"Really? That’s amazing! Let’s go in and have a look. It’s specially supplied to the palace, and we can have an eye-opening experience."
People were chattering about it, and soon there were hordes of customers pouring in.
In fact, many of the servants from wealthy families had been here waiting early in the morning for purchasing grape wine. It seemed that they hadn’t had enough at Guilinju.
Who could ever have enough of this wine?
Only half an hour after Qinghe’s small shop opened for business, the store was bustling with people. The scene was really lively.
Ji Xinhe was kept busy in the store. On the first day of business, she couldn’t rely entirely on her staff, as they were still inexperienced. With so many customers and many questions that her staff didn’t understand, she had to explain them herself.
Within half an hour, the grape wine for that day was sold out.
Some customers who came later, unable to buy grape wine, were very annoyed, "How come it has already run out? Isn’t this in vain?"
Ji Xinhe said with a smile, "I really apologize. The grape wine sells very well and was sold out early in the morning when the store just opened. However, there are other products in the store. If you don’t want to make this trip for nothing, you can try something else."
"What else?"
Ji Xinhe came forward with a can, "Try this. This is our store’s exclusive canned peaches. It’s more fragrant and sweet than fresh fruit, and it’s even more delicious. It also has a long shelf life, which makes it better than fresh fruit."
The customer tasted it with some suspicion while listening to Ji Xinhe’s words, and then his eyes brightened: "That’s really good!"
Ji Xinhe laughed: "Our shop has not only canned peaches, but also canned oranges. If you want to buy something, feel free to pick. We also have various pickles over there, which are exclusively available only in our store. There are plenty of good things in our store."
The customer immediately became interested and said, "Get me a few cans of canned peaches. How much are they?"
The young assistants on the side were learning seriously and looking with admiration. This was how they should serve the customers in the future!
After a day’s business, not only the grape wine was sold out, but also other products in the store were sold very well. Ji Xinhe was flipping through an abacus hurriedly with an excitement. Calculating carefully, the one-day income of the shop was already hundreds of taels of silver!
"Dear customers, our shop is closed for today. Please come back tomorrow." The young assistant hurriedly greeted the new customers who just arrived.
"I’m looking for Miss Ji."
Ji Xinhe, who was initially enjoying counting money at the back, raised her head in surprise when she heard the voice: "Brother Duan?"
She hadn’t seen him for nearly half a month, and it was quite a surprise to see him suddenly.
Duan Lan smiled: "Xinhe."
However, there were noticeably more signs of fatigue on his face.
Ji Xinhe immediately led him to the tea room inside: "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. How did you suddenly find time to visit me today?
Aren’t you busy?"
"A little busy, but I’m done now." Duan Lan nodded slightly. As a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a large cabinet of books was waiting for him to sort out. It took him a great deal of effort, but he finally finished them and was able to come out.
Ji Xinhe smiled: "That’s good."
"You opened your store today. Of course, I should come and support your business. But I’m a bit late."
"What does that matter? If you had come earlier, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have had time to entertain you." Ji Xinhe poured him a cup of tea and said, "You don’t look too well. Have you been working too hard?"
Duan Lan pursed his lips: "It’s not that hard."
Everything was voluntary for him.
Half a month ago, he had a complete showdown with his family, clearly refusing to accept the arranged marriage with the Li family. Old Master Duan was furious at this and told him to prove his worth first before bringing up this issue again. Incidentally, he was sent to the Hanlin Academy.
In the Hanlin Academy, a total of 1,367 books of various kinds fell on him to repair and compile. Old Duan’s idea was that he had the qualification to negotiate with his family again if he could complete this task within a month.
So he finished them in half a month, no matter how hard it was, without sleep, just so he could earn the right to refuse the marriage and prove to his family he had the capital to negotiate.
This was his only rebellion from childhood till now.
Just for her.
Duan Lan looked at the person in front of him, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth: "Xinhe, it’s really great."
It’s great to see you.
It’s great to see a glimmer of hope between you and me.
Ji Xinhe was somewhat puzzled by his words, but she still said, "You look so tired, you should go home and rest quickly. Be careful not to ruin your health due to overwork."
Duan Lan nodded and said with a light smile, "I’ll come to see you another day." He really had to go back. He hadn’t yet returned home to talk with his father after coming out from the Hanlin Academy. Now, if he went back, everything could change.
"Alright."
——
Duan Mansion.
Old Master Duan looked at Duan Lan, who was kneeling in the middle of the hall, with a gloomy face. He looked somewhat pale, probably because he had been staying up for many nights in a row. However, his usually gentle eyes were full of determination now.
"What the hell are you trying to do? Must you oppose me this time?"
Duan Lan said calmly, "I have revised and corrected all the books as you asked. You can check it yourself, there’s no mistake."
"So what?"
"So I hope to have a fair talk with my father, not as a son, but as an equal." Duan Lan said.
"You!" Old Duan was so angry that his beard shot up, "Then you say what it is!" After all, it was what they had agreed on before, and Old Duan always valued sincerity and naturally wouldn’t go back on his word.
Duan Lan said, "I don’t want this marriage with the Li family."
"You, you this unfilial son!"
Madam Duan couldn’t bear it anymore and sighed, "Enough, since it has come to this, what else can you blame him for? He has done everything you asked for, what else do you want to do to him? After all, he is your biological son."
"Then what do you suggest we do about this?" Old Master Duan was also in a difficult situation.
"I will dissolve this marriage." Madam Duan said in a deep voice, "Tomorrow is the Li family’s eldest daughter’s birthday, and she has sent us an invitation. You go there tomorrow. You’ve been studying at the Jishan Academy since you were young and haven’t seen her much. If you still dislike her after seeing her tomorrow, I’ll go to the Le Yuanhou Mansion and apologize myself, and break up this engagement. After all, if you are truly unwilling, her coming here would be a mistake for both of you."
Duan Lan’s eyes lit up and he immediately said, "Thank you, mother!"
Madam Duan shook her head helplessly: "Get up now and take a good rest! Otherwise, in your current state, will you be able to get up early tomorrow?"
"Yes." Duan Lan was overjoyed and immediately got up, absolutely thrilled.
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