Chapter 34 Ignore those who try to sow discord.

Yu Mingshu reported the number of people, their preferences and dietary restrictions, left his home address, and then he and Luo Yan each carried a bucket of iced drinks onto the carriage and headed home.

This bucket has two outer layers, so its effectiveness may not be as good as the insulated buckets of later generations, but at least the ice won't melt after just a few steps.

In fact, Yu Mingshu never expected that Manager Cui would agree to her proposed cooperation on the spot. It was only after talking with Luo Yan along the way that she learned that Manager Cui of Fengyang Tower also had a legendary past.

Mr. Cui was convicted of a partisan conflict and his entire family was exiled to Lingnan. Manager Cui's full name was Cui Hongli. She was born in Lingnan and was required to perform hard labor from birth until the current emperor ascended the throne and, according to custom, granted a general amnesty, thus sparing her family from their criminal record.

After years of hard work, Cui's father died of illness before he could enjoy any happiness. Cui's mother remarried, taking her daughter with her. She was treated poorly in her husband's family, and Cui Hongli was constantly bullied by her stepfather and his children.

At the age of fifteen, Cui Hongli ran away from her stepfather's house and became involved with the merchant Shen Fu. From then on, she served Shen Fu without any official status, traveling with his caravan from south to north and from east to west.

Hearing that Cui Hongli was quite talented at making money and had secured several big deals for the Shen family, Shen Fu valued her more and more. When the two were traveling for business and passed through Shen Fu's hometown, they took the opportunity to hold a wedding ceremony and officially became husband and wife.

In the same year they got married, Cui Hongli gave birth to the eldest son of the Shen family. From then on, she stopped traveling around and settled in Chang'an, taking over the soon-to-be-bankrupt Fengyang Tower.

In just two short years, Fengyanglou was revived under her management and became the most famous restaurant in the West Market of Chang'an. Most of its guests were literati from prominent families and high-ranking officials. With these people helping to promote the restaurant, Fengyanglou's business grew bigger and bigger.

Yu Mingshu asked curiously, "Is Shen Fu's business doing well while he's away on business?"

"I don't know then." Luo Yan tightened the reins and said in a low voice, "Shen Fu led a caravan to the Western Regions three years ago. After leaving Yumen Pass, he disappeared without a trace. We don't even know if he is alive or dead. Now, most of the Shen family's business has been handed over to Manager Cui, and a small portion has been divided up by Shen Fu's brothers."

Yu Mingshu was somewhat surprised: "His fate is unknown, and there has been no news for three years. The Shen family just divided up the 'inheritance' like this, instead of looking for Shen Fu's whereabouts?"

Luo Yan hummed in agreement, looked up and leaned closer to the car door, saying, "And there are also Shen Fu's dozen or so concubines outside. In the first year, they waited anxiously for news of him, but later they all felt that he was likely to die, so they all packed up their money and remarried."

Yu Mingshu, who had been sighing just moments before, twitched his eyelids upon hearing about the dozen or so concubines and changed his tune, saying, "The brilliance of Manager Cui's first half of life is enough to make a movie called 'The Story of Red Lychee'."

Luo Yan seemed to understand but not quite, and laughed, "From ancient times to the present, has there ever been a story about a courtesan who wrote a biography?"

…

Yong'anfang.

Zhao Niangzi's house had its gate wide open, so Wang Da Niang and Song Sao went there with two bags of melon seeds. They called Zhao Niangzi's husband, and there were just enough people for a game of cards.

Grandma Deng, who sells tofu, stayed at home for a whole month to recover from her serious illness. She then asked a carpenter to make a new cart and started hawking her family's secret recipe tofu from door to door again.

At the end of the alley, Zhou Qi took advantage of the good sunshine today to lift her father into a wheelchair and push him out to bask in the sun. From time to time, one could hear the sounds of the Zhao family arguing while playing cards.

When Grandma Deng pushed her cart past the Zhou family's house, she subconsciously stayed close to the wall on the other side, keeping a safe distance.

When He Zheng arrived at Yong'an Ward on horseback, this was the scene he saw. He couldn't help but sigh: In Chang'an, the neighborhood atmosphere in the west and north of the city is so different.

Think about the kind of people living around you...

The old man, the Duke of England, went to the battlefield forty years ago and made a meritorious contribution without any effort. Since then, he has liked to open his gate and loudly show off his "heroic achievements," claiming that he is educating his children and grandchildren, but in reality, he is harassing all the neighbors on the street.

