As dusk approached, the sun cast long shadows from the west, its earlier searing intensity gradually fading.
The two went to the main courtyard to report their day’s activities to Yu Rong.
Upon hearing that they had made Sun Jiaojiao suffer repeated setbacks, Yu Rong was thrilled.
It wasn't just Du Yiyi; Yu Rong herself had also suffered many losses at the hands of Sun Jiaojiao.
Mother and daughter were delighted. Yu Rong, in her joy, bestowed more clothing materials and jewelry upon Su Xiaoqi.
Following this, Su Xiaoqi truly settled into the backyard of the Du residence.
She shared a room with Du Yiyi.
They slept in the same bed and ate at the same table, their relationship so close they could share a skirt.
Their daily lives were also rich and colorful.
During the day, they would go out to inspect the shops and check on the grain stores.
Alternatively, they would visit the pastry shops for a look around.
Chen Jinniang had originally promised to come over on the fourteenth of August.
However, due to the approaching Mid-Autumn Festival and the overwhelming business in Mianzhou City, she was unable to leave.
In addition, with the opening of a branch store, she had moved her younger sister to manage it, making it even more impossible for her to come.
After considering both options, they decided she wouldn’t come at all. Instead, following Su Xiaoqi’s earlier suggestion, they would transport the finished pastries from Mianzhou City to the prefectural city.
They would sell them during the Mid-Autumn rush first, and then she would come over.
Thus, Chen Jinji opened its doors in the prefectural city.
The prefectural city was not far from Mianzhou City.
The two locations often exchanged goods and services.
The people of the prefectural city had long yearned for Chen Jinji.
During this time, several shops in the prefectural city had appeared, imitating Chen Jinji.
But without exception, while they could renovate their stores to look identical, they could not replicate the taste of the pastries sold within.
Consequently, these imitators rose quickly and fell even faster.
They advertised aggressively, proclaiming themselves the Chen Jinji of the prefectural city.
But it was merely a case of selling dog meat under the guise of sheep. No matter how grand their facade, the pastries they produced were still the traditional chestnut cakes, cloud-slice cakes, and poria cocos cakes of the prefectural city…
Changing the packaging but not the contents.
Therefore, although they were a sensation upon opening, once people bought them and tasted them, they immediately realized the problem.
They were no different from ordinary pastries.
Once a reputation soured, it was like a dike riddled with ants; it collapsed instantly.
This led to Chen Jinji facing public doubt during its initial opening.
But they were soon won over by the pastries sold inside.
"This is the real deal, the authentic Chen Jinji."
"That's right, I bought the mooncakes sold inside.
Only Chen Jinji sells mooncakes with this taste."
"Yes, yes, I've eaten them. I had them in Mianzhou City. It's the only place that sells them, no branches."
"Quick, buy them, buy them, before others find out," someone urged in a hushed tone.
Su Xiaoqi and Du Yiyi, feigning to be passersby, saw the booming business in the shop and exchanged a knowing smile.
Su Xiaoqi had also found a path that suited her.
She had thought about it.
Relying on her own ability to buy shops and manage them was too troublesome.
It was better to do as they were doing now, find suitable partners, and manage together.
At worst, they could split the profits.
The money in the world was inexhaustible.
Especially, it could not all be earned by one person.
This method of cooperation allowed her to avoid the hassle of buying shops and finding suitable managers.
Moreover, Du Yiyi had told her that the managers of her family's shops were all loyal servants.
Even if they learned the art of pastry making, there was no fear of them leaving.
Su Xiaoqi then asked her to send a few skillful young maids to the Chen Jinji in Mianzhou City to learn pastry making.
From then on, they would be made in the backyard of one of the Du family's manors, and delivered to the shops every morning for sale.
"If they learn well, we can open one in the east, west, north, and south of the prefectural city," Su Xiaoqi planned her business empire.
Du Yiyi simply propped her chin with her hand and looked at Su Xiaoqi, smiling.
How much money they made was not important; what was important was that she had found the most significant and cherished friend of her life.
As their carriage passed a small alley, Du Yiyi pointed to a plaque on the grey wall and said, "This is Ya Mo Ji Hutong."
Su Xiaoqi reviewed the name in her mind and suddenly remembered that this was where Huang Yuanxiang was temporarily staying.
Last time, at the entrance of the examination hall, he had tried to frame Shen Yun, but unexpectedly, he had dug his own grave and fallen in.
According to the Laws of Da Liang, he should have been paraded with a cangue for three months, beaten with a hundred strokes, and then exiled to the frontier.
However, due to the influence of his county magistrate father and his elder sister, who was a marquis’s wife,
He was merely apprehended by officers for violating the rules of searching the examination hall, his qualification for the provincial examination was revoked, he was beaten with thirty strokes, and fined a hundred taels of silver, which settled the matter.
Coincidentally, he was currently recuperating from his injuries in this very residence.
"This matter is far from over," Su Xiaoqi said, referring both to Huang Yuanxiang and Shen Yun.
Having been so badly framed by Shen Yun this time, Huang Yuanxiang, true to his nature, would certainly not let Shen Yun off the hook.
But based on her understanding of Shen Yun's cunning, he wouldn't let it go either.
He was never a kind soul; he always believed in retaliating against enemies and repaying grievances.
"That Magistrate Huang is quite concerned about his second son; he specifically sent his most favored concubine to visit him. It’s a pity that these two clearly have a private…"
Du Yiyi looked at Su Xiaoqi as she spoke, afraid of making her shy, and didn't dare to be too direct.
She herself didn't care; after all, it was others doing disgusting things, and she merely knew about it. Why should she blush?
Su Xiaoqi blinked her eyes. Du Yiyi hadn't finished, but she already knew.
Magistrate Huang Liang Sheng's most favored concubine was naturally Zhao Haihua.
It was not that he had sent her, but that she had volunteered.
However, Du Yiyi, in such a short time, had managed to gather such detailed information about their inner household affairs, showing she had indeed put effort into her investigation.
She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and chuckle, "We don't need to concern ourselves with this; someone else will deal with them."
"If we don't handle this, then the matter of him sending people to bully you and me is another story," Du Yiyi was clear about debts and grudges.
It wasn't that she was saying it, but she had wanted to deal with Huang Yuanxiang for a long time.
It was just that a few days ago, her informant had told her that after being beaten with thirty strokes, Huang Yuanxiang was in too much pain to get up and remained bedridden every day.
She had no opportunity to deal with him, so she had secretly sent people to locate this place, intending to strike when the time was right.
She felt that today was perfect.
However, Su Xiaoqi disagreed.
Of course, Su Xiaoqi was not some saintly Mary; she simply had more important things to do at the moment.
That's why she advised Su Xiaoqi to put it aside for now.
She also promised that after they finished their current tasks, she would devise a good plan to deal with him, and they wouldn't have to dirty their hands.
Du Yiyi was curious about what could be more important than revenge at this moment.
Su Xiaoqi whispered something in her ear.
Du Yiyi's eyes widened, and she nodded repeatedly, even chiding, "Such important matters, Sister Xiaoqi should have said so earlier.
Let's stop wandering and head straight to the north of the city."
The largest bookstore in the prefectural city was located right next to the inn where Su Xiaoqi had stayed last time, just one street away.