The Tofu Queen: A Modern Woman's Ancient Kingdom Journey

"Are we good now?"

Jin Chong waited impatiently as Jiang Huaiyu finished signing and pressed her thumbprint onto the agreement. His brows were furrowed, his tone carrying a mix of frustration and suspicion.

"We still need to get it stamped at the government office," Jiang Huaiyu replied, wiping the red ink from her finger with a cloth. She smiled sweetly. "Surely a weak woman like me needs a bit of assurance, don't you think?"

The collective gasp from the five stewards standing behind Jin Chong was almost theatrical. Despite their attempt to remain composed, their shock couldn't be concealed.

Even more astonishing was Jin Chong's reaction. His face darkened visibly, and without a word, he turned on his heel to leave. "Why are you all just standing there?" he barked at the stewards, his voice dripping with impatience. "Move it! Or do you want the officials to come knocking at our doors instead?"

Jiang Huaiyu bit back a laugh as she followed them, amused by Jin Chong's exasperation. The process at the government office took some time, but eventually, the document was stamped with the official seal, solidifying the agreement.

Back at the shop, Jin Chong flopped into a wooden chair with the air of someone deeply wronged. He sprawled out lazily, glaring at Jiang Huaiyu as if she owed him a life debt.

"Now you're going to tell me, right?" He ground the words out through clenched teeth.

Jiang Huaiyu's lips curled into a faint smile as she clasped her hands in front of her. "The four regions beyond our borders—those wild and untamed territories—are unpredictable. One day they're trading amicably with us, and the next, they're pillaging our border towns disguised as bandits. If you're thinking of sending a caravan straight into their lands to sell goods, you might as well be hand-delivering a flock of sheep to the wolves. I'd wager you're considering this because of the connections you've built with some of the Hu traders over the years, aren't you?"

Her words hit their mark. Jin Chong's expression turned grim, and the stewards exchanged uncertain glances. Jiang Huaiyu continued smoothly.

"But merchants are driven by profit. By relying on them to build your trade routes, you're handing over your leverage. Why give them the knife that could one day be at your throat when you can take control from the start?"

A refined-looking steward, clearly experienced but careful in his demeanor, stepped forward. "We understand the principle, but what's your solution? You're not suggesting we can secure such leverage with mere words, are you?"

Jiang Huaiyu smiled patiently and spoke a single phrase: "Monopolize the treasure."

Jin Chong sat bolt upright, his face lighting up as if struck by divine inspiration. "I see it!"

Two of the stewards, catching on, exchanged excited looks. "Of course! That's brilliant!"

The others, however, were slower to catch up. One steward with neatly trimmed facial hair furrowed his brows. "Forgive my ignorance, but could you explain further?"

Jin Chong, uncharacteristically jovial, turned to the man with a smirk. "You lot really should read more books and spend more time with the caravans. It's embarrassing that you don't even understand 'monopolize the treasure.'"

He turned back to Jiang Huaiyu, excitement gleaming in his sharp, phoenix-like eyes. "Let's spell it out. Normally, we'd manufacture the goods, ship them out in bulk, and open stores to sell them outright, right?"

The stewards nodded in unison. That was the Jin family's usual method—efficient, straightforward, and backed by their immense wealth.

"But this time, we do it differently. We send the first batch of seasonings into the hands of those Hu merchants and borderland traders at cost. Once they've tasted the benefits and their supplies run dry, they'll be desperate for more. And when that happens?" Jin Chong's grin widened. "They'll come looking for us. We won't even need to send caravans into hostile territories—they'll bring the trade to our doorsteps, offering gold, livestock, and whatever else they can trade."

Jiang Huaiyu raised a brow, pleasantly surprised at how quickly Jin Chong pieced it all together. She had expected to have to spell it out more explicitly.

"Jiang Huaiyu," Jin Chong declared dramatically, his face still pale but flushed with excitement. "If you were a man—even with a child—I'd force you to marry into the Jin family!"

Jiang Huaiyu shot him a dry look. "That's flattering, Jin Gongzi. But as you can see, I'm very much a woman."

The atmosphere shifted slightly, as if the suggestion hung in the air longer than it should have. Jin Chong, for once, looked uncharacteristically sincere.

"You're a woman with the brains of a master strategist," he said simply. "It's a waste to keep you confined to a backyard, living out the quiet life of some noble's wife."

The stewards, who had been sneakily imagining wild scenarios, immediately straightened up, schooling their expressions.

Jiang Huaiyu's faint smile returned. "I'll have the formulas ready for you to produce. The first batch must be delivered to my home for inspection—I'll need to confirm that everything is up to standard."

Jin Chong watched as she handed over a stack of papers, each meticulously written. He flipped through the recipes, visibly impressed. "No wonder you were so confident," he murmured. "These ratios… If they're even slightly off, the results would be worthless."

He turned to his stewards, assigning tasks with rapid efficiency. "Zheng, handle the procurement of raw materials and oversee the craftsmen. Ning, reach out to our contacts among the Hu merchants. Qin, liaise with the border markets. The rest of you—assist wherever needed."

The stewards nodded in sync, their earlier hesitation replaced by clear admiration for Jiang Huaiyu's acumen.

As they left, Jin Chong studied her intently, a smirk tugging at his lips. "That popular face cream, the zaodou soap everyone's raving about lately—that's your doing too, isn't it?"

Jiang Huaiyu shrugged, her tone breezy. "Just something I threw together when I was bored. What can I say? I've read a lot of books."

Jin Chong chuckled. "Books, huh? Well, you've certainly lived up to the saying that knowledge is wealth. No wonder you settled for just three percent—you've been planning this all along, haven't you?"

Jiang Huaiyu tilted her head with a sly smile. "Don't act so humble. I know you were ready to give me four percent."

Jin Chong's brows shot up. "You figured that out?"

"Please," Jiang Huaiyu said, rolling her eyes playfully. "You're the heir to the Jin family. Don't tell me you just wandered into my tiny shop on a whim. You knew exactly what you were getting into before you even set foot across my threshold."

For a moment, Jin Chong was silent. Then he threw back his head and laughed, the sound unrestrained and clear. "You're something else, Jiang Huaiyu. Truly something else."

She met his gaze with equal confidence. "Then let's be clear, Jin Gongzi. If you test me again like you did today, don't expect me to stay this polite. I'll walk away without a second thought."

Jin Chong looked at her and, unmoved by her implied threat, listened to her words.

"The wealthiest merchants are not all surnamed Jin. If you think that I will never be able to come up with other recipes once I have revealed the recipes for these dozens of condiments, you are being a little naive," Jiang Huaiyu said, smiling at him.

Qi Jue had been standing silently by the side for a long time, serving as a prop. He felt that the situation was like two immortals fighting, and as a mere mortal, he could only stand there in awe and listen in silence to broaden his knowledge.

Jin Chong no longer had the energy to smile, even though his expression was extremely pleased.

"Jiang, I'll say it again: if you were a man, I would tie you to my sister's bed. I'm really curious about where you came from. I don't believe that an ordinary family would have such insight."