The current prime minister is a peacemaker; he's amiable to everyone in court, but the moment he leaves the court and his office, he transforms into a reclusive old man, refusing to meet with any court officials unless absolutely necessary. Even if a five-colored parrot, a tribute item from the palace's flower and bird bureau, flew to his house, he'd probably pick up a broom and chase it away.

The Xie and Zhang families, living just across the street, were indeed hospitable, with carriages and horses constantly flowing past their doors all year round. But how could their guests ever arrive empty-handed just to drop by? Most of them had ulterior motives, carrying bribes and seeking favors.

Looking across the entire alley, He Zhengcai finally came to his senses and looked directly at the Yu family's gate.

Seeing this, Jinghong was about to step forward and knock on the door when Zhou Qi, who was leaning against the wall not far away, suddenly spoke up.

"You're here to see Ming Shu too?"

Oh? Who else has been here?

He Zheng looked over again and met Zhou Qi's eyes.

He didn't reply, and Zhou Qi continued, "I thought I was mistaken, but it turns out it really isn't the same person. A while ago, a refined young man also came looking for Ming Shu. You must both be Yu Sanlang's classmates, right?"

Did the Yu siblings have other friends at the academy? That's impossible.

He Zheng frowned slightly and gave Jing Hong a look, signaling him to knock on the door.

Ignore those who try to sow discord.

Zhou Qi didn't get the response he wanted, and a feeling of frustration welled up inside him as he stared intently at the Yu family's gate.

Just then, the peeling wooden door opened from the inside.

Qingque was on her way to the clinic to buy medicine when she caught sight of two handsome young men standing outside the door. She was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening.

"Is this Young Master He? Please come in quickly. The young lady mentioned that we had a distinguished guest today, but I didn't expect Second Young Master He to arrive so early." Saying this, she turned to Xia Man, who was chopping wood not far away, and said, "Xia Man, go and call Third Young Master out, his classmate is here!"

"Hey!" Xia Man wiped the sweat from her forehead, threw down the wood-chopping knife, and ran into the house while wiping her hands with the corner of her clothes.

Hearing the commotion in the front yard, Wu Qiuniang put down the summer clothes she was sewing halfway through, got up and put them in the closet in the inner room. She then tidied her clothes and hair in front of the mirror, and only went out to greet the guests after making sure she looked presentable.

Ming Shu had given advance notice that a distinguished guest would be visiting today. She had met this guest once before; he was He Zheng, the second son of the Marquis of Anyuan.

Recently, she had been hearing Yu Mingshu and Yu Dan talk about the academy, and her impression of He Zheng had changed. However, she had not hosted any distinguished guests at home for many years, so she was inevitably a little uneasy.

Ming Shu also said that He Zheng is a straightforward person who doesn't like to be bound by formalities. He makes friends regardless of social status, and he will treat those he likes wholeheartedly.

When entertaining such a guest, one should not deliberately neglect him, but one should not treat him like a Buddha either.

Wu Qiuniang pondered in her heart, quietly passing through the Shadow Moon Gate, and stopped far away, watching the two children laughing and playing, without rushing forward.

"Well, He Erlang, I thought you were practical because you usually dressed so plainly. Turns out you also have such fancy clothes with gold and silver embroidery!"

Yu Dan, with a "I see right through you" expression, let go of He Zheng's hand, took two steps back, looked He Zheng up and down, and clicked his tongue in disgust: "Vulgar, so vulgar."

"Is it tacky?" He Zheng ignored him and turned to ask Jing Hong behind him, "My outfit today was chosen by my sister-in-law. Do you think it's tacky?"

Objectively speaking, He Zheng's attire today could be described as elegant, but not ostentatious.

He wore a dark blue robe with gold thread edging the collar, and crane feathers were embroidered along the edges. The robe was woven with flowing cloud patterns all over. At first glance, it was not particularly outstanding, but when the sunlight shone on it, it shone with a luster as bright as stars.

Last night, when my sister-in-law was picking out clothes for him, she said that it would be a waste for someone with Erlang's broad shoulders, narrow waist, and tall, straight figure not to wear fine clothes and instead to wear simple, unadorned cloth all day.

Jinghong waved his hand repeatedly: "Not bad, not bad, it's just that it's very different from Erlang's usual clothes."

Yu Dan joked, "Even you have caught the decadent style of the playboys in the capital."

He Zheng disagreed, saying, "Once clothes are made, they should be worn. Keeping them at the bottom of a trunk is wasteful. How can this not be considered thrifty and managing the household well?"

Unable to argue with him, Yu Dan smiled and let it go, but his gaze suddenly fell on the leather belt at his waist. "Is this the white jade you saw at Mingyu Pavilion last time?"

