"good!"
Princess Ruining reached out and helped Gu Yaoniang up. This time, Gu Yaoniang did not refuse and stood up with Princess Ruining's help.
Princess Ruining hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "You have a keen mind, which is good. However, it is not easy for a woman to make a living in this world. If you go into business, you will likely encounter many more incidents like this in the future. Are you really sure you've thought this through?"
People won't think more highly of women just because of a newly announced policy. In the future, they might suffer much more simply because they are women.
Gu Yaoniang nodded earnestly: "Thank you, Princess. I have really thought it through! No matter how difficult it may be, it is my own choice."
Princess Ruining greatly admired Gu Yaoniang's insightful mind, which possessed compassion, selflessness, and a sense of national duty. Having made her decision, she needed not say more.
And this is not necessarily a bad thing. Yao Niang is clever and shrewd, and she may very well be a master of business. It is possible that she could become the number one female imperial merchant in Dacheng, just as she wishes.
The reason why wealthy and powerful families don't care about the new policies is because they think that for thousands of years, women have been spending their days idly in the inner quarters.
Only when a woman truly becomes accomplished and accomplishes what they considered impossible will they realize that a woman's life is not limited to marrying a good man.
Thinking this, Princess Ruining said no more. She turned her head and looked at the dishes on the table.
Since it's Jin Yu Lou, lotus seedpod fish dumplings and fragrant plum pork knuckles are naturally indispensable.
Princess Ruining looked at the pork knuckle on the table with slight surprise and asked, "Is this pork knuckle different from the usual one?"
Yao Niang smiled and nodded, then got up and used serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of braised pork knuckle and put it into Princess Ruining's bowl.
The pork knuckle had been stewed for a long time and was so tender that it fell off the bone easily, so it could be easily taken out of the bowl without the need for a dagger.
She pushed the small dish containing plum sauce in front of Princess Ruining.
The small dish was a typical dish used by Jin Yu Lou, its color a slightly brownish hue, making it appear somewhat dull. The plum juice, served in the small dish, also did not look as bright as usual.
Gu Yaoniang gestured to Princess Ruining to dip the pork knuckle in plum juice before eating it.
After talking for a while, the dishes were no longer steaming hot, but just lukewarm.
It should have been a bit greasy, but the tangy and fragrant plum juice really cut through the greasiness.
It would probably taste even better if it were fresh out of the pot.
Princess Ruining praised, "This plum juice is quite exquisite. I really like the plums you pickle. Back in Jin Yu Lou, plums were cooked with pork knuckles. While that helped cut through the greasiness of the pork knuckles, it changed the flavor of the plums."
This separation is actually quite good!
After she finished speaking, she used a small spoon to take a green plum and put it in her mouth.
Perhaps because the plums were too sour, her eyebrows furrowed, revealing a playful demeanor rarely seen on her.
Having finally regained her composure, Princess Ruining felt no shame. She said to Yaoniang, "These plums are truly delicious!"
After saying that, he picked up another pill and put it in his mouth, and his face twitched again.
Yao Niang found it amusing.
When we first met, I only thought that Princess Ruining was dignified and polite and kind to people. I never thought that I would see such a vivid side of her.
Princess Ruining picked up another small steamed bun, dipped it in the honey from the small dish, and wanted to put it in her mouth.
Unexpectedly, the molasses was too viscous and lifted a distance off the plate along with the steamed bun before falling back down, making a crisp sound in the plate.
The sudden sound startled Princess Ruining.
Yao Niang hurriedly apologized, but Princess Ruining didn't seem to care.
To be honest, Yao Niang had noticed before that the small dish would sometimes leave the table along with the steamed bun.
She originally wanted to commission a new batch of cups, plates, bowls, and dishes. For "Golden Jade Abundance," she designed a large plate with a small saucer raised in the middle. In this way, "Golden Jade Abundance" would still be a circle of gold and silver steamed buns surrounding a saucer of milk and honey. However, since the saucer of milk and honey was integrated with the plate, there would be no awkwardness of lifting the saucer along with the plate.
She visited many porcelain shops in the city, but they all said that the shape of this dish was too unique and had never been made before, so no one dared to take on the order.
Yao Niang also designed and modified many other oddly shaped plates and cups for Jin Yu Lou. The porcelain shops all said that it was too difficult and they were afraid of ruining their reputation, so they dared not take on the task.
Therefore, Yao Niang originally thought this was a big deal, and that porcelain shop owners would definitely scramble to take it, but to her surprise, not a single porcelain shop has been able to take on this order so far.
Yao Niang was also very troubled.
Princess Ruining listened to her thoughts, thought for a moment, and said, "I do know someone who loves to make novel and unique porcelain. He employs many craftsmen in his household. He should be able to make what you want."
Seeing Yao Niang's eyes light up with delight, she was afraid that she would be even more disappointed if it didn't work out, so she quickly added, "But he usually only makes ornaments for his own enjoyment and has never done business in the porcelain industry before. I don't know if he would be willing to make these items with you."
Yao Niang quickly replied, "It's no trouble at all! If it's convenient for you, Princess, I would be grateful if you could introduce me! Whether it works out or not, I'd like to give it a try!"
Seeing her determination, Princess Ruining agreed to introduce her to this person and told her to wait for news.
Gu Yaoniang was very grateful.
At this moment, the guard who had previously handed the troublemaker over to the authorities returned to Jin Yu Lou to report back.
Princess Ruining regained her usual dignified and solemn demeanor and asked, "Do you know why that person caused trouble?"
The guard bowed his head and replied, "Your Highness, the man said that he had heard that Jin Yu Lou's dishes were reasonably priced and the owner was kind. He came to Jin Yu Lou today only to take advantage of the situation and had no intention of causing trouble."
He coughed, his shoulders trembling slightly, as if he was trying to suppress a laugh: "The waiter told me that the lotus seedpod fish buns were Jin Yu Lou's signature dish. I had never seen them before, so I thought I'd give them a try. I thought it would be a steamer of fish buns, but it turned out that the lotus seedpod fish buns had meat wrapped inside lotus seedpods. The portion was too small, and I felt I wasn't full. Also, I saw that the person in charge was a young woman, so I started causing trouble."
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