Chapter 92: Letting My Wife Be the Shopkeeper

Madam Zhou held the gold ingot in her hands, examined it, and then turned to Du Wanchun. “Wanchun always comes up with the best ideas. Let her decide.”

“Alright, Mother, let me think about it,” Du Wanchun said, gazing at the gold ingot. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “Mother, even though there may be more gold hidden in the mountains, we can’t just sit back and rely on it. We should use gold to make more gold.”

Madam Zhou nodded in full agreement.

Du Wanchun continued, “Right now, our Zhou Family Incense Shop in Cheng’an County is running under Master Fang’s business. With his people managing it, we don’t have to worry. Instead, why don’t we open another, bigger incense shop?”

Madam Zhou hesitated. “Wouldn’t Master Fang be displeased?”

Du Wanchun smiled. “Master Fang’s shop only sells scented dew, while our new shop will sell incense balms, incense sticks, coil incense, tower incense, incense beads, incense powder, incense molds, sachets, scented pillows, and a variety of other fragrances.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhou found the idea feasible. After all, more people bought different types of incense than just scented dew.

Du Wanchun continued, “Since we’re opening a larger incense shop, we need to renovate our incense-making workshop and purchase more raw materials for production.”

Madam Zhou nodded thoughtfully. “Alright, tomorrow I’ll find He Quan and have him build two more rooms next to our current workshop.”

With a smile, Du Wanchun added, “Mother, for this new shop, we need to appoint a trusted person as the shopkeeper.”

Madam Zhou pondered for a moment, then looked toward Zhou Zhao.

Zhou Zhao quickly shook his head. “Mother, I’m not suited for that. I can farm, chop firewood, or even fight bandits with a knife, but don’t ask me to handle accounts.”

Madam Zhou then turned to look at Zhou Ruizhen.

Before Zhou Ruizhen could respond, she shook her head on her own. “You can’t show yourself in public. If someone recognizes you, it could cause trouble.”

Zhou Ruizhen remained silent, his expression calm, without any objections.

At this moment, Zhou Zhao looked at Du Wanchun and said, “Sister-in-law can be the shopkeeper! She’s so smart—she won’t have any trouble running a business.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhou also turned to Du Wanchun, thinking it made a lot of sense.

However, Zhou Ruizhen, feeling concerned, gently held his wife’s hand. “Wanchun is pregnant right now. Won’t managing the shop be too tiring for her?”

Madam Zhou’s eyes immediately showed concern as well. “That’s true…”

But Du Wanchun didn’t think it was a big deal. “Mother, it won’t be tiring at all, as long as you don’t mind me being clumsy.”

Madam Zhou took her hand and smiled. “Silly child, how could we ever mind? How about this? I remember that the Liu family’s daughter-in-law from the south side of the village can read as well. Why don’t you take her with you to the shop? She can oversee things daily, and you’ll only need to check in every few days.”

In Xuan Yue Country, it was rare for women to run businesses.

Du Wanchun asked, “Would the Liu family’s daughter-in-law be willing?”

Madam Zhou smiled. “Yes, she would! She’s a kind-hearted girl, just like you.”

Then, with a sigh, she added, “But her life has been difficult. Her husband was taken as a conscript three years ago and sent to the border. No one knows if he’s dead or alive. She’s been raising a two-year-old child on her own, struggling to survive.”

By offering her a job at the incense shop, Madam Zhou hoped to help the widow and her child.

Hearing this, Du Wanchun thought it was a great idea and agreed immediately.

Zhou Ruizhen was still reluctant, wanting Du Wanchun to rest at home.

However, when Du Wanchun stopped smiling and put on a serious expression, he didn’t dare to argue further.

In the end, they compromised—once the business was running smoothly, Du Wanchun would only need to check on the shop every three days.

With the plan settled, the family got busy again.

The new house had already been completed, and after the carpenter finished making the furniture and beds, He Quanyi led a team to build two small rooms next to it. Inside, they installed three or four large stoves, creating a small workshop for making incense.

Madam Zhou also planted many flowers and plants in the courtyard. As soon as the sun came up, flower buds began to bloom.

Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruizhen traveled to Cheng’an County to negotiate with Master Fang about opening another incense shop. Master Fang had no objections but made one request—that the Zhou family continue supplying him with scented dew without interruption.

Du Wanchun agreed immediately.

Master Fang was generous and even pointed them in the right direction for their new shop.

Following his advice, the couple purchased a new storefront in Cheng’an County. It was twice the size of their previous shop and had two large doors.

Next door was an inn and a bun shop, meaning there were plenty of people passing by.

After a long day of work, as they headed home, Du Wanchun suddenly felt nauseous. Leaning against the carriage, she nearly vomited.

Zhou Ruizhen panicked and immediately pulled her into his arms. “Wanchun, are you alright?”