CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER 173: INVITING MISS CHAI TO VISIT THE HOUSE (2)

The Second Princess blinked and said with a smile, "Yes, yes, yes. For example, if I like a particular food, I’ll have the servants rush dozens of miles away to buy it, and no one can stop me from buying delicious food."

Li Xing’an scoffed, "Oh, is that why you’ve gained so much weight?"

The Second Princess pulled a face, "Why talk about me?" Was the weight on her body something she wanted?

She really wished she could cut off some and sell it for money, if possible.

"Third Brother, we’re discussing business, don’t interrupt." Li Yuzhu looked at Li Xing’an and said sternly.

"Alright, alright, I won’t interrupt, you all continue." Li Xing’an laughed cheekily.

Li Yuzhu continued, "Second Sister, let’s keep discussing business. I think besides making pastries, you can experiment with various food. If you can think of it, try making it.

I’ll help you save some money here. We won’t sell around the villages or set up stalls; instead, we’ll rent a store at the market!

If we rent a store, there’s a workshop supervisor in charge, and even if the entire street sells the same food, other stores wouldn’t dare cause trouble."

The Second Princess had inquired during the market day that the cheapest rent for a store at the market is eleven hundred coins per month.

She wanted to rent, but there wasn’t enough money at home.

The money Li Xing’an earned, which was left over, totaling about ten taels, was set aside for paying the land tax, and the Second Princess didn’t dare to even mention money to the Princess Consort Luling.

After selling pastries for several days, she had saved some money, but it was only enough for the rent for three months, and if she had to buy more flour, her money wouldn’t suffice to rent a store.

Once Li Yuzhu suggested it, the Second Princess immediately felt confident, "That’s great, Third Sister, thank you for helping me."

Li Yuzhu chuckled, "We’re sisters, what’s there to thank?"

At this moment, Mu Yuanxiu said, "I know the workshop supervisor. If Second Sister Li wants to rent a store, I can help you inquire where there’s an appropriate location. Renting a store has its tricks; you can’t just aim for cheap. You have to consider the location."

The Second Princess didn’t understand, "Where? Location? What location?"

Li Yuzhu said, "Second Sister, it’s a place suitable for doing business. For example, if you sell food, and the store is surrounded by places selling beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and duck, not a single pastry would sell.

Places selling livestock and poultry are dirty and chaotic; who’d go there looking for food? Being next to bun shops or noodle shops, restaurants, or teahouses that sell food is ideal, while places next to those selling daily necessities are a bit worse."

The Second Princess blinked, "Ah, so there’s such a big knowledge to renting a store."

"Yes, there absolutely is." Li Yuzhu laughed.

The Second Princess blinked and said to Mu Yuanxiu, "Mr. Mu, then I’ll trouble you to inquire about the store."

"No problem." Mu Yuanxiu smiled.

When he left after the meal, the Second Princess, to show gratitude, packed some baked pastries for him to take home.

The Princely Heir escorted Mu Yuanxiu to the gate of the house before returning.

The Second Young Master and Li Xing’an discontentedly shouted together, "Really thick-skinned, making big brother personally escort."

"Tomorrow when you go out, have big brother escort you too, alright? Such petty people!" Li Yuzhu laughed sarcastically.

.

The commotion today involving the Second Princess and the Second Young Master at Taohua River Village wasn’t disclosed to Prince Luling and his wife.

However, the Chai Family sending a servant and Niuniu to help plow the fields was told to them by Li Yuzhu.

The Princess Consort Luling praised, "Who’d have thought that girl is such a warm-hearted person."

Li Yuzhu said, "She also sent some drawing albums to Guoguo and didn’t demand any benefits from us." Mentioning Guoguo, Li Yuzhu also thought of the milk Guoguo drank and said, "That milk goat was also sent by her."

The Princess Consort Luling said, "Our house rules don’t owe favors. Let’s do it this way, Yu Zhu, try to find time to invite her tomorrow and have her come over as a guest. I’ll treat her to tea, as a way to repay the favor."

Li Yuzhu nodded, "Yes, Mother."

Prince Luling was indifferent to such small gatherings and did not object.

.

The conditions at home were still not lavish, so Li Yuzhu, the Second Princess, and the Great Princess still slept on the same bed.

With three people in one bed, a bedtime conversation was inevitable.

The Great Princess learned that Miss Chai would come over as a guest and thought of her past eccentric behavior, so she couldn’t help but say, "Li Yuzhu, that girl won’t throw tantrums, scold, or hit people randomly, will she?"

Li Yuzhu said, "No, she previously threw tantrums because something happened that stimulated her, and she was severely ill at the time, with the illness making her unable to control her emotions.

However, her illness has completely healed now, and her temper is very good. I’ve met her several times, and she’s always been smiling gently."

The Great Princess yawned, "Alright then, anyway, if she randomly throws a tantrum and raises a stick to hit people, I won’t be polite; I’ll raise a stick to chase her away."

"Don’t worry, Big Sister, she’s now just a gentle lady, won’t hit anyone." Li Yuzhu said again.

"Gentle? Lady? Hehehe! Better than me?" The Great Princess thought of her past fame in the Capital and hearing Li Yuzhu praise Miss Chai, her heart filled with envy.

Li Yuzhu detected the jealousy in her words and laughed, "Big Sister, you and her each have your strengths, but you are slightly better."

"Is that so?" In the dark, the Great Princess raised her lips in satisfaction.

.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, the Second Princess busied herself. Following Li Yuzhu’s advice, she studied various pastry styles.

Li Yuzhu gave her some ideas, drawing some shapes and writing category names for her.

Make diverse styles, like heart shapes that little girls love, or bear face shapes, these to amuse children.

The tastes should be varied, some overly sweet, and others mildly spicy.

There’s jujube flavor, red bean, and green bean flavors, and also milk flavor, the milk goat at home can be used, with goat milk kneaded into the flour.

Finally, she gave a suggestion to make medicinal food.

However, the taste of medicinal food is difficult to adjust, so the Second Princess gave up on it.

She excitedly held the list written by Li Yuzhu and busied herself in the kitchen.

Chai Family Servant Uncle Gui brought the cow early in the morning.

Without needing the Princely Heir’s arrangement, he got busy in the field.

In the heat, the Princely Heir entered the kitchen to tell everyone to make more tea so he could deliver it to Uncle Gui in the field.

Xue Family was busy with breakfast, "Got it, got it." She waved him off, telling the Princely Heir not to nag.

Having one more person home for meals and various needs, the Xue Family was quite unwilling.

The Second Princess didn’t set up her stall today, so the Second Young Master and Li Xing’an were free. After breakfast, the two of them went to the ditch and marshland to check the fish traps.

The Great Princess hated the sun, so on sunny days she wouldn’t go out, and today she crouched at home stitching one of her skirts.

Li Yuzhu, on the other hand, headed to Taohua River Village to invite Miss Chai.