'd like you to help me draft and organize the framework, okay?"

Chen Mo's voice was gentle and magnetic as he gazed into Xia Zhiqing's eyes.