Hua Zhi lifted the curtain in one motion and met Zhu Shan’s expression — first surprise, then embarrassment — and for a moment could not decide whether to laugh or to be exasperated at the girl’s daring: coming out with only one maid was one thing, but sending that maid away as well, unafraid of something going wrong and her reputation along with it.

But she also understood why this little cousin of hers had come. She had probably heard from someone that the new shop was opening today and had come in this roundabout way to show her support.

“Go on home. I’ll have someone pack up a selection of everything and have it sent to you.”

“…Yes.” Zhu Shan had not had much contact with this cousin of hers in the past, and had never quite been without a faint sense of looking down on her — the eldest young miss of the Hua Family, and yet pressed down by her other sisters. Back then, her mother had said Cousin Hua took after her aunt in temperament, and she had thought so too.

But over the course of this year, her cousin had proven beyond all doubt that she was anything but weak. For some reason, Zhu Shan was a little afraid of this cousin — particularly since learning of the family’s intention to match her with Cousin Bailin. She dared not disobey her cousin’s word. Not that she had ever told anyone, but she very much liked that cousin of hers, the one who had once secretly picked flowers for her.

The maid, full of gratitude, bowed to Hua Zhi, terrified the young miss might change her mind, and scrambled back into the carriage to urge the driver to go quickly.

Zhu Shan secretly lifted the corner of the window curtain to look outside. Her cousin was already heading toward Liyu Lane. She walked with the Hua Family’s third young miss beside her, attended by no more than two maids — making her way along the street in full view, yet no one so much as underestimated her. Those people actually made way for her.

How wonderful that must feel. Zhu Shan bit her lip. Just now she had actually wanted to ask her cousin to take her along — but…

“Qingqing, do you think Cousin Hua dislikes me?”

The maid was visibly astonished. “How could that be? This servant has not seen the slightest sign of it.”

Zhu Shan lowered her head and twisted her fingers together. “Every time we meet, Cousin Hua only exchanges a few polite words with me. One time when Cousin Hua came to the Zhu house, I gave her two handkerchiefs I had embroidered myself — I wanted her to pass one of them to… to Cousin Bailin. But when she left that day, I don’t know if she truly forgot or did it on purpose, but she left it behind.”

The maid had not known about this. Though she was herself only fourteen or fifteen, her mind was subtle and steady — otherwise the Madam would not have placed her at Zhu Shan’s side.

She thought it over, then asked quietly, “Does the Old Madam know of this?”

Zhu Shan shook her head. “How would I dare let Grandmother know. But Mother knows.”

“What did the first Madam say?”

“Mother was somewhat displeased.” Zhu Shan might be young, but she already had the wits for it — she did not say everything in front of a servant. In truth, her mother had been more than displeased; she had said some rather unkind things. Her mother had always felt that the Hua Family’s standing was now too low, and that marrying into them would be beneath her. She herself could see the sense in that — yet if the person was Cousin Bailin, there was nothing she could not bear.

And besides, her aunt had such a gentle nature — she would not need to worry about being managed by her mother-in-law. Her cousin Hua Zhi was formidable, it was true, but she was a daughter of the family and could not manage the household forever. Her mother had told her: the Hua Family would eventually pass into Cousin Bailin’s hands. With Cousin Bailin as the Hua Family’s eldest legitimate grandson, would she not be the mistress of the household someday?

At this thought, Zhu Shan’s face grew a little warm.

Qingqing had her young miss’s best interests entirely at heart, and after a moment’s thought said, “The eldest young miss may have simply forgotten. Just now she did not need anyone to tell her you were here — she spotted it herself. That shows how much she cares about you. How could she possibly dislike you?”

Zhu Shan was instantly reassured. She had done nothing to displease her cousin — and just now, had she not done as she was told and obediently gone home?

