CHAPTER 298: CHAPTER 285: DROUGHT KILLS SOME, FLOODS DROWN OTHERS

As the girls became proficient at their tasks, Yu Xiaolian took out a bottle of honey and slapped it onto the table. "Now I’ll teach you how to make honey lip masks. It has no color. Apply a thick layer before going to bed, and by the next morning, your lips will be rosy and plump. With long-term use, your lips won’t crack or peel, and it can even reduce lip lines."

Making the honey lip masks is quite simple: you just need beeswax, essential oil, and honey.

After teaching them hands-on for a few days, Yu Xiaolian started planning the reconstruction of the neighboring bookstore and braised meat shop. Although she didn’t have much money at hand, demolishing a house was a slow process. At this time, there were no bulldozers or excavators to quickly knock down and rebuild a house. It had to be done manually, slowly dismantling it.

Workers were easy to find. All she had to do was shout at the market, and a large group would come, charging thirty wen a day without meals.

Yu Changhe didn’t know his daughter was tearing down houses in Luocheng. By the time he found out, the two shops and the backyard had already been leveled.

After clearing away the construction debris, Yu Xiaolian bought a large amount of green bricks and wood. She hired the carpenters and tilers who built their house in Taohua Village to start laying the foundation for the three-story building she designed.

Wow, three stories!

The news of Yu Xiaolian planning to build a three-story shop on the east side of the city caused quite a stir in Luocheng.

Seeing that the silver she had wouldn’t be enough to complete her three-story shop, Yu Xiaolian quickly urged Manjin and Manyin to deliver the goods to Zheng City and bring back the payments. She needed the money urgently.

Half a month later, Sun Manjin and Sun Manyin returned with the payment. Yu Xiaolian looked at the five hundred taels of silver, feeling grateful that they returned just in time.

The three-story building Yu Xiaolian designed had a modern minimalist style, without complex eaves or ornate door frames. Even the windows were of the simplest opening style.

After three months, Yu Xiaolian’s three-story shop was finally completed. She had the customized shelves and display cabinets set up.

The shop was large. The area of the new shop was the total area of the original two shops and the backyard’s open space combined.

On the first floor, Yu Xiaolian decided to sell cosmetics and various gold and silver jewelry, along with exquisite glassware. The second floor would be for women’s clothing. As for the third floor, it was reserved for her own residence.

The third floor had access to a rooftop terrace, where she could enjoy open-air barbecues whenever she had free time. Just the thought made Yu Xiaolian extremely happy.

After preparing all the stock for another month, Yu Xiaolian picked an auspicious day to open the new shop.

The new shop was named Zhenpin Pavilion.

Yu Xiaolian appointed Zhao Erya as the shopkeeper of Treasure Pavilion, while Gao Qiao and Sun Feixue assisted Zhao Erya in the store.

Zhao Sanyan, Sun Manxi, Sun Manxia, and Sun Manjiao continued making blush and lipstick in the backyard of Taotao Residence. All their wages increased from 900 wen per month to one tael of silver.

In addition to these people, Yu Xiaolian, with Zhao Zhijie’s help, bought five more embroiderers.

The modern-style clothing Yu Xiaolian designed was simple and elegant, not cumbersome or complicated to wear. She personally liked them, but the young ladies of the time were slow to accept new things. Even if they liked Yu Xiaolian’s designs internally, they didn’t dare wear them publicly.

Compared to outdoor clothing, Yu Xiaolian’s home wear sold better.

Seeing that the modern minimalist style wasn’t selling well, Yu Xiaolian quickly sketched a few sets of ancient-style autumn clothing overnight.

The moment the ancient-style clothes went on sale, they caused a massive sales frenzy, keeping the five embroiderers extremely busy.

Yu Changhe had already finished picking the first batch of red peppers and sold the third batch of canned goods. Just before he was about to boast about his impressive achievements to his daughter, he saw a long queue in front of Zhenpin Pavilion. Only after asking Zhao Erya did he learn that the maids were there to pick up custom-made clothing for their mistresses.

Wow, Yu Changhe quickly counted. Fifteen people.

Tsk, as far as he knew, there was nothing cheap in his daughter’s newly opened Zhenpin Pavilion. Even with such expensive items, there were still so many people queuing to buy them. Are there really so many wealthy people in Luocheng?

Sigh, it’s truly feast or famine, with no way to reason it out.

Zhao Erya was busy, and after a few words with Yu Changhe, she told him, "Xiaolian is on the third floor."

The implication was for him to quickly find his daughter and not disturb her there.

Yu Changhe grunted. His goddaughter had completely transformed and was no longer so timid.

Back in the day, Zhao Erya feared they would abandon her and her sister, adhering to the survival rule of working more, eating less, and speaking little. Now, whether dealing with guests or others, she displayed a poised demeanor. It’s undeniable that his daughter had a knack for mentoring people.

Yu Changhe walked upstairs with thudding steps. Even though he had a limp, affecting his appearance, his walking speed was no slower than ordinary people.

Upon reaching the third floor, Yu Changhe called out, "Daughter!"

Yu Xiaolian’s lazy voice came from the rooftop terrace, "Dad, I’m here..."

Yu Changhe climbed another level to the terrace.

Yu Xiaolian was leisurely lying on a rocking chair, next to a small table with an ice-cold soda and an empty plate.

The plate was empty because Yu Xiaolian had just eaten the steak on it.

She cooked the steak on an electric stove in her private space, discovering that since she developed the attic, its benefits were numerous.

Not only did the appliances inside work normally, but all the items would automatically revert to their original state. For instance, if she splashed water everywhere when showering, after drying herself and carelessly tossing the towel onto the washing machine, the floor would be dry by the next day, and the towel would be neatly folded on the shelf, restoring to its original form at midnight.

Additionally, Yu Xiaolian found many unexpected treasures in the garden shed and storeroom.

"This rocking chair is nice. When did you buy it?" Yu Changhe asked.

Yu Xiaolian got up. "No need to buy it. It was made by Gao Yishui, Granny Gao’s son."

"Oh... That guy knows carpentry?" Yu Changhe was surprised.

"I don’t know if he knows carpentry, but he sure weaves things well."

Yu Xiaolian pulled her father to sit down. "Dad, try it out. It’s really comfortable for sunbathing here."

It was already mid-September in the lunar calendar, and the house was a bit chilly, so Yu Xiaolian liked to sunbathe on the rooftop whenever she had nothing to do.

Yu Changhe sat down and swayed a couple of times. "It is quite comfortable."

"Then have Mancang take it to Taohua Village for you later!"

Yu Changhe waved his hand. "No, thank you. You keep it!"