The Art of Teasing - Chapter 138
Chapter 138
Wen Zhengyu nestled in Ye Ling's embrace, resting her eyes while turning over the matter of Ma Lu in her mind.
After her afternoon nap, she had met with Ma Lu. As dusk approached, Ma Lu returned, this time bringing someone with him.
A'Dao, whose full name was Zhuo Yao, kept a military blade smaller than Wen Zhengyu's palm perpetually at hand, spinning it so rapidly between his fingers that Wen Zhengyu couldn't even track how he worked it.
Ye Ling had gone out on business, so Wen Zhengyu received Ma Lu and Zhuo Yao alone. Once she had met Zhuo Yao, she summoned Wen Jing and handed Zhuo Yao over to her to make the necessary arrangements.
She stood, moved to the seat beside Ma Lu, and sat down. "What you and Ye Ling were discussing earlier," she said, "I couldn't make heads or tails of it. I didn't understand a thing—couldn't even figure out what exactly you all do—so I went and asked Grandmother."
Ma Lu was somewhat taken aback by Wen Zhengyu's directness. Most people he dealt with were full of schemes and circuitous maneuvers; when they had questions, they wouldn't ask directly, but would probe in roundabout ways. Her style, however, was cut from the same cloth as Old Madam Zhang's.
"Grandmother was frightened by what happened to me," Wen Zhengyu continued, "so she sought you out to protect me. To be honest, getting you here to protect me—I think it's a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. But Grandmother says that life matters most. She wasn't just talking about me; she meant you as well. She wants you to protect me, but she also wants you to have some peace and stability."
Ma Lu nodded, listening attentively.
Wen Zhengyu said, "The fact that Grandmother could send you to follow me means you are very reliable, and I trust you deeply. From here on out, my safety is in your hands."
"Miss Zhengyu," Ma Lu said, "rest assured—unless every last one of us brothers is laid flat, no one will touch so much as a single hair on your head."
Wen Zhengyu shook her head. "I don't want anything to happen to any of you either. Whether rich or poor, noble or humble, everyone only has one life. What I mean is, since you've come under my wing, I want you to have some stability as well. I've already thought a bit about how to settle you all, but my head's still a little foggy lately, and I can't think many things through very clearly. So I figure I'd just ask you: what ideas and plans does everyone have? What requirements do you have, what do you need, that sort of thing? Tell me everything, so I can make the proper arrangements."
Ma Lu straightened his posture and said, "Food and lodging are easy to handle—my brothers can rough it without issue. The main concerns are a training facility and the equipment and instruments we'll need. For the training ground, we'll need to find a location. If you have something already available, that would be ideal. If not, we'll find something in due course. The instruments and equipment we used before all belonged to the company. When we came back, everyone packed up their own gear and returned, so all of that has to be acquired anew. We have the procurement channels, but we lack the funds." He paused briefly, then continued: "Furthermore, I took a quick look at your vehicle earlier—factory configuration, no reinforcement or modification whatsoever. To put it bluntly, one armor-piercing round or a single semi-truck would be enough. It needs modification. Your residence may also require additional defensive installations and the like; whether it's counter-force or counter-surveillance and anti-interference measures, it would be best to have them all."
Wen Zhengyu listened as Ma Lu finished, staring blankly for several seconds before she processed it. She said, "First, prepare a budget for me."
"The budget for equipment and instruments—Skinny Monkey has already drawn it up," Ma Lu said. "Oh, Skinny Monkey—Hou Bo. He specializes in electronic software and moonlights as our financial officer." As he spoke, he drew a stack of over twenty sheets from the inner pocket of his trench coat and presented it to Wen Zhengyu with both hands.
The equipment names, models, and prices were all in English, with a column of Chinese names appended—probably added specifically as translation for her, in case she couldn't read it.
Wen Zhengyu could make out the intended uses, but the prices made her scalp prickle with shock.
"As for the modification of your vehicle, residence, and permanent office space," Ma Lu said, "we'll need to conduct a thorough inspection before we can produce a budget for those."
Wen Zhengyu nearly shoved the budget estimate right back into Ma Lu's hands and returned them all to Grandmother. She held her breath for a long moment, then forced out the words: "Ye Ling's side must be included in the calculations as well." She silently tallied the accounts, and very much wanted to say that Ye Ling could pay for her own side's expenses. But then she thought of their relationship, and the way Ye Ling had guarded her without leaving her side throughout her entire convalescence—she simply couldn't voice such a heartless remark.
Thankfully, Grandmother had given her enough cash; she could still afford it. It was just that the expenditure was so enormous it made her heart convulse.
