Chapter 134: A Marriage Alliance

Ren Qiang and his wife, Zhou Fang, brought Tang Long and Gou Yuniang home. Their residence in the alleyway consisted of three main rooms and two side rooms, along with a modest family courtyard. Since it was summer, they had built a pergola using a grapevine in the yard, where they typically ate dinner and sought respite from the heat.

"Please, have a seat!" Ren Qiang greeted Tang Long and Gou Yuniang politely, while his wife, Zhou Fang, went inside to fetch some fruit.

"Sister-in-law, please don't trouble yourself. Come sit down and listen; what we have to discuss today might be quite important for all of you," Tang Long said with a smile.

Once everyone was seated, Tang Long looked at the couple and said with a smile, "Don't be nervous. We’re here today because of Ren Yingying, and it’s a good thing. Let me introduce this lady: her name is Gou Yuniang. She is the proprietress of the local 'Baofeng Carving Factory' and a renowned master of jade carving."

Gou Yuniang’s face flushed slightly, but she didn’t interrupt. Being called a master in the carving world was no exaggeration; it was a title she had rightfully earned.

"Baofeng Carving Factory?" Zhou Fang paused, turning to Ren Qiang. "Dear, isn't that the place where the owner lost millions at the Xiantao Villa and ended up losing the factory? Is it the same one?"

Ren Qiang nodded, looking at Tang Long as if waiting for an answer.

Tang Long felt a bit speechless. Bad news truly travels fast. Then again, Taoyuan County wasn't large, and the couple was out on the streets every day; it was no surprise they heard gossip. The former owner, Boss Yang, had been a somewhat significant figure in town.

Tang Long offered a dry laugh and nodded. "Yes, it is the same Baofeng Carving Factory. However, Boss Yang has sold it to me for five million, which is an indisputable fact. Furthermore, Gou Yuniang’s reputation as a jade carving master is well-recognized in the industry both at home and abroad."

He paused briefly, and before the couple could speak, he continued, "The gambling debts of the former owner have nothing to do with the current factory, so you don't need to worry about that."

Zhou Fang hesitated, looking at Tang Long and Gou Yuniang. "I still don't quite understand why you two are here today."

Tang Long smiled and said, "Simply put, we want to become family through an apprenticeship."

"Become family?"

Zhou Fang was stunned, her expression changing as she quickly shook her head. "No, that won't do. Yingying is still young; it's not time for her to be married."

*Pfft!*

Gou Yuniang couldn't help but chuckle.

Tang Long laughed as well, explaining, "You’ve misunderstood. I don't mean marriage. To put it simply, our proprietress happened to see Yingying on the street and felt she had great potential—especially with those hands of hers. She has the makings of a jade carving master, so she wants to take her on as an apprentice."

Their daughter had the talent to become a jade carving master?

Zhou Fang and Ren Qiang exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief. Perhaps they were secretly wondering if these two were con artists.

Tang Long set aside his smile and said seriously, "The passing down of such a craft is never a one-sided choice. Some people spend a fortune and exhaust their family assets trying to find a master, yet they can never get a foot in the door. Sometimes, it’s the exact opposite: a master encounters a student who moves them, and they come knocking to offer instruction."

Zhou Fang looked at him intently. "You mean you've taken a liking to our Yingying and want to proactively make her your apprentice?"

"Exactly! That’s it," Tang Long said with a nod and a smile.

Ren Qiang asked from the side, "Do we need to pay tuition?"

"No!" Tang Long replied with a smile. "Not only do you not have to pay, but we will also give you a sum of money. It won't be much, just a token of our sincerity. Once Ren Yingying becomes an apprentice, we will be like family. If you ever need anything in the future, just ask. As long as it’s within our power, we won't refuse!"

Not only was there no tuition, but they would be paid?

Ren Qiang and Zhou Fang exchanged another look. Why did this feel a bit unreliable?

"How about this," Tang Long said, pausing before continuing. "We’ll have lunch when Yingying gets back, and we should hear what she thinks, right? Also, do you have any other concerns? It’s fine to speak up. For example, if you want proof of our identities to ensure we aren't scammers, we can put everything on the table."

"It's not that we suspect you're scammers, it's just..." Ren Qiang gave a dry laugh. It was clear he wasn't a man with many ulterior motives. Having run a fruit and vegetable stall for years, he operated on integrity and had accumulated many loyal customers.

Tang Long smiled. "It’s perfectly reasonable to be suspicious. One shouldn't harbor the intent to harm others, but one must be on guard. If you didn't suspect us, that would be strange. We can take you to visit the Baofeng Carving Factory later. Also, I know Magistrate Wu and Officer Xing from the criminal investigation team; we can go to the police station to verify our identities."

Seeing the couple remained silent, Tang Long added, "If you agree to let Ren Yingying study under Gou Yuniang, we are willing to invest 200,000 to help you set up a small shop. Having a storefront would make business easier to manage."

200,000? Hearing this, the couple’s expressions shifted.

"Yingying can live at home, or she can live at the carving factory. I have a large house there where I usually reside," Gou Yuniang said.

She looked at the couple sincerely. "Brother, Sister-in-law, I truly like the child. From the moment I saw her, I knew she was the one. Please, let me take her as my apprentice!"

