Page 30 of Worth Fighting For

Mushu shrugs. “I don’t know, it’s kind of a vibe I got from them. Also, I heard Uncle Hong say, ‘I don’t want to sell the company.’”

A pit opens up in my stomach. I try to make sense of the situation, and fail. “But why would they go along with this if they didn’t want to sell in the first place?”

Mushu chews on her lip as she ponders this. “Maybe it has to do with Shang? He’s the CEO, right?”

I think about the friction between Shang and James. I assumed it’s just regular stuff between cousins, but maybe there’s more to it than that. Annoyance bubbles up inside me. What kind of game is Shang playing?

“Well, I’m not here to have my time wasted,” I say after a while. “They brought us here, and I’m going to do my job, and if their company is really worth buying, then I’m going to make a good case for it.”

“Attagirl.” Mushu props herself up on her elbow and gazes out the window at the expanse. “So all this is owned by the company?”

“Well, the distillery is, and parts of the land, but the farmhouse is owned separately by the family.”

She whispers, “I bet it’s worth a lot of money.”

“Yeah, it’s a large part of their valuation, the land. We need to assess how much it’s worth.”

“How do we do that?”

“Mushu, how do you still not know this stuff after working at the firm for as long as you have?”

“Okay, well, this sounds like a you problem,” she says.

I can’t help smiling at this. “Mushu, never change.”

CHAPTER NINE

Ibadly need to change out of my ridiculous clothes, but as I’m about to open up my bag, there is a knock at the door.

James’s voice pierces it. “Yo, ladies! You ready for some outdoor activity?”

Everything inside me shrivels up and shrinks away. God, what I wouldn’t give to be able to say no. But I’m here to do due diligence, and part of that is learning everything I can about their ranch and how it operates. What good would it do to hide away in the guest bedroom? Even if it is the nicest guest bedroom I’ve ever been in, more five-star hotel than guest bedroom, really. I take a deep breath and envision a new mask. Not quite Work Mulan, but Ranch Mulan. Right. A persona that Baba apparently has that I never knew about. Anyway, what would Ranch Mulan say right now?

“Sounds great!” I call out with much more confidence than I actually feel. I can do this. I’ve researched all that can be read online about ranches and distilleries, after all.

“All right, well, don’t keep everybody waiting. You two are beautiful already, you don’t need to put any more makeup on.” James snickers like he’s said something funny and walks away.

I make a face at Mushu that conveys:What an ass.

“What an ass,” she says.

“Shh! He might be able to hear us!” I hiss.

“Good, then he’ll know what an ass he’s being.”

“Oh my god, Mushu.” But despite myself, I snort with laughter. “Well, I guess we’d better go. I was hoping I’d be able to change into something more sensible, but whatever.”

“I told you, your outfit is perfect for ranching.”

I give her a flat look before turning and walking out of the room.

As James said, many of the uncles, aunts, and cousins are already gathered downstairs. There’s a grazing table set out with a mix of Chinese and Western snacks, and when Mushu and I join them, Auntie Jiayi calls out to us and pushes a mandarin orange into each of our hands. Shang is in the far corner of the dining room, looking over the crowd without saying much. I try not to notice how good he looks, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. He’s so tall and broad-shouldered, though, that it’s impossible not to steal glances as I mingle with the family. Before long, Uncle Hong directs the group out of the house.

“Come, Zhou,” he says, and I hurry forward so I’m walking next to him. “I want you to see our family’s land.”

They walk down a pathway that leads from the house toward the ranch. The beauty of the land is impossible to ignore. My eyes roam the soft, rolling hills and the vast expanse of grass. There is a slight breeze in the air and it smells sweet somehow, like fruits and fresh spring water.

“Our father bought the land,” Uncle Hong says. “We all grew up here, and when we earned more money, we bought more land. This place is not just a family company, it is a family legacy.”

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