Ma Lu was too embarrassed to make a sound. For even a large enterprise, equipment like this represented a considerable expense and would consume a significant portion of a security department's budget. To have a private individual foot the bill—whoever could afford it would need to possess quite formidable financial strength.
"Give me your bank account number," Wen Zhengyu said. "I'll transfer the money later. After you purchase the equipment, you must give me the invoices to keep on file for tax audit purposes."
Ma Lu stared at Wen Zhengyu in bewilderment. He sat stunned for a long moment before asking, "You file taxes?"
"Large expenditures," Wen Zhengyu said, "can trigger audits."
Ma Lu sat upright, pondering for quite some time. Then he said, "What do you think of this—I'll establish a security consultancy firm on my end. Your side would pay us under a signed contract. The company would assume full responsibility for all these matters and issue invoices to you. Your engagement would be our company's first order of business. We'd receive your order and use the funds you've paid us as startup capital. That way, even if something goes wrong on your end going forward, all liability would be borne by the security consultancy firm."
"Establish a company?" Wen Zhengyu asked.
"With expenditures this large," Ma Lu said, "we cannot let you shoulder the risk, nor can we let you simply spend the money without return. We have to figure out how to earn that money back for you." He then proceeded to explain to Wen Zhengyu, in meticulous detail, the distinction between forming a company and simply remaining at her side.
Wen Zhengyu considered for a moment, then agreed.
After leaving Wen Zhengyu's presence, Ma Lu went outside to meet with Lian Xin.
Lian Xin treated Ma Lu to mutton hot pot—just the two of them.
"So, having met Miss Zhengyu," Lian Xin asked, "what's your impression?"
"Clean. Transparent. Straightforward," Ma Lu replied.
Lian Xin nearly dropped his mutton onto the table. "Her? Straightforward?"
"Our brothers needed equipment," Ma Lu said. "Not a word of objection—she agreed to everything, and even gave us money to start a company." He pulled out his phone and called up the message. "She's already sent the registered capital in advance."
Lian Xin set down his chopsticks and examined the message carefully before handing the phone back to Ma Lu. He shot Ma Lu a look. "You'd better protect her well."
Ma Lu nodded with deep emotion, clinked glasses with Lian Xin, and said, "I will never let anyone move against her." With that, he drained his glass in one go, then added, "I never imagined that upon being transferred back, I'd become a boss just like that." He then solemnly toasted Lian Xin three full cups.
Lian Xin felt the strong urge to smash his wine glass right into Ma Lu's face. "Look at you," he said. Shaking his head, he lamented, "Even if she genuinely agreed, she should have made you sweat for a few days. This silly girl."
"The Eighth Miss is a straight shooter," Ma Lu said. "Not at all like you, Fourth Young Master—your mind runs in crooked lines." He toasted Lian Xin again.
Lian Xin was speechless. Ma Lu had risen to prominence in a single step, vaulting directly into the open. Even someone Lian Xin had previously had his eye on and wanted to bring under his wing—he couldn't very well approach Wen Zhengyu to poach him now. He'd been thinking he'd wait until things calmed down and there was nothing much going on around Wen Zhengyu before transferring Ma Lu to his side. He never imagined Wen Zhengyu would release Ma Lu to become a boss, without even touching Ma Lu's personnel, giving him whatever he asked for. That wasn't how things were done. She'd only met Ma Lu for the first time today—wasn't she afraid Ma Lu would take her money and run? Or refuse to follow her orders later?
Ye Ling had precisely the same question.
She had merely stepped out to attend a wedding banquet, and Wen Zhengyu had done a foolish thing. She held back for a long time before finally sighing, "I've never seen someone who, on their first day on the job, before doing any work, gets their entire salary and bonus paid in advance." She felt like the blood she'd cough up could spray thirty li.
Wen Zhengyu looked at Ye Ling, uncomprehending.
Ye Ling sat down beside Wen Zhengyu and said, "If Ma Lu gets the funds in hand and takes off with his band of brothers to set up shop under another banner, you'll be out both the people and the money. With your own capabilities, you wouldn't even be able to go after them." Even if it was inherited assets, it was money Old Madam Zhang had painstakingly accumulated. This child was squandering the family fortune without leaving herself any leverage or fallback.
Wen Zhengyu glanced at Ye Ling. "He won't."
"The human heart is hidden behind a layer of flesh," Ye Ling said.
"He and his men are an integrated team," Wen Zhengyu said. "Their division of labor is very meticulous, and their work is thorough. The funds he needed to buy equipment for his men would be enough to establish a mid-sized company. Although I don't understand their line of work, I can see that within their professional field, they are an extremely mature, elite team. I'm just a little painter—I understand the limits of my own abilities."
