Chapter 3: Shang Tan Like a Man, But You Have Pierced Ears

"Didn't they go back to their parents' home today?" Lu Tingwan looked around the yard. The moonlight was like water, sprinkling on her plain white dress, reflecting a cool feeling.

She raised her eyes slightly, her gaze sweeping across the grass and trees in the yard. Her tone was calm, as if she was talking to herself, "But it's nothing. I'm afraid they won't waste their thoughts on me."

Feng Xin followed behind her, frowning slightly, and whispered, "Second Madam, you're going out later. Could you please come back earlier? This back door is locked after midnight. Without the key in the housekeeper's hand, you can't get in."

Hearing this, Lu Tingwan raised the corners of his lips, as if smiling, with a sly glint in his eyes, "It's okay, I have my own plan."

She had already figured it out in her mind. There was a dog hole on the west wall. Even if she couldn't get in, she could always crawl in through the dog hole when no one was around. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel secretly proud. Her eyebrows raised slightly, a hint of mischief flashed in her eyes, and she pointed to the location of the dog hole.

"Climb... crawl through a dog hole?" Feng Xin's voice suddenly rose, a hint of surprise in his voice, as if he was afraid that others might not have heard. Lu Tingwan's heart tightened, and she quickly turned around and covered her mouth with her hand.

"Feng Xin, keep your voice down," she lowered her voice, a hint of warning in her tone. Then she let go of my hand and continued walking forward, saying as she walked, "Do you know why I married here for my sister and specifically designated you as my dowry?"

Feng Xin was stunned, followed her, shook his head, his eyes full of confusion.

Lu Tingwan stopped and turned to look at her, his eyes softening slightly. He took out a flower he had received from the child today from his sleeve and gently handed it to Feng Xin. "The Lu family seems peaceful, but in reality, my father, the eldest lady, my elder sister, and even the maids are all harboring thoughts, except for you."

She paused, with a hint of approval in her eyes, "Your mind is very simple, and your actions are quite steady."

Feng Xin took the flower, lowered her head and sniffed it, a shy smile on her face. Since she had decided to marry into the Cheng family and go out into business, she needed someone who could serve her.

In Yansheng Hall, the candlelight flickered. Fengxin inserted the flower into the celadon vase, and the petals looked particularly beautiful under the candlelight.

She turned to look at Lu Tingwan and asked softly, "What kind of shop does the Second Madam plan to open in the west of the city?"

Lu Tingwan sat at the long desk, pen in hand, carefully noting down the several shops he had selected for today, listing the prices, locations, and sizes one by one. Only then did he put down his pen and look out the window.

The moonlight tonight is as bright as silver, shining into the house, making the room brighter.

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, with a hint of longing in her eyes, and she replied, "Flower shop."

The next day, Lu Tingwan rose at noon, had a quick breakfast, changed back into men's clothing, and quietly slipped out the back door. Changqing Street was as bustling as ever. By the time he reached Fenglin Lane, it was already a quarter past four. Sure enough, the child from yesterday had arrived as promised. Lu Tingwan squeezed through the crowd and stood beneath the child's basket, looking down at the delicate flowers.

The child looked up and saw a familiar face, and called out "Brother" in a clear voice.

Lu Tingwan smiled slightly. Today she did not directly help the child to shout, but let him choose the flowers into bunches according to his own preferences, and gave him some pointers in the process.

The child, originally a florist, had a unique appreciation for these flowers. Lu Tingwan observed from the side, a pleased smile on his face. Within two hours, the child's basket was empty.

Just like yesterday, Lu Tingwan chose a peony as a scholarship, and then disappeared at the entrance of Fenglin Lane.

A carriage stopped at the entrance of the alley, its curtain half-lifted. It stared at Lu Tingwan for a long time. The driver asked inside, "Master Luo, several people have made appointments to visit the shop today. If we don't leave now, we'll be late."

Luo Yunchu, a famous landlord in the west of the city, was known as Master Luo.

He sat in the car, his eyes looking through the gap in the curtains at Lu Tingwan's back, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

After a moment, he said calmly, "Let's go."

The carriage slowly drove into Maple Forest Lane.

