Chapter 162: Embarrassed on All Sides (Pink Ticket 720 + Additional Chapter)

  Shen Zhen lay back in the Drunken Old Man chair, picked up Shen Muqing's "plan book", and muttered to himself: "Two pieces of Taihu stone stacked together, I don't know if it looks good or not... I think we need to move a bigger one over here..."

  Shen Muqing could only shake his head and smile: "If it doesn't look good later, we can move it again, it's not too late."

  Shen Zhen fell silent and lowered his head to look at the "plan book".

  Shen Mu Qing took the opportunity to ask him: "Do you think this plan of mine will work?"

  Shen Zhen was silent for a moment before saying, "Have you made up your mind?"

  He is wondering if he has decided to become a businessman?

  "The economy determines one's status. In my current situation, it's better to be prepared for a rainy day!"

  Shen Zhen nodded and sank into thought for a moment before saying: "I can support you too. However, you have to agree to one condition from me."

  Shen Mu Qing was taken aback for a moment, then said in a low voice: "Please speak!"

  "Look at me, Shen Muqing. You have to promise me that you'll only be the behind-the-scenes boss of this tea shop forever!"

  Shen Muqing still thought Shen Zhen wanted her to never see Xiao Sa again... but unexpectedly, it was this condition instead.

  She nodded immediately: "Don't worry, I won't show up in person."

  This society also does not allow single women to be out and about... like Shi Jingyu, after all, they are in the minority, and they still need strong family support!

  Shen Zhen shook his head: "Do you know why Shi Jingyu became like this today?"

  Shen Mu Qing was taken aback for a moment.

  How did everyone think of Shi Jingyu?

  She's so old and still not married, of course she has a story... Shen Muqing is after all someone who grew up with modern education, Shi Jingyu didn't take the initiative to bring it up with her, nor did she ask. Similarly, Shi Jingyu also never asked about any private matters. Perhaps this was why Shi Jingyu looked at her differently.

  Shen Mu Qing shook her head: "She didn't say, I naturally wouldn't dare ask!"

  "She was jilted!" Shen Zhen's eyes showed a hint of helplessness.

  Shen Muqing was somewhat surprised.

  Among the younger generation, Jingyu was exceptionally intelligent from a young age. I liked her very much and personally taught her poetry, calligraphy, and painting when she was seven years old. When Jingyu was twelve years old, I happened to be the chief examiner of the spring examination. As a joke, I gave her the policy question topic at that time, and she completed it in less than three quarters of an hour. Her writing was reasonable, methodical, and elegant, comparable to the writings of the top two scholars of that year.

  Time passed and she became more and more fond of it, so her parents invited a famous master to teach her at home.

  At the age of fifteen, her articles and poems were already outstanding, famous throughout Jiangnan.

  She was betrothed at three years old to the eldest grandson of the Qiantang Li family.

  The older one gets, the higher one's vision becomes.

  Also don't know how, wore men's clothing and ran to Qiantang to try out the literary talent of her future husband.

  The result is predictable.

  Li Gongzi was unwilling to come out and compete with her, and even proposed a divorce on the grounds of "not following the woman's way".

  "After that, those who came to propose marriage were either ill-intentioned or filthy..."

  Deeply shocked and saddened.

  Is it because of this that you were jilted?

  Shen Zhen looked at his daughter with some worry.

  "This matter had a great impact on Jingyu. From then on, she no longer read poetry or painted, and devoted herself to managing the household with her mother. Later, she also took over her uncle's tea business... You may think that Jingyu is living happily now, but that's because Old Master Shi is still around, and the Shi family has an open-minded tradition. If one day Old Master Shi were no longer around...” He said this with a hint of sadness in his eyes, “Mu Qing, I don't want you to become another Jingyu - respected on the surface, but gossiped about behind your back. And besides business, there's nothing else in life."

  Is it because she can't see the true meaning of life in front of money and power, and has lost her essence?

