After inspecting Zuixiang Pavilion, Xu Shichu went to Houji Bookstore. She walked there while strolling around the street instead of taking a carriage. So when she passed a relatively quiet alley, she saw an unexpected person in the half-closed courtyard of a house at the corner.
That man was Zhou Wencun, the youngest son of the current emperor's younger brother, King Shunyi. He was the sweetheart that Luo Yaqing had been thinking about in the original owner's previous life.
When the original owner was returning to the Ningyuan Earl's Mansion, she unexpectedly met Zhou Wencun flirting with the widow of his classmate, and they seemed to be having an affair. So when Luo Yaqing expressed her love for Zhou Wencun in front of Luo Changqing, she told Luo Changqing the truth. After Luo Changqing checked, he naturally knew about Zhou Wencun's romantic affairs, and he rejected the possibility of Zhou Wencun becoming his son-in-law without hesitation.
Because of this, Luo Yaqing hated the original owner for being so talkative. She thought that the original owner slandered Zhou Wencun in front of her father because she couldn't bear to see her marry her ideal husband. Her purpose was to destroy her happiness. Therefore, when the original owner was disliked by Luo Changqing and his son, Luo Yaqing often added insult to injury.
Poor original owner told Luo Changqing about this matter just to please them father and daughter, but she never expected that it would backfire and make Luo Yaqing hate her for meddling in other people's business.
Thinking of this, Xu Shichu lowered her eyes. Since meddling in other people's affairs would only end badly, why should she be such a nasty person? Besides, Luo Changqing had already said that he didn't need her to interfere in his children's marriages, so why didn't she just watch from the sidelines and be a good stepmother who stayed out of it
"Sir, you said that you felt sorry for me for losing my husband at a young age, but you have rarely come to visit me recently... Have you forgotten me a long time ago..." A timid and sorrowful female voice came from the yard, and another male voice hurriedly comforted her:
"How could that be? I'm here to see you... You look so thin, don't be too sad, you should take care of yourself. I'm sure Brother Li wouldn't be at ease knowing your condition in the underworld."
Xu Shichu sneered in his heart. How dare Zhou Wencun say that? If his classmate knew that his widow was taken care of by him and ended up in bed, he wondered if the coffin would still be able to be closed
If Zhou Wencun really fell in love with the widow of his classmate, then you should at least give her a status. Unfortunately, he said he felt pity for her, but in fact he was just playing with her as a mistress. He was just attracted by her beauty, but he pretended to be a gentleman in public, and even someone like Luo Yaqing was framed by him.
Xu Shichu smiled sneerfully, and pretended that he saw nothing. He quickly left this unclean place with his servants.
As the business of the two dowry shops became more and more prosperous, Xu Shichu had more money in her hands. She did not spend it on other things, but instead formed a caravan specializing in foreign business.
No matter when, the profits from foreign trade are very considerable. Even though foreign trade in ancient times was much more difficult than in modern times when logistics and transportation are much more convenient, it is precisely because of this difficulty that there are not so many competitors in the foreign trade business. Therefore, if it can be done, the market will not be a problem at all.
Of course Xu Shichu would not start with a big fanfare, but instead he would form small caravans and join forces with the experienced and well-connected larger caravans to carry on with small-scale business for a while, then accumulate experience, find out the ways, and then set up his own business.
Of course, the big caravans would never tell these business secrets to others, so it depends on the cleverness of the small caravans themselves.
Xu Shichu therefore carefully selected a number of caravan members who were loyal to her and quick-witted, and gave them enough autonomy to act according to circumstances, allowing them to test the waters.
After finishing his business, Xu Shichu had just had some free time when he received an invitation from Princess Ande to a flower-viewing party.
Princess Ande is the aunt of the current emperor. Even her grandson is now old enough to get married. It is conceivable that this flower-viewing banquet is just a blind date banquet in disguise.
As the only jewel in the crown of the powerful Prime Minister Luo, Luo Yaqing was naturally the key candidate for granddaughter-in-law that Princess Ande had chosen for her grandson.
As a "married woman", Xu Shichu certainly had no interest in the flower-viewing banquet. However, Miss Luo Yaqing also wanted to choose a husband. As a tool, Luo Changqing naturally asked her to fulfill her duty and take her stepdaughter to meet the husband.
So Xu Shichu took Luo Yaqing to the princess's mansion. Princess Ande was married to the previous Duke of Zhenguo. The current Duke of Zhenguo is her son, and her grandson is the Duke of Zhenguo's prince. In terms of status, she is quite a match for Luo Yaqing.
It’s a pity that Luo Yaqing didn’t like him.
At the banquet, Xu Shichu followed the noble ladies to appreciate the flowers, eat snacks, drink tea, chat, and listen to others' sarcasm or flattery. Because she was the prime minister's wife, there were far more flattery than sarcasm, so she was in a very happy mood at the moment.
While the married women were engaging in boring socializing, the unmarried boys and girls were eager to make some moves, subtly showing off their looks and talents in front of the opposite sex they liked.
Reciting poems, painting, chatting and talking about everything under the sun are the basic activities, and there are also many sports such as throwing pots and shooting arrows.
"Miss Luo's poetry is truly unique and not at all clichéd. It really is a delicate thought!" A deep and elegant male voice filled with amazement suddenly came out from behind the group of girls.
Luo Yaqing, who was discussing poetry with her sisters, was not surprisingly attracted to Zhou Wencun, an elegant nobleman in white clothes, who was fanning himself and looking very graceful.
Zhou Wencun has a slender figure and handsome appearance, with a pair of sparkling peach blossom eyes that are tender and affectionate. He looks at everyone with deep affection, especially when he looks at someone intently.
As a result, Luo Yaqing, who was being stared at intently, blushed all of a sudden, lowered her neck shyly, and said in a low voice in embarrassment: "Sir, you are too kind. I just said something shallow and it is not worthy of being accepted in such a refined place."
"Miss Luo, why are you so modest? If your remarks are all shallow, then whose remarks can be profound? Miss Luo's talent is so great that I am ashamed of myself." Zhou Wencun praised with a slick tongue.
As a man who had been around many girls, he had already mastered the sweet words to coax young girls. Now, it was easy for him to use these tricks on Luo Yaqing.
For a girl like Luo Yaqing, who has a powerful father, is good-looking, and has a gentle and not willful personality, Zhou Wencun naturally wants to strike first.
Having a powerful father-in-law is very important. Don't think that you will have a smooth future just because he is the emperor's nephew. There is a big difference in status between royal children with real power and those without real power.
Zhou Wencun knew that he didn't have any special abilities, so he wanted to marry a wife who could be helpful to him, and Luo Yaqing was the best candidate.