Traveling through the second dimension, the joy system encourages me to laugh heartily!

Under their gazes, Chen Ming picked up a tissue, wiped his mouth, and responded calmly:

"The taste of this venison... well, it's just passable, above average."

He first gave an objective evaluation, then changed the subject, his gaze falling on Han Xueyi, and said affectionately, "But because Xueyi fed it herself, it tasted especially delicious!"

These unexpected words of love, though spoken in a plain tone, instantly made Han Xueyi's heart flutter with joy. She said coquettishly, "Really? I'm glad you like it, Master! Then from now on, Xueyi will feed you, okay?"

As he spoke, he happily forked a piece of venison, pretending to feed it to someone.

Chen Ming cooperated and ate a few more pieces of venison from her hand. He also tried the canned pork and beef that Han Xueyi handed him, and the taste was still quite good.

Chapter 306: Old Customs

Luo Li watched the two of them flaunting their affection without a care in the world, feeling both happy for her best friend and anxious about her own future as a "canned" friend.

She couldn't contain herself any longer and, taking advantage of the moment Chen Ming put down his fork, quickly asked, "Mr. Chen, how is it? Do these three canned goods all meet your requirements?"

Chen Ming had personally tasted it and confirmed that it was not a poorly made, substandard product; the taste and quality were acceptable.

In this way, even if he later conducts live-streaming e-commerce through Liu Rushuang's entertainment company, he won't ruin his reputation or damage his brand due to product quality issues.

Since he had already decided to support Luo Li, this beautiful and idealistic young woman, he stopped beating around the bush and directly nodded, giving his final answer:

"It's alright, the taste and quality are acceptable. Here's the deal: from now on, I'll be your stable sales channel. All the canned goods your company produces, including existing stock and new batches produced according to standards, can be sold directly to me. As for that 20% thank-you fee you mentioned earlier, that's unnecessary; I don't need that kind of money..."

He paused, and under Luo Li's surprised gaze, he changed the subject: "However, I have a request."

Hearing Chen Ming so readily agree to take over all the inventory and provide a stable sales channel, Luo Li and Han Xueyi were overjoyed and immediately became happy.

Han Xueyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. She thought to herself, "Great! Master really is willing to help! This way, Luo Li's ordeal can finally be overcome. Otherwise, seeing her struggle so hard, I, the former 'deserter,' always felt I owed her something… Now, with Master's help, everything is fine!"

Luo Li's mood at this moment was more like that of riding a roller coaster, soaring from the bottom of the valley to the top of the clouds in an instant.

She felt a sense of unreality, as the inventory problem that had plagued her for so long, causing her so much distress and even despair, was actually... resolved so casually over this ordinary home-cooked meal?

Furthermore, Chen Ming promised not only to clear out the existing inventory, but also a long-term and stable sales channel! For a startup, this is an absolute dream come true!

Is this...is this what it feels like to be suddenly blessed by Lady Luck? It's so unreal!

Amidst the elation, a rational consideration quickly surfaced in my mind.

Chen Ming made it clear that he didn't need the 20% thank-you fee. Luo Li quickly calculated in her mind that if calculated based on the total sales of nearly 3.5 million, this thank-you fee would not be a small amount, but close to 700,000!

He explicitly refused even this money, so the "demand" he's about to make is probably... not simple, right?

She understood that there's no such thing as a free lunch.

But in any case, Chen Ming was her lifeline at this moment. Let alone one request, even if there were several requests, as long as they did not violate her basic principles, she had to listen carefully and try her best to meet them.

After all, as long as the two sides can reach a cooperation agreement, her company can survive, the villagers can receive dividends, and her dream will have hope of continuing!

Suppressing her anxiety and speculation, she quickly straightened her posture, put on an extremely serious and sincere expression, and said to Chen Ming, "Mr. Chen, please tell me what you need! As long as it is within my ability and does not violate the law or moral bottom line, I will definitely do it!"

Chen Ming couldn't help but find her serious expression somewhat amusing. He didn't mince words and stated his request directly:

"My requirements are simple: you must remain single. During our collaboration, you cannot date, much less get married. After all, I have no habit of supporting someone else's wife..."