Hua Zhi was also thinking about Zhu Shan. She could not help it — every time she saw the girl, her mind went to the elders’ wish to pair her with Bailin. She had not been in favor of it, which was why she had kept a deliberate distance from Zhu Shan and never given her the slightest encouragement.

As someone whose knowledge far exceeded what this era could offer, she was well aware of the drawbacks of a match between cousins. Yet this was the common practice of the time, and she could not use that as a reason to refuse. Furthermore, she also wanted to see whether Bailin had any feelings for Zhu Shan. If he did, she would accept the match. But if it was merely a matter of practical advantage, she would not give her blessing even if Bailin consented.

This matter could not be put off indefinitely, though. When Bailin returned from his travels this time, this business would need to be resolved. Zhu Shan was already twelve, and betrothals among families of standing were always settled early — she could not let Bailin delay the girl’s prospects.

The clamor of voices grew steadily louder. They had arrived at the mouth of Liyu Lane. All manner of aromas washed over them at once. People continued to stream out of Liyu Lane with food in their hands, crossing the arched bridge into Lvtai Lane; others came from Lvtai Lane across the same bridge into Liyu Lane.

The arched bridge had been built on Hua Zhi’s orders, positioned precisely between the two lanes.

Hua Ling, seeing such a scene for the first time, murmured in astonishment, “There are so many people.”

Ying Chun covered her mouth to suppress a laugh. “Even when the lane was being renovated, people kept coming to ask when it would open. After the young miss set the date, Manager Chen posted a few notices in Lvtai Lane and mentioned it to everyone there as well — if anyone else asked, the date was simply passed along. Young miss, you see? There was no need to come up with any further means of promotion. It is already too crowded to squeeze through.”

“Very good. When the seafood shop opens, have Chen Liang post a notice here as well.”

Even Hua Ling laughed at that.

Speak of him and he appears — Chen Liang came pushing through the crowd, his forehead sheened with sweat. The man was noticeably darker than before, though sturdier too, and more assured in his bearing. “Eldest young miss, when did you arrive? I only knew because a customer mentioned it.”

Hua Zhi was well aware that her face had become quite recognizable in the capital by now. Standing here for just a short while had already drawn an untold number of glances her way — and Hua Ling beside her was receiving no small share of them as well. She was trying her best to appear composed, but she could not manage her elder sister’s bone-deep indifference to it all.

Hua Zhi genuinely did not mind at all. With the situation as it was, there was no need to ask how business was going — she only said by way of instruction, “For anything that goes into people’s mouths, hygiene must never be neglected. Under no circumstances allow the quality to slip just because there are more customers. It is fine to sell a little less — as long as the food is good, people will be willing to wait. But a reputation once lost cannot be bought back with any amount of silver.”

“Yes. This was repeated over and over during the training at home, and I will keep a close eye on things myself. Please do not worry.”

“Tell everyone: this month’s wages are doubled.”

“Yes. On behalf of everyone, this servant thanks the eldest young miss.”

Hua Zhi looked back at Lvtai Lane on the other side, its foot traffic somewhat siphoned away by the new shop. “Lvtai Lane the same — and yours on top of that doubled rate, doubled once more.”

Chen Liang instantly broke into a smile that showed all his teeth. Working for the eldest young miss was just exhilarating. She did not hover over every detail, did not demand reports on every step. As long as the results were good, even if adjustments were made along the way, she would not make things difficult for anyone — and if the outcome was better than before, there would even be a reward. So naturally, everyone who worked for the eldest young miss gave everything they had. No one wanted to fall short of the trust she had placed in them.

“One more thing — go pack up a variety of the food and have it sent to the Zhu house.”

“Yes, this servant will go personally.”

Hua Zhi nodded. Seeing that a few young gentlemen on the other side had already begun to stir with obvious intent to approach, she did not linger further and gave them no opportunity to draw near. She knew there were people Yanxi had arranged to watch over her, but under ordinary circumstances she had no wish to expose them. In the capital of the Son of Heaven, who could say whether or not someone might recognize them.