Initially, people patronized the small tavern for its cheap drinks. Gradually, however, they discovered that despite its modest size and unpretentious decor, the wine was truly excellent, and its reputation slowly spread. Because she focused on low profit margins and high volume, her clientele consisted of the common folk, and while her business was booming, it didn't attract undue attention from the authorities.
Thus, she managed to survive in the capital. Little did anyone suspect that the cheerful, lively tavern owner by day would don a dark outfit at night and scale rooftops to gather intelligence.
The tavern, being a melting pot of people, sometimes had its share of boastful patrons. Yet, Wu Caiwei could discern truth from falsehood and quickly gained a general understanding of the various households in the capital.
"Boss Wu, you seem so busy. Do you need any help?" a ragged child asked, looking up at Wu Caiwei with pleading eyes.
"Of course, I do. But you can't manage alone. Where are your little friends? Go get one more person," Wu Caiwei replied. The child before her was named Luzi, a street urchin. He had come to her establishment asking for handouts shortly after her tavern opened. He had expected to be chased away, but Wu Caiwei not only refrained from scolding him but also gave him a plate of meat and a few steamed buns. He was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.
If he hadn't been desperate, he wouldn't have dared to bother her. To repay her kindness, he always offered his assistance whenever she needed it, within his capabilities. For instance, when Wu Caiwei needed help moving wine from the cellar to a cart for delivery, he eagerly volunteered. Although Wu Caiwei's strength had increased significantly after practicing martial arts, allowing her to manage alone, in the eyes of others, she was still a frail woman, and the physical labor was inconvenient.
Seeing that Wu Caiwei didn't refuse, he breathed a sigh of relief. As he left, he whispered, "If you need help with anything like this again, you can call me. I'll be begging in the alley across the street."
Wu Caiwei nodded. His face immediately lit up with a joyous smile, feeling that he wasn't entirely useless. From then on, whenever he came to beg, Wu Caiwei would give him extra provisions, making him feel embarrassed each time. To repay her kindness, he gathered his friends, and during less busy hours, they would help out. Sometimes they would sweep the floors, other times they would wash dishes, fearing that their dirtiness might offend customers and affect Wu Caiwei's business. They were always discreet, entering and leaving through the back door.
Initially, Wu Caiwei's business wasn't great. Considering the difficulty she faced as a single woman, they didn't make any demands. But as her business gradually improved, Luzi began to consider that they couldn't remain beggars forever, living day to day. To have a roof over their heads and enough to eat three meals a day, he mustered the courage to ask Wu Caiwei.
To his surprise, he received an affirmative answer. He stood stunned for a moment, then looked at her with an expression of extreme delight.
He then bounded away, eager to share the good news with his friends. Wu Caiwei quickly called him back and handed him the food she had already prepared. Seeing his hesitation to accept, she quickly said, "You'll be working for me soon. I never mistreat my own people. You need to fill your stomachs before you have the strength to work for me."
Luzi nodded gratefully, bowed deeply, and pledged to start working the next day, assuring her that they would meet her expectations.
The next morning, as soon as Wu Caiwei opened her door, she saw the two children waiting. Knowing how much they valued this opportunity, she still felt a pang of concern. "Why are you here so early? You're still growing. You need proper rest. Don't come before dawn from now on."
The two boys grinned sheepishly and scratched their heads. They had specifically worn their best clothes for work today. Although they still looked remarkably shabby, at least they didn't smell bad. To avoid Wu Caiwei's disapproval, they immediately picked up the brooms and started sweeping. Wu Caiwei smiled and shook her head.
After a busy session in the kitchen, she brought out three bowls of noodles and invited them to eat. At first, they refused, but Wu Caiwei insisted, saying the noodles were ready, and if they didn't eat them, she would pour them into the street to feed the stray dogs.
Reluctantly, they sat down. As they ate, tears streamed down their faces. Wu Caiwei pretended not to notice, preserving the children's dignity.
Even greater surprises awaited them. When Wu Caiwei produced four sets of brand-new clothes and handed them over, the boys were speechless. As customers gradually arrived, the two quickly went to the inner room to change into the clean garments. This was the first time in their lives they had worn such beautiful clothes, and they worked cautiously, afraid of soiling them.
New to the work, the boys were still a bit clumsy and hesitant. However, they didn't give customers any reason to associate them with the beggars in the nearby alley. After all, the children in the alley were grubby, whereas these two were clean and far removed from them. Sudan Novel Network.
Wu Caiwei knew they were also helping other children. Every day, she intentionally set aside some clean meals for them to take back to the other children.
In this manner, she managed to survive peacefully in the capital. Now, anyone who mentioned Boss Wu of the West City couldn't help but give her a thumbs-up. She was exceptionally adaptable in business, charming in her speech, and, most importantly, her brewed wine was incredibly flavorful, leading to her phenomenal success. Recently, she had heard that she was planning to open a rouge shop nearby. Although it was strange for a man to open a rouge shop, judging by her business acumen, everyone believed it would also be a roaring success.
As expected, people were initially skeptical about the quality of her rouge. However, since everyone in the West City knew each other, and Wu Caiwei personally recommended it, out of consideration for her, most people bought some. They expected to use it only once and never again. To their surprise, the trial yielded unexpectedly good results.
Whether it was an illusion or not, their skin felt much smoother. With prolonged use, gradual improvements became apparent. Word of mouth spread, and money flowed into her pockets like a river. People looked at her, their expressions slowly turning envious, wondering where this Boss Wu had emerged from, possessing such business acumen.
Although this was the West District, far from the opulent residences of high-ranking officials, they didn't take these two shops seriously. However, the West City was a small place, and business meant a limited customer base. When her business prospered, naturally, others' businesses declined.
Consequently, Wu Caiwei often noticed people giving her meaningful glances. She was all too familiar with such looks. While she wasn't afraid, she couldn't help but become cautious, lest she fall prey to someone in the capital, where she had no backing.