The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Conditions

Ever since she learned that Cao Yunyun had gotten ahold of the Golden Combo recipe, Ji Huan had a vague sense of unease.

But by then, it was too late to say anything.

She had already learned it. It’s not like they could erase her memory, could they?

All they could do was hope that Cao Yunyun would consider her relationship with Hu Liang and not do anything to harm the Hu Family.

But who could have predicted that the two families would so quickly reach the point of breaking off the engagement...

Ji Huan wasn’t surprised that this day had come, but she still frowned when she heard that Hu Liang had resorted to violence.

The Cao Family had been shameless first, so Hu Liang’s angry outburst was, in itself, understandable.

But while he had vented his anger, he had also planted a ticking time bomb.

He had put himself, and the entire Hu Family, in an extremely unfavorable position.

Sure enough, what Widow Xie said next confirmed her suspicions.

"After that, Cao Fugui was sent to the clinic, wailing that this part of him was broken and that part of him was busted. The Cao Family threatened to drag Hu Liang before the magistrate..."

That’s when Widow Xie panicked.

Hu Liang knew he had hit him hard, but it was nowhere near as serious as Cao Fugui was making it out to be.

But he had handed them the perfect leverage. Whether it was a minor or major injury was now entirely up to them to decide, wasn’t it?

Seeing that they would no longer be in-laws, the Cao Family seized the opportunity. How could they possibly let it go without taking a huge bite out of them?

"Some onlookers who couldn’t stand it anymore stepped in to mediate, suggesting our two families sit down and talk things over..."

Widow Xie knew the score. If this went to the magistrate, Hu Liang wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. Getting caned and paying a fine would be the light end of it; she was afraid he might even go to jail.

Left with no choice, she had to nod and agree to negotiate.

The moment she conceded, the Cao Family’s arrogance swelled.

They stated outright that they could refrain from reporting it to the authorities, but on one condition: the Hu Family must never sell the Golden Combo again.

This wasn’t a negotiation; it was blatant blackmail!

The hot and spicy soup stall was the Hu Family’s livelihood. The entire family depended on it for their living expenses. If they couldn’t sell the Golden Combo, wouldn’t they be thrown right back to where they started?

Besides, this was what Ji Huan had taught them!

They had originally agreed to give Ji Huan a share of the profits, but Ji Huan, being kind, told them to wait until their house was built and Hu Liang’s wedding was over.

And now look. Forget about giving Ji Huan her share; they had lost the business entirely!

How could Widow Xie possibly agree?

She looked at the wild, smug faces of Granny Cao and Mrs. Wang, wishing she could lunge forward and take them down with her.

But if she didn’t agree, Hu Liang would be finished.

Swallowing her rage, Widow Xie offered to compensate the Cao Family with money, saying any amount was fine. She repeatedly insisted that the hot and spicy soup business wasn’t theirs to give away, so they couldn’t make that decision.

But Granny Cao wasn’t a fool. Could she not tell the difference between the golden egg and the goose that lays it?

Before, because of her daughter, she hadn’t had any designs on the Hu Family’s business, thinking, ’Once my daughter marries into the family, she’ll naturally help out her own parents.’

Now that the two families had fallen out and Yunyun had nearly hanged herself, her reputation was ruined even though her life had been saved.

That being the case, what was there left for her to hold back?

Mrs. Wang was even more adamant, insisting that they must be compensated *and* the business must be given up.

She even said that if they agreed, not only would the Cao Family not report them to the authorities, but they would also return Hu Liang’s betrothal card.

Otherwise, no matter where they took the complaint, the Cao Family would be seen as the wronged party.

Whether Hu Liang accepted punishment or went to jail, Cao Yunyun would still be his intended bride. If Hu Liang refused to marry her, he couldn’t marry anyone else either. They could just let it drag on for a lifetime!

Hearing this, Ji Huan understood pretty much everything. This was a trap set by the Cao Family from the very beginning.

They had predicted that once the Hu Family found out the Cao Family was stealing their business, a conflict would inevitably erupt, perhaps even a physical one.

Hu Liang’s reaction was exactly what they had expected. In other words, they were waiting for it.

Even if Hu Liang had managed to control himself at that moment, the Cao Family would have likely found another way to provoke him...