"If the money's gone, it's gone. If they want to leave, I can't hold them. If they want to stay, what I've given them is enough to get properly settled. If they can feel secure, I won't have to exhaust myself meddling and throwing around orders in areas I don't understand."
Ye Ling wrapped her arms around Wen Zhengyu. "The way you are—it works with people who have a conscience and do honest work. But if you run into someone doing a one-and-done deal, or a con artist, you're certain to take a loss."
"They're people Grandmother sent," Wen Zhengyu said. "Trustworthy."
Wen Zhengyu had already made her decision, so Ye Ling couldn't well say more. She couldn't say Wen Zhengyu had done wrong—after all, everyone's way of handling matters is different.
Although Ma Lu was someone Old Madam Zhang had given, Ye Ling still needed to observe for herself just what kind of man he truly was.
Ye Ling knew Lian Xin had to be extremely familiar with Ma Lu. As luck would have it, she now shared a roof with Lian Xin—just a few steps away.
Ye Ling found Lian Xin and asked for his assessment.
Lian Xin sighed three times in succession. "I have no assessment."
"Give me some honest insight," Ye Ling said, "so I have something solid to go on."
After a long pause, Lian Xin said, "They will protect Yu'er well. This... is also for the best. If they were confined at Yu'er's side, I suspect they wouldn't be able to stay settled. Let them go. If Yu'er has no trouble, let them develop on their own. If something happens to Yu'er, they'll handle it quietly, without a trace. Even if something goes wrong, it won't splash onto Yu'er." He added, "Have Yu'er keep Ma Jun at her side."
Ye Ling understood Lian Xin's meaning. She nodded without comment.
"How did Yu'er come to think of releasing them?" Lian Xin asked.
"She probably felt she couldn't manage them," Ye Ling said.
Lian Xin: "..." He nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Seeing how pained Lian Xin was, Ye Ling guessed he'd long had his eye on them and had been waiting to take them under his wing, already having plans in place—only to have Wen Zhengyu intercept them. Someone from the Lian family—Lian Xin certainly knew their worth. For it to have hurt him this badly, and with Old Madam Zhang having personally given them—Ye Ling knew there could be no mistake.
Whether Wen Zhengyu had done it intentionally or not, this still counted as cutting off Lian Xin's people. In a family with discordant relationships, this would be yet another source of conflict. Even one's own teeth sometimes bite their tongue—such things were unavoidable. If Lian Xin could protect Wen Zhengyu, Old Madam Zhang might not have been willing to hand these people directly to Wen Zhengyu. But the way Wen Zhengyu had handled it was also good. Old Madam Zhang had given them to Wen Zhengyu; if Wen Zhengyu then passed them to Lian Xin, she'd have a hard time answering to Old Madam Zhang. She'd cut off Lian Xin's people, but now that she'd released them to form a company, if Lian Xin had need, he could engage them directly. They were open for business—whose deal was not a deal? Lian Xin just had to pay.
Ye Ling returned to the room to find Wen Zhengyu sprawled lazily by the window, watching the snow through the glass pane.
She sat down beside Wen Zhengyu and said, "I just went to Lian Xin's. He suggests you keep Ma Jun at your side."
"Depends on Grandmother's arrangement, or whether Ma Jun is willing," Wen Zhengyu said. She added, "Don't worry so much. I'll just consider it spending a large sum to hire super bodyguards to buy peace of mind." As she finished, she noticed Ye Ling's expression was off. "Is there a problem?"
Ye Ling sighed heavily. She realized that Wen Zhengyu truly didn't understand. "If you kept them at your side," she said, "naturally, all their expenses would be your responsibility. But now, when they needed money, you gave money; when they needed personnel, you gave personnel. You've already released them. What you've given naturally cannot be given for nothing. They must earn that money back for you. Whatever orders you give, they must still follow them. There's no such thing as investing without expecting a return, nor taking benefits without giving back." Seeing Wen Zhengyu's expression turn blank, she continued, "Their security company is theirs in name only. In reality, it's still your enterprise—it's only a matter of how much you require them to hand up each year." She could figure it out without even using her brain—the Lian family certainly had another team to oversee these men. The question was simply in whose hands that team lay.
Wen Zhengyu made a soft sound of acknowledgment and gazed out the window, saying nothing more.
She still preferred being a little painter. She didn't like taking money that others had risked their lives to earn.
