Upon arriving at the town, Jun Yelan delivered the goods to the shop and then went to the academy.
Lan Yan and Lin Yun organized everything. They first took the hunted prey to the restaurant and, after receiving their share for the month, returned to make pastries. An hour later, the shop opened, and a steady stream of customers arrived to select pastries.
Some customers bought individually, while others purchased gift boxes to give away. "My mother-in-law also praised these pastries, saying they are soft, glutinous, and delicious, unlike others."
"My child loves them too. He threw a tantrum when he didn't see any pastries at home. I usually buy one steamed bun, and the filling is so generous it’s enough for my family of four."
"And there are various gift box options, which are very convenient for me to give as gifts. The recipients even asked me where I bought them."
Listening to the customers' conversations, Lan Yan’s lips curved upwards. It seemed her pastry shop was quite popular. She busily processed payments, while Lin Yun was responsible for fetching the goods. However, the two of them were still not enough.
They were too busy to restock.
Lin Yun said, "Miss Lan, I see some customers are first-time visitors and need assistance. Why don't we hire more people?" She felt that Lan Yan was working incredibly hard managing both inside and outside the shop alone.
"I was thinking the same. You can post a notice outside to invite interested individuals to come, and we can select carefully." Lan Yan also intended to purchase some people to handle the core production, to prevent their secret recipes from being leaked.
Lin Yun then went inside to get paper and pen. After writing, she handed it to Lan Yan. "Miss Lan, do you think this is feasible?"
Lan Yan nodded and smiled, "It is. Your handwriting is beautiful too."
Lin Yun lowered her head, her face blushing. "My father used to run a security escort agency, so I learned these things." Unfortunately, her family later fell into hardship. Their possessions were all stolen, and even her father died of illness, leaving her alone.
Seeing her distress, Lan Yan patted Lin Yun's shoulder. "It's all in the past. You stay here, and I'll go to the matchmaking agency."
Lin Yun's smile returned. She had met such a kind person in Lan Yan, and everything would be good from now on. "Miss Lan, you can count on me."
"Mhm." Lan Yan left and headed to the matchmaking agency, where she met Aunt Li from last time.
Aunt Li almost didn't recognize Lan Yan this time. The change was too drastic.
The previous Lan Yan’s eyes were filled with greed, and she walked with a stooped posture. The current Lan Yan possessed an elegant and powerful aura, giving off an impression that she was not to be trifled with.
"Lan Yan, what brings you here this time? Did you fall out with that child husband again? With the appearance of your child husband, if we handed him over to our agency, we could definitely sell him for a good price."
Lan Yan shot Aunt Li a cold glance and said, "Aunt Li, loose lips sink ships. My husband and I are doing very well now. By saying such things, you are disrupting our marital harmony!"
Aunt Li was taken aback. Under Lan Yan's glare, she dared not say more. "Lan Yan, then what do you need?" In just two months, Lan Yan and that Jun Yelan's relationship had actually become so good!
Truly, one could not judge a book by its cover.
"To buy people." Lan Yan took out her money pouch, and Aunt Li immediately called people over. Lan Yan observed them; among them were children and the elderly. Some had voluntarily come to the agency, while others were forced.
Aunt Li said with a fawning smile, "Lan Yan, you have money now, so buy a few more. Look how sturdy these burly men in the middle are, and how beautiful those young girls are."
"Aunt Li, what would I want them for, to be idle? I want these two teenage girls, and this elder." Lan Yan looked at the three of them cowering, their bodies bearing injuries, clearly not having a good time at the agency.
Aunt Li tried to dissuade her, but Lan Yan's gaze intimidated her into producing the deeds of sale.
Lan Yan paid the money and tucked the deeds into her embrace, intending to return them later. "Follow me." She led the three of them away. Upon returning to the shop, she instructed them to wash up and eat in the back courtyard first.
Then she went to the front of the shop and saw Lin Yun registering the applicants for employment. She nodded with satisfaction. With Lin Yun around, she felt much more relieved.
Lin Yun saw her and smiled, "Miss Lan, this is the list of staff who applied today." She handed the paper in her hand to Lan Yan.
Lan Yan did not take it, instead saying, "You come with me to pick." Together, they selected four people in the end: two to handle customer reception and two for packaging.
She asked Lin Yun to train these individuals while she went next door and bought the adjacent rented shop to expand the premises. She had chosen this location not only because the price and location were suitable but also because there was an opportunity to buy the adjacent shop.
These new employees had prior experience and, under Lin Yun's guidance, gradually got the hang of things. As for the three people she had just bought, they could help process ingredients, leaving Lan Yan to only handle the final steps.
Seeing that it was already noon, she took her food box and headed out as usual.
At the entrance of the academy, Jun Yelan had been standing there early, constantly gazing at the street on his right.
The students who had been dressed in finery earlier were behind him. Seeing Jun Yelan standing alone, they exchanged glances and forcefully pushed him from behind.
Jun Yelan steadied himself, his eyes turning cold, and he stared indifferently at these students. "It seems you haven't taken in any of the lesson the teacher spoke about today. Truly wood-headed, as the teacher said."
He stood tall, his eyes unwavering. In his presence, these students immediately felt a head shorter.
The students were naturally indignant. Hearing Jun Yelan dare to insult them, they shouted, "Everyone, we cannot let Jun Yelan off the hook today, or he will surely report us to the teacher."
"Someone from the countryside, why should he surpass us and even earn the teacher's praise!"
The other students were led by this student, Lu. This Lu student was a good friend of Young Master Ming and someone not to be offended. They stood behind Lu, looking menacingly at Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan looked at them with disdain. These people were born into luxury and enjoyed the opportunity to study, yet they foolishly failed to cherish it, wasting their time here.
"You are all so uninteresting."
"Jun Yelan, you are dead today!" The Lu student shouted angrily, signaling the students behind him to attack. He raised his fists, intending to strike Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan's eyes deepened, and he revealed a sharpened bamboo stick from his sleeve. Since someone was seeking death, he could escort them. However, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
"Stop!" Lan Yan's eyes were filled with fury. How dare these people bully her man! She pulled Jun Yelan aside, placed the food box into his arms, and said, "Jun Yelan, you step back first. I'm afraid I might hurt you later."
Then, she rolled up her sleeves, cracked her knuckles with a loud pop. With a resounding "bang," she directly smashed the nose bridge of the leader askew and stood protectively in front of Jun Yelan. "Do you still want to fight!"
Suddenly, everyone turned to look at her. Jun Yelan's eyes widened.