Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 1433 - 252. Eavesdropping (49)

However, while everyone only saw Lin Yuan being consecutively appointed as the Commandery Princess, they did not see how much she had contributed behind the scenes. Starting with movable type printing and then solving the supply issues of the Xia Family Army, most importantly, she introduced mirrors into the military camps. The transparent and smooth mirrors were not only used as lookout mirrors but also had many other uses. As long as one dug deeper, they could definitely greatly enhance the combat capability of the Dayong Army.

Now, it wasn’t just Su Qiuyu and Yao Hanai who were green with jealousy, but even other ladies from noble families felt a strong surge of envy and admiration. However, many were self-aware enough to know their place. Lin Yuan had arrived in the Capital city for just over half a year, yet she had risen so quickly. It seemed to everyone as though a rising star was ascending.

When the banquet resumed, the young ladies who had previously looked down on Lin Yuan now crowded around her with beaming smiles, toasting and chatting away. Lin Yuan was not adept at socializing, and she felt quite overwhelmed by so many people, either sincerely or pretentiously smiling at her side. She would have preferred facing the hardly palatable meals instead.

Fortunately, Tian Hui came to her rescue in the nick of time; otherwise, Lin Yuan would certainly have wished to disappear from the banquet.

"Thank you, Sister Hui."

Tian Hui pursed her lips into a smile and said, "What’s there to thank? We are all one family. But although I can help you today, I won’t be able to assist you after you leave the palace. Just wait and see, Lin Mansion is sure to be bustling in the coming days."

Although everyone had only seen each other at the palace banquet, several gatherings were necessary to truly become acquainted. It seemed indeed, as Tian Hui said, Lin Mansion would not be able to enjoy tranquility in the next few days.

Lin Yuan wrinkled her nose, "If it comes to that, I could just hide in Dong Tian. If I don’t see these people, wouldn’t that solve the problem?"

Tian Hui shook her head amusedly, "Do you think everyone is unaware of Dong Tian? I dare say that even if you were to hide in Shuanger’s Frost Pavilion, they would still find you. Unless, of course, you were to open a new store that nobody knows about!"

Opening a new store? Was that something so easy to accomplish? Could one simply talk about opening a store and have it done just like that?

Knowing that Tian Hui was joking, a flash of insight suddenly struck Lin Yuan. Was there not a saying about not putting all your eggs in one basket? Although they now had Dong Tian and Frost Pavilion, Zhuma Town had the tofu workshop and Rice Flower Fragrance, all of these stores’ accounts were still interconnected.

The recent incident with Five Stones Powder had fortunately not succeeded. If those people had had their way, wouldn’t Dong Tian have suffered a significant loss? The current state of Drunken Immortal Tower was a living example; due to malicious slander, its business had taken a massive hit, and even the Drunken Immortal Residence in Yecheng had suffered to some extent.

Opening branch stores was indeed a good idea to expand the business, but it also presented a significant risk. Lin Yuan made up her mind that since she could not find peace either at home or in Dong Tian, then she might as well spend the valuable time she would have used dealing with those people on opening new stores!

Still, what the new store should specialize in would require further pondering.

Upon hearing Lin Yuan deciding to open a new store in just a short while, Tian Hui was startled and hastily said, "Yuanyuan, I was just making a joke, you really mustn’t take it seriously!"

Lin Yuan already had several stores under her command, and it was hard to imagine that she would have any energy left to manage another.

Lin Yuan, however, did not mind. She had found that since coming here, she had an endless amount of energy. If she did not realize the ideas that came to her, she would feel restless.

Now that Lin Yuan had made up her mind, Tian Hui thought for a moment. She suddenly leaned in, her eyes sparkling as she looked at her: "Yuanyuan, since you want to open a store, can you include me in it? Seeing you and Shuanger managing your stores so successfully, I’m feeling quite eager myself."

Pfft.

Lin Yuan nearly sprayed the soup she was sipping when the dignified and graceful Tian Hui suddenly proposed starting a business together. This didn’t seem like her style at all!

But upon further thought, Lin Yuan came to understand. Many daughters of noble families received estates and shops as dowry when they married, and Tian Hui was no exception. Unlike Lin Yuan, who managed her own shop, they usually entrusted these assets to trusted stewards.

However, speaking of loyalty, who could guarantee long-term faithfulness? Many stewards were deceitful, skimming profits where they could. If the owner couldn’t understand the account books or knew nothing about management, they could only be duped by these individuals.

Therefore, noble daughters were taught by their mothers to manage household accounts before marriage. Truth be told, the real experts at managing shops were not the men, but these women skilled in household accounting. It was was just that various social restrictions severely limited those who could actually venture out and start their own businesses.

Tian Hui’s initiative was certainly praiseworthy.

Yet, wanting to start a shop wasn’t as simple as just saying so. Deciding what kind of shop to open was the first major step.

Lin Yuan put her cup down with interest and nodded, "Sister Hui collaborating with me couldn’t be better. You could help look after the shop when I’m busy. But what kind of shop do you want to open? How big? And where?"

The barrage of three questions left Tian Hui’s face even more perplexed. "What kind of shop? I’m not quite sure myself."

Lin Yuan’s mouth twitched slightly. Not sure? From her previous enthusiasm, Lin Yuan had thought she had some ideas already. It seemed it was just a spur-of-the-moment impulse!

"Do the two of you wish to start a shop? Although I’m not particularly talented, I might barely be able to join you."

The two of them were deeply engrossed in their discussion and didn’t notice that Yan Ruchun had approached them at some point.

Tian Hui’s heart pounded as she hurriedly looked up.

Lin Yuan frowned slightly as well. Although she believed Yan Xiangkai was innocent, it didn’t mean she was willing to let Yan Ruchun eavesdrop.

"How come you were listening to our conversation?" Lin Yuan also looked up to see Yan Ruchun holding a cup, clearly here to make a toast.

Confronted by Lin Yuan’s question, Yan Ruchun rolled her eyes indifferently. Far from being annoyed, she plunked down on the cushion next to Lin Yuan, clinked her cup against Lin Yuan’s, and said, "Congratulations in advance, Princess Pingxi. Also, thank you for believing in my father’s character and vindicating him."

Without waiting for Lin Yuan’s reaction, Yan Ruchun had already raised her cup and downed the wine inside. Her uninhibited demeanor stirred a sense of fervor in both Lin Yuan and Tian Hui.