As night fell, Gu Yaoniang had only closed her eyes on the couch, not yet asleep. She felt her mind was filled with many things and thought she probably wouldn't sleep well that night, so she lay on the couch thinking about Jin Yulou. Unexpectedly, as she pondered these thoughts, she drifted off to sleep.
Bitao tiptoed into the room, blew out the candles, and closed the door.
The next morning, Yao Niang felt refreshed and invigorated.
She had been holding her breath for days, and with the future uncertain and her heart filled with anxiety, she couldn't sleep at night.
Stubborn and strong-willed, she felt deeply wronged by the rumors but didn't know how to escape her predicament. After crying with Gu Xingzhi yesterday, she seemed to have finally found her way forward. Waking up, she felt an unprecedented sense of freedom.
She was still in a daze after just waking up when she heard someone talking to Bitao in front of her, so she stepped out of the room.
But then she saw Qiaoniang talking to Bitao. When she saw her come out, she smiled and went up to her: "Yaoniang is awake?"
From the first time they met yesterday, Qiaoniang always had a smile on her face, and Yaoniang couldn't help but feel happy when she saw her smile.
"Yesterday, Second Master told me that Jin Yu Lou will be handed over to you from now on. It's such a big business, and I'm afraid you won't be able to manage it since it's your first time. So I'm here to help you."
Gu Yaoniang never expected that Qiaoniang had come for this reason.
But she really didn't know what the relationship was between Qiaoniang and Gu Xingzhi. She didn't know before, and she forgot to ask last night, so she was still completely confused, which was quite embarrassing.
She was making plans in her mind, and a hint of it couldn't help but show on her face.
Seeing her hesitation, Qiaoniang didn't ask any more questions, but instead introduced Jinyulou to her.
The Gu family's business mainly deals in grains, oils, fruits, and vegetables. They usually buy goods from tenant farmers and do business with restaurants and various mansions. Jin Yu Lou is the only restaurant owned by Gu Xingzhi.
Jin Yu Lou used to be one of the top restaurants in Shuojing, always packed with customers and making a fortune. Jin Yu Lou was known for its excellent food, great music, and high prices, attracting mostly wealthy families. However, after Zui Yue Lou opened in Shuojing, Jin Yu Lou's business declined day by day.
The guests all said that Zuiyuelou had a good environment, so Gu Xingzhi didn't think much of it at the time. Since he wasn't short of money, he renovated Jinyulou, making it even more magnificent. However, Jinyulou's business only improved for a short period after the renovation and reopening, and then it declined again.
A customer said that Jin Yu Lou was more expensive than Zui Yue Lou, so Jin Yu Lou increased the portion sizes. As a result, even fewer customers came.
Yao Niang understood that the turning point for Jin Yu Lou's declining business was the emergence of Zui Yue Lou, so she asked Qiao Niang, "Have you ever dined at Zui Yue Lou?"
"How could he possibly go! Second Master is already busy, and with his temper, he feels that Zuiyuelou is stealing Jinyulou's business and losing face. How could he possibly go and patronize Zuiyuelou's business?"
As Qiaoniang spoke, she shook her head.
Yao Niang watched as she spoke, her dimples shallow and her lips curved into a smile, making her quite beautiful.
"Sister Qiaoniang, you are so beautiful." Yaoniang blurted out her thoughts without realizing it.
Upon hearing this, Qiaoniang smiled, making her even more beautiful. It was just a pity that the pink scar on her cheek slightly marred her charm.
Yao Niang raised her hand to touch the mark, but then, fearing she might be being presumptuous, she withdrew her hand.
Qiao Niang was quick-witted and understood her meaning immediately, but she didn't care. She gently touched her face, where the long scar meandered down. Even after so long, there was no dark scab left on the wound, yet she could still find the spot without looking in a mirror.
She used to caress it every day, and she knew by heart where that palm-length mark was on her face.
"Is that what you want to ask?" Qiao Niang smiled nonchalantly and said, "I made it myself. It looks scary, but it's nothing."
Yao Niang was stunned. Such a long wound—Qiao Niang had inflicted it herself? Women cherish their appearance, especially a woman like Qiao Niang with such fair skin and jade-like beauty. What could have happened to make her bear to destroy her own beauty?
Qiao Niang seemed to recall something very interesting, and a bright smile appeared on her face: "At that time, I was covered in blood, and when Second Master saw me, he was terrified."
She recalled the past with obvious pleasure.
"It must have hurt a lot back then, right?"
Yao Niang looked at her with heartache. Her body and face were covered in blood; such a long wound must have been extremely painful.
Qiao Niang smiled and said, "It doesn't hurt anymore."
It doesn't hurt now, but it really hurt back then.
Gu Yaoniang was genuinely curious about what had happened back then, how Qiaoniang and Gu Xingzhi had met, and what their relationship was now. But Qiaoniang had no intention of telling her, so she could only refrain from asking further.
She then remembered what she had told Qiaoniang about the Drunken Moon Pavilion.
She leaned closer to Qiaoniang: "Sister Qiaoniang, will my second uncle allow me to go to Zuiyue Tower?"
Qiaoniang seemed to have expected this: "You can go. Second Master said you can go wherever you want. But I have to go with you."
"Sister Qiaoniang, aren't you busy? Won't this interfere with your other things?"
Qiao Niang smiled slightly: "No rush. Second Master just returned. He's busy with the business and doesn't have time to accompany you, so he asked me to show you around Shuojing. I have my own business to run, so it's not a problem."
Seeing the expectant look in Yao Niang's eyes, her smile softened even more. She had always liked lively young women, especially since Yao Niang was Master Gu's niece.
"If you want to go, let's go now."
Seeing Yao Niang nod repeatedly, Qiao Niang instructed someone to put on the incense and go out.
"Carrying incense? It's not going to be a carriage again, is it?"
Yao Niang was speechless. She had only ever heard of naming horses, cats, and dogs before, but this was the first time she had ever heard of a family's carriages also having names.
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