Upon hearing this request, Luo Li was stunned. Her beautiful mixed-race face was filled with astonishment and... a hint of confusion.

Is it... really that simple?

She had already envisioned all sorts of possibilities in her mind—such as demanding company shares, getting involved in management, or even imposing additional conditions related to her personally, forcing her to become the other party's woman!

After all, she had seen too many men coveting her beauty, and the "BMW classmate" who had just left was a prime example.

She never expected that Chen Ming would make such a... strange-sounding, yet effortless request.

Is it simply a matter of keeping her single?

This...this doesn't feel like a request at all; it feels more like a urging and encouragement for her.

just because,

This was originally part of her plan—before fulfilling her childhood dream of leading her hometown to prosperity, she had no intention, energy, or inclination to date!

She poured all her passion into the land beneath her feet and the promise they made together.

This requirement was not a constraint for her; rather, it was an invisible support that acknowledged her choice to prioritize her career at this stage.

If that's the case, then what's there to hesitate about?

"no problem!"

Luo Li answered decisively and firmly, "I guarantee it! During the cooperation period, I will not date or get married, and will devote myself wholeheartedly to my career! You can rest assured about that!"

The moment Luo Li agreed, seeing Chen Ming's calm and confident expression, her opinion of him instantly rose significantly.

Chen Ming... he's practically my lucky star!

She thought to herself.

Chen Ming not only perfectly resolved the biggest dilemma she was facing, but also offered very gentlemanly terms!

She was completely different from those male classmates who only knew how to use sweet talk and exaggerate, whose ultimate goal was nothing more than to covet her beauty!

This feeling of being respected and recognized warmed her heart.

[Ding! Luo Li's favorability +5, current favorability 20!]

In just one meal, not only did Luo Li gain a lot, but Chen Ming also made significant progress—he successfully reversed the initial negative feelings this stubborn and interesting girl had for him, raising them to a positive 20 points. This rate of increase clearly indicates he wasn't the type that was difficult to win over; the start was remarkably smooth.

With that, the purchase of canned goods and the establishment of a stable sales channel were finally settled, and both parties reached a preliminary verbal agreement. Having accomplished the biggest task on her mind, Luo Li couldn't wait to go home immediately. She drafted the purchase contract overnight, hoping to sign it and make the payment the next day, then quickly distribute the dividends to the eagerly awaiting villagers.

So, it was time for everyone to part ways. Luo Li stood up, her face radiant with renewed vitality, but also with a hint of apology, and said to Chen Ming and the other three:

"Mr. Chen, Xueyi, and the two sisters, I'm so sorry I didn't take good care of you today. We were so busy talking about my business." She smiled apologetically. "I've been carrying this heavy burden on my mind, and now that it's finally over, I just want to get things settled as soon as possible. So, once I've properly resolved the villagers' profit-sharing issue, I'll definitely host a big thank-you banquet. We'll drink until we drop, how about that?"

Oh dear?

"No drinking, no going home!"

After hearing Luo Li say this, Chen Ming looked at the beautiful girl in front of him again with undisguised admiration in his eyes—her stunning face that combined the best of East and West, and her perfectly proportioned, graceful figure…

Hehe~ This is good, this is really good...

Chen Ming's mind started to race. He really liked the suggestion of "no one leaves until they're drunk," as it was full of endless possibilities and... fun.

Of course, his face remained serious, as if he were simply responding to a routine dinner invitation, and he nodded and said:

"Alright! It's decided then. Go and prepare the contract first. Once it's signed, I can immediately transfer the payment to you so you can get things sorted out at the company as soon as possible."

Seeing that Chen Ming readily agreed, Luo Li was even happier. She rushed to the counter to pay for tonight's meal, then said goodbye again and disappeared into the twilight of the rural night with light steps, her back view exuding a kind of vitality after being relieved of a heavy burden.

Chen Ming, along with Han Xueyi, Xie Wanqing, and Hua Qianhui, strolled leisurely hand in hand along the quiet village path.

In the northern countryside, there is no decent nightlife, no neon lights or hustle and bustle of the city, only scattered lights, the occasional barking of dogs, and a vast night sky overhead, adorned with stars, a sight rarely seen in the city.

