Ji Xinhe touched Xiao Bei’s head lightly: "It only proves that the storyteller loves to exaggerate. What kind of man is loved by both the princess and the cabinet minister’s daughter? It’s probably untrue. Verbal rumors are the least trustworthy, especially the words of a storyteller. The appearance of Minister Mu might be unimpressive and unforgettable. In the end, what we believe entirely depends on the words of the storyteller, doesn’t it?"
Ji Xinhe did not pay much attention to these matters. Who Princess Chaoyang had feelings for was not her concern. Right now, during her royal wedding, she finds it as an opportunity for her. Rather than spending time on gossip, she’d better think about how she can make a profit.
Xiao Bei was muttering: "Maybe it’s because Mayor Mu heard about Minister Mu’s death and felt dejected?"
Ji Xinhe laughed: "Why is Xiao Bei so interested in these sentimental matters? Could it be that our Xiao Bei has begun to encounter feelings too, and I didn’t even notice it?"
Xiao Bei’s face turned red immediately, and he quickly protested: "No, not at all! I’m just interested in the affairs of Prime Minister Mu! Xiao Bei admires a man like Prime Minister Mu."
Ji Xinhe giggled: "I was just joking. We’ve got customers, hurry up and mind the shop."
Only then did Xiao Bei cheerfully hustle over to greet the guests.
Ji Xinhe turned her head and glanced at Mu Chu, who appeared oblivious to their conversation and focused on keeping accounts at the counter.
Ji Xinhe felt relaxed and joyful, so she didn’t bother him much and attended to the incoming guests instead.
——
The news of Princess Chaoyang’s wedding spread worldwide. Even in a remote small town like An City, the common people couldn’t help talking about it enthusiastically. After all, being a high-profile individual and it being the first major event after the New Emperor’s ascension to the throne, everyone naturally enjoyed discussing it.
At this point, the entire Wang family was also busy.
"With the royal wedding, the palace will purchase all sorts of supplies in large quantities. Especially beverages, fruits, and vegetables, the Wang household has provided all these things in the past. For this matter, it cannot fail." Master Wang instructed the steward.
The old steward laughed: "Master can rest assured. Our Wang Family’s business with the palace is mainly about liquors, fruits, and vegetables. We’ve been in this business for over a decade and have never faced any major issues. If we can manage the supply for the princess’s wedding well, it will impress His Majesty."
Master Wang nodded: "Indeed, our Wang family is standing on thin ice now. All matters, irrespective of size, should be arranged properly. We cannot make any mistakes. The palace will probably notify us soon. In anticipation of that, we should prepare in advance. You should first go to our winery to check how much inventory we have, and then check on the fruits and vegetables..."
Before Master Wang could finish his sentence, a young servant interrupted, saying respectfully: "Master, someone from the palace has sent a message."
Master Wang smirked and picked up a cup of tea: "Is it to arrange for the supply of liquors and fruits and vegetables?"
The young servant seemed hesitant, stammered for a moment, before finally saying reluctantly: "The palace sent a message saying that our family can provide only fruits and vegetables...the liquor...has been assigned to another family."
The smile on Master Wang’s face froze instantly. With a "bang," he put down his tea, and snapped, "What!?"
For the Wang family, in reality, the supply of liquor is the most profitable. While the fruits and other things are not cheap, how can they compete with the high profits and reputation of the liquor supply?
The vital business that upholds the Wang family’s royal merchant status!
However, suddenly today, they said, it had been given to another family!
The young servant got scared by the sudden outburst and kneeled down in fright, shivering, he said: "This is the message from the palace, Master, please calm down."
"Who did they give the liquor supply to!" Master Wang demanded.
The young servant, growing paler by the minute, answered: "It seems...it was given to the Guilin Residence."
"The Guilin Residence?!" Master Wang shouted, almost spitting blood: "They are just in the restaurant business and not a winery; they don’t qualify to have the opportunity to supply wine to the palace! They are stealing the Wang family’s limelight!"
The old steward suddenly remembered something, and with a frown, stepped forward: "Master, I think you might not know something. The Guilin Residence recently gained fame due to a unique wine they acquired, grape wine, which contributed to their popularity. The palace probably selected them for their grape wine and gave them the opportunity to supply liquor."
"Grape wine?!" Master Wang widened his eyes: "Isn’t that something we only get when tribes offer it annually? Where did Guilin Residence get it from!"
The old steward quickly replied: "I have inquired about this. The grape wine from the Guilin Residence was all purchased directly from Qinghe Shop. In fact, the grape wine is made by Qinghe Shop exclusively for sale at Guilin Residence. This is no secret in Lian’an Town, and it’s quite the sensation. Since you just returned to the countryside, you may not know yet."
Master Wang exclaimed: "What’s this Qinghe Shop then? How do they know the method of brewing grape wine?"
Even he didn’t know about these things. But how could such impressive people exist in the small town of Lian’an?
The old steward said in a low voice: "That Qinghe Shop, it only opened in Lian’an town not long ago. But due to the influence of Guilin Residence, it became very well-known as soon as it opened. The shopkeeper there is actually a girl. I heard she’s a country girl from a village named Ji, in Yangluo Bay."
Master Wang slammed his hand on the table, his face turning dark: "A country woman can brew this grape wine?!"
"I also find it strange, but the palace has always been meticulous. If they hadn’t personally confirmed that her grape wine was genuine, they probably wouldn’t accept this deal."
With an ashen face, Master Wang smashed his tea cup, roaring furiously: "The Wang Family, a royal merchant for over ten years, got its liquor business snatched away by a small farm girl! Isn’t this a slap in our face!"
The emperor had been wary of them now, they have been wronged by dialing back, have they not? However, he didn’t expect their business to be stolen. If the emperor finds them useless, it wouldn’t be impossible to revoke their royal merchant title when the time comes!
Thinking of this, Master Wang felt half dead of anger.
Just then, another servant hurriedly walked in, looking uneasy: "Master, that country couple that you gave 130 taels of silver to before has come again. They’ve been here several days in a row. They refuse to leave without seeing you."
Master Wang, burning with anger, didn’t even feel like dealing with them. He yelled directly: "Tell them to get out! What’s all this fuss about? Does our Wang family seem like something these lowly people can cling to?"
"Yes, yes, yes, I’ll go deal with them right now..." His servant left, looking scared.
However, the old steward suddenly spoke: "Master, I just remembered something. That couple seems to be from Yangluo Bay too. The man is called Ji Dashan and shares the same surname with the owner of Qinghe Shop, perhaps..."
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