Chapter 18: Opening Day, Wen Jing Arrives!

Mu Rong Shu and Song Wei spent a pleasant afternoon at the Song residence. When it was time to leave, her grandmother, Madam Li, was reluctant to part with her.

“Grandmother, wait for me to finish these busy few days, and then I’ll come back with Mother to visit you and Grandfather,” Mu Rong Shu said sweetly, holding Madam Li’s hand.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you, Shu Er. I’ll rest well these next few days and get my energy back, so I can go to Silver Phoenix Building to support you when the time comes.”

Madam Li was filled with joy, seeing her granddaughter acting so affectionately toward her. After more than ten years of her absence, her daughter had always been worried, but now everything was complete with her return.

“Shu Er, you must remember to come back,” Madam Li reminded her, even as she got into the carriage.

“Don’t worry, Yan Ran, I’ll definitely come. You can also come find me when you have time, or we can all go out with Ru Yan together.” Mu Rong Shu really liked her cousin, Song Yan Ran, and also her friend, Liu Ru Yan.

“Sounds good! At the end of the month, Master Zhi from Hui Shan Temple will be giving a sermon. Grandmother and Mother go every year. Why don’t we all go together? The scenery on the back mountain of Hui Shan Temple is beautiful.”

“Great, I’ll be free by then,” Mu Rong Shu agreed.

“Since Shu Er promised, I’ll write a note to Ru Yan and invite her to join us. She loves lively events, and since Lady Liu is strict with her, she’ll probably be happy to come along.”

Mu Rong Shu was also close to Liu Ru Yan, and she was thinking of inviting her along to Hui Shan Temple.

“I’ll listen to Yan Ran. We’ll see you then.” Mu Rong Shu waved as the carriage pulled away, and Song Yan Ran turned to head back inside.

During this trip, Mu Rong Shu had received a pile of gifts, all from the Song family. Ever since coming to this ancient world, she had gotten used to it, people here were so wealthy and often gave gifts at the slightest occasion.

March 15th.

The beauty cream from Silver Phoenix Building began its sale.

Mu Rong Shu, Song Wei, and Rong Qing arrived early at the shop. Even Old Master Rong, Madam Rong, and Rong Yun Nan came.

“Father, Mother, Second Brother, why are you all here so early?” Rong Qing asked, surprised to see them.

“This is Shu Er’s first business venture. We came to see if there’s anything we can help with,” Old Master Rong said with a smile.

“Thank you, Grandfather Rong, for providing such a large space!” Mu Rong Shu greeted him with a graceful bow.

“Family shouldn’t be so formal. If sales go well, I’ll make sure to give you the second floor, and if that’s still not enough, we also own the shop next door, feel free to pick whichever you like,” Old Master Rong said generously.

“Thank you so much, Grandfather Rong. Please come in and rest for a bit. Later, I’ll need your help with the ribbon cutting,” Mu Rong Shu winked playfully.

“Shu Er, what’s this ribbon cutting?” Old Master Rong asked curiously.

“Uncle Yun Nan has to participate too. Later, we’ll need Grandfather to give a speech. Let me keep some suspense for now, and I’ll explain everything later.”

“If there’s anything you need, just ask, Shu Er.”

“Thank you, Uncle Yun Nan.”

Since Mu Rong Shu was clearly busy, they exchanged pleasantries and then toured the shop.

Soon, the Liu family’s carriage arrived. Madam Liu and Liu Ru Yan came over and, after greeting Mu Rong Shu, Song Wei led them to the back courtyard.

Liu Ru Yan didn’t want to go to the back courtyard and insisted on following Mu Rong Shu. Madam Liu, though usually strict with her daughter, allowed it today.

“You see this child? As soon as she sees Shu Er, she doesn’t want to stay with us anymore,” Madam Liu chuckled, complaining to Song Wei.

“Let her be with Shu Er. Maybe she can even help. Besides, Yan Ran will be here soon, and the two girls will have more to talk about. It’s not as fun for them to stay with us. We can use the time to have our own chat,” Song Wei suggested, pulling Madam Liu toward the inside, as they had much to discuss.

In the main hall.

“Shu Er, where’s the beauty cream? Let me see!” Liu Ru Yan asked, her curiosity piqued.

“It’s still being prepared for the opening. How about you be my first customer today?” Mu Rong Shu offered with a smile.

“Of course, I’d love to!” The two girls exchanged a knowing smile.

Liu Ru Yan, like a curious child, touched and examined everything, occasionally asking questions. Before she could explore more, the carriage from the Song family arrived.

Grandmother Li, the eldest and second aunts, and Song Yan Ran all arrived, eagerly asking, “Shu Er, has the sale started?”

“Not yet, the time hasn’t come. Mother and Aunt Ming are resting in the back courtyard, and Grandmother and Aunt, you should go there too,” Mu Rong Shu said, concerned that her grandmother might get tired.

“Alright, but make sure to call us when it starts,” they insisted, not completely reassured.

After Mu Rong Shu’s repeated assurances, they headed to the back courtyard.

“Yan Ran, why are they so excited?” Liu Ru Yan asked curiously.

Song Yan Ran explained how they had tried the beauty cream, and Liu Ru Yan immediately became eager to try it too.

“Since you’re so impatient, stretch out your hand, and I’ll take your pulse for free!”

“Ah… okay, alright, I want the best beauty cream you have,” Liu Ru Yan said, though a bit surprised, she didn’t forget to make her request.

Mu Rong Shu carefully took both Liu Ru Yan’s and Song Yan Ran’s pulses, examined their skin, and asked about their daily habits. She then offered them advice on diet and skincare.

Finally, she took two jars of beauty cream from her space, tailored for each of them, and handed them over.

The two girls were overjoyed and kept asking Mu Rong Shu more skincare tips.

While they were playing around, the Wen family’s carriage arrived. Mu Rong Shu was a bit surprised and wondered why they were here. She called Old Master Rong and Uncle Yun Nan to greet them.

When they found out that the Wen family was there to buy the beauty cream, Old Master Rong was stunned and quickly called Rong Qing over, leading the Wen family to the back courtyard.

With the Liu family, Song family, and Wen family all present, Old Master Rong and Uncle Yun Nan had to take things seriously. They called their own daughter to ask who else had been invited.

From Rong Qing, they learned that other ladies would also be attending the flower-viewing banquet that day. After discussing with Uncle Yun Nan, Old Master Rong immediately instructed the shopkeeper to bring in more people from other stores to help.

Mu Rong Shu didn’t expect Wen Jing to be among them. After greeting him with a smile, she decided to invite him to cut the ribbon, thinking, “A handsome man should be taken advantage of while you can.”

Wen Jing was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected Mu Rong Shu to invite him. Seeing her second sister-in-law noticing his hesitation, she quickly said, “Then, third brother, please stay and help Miss Mu. Mother, elder sister-in-law, and I will go inside first.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she dragged her mother-in-law and elder sister-in-law into the building, leaving behind a dazed Liu Ru Yan, Song Yan Ran, and the cousins from the Song family.

Everyone couldn’t help but feel a little amused at Wen Jing’s helpless expression, though they didn’t dare to laugh out loud. In their minds, they were thinking, “It seems even someone as capable as Wen San Gong Zi can be disliked by his family.”

Mu Rong Shu couldn’t resist laughing as well. Wen Jing felt as though his mother and sisters had unintentionally done something that brought a bit of joy to the group.