He Zheng stroked the jade belt at his waist and praised, "Good eye."

"You said you were going to give it to your little niece as a first birthday gift, so why did you keep it for yourself?"

"There are so many beautiful jades in the world, but this one has caught my eye. What should I do? I'll make her a gold lock."

Yu Dan suddenly realized that he had nothing to say to such rich people.

He glanced to the side and saw his mother standing not far away. He quickly greeted her, "Mother, this is my classmate from the academy, He Erlang from the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion, whom I often mention!"

Wu Qiuniang stepped forward with a smile and said, "My third son was alone at the academy before, and was fortunate to be taken care of by He Erlang. It's also because I've been ill for a long time, otherwise I should have already hosted a banquet for He Lang to express my gratitude."

"Madam Wu, you're too kind. It's only right for classmates to look after each other." He Zheng bowed respectfully as a junior, and Jing Hong tactfully handed over the gifts he had brought.

He Zheng smiled and presented the gift box: "I came here unexpectedly today and did not prepare any gifts. This ginseng was sent by a relative from Youzhou. He said that his family dug it up from the mountains. Consider it a small gift."

Wu Qiuniang hesitated for a moment, then remembered how distinguished the He family was. It would seem petty to refuse a gift repeatedly, so she let Qingque accept it and thanked her.

“In the past, we would entertain guests in the front hall, but I’ve heard that He Erlang is a straightforward man who dislikes formalities. I’m afraid my presence here would disturb your conversation. Why don’t we move to the study?”

"When in Rome, do as the host says. Madam Wu, please make the arrangements." He Zheng glanced into the courtyard and lowered his voice to ask Yu Dan, "Where is Ming Shu?"

Yu Dan said happily, "To entertain you, my elder sister personally went out to buy ingredients."

He Zheng raised an eyebrow and said, "Then I am truly flattered."

…

Outside the Yu family gate, as soon as Yu Mingshu alighted from his carriage, Zhou Qi rushed to greet him as if he had seen money.

"Miss Yu, please wait!"

Yu Mingshu still harbored a lingering fear of the men from the Zhou family, so she didn't dare get too close. She stopped three steps away, cautiously forced a smile, and politely asked, "Brother Zhou, is there something you need?"

Zhou Qi nervously clutched his sleeve, opened his mouth, but didn't utter a word.

Yu Mingshu couldn't stand men acting coy. He frowned, waited for another ten seconds, and then decisively said goodbye: "If Brother Zhou has nothing else, I'll go in first."

As if spurred on, Zhou Qi followed her just as she was about to enter, mustering her courage to meet Yu Mingshu's clear, bright eyes. "Miss Yu, do you have guests at your home today?"

Yu Mingshu frowned. "Yes, what's wrong?"

"Who is that distinguished guest?" Zhou Qi asked cautiously.

“The second son of the He family, the Earl of Anyuan,” Yu Mingshu said truthfully.

“No wonder. I noticed his extraordinary attire and unapproachable demeanor. He must be a member of the royal family…” Zhou Qi’s tone gradually turned sour.

Yu Mingshu's gaze darkened, and his tone became more serious: "Brother Zhou, what exactly is the matter?"

"It's nothing serious."

Zhou Qi turned his gaze to the distance, "A few days ago, Fuling gained the favor of the Crown Prince. I was puzzled at the time. She had never met any nobles before, so how did she suddenly catch the Crown Prince's eye?"

"Brother Zhou, you don't think I was the one who got Fuling into the Crown Prince's palace, do you?"

"After much thought, I realize that only Miss Yu's family in the entire Yong'an Ward has the good fortune to befriend such an important person." At this point, Zhou Qi's voice turned serious. "But I still don't understand, your relationship with Fuling isn't very deep, so why are you going to the trouble of playing matchmaker for her?"

Yu Mingshu chuckled, but his words were not very polite: "Then you really overestimate me. If I had that ability, why wouldn't I have sent myself and Sanlang to the top?"

After saying this, he and Luo Yan carried the bucket inside, leaving Zhou Qi, who was hesitant to speak, outside the door.

Yu Mingshu sighed, his mind filled with complex emotions. Zhou Qi had already guessed that Fuling's entry into the Eastern Palace was related to her; what was his attitude towards this?

Once Fuling left, the connection between Zhou Qi and Liu Yuanwai was severed. Was his statement today merely out of envy, or could it have turned into resentment?

This is so worrying.

…

Yu Mingshu carried two buckets of fruit tea into the study and immediately noticed He Zheng's unusual attire.

He's a bit of a closet pervert.

She quietly looked away and began to explain what fruit tea was.

