Back at Meiweizhai, it was getting dark, but the restaurant was still bustling with business.

With so many workers hired, Gu Nanjiao is now able to relax and do nothing. But Lu's mother is a restless person and insists on helping out.

When there were fewer customers, Gu Nanjiao took the money bag to Jiaoniang Pavilion and gave the silver to Huang Qingqing.

Huang Qingqing said gratefully, "Jiaojiao, thank you!"

Gu Nanjiao waved her hand: "Don't thank me, it was Bai Su who beat up Lu Yanping and got it back."

Huang Qingqing blushed slightly, her voice barely audible: "He hit Lu Yanping? Then...then he..."

Gu Nanjiao could easily see through Huang Qingqing's thoughts. She patted Huang Qingqing on the shoulder and said, "Keep your little schemes to yourself. I asked him to exchange ten pounds of spicy strips for it."

Thinking of what Bai Su had said, Gu Nanjiao added, "Sister, men will only slow down our earning speed. Ordinary things are more practical. Think about it, sleeping with money is much more reassuring than sleeping with a man. When you're successful and have a lot of money, what kind of man can't you have?"

Huang Qingqing wasn't stupid; she immediately understood.

She was a divorced woman, and not good-looking at all. How could she possibly have such wishful thinking?

She couldn't control her appearance, but she could control her inner self.

Gu Nanjiao is right, nothing beats money when it comes to men.

Looking at the twenty taels in her hand, Huang Qingqing made a decision.

There is a famous hairpin maker living in Girls' Lane. Now she is a well-known swordsmith. Who would have thought that she used to be a hairpin maker!

There's a saying that goes: "For ten years, the hairpin maker remained unknown; but one night, she became famous for forging a sword."

But now that it's a peaceful and prosperous time, there's no one to forge swords, so the hairpin maker has some free time and opened a private workshop to customize hairpins for the wealthy.

I met her once when I was a child, and Huang Qingqing's hairpin-making skills are somewhat related to this hairpin maker.

Why not find a master to learn the craft and strive for excellence?

...

Time flies, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Lu Siniang arrived at Meiwuzhai with a face full of excitement. Upon seeing Gu Nanjiao, she went straight to the point and said, "We have a distinguished guest today. He is the manager of Yunshang Pavilion in the capital. I heard that he is acquainted with Bai Luochen. He learned from Bai Luochen that the clothes made by Jiaoniang Pavilion are novel in style and unique in design. He wants to cooperate with us!"

"From the capital?"

"yes!"

The manager of Yunshang Pavilion personally came to collaborate, a privilege not everyone receives, indicating his great interest in her designs.

Gu Nanjiao fell silent. It would be great to cooperate with Yunshang Pavilion in the capital, but that would mean Jiaoniang Pavilion would be relegated to a small county town, and she would be forced to work as a designer.

Although Yunshang Pavilion was acquainted with Bai Luochen, Gu Nanjiao did not understand his character. Lü Siniang was about to become her stepmother, and if her father or Lu Yanzhao passed the imperial examination, they would inevitably have to go to the capital.

Gu Nanjiao asked Lü Siniang, "Do you think we need to cooperate?"

Lu Siniang's smile remained undiminished: "Of course we'll cooperate. That's Yunshang Pavilion in the capital."

Gu Nanjiao quickly said, "But after the cooperation, Jiaoniang Pavilion will disappear without a trace. All our hard work will be for nothing. We have the designs and marketing methods, so why don't we expand to the capital?"

Lü Siniang sighed: "We have no background or status, so how easy is it for us?"

Although the capital city is prosperous, various forces are deeply entrenched. If you want to develop business, you can't rely on your brains and talents alone. The most important thing is power. Without a background and power, you can't accomplish anything.

Gu Nanjiao knew what Lü Siniang was worried about. Long before cooperating with Bai Luochen, she had already made it clear that she needed to rely on Bai Luochen's power.

