A week has passed since Yan Wan's coming-of-age ceremony. Yan Wan spends her days at home with her mother and sister-in-law preparing her dowry, as there is simply too much to prepare.
It's all Ji Mohan's fault! He said he didn't like her, yet he prepared so many betrothal gifts, plus the gold, silver, and jewelry from the palace. Even if Yan Wan ate lavishly every day, she couldn't finish it all in ten lifetimes, not to mention all that dowry.
So this is what the rich people's troubles are like!
Just when Yan Wan was about to collapse from the torment of organizing her dowry and betrothal gifts, Jing Xi delivered an invitation to Yan Wan to a small gathering at the Zhenxiu Pavilion, saving Yan Wan's life.
Zhenxiu Pavilion.
"Wan'er, what's wrong? You look so listless. Didn't you sleep well?" Jing Xi asked with concern.
"Don't even mention it. My mother made me sort out the dowry and betrothal gifts, as well as the shops. She was doing so much accounting that I was dizzy and my eyes were spinning. It was absolutely exhausting," Yan Wan said, looking exhausted.
"Hahahaha, Wan'er, I feel sorry for you for a second." Jing Xi thought to herself, thank goodness she didn't get married so early!
"By the way, Jingxi, is there something you wanted to see me about today?"
"Yes, Wan'er, I've turned your clothing shop on Zhengdong Street into a hot pot restaurant."
"Oh, Jingxi, it's okay, we'll change it."
“I noticed that although that clothing store is located on a busy street, the clothes are out of style, so the business isn’t doing well. This is the store I selected after looking at all the stores under your name.”
"Jingxi, you are really amazing!" Yan Wan looked at Jingxi with starry eyes.
Sure enough, the female lead is the female lead. Luckily, she abandoned the darkness and turned to the light, otherwise she would have been knocked out before she even had a chance to make a move.
"Wan'er, you flatter me. The hot pot restaurant opens on April 20th. I hope you can come and cut the ribbon on that day. That way, the surrounding shops will think it's a shop of the Prime Minister's residence and won't dare to cause trouble."
"Okay, I understand, Jingxi. Don't worry, I'll be there that day."
"Jingxi, did you go there that day?"
"I'll be there too. You'll be in the open, and I'll be in the shadows. You'll be the owner of the hot pot restaurant, and the two of us will be in the shadows."
"Okay, Jingxi, I won't expose you."
He who eats another's food is bound to be obligated to him; he who takes another's money is bound to be obligated to him. Since he has enjoyed half of the female lead's business profits, he should also bear the consequences for her.
Yan Wan was quite open-minded. After all, there are no free lunches; if you enjoy the benefits, you have to pay the price. Besides, she didn't expect to live much longer anyway.
——
April 20th.
"Hey, have you heard? It seems that Miss Yan from the Prime Minister's mansion opened a hot pot restaurant in the east wing. Lots of people have gone there. Let's go check it out."
"A hot pot restaurant? What's that?"
"I don't know, it sounds interesting, shall we go check it out?"
"Hey, let's go, let's go."
Yanji Hot Pot.
"Ding-dong!" The waiter shouted while banging a gong, "Don't miss out! Yan Ji Hot Pot is opening today! All customers who eat hot pot today will receive a 20% discount!"
Yan Wan stood at the entrance of the hot pot restaurant, looking at the crowd gathered outside. Opening a store requires creating hype, and it seemed that the hype was quite impressive. Yan Wan nodded in satisfaction.
"Miss Yan, what is hot pot?"
"Yes, Miss Yan, please tell us about it."
Yan Wan watched as the "plants" arranged by Jing Xi began their performance, whetting everyone's appetite. Then, she spoke slowly and deliberately: "Everyone, don't be in a hurry. This hot pot is a new way of eating that we've researched. It's fresh, fragrant, spicy, and numbing. We guarantee you'll be satisfied. The restaurant is all set. You can come in and try it."
After Yan Wan finished speaking, the "shills," seeing that the people were somewhat tempted but unwilling to be the first to try it, exchanged glances with Yan Wan, squeezed in, paid the deposit, and went inside.
This was within Yan Wan and Jing Xi's expectations, so they arranged for the "plants" to go in and try the food first—or rather, to sit by the window and eat hot pot with the window open.
As soon as you open the window, the pungent aroma instantly fills the entire shop; the fresh, fragrant, spicy, and numbing scent sweeps in, making people's mouths water so much they want to swallow their tongues.
After smelling the enticing aroma, people crowded in, paid deposits, and couldn't wait to taste the delicious food.
"Waiter, give me one."
"Waiter, please arrange a private room for my young lady."
"Waiter, me, me, me too! Hey, stop pushing!"
...
Seeing the bustling scene at the hot pot restaurant, Yan Wan secretly slipped in through the side door and then followed her up the stairs to the top floor private room, where Jing Xi observed the scene inside the restaurant.
"Phew~ Jingxi, today is so popular! Looks like we're going to make a fortune!" Yan Wan said with a smile.
"Yes, it's pretty much what I expected. It looks like we'll be able to open a branch soon," Jing Xi said in a good mood.
"Jingxi, where will we open our next store? Will it still be in Beijing?"
"Next, we need to open one branch each in Yunzhou, the largest capital city in the Northwest, and in Jiangnan. It would be best to open up the trade route from the Northwest to Jiangnan to facilitate our operations."
"Yunzhou? Yunzhou is easy to open up the market, but Jiangnan is a bit tricky." Yan Wan thought with distress. Jiang Bai, the third son, is the son of the richest man in Jiangnan. To open up the Jiangnan market, you can't bypass the Jiang family of Jiangnan.
"It's alright. It seems I'll have to make a trip to Jiangnan myself this time," Jing Xi said calmly.
"What? You're going to Jiangnan in person?"
Damn it, it seems Jing Xi still can't get past Jiang Bai. The power of the plot really is profound!
It seems I need to find a way to deal with this damn plot force.
"Yes, Wan'er, I plan to set off for Jiangnan in five days. I hope to open up the Jiangnan market this time. After I get to Jiangnan, the shops in the capital will depend on you," Jing Xi instructed.
"Don't worry, Jingxi, I know. You don't need to worry about the capital; I'll take care of it," Yan Wan assured confidently.
"Jingxi, how long will you be gone?"
"Don't worry, I'll definitely be back for your wedding. I'll come back from the Jiangnan Market to help you with your wedding dowry," Jing Xi said confidently and warmly.
"Yes, Jingxi, thank you. This trip to Jiangnan will surely be fraught with danger, so please be careful in everything you do," Yan Wan said worriedly.
In the book, Jing Xi went to Jiangnan in order to open up the Jiangnan market. However, she was framed by villains in Jiangnan and barely survived. Later, she was found by Jiang Bai and took good care of her. During their time together, Jiang Bai was gradually attracted to Jing Xi and fell in love with her.
However, in the book, Jing Xi went to Jiangnan three years later, but now it has come so much earlier. It seems that my appearance has caused a butterfly effect, making many things different from the book.
"Actually, there is another reason why I went to Jiangnan."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com