After a while, she said to Ye Ling, "I miss home." To undergo such a drastic shift so suddenly—she wasn't accustomed to it, and she didn't like it. In truth, poverty and hardship didn't matter; she wasn't even afraid of taking a beating. It was the way they were handling things that made her feel uncomfortable.
"Tomorrow," Ye Ling said, "we'll discuss it with Grandmother and the others—we'll head back earlier."
Wen Zhengyu nodded. "Alright." She then asked, "Do you still have business to attend to here?"
Ye Ling smiled. "I originally wanted to take you to meet my brother's father-in-law. But since you're not feeling well, it will have to wait until next time."
"Why would I need to meet him?" Wen Zhengyu asked, not understanding.
Ye Ling paused, then said slowly, "Perhaps... because he's the only elder who has truly been kind to me all these years."
Wen Zhengyu's heart ached at this. She took Ye Ling's hand and said, "My maternal grandparents and my grandfather—they're all your grandparents too."
Ye Ling smiled. "I appreciate the sentiment." The way they treated her, what lay between her and them—it all existed only because of the bond that was Wen Zhengyu.
The next day, Wen Zhengyu went to find her maternal grandparents and said she wanted to go back.
Old Madam Zhang did not consent. She still needed to remain here for a while longer, and Wen Zhengyu hadn't fully recovered yet—she wouldn't feel comfortable unless she personally oversaw her care. She said to Wen Zhengyu, "If you can spin ten circles in place and still stand steady, then I'll let you go."
Wen Zhengyu: "..."
"Your body hasn't even fully healed," Old Madam Zhang said, "and you're already thinking of running off somewhere? You're not going anywhere." She then threatened Wen Zhengyu: "Last time something happened to you, I gave Ye Ling a beating. If anything happens to you again, it won't be a slap—I'll switch to a rod."
Wen Zhengyu's eyes widened as she looked toward Ye Ling, who sat nearby, her expression unreadable. Then she turned back to her grandmother. Instantly enraged, she stood up, her face flushing red, yet she couldn't force out a single harsh word, still less lose her temper before an elder. Finally, gritting her teeth, she spat out a fierce retort: "Next time you hit Ye Ling, I'll hit your granddaughter." With that, she huffed angrily, turned, and strode off. Two steps later, she realized she'd left Ye Ling behind, so she spun back around, seized Ye Ling's hand, and, still unable to let it go, said to Old Madam Zhang: "You're unreasonable."
Old Madam Zhang's temper flared instantly. "Oh, I see you're itching to soar to the heavens! Ha! You'll hit my granddaughter, will you? Go on, hit her—do it right now. Let's see how you hit her. I've got a rod right here; I'll lend you one."
Ye Ling stood there, dumbfounded, watching this grandmother and granddaughter quarrel.
Wen Zhengyu held it in for a long time, utterly helpless against this shameless old woman. She turned her head and cried, "Grandfather," appealing to Old Master Lian for help.
Ye Ling, unable to bear the sight, clapped a hand over her eyes. She was absolutely in awe of Wen Zhengyu: you, who can't even win an argument, are squaring off against your grandmother? Your grandmother could crush you with a single finger.
Old Master Lian had been sitting there reading his newspaper. When he heard them bickering, he immediately shielded himself completely behind the paper. A slow, unhurried voice drifted out from behind the newspaper: "Don't call for me—I still get beaten every day myself. Can't help you."
Old Madam Zhang slanted a sidelong glare at Wen Zhengyu: Look at you, getting all high and mighty. You think you're your mother?
Wen Zhengyu, having lost the argument with her grandmother, was furious. She spun around, yanked open the glass door, and squatted outside the main entrance, letting the cold wind blast her.
Old Madam Zhang saw Wen Zhengyu, wearing nothing but a thin sweater, squat right out in the snow. She shouted, "Quick, pull her back in—" Before she could finish, Wen Zhengyu, shivering, had already ducked back inside.
"I'm not about to abuse myself," Wen Zhengyu tossed at Old Madam Zhang. She instructed the stunned household staff member nearby: "Go to the kitchen and have them prepare a bowl of ginger soup to ward off the cold." Then she turned and went upstairs to her room.
Old Madam Zhang stood there dumbstruck, staring after Wen Zhengyu.
Ye Ling seized the moment before Old Madam Zhang could recover and nimbly slipped away behind Wen Zhengyu, retreating back to the room. She said to Wen Zhengyu, "In the future, if your grandmother bullies me again, you have to protect me."
Title: Help Thread — Urgently Awaiting Replies Online: My Grandmother Loves Me Dearly, But She Hits My Wife. What Should I Do?
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