Chapter 188 If I'm in front of you, will you be able to see me?
The child beside me was still murmuring.
This was the happiest time Fu'er had since arriving in the capital.
He was still talking in my dream.
By now, the effects of the alcohol on Meng Shilan had worn off.
She regretted saying those things to Zhou Congxian.
It's all in the past now, and Fu'er has grown up. There's no point in dwelling on the past anymore.
She can't possibly be reborn again.
Zhou Congxian was a decent father, which is why Fu'er liked him very much.
Meng Shilan lay diagonally next to Fu'er, holding her daughter's hand in her palm.
Her little girl is growing up, and now her hands can no longer completely cover her tiny hands.
She raised her hand and gently patted her forehead.
It was as if she still couldn't forget it and was reluctant to let it go.
Suddenly, several birds chirped outside the window.
Meng Shilan got up and saw a figure by the window.
She didn't intend to pay attention, and just as she lay down, she heard a few more sounds.
Just then, Fu'er rolled over.
Meng Shilan quickly patted her daughter's arm to make sure her daughter wouldn't wake up before getting up.
As soon as the door opened, I saw Zhou Congxian pouting, preparing to blow for the third time.
She glared at him angrily, "Do you really have to wake the child?"
Zhou Congxian held up the still-warm roast chicken in his hand.
“I noticed you barely ate anything last night, so I had the cook roast some chicken.”
The chefs at Dexinglou are particularly skilled at making roast chicken.
I heard that the first thing an apprentice learns is how to handle chicken feathers.
There is a cool terrace to the west of Zhuangzi.
It's the best place to cool off in the summer, and also the best place to see the starry sky.
Meng Shilan sat cross-legged on the balcony, holding a hot roast chicken in both hands.
The aroma of caramelized spices hits your nose.
She couldn't wait to take a bite. The crispy chicken skin, the tender meat, and the special spices of Dexinglou blended perfectly.
My empty stomach was instantly comforted.
Zhou Congxian: "Is it delicious?"
“You liked to eat this when you were pregnant with Fu’er. I heard that Dexinglou has developed a new flavor using new seasonings, which is even better than before, so I asked the chef to bake one for you.”
Meng Shilan glanced at him, "Thank you, and just now... it was all drunken talk, don't take it to heart."
"It's all in the past, and it doesn't matter anymore."
"important."
Zhou Congxian bent his right leg, then looked up at the starry sky.
What I thought was not what I thought.
I used to take your joy lightly, but I don't want to take it lightly anymore.
He paused for a moment as he spoke.
“That day, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to take you back, but rather, I… I had just killed… um, dealt with someone.”
“There’s still blood on the horse’s back, and on my hands too. I didn’t want to frighten you.”
Kill, kill...
Meng Shilan was startled, not expecting it to be like this.
"Why didn't you say so..."
Zhou Congxian said, "I seem to have gotten used to not talking. If I don't talk, you won't ask, which is why the misunderstanding between us is so deep."
"This is also my fault."
“The servant’s negligence is also my negligence. If you hadn’t told me, I would never have known.”
“This is a thorn in your heart. It has caused you pain for so long, for so many years, and that is my fault.”
Meng Shilan's lips twitched, then she lowered her eyes.
"None of these things matter anymore, and they're all in the past."
"Now all you need to do is be a good father."
Zhou Congxian's lips twitched, and he opened his mouth several times, but no words came out.
Finally, he smiled and said, "I've always been a good father."
"But now... I also want to be the kind of person you envision."
He raised his eyes and looked directly into hers.
"I've always been behind you, hoping you'll turn around and look at me."
"My admiration will never change, then or now."
Meng Shilan avoided his eyes.
She loosened her grip on the roast chicken in her hand, then put it down, placing the chicken, which she had only taken two bites of, beside her.
"But I just want to look forward."
She stood up, and Zhou Congxian grabbed her hand.
"If I run ahead of you, will you be able to see me?"
Meng Shilan's fingers trembled slightly, and her heart couldn't help but shudder.
She did not answer him.
She simply broke free from his grasp and hurriedly left.
The lanterns on the balcony swayed in the wind, leaving only a lonely shadow.
The aroma of roast chicken still lingered in the air.
There seemed to be a faint chewing sound, which was somewhat out of place.
Zhou Congxian looked up.
Xiaoman was sitting on the roof, happily munching on a roast chicken.
"Sir, this won't do. It's been two years and you still haven't won my sister's heart."
He jumped off the roof.
"Would you like me to give you a few tips?"
Hu Ge didn't want to talk to him and prepared to leave with the roast chicken that Meng Shilan hadn't finished eating.
"Sigh, won't you listen to me, sir? My method is guaranteed to work!"
Xiaoman chased after him while munching on roast chicken.
Meng Shilan quickly returned to her room.
She leaned against the door, silently catching her breath, as if her heart was beating even faster.
Under the moonlight, Zhou Congxian's earnest eyes were clearly visible.
It's been two years, and no matter how much she rejects him, he has never given up.
It was this sincerity that moved even an ordinary woman.
But she was afraid.
For some reason, she was afraid.
It was as if a voice from deep within her memory was making her uneasy.
"Mother."
Fu'er woke up at some point, and she sat up, rubbing her eyes.
Her little nose twitched. "It smells so good, Mom! What are you secretly eating?"
Meng Shilan took a piece of scented soap and quickly washed her hands in the washbasin.