Having tried both teas, He Zheng clearly preferred the mixed fruit tea, drinking several cups in a row and even trying to get the recipe and preparation method.

Yu Mingshu had just agreed to an exclusive collaboration with Fengyanglou, and whether for the sake of contractual spirit or moral bottom line, she couldn't just give the formula to He Zheng for free. Fortunately, He Erlang was just saying it casually.

Upon hearing about her collaboration with Manager Cui, He Zheng reacted calmly, but Yu Dan stared in surprise, asking, "You really want to make money off Fengyanglou?"

Yu Mingshu corrected him, saying, "It should be said that we are cooperating with Fengyanglou to make money from the customers."

He Zheng said thoughtfully, "The West Market is a mixed bag, not as prosperous as the East Market. If we cooperate with the restaurants in the East Market, we might be able to sell at a higher price."

“Wealthy families may not like this. Small profits but quick turnover is also good.” Yu Mingshu said with a smile. “Besides, the most important thing for business partners is mutual trust. I think Manager Cui is quite agreeable. Others might not be so easy to talk to.”

He Zheng thought about it from her perspective, and it did make sense.

He poured himself another cup of fruit tea and raised it to Yu Mingshu: "Then I wish you a prosperous business and abundant wealth."

At noon, people from Fengyanglou delivered the meal to my door.

When Yu Mingshu reported the number of people, he included the servants and reported a serving for eight people. Manager Cui sent a full ten dishes, five meat dishes and five vegetable dishes, some hot and some cold.

He Zheng raised an eyebrow at her: "Didn't you say you'd cook for me personally?"

Yu Mingshu said, "That's right, I made the fruit tea myself."

He Zheng chuckled to himself.

He and Yu Dan already knew about Yu Mingshu's cooperation with Fengyang Tower, but Wu Qiuniang was still kept in the dark. When she saw the extravagant scene at the dinner table, she was so shocked that she covered her mouth with her handkerchief.

"Mingshu, are we done with this family?"

Yu Mingshu had no choice but to explain the matter again.

Wu Qiuniang was relieved and said with satisfaction, "You are really capable, able to study and earn money at the same time."

Yu Dan took a bite of rice and was about to pick up another piece of rib when he heard this and his chopsticks froze in mid-air.

He Zheng glanced at him and changed the subject, "When I came here at noon, someone stopped me outside the door and said some strange things."

Yu Mingshu frowned slightly. "Is it Zhou Qi?"

"I guess it's him."

"What did he say?"

He Zheng awkwardly touched the back of his neck and vaguely repeated Zhou Qi's words.

Yu Dan nearly choked to death on a grain of rice because he couldn't catch his breath.

Wu Qiuniang's expression was also unpleasant; Zhou Qi's words were clearly intended to deliberately tarnish Ming Shu's reputation.

“The person he was referring to should be Zhu Liulang,” Yu Mingshu said truthfully. “Zhu Liulang came once before, saying he wanted to invite me on a trip, but I refused. He hasn’t come since then.”

He Zheng suddenly became interested and asked, "Which Zhu Liulang?"

Yu Dan's tone was unfriendly: "Zhu Yishan, the sixth son of the Zhu family, a member of the Ministry of Justice."

He Zheng's expression became even more interesting. "That Zhu Liulang, the one who just passed the imperial examination, brother?"

Yu Mingshu asked, "Do you know him?"

He Zheng couldn't help but laugh: "I don't know him, but he's become quite famous in Pingkangfang these past few days."

Pingkangfang, isn't that the entertainment center of Chang'an?

Upon hearing this, the Yu siblings exchanged a glance and stared at him with eager eyes.

He Zheng said, "The Zhu family sold a maid two days ago for theft, but the maid claimed that she was pregnant with Zhu Liulang's child and took a letter written in blood to the government to sue the Zhu family."

Considering the large and prosperous household of Master Zhu, Yu Mingshu was not surprised that Zhu Liulang had an affair with a maid. He only asked with suspicion, "Why is this matter so well-known in Pingkang Ward?"

"The government ignored the maid, and in a fit of anger, she set the 'love poems' that Zhu Liulang wrote during his passionate moments to music and spread them in Pingkang Ward. Now Zhu Liulang's 'talent' is renowned throughout the capital," He Zheng said with a smile.

That was brilliant.

Yu Dan took a big bite of the rib, as if he had vented his anger.

Wu Qiuniang was still shaken. She glanced at her daughter's calm face beside her and silently rejoiced that she hadn't arranged a marriage with the Zhu family before.

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Author's Note: I'll be posting clips tomorrow, update time will be 23:00~