After having dinner with Lanqin, Fourth Master decided to do Lanqin another favor: find her a suitable shop space.
Lanqin was so excited she couldn't wait to get started, but then Fourth Master asked her how to get the hot pot restaurant going. How to make people aware of it, how to get them to come? After all, no one had ever tried this hot pot broth before, and whether people would accept it was all unknown.
Lanqin had already come up with a marketing strategy. She walked up behind Fourth Master with a fawning smile, massaged his shoulders, and said, "My lord, I need your help with this marketing, is that alright?"
Fourth Master smiled and said, "Just a little bit busy?"
Lanqin patted Fourth Master's shoulder and said, "Alright, Master, you've been a great help! I need you to turn the marketing plan I wrote, along with the pictures, into advertising pages, and then have them posted everywhere. A thousand copies, please!"
"Post an advertisement?" Fourth Master asked. "An advertisement?"
"We need to release information about our hot pot restaurant so people know about it, and we should also invite lion dancers to celebrate and attract customers!" Fourth Master said.
“This isn’t difficult. First, make the engraving, then take it to the printing press for verification. We also need to send someone to post it. You’ve asked me to help you with more than just a little bit,” Fourth Master said, grabbing the little hand on his shoulder.
"Hehe, Master, just wait and see how much money you make. You won't feel like you've lost out then," Lanqin said, resting her chin on Fourth Master's shoulder.
"If we lose money, then almost everyone will be a big shot, right?" Fourth Master said, glancing sideways at Lan Qin.
“We definitely won’t lose money!” Lanqin said confidently.
"Why?" Fourth Master asked, staring at Lanqin.
"Because no one can resist the allure of hot pot. And we'll keep launching special offers and new drinks. We guarantee they'll want to keep coming back for more, and they won't be able to leave," Lan Qin said.
“Alright, let’s do it this way! I’ll take the lead and dine at your hot pot restaurant. Could that encourage some other people to go?” Fourth Master said without being taught.
"Master, you're absolutely wonderful! We need you to set a good example." Lanqin immediately gave the Fourth Master a light peck on the cheek.
Fourth Master then pulled Lanqin to the study to discuss the specific details of the marketing plan. The two of them talked back and forth, making the plan more and more detailed.
Meanwhile, Madam Nian was still waiting for the Fourth Master to arrive, but as the sky outside grew darker and darker, the Fourth Master still hadn't come.
"Cui Ling, did you hear that clearly? Master said he would come?" Madam Nian's face darkened as she spoke.
“Yes, that’s what Master said,” Cui Ling said carefully. “But when I was waiting for Master there, Niohuru’s maid Si Hua was also there.”
"You wretched maid, why didn't you say so sooner? Did that little hussy Si Hua drag Master to the South Courtyard again?" Madam Nian said angrily.
“At that time, Master told me to come back and tell the master that he would come,” Cui Ling said, looking at Madam Nian.
"Has that slut Si Hua left yet?" Madam Nian asked irritably.
"No!" Cui Ling realized she might have made a mistake.
"It must have been that wretched maid Si Hua who said something to the master while you were gone. Why didn't you stay there longer!" Thinking of this, Madam Nian immediately vented her anger on Cui Ling.
“This servant deserves to die. This servant never expected that Si Hua to be so despicable. Knowing that the mistress had something to do and wanted to summon the prince, she still interfered.” Cui Ling had no choice but to push all the blame onto Si Hua.
Anger gathered between Lady Nian's brows as she said, "Niohuru clan, it seems I've been too polite to you!"
Seeing a hint of ruthlessness flash across Nian's face, Cui Ling asked timidly, "Master, do you intend to deal with her?"
"What, can't I, the concubine, deal with her? The prince doesn't favor her as much anymore. If I set a trap for her, it's not impossible for her to lose all her standing in the prince's eyes," said Lady Nian.
“My lady, you must make careful plans so that the prince doesn’t find out!” Cui Ling said.
"Of course. This time, Hongli is included too, isn't he?" Lady Nian said with a stern face.
"Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince is the Emperor's favorite. If you plot against him, it might cause a lot of trouble," Cui Ling warned.
"Nonsense, do you think I'm that stupid? Of course I won't do it myself, I'll find a scapegoat!" Lady Nian said, glancing sideways at Cui Ling.
“What you say is very true, Your Highness. Lady Liu has completely lost favor, and the Prince has already abandoned her. Lady Fucha is also a slippery eel,” Cui Ling said.
“Even the slipperiest loach will be fooled by delicious food,” said Nian.
“Master, but the Fucha family is the family behind her. If you plot against her to be a scapegoat, you will offend the Fucha family!” Cui Ling said.
“She is both a friend and an enemy. If we let the Fucha clan grow too powerful, it will be difficult to deal with her in the future. This Fucha clan member is not someone to be trifled with; she will certainly not be content to be subordinate to me in the future,” said Lady Nian.
Cui Ling and Bai Zhi exchanged a glance, and Bai Zhi said, "What you say makes sense, Master. Fucha will become an obstacle sooner or later. Why not use her now to drag Niu Gulu into the mess, so that you can reap the benefits?"
“That’s exactly right. Baizhi, you need to think carefully about how to make these two fight each other,” said Lady Nian.
Bai Zhi pondered for a moment and said to Nian Shi, "Let's focus our efforts on the Sixth Prince. Fucha is currently enjoying some favor, and what she desires most right now is the Prince's offspring and his favor. If she finds out that someone deliberately plotted against her offspring, Your Highness, given Fucha's personality, she will definitely retaliate."
“Continue!” said Madam Nian.
“We’ll bribe her maid, Hongqiao, and make her work for us. Then, through her, we’ll make Lady Fucha think that Lady Niohuru is blocking her way,” Baizhi said. “I heard that Lady Fucha has already started drinking fertility-enhancing soups.”
“Since Lady Fucha is so eager to get pregnant, then let’s grant her wish,” Lady Nian said.
"The master's intention is to make Shi think she is pregnant, and then miscarry because of someone, so that she will definitely hate that person and fight her to the death!" Bai Zhi said.
"You and Cuiling go down and think it over carefully. If you've made up your mind, come back and report to me. Now, let's prepare the meal," said Madam Nian.
Meanwhile, Fourth Master and Lanqin had lost track of time, staying in the study until nearly 9 PM before emerging. Seeing that it was already very late, Fourth Master naturally didn't stay at Lady Nian's place, but instead stayed at Lanqin's.
The next day, Fourth Master got up early and left. Before he left, he instructed the accountant to send Lanqin the money for renting the shop, and then told the steward to go to the printing press and inquire about the price for a thousand copies. Lanqin slept until the sun was high in the sky before getting up contentedly. The result of her discussion with Fourth Master the night before was that he would cover almost all the expenses for opening the hot pot restaurant, while Lanqin and Zhaojia would only need to provide their ideas and manpower.
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