Chapter 8: Those Without Long-Term Plans Will Have Immediate Worries

The inner courtyard was arranged very elegantly. In the corner of the wall grew beautiful mugwort grass, while the other side was fenced off and planted with vegetables, already sprouting small green shoots, looking full of life.

In the courtyard stood a pear tree, and since it was pear blossom season, pale green flowers bloomed one after another. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would blow, scattering petals onto the ground and the stone table beneath the tree.

“Miss, please have a seat. I’ll go pour some water,” Yun Shang said calmly, gesturing politely.

Su Xiangwan nodded lightly and watched her enter the house.

Nearby, Ning Xiang saw the petals on the stone bench, took out a handkerchief to gently sweep them away, then helped Su Xiangwan to sit.

“Miss, why did you suddenly decide to do business?” They lived comfortably in the General’s Mansion without worrying about food or clothes, so Ning Xiang wasn’t very clear on why she was doing this.

Su Xiangwan didn’t explain much, simply saying,
“Ning Xiang, you should know that those who do not plan for the long term will have troubles at hand.”

Everything she had wasn’t truly hers.

The original owner’s father had abandoned her when she married, after all, the man he favored as a son-in-law was the Crown Prince Jiang Jingchen.

However, Xiao Qingrong had made great contributions for Dayong, and the late emperor had little reward for him — since he already had rank and riches, after much thought, he gave him a marriage arrangement.

Judging by the time, within less than a month news would come that Xiao Qingrong had died in battle, and she would then become a widow.

Before she left the capital with Yueya, she needed some property to rely on.

Though Ning Xiang hadn’t read much, she had been quietly observing Su Xiangwan for years.

She understood the meaning of the phrase, but wasn’t clear on what her lady worried about.

While they talked, Yun Shang came out of the house, placing some items on the stone table.

“I don’t have any fine tea here, but this is water brewed with golden and silver mugwort flowers, and this is a pear blossom cake I made myself. Miss, please try.”

She poured a cup of tea for Su Xiangwan and pushed the cake toward her.

Su Xiangwan thanked her, lifted the cup, and took a light sip.
“Thank you. My name is Su Xiangwan.”

Yun Shang realized she was saying her name, and responded,
“Yun Shang.”

“Miss Yun, let’s talk business,” Su Xiangwan put down the cup, her gaze calm as she looked at her.

“Alright, Miss Su, please speak,” Yun Shang responded cheerfully.

Warm sunlight poured down, and the two spoke quietly in the courtyard, creating a peaceful and harmonious scene.

After a long time, Yun Shang looked into Su Xiangwan’s eyes with admiration.

She hadn’t expected the woman before her to be so intelligent; their simple conversation had been very rewarding.

“Miss Su, I’m willing to cooperate with you,” Yun Shang said. She believed that with Su Xiangwan involved, her shop’s business would surely outperform the busy Jinxiu shop across the street.

Previously, Yun Shang ran this shop just to live quietly; after all, she had come alone from Yangzhou and barely escaped a man. She only wanted to find a place where no one knew her and start anew.

Over the years, she had saved quite a bit of silver, so she hadn’t cared much whether the business prospered or not.

But after meeting Su Xiangwan, she inexplicably felt a strong energy from her and suddenly wanted to live differently.

Su Xiangwan smiled lightly,
“Good. I’ll go back and draw up the plans, then have someone deliver them to you. Meanwhile, renovate the shop these few days.”

Since we’re doing business, it must be done well. So everything currently has to be changed.

“Su, whatever you say goes,” Yun Shang said without objection. Since she had decided to do business with Su Xiangwan, she naturally trusted her.

“Alright, I’ll head back now. Thanks for your hard work,” Su Xiangwan stood up, ready to leave.

She took two steps forward when Yun Shang suddenly said, “By the way, if I need to find you, where should I look?”

The business deal was almost settled, yet Yun Shang suddenly realized she knew nothing about her.

Su Xiangwan lowered her eyes and after a moment replied, “If you need to reach me, just fly a paper kite in the courtyard. I’ll come when I see it.”

She had thought it through — she couldn’t easily reveal her identity. One, to protect Yun Shang, and two, if anything went wrong later with Yueya’s side, they wouldn’t even have a single trump card.

“Su,” Yun Shang didn’t think anything was strange. Everyone has secrets more or less; no need to pry.

Besides, she guessed Su Xiangwan might have many helpless reasons behind her behavior. Judging by her aura, she should be a lady from a prominent family, probably unable to show herself openly.

As for why she was a young lady from a rich family and not a married woman, it was because of how she styled her hair — unmarried girls wore their hair down, while married women tied theirs up.

After Su Xiangwan finished speaking, she nodded politely and then left with Ning Xiang to return home.

After leaving Yun Shang’s place, looking at the bustling street, Su Xiangwan wondered to herself what Yueya was up to.

People she once could meet at will, now it was so difficult to see even once.

“Miss, shall we head back to the mansion?” Ning Xiang asked, noticing her zoning out.

Su Xiangwan took a few steps when suddenly she heard some curses nearby. She looked toward a nearby alley.

She saw two or three ragged beggars beating a very young child on the ground with fists and kicks.

The child had no strength to fight back. Su Xiangwan watched quietly for a while, then suddenly shouted, “Officials are coming!”

At her shout, the men immediately ran away when they heard the soldiers.

After they fled, Su Xiangwan entered the alley and looked at the child on the ground, frowning as she asked, “Are you alright?”

The child looked no older than ten, skinny and bony, hair messy so his face was hard to see.

His clothes were torn and dirty, and up close Su Xiangwan could faintly smell a bad odor.

Seeing the child’s resistance in his eyes, she sighed and took some small silver coins from her pouch, placing them in front of him. “Go buy something to eat, then go home!”

When he still didn’t respond, Su Xiangwan turned and left with Ning Xiang.

After she left, the child lying on the ground reached out, tightly clutching the silver coins in his hand, staring in the direction she departed for a long time without pulling back.

On the way back, Su Xiangwan saw many beggars along the streets and many elderly people past fifty.

Her heart felt bitter — even under the emperor’s feet, so many people lived poorly, not to mention the remote regions.

The current Da Yong was plagued by internal and external troubles; the ones suffering most were the common people.

When she used to gamble and earn money, she always donated some every day, not expecting much, only hoping occasionally to help one or two people.

They say all living beings suffer, and only self-salvation matters, but she wanted to do what she could within her ability to help.