Qiao Mu went to look for a shop.

Li Zhiyue wasn’t idle either; she also needed to buy a place to set up a theater.

She walked from the west side of the city to the end of the street but couldn’t find a suitable shop, mainly because they were too small.

She wanted to open a large theater, similar to a cinema in later times, a place that ordinary people could afford to visit.

The strategy was to sell in high volume with low profits, so the theater had to be large enough to accommodate many people.

After walking for half an hour, she was drenched in sweat.

Li Zhiyue returned to the carriage to sit, and before long, Qiao Mu came back.

He stood outside and responded, “I found two shops. One is on the main street; it was originally a cosmetics shop, but the owner couldn’t keep it running and plans to sell it at a low price for three thousand taels of silver. The other one is in a less populated alley, it’s big and even has a courtyard. It was originally a teahouse and is being sold for two thousand four hundred taels.”

Li Zhiyue nodded. “So, what do you think?”

“I think the one in the alley would be better,” Qiao Mu said, encouraged by her response.

“The reputation of Li’s Tea House and its milk tea has already spread. Even if it’s in an alley, there will still be a steady stream of people coming. Plus, the space is bigger and the price is cheaper.”

“Then let’s do it as you suggest.” Li Zhiyue spoke. “Tell me how much silver you need, and get it from Manager Chen. For the staff, inform Mo Yu, the Duke’s household will arrange everything.”

Mo Yu was essentially her secretary now, and the servants of the Duke’s household were her backup staff.

The five masters of the Duke’s household didn’t need more than sixty servants.

If half of them were allocated as employees, there would still be more than thirty left to serve the masters, which was more than enough.

Li Zhiyue didn’t feel the least bit guilty.

As she returned from the west side of the city, Li Qingsong came in, looking very happy. “Miss, Li Mengzi has been bought.”

Li Zhiyue was hot and bothered.

She quickly packed a basket of Li Mengzi and went back to the tea house.

She intended to have Aunt Zhang make some lemon water; it was something that should be drunk in summer.

With August approaching, the summer was almost over, and this new product had to be pushed out quickly.

As she walked toward the operation area, she saw two people standing around a corner.

One was Aunt Zhang, and the other was none other than the second young lady of the Xuanping Marquis House, Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan was holding onto Aunt Zhang and whispering something.

Aunt Zhang looked troubled, trying to break free, but in the presence of a marquis’s daughter, she couldn’t just walk away. Just then, Li Zhiyue arrived, and Aunt Zhang quickly called out, “Miss!”

Jiang Yan froze, awkwardly turning her head, forcing a smile. “Yue Niang, I came specifically to talk to you. When you weren’t here, I asked Aunt Zhang where you went.”

“Is that so?”

Li Zhiyue’s face grew cold.

Jiang Yan gave a dry laugh. “Naturally, we’re close friends, so why haven’t you invited me for a cup of pearl milk tea?”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.” Li Zhiyue’s voice turned colder. “You’re already plotting, and now you think I’m a fool.”

Jiang Yan’s smile disappeared.

Li’s Tea House had gained great fame because of its milk tea, and Jiang Yan’s family, the Jiang’s Teahouse, was struggling to survive.

They had to resort to imitating Li’s products just to make a little profit.

However, Li’s Tea House introduced a membership system, consolidating all the loyal milk tea drinkers to their side.

Jiang’s Teahouse was now doing poorly.

Her biological mother saw the huge potential in the milk tea business and had tasked her with poaching Aunt Zhang from Li’s Tea House.

If she succeeded, her mother would arrange a good marriage for her.

If she failed, though…

Jiang Yan bit her lip.

Before Li Zhiyue could react, Jiang Yan suddenly kneeled on the ground.

“Yue Niang, please help me…”

Li Zhiyue took a step back.

She hated this kind of person most: someone who couldn’t speak properly and had to kneel to emotionally blackmail others!

“If I can’t bring Aunt Zhang back to Jiang’s Teahouse, my biological mother will ruin my marriage and make my life miserable… We’ve been friends since we were five. I’m in trouble, and I can only ask for your help. Yue Niang, you’re the eldest daughter of the Duke’s family, loved by your parents. You’ll have a great marriage in the future, but I won’t…”

“Yue Niang, please, give me Aunt Zhang. I’ll do whatever you ask…” Jiang Yan cried, kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Li Zhiyue spoke coldly: “The hardships of your life are not caused by me. I have no obligation to cut off my own source of income for you. Mo Yu, see her out!”

“Yue Niang, how can you be so heartless!” Jiang Yan shouted uncontrollably. “I’ve always regarded you as my best friend. Why are you so cold-hearted, Yue Niang!”

Li Zhiyue looked at her coldly. “Since you say I’m your best friend, tell me, what have you ever done for me?”

This question left Jiang Yan speechless.

She had always been the one pleasing Li Zhiyue, giving her this and that, but in reality, she had never given Li Zhiyue anything or helped her in any way…

But as a concubine-born daughter, what ability did she have to do anything for Li Zhiyue!

She opened her mouth to argue.

But she was escorted out by Mo Yu.

Mo Yu shook his head.

The success of Li’s Tea House wasn’t because of Aunt Zhang, but simply because Miss Li chose Aunt Zhang to handle the milk tea.

Even if they succeeded in poaching Aunt Zhang, it wouldn’t help.

Li Zhiyue had already walked into the kitchen.

Aunt Zhang put down what she was doing and came over, looking uneasy. “Miss, I…”

“Don’t say those things.” Li Zhiyue picked up a Li Mengzi. “Let’s make Li Mengzi water first.”

She never doubted Aunt Zhang.

Because Aunt Zhang’s son was Fu’an, a young servant beside her elder brother.

Aunt Zhang’s husband worked with her father, and the whole family was part of the Duke’s household. How could they possibly betray the Duke’s family for a small profit?

This was the benefit of having children within the family.

Aunt Zhang quickly began preparing the lemon water.

Compared to milk tea, this was much simpler.

Li Zhiyue drank the refreshing lemon water, feeling all her pores open up. This was the essence of summer.

She was drinking when she saw Qiao Jia hesitate.

She put down her cup and said, “If you have something to say, just say it. No need to hide it in front of me.”

She thought Qiao Jia was going to talk about her brother.

To her surprise, Qiao Jia was giving product suggestions: “Miss, since Li Mengzi can make drinks, what about other fruits, like grapes, melons, longans…”

Li Zhiyue’s eyes lit up.

Her team had started brainstorming new products, which meant she could relax a bit in the future.

She encouraged, “I’ll have Manager Chen take out some silver specifically for research on new products. The ones you just mentioned, we can try them. Once you’re satisfied, bring them to me to taste.”

Qiao Jia hurriedly thanked her.

Being with Miss Li was probably the luckiest thing for her and her brother.

Her brother had been promoted to manager, and she was able to showcase her creativity in the kitchen. This was truly wonderful…