However, on such a quiet night, with a cool evening breeze, taking a leisurely stroll with your beloved girls, listening to their soft voices and laughter, has a unique and refreshing charm and romance.

When they strolled back to Han Xueyi's home, they saw a warm light on in the living room.

Han's mother seemed to have been waiting for them to return. When she saw the four of them, she smiled and then called Han Xueyi to a bedroom next door. It was clear that she had something private to discuss with her daughter.

Inside the room, Han's mother pulled her daughter to sit on the edge of the bed, her face showing hesitation and concern. She lowered her voice and asked:

"Xueyi, Mom has a question for you... Tonight, how... are you going to sleep?" She carefully chose her words. "Although Mom knows you two lived together in Ling'an City, this is, after all, your parents' homecoming, and your prospective son-in-law's first visit. If you just sleep in the same room with him tonight... well, that might not look good. People in the village have old-fashioned ideas, and there will be a lot of gossip. Mom is worried..."

Hearing her mother's hesitant question, Han Xueyi recalled that according to their local customs, before a man and woman are officially married, it is absolutely forbidden for the man to sleep in the same room when visiting the woman's home. This is considered disrespectful to the woman's family and can easily attract gossip from neighbors, who may think that the woman's family rules are not strict and that the daughter is not reserved enough.

This custom stirred a sense of unease in Han Xueyi's heart. She had long been accustomed to sharing a bed with Chen Ming, but now that she had returned to the home where she was born and raised, she had to sleep separately because of old customs. She instinctively felt a sense of reluctance.

However, this hesitation only lasted for a brief moment in her mind.

After all, her master possessed teleportation abilities. Even if they slept in the same room tonight, he would definitely teleport back to his home in Ling'an City to favor his other harem sisters. This had always been his habit, and it was also an important way to maintain harmony in the harem.

In that case, whether or not they sleep in the same room tonight makes no real difference to her.

Thinking of this, her slight reluctance vanished instantly. Han Xueyi looked at her mother, who was afraid of offending her "future son-in-law," and a relieved smile appeared on her face as she said in a relaxed tone:

"Mom, don't worry, it's just an old custom here. I'll sleep in the same room with you tonight! We haven't had a proper chat in a long time. I'll explain it to Grandpa later, he'll definitely understand!"

Although this answer was exactly what Han's mother wanted, it preserved her family's reputation in the village without offending her prospective son-in-law.

But seeing her daughter make the decision so easily, she felt even more uncertain and couldn't help but ask another question:

"You need to explain this to him carefully later. Make sure he doesn't think it's because our family has too many rules. This is just an old custom in our village; every family does it this way. Someone of his status shouldn't be angry about something like this, right? You have to be very tactful in your wording..."

Clearly, Han's mother was extremely satisfied with Chen Ming, her "prospective son-in-law," and was afraid that any slight displeasure would affect Chen Ming's opinion of her daughter, thus hindering this "good match" that her daughter had worked so hard to achieve.

She had been grooming Han Xueyi to "marry into a wealthy family" since she was a child, putting in so much effort, wasn't it all for this day? Now that her dream has come true and her daughter is living the life she had hoped for, she absolutely cannot allow any oversight in the details to cause all her previous efforts to be in vain.

Upon hearing this, Han Xueyi smiled and patted her mother's hand, comforting her:

"Mom, don't worry! He's not that petty, and he wouldn't get angry over something so small."

She recalled every moment she spent with Chen Ming, her voice filled with the happiness of being pampered, "Speaking of which, my husband has a really good personality, and he's very tolerant of the people around him. In all the time we've been together, he's never truly been angry with me, and he rarely even says anything harsh..."

"That's fine, that's fine..."

Seeing her daughter's certainty, Han's mother finally felt a little relieved. She leaned closer to her daughter, lowered her voice, and whispered:

"By the way, Xueyi, Mom has another question for you. You...you and him...are you getting along well in that area? Has he ever asked you to have a child? Has he mentioned any plans in that regard?"

"Oh dear! Mom... why... why are you asking this!"

Han Xueyi blushed with embarrassment at her mother's overly direct and private question.

