Qin Sheng was in a side room on the second floor, discussing the sale of new pastries with Granny Fu and a pastry chef they had hired.

It was cold, and Qin Sheng was wearing a sky-blue jacket and skirt with simple patterns. Her hair ornaments were also simple, with only a white jade hairpin. She looked elegant and serene, not at all like a divorced woman, but rather like a young woman who had not yet married.

"My lady---"

Qiao'er came running in, panting, "The nanny from the Marquis of Wuping's residence is here. She says she wants to order our pastries!"

"The Marquis of Wuping's residence?"

Qin Sheng frowned slightly. She had heard a lot about the Marquis of Wuping's mansion when she was still in the capital.

Dealing with the Marquis of Wuping's household is no easy task.

However, since they had already sent snacks to other wealthy families in Ningzhou Prefecture, they naturally had to send some to the Marquis of Wuping's residence as well.

However, Qin Sheng did not write anything cryptic in the post, unlike he did with Madam Hou.

Granny Fu said, "Qiao'er, the people from the Marquis of Wuping's residence want to order some pastries. Just ask the shop assistant to get them for you."

Is it really necessary to run up here, panting, just to tell my wife about such a small matter?

"The old woman from the Marquis of Wuping's residence said she wants them all!"

"..."

This surprised not only Granny Fu, but also Qin Sheng, who wanted them all... There were still quite a few pastries left in the shop.

Qin Sheng went downstairs with Qiao'er.

The old woman from the Marquis of Wuping's residence was sitting and drinking tea, accompanied by two maids who both looked very wealthy.

Qin Sheng, wearing a veil, walked over and gave a slight curtsy. "Good afternoon, Granny. I heard from the maid that you want to buy all the pastries in our shop?"

"This must be Lady Qin?"

The old woman didn't get up, and spoke with an air of superiority, "Yes, a few days ago, our Third Miss and Madam ate the pastries that Madam Qin had sent to the mansion, and they have been thinking about them ever since. Today, when the Marquis returned, Madam specially asked me to come and buy some so that the Marquis could also try them."

There's no need to buy them all.

But that's their freedom, and there's nothing to ask.

The kitchen staff were already packing the pastries quickly and efficiently, so Qin Sheng sat down and chatted with the old woman from the Marquis of Wuping's residence.

During their conversation, the old woman inadvertently let slip a few things.

It is said that ever since the young master was summoned to the capital by imperial decree to serve as an official, the wife of the Marquis of Wuping has fallen ill.

The eldest aunt, who had already married, returned to visit her mother but was criticized by her husband's family, who forbade her from going back.

There's also the young master's sister, now the third legitimate daughter of the household.

They had already arranged a marriage with a family in the capital, but for some reason, that family changed their minds.

In her anxiety and anger, Lady Wuping fell ill and lost her appetite.

The snacks were packed up quickly.

After paying the money, the old woman, along with two maids and the waiter who delivered the snacks, left satisfied.

...

In the blink of an eye, Qin's Dim Sum Shop has been open for more than half a month.

The shop has added some new pastries: jujube paste pastry, donkey roll, pea flour cake, steamed sugar cheese... The recipe for each pastry was personally prepared by Granny Fu. After Qin Sheng tasted them and nodded in approval, they would be sold in the shop.

That evening, Qin Sheng finished calculating all the accounts, and was so tired that her back ached.

Qin Sheng herself kept the daily accounts for the shop. She had managed a household before, and even the large and powerful Yin family had never made a mistake, let alone a small pastry shop.

After half a month of operation, excluding the costs of buying the shop and other miscellaneous expenses, the situation is actually quite good.

With Yu Fu and Awei running around managing the business, the shop gradually saw a turnaround in business.

Qin's Dim Sum Shop already has many loyal customers.

The hot water is ready.

Qiao'er and Emerald served Qin Sheng as he prepared to take a bath.

Since they were already divorced, Qin Sheng no longer wore her hair in a traditional married woman's bun every day. Emerald styled her hair in a simple yet elegant way.

She sat in front of the dressing table, letting Qiao'er take the hairpin off her hair.

Qin Sheng was feeling drowsy when Qiao'er suddenly laughed, "Oh dear, if we didn't say it, who would know that our lady has already divorced? She still looks like a young woman who hasn't left home yet!"

Jade scolded her: "You're just talking nonsense."

Qin Sheng couldn't help but look at herself in the mirror. She was already eighteen, how could she still look like an unmarried girl?

"I didn't make things up."

Qiao'er said happily, "I've heard that there are many talented young men in Ningzhou Prefecture, my lady..."

"This is getting more and more absurd." Qin Sheng stood up. "Could it be that Qiao'er is desperate to get married?"

Emerald chimed in, "Yes, yes, in my opinion, Qiao'er is definitely eager to get married!"

Even the most outspoken girl blushes when her marriage is mentioned.

Qiao'er stomped her feet, and the three of them, master and servant, started making a ruckus.

...

In mid-March, Qin Sheng received an invitation from the wife of the Marquis of Wuping. The Marquis of Wuping's residence was going to hold a spring banquet and had invited many young ladies and wives from Ningzhou Prefecture.

Qin Ji's business has been good lately, partly thanks to the help of the Marquis of Wuping's family, who buy a dozen or more portions of pastries every day.

Qin Sheng had heard that the Lady of Wuping Marquis had been ill, and now she was well?

Regardless, since Lady Wuping has sent her an invitation, this presents an opportunity for Qin Sheng.

An opportunity for her to break into the upper echelons of Ningzhou Prefecture.

If Qin Sheng wanted to expand his business in Ningzhou Prefecture, he would naturally need to befriend the powerful and influential families there.

But she didn't know that there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

...

Late at night, at the Wuping Marquis's residence.

It was late at night, and most people in the mansion, except for the patrolling guards and the servants on night duty, had already gone to sleep.

Lady Rong, the wife of Marquis Wuping, however, could not sleep.

Her personal maid, Granny Xue, was trying to coax her mistress in a low voice, but the more she tried to persuade her, the redder Rong's eyes became.

Granny Xue sighed, "Madam..."

“You still have the young master and Ying’er. Even if you don’t think about yourself, you have to think about them. Taking good care of your health is the most important thing.”

"How could I not know?"

As if remembering something, Rong's expression turned vicious. "That bitch, she's just hoping I die, hoping Tianlang will get into trouble in the capital!"

She was referring to Lady Xing, the beloved concubine of Marquis Wuping.

There was a reason why Lady Xing was able to enjoy the favor of Marquis Wuping for more than ten years.

Gentle, charming, understanding, and generous—in short, apart from her humble origins, she was superior to Rong Shi, the principal wife, in every way.

"The Marquis is now focused on cultivating that vile woman's son, but what about my son? Tianlang is the rightful legitimate heir!"

"And Jingying, he hasn't even asked a single question about her marriage! Jingying is the legitimate daughter!"