In late summer, the blazing sun baked the earth, and the cicadas seemed to be agitated by the heat, their cacophony unable to penetrate the delicately carved window lattices of the Zhuangyuan Mansion, remaining only outside in vain. Su Jinli, clad in a pale green silk dress, its hem as soft as the gurgling of water, knelt at her desk, intently sorting through Jiang Yan's manuscript. Her slender fingers moved across the yellowed pages with a light and deft movement.
Su Jinli's fingertips inadvertently touched a hard object hidden in the desk's secret compartment. She paused for a moment, then, a spark of curiosity welling up within her. She gently pulled it out, revealing a beautifully crafted rosewood box. On the lid, delicate craftsmen had inscribed a lotus pattern with exquisite skill. The lines flowed gracefully, the lotus patterns vividly resonating. This unique pattern was a gift from her biological mother's dowry, carrying with it many distant yet warm memories.
"Miss, my son-in-law is dueling with the young marquis in the backyard." Lingge walked into the study with light steps, carrying a cup of tempting sour plum soup. Her sharp eyes caught sight of the wooden box in Su Jinli's hand. She raised her eyebrows slightly and said in surprise, "Isn't this one of Madam's old things? How did it end up in my son-in-law's study?"
Su Jinli gently opened the wooden box. Inside, a layer of soft silk, like the tranquil surface of a lake, lay ten neatly stacked banknotes, like the shimmering ripples of water. On top, a slip of paper lay quietly, written in bold, forceful handwriting: "For Jinli's birthday, I'm buying this for the Rouge Shop." Su Jinli gently grasped the slip, and the scene of three days ago flashed through her mind like a movie. At that moment, she had casually remarked, "I always feel like the rose cream from the Rouge Shop in the west of the city lacks that certain charm compared to the one my eldest sister makes herself." Jiang Yan, absorbed in grinding ink, suddenly heard her words and, without warning, the ink stick in his hand fell into the inkstone with a "plop," splashing a little ink.
"Where did he get so much money?" Su Jinli muttered to herself as she carefully counted the banknotes, her heart filled with astonishment. Three thousand taels of silver—that was no small sum, enough to buy half a bustling commercial street. Her thoughts raced wildly, and she suddenly remembered how Jiang Yan had pawned the precious jade ring given by the emperor last month, saying, with a look of regret, "I accidentally lost it." It turned out that everything was geared towards this secret plan.
The cicadas outside the window seemed to have sensed the subtle shift in the atmosphere, their chirping suddenly becoming more rapid, as if cheering for this unexpected surprise. Su Jinli hurriedly and carefully hid the wooden box. Turning around, she happened to see Jiang Yan step over the threshold and into the study. He was dressed in moon-white casual clothes, a few specks of grass dusting the corners, presumably from the sword fight with the young marquis in the backyard. The sunlight shone on him, outlining his tall and slender figure. His handsome face, with a slight blush from the competition, added a touch of heroism.
"What are you looking for?" Jiang Yan's voice was as gentle as jade, with a hint of concern, breaking the brief silence.
"Looking for your hidden money." Su Jinli raised the note in her hand, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and said with a hint of anger and joy, "Want to buy rouge? My rouge, Su Jinli, is more enjoyable if I earn money to buy it myself."
A flash of panic crossed Jiang Yan's face, like a child whose secret had been discovered, but he quickly returned to normal. A doting smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he said, "If Madam wants to open a shop, the 'Meichuntang' in the west of the city is in a good location. I have already asked someone..."
"Stop!" Su Jinli reached out and gently pressed his mouth, her eyes revealing determination and playfulness. "The number one scholar's wife wants to be her own boss." Her smart eyes rolled, and an idea flashed through her mind. "How about we make a bet?"
Jiang Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes full of curiosity. He took her hand and said gently, "Oh? What do you want to bet with me, Madam? Tell me."
Su Jinli broke free from his hand, crossed her arms over her chest, and said seriously, "Let's bet on whether I can earn enough money to buy Meichuntang within three months with my own ability. If I win, I will be in charge of the family finances from now on. If I lose, I will obey you obediently and use the money you prepare to buy the shop. Do you dare to accept it?"
Jiang Yan looked at her confident expression, his heart filled with joy. He pretended to hesitate for a moment and said, "This is a big bet. Are you so sure, Madam? However, since you are so interested, I will accompany you on a gamble. However, I wonder how you plan to make money?"
Su Jinli smiled slyly and said, "Don't worry about that. Just wait and see." In reality, she already had an idea in mind. Her storytelling had recently become quite popular among the literati in the capital, and her royalties had accumulated five thousand taels of silver. She planned to use the storytelling as an opportunity to expand her business. She planned to launch a series of storytelling-related products, such as handkerchiefs and fans printed with storytelling characters. She would then partner with embroidery workshops and fan shops in the city for mass production, and she knew she would make a killing.
The days that followed were as busy and fulfilling as a wound-up clock. She first met with several renowned embroidery workshop owners in the city to discuss potential collaborations. She vividly described the characters from the storybook and presented her hand-drawn design sketches. The owners, captivated by her exquisite designs, immediately expressed their willingness to collaborate.
Su Jinli also put considerable thought into her negotiations with fan shops. She designed a variety of fans based on the styles of the various storybooks, ranging from simple and elegant folding fans to delicate and compact round fans. The fans depicted scenes from the stories or were inscribed with classic poems. The fan shop owners were raving about her ingenious designs and were happy to enter into a partnership.
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