Now that the Imperial Concubine's Soup has already gained a foothold in the capital, it shouldn't be difficult for her to go there and make Jiao Niang Ge famous.

After discussing the matter with Lü Siniang, her excitement subsided considerably, replaced by worry and lingering fear.

"Will this work? How should I respond to the manager of Yunshang Pavilion? Should I just tell him that I'm not cooperating with him anymore?"

Gu Nanjiao thought for a moment: "Is the manager of Yunshang Pavilion still at Jiaoniang Pavilion? I'd like to talk to him personally."

"Yes!" After all, he was a distinguished guest from the capital, so Lü Siniang dared not be negligent and quickly invited him upstairs.

In a short while, they arrived at the Beauty Pavilion.

Cuihong and Juzi were busy working methodically, but Huang Qingqing was nowhere to be seen.

Gu Nanjiao asked in confusion, "Huh? Huang Qingqing took leave?"

"He quit his job, saying he wanted to become an apprentice and improve his hairpin-making skills."

Gu Nanjiao didn't ask any more questions and went upstairs.

The manager of Yunshang Pavilion was in his forties, slightly overweight, and upon seeing Gu Nanjiao, he went straight to the point and explained his purpose.

Gu Nanjiao spoke frankly to the manager of Yunshang Pavilion: "To be honest, I have no shortage of ready-made clothing styles or business methods. I have plenty of ideas. It's just that Manager Lü and I don't like being constrained. Compared to working for others in the capital, we prefer our own way of doing things because we are free and unrestrained! If Yunshang Pavilion would be so kind as to cooperate with Jiaoniang Pavilion, and join forces to open up the ready-made clothing market in the capital, achieving both fame and fortune, I would be extremely honored."

The manager of Yunshang Pavilion was taken aback, not expecting this girl to have such great ambitions.

They talk about cooperation, but what they really want is to use this opportunity to boost the reputation of Jiaoniang Pavilion.

However, Jiaoniang Pavilion's ready-to-wear styles and business model are indeed unique, making it hard not to be tempted.

"How about this, if we're talking about a mutually beneficial collaboration, I'm afraid I can't make the decision. Why don't you go to the capital and talk to our boss in person?"

"The capital?"

When the manager of Yunshang Pavilion spoke, not only was Lü Siniang stunned, but even Gu Nanjiao was somewhat shocked.

Unexpectedly, Yunshang Pavilion showed such sincerity. Gu Nanjiao blatantly took advantage of the situation, and he even wanted to continue the discussion.

The capital city!

Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but recall the bustling scene of the Qingming Scroll and the magnificent palaces of the Forbidden City.

Throughout history, Kyoto has been a center of economy and power, and Gu Nanjiao longed to visit it.

I wonder how Lu Yanzhao and his father did in the imperial examinations. Judging by the days, they should have finished. The results will be released in less than a month.

They should still be in the capital waiting for the results to be released.

I was too busy before to go, so I took the opportunity to meet with them while we were discussing cooperation.

If she passed the exam, her whole family might have to move to the capital. Thinking of this, Gu Nanjiao felt a little excited.

Gu Nanjiao and Lü Siniang exchanged a smile and said, "Alright, I'll go to the capital with the shopkeeper."

The manager of Yunshang Pavilion suddenly laughed. "Little girl, you probably haven't seen the prosperity of the capital, nor do you know the grandeur of Yunshang Pavilion. When the time comes, you'll be easily fooled by your head manager and won't obediently work for Yunshang Pavilion."

Gu Nanjiao went there for two reasons: first, to make Jiaoniang Pavilion famous; second, to learn about the prosperity of the capital and housing prices; and third, to see how her father and Lu Yanzhao did on their exams.

With their own agendas, the two hit it off immediately and finalized their plan to go to the capital.

Lu Siniang, who was standing to the side, was particularly excited: "I want to go too! I'll pack my things right now."

What to do with the article?

"Just leave the article to Meihua to read."