"I see you’re jealous of your sister-in-law?"
Who knows Liu Yueer the best? It has to be her mother, Mrs. Zhao.
Liu Yueer said, "Who wouldn’t be jealous? She used to be the most honest one in the family, and she got such a great opportunity. If I’d known, I would have adopted Xiao Long back then. Saying Dashi’s illegitimate child is no more reliable than the eldest one’s illegitimate child?"
Mrs. Zhao pursed her lips and said, "Why didn’t you stand out back then? Weren’t you just afraid of the risk? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. You’re only regretting it now because you see your sister-in-law gaining from it. You always want to ride on the coattails of good things, and shrink away when there’s risk. Who says you can take all the good stuff?"
"Who doesn’t want to benefit? At the time, I thought he was some wealthy runaway young master. If I’d known he was the Crown Prince, I would have stood up, too. Isn’t there a saying that wealth comes from taking risks?"
Mrs. Zhao rolled her eyes, "Sure."
Who wants wealth from risks? Chen Sufen certainly didn’t have that in mind.
"Even if you knew, it wouldn’t have done any good. Didn’t you know the situation in your house when Xiao Long came? So many people were searching the village for the traitor’s son. If you knew he was the Crown Prince, you’d be scared stiff. If it wasn’t for your amazing mother-in-law, you’d probably have handed over the Crown Prince for the reward. Don’t think your sister-in-law is now a madam; she paid with her life for that. If the emperor pursued the crime of hiding Xiao Long, could your sister-in-law escape? Whether she’s rewarded or punished, it’s all up to the emperor. So don’t think about things that aren’t yours. You should rely on Dashi and Yaozu."
Liu Yueer was just feeling envious of Chen Sufen’s luck and didn’t really want to take the madam’s title from her.
After Mrs. Zhao’s words, she was suddenly filled with hope.
Exactly, she still has Yaozu.
With Yaozu being the "cousin" of the Crown Prince, wouldn’t she be able to become a madam in the future?
"You’re right, mom. Yaozu is not good at studying, but he’s lucky to be cousins with the Crown Prince. When Yaozu comes home, I’ll have him ask the Crown Prince, maybe be his personal guard or something. I heard the emperor is dissatisfied with his sons, that’s why he brought the Crown Prince back. There are rumors in Shengjing that he might let the Crown Prince directly ascend, then my Yaozu will have credits to his name, and I..."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Mrs. Zhao scolded.
She looked around to ensure no one was around, then went to the door to check, and pointed at Liu Yueer’s forehead, reprimanding, "Are you brainless? You’ve been in Shengjing for a few days now, aren’t you? Matters of the next emperor aren’t for you to discuss. If someone with ill-intentions hears this, they’ll accuse you of treason. Can you keep your mouth shut about anything except eating? If your mother-in-law hears you, she’ll send you back to Qinghe Bay sooner or later."
Liu Yueer stuck out her tongue in fear.
Oops, she let it slip.
"Mom, I know what I’m doing. I won’t say anything outside this door."
She absolutely didn’t want to return to Qinghe Bay.
It’s much more freeing in Shengjing.
While Mrs. Zhao was lecturing Liu Yueer at home, Tong Huaqiong had already walked through two streets of Shengjing.
There’s no denying that Shengjing is the most prosperous city of its time.
The streets were lined with shops, all trades were well-represented. Restaurants, teahouses, herbal shops, gold and silver stores, bookstores, tile houses...
The entire city was bustling with noise.
Manager He had mentioned to Tong Huaqiong that Shengjing did not have a curfew, and many shops stayed open all night.
Jufu Supermarket was located on the most bustling East Market Street.
Tong Huaqiong was extremely satisfied after inspecting Jufu Supermarket.
No wonder Shengjing is wealthy; Jufu Supermarket was packed with people.
Based on Tong Huaqiong’s management plan for Lu Zhaozhao’s cosmetic store in Prefecture City, Gu Taohua set up a VIP section on the second floor of Jufu Supermarket.