Although she and Chen Ming already had a very intimate relationship, discussing it in front of her mother still made her incredibly shy. She stomped her foot playfully and turned her head away, "I'm ignoring you! What kind of mother asks her daughter that..."

Chapter 307: Luo Li's Mother's Pressure to Marry

After saying that, Han Xueyi wanted to escape the scene of this embarrassing conversation as soon as possible and go find Chen Ming.

But Han's mother quickly grabbed her wrist and said earnestly:

“Stop right there… What are you shy about, child? What's there to hide from your mother? Having a child has no downsides, only advantages! A child can be the strongest emotional bridge and bond between you two, making a man more responsible, and…”

She paused, her voice extremely low, "And you need to know, illegitimate children also have inheritance rights under the law! His family is very wealthy, in the future..."

"Mom! That's enough!"

Han Xueyi abruptly interrupted her mother, turning her head sharply with a completely serious expression, her previous gentle smile gone. Clearly, she couldn't accept what her mother had just said.

"I don't want to hear such words again!" Han Xueyi's tone was resolute, with an unusual sternness. "And I absolutely cannot utter a single word about it in front of him! What if the master misunderstands and thinks I'm scheming to seize his family fortune? How can I face him then?!"

Her love for Chen Ming may have begun with the realistic expectations instilled in her by her mother, but it had long since transformed into pure attachment and deep affection through their time together. She longed for a child of their own, but it should absolutely be the fruit of their love, a continuation of their happiness, not a tool to fight for inheritance!

Han's mother knew her daughter very well. Seeing her tense expression, she knew that her daughter was truly angry and had touched a raw nerve. Her daughter was gentle and rarely truly angry, so for her to show such an expression, it must have touched her most core emotional principles.

Han's mother instinctively imagined herself like she did when her daughter was little, adopting a motherly stance and using a domineering attitude to subdue her. But the words stuck in her throat, and she swallowed them back.

Looking at her daughter, who had blossomed into a graceful and elegant young woman with an extraordinary air, and who had found a strong support in life, she clearly realized that things were different now. Her daughter was no longer the little girl who needed to completely depend on her and obey her every word.

Even her future depends largely on her daughter and that unfathomable "future son-in-law." She can no longer treat her daughter in the same simple and crude way as before.

So, Mrs. Han put on a kind and gentle expression and quickly comforted her:

"Okay, okay, Mom misspoke and didn't think things through. Mom won't bring it up again, please don't be angry."

But she was still unwilling to give up, and added indirectly, "But you have to be realistic. Having children and not having children makes a big difference for a girl, especially in your situation... You have to plan more for your long-term future."

When Han Xueyi heard her mother soften her tone and apologize, her tense expression relaxed somewhat.

She didn't immediately refute her mother's last sentence. The warm scene of playing with the baby with Chen Ming involuntarily floated into her mind, and a hazy and longing look flashed in her eyes.

"Yes, I know. I will definitely give birth to a healthy and lovely baby for Master in the future, preferably one that looks more like him..." The corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly, revealing a silly smile full of happy anticipation, "Hehe... I won't talk to you anymore, Master is still waiting for me outside, I have to go and talk to him about the sleeping arrangements."

After saying that, she prepared to turn around and open the door to leave again.

"Wait a minute!" Han's mother was extremely worried and hurriedly called out to her daughter again, "What's the rush? You're so impulsive! There's still something we haven't arranged! Um... what about Xie Wanqing and Hua Qianhui? Where will they sleep tonight?"

Han Xueyi was stopped by her mother, and she paused in her steps, only then remembering that she had two sisters.

Although her house had a yard, it was a traditional hut, so there were only two bedrooms: one for her mother and one for herself. It wouldn't be appropriate to have Xie Wanqing and Hua Qianhui sleep on the living room sofa, would it? That would be far too impolite.

So, without much thought, she said matter-of-factly:

"They're not locals, so they don't need to follow our old customs. Let them sleep in the same room as the master."

Upon hearing this, Han's mother's eyes widened instantly, and she opened her mouth, momentarily at a loss for words—although she knew that Chen Ming had many lovers, it was still somewhat distressing to witness such a thing happening in her own home.