Jiayin prefers the eighth day of the ninth lunar month, since the second day is the Double Ninth Festival, which has the custom of climbing mountains and looking into the distance, and many people go out.

The shop will definitely be more popular if it opens at this time.

But it's already the fifth day of the ninth lunar month, and there are still three days left, so I'm a little nervous.

After thinking for a moment, she said, "Let's set the opening date for September 8th. We don't need to make the plaque yet; let's hurry up and arrange the rest."

Manager Peng quickly agreed and hurried off to get things done.

Jiayin called Chen Xi, made some small cakes, decorated them nicely, and then went to the palace.

After the Emperor finished his court session and was busy with state affairs for a while, he heard that Princess Kang Le had come to deliver some snacks, and he couldn't help but laugh and say, "It's rare for this girl to come to the palace again. I thought I had scared her last time."

Chief Eunuch Yi understood and quickly sent a young eunuch to the palace gate to fetch the person. Then, while serving tea, he smiled and said, "The princess brought some snacks, which saves this old servant the headache of preparing them for the emperor. The imperial kitchen doesn't have any new dishes. Not to mention the emperor, even this old servant is tired of them."

"Arrogant!" the Emperor laughed and scolded. "If word gets out, those cooks will be trembling with fear."

Before long, Jiayin arrived with Granny He and Shuiling.

Today, Jiayin wore a pale yellow shirt with a light green skirt, her hair was styled in two small buns and wrapped with a light gold headband. She also wore a silver necklace with a piece of mutton-fat jade pendant.

Her simple and refreshing outfit made her chubby face look even fairer, and her smiling eyes crinkled, making everyone who saw her feel happy too.

"Uncle Emperor, Fu Niu'er has brought you some delicious food!" Jia Yin knelt down and kowtowed, but instead of shouting "Long live the Emperor," she happily exclaimed, prompting the Emperor to quickly help her up.

"Little girl, what brings you to see me today?" The Emperor gestured to Chief Eunuch Yi to dismiss the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall, then personally patted Jiayin's skirt and pulled her to sit down with him.

Jiayin smiled, blushing slightly, but she was quite self-righteous. "The pastry shop is about to open, and all sorts of good things have been prepared. It's exhausted me, the second owner."

"Now it's time for Uncle Royal to step up and do his job! Uncle Royal must perform well!"

The Emperor laughed heartily and replied, "So you've come to interrogate me. Well then, tell me, what can I, the great master, do?"

Jiayin gestured for Shuiling to hand the food box to Steward Yi for inspection. Steward Yi quickly checked it and then placed it on the table.

Jiayin only brought four cakes: one was a cute version of a bull's head, one was a pink peach, one was a flower pattern, and one was a fruit collage.

The Emperor was intrigued and couldn't help but praise, "The pastry chef has such a wonderful idea!"

Jiayin, pleased with herself, pushed the ox-head cake towards the Emperor and said with a smile, "Uncle Emperor was born in the Year of the Ox, so please eat this first."

After saying that, she picked up her fork, took a bite, and happily put it into her mouth.

The Emperor laughed and tapped her forehead, "You clever little girl!"

After saying that, he couldn't wait to take a bite. The sweet and soft texture made his brows relax even more.

The two, one big and one small, were sharing the cake while pretending to discuss business strategies.

"Uncle, the shop is still missing a plaque. Could you please write one for us? Even if other people don't come in and spend money, at least they won't dare to smear our business out of envy."

"Fu Niu'er is especially afraid that such a delicious cake will be tainted by something dirty; it would be such a waste. My grandma says that people who waste food are the most despicable; they'll go to hell to be punished after they die!"

The chubby girl chattered away, shaking her little head as she ate, her lips smeared with cream—she looked absolutely adorable.

But when it comes to business, he becomes very serious, like an old shopkeeper.

This unexpected charm made the emperor laugh uncontrollably, and he naturally responded with great pleasure.

"Very well, I, the head steward, will do my best so that the second master will not complain when it comes time to distribute the silver at the end of the year." The Emperor took a handkerchief from Steward Yi and wiped the cream off the chubby girl, then asked, "Is there anything else you need to say, second master?"

Jiayin grinned and shamelessly continued to make her request, "We'll open on the eighth day of the ninth lunar month. On that day, have Steward Yi go to the shop and buy some delicious food. Make a big fuss, and everyone will definitely rush to get into the shop. They all want to try the snacks that Uncle Huang likes!"

"That's easy," the Emperor agreed.

Chief Steward Yi chimed in, "Oh dear, what a wonderful opportunity! This old servant thanks the Princess. I must have a good taste then. My mouth is watering so much, but the Emperor hasn't bestowed any gifts upon me. I'm so hungry I'm practically biting the corner of my blanket in my dreams."

The Emperor and Jiayin both laughed, especially the Emperor, who immediately rewarded him with a piece of cake, saying, "Go and eat it quickly, so you won't embarrass yourself at the shop that day and make me lose face too."

Jiayin sat for a while longer before taking her leave.

Needless to say, the Emperor also bestowed upon them some fine things such as jewelry and fabrics.

The Emperor stood at the entrance of the main hall, watching the chubby girl run off with cheerful steps. A smile still lingered on his face as he said, "My cousin said this girl loves money and is born with good fortune. I didn't believe it before, but now I know it's absolutely true."

"She only brought over a few pastries, but exchanged them for a whole bunch of good stuff to take out of the palace. She's even doing business with me now!"

Steward Yi also laughed and said, "That's because His Majesty loves the Princess so much that he's willing to suffer losses. But the Princess really knows her business inside and out. This old servant will prepare a big chest for His Majesty to store the dividends from the pastry shop during the New Year!"

The emperor was amused and laughed again...

After a busy day, Jiayin returned home and gave half of her jewelry and fabric to her grandmother. Then she announced the opening of her snack shop.

Grandma Li and Tao Hongying were worried and both said they would go over that day to help look after the place.

Just as they were having a lively conversation, Madam Wen came over from next door.

The fruits from the mountain are sour and astringent to ordinary people, but she, a pregnant woman, absolutely loves them.

As she ate, she heard about the shop's opening and said with a smile, "Let's have the shop make a birthday cake tomorrow, and we can help Fu Niu'er get some business too."

tomorrow?

Both Old Lady Li and Tao Hongying were puzzled, but Madam Wen replied with a wry smile, "Auntie, have you forgotten? Tomorrow, Hongying and I are taking Fu Niu'er to visit someone. The invitations have already been sent!"

"Oh dear, I've been so busy these past few days, I completely forgot about it!" Tao Hongying slapped her forehead. She doesn't go out much, and when she suddenly received an invitation, she completely forgot about it.

Grandma Li also hurriedly got to work, "That's right, it's Grandma Jia's birthday! We haven't prepared the birthday gifts yet, let's quickly open the storeroom and take a look."

The Jia family is an old and prestigious family in Xindu. The second wife is on good terms with the Wen family, and the third master of the Jia family works in the Ministry of War. Recently, he has been having a lot of contact with Li Laosi.

Therefore, for this birthday banquet of the old lady of the Jia family, the second lady of the Jia family visited the lady of the Wen family and, through her, inquired about the Li family's intentions. Knowing that the Li family also intended to make connections, she quickly sent the head steward to personally deliver the invitation.

This can be seen as the powerful and influential people in the city extending an olive branch to the Li family.

As a result, the Li family was so busy that they completely forgot about it.

If it weren't for Madam Wen's reminder, things would have really gone wrong.

Served at midnight~~~