Lu Tingwan was standing in front of a shop for rent. There was a rental notice posted in the shop. Just as she was about to go in, she was bumped on the shoulder by a man and almost fell down the stairs. She staggered a few steps and finally stood firm. A low voice came from behind her.

"Young Master, watch the road."

Lu Tingwan nodded slightly and looked up. He saw that this man had an extraordinary demeanor. When he stepped into the shop, several managers gathered around him.

"Mr. Luo."

"Mr. Luo is here."

"Thank you for waiting," Luo Yunchu found a place to sit down, crossed his legs, and took a sip of hot tea. He said calmly, "I was delayed on the way."

One of the men, about forty years old, stepped forward and said, "Mr. Luo, we have already agreed on the rent a few days ago. We will rent it at the previous price, starting from three years."

Luo Yunchu put down the teacup slowly and said, "That was the price half a month ago. It has gone up again today. If you guys really want to negotiate, you won't leave me out for half a month. Who can I ask for the rent for this half month?"

The man's face turned pale, and he felt that he had been tricked, but he pretended to be polite, "Mr. Luo, this is not the way to discuss business."

"Then tell me, how should we talk?" Luo Yunchu fixed his eyes, disdainful of wasting words with this person, "Tianshu, please send me away."

Tianshu, the attendant beside him, was quite polite and did not use any violence. He just raised his hand and asked the man to leave.

It was obvious that the man refused to accept the toast and felt that he had lost face, so he cursed loudly, "Luo Yunchu, he is just a renter. He relies on his connections in the Ministry of Revenue to pretend to be a humble gentleman on the surface, but behind the scenes he is a profiteer who eats people without leaving any bones. What a profiteer!"

"Throw him out." Luo Yunchu's voice was not loud. Several servants came forward and the man was thrown out of the door.

Lu Tingwan, who had been waiting outside the house, did not panic when he saw this scene. He had lived with his mother in Jiangling and had seen all kinds of storms.

She cleared her throat and half of her figure appeared from the door frame.

Luo Yunchu said gracefully, "Tianshu, please invite this guest in."

Lu Tingwan had just arrived and did not know Luo Yunchu, nor had he heard of this man's name. But he had just heard clearly outside that this man was a famous house agent in the west of the city, and he seemed to be of considerable background.

She bowed and walked in. Before she could say anything, Luo Yunchu spoke first, "Are you here to rent a shop?"

Tianshu then served tea, and Lu Tingwan casually found a chair and sat down, "Exactly."

"Then let's get straight to the point." Luo Yunchu said calmly, "This shop has a unique location, the price is not low, and the business also has certain requirements. I wonder what business you want to do by renting the shop?"

Renting a shop and still controlling what kind of business it does? Lu Tingwan thought to himself, but his expression remained calm. "A flower shop."

"There are many famous flower shops in Kyoto. If you want to open a flower shop in Fenglin Lane, there will be five or six on Changqing Street. How can you compete with others for customers?"

"You don't have to worry about that." Lu Tingwan's tone was calm, but a hint of confidence flashed in his eyes.

Luo Yunchu added: "The rent for this shop is not low."

Lu Tingwan was unsure. She didn't have much money, so she could barely afford to rent the shop. However, she would have to cut back on the budget for remodeling and stocking. She calmed herself and said, "Name your price."

Luo Yunchu stretched out five fingers.

"Fifty taels?" Lu Tingwan felt the chair was too hot to sit on. "One month?"

"Fifty taels a month, not a penny less." Luo Yunchu stared at her with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

Lu Tingwan's budget was a maximum of thirty taels, which was almost double hers. But she wasn't in a hurry. She sat back down steadily and asked, "What's your name?"

"Luo Yunchu, all the shops in the west of the city have passed through my hands, including Changqing Street and Fenglin Lane. If this young master wants to rent a shop in Fenglin Lane, he will have to deal with me."

"Mr. Luo." Lu Tingwan glanced at Tianshu and said calmly, "Fifty taels a month is indeed too expensive for me. Since Mr. Luo is a businessman, can I discuss a deal with you?"

Luo Yunchu's eyes became serious and he became interested. It was interesting that no one wanted to rent a shop from him and had to negotiate business separately.

