Ye Guihua pursed her lips; she hadn't considered that either.

It was simply because he couldn't bear to see Cheng Tie, who was about the same age as his own father, suffer.

When they were poor, she always felt sad looking at her father's broad, silent back.

She turned her head away from those thoughts and looked at the signboard. "Auntie, you should write this signboard. I think you write it well."

Ye Panjiu nodded.

Ye Guihua ground the ink for her, and she raised her sleeve to write.

The brushstrokes are fluid and powerful, with sharp and incisive strokes.

The sign is the same as the one in Qingshui County, with a simple leaf drawn next to the three characters "Jiujiu Lu".

"My aunt's handwriting is so beautiful," Ye Guihua couldn't help but praise.

Ye Panjiu pinched her cheek, "Why are you praising your aunt so much today?"

Ye Guihua smiled shyly.

Cheng Tie rode a horse carrying two baskets on his back, followed by two middle-aged men, both of whom also carried baskets that were full of things.

I bought all the meat and vegetables in one trip.

Ye Panjiu pointed to the carriage, "Brother Cheng, we've prepared a carriage for you to use when you buy meat and transport goods. You three brothers can discuss how to use it."

Cheng Tie was overjoyed, looking at the big black horse that was snorting, "Thank you so much, boss! Thank you so much!"

Ye Panjiu smiled and immediately understood why Ye Guihua had prepared a carriage.

Heng Tong went home and handed a box of spice packets to Cheng Tie.

Ye Panjiu arrived at Ye Erniu's shop again.

The shop was already braising meat, and the rich aroma of the braising spices was so overpowering that it indiscriminately assaulted everyone on the street.

She looked at the empty signboard and went inside.

Ye Erniu and Gao Lin were chopping and washing vegetables, discussing hiring people to work tomorrow.

"Second Brother."

Ye Erniu wiped his hands in front of the cloth wrapped around his body. "Little sister, what brings you here?"

Ye Panjiu pointed to the top of her head, "I think we're missing a signboard, so I'm thinking of writing one here."

Ye Erniu slapped his forehead, "I was so busy that I forgot about this! The signboard is on the table. I was thinking of having my little sister write it, exactly the same as Qingshui County's."

Ye Panjiu smiled and said, "It's alright, I remember even if you forgot, so this is resolved."

She ground the ink herself and wrote the poem.

This is the third one. The scale is huge; I wonder how many more she will write in the future.

I don't know how long I'll keep writing.

Once the sign was written, Heng Tong swiftly hung it up.

She, Ye Erniu, and Gao Lin watched from below.

"It's off-center; the left side is a bit too high," Gao Lin said.

Heng Tong stirred.

Ye Erniu then said, "Hengtong, the right side is higher again."

Hengtong moved again.

Ye Panjiu looked at her with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, her forehead veins bulging slightly.

"That's perfect, just right!" Ye Erniu shouted.

Hengtong landed and stood still as if relieved.

When it was time for dinner, Ye Erniu and Sun Shi still hadn't returned.

After eating, Ye Panjiu rode her horse to go find him.

When she arrived at the shop, Sun was assisting the craftsmen, busy handing over wood and cutting red cloth.

The red cloth was used to make small flags to hang in front of the shop.

Ye Panjiu stepped forward and asked, "Second sister-in-law, have you had dinner yet?"

Mrs. Sun replied quickly, "I've eaten, I've eaten."

What did you eat?

"I've been too busy, I don't even remember."

Ye Panjiu then asked her, "How long are you and your second brother planning to work today?"

Without even looking up, Sun continued working, "At the very least, we have to clear this land. Look at this soil, it's all muddy no matter where you walk. This is definitely not going to work."

The shop needs a complete overhaul; Mingye Erniu and Guihua are about to open, and she's extremely anxious.

Ye Panjiu put down the cloth in her hand and pulled her up. "Alright, you've been busy all day. Let's go. Why are you in such a hurry? There are advantages to going later."

Sun tried to break free from her.

Ye Panjiu raised an eyebrow at her.

Madam Sun softened again, "Chengcheng, I'll listen to you. Don't blame me if I earn less money for a few days."

Ye Panjiu smiled and said, "It's no trouble at all. Let Second Brother go too."

Sun shouted to Ye Erniu, "Erniu, let's go home! Everyone else, go home too, we'll come back tomorrow!"

She always paid the wages in advance.

Ye Erniu came over and said, "It's still a long way from bedtime. Little sister, shall we go see the osmanthus shop?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Sun also exclaimed anxiously, "That's right, I'm so curious!"

"No problem, consider it a post-meal digestive aid."

It took them a good 35 minutes to walk before they arrived.

Red cloth hangs high, the signboard is grand, and everything is clean.

Sun clicked her tongue a few times, "Little sister, open the door quickly and let me see inside. Guihua, that girl, did such a good job without making a sound!"

Ye Panjiu opened the door with a smile.

Look at the storefront, look at the chairs and charcoal brazier in front of the shop, and the red cloth flags waving in the wind.

Once inside, the tables and chairs are spaced far apart, making it easy to walk around without feeling cramped, and it's convenient to serve food.

The details were very similar to those of Jiujiu Lu from Qingshui County, making her feel like she was coming home.

Ye Erniu also looked carefully. He was going to open his shop tomorrow, but he hadn't done many things as well as Guihua had. He had completely forgotten about the chairs and charcoal brazier in front of the shop.

"I think Guihua can be handed over to my younger sister. We two need to practice some more!" Sun said with a sigh.

Ye Panjiu patted her shoulder, "Shuzhou is just the beginning. After a few more times, you'll be able to take over too."

Upon hearing this, Madam Sun grabbed her arm and said, "Tell me quickly, if you want us to take over, what are you going to do? You can lie around collecting money all day, but you don't have to do anything else?"

Ye Panjiu smiled and shook his head, "I have a brilliant plan, I'll tell you later."

Sun glanced at her sideways, "Go ahead and hide it, anyway, everything you hide will be a surprise. I can't do that. Guihua and Erniu chose the shopkeeper first, so my shop will definitely be the worst. Who knows what other worries await me?"

Ye Panjiu smiled and didn't say anything. Being late doesn't necessarily mean it's bad, and there's no point in saying anything.

Sun himself had to experience it to understand.

The tenth day of the first lunar month is an auspicious day for opening a business.

At the stroke of midnight, Cheng Tie blew on the tinderbox, and the hanging firecrackers started spinning and exploding.

"Crackling and popping—"

Ye Guihua smiled brightly; she had specially worn a bright red dress today for a festive occasion.

Ye Taohua, also dressed in red, stood beside her, her heart pounding with emotion.

Who would believe that just a few months ago, one of them was starving, and the other was being starved and beaten in the Du family, and was almost sold off.

Now, however, he can open his own shop.

After the firecrackers were lit, Cheng Tie clenched his fists and bowed to the onlookers, "My shop is opening today! Everyone come and try our fragrant braised dishes! Everything is on sale today! A big bowl of braised meat is only twelve coins! Braised vegetables are only six coins!"

The auntie in charge of cooking moved the earthenware pot containing the braised food, and a complex aroma spread out.

Even she herself couldn't help but swallow hard.

This flavor is really tempting!

Another auntie, holding a rag, laughed and shouted, "You definitely won't lose out! That big bowl is brimming with meat! The texture is even different!"