the next day,
Sunlight broke through the clouds and shone on every corner of Teng City.
Almost all the shops on the ancient street are open, with their blue bricks and glazed tiles exuding a rustic charm.
It stands in stark contrast to the modern buildings lining the street.
Fuyuan Garden is located on this ancient street, with its gates wide open, and it's mostly frequented by locals.
To welcome foreign guests, Fuyuan Garden has been redecorated, with red lanterns hung up, and festive red colors can be seen everywhere.
"Ah Yan, are we really not going to talk about cooperation this time?" the chubby girl asked in a low voice as she stood in front of Fuyuan.
Hairun is planning to open a branch here. Foreign businesses are flocking to this area, and a large port has been built in a small town near Tengshi.
Almost all goods destined for country S pass through the ports here.
Many people abroad know Fujishichi, but not necessarily Kyoto.
"Let's not discuss it. We'll set up a separate company to make rouge, and we won't expand." Lin Ziyan looked up at the Fuyuan signboard, which was the same as the one in later generations.
This character was written by a calligrapher, and later many people came to Fuyuan to take photos, almost all of them taking pictures with the signboard.
Fuyuan was newer than when she came in later generations; the paint on the door was still shiny.
They arrived early, and there weren't many guests yet.
Fu Yuan sells more than just rouge; it also sells small porcelain items and tea.
Stepping into the shop, the aroma of tea fills the air, and paintings adorn every corner of the corridor.
However, it's all framed, so you can only see it through glass.
Lin Ziyan wasn't in a hurry to look at the rouge; instead, she looked at the paintings in the corridor.
The paintings at Fuyuan Garden are changed every month, so there are no repeats throughout the year.
The paintings here are all antiques; they are only on display and not for sale.
The Lin family's paintings are now sealed away in Grandma's cabinet, never to see the light of day.
The fact that the Su family dared to display these ancient paintings without fear of them being stolen shows that they have some backing in Teng City.
Lin Ziyan stopped in front of a painting, her gaze deepening.
The painting depicts A-tai and A-tai's mother.
The Lin family also has this painting; it's exactly the same.
The background of the painting is the lotus pond in Su Xiang Garden. They are all dressed in brocade clothes, and each of them has a solemn expression.
This painting was done during our last gathering. We could have taken a picture then, but the elders in the family insisted on having it painted. They hired two artists, who charged a high price.
Lin Ziyan's eyes flickered when she saw the seal beneath the painting.
The painter was killed in the bombardment, and on the very day he painted this picture, Fujishichi fell.
The Lin family fled during the chaos of war, eventually settling in Haibi Village, where they continued selling cosmetics.
Later, he switched to foreign trade and gave most of the gold bars he had brought with him to General Chu.
Lin Ziyan walked slowly, the paintings in this corridor seeming to depict her family history.
It features the Su family's first rouge shop, the once bustling streets, and a scenic spot in Su Xiang Garden, among other things.
"Smack!"
The sound of things being smashed broke the silence in the store.
Lin Ziyan frowned and looked at the exhibition area inside.
"Call your boss out here. Is this the kind of inferior paint the Su family sells to me?"
"My face..." the woman shouted, attracting many people to peer inside.
Coming to cause a disturbance so early in the morning?
Lin Ziyan shook her head and chuckled as she watched the chubby girl run into the display area.
Those who wanted to see the excitement went inside, and Fuyuan Garden was suddenly flooded with people.
The Su family has run a rouge shop for so many years, what kind of customers haven't they seen?
It would be strange if that person got away with it.
Going there to invite bad luck is the real reason.
Today is a good day; foreign guests are coming to visit.
"I don't care, if you don't give me a solution today, I'll hire a lawyer and sue you!" the woman shouted, revealing the red bumps on her face.
The manager in charge of the area picked up the shards of porcelain she had thrown at him, smelled them, and his expression changed.
The porcelain jar belonged to the Su family's rouge shop, but the powder inside was not.
Using so much talcum powder, it's no wonder your face is breaking out.
"Are you trying to deny it? This jar belongs to your Su family." The woman's temper flared up as she saw the manager's expression.
The manager's expression was indifferent, but his gaze was complex. "The jars are indeed ours."
The crowd gathered to watch the spectacle, waiting as if it were a good show.
"Just admit it. Today I'll sit here and show everyone how your Su family's cosmetics ruin our faces. Let's see who still buys them." The woman didn't mention compensation, as if she just wanted to stall for time.
Lin Ziyan looked at the red bumps on her face and suddenly felt an itch on her face.
This woman is really willing to spend a lot of money; she's not afraid of people seeing her face like that.
Is the manager of the Su family really that easy to deal with?
The manager remained calm and composed, saying, "The jars are ours, but the powder inside isn't."
"The colors don't match; you can tell just by comparing them."
He took out the same porcelain jar, opened it to show everyone, and compared it with the powder on the ground, they were indeed different colors.
The powder from the Su family was fine and white, while the powder on the ground was rough and yellowish.
The onlookers nodded.
"The Su family's rouge is for imperial use, and there has never been a problem over the years."
"Is this guy trying to scam me?"
"They really went all out. Look at the bumps on her face, it's obviously a really bad case..."
"You're talking nonsense! I bought it from your store. How dare you sell expired goods? I'm going to report you!" The woman's face flushed as she heard the surrounding chatter.
She only added a little something, and that person said the Su family would definitely have to pay a large sum of money in compensation.
The Su family's rouge dates are marked on the bottom of the porcelain jar, so this woman must be buying it for the first time.
After all, a small jar of rouge here costs an average person half a month's salary, and not everyone can afford to buy it.
The store manager wasn't in a hurry and just watched her perform.
"Anyway, my face only got red bumps because of your products." The woman simply acted shamelessly, sitting on the sofa without moving.
Lin Ziyan saw Yi Ting standing at the door, sneering, and a hint of suspicion flashed in her eyes.
Su Nan stood behind her, her eyes completely calm.
She pulled Yi Ting inside and gripped her wrist tightly.
Yi Ting couldn't hide the panic in her eyes.
"Take your people away, or I won't mind calling Uncle Yi over." Su Nan released Yi Ting's hand, her gaze icy.
The manager next to her immediately handed her a wet towel to wipe her hands.
The eldest daughter of the Su family has an aloof demeanor and almost always stays in the art studio at Fuyuan Garden, rarely showing her face.
Today she wore a dark blue cheongsam, revealing her slender neck, which made her skin appear even whiter and brighter.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I don't know her." Yi Ting suddenly stood up, wanting to leave, but was stopped by the manager next to her.
She regretted coming to watch the spectacle; if she hadn't shown up, Su Nan would have been unable to defend herself and would have lost face in front of the foreign guests.
Yi Ting's fingertips dug into her palm, refusing to admit it.
In another half hour, my sister-in-law will bring the foreign guests to visit Fuyuan.
"Don't you recognize me?"
"Then how did your cosmetics end up in her hands?" Su Nan sneered, picking up the lid of the porcelain jar from the ground and tearing off the label.
The porcelain jars that the Su family gave to their friends all had special markings.
Su Nan knew this when she received the call from the store.
The manager here was someone she personally trained, so of course he knows she has made special markings to distinguish people.
Yi Ting stared wide-eyed at the mark in disbelief.
Last night was too rushed, so she temporarily added talcum powder to the person's makeup.
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