"Tell me about it."

"You rent this shop to me for thirty taels a month." Seeing that he was unmoved, Lu Tingwan continued, "For a period of one year, I will give you thirty percent of the shop's profits every month. If the thirty percent profit does not exceed twenty taels, I will make up the rest. If the thirty percent profit exceeds twenty taels, then no matter how much I earn, the thirty percent is yours."

When Luo Yunchu heard this, his calm face suddenly broke into laughter, "Tianshu, did you hear that?"

"Sir, this is a sure win business."

"Yes, it's a sure-win business, but I, Luo Yunchu, am not someone who needs these twenty taels."

"Mr. Luo is certainly not someone who needs these twenty taels," Lu Tingwan said calmly, "If my shop is doing well after one year, and if Mr. Luo is still willing, I will continue to promise you the 30% profit. You don't have to invest a penny. Just think of it as making a friend and getting more business."

Luo Yunchu was very interested, "What's your name, sir?"

Lu Tingwan smiled secretly, "Jiang Yanli."

"Mr. Jiang, judging from your accent, you are not from Kyoto." Luo Yunchu looked at her. Her originally bright and delicate facial features were painted with a few strokes and a few moles, covering up half of her true appearance.

"I'm from Jiangling. I've been doing small business since I was young. I heard that Kyoto is prosperous, so I wanted to come here and try my luck while I'm still young." Lu Tingwan said with a smile.

"Tianshu, go and draft the lease." Luo Yunchu invited Lu Ting to the private room on the second floor in the evening.

An hour later, Tianshu drew up the terms drawn up by the two of them into two leases, and the two of them signed and sealed them.

Luo Yunchu handed over one of the leases and said with an intriguing smile, "It's for one year, Miss Jiang."

Holding the lease in his hand, Lu Tingwan's mouth twitched as he stuttered, "You, what are you..."

"What about me?" Luo Yunchu couldn't hide his smile, "How did you know you were a girl?"

Lu Tingwan thought her makeup was decent enough and that she didn't look like a woman. Seeing her puzzled expression, Luo Yunchu explained, "You look like a man with the makeup on, but you have pierced ears."

Luo Yunchu pointed to his earlobe and said, "No man has such a sweet fragrance."

"Since you recognized me as a woman at first sight, why are you willing to rent this shop to me?" Lu Tingwan asked puzzledly.

Luo Yunchu stared at her, as if he could examine this person through those clear pupils.

"I don't care whether the shop is rented to a man or a woman. As long as it can bring me profit, I don't care who I do business with."

Although this person seemed gentle, she couldn't predict the businessman's profit-driven nature. The most urgent task now was to figure out how to start preparing for the opening of the business.

"I'll send the key to the shop. I'll wait for Miss Jiang's 30% profit."

Lu Tingwan put away the lease, bowed to Luo Yunchu, and turned to go downstairs.

Now that the shop has been decided, she needs to renovate the storefront. Luo Yunchu just showed her around and found that the general layout needed to be overhauled. The utensils that could be used could be remodeled and rearranged according to the store's furnishings. In this way, she could save some money.

Thinking of this, Lu Tingwan went to the wholesale market in the west of the city. She wanted to negotiate a low price for long-term cooperation from those merchants. After a walk around, she found that there were indeed many varieties of flowers, but the prices were also unexpectedly high.

She had thought it would be just like running a small business in Jiangling, but unexpectedly, every step went against her plan. It seemed funding was still an issue. As night fell, she returned to the Cheng Mansion. Feng Xinyu, standing outside Yansheng Hall, listened to her sighs from her desk.

The food was cold and she didn't even bother to pick it up.

"How can I find a good merchant?" Lu Tingwan supported his chin with one hand.

I don't know when her long hair was tied up with a brush, revealing her snow-white neck. She was wearing pajamas. The summer breeze blew through the hall and into the main room. The papers on the table were blown up by the wind and fell under the windowsill.

Lu Tingwan got up to pick it up. The porcelain vase on the shelf by the windowsill still contained the peonies he brought back yesterday. Lu Tingwan's eyes turned and an idea suddenly came to his mind.

Got it!

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