  Shen Mu looked at Shen Zhen with a hint of moisture in the corners of his eyes: "Master, rest assured. I know what to do. I will also listen to your words and be the behind-the-scenes boss of this tea shop."

  "But I hope you can really listen... Whatever you do, you must be able to hold on and let go. Don't get too obsessed..."

  Shen Mu nodded quietly, and soon heard footsteps approaching from outside.

  The two of them stopped talking at the same time, and after a moment, they stood still in front of the study door - the curtain was lifted, and Xiao Sa brought in another smaller Taihu stone, Shen Muqing hurried over to direct him where to place it.

  Large ones are majestic and small ones are exquisite, piled together they have a certain wild charm.

  Shen Mu Qing nodded silently and couldn't help but praise him in a low voice: "You have some brains after all."

  Xiao Xiao flew quickly and glanced at Shen Zhen, who was staring at them with wide eyes. He spoke extremely fast: "I'll take care of it, don't worry!" After finishing, he turned to ask Shen Zhen: "Uncle, I'll go find Bai Mu, and move the pot of golden tangerine peels over. Once it's arranged, you can take another look and see if there's anything that doesn't look right!"

  Shen Mu Qing's eyes widened involuntarily.

  When did Xiao Xiao start calling Shen Zhen "Uncle"?

  Shen Zhen's face remained calm as he slowly got up from the drunkard's chair, walked over to take a look, and nodded "uh-huh".

  Xiao Xiao hurriedly stepped out to pick up the golden tangerine.

  Shen Zhen carefully measured those two stones: "Not bad!"

  Shen Mu let out a sigh of relief.

  On such a cold day, she was really afraid that Shen Zhen would let Xiao Sa go move stones again - not because she was afraid that Xiao Sa didn't have the strength to do it, nor was she afraid that Xiao Sa wouldn't follow orders, but rather because she was afraid that Xiao Sa would catch a cold from wearing clothes soaked by the snow!

  Soon, Xiao Xiao moved Jin Qian Ju in and arranged it beside the Taihu stone as Shen Muqing had said.

  Shen Zhen gazed at it from afar and then up close for half a day, nodded his head: "Not bad. Leave it like that!"

  "You'd better change your clothes too!" Shen Muqing gazed at the water droplets on his temples, "It's cold and hot all of a sudden, be careful not to catch a chill."

  "It's nothing!" Xiao Xiao laughed and asked Shen Zhen: "Uncle, do you want to move that painting case over here too?"

  Shen Zhen looked at Shen Muqing's tightly furrowed brow and said lightly, "Don't bother!"

  He walked up to the painting table and took a look at the Taihu stone in the corner of the wall. "I'll paint a distant view later."

  "That's good!" Xiao Xiao said diligently, "When you want to paint a close-up view, I'll help you move the painting table over here again."

  Shen Zhen nodded and walked up to the painting table.

  "Uncle, are you going to write or paint?"

  As he spoke, he walked over to the bookshelf where the paper was placed.

  Shen Zhen thought for a moment and said, "Write it down!"

  Xiao Xiao responded with a "yes" and immediately pulled out the rice paper to help Shen Zhen lay it flat, then rolled up her sleeves to help Shen Zhen grind the ink.

  Shen Mu Qing lightly sighed and walked to the front of the painting case: "Xiao Gongzi, you go change your clothes quickly - I'll be fine here."

  Xiao Xiao glanced at Shen Zhen who was silent, and smiled: "It's okay, I'm strong enough. After putting the ink on the warming inkstone, I'll go change my clothes."

  Shen Muqing gave Shen Zhen a glance.

  Shen Zhen lowered his head, and after a while, he said faintly: "Xiao Xiao, go change your clothes." He paused for a moment, then said: "Later, Mu Qing still has something to look for you!"