VIP customers just needed to register what they bought, and the clerks would deliver the items city-wide.
Tong Huaqiong thought this was just like an ancient version of a certain group-buying website.
To promote cotton cloth and expand her own textile business.
Jufu Supermarket dedicated four entire shelves to various cotton cloths.
Many people from Shengjing gathered in front of the cotton fabric section to make selections.
On her way from home to the store, Tong Huaqiong paid special attention to the clothes people were wearing, and many were wearing cotton fabric. Tong Huaqiong could tell at a glance that they were from her family’s weaving workshop.
Besides Jufu Supermarket, there’s also the Taohua Dessert, which had opened four shops in just a few months.
Since Shengjing is the capital, its residents have tasted and seen much, and are more particular about pastries.
Taohua Dessert has really worked hard to conquer the tastes of Shengjing’s people. Before Gu Taohua came to Shengjing, Tong Huaqiong gave her all her best recipes, even bringing in pastry chefs from Prefecture City Peach Blossom Dessert.
"Isn’t it just a pastry chef? Our Prince Yu Mansion wants her, why are you being so difficult? Our Commandery Princess liking your pastry chef is a privilege for you. I must take her with me today."
Tong Huaqiong was very satisfied after inspecting Taohua Dessert. As she was about to leave after checking the accounts from the second floor, she heard a loud and arrogant voice from downstairs.
Prince Yu Mansion.
Tong Huaqiong’s heart skipped a beat. In the memories of Tong Dajiao’s past life, it was the Princess Ming Yue from the Prince Yu Mansion who picked Gu Jingzhe for son-in-law.
She had just said she wanted to meet this Commandery Princess in the morning, and here she was?
Tong Huaqiong stood on the steps looking down.
A beautifully dressed maid was standing with her hands on her hips, scolding people.
"Oh, Prince Yu Mansion is not someone you want to offend."
Manager Tang, who was reporting the business to Tong Huaqiong, shook his head and hurriedly walked down, smiling apologetically at the maid.
"Miss, it’s indeed an honor for our Taohua Dessert that the Commandery Princess appreciates Master Liu’s skills. Master Liu is somewhat simple-minded and might not serve the Commandery Princess well. Let her stay at Taohua Dessert. Whenever the Commandery Princess wants pastries, she can send a word, and we’ll deliver them once they’re made."
The maid looked at Manager Tang coldly and said, "Since you know it’s an honor, why not let her go? Ask anyone in Shengjing, who wouldn’t want to work for the Prince Yu Mansion? Yet your Taohua Dessert acts all high and mighty. Isn’t she just a pastry chef? Why make our Commandery Princess try so hard, don’t you know your place?" The maid got even more arrogant.
The maid waved her hand outside, and a group of guards appeared at the door of Taohua Dessert.
The scared customers scattered.
Tong Huaqiong squinted her eyes slightly, looking downstairs.
From the maid’s yelling, she roughly understood why Taohua Dessert was at odds with the Prince Yu Mansion.
Taohua Dessert had a Master Liu, who was the first female apprentice of Master Qiao from Prefecture City and was a skilled pastry maker, especially good at making cream puffs.
This year, Taohua Dessert in Shengjing needed a pastry chef, so Taohua Dessert in Ning City sent Master Liu over.
Princess Ming Yue loved cream puffs.
Having tasted Taohua Dessert’s cream puffs, she was amazed and wanted to take Master Liu to the Prince Yu Mansion to make desserts for her exclusively.
Master Liu was unwilling, which angered Princess Ming Yue, leading her to come with the maid to take her by force.
"Since even the Commandery Princess can’t persuade Master Liu, then she can’t blame the Commandery Princess for being rude. Looks like Master Liu doesn’t like the polite way and prefers the tough way." The maid tilted her chin, looking at Manager Tang.
She was very angry inside. Even with so much commotion, Master Liu was hiding inside and refused to come out.
Isn’t she just a bumpkin who can make pastries?
What’s there to be proud of, daring to refuse the Commandery Princess?
Then don’t blame her for being rude.