Chapter 30: No Reason Not to Use a Lawful Husband

"What's so unspeakable about it? My daughter married well. I just want to ask if she can still bear a son—she's already had one..."

The fortune-teller only opened her doors on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month. Not only was it expensive, but even with an advance appointment, there was no guarantee one could actually get a divination. Today, Mrs. Li had finally managed to secure a spot. In her urgency, she dragged her daughter along, paid a hundred yuan, and naturally couldn't let the fortune-teller shoo her away with a single sentence.

"What cannot be spoken of is that fate must not be revealed," the fortune-teller replied, blinking her mismatched eyes—one large, one small—revealing her impatience.

Just then, thunder rumbled outside, and a flash of lightning crashed atop the roof, startling Mrs. Li so much that she shivered from head to toe.

"Then I won't ask anymore," Mrs. Li said, pulling her daughter Li Tian'er toward the outer room. The people waiting outside for their turn with the fortune-teller immediately rose and filed into the inner chamber.

"A hundred yuan wasted, and I got nothing. They say she worships the Fox Immortal and is the most accurate at matchmaking. What a joke," Mrs. Li sighed, gazing at the pouring rain.

The heavy rain kept them from leaving; they could only sit back down on the long bench to wait it out.

Li Tian'er had been dragged here by her mother for no apparent reason. She'd only come out of curiosity, yet found nothing remarkable about the fortune-teller. Without the incense and ritual, she was just an ordinary housewife.

The mystic's words were unreliable, but her claim that she was destined for wealth was not entirely without basis. When had Li Tian'er ever worried so much about her livelihood or her future? From the moment she was born with a silver spoon, her future had been ordained.

The rain showed no sign of stopping; if they waited any longer, they might not return home before dark.

Since Chen Bo was now her lawful husband, she would be a fool not to use him when she could.

"Alright, I'll come right away. Tell me the address in detail," he said.

"We're in the countryside..." Li Tian'er turned to ask her mother for the address. Mrs. Li snatched the phone, relayed it to Chen Bo, then laughed and told him not to rush, to be careful on the road.

"Having a mobile phone is wonderful! Ask Chen Bo to buy one for me, too," Mrs. Li said.

"If you want one, ask him yourself," Li Tian'er replied.

"Oh, that's embarrassing. After all, I'm not his mother, and there's always a bit of distance between a mother-in-law and a son-in-law," Mrs. Li said, feigning modesty.

A mother who could sell her own daughter, embarrassed? Li Tian'er didn't respond, and Mrs. Li awkwardly tidied her hair, looking up at the sky.

In this era, mobile phones were only good for making calls and sending messages. If used for business, they could make money; for idle chatter, they were simply money-eating slot machines—not worth having.

When the white BMW appeared in the rain, it seemed to illuminate everything around it.

Chen Bo considerately shielded Mrs. Li with an umbrella all the way to the house before returning to the car.

"Thank you," Li Tian'er said, remembering to show gratitude and courtesy.

"You're improving, being polite with me now," Chen Bo grinned, eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Night had fallen, the rain and mist thick. Raindrops danced in the headlights like sprites.

He drove the car all the way to the villa's door, handed her the umbrella, but showed no intention of getting out. Li Tian'er couldn't help but ask where he was going.

"Another step of progress—you care where I'm headed," the corner of his mouth lifted in a smile.

"I have a social engagement. You go in yourself," he said.

Not wanting him to notice her interest, Li Tian'er stood behind the floor-length curtains, watching the white BMW reverse and drive away. The taillights quickly vanished at the gates.

Chen Bo did not return that night.

After the rain, the sky was a flawless blue and the air was fragrant as if laced with flowers.

Sister Liao stood at the entrance to the Music Teahouse, glancing around. When she saw Li Tian'er approach on her Magnolia motorbike, she hurried over, excitedly waving a small notebook.

"Nineteen people are willing to work with you. Old Master Feng hasn't signed up—I think he doesn't believe you can set up the service factory. I told him you married a rich man, but he's still not convinced. Still, he hasn't found any work. Once we set up the factory, he’ll surely come. He’s got pattern-cutting skills no one else in the factory can match..."

Once Sister Liao started talking, she couldn't stop. Li Tian'er stood under the tree, listening, occasionally glancing up at the long, silken strands hanging from the banyan tree, her expression pensive.

"So, where will your factory be? Is it far? Do we have enough people?" Sister Liao asked.

"The factory site hasn't been decided yet. I plan to confirm it today."

"What? You’ve got nothing yet? How am I going to explain that to everyone? How can they believe you?" Sister Liao, who had rallied everyone to join, now realized she’d become the scapegoat, and her face darkened.

"Explain what? I just said I’d confirm the factory today. Wait for my notification—I'll call you at the Music Teahouse. You’ll have news by tomorrow at the earliest, within three days at the latest," Li Tian'er replied.

The old garment factory was applying for bankruptcy. Li Tian'er wanted to try her luck at taking it over. She remembered during a recent inspection at Chen Bo's company, there had been a leader specializing in asset restructuring. Which official wouldn't want to revitalize non-performing assets in their district and create reemployment opportunities? Surely no one would reject such a promising vision.

Li Tian'er was still too naive. She didn't even make it through the gates of the city government complex before being turned away by the security guard. With only a vague memory of the official's face and not even knowing his name, she couldn't even fabricate a story to get in as a leader's family member.

Thinking of the dozens of hopeful eyes watching her, Li Tian'er decided to trouble Chen Bo once more. As a young entrepreneur in Dongling City, at the very least, he could point her in the right direction.

"You want to run a garment factory?" he asked.

"Not me—a friend," she said, withholding information, but Chen Bo still guessed her intention; she hurried to clarify.

"Do you have any friends besides me?" There was laughter in his voice, and Li Tian'er felt certain he was mocking her ignorance.

"Just tell me—will you help or not?" Her young lady’s temper flared, making her sound brusque; she immediately regretted it.

After paying for her house, she had little cash left. If she mortgaged the newly bought home for a loan, she could perhaps manage a small garment processing plant. But if she could take over an existing factory, she could aim much higher, and the workers would feel more secure.

"I’ll think about it. You’d best stay home. I’ve told you riding a motorbike is dangerous. If you can’t sit still, go learn to drive—then you can drive for me," Chen Bo said.

Before he could finish, Li Tian’er hung up.

Pretend I never asked for his help!

Mounting her motorbike, she went to several banks to inquire about mortgage loans. Only one was willing to offer a loan for a third of the house’s value.

A third of the house price was just over twenty thousand—not enough to buy machinery and equipment.

After lingering by the river for a while, she decided to try her luck with her clients. If she could provide them with a batch of scarce fruit at a low price, they’d be eager to advance her some money. But that would take a toll on her body. After all, this body hadn’t eaten golden grains—it couldn’t endlessly haul goods from the wealth base.