"You're mistaken. Your mother hasn't eaten anything. Go to sleep now."
Fu'er turned over groggily and fell asleep again.
I spent three days at the manor.
Fu'er and Xuan'er had a great time and neither of them wanted to leave.
The two children have asked for three days off; it's time for them to return to the Imperial College for classes.
Meng Shilan should get busy with the shop's affairs now.
Shuang'er has been so busy lately that she hasn't even had a moment to spare, and hasn't even come to the estate.
Meng Shilan and Zhou Wanqing, acting as the owners, sent out invitations to various households.
The day it reopened after renovations was incredibly popular.
Shuang'er learned from the Ni Chang Manor that a woman's clothing, jewelry, and makeup all need to be coordinated.
On the display shelves she set up, she placed the most fashionable fabrics and patterns of the moment, and then arranged corresponding jewelry on top of them.
People who enter the shop can find the jewelry that suits them most quickly.
Meng Shilan and Zhou Wanqing stood by the railing on the second floor.
"I never imagined that the Third Miss had such a sharp mind."
In her memory, Zhou Wanqing always followed silently behind Song Jiyun.
She does whatever others tell her to do.
Zhao Shi never disciplined her much, nor did she teach her anything.
Zhou Wanqing smiled and said, "My sister-in-law taught me all of this after I married into the Gao family."
"My sister-in-law is very kind. She doesn't think I'm stupid or slow. She teaches me how to manage my shop step by step."
She said that when a woman gets married, these dowries are my source of confidence.
"We can't afford to squander this confidence in just a few years."
Meng Shilan thought of the day when Fu'er was bullied by two young boys at the Imperial Academy.
In Zhou Wanqing's eyes, her sister-in-law was a good person.
He declined to comment.
Looking at the packed shop, Zhou Wanqing said, "This is probably the best business I've ever done."
As he spoke, he glanced at Meng Shilan and said, "I never expected Miss Meng to have such a mind."
"If this shop can establish itself stably, it will definitely make a fortune in the future."
"Let's just wait and count the money!"
The jewelry store no longer has servants, only maids.
Many of the former servants have become accustomed to their low wages and feel that they are underpaid no matter where they look for work.
The shop has now reopened after renovations.
They want to come back.
"Miss Yao, we were blind and bewitched, and we believed what Manager Yuan said."
"Look at us, we've been working in this shop for so many years, we're quick and efficient, and we're also very clever."
"We have many regular customers, so it's the most suitable place for them to come to us."
Shuang'er was so busy she barely had time to breathe, and she was even stopped by the group of people who had bullied her before.
She looked at the man who used to be so arrogant in front of her, but now he was all groveling.
"Our shop is mostly frequented by female customers now, so we don't need that many servants."
"Besides, our desolate place can't accommodate so many of you big shots. If you want to make a living, find another way."
After Shuang'er finished speaking, she turned and left, leaving a group of unwanted servants looking at each other in bewilderment.
"What should we do? They don't want us anymore."
"I should have stayed."
“The little stutterer didn’t leave. I heard he’s now working with a master making jewelry, and he’s learned a craft.”
"Really? I heard that skilled goldsmiths can earn several taels of silver a month!"
A group of people started talking at once, regretting their actions.
A horse-drawn carriage stopped in front of the shop.
A distinguished-looking man stepped out of the car.
He saw the group of people gathered in front of the shop, frowned, and said sternly, "What are you doing here? Trying to rob us?"
Upon seeing that this was an important person whom they could not afford to offend, the servants immediately scattered and ran away.
Gao Zhian walked in, fanning himself with a fan.
The shop was crowded, mostly with female customers and only a very few male customers.
He didn't stand out much in the crowd.
A young maidservant immediately came forward and asked, "Young master, are you buying this for yourself or for your family?"
In addition to jewelry for women, the shop also sells hairpins and jade belts for men.
Gao Zhiling searched around but didn't see the person she was looking for.
His gaze then fell upon the little maid. "I want them all."
The maidservant immediately smiled and said, "This way, sir."
She explained with great care, "Our shop uses materials such as wood, jade, gold, and silver."
"Wood? What's the value of wood?"
"The wood is all top-quality golden nanmu, Hainan rosewood, and sandalwood. It is most suitable for a handsome young man like you."
Gao Zhian smiled and said, "Then let's have one of each."
"Let me see your shop's most valuable jewelry."
The maid's eyes immediately lit up, "The most precious item is our ivory and jade carving crown."
Gao Zhian didn't even glance at it, and simply waved his hand, "This is it, wrap it up for me."
The little maid stammered, "This, this is the store's prized possession, worth eight thousand taels. Young master, won't you take a look?"
Gao Zhian's eyes turned unfriendly. "Do you think I can't afford it?"
"No, no!"
"I misspoke, please forgive me, young master. I'll wrap it up for you right away!"
They sold their prized possession on the very first day of business.
"Sister, you're right, we really should change careers!"
Shuang'er rushed to the third floor and, pushing open the door, exclaimed impatiently, "That ivory crown worth eight thousand taels has been sold!"
Meng Shilan looked up in surprise, "It sold out so quickly?!"
Zhou Wanqing felt as if all she could see was money. "Sold...sold it?"
"right!"
Shuang'er nodded vigorously, her voice filled with excitement, "I heard from the maid that it's a young master surnamed Gao."
"high?"
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