Tang Long wanted to laugh; it was fortunate Gou Yuniang wasn't a man, or the parents might have had all sorts of wild thoughts.

"This... we can't make the decision for her. Let's wait until Yingying comes home and hear her opinion," Ren Qiang said after a period of silence.

Even though Ren Yingying wasn't the eldest, she was the "little cotton-padded jacket" of the family, and her parents cared for her deeply.

"Alright!" Tang Long agreed immediately, changing the subject. "Brother, how has business been lately?"

Ren Qiang smiled honestly. "Just barely getting by. It's mostly the neighbors who patronize us."

Tang Long nodded. "Are you interested in doing something else? Or perhaps expanding your current business?"

Ren Qiang blinked, asking in surprise, "What do you mean?"

Tang Long smiled. "I am the village chief of Yutou Village. Although the village is currently closed, it will definitely reopen next year. We will need fruit shops specifically for tourists. If you are interested, we could collaborate. For instance, I provide the capital, you manage the operations, and we split the profits according to a set ratio!"

Yutou Village?

Ren Qiang widened his eyes, looking at Tang Long in disbelief. "You say you're the village chief of Yutou Village?"

Tang Long smiled. "Yes, I am."

It seemed the name 'Yutou Village' carried much more weight than the Baofeng Carving Factory. At the very least, Tang Long sensed that after he dropped the name, the couple became much warmer toward him.

Around noon, Ren Yingying returned from school. The school wasn't far. Gou Yuniang had wanted to pick her up, but Tang Long had stopped her. Ren Yingying didn't know who she was, and even if they met, it would require too much explanation. It was better to wait at home.

It wasn't a guaranteed success, but Tang Long estimated that the apprentice was as good as caught; she likely wouldn't fly away.

He gave Gou Yuniang a reassuring look, and the two continued chatting with the parents. After all, they needed to get to know them as well; otherwise, how could they feel comfortable letting their daughter go?

Just before twelve o'clock, Ren Yingying arrived on her bicycle. When she saw Tang Long and Gou Yuniang, she was puzzled, wondering why this woman was looking at her with such an expression.

Assuming they were guests, she greeted her parents and headed inside.

"Yingying, come here!" Ren Qiang called her back.

Ren Yingying walked over, confused. "Dad, what's wrong?"

Ren Qiang scratched his head, seemingly unsure how to explain it to his daughter. "This is... your master!"

What?

A look of utter confusion appeared on Ren Yingying's young face, while Gou Yuniang’s face was full of smiles.

This was Tang Long’s first time seeing the girl. She was very pretty and bright, with a hint of a snow lotus about her. She was still young, her charm only beginning to bloom, but as she grew older, she would likely be a beauty of the highest order.

There was indeed that concern: could such a beautiful young girl endure the loneliness? A craft like carving required one to withstand hardship and solitude. If she couldn't do that, it would all end up being like a reflection in a mirror or a flower in the water—nothing at all.

However, it wasn't Tang Long's place to speak. Gou Yuniang had chosen the apprentice; whether she succeeded would depend on her training.

"Master? What master?" Ren Yingying asked in surprise.

Ren Qiang smiled sheepishly. "Your master is a jade carving master. She wants to take you as an apprentice to teach you the craft. So, are you willing?"

A carving master? Taking her as an apprentice?

Ren Yingying’s bright eyes darted around, looking clever and sharp. She blinked and asked, "If I go to learn carving, do I still have to go to school?"

"Yes!" Zhou Fang and Gou Yuniang said in unison. Zhou Fang turned to Gou Yuniang and smiled, feeling relieved.

"You must go to school. You are still young. Even if you aren't clever enough to learn, interacting with your peers at school is good for your physical and mental health," Gou Yuniang said calmly.

Ren Yingying’s eyes rolled again. "If I learn carving from you, do I get a salary?"

Tang Long grinned. He hadn't expected her to be such a little wheeler-dealer!

"You child, how old are you, and you're already thinking about a salary..." Zhou Fang chided from the side.

Gou Yuniang interrupted her, speaking with a serene, ethereal quality. "Yes. I will count you as an apprentice, with a hundred yuan a day for pocket money."

"A hundred a day? That much?" Ren Yingying’s large eyes sparkled instantly.

Gou Yuniang smiled and reached out to pat Ren Yingying’s head. "When you become a master in the future, earning ten thousand a day won't be a problem!"

Ren Yingying opened her mouth wide. After a long while, she asked, "Then, how long will it take for me to become a master?"

Gou Yuniang thought for a moment and said formally, "Starting now: ten years of foundation, ten years of technique, ten years of skill, and ten years of synthesis. After about twenty years, I probably won't have anything left to teach you!"

"Twenty years to become a master!" A hint of disappointment clouded Ren Yingying's eyes. But then she thought, once she was a master, she could earn ten thousand a day! How much did her parents earn after a month of hard work?

She was only in her teens. Twenty years from now, she would only be in her early thirties. A month's salary would be enough to buy a car! Wouldn't her classmates and teachers be incredibly jealous?

Thinking of this, she happily replied, "Okay, I'll learn carving from you!"