A hint of shyness flashed across Du Yutong's face, which Jiang Shuyue noticed.
Having lived two lives, she saw through the girl's thoughts at a glance; this girl had feelings for A-Jin.
She made up her mind to take Du Yutong to visit the Su family more often in the future, creating opportunities for the two of them.
"Lan'er's roasted melon seeds smell so good! Sister Yue'er, is this another secret recipe you gave me?" Du Yutong asked, holding up the melon seeds in her hand.
"I was just messing around with this because I had nothing better to do. If you like it, I'll give you the recipe too."
"Oh, by the way, you've had the barbecue, right? How was it?"
Du Yutong nodded eagerly, "It's delicious, so fragrant! My dad eats barbecue with wine, and he says barbecue and rice wine are absolutely perfect together."
Qiuju chimed in, "Barbecue is delicious, but you can't overindulge. Miss said it's fine to eat it only once in a while."
"Why?" Du Yutong looked at Jiang Shuyue.
Jiang Shuyue said, "Eating too much charcoal-grilled food can easily cause internal heat. In addition, there are dried chili peppers in the barbecue seasoning. If you also eat it with rice wine, it can easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort if you eat too much."
Just as they were talking, Lan'er brought in a plate of pastries.
"Miss, Chief Physician Lin has arrived. Guard Gao is in the main hall talking to him."
"It's so cold in the main hall. Quickly pass on the message and ask Uncle Lin to come to the warm pavilion." Jiang Shuyue said, standing up and straightening her clothes.
Du Yutong also stood up. "Sister Yue'er, is it convenient for me to be here? If not, I'll excuse myself."
"Silly girl, Uncle Lin is a respected elder of mine. There's no inconvenience at all. Uncle Lin is a very good person. You'll see when you meet him in a little while."
Lan'er went out to deliver a message, and Qiuju turned around to prepare tea.
A moment later, a hearty laugh rang out from outside the door, and Jiang Shuyue went to greet them.
"Uncle Lin, you haven't left the palace in a long time. What gust of wind blew you out here?"
Lin Miaoshou strode in, grinning, and said, "What? Yue'er doesn't welcome this old geezer?"
"Look at what Uncle Lin is saying. Yue'er has been looking forward to your leaving the palace for a long time. Uncle Lin, don't underestimate yourself. You are still young."
Jiang Shuyue ushered Lin Miaoshou to sit down at the coffee table, then looked at Zhang Duyutong and asked, "Yutong, why don't you tell us?"
Du Yutong gave a graceful bow across the coffee table, "Du Zhong's daughter greets Lord Lin."
Lin Miaoshou then realized that there was another pretty and charming girl in the room.
He nodded in return, "So you are the daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. I've heard Yue'er mention you before. Please sit down and let's talk. There are no outsiders here, so please don't stand on ceremony."
Du Yutong looked up and sized up the person opposite her.
He appeared to be around forty years old, with sharp features and a slightly weathered look in his eyes. He was neither fat nor thin, and his upright posture made him look much younger than his forties.
"Hey! Yue, the incense in your room is quite nice, the scent is pure, fragrant but not cloying."
Upon hearing Lin Miaoshou's words, Du Yutong's eyes lit up. "Lord Lin also knows about incense?"
"Yes, my mother used to love incense. She would light incense at home from time to time. Over time, I learned a little about it."
Jiang Shuyue was also quite surprised that Lin Miaoshou knew about incense, and a flash of inspiration struck her.
"Uncle Lin, are you interested in getting involved in the incense business?"
"Is Yue'er planning to start making incense again?"
Jiang Shuyue smiled without saying a word and looked at Du Yutong, who nodded in tacit agreement.
At this moment, Qiuju brought over tea, and Jiang Shuyue placed the spiced melon seeds in front of Lin Miaoshou, saying, "Uncle Lin, try the spiced melon seeds that Lan'er made. Let's chat while we eat the melon seeds."
Lin Miaoshou tasted a melon seed and praised, "Not bad, His Highness Chang Le will definitely like it too."
