Chapter 399 - 406: A Battle of Superiority

Su Wenyue’s concerns were quite practical. Although she wanted to make her shop look more upscale, using mirrors and glass on the second floor, this was only because such materials were readily available rather than because she was prepared to spend at all costs.

“Leave this matter to me,” Han Yu was always thorough in his thinking. He had considered everything Su Wenyue could think of, and since he brought it up, he certainly had a solution. Su Wenyue said so because he hadn’t been very involved before, thinking his wife’s desire to open a shop was just a whim. Acting so hastily seemed too rash. But now that he saw his wife could accomplish so much, he also planned to contribute and do something for her.

When Su Wenyue heard what Han Yu said, she felt uncertain. After all, she knew how difficult it was to obtain such materials. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so precious. Within the entire Daming Dynasty, only a few could afford to use glass.

“How are you going to manage it? Glass isn’t easy to come by!” Su Wenyue knew Han Yu never boasted, but his promise sounded so casual that it left her feeling uneasy.

“Don’t worry. Give me one day. By tomorrow evening, I’ll have the glass for you. Just have the workers ready and offer them extra wages to rush the job. It won’t delay the opening,” Han Yu said without revealing his method, but he spoke with certainty.

Hearing Han Yu’s words, Su Wenyue didn’t ask further. She instructed Fu Lu to prepare everything necessary, and then she and Han Yu returned home.

Han Yu truly kept his word. The next day, he had glass delivered as promised, and not just a small amount but enough for the shop’s glass cabinets. Fu Lu, with his efficient ways, immediately had the prepared workers install the glass cabinets according to Su Wenyue’s ideas.

Apart from other things, Han Yu’s suggestion was indeed the best there was. Once the glass cabinets were installed and items were displayed, the shop immediately looked much more luxurious, especially the items with styles from the outer domain. Su Wenyue had checked references to avoid giving the game away, designing according to the customs and habits of people from the outer domains, including the glass cabinets and items brought from the Western Region, all in the Western style. The uniqueness of the shop became much more pronounced.

Fu Lu was already very satisfied with the shop’s decoration. After the display cabinets were replaced with glass cabinets, he and the guys in the shop all felt a sense of pride, working in such a fine establishment.

After Su Wenyue agreed, Yu Zhengqing was invited over by Fu Lu and became the official shopkeeper. Contemplating his recent misfortunes, his decline followed by oppression from Chen Li, the doubts cast upon his character by other stores upon hearing rumors, and the people and words that kicked him when he was down, he felt a surge of emotion. It was Madam who had chosen to trust him, giving him a new lease on life and helping him out of his predicament. He would be grateful for this life and was determined to work hard in the future to live up to Madam’s trust and grace.

People are like that. When sailing smoothly and successfully, being trusted and promoted is taken for granted. They would feel grateful, but not overly so. However, when in difficulty and adversity, if someone still chooses to trust and promote them, willing to lend a hand, it feels extraordinarily significant. Just like Yu Zhengqing at that moment, who considered Su Wenyue the greatest benefactor of his life and swore everlasting loyalty and repayment. Thus the saying, it’s easy to add flowers to the brocade, but hard to send charcoal in the snow.

Fu Lu knew how to seize the moment, delivering plenty of inspiring words. It was all to make Yu Zhengqing and the guys feel even more grateful to Su Wenyue, to serve her loyally. Indeed, he was an exceptional servant, single-mindedly considering Su Wenyue’s interests without trying to establish his own authority. Then again, his authority had long been established through Su Wenyue’s attitude and ample respect, for the dignity of servants ultimately comes from their master.

“It’s our good fortune to work for such a fine master, in such a respectable place. The master trusts us and has entrusted us with the shop’s affairs, and has treated us so well. We cannot fail to live up to the master’s kindness and must manage the shop’s affairs well. The master has always been wise and generous. As long as we do our jobs well, she will certainly not let us down.”

“Don’t worry, Big Shopkeeper, we will do our best.”

“Yes, the master is so good to us. None of us are the ungrateful type. We would feel guilty if we didn’t do our work well. We aren’t the kind to fail our conscience.”

The day of the grand opening was fast approaching. Everything was ready except for one final touch. Su Wenyue’s shop was renovated, but its reputation had yet to be established. She held an invitation from the Yin Family, asking her to attend a banquet. It was the perfect opportunity.

Su Wenyue planned to make the most of this occasion to make her shop known. When she went to the banquet, she brought along many items, mostly ‘Western goods’ that she had made. She also chose her jewelry carefully, wearing pieces made by Master Cao, looking like a celestial consort, stunning even the servants who attended her daily.

“Madam, you are truly beautiful. With such an outfit, you will shine at the banquet, outshining everyone else,” Shu Yu said with a smile.

Su Wenyue, looking at herself in the mirror, nodded in satisfaction. She had aimed for this effect. On ordinary days, she dressed in a low-key manner, favoring simple and subtle colors and jewelry. But today, she was specially dressed to enhance the reputation of her shop.

“This is good. Let’s go as soon as we’ve got everything,” she said.

Arriving by horse carriage at the Yin Family’s place, Su Wenyue immediately attracted many gazes. She was naturally beautiful, and today, given the chance to dress up, she caught the eyes of many onlookers who couldn’t look away, their gazes filled with amazement. She exhibited not a common vulgar beauty but a kind of noble and refined elegance that made people forget the mundane.

“Madam, isn’t that Chen Li over there?” Shu Yu’s eyes were sharp, spotting the figure descending from a horse carriage at a distance. Indeed, it was Chen Li.

With a flash in her eyes, Su Wenyue considered the coincidence and watched as Chen Li approached slowly. Today, she wasn’t dressed in her usual cross-dressing attire but was garbed in strikingly beautiful and novel clothes. If not for Su Wenyue’s presence, she too would have been an attractive sight. However, her clothes revealed a bit too much at the chest, almost showing flesh, which was somewhat indecent.

It seemed Chen Li harbored a similar intention to Su Wenyue, aiming to make a name for herself at the banquet. A smile played at the corner of Su Wenyue’s mouth. This was going to be interesting.

Chen Li walked gracefully over, but there was something missing, something extra, that made her appearance somewhat odd. When she noticed Su Wenyue, who was also there to attend the banquet, her expression soured.