At the request of Yang Mengchen, the Ice Workshop limited the quantity of each purchase. Naturally, the Imperial Palace was given priority. Once people knew that Princess Chen, the Yang family, the Nangong family, and the Luo family were the backing sponsors, no one dared to cause trouble.
Within a few days, Yang Mengchen’s newly renovated shops rolled out a series of ice drinks. Although it was only mid-May, these beverages, varying in flavors, types, and prices, looking good and tasting refreshing, were still loved and sought after by everyone.
On the street, one could see people everywhere enjoying ice drinks, especially the children. Even families of modest means would occasionally buy the cheapest ice pop for their children.
Seeing the brisk sales of the ice blocks and drinks, Nangong Lingfei and Yang Chenghong decided to gradually open branches in areas where wealthy families were concentrated across the nation.
Yang Mengchen offered her support. However, she continued to hold a forty percent share in ice-making and fifty percent in the ice drinks. The remaining ten percent was divided equally among the Yang family, the Nangong family, the Luo family, and the Xiao family. They were responsible for the detailed operations, and for every new type of ice drink developed, she would collect an additional development fee of five hundred taels of silver.
The partners quickly signed the contract and began making preparations for the branch stores.
Having arranged everything for the Ice Workshop and shops, Yang Mengchen put aside other matters and concentrated on supervising the construction of the holiday villa and Hot Spring Villa.
After more than three months, the construction of the holiday villa was completed successfully. Yang Mengchen named it Chu Ao Villa, a name both domineering and significant, which everyone praised as well chosen, and the Emperor wrote a golden plaque with the name himself.
The entire Chu Ao Villa was symmetrically divided by the Lingqing River, with areas for dining and leisure on the left and areas for relaxation and accommodation on the right, including spaces for rest and enjoyment in the center.
On the left, there were restaurants that introduced new dishes monthly, as well as a row of specialty snack shops and pastry stores, fresh-squeezed beverages, and the Rare Food Pavilion where guests could dine and also take food home for their families to taste.
There were also recreational facilities like archery, wrestling, martial arts arenas, football fields, badminton courts, and track and field areas. It was strictly stipulated that everyone could compete, but harming others was not allowed. Winning an event granted one a free day, and winning all events gave one a free month.
On the right, the leisure areas featured music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and poetry composition. If a guest produced a good work of art, their one-day fee would be waived. The villa would also auction off their work, with the proceeds split sixty-forty between the villa and the creator, in an environment that was tranquil and elegant.
Next to it was a large fish pond where guests could have the fish they caught processed at the restaurants or rent a barbecue grill, buy some vegetables and meats, and barbecue in a designated area.
Further ahead, there was a row of teahouses, serenely and elegantly adorned, with wooden tables and benches by the Lingqing River. Behind lay the continuous Qingyou Mountains where groups of friends could sip fragrant tea, chat, enjoy the scenery, and even have food delivered, making for a truly enjoyable life experience.
If guests wished to stay for several days, they could stay in the hotels that combined ancient and modern design. The villa also accepted long and short-term rentals, which was convenient when there was a large influx of visitors and worries about booking rooms were unnecessary.
In the middle section, down the Lingqing River, were a variety of baths such as waterfall baths, floating baths, Kiss Fish Bathing Pools, herbal baths, and footbaths. More than a dozen pools in total, with professionals providing massages or acupuncture, were available to relieve pain, fatigue, and to treat many ailments.
Furthermore, visitors could go mountain climbing. The winding paths, fresh and pleasant air, and the uniquely ethereal scenery made it a grand experience to stand at the summit and feel as though one had climbed high to see far and the rest of the world seemed small in comparison.
One could also take a small boat downstream from the upper reaches, admiring the picturesque landscape of mountains and waters, which would surely alleviate any feelings of distress.
The entire Chu Ao Villa covered approximately two thousand and six hundred acres, with nearly one hundred and sixty thousand taels of silver invested in its construction, and that was the result of Yang Mengchen’s careful budgeting.
Yang Mengchen didn’t need to advertise. The fact that the site was originally selected by the Emperor for the construction of his retreat, coupled with her reputation for wisdom, ensured that when the villa opened on the first of July, many people were waiting at the gates early, particularly the young men.
The Emperor, Long Xuanmo, and Prince Ning, along with some officials, attended the villa in person, and everyone was excited and couldn’t wait to enter the villa and explore.
It was then that Yang Mengchen gloomily discovered that the villa was open only to men, and it was inappropriate for women to visit. However, fortunately, the Hot Spring Villa was still under construction, and opening it specifically for women in the future would be only fair.
The Emperor decided to return to the Imperial Palace the next day, and Long Xuanmo naturally accompanied him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