  Xiao Xiao stared at Shen Muqing in shock.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and nodded towards him, saying: "It's a matter of Wen Cha Pavilion. I'd like to ask for your advice!"

  Xiao Xiao listened and a bright smile appeared on her face. "Alright, I'll change into some clothes and come right over."

  Shen Mu nodded slightly.

  But Xiao Sa still insisted on grinding the ink well, put the inkstone on the warm ink furnace, and then greeted Shen Zhen before retreating to change his clothes.

  Shen Mu Qing walked forward and softly said "thank you" to Shen Jian.

  Shen Zhen smiled and patted his daughter's head.

  ******

  Xiao Xiao quickly changed into a black cheongsam and returned.

  Three people went into the warm pavilion. Shen Zhen and Xiao Sa sat on either side, while Shen Muqing stood behind Shen Zhen.

  Shen Zhen handed Shen Muqing's "plan book" to Xiao Sa: "Take a look and see if it works?"

  Xiao Xiao carefully looked at the "plan book", raised her head and stared at Shen Muqing: "This, this is written by you?"

  Shen Mu nodded quietly.

  A flash of surprise flickered in Xiao Xiao's eyes.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said: "I have no experience, I don't know if it can be done?"

  Xiao Xiao looked at Shen Zhen: "Uncle, I think this idea is feasible!"

  Shen Zhen smiled slightly and nodded.

  "But," Xiao Xiao said, "I'm afraid it will lead to disputes... You must be mentally prepared!"

  Shen Zhen nodded: "Then what's your plan?"

  Shen Muqing was puzzled: "How can there be a dispute? I'm just doing ordinary business, shouldn't it conflict with those century-old big tea merchants?"

  She was inspired by the low-cost operation of modern supermarkets. In this plan, Shen Muqing proposed selling one-wen-per-bag large-leaf tea to people with lower consumption capacity at cost price, occupying the low-end market with price advantages, and improving the reputation of the tea shop. At the same time, various mid-range teas with different prices were launched to attract customers with certain consumption capacity - because the business positioning of Yiwentea is aimed at middle and lower-level consumers, avoiding high-end markets can reduce trouble and avoid competition with those old tea merchants with background.

  Xiao Xiao looked at her with some appreciation: "Tea is something that everyone wants to drink, but the number of people who are willing to spend money on good tea is actually quite small. For example, in our household, we usually drink ordinary Longjing tea, and only when we have important guests do we use better quality Longjing or Wuyi tea to entertain them. So, those old tea shops that have been around for centuries, they actually use top-notch tea products to elevate the image of their store, but the ones that really make money are still the mid-range teas. Your idea is actually in line with the approach of those old tea shops, it's just that they use high-end teas to drive sales of mid-range teas, while you're using low-end teas to drive sales of mid-range teas..."

  Shen Mu Qing understood.

  She frowned: "So, as long as I want to make a big deal out of it, I will definitely have conflicts with them?"

  Xiao Xiao nodded, her eyes looking at Shen Zhen: "Uncle, my idea is that we might as well invite a capable shopkeeper from our family to help us. Since the business has just started, there will definitely be many setbacks. If we invite someone with experience to help us, it will be easier later on."

  Shen Muqing and Shen Zhen were both stunned.

  Xiao Xiao had said: "Our family had a dispute with the Yue family over the silk business a few years ago, and at that intense level, I think Uncle should have also heard about it."

  Shen Zhen nodded: "I heard that five taels of silver can buy raw silk, and five coins can sell it - in the end, it's all about who has the money!"

  Xiao Xiao nodded: "At that time, the two people in charge of this silk business were our family's two more strategic shopkeepers, one named Pang De Bao and the other named Pang De Xue."

  Pound?

  He actually intends to let Pong De Bao manage her tea shop?

  Shen Mu Qing stared at him with a gaze full of confusion.

  What's gotten into this guy?

  (Continue updating around 7 pm this afternoon! (*^__^*) Hehe......)

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  Complete book