"Uncle Lin, I would have forgotten if you hadn't reminded me. When you return to the palace, please remember to take a portion to Cining Palace so that the Empress Dowager and the two princesses can also have a taste."
After everyone took their seats, Jiang Shuyue gave Du Yutong a wink and began to explain the incense shop plan to Lin Miaoshou.
Of course, Aunt Du was not mentioned in this article.
"Uncle Lin, think about it carefully. Isn't selling only incense too limited? Wouldn't it be much easier if we put moisturizing creams and women's products in one shop?"
Lin Miaoshou didn't understand women's gadgets, so he said, "Yue'er, you're right no matter what you say. Uncle Lin trusts your business acumen."
"Sister Yue'er, wouldn't it be better if the shop were too cluttered?" Du Yutong asked, puzzled.
Jiang Shuyue recalled the business philosophy of modern Watsons, which offers a full range of women's daily necessities.
Once you walk in, there's nothing you can't buy; the only limit is your imagination.
She stated confidently, "The products are categorized and arranged in different areas, which prevents them from becoming messy. On the contrary, it makes things more convenient for the girls and saves them time while shopping."
In this era, women had to greet their mothers before leaving their homes.
Needless to say, the concubines would be interrogated for quite some time if they returned home too late.
Du Yutong immediately understood the mystery and said with a smile, "Yue'er's ideas are always different from others. Let's give it a try."
Anyway, the shops all belong to her aunt, and she doesn't have to pay rent. Looking at Lin Miaoshou's upright face, Du Yutong couldn't help but think of her aunt.
After discussing it, Jiang Shuyue invited the two to have lunch at the mansion before leaving.
The kitchen specially prepared grilled meat skewers and warmed a pot of rice wine.
After the meal, Lin Miaoshou said to Jiang Shuyue, "Yue'er wants to make incense, and Uncle Lin fully supports her. I also have a piece of excellent agarwood. Have Gao Mu come with me to Huanhua Street to get it."
Du Yutong's eyes widened. "Agarwood! That's the soul of incense making. With it, Auntie... I bet the incense she makes will be even more valuable."
"Yutong, wait here. I'll have Gao Mu go with Uncle Lin to get it."
Jiang Shuyue turned to Qiuju and said, "Pack some more melon seeds for Uncle Lin to take with him. Besides the Empress Dowager and the princess, Xu An is also in the palace."
Lin Miaoshou stood up, took out a purse from her bosom, and handed it to Jiang Shuyue:
“These are gifts from the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. If you are going to start a business, you will need these gold and silver items. I may not be able to leave the palace on the day Qiuju and Gao Mu get married. Could you help me get a couple of pieces of jewelry for her as part of her dowry?”
"Uncle Lin, no need, you can save up for getting married and having children."
Seeing the bulging purse in front of her, Jiang Shuyue did not reach out to take it.
"Uncle Lin," Qiu Ju said, her eyes welling up with tears.
Uncle Lin was all alone, but he was like an old father, always thinking of everyone and taking care of them in every little way.
"You silly child, Uncle Lin is so old, if he still gets married and has children, wouldn't people laugh him out of his wits? Here, I still have a salary, I can't even spend it all myself."
Jiang Shuyue knew that even if she didn't accept Uncle Lin's offer, she would still have to stay here with him, so she simply took the heavy purse.
"I'll accept your offer, Yue'er. I'll take out some money to prepare Qiuju's dowry, and the rest will be Uncle Lin's share of the profits."
Lin Miaoshou smiled with satisfaction, "That's right. Don't talk to Uncle Lin about the dividends, save them all for Sui Sui."
Watching Lin Miaoshou and Qiuju leave the warm pavilion, Du Yutong asked with a smile, "Sister Yue'er, is Headmaster Lin really as old as he said? If he doesn't want to get married, what do you think about Auntie...?"
Jiang Shuyue smiled confidently: "Don't rush, trust me. There's a saying that goes something like this: when an old man falls in love, it's like an old house catching fire—it's impossible to put out."
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