Chen Qingqing couldn't help but roll her eyes. It was quite difficult to find someone to have a meal with; it seemed that trying to have a proper conversation was out of the question.
She could only deliberately put on a cold face and look displeased, "If you're not going to eat, then don't follow me. Go back to where you came from."
Kexin's face turned pale, and she immediately sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and started shoveling rice into her mouth, looking every bit like a doormat.
"Eat your vegetables."
"Yes, Princess, as long as you don't send me away, I'll do anything you ask." Kexin was genuinely terrified. Having been sold dozens of times, this was the first time someone had allowed her to sit down and eat. This princess seemed to be out of her mind; how could she be so kind to her servants? However, she was deeply moved and adored this kind of mistress.
She carefully picked up a fish ball, put it in her mouth, and bit into it. The fish ball was chewy and smooth, with a satisfying texture. The spicy and savory flavor was absolutely delicious!
She had never eaten such delicious food in her entire life.
But she didn't dare to pick up any more food from the pot, and instead focused on eating her rice, afraid of angering Chen Qingqing again.
Chen Qingqing felt both sorry for Kexin and helpless. She picked up the serving chopsticks and filled Kexin's bowl with a large bowl of food.
"Eat more. This is the age when you're growing. How can you grow taller if you don't eat enough?"
Upon hearing this, Kexin burst into tears.
"Thank you, Princess. You are so kind to me. I will serve you wholeheartedly from now on and never let you down."
"Alright, eat up." Chen Qingqing remained unsmiling.
After dinner, Chen Qingqing yawned, feeling quite bored.
Anyang County is now extremely poor; the people on the streets look pale and sickly, clearly suffering from prolonged hunger.
The most urgent task is to quickly generate income for them. Relying solely on farming is definitely not enough. But where should we start?
Chen Qingqing racked her brains, but still couldn't come up with a solution.
I drifted off to sleep while thinking about it.
Kexin carefully covered her with the blanket, then sat quietly on the stool, not daring to make a sound, for fear of disturbing Chen Qingqing's sweet dream.
"Kexin, is my little sister awake? The merchants will be here soon. Why don't you wake her up?" Chen Feng's voice rang out from outside the door.
Kexin hurriedly got up and went to the door, lowering her voice, "No, how can we disturb the princess's sleep? The merchants have arrived, so they should be waiting for the princess, not the other way around."
Chen Feng wrung his hands anxiously, "Oh dear, who sent this maid? Although my little sister has been granted the title of princess by the emperor, she is also the owner of Ruyi Tower. If we neglect these merchants, it's like missing out on a money-making opportunity. Don't you understand?"
“I don’t understand. I only know that the princess hasn’t woken up yet, so we can’t disturb her,” Kexin said firmly and resolutely.
Chen Qingqing had already woken up and heard the conversation between the two clearly. She said to the door, "Big brother, I'm awake. I'll be there in a bit."
"Alright, I'll go prepare the food first. Hurry up and come over." Before leaving, Chen Feng glared at Kexin and muttered, "I've never seen such a stubborn girl. I wonder where Magistrate Zhou found her."
Kexin ignored him and carried a basin of water into the house.
"Princess, wash your face to refresh yourself!"
"Okay." Chen Qingqing took the towel Kexin handed her and gently wiped her face.
Surprisingly, being served seems quite nice. It looks like she'll have to get used to it, otherwise this girl might start having ideas again.
After a quick wash, Chen Qingqing was led to the private room where the banquet was being held by the waiter.
The guests hadn't arrived in the private room yet, but several plates of cold dishes were already laid out on the table, including pickled chicken feet and pickled radishes.
Chen Qingqing instructed, "Brother, when the merchants arrive, please don't tell anyone that I'm the adopted daughter of the Emperor Emeritus."
"Little sister, why can't we talk about something so prestigious?" Chen Feng asked, puzzled. "I think if the merchants knew that we were cooperating with royalty, they would feel more comfortable doing business with us."
Chen Qingqing shook her head slightly, her expression serious. "Brother, things aren't as simple as you think. If the merchants knew my identity, they would inevitably have reservations and feel that cooperating with us was out of consideration for the royal family, rather than because they genuinely believed in our business."
In the end, the deals we make might be based on pretense, not on fairness and mutual benefit. In the long run, this will not be good for our business.
Chen Feng scratched his head, his brows furrowed slightly, as if trying to understand her words.
"Little sister, I think I understand what you're saying a little, but I also feel that this status is an honor, and it would be a shame not to use it."
Chen Qingqing felt that Chen Feng was now very arrogant and had completely forgotten his original intention of opening the restaurant.
"Brother, don't forget that doing business relies on the quality of goods, honest operation, and reasonable prices, not on the royal name."
Only when customers genuinely feel that there is profit to be made and trust us can this business be done in the long run and with peace of mind.
Once they know who I am, they'll likely fawn over me, preventing us from truly understanding market demands and the shortcomings in our business.
Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. If everyone is filled with flattery and sycophancy, do you think our Ruyi Tower can still grow big and gain everyone's approval?
“But…” Chen Feng wanted to persuade her a little more. He felt that given Chen Qingqing’s current status and position, it would be a real shame not to use her.
Chen Qingqing had realized that if she didn't curb Chen Feng's thoughts, her older brother would go astray.
She immediately put on a stern face. "Brother, you don't need to say anything more. If you think you can take shortcuts by using my identity, you're mistaken. Even if this restaurant closes down, I won't allow you to act recklessly."
"Little sister, you've misunderstood your big brother. I wouldn't do anything illegal or disorderly. I'll listen to you. When the merchants arrive, I promise I won't mention this matter again."
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