It rained last night, leaving the air exceptionally fresh. The wet bluestones would normally discourage Shen Hua from going out, but Er Rong had secretly passed a message to Yicui: Manager Cheng would be bringing several embroidery ladies back to Fengzhou today. Follow current novels on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵
She sat in the carriage, leaning against the wall. Cheng Gui was heading towards the inn where Shopkeeper Cheng was staying.
By the time Shen Hua arrived, Shopkeeper Cheng was ordering Er Rong to move one trunk of luggage after another.
Er Rong was so exhausted she was panting, cursing Shopkeeper Cheng inside her heart, but she dared not show the slightest disrespect on her face.
Shopkeeper Cheng had his hands clasped behind his back, looking grave.
The venture had failed.
Although the oversight was on Juchao Pavilion’s part, both parties ended up suffering. The matrons of the noble families had already spread the word—they would not patronize Juchao Pavilion anymore and would only recognize Yifeng Hall from now on. The shopkeepers of Shengjing’s major embroidery workshops also clearly expressed their stance.
Without a doubt, Juchao Pavilion was being ostracized.
The number of people coming to buy embroidery had halved and then halved again.
But even a lean camel is bigger than a horse. The Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop might not be in its best shape and their embroidery could no longer be considered the best of the Su Embroidery style, but these embroidery ladies were after all trained by the old embroiderers. After several years of learning, their embroidery still had selling points. It wasn’t so appalling that everyone shunned it, especially for customers who couldn’t afford Yifeng Hall’s embroidery.
Before their collaboration with the Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop, Juchao Pavilion barely had any customers. It was still better than before, and Shopkeeper naturally intended to continue the cooperation.
A bad reputation was just that—a bad reputation. As long as money could be made, Juchao Pavilion didn’t mind.
But Shopkeeper Cheng did.
He had personally witnessed the prosperous glory of the Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop and found the current situation quite distasteful.
More than ten embroidery ladies, all dressed alike, tall or thin, were all filled with trepidation.
"Shopkeeper, we really did our best, and you know well that the embroideries sold to Shengjing before all came from the hands of the masters," they said.
Having come this time without much confidence, Shopkeeper Cheng couldn’t really blame the embroidery ladies for this.
"The news might have already reached Fengzhou. I will talk to the young master about it," he said.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a rhythmical clapping sound came from behind.
A voice all too familiar, still haughty and unmistakably disdainful in his memory, echoed.
"Shopkeeper Cheng really knows how to take responsibility."
Turning around, Shopkeeper Cheng faced the girl’s faint and cold smile.
Shen Hua just looked steadily at the slick and accomplished Shopkeeper Cheng.
"Do you remember the Boss who runs the restaurant opposite the Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop?" she asked.
Of course, her question needed no answer from Shopkeeper Cheng.
With a melancholic tone, the girl stated, "It’s hard to tell who put poison in the wine at the restaurant. Although it didn’t kill anyone, it nearly claimed half a life. The person poisoned was of no low status, and even the Boss’s entire savings weren’t enough to compensate; he ended up mortgaging the restaurant. Moreover, his hair turned white overnight."
Shen Hua’s smile was mocking.
Clearly, her moral character was degraded.
"Your hair is still so black," she remarked.
"I’m genuinely worried; such a Shopkeeper can’t last long."
As she saw Shopkeeper Cheng’s complexion sour, Shen Hua’s words were sharp as a knife, stabbing straight into his heart.
"Shen Qu is a man who places great importance on reputation. Yet the moment you arrived in Shengjing, you tarnished his. Shopkeeper Cheng, with your vast experience, why not guess what he will do?"
Shen Hua toyed with the beads on her wrist. "Almost forgot, he knows nothing about the embroidery workshop and still needs you. But such a shameless creature’s evil intentions come from the heart. Once he fully controls the workshop, will he kick you out with a single kick, or will he vent all his accumulated dissatisfaction before giving you that kick?"
She looked at Manager Cheng with pity: "It’s truly pathetic. Once he’s powerful enough, you won’t get anything, and what are you in his eyes? Nothing but a dog."
Manager Cheng’s face darkened: "That set of embroidery..."
Shen Hua smiled: "Are you satisfied with what you’ve seen?"
"One reaps what one sows. Your allegiance to Shen Qu was the cause, and this backlash is the effect," she said.
Shen Hua was genuinely curious to see if, upon his return, Shopkeeper Cheng would still pour all his teaching into helping Shen Qu take charge of the embroidery workshop.
If he had reservations, he would surely hide them, teaching ten parts as if they were only five. Shen Qu was naturally dissatisfied.
You’re on guard against me, I’m on guard against you, it should be quite interesting.
The girl even kindly cursed.
"Next time I see you, it won’t be at a gravesite, will it?"
In the end, Shen Hua left with her nose in the air.
She strolled leisurely along the street, the darkness and murkiness in her heart transforming into liberation.
Seeing her smiling face, Yingwu couldn’t help but smile along.
"Will my lady be returning to the estate?"
Shen Hua: "First, we’ll dine at First-tier Sky, then go to Yunxiang Pavilion to buy some clothes."
Shen Hua also complained: "I have too few clothes; I don’t have enough to change into."
Yingwu sincerely replied: "But my lady, there are several lines of clothes in the wardrobe that I’ve never seen you wear. They’re still new."
She immersed herself in her own world: "I have indeed been too thrifty these days."
First-tier Sky was not far from here; Shen Hua didn’t plan to go by carriage. It wasn’t easy to reserve a private room there. She couldn’t predict when she might whimsically decide to dine there, so she simply spent a large sum of money. She reserved the most secluded private room on the second floor for several months in advance.
Knowing the way well, she went upstairs and headed to the private room.
Then, her gaze sharpened; she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure passing by.
Shen Hua turned her head: "Did you see that?"
Yingwu nodded: "I saw it, it was the little princess."
Shen Hua scoffed and changed direction, heading toward another corner.
"Well done! This little ghost skips class instead of listening at home. How dare she imitate me! Just watch me deal with her!"
Past the corner, there were closely shut private rooms one after another. Shen Hua approached one with dignity, then continued to bend down with dignity, bringing her ear close to it.
Before she could hear any sounds from within, the door was opened from inside.
It was a richly dressed, fat man with a beard.
Man: "You’ve arrived, eh? You’re quite eager."
The man grinned, his eyeballs nestled in his flesh like tiny sesame seeds, as he gave Shen Hua a once-over: "You’re quite handsome; your husband didn’t lie to me. As we agreed beforehand, you need to bear me a son within two years."
He fished out ten silver taels with much digging: "Follow me, and all this will be yours."
"If you obey and win my heart, once I outlast my sickly wife at home, I’ll make you my official wife!"
"My... lord," a flattering male voice sounded from behind Shen Hua as he pulled a woman forward.
"You’ve mistaken someone else!"
"This is my wife. Look at her, she’s got a nice figure; her big hips mean she’s likely to bear children."
The fat man: ... "Then who is she?"
Shen Hua slowly straightened up, looking indifferently at the scene. Then she pulled out a silver note worth one hundred taels from her sleeve.
In front of everyone, the lady tore it up without blinking an eye. Even her little finger tipped with light rouge was raised.
With a scowl on her face, years of cultivation allowed her to issue a sincere and polite greeting.
"Hey! Pauper! Is this humiliating enough for you?"
With a ’bang’, the middle-aged man with a flushed face slammed the door shut.
Soon after, it opened again to pull the bewildered woman inside and continue with the door closed.