"You’re saying they’ve detained Hu Liang?"

Widow Xie nodded. "I don’t know how it was so coincidental. Right after the argument ended, a few men from their village showed up, claiming to be standing up for the Cao Family. They seized Hu Liang and wouldn’t let him leave..."

Widow Xie was at a complete loss, so she had no choice but to come back first and ask Ji Huan what to do.

"Is he still in town?"

"He was tied up and taken back to the Cao Family’s house."

They say two fists are no match for four hands. Hu Liang was alone; how could he fight off five or six strong men? He had no choice but to be captured.

’If he hadn’t been so foolish, so easily swayed by a few sweet words from Cao Yunyun that he couldn’t think straight, the Cao Family never would have succeeded,’ Widow Xie fumed internally.

If Hu Liang were standing in front of her right now, she would probably beat him half to death herself.

But her hitting him was different from other people hitting him. What if those men were vicious...

"Wuan, I’m truly at my wit’s end. What should we do?"

If this had happened in the past, Ji Huan would have certainly advocated for taking it to court.

’Report it to the authorities? Fine! Who’s afraid of whom?’

But since she had come to truly understand the "local customs and sentiments" here, she had changed her mind.

Some things couldn’t necessarily be solved by reporting them to the authorities.

Take the current situation, for example. It was highly unfavorable for the Hu Family.

First, let’s talk about the matter of stealing the hot and spicy soup recipe.

If it really went to court, the most likely outcome would be both sides being found at fault.

This was because there was no law stating that stealing a trade secret was an illegal act.

It was like advocating for intellectual property rights in an environment where piracy was rampant—completely out of sync with the times.

Going to court would be time-consuming and exhausting. In the end, their hard work might not receive the respect it deserved. They might even be scorned by the copycats with retorts like, "I’m copying you because I think you’re worthy!"

Afterward, the Cao Family would continue selling it anyway. Since the matter had already been settled in court, they wouldn’t be punished a second time.

Then there was the matter of their scheme against Hu Ximei.

Although Cao Yunyun and Mrs. Wang had indeed initiated it, their plot was never carried out. No matter how you framed it, it was merely a moral failing, not a criminal act.

Even if they were confronted in court, they could just insist they had been deceived, and there would be nothing anyone could do.

Hu Liang, on the other hand, was a different story.

Landing that punch was certainly satisfying, but it also turned him from the party in the right to the party in the wrong.

Everyone saw him throw the first punch.

Not only did he cause actual physical harm to Cao Fugui, but his subsequent smashing of their stall also caused direct financial losses for the Cao Family.

Add to that the fact that his breaking off the engagement had led to the girl attempting to hang herself...

All things considered, taking this to court was the worst possible strategy for the Hu Family.

Ji Huan thought for a moment, then asked Widow Xie, "Aunt Xie, do you want to save Liangzi, get the betrothal card back, and cut ties with the Cao Family completely? Or do you want to save the hot and spicy soup stall?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Widow Xie replied, "Of course I want to save Liangzi!"

Ji Huan said decisively, "Then agree to their demands."

"What?" Widow Xie was utterly stunned.

’Hu Liang is certainly more important than the stall, but are we really going to hand over such a good business just like that? And to the Cao Family, of all people?’

"The business is booming, and you have a share in it too! How can we just give it away because of Hu Liang..."

"Money lost can be earned again. If the business is gone, we can think of something else."

To be honest, teaching the Hu Family this recipe had been a casual gesture to begin with; Ji Huan had never truly expected a share of the profits.

During her most difficult times, the Hu Family had shown her the only bit of warmth she’d had. Repaying them within her means by helping them secure a stable livelihood was the least she could do.

Unfortunately, things hadn’t gone according to plan. Who would have thought that a small hot and spicy soup business could bring so much trouble upon the Hu Family?

"But..."

Widow Xie wanted to say more, but Ji Huan cut her off.

"Don’t worry, Aunt Xie. I have a way to deal with them."

Seeing how calm and composed Ji Huan was, and how she didn’t blame her family, made Widow Xie feel even more guilty.

But at least she now had a pillar to lean on again.

’If Ji Huan said she had a way to handle the Cao Family, then she definitely had a way.’

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