Days slipped by, and it was almost December, with the New Year festivities drawing near.
Observant common folk in the capital noticed some subtle changes on the streets.
For instance, besides the Su family's Jinzhao Zui Hotpot Restaurant, several other hotpot establishments had sprung up. Among them, one named 'Huolala' had the strongest momentum, clearly adopting a stance to challenge Jinzhao Zui.
Each Huolala store was conveniently located right near a Jinzhao Zui.
When Su Li heard the news, the moment she heard the opponent's straightforward name, she knew the person behind it was Yu Banxia.
Xu Mubai frowned, saying, "Young Miss, I had someone inquire about these shops. Half of them belong to the Sixth Prince."
Su Li tapped her fingers on the tabletop, saying unhurriedly, "It seems they've formed a connection."
Yu Banxia certainly possessed extraordinary qualities, and in a sense, Jun Hui was someone who valued talent.
It was incredibly easy for Yu Banxia to catch Jun Hui's eye. It was just that in this life, Su Li wondered if Yu Banxia would still cling to her principles once she realized Jun Hui couldn't meet her demand for 'one lifetime, one partner.'
Xu Mubai asked, puzzled, "Who is Young Miss talking about?"
Su Li smiled. "It's nothing. We just need to mind our own business. Instruct the staff that when serving customers, they don't need to get into verbal conflicts with the other side. Earning money is about individual ability; as long as they don't provoke us, we won't stir up trouble."
Of course, if they did provoke her, she wouldn't be afraid.
"Young Miss, I sent people to Huolala's restaurant to try their hotpot. The taste is extremely similar to ours. If this continues, I'm afraid our customers might be diverted."
Su Li curved her lips into a smile. "Don't worry, this situation won't last too long."
Tian Qi people rarely consumed such rich and heavy-flavored food. While it might taste delicious when eaten, a stomach ache would follow.
For the next few days, they would experience a loss of appetite. Once these customers visited a few more times, they would discover that 'Huolala' truly lived up to its name, making people suffer afterward.
In her previous life, it was precisely these reasons that caused Xu Mubai endless distress.
Zhao Huai'an saw this as an opportunity to surpass Xu Mubai in front of Jun Hui, so he pleaded with her to research the cause.
In her previous life, she had truly poured her heart into helping him, working tirelessly for days to find the reason. She added some medicinal herbs to the hotpot base, which not only prevented the taste from worsening but also made it even more endlessly flavorful. Most importantly, it protected the diners' digestive systems.
In this life, without her advice and strategies, she wondered how far Yu Banxia's hotpot could go.
Although Xu Mubai didn't know the reason, since Young Miss said so, he felt much more at ease.
"Young Miss, our ready-to-wear clothing shop has already started making a profit, and so has the cosmetics shop. Here are the ledgers."
Su Li took the ledgers, flipped through them, and her eyes lit up.
"Young Master Xu is truly a master of business! To achieve such results in just a few days is truly incredible!"
Xu Mubai smiled shyly. "That's also largely thanks to Prince Jing's excellent shop locations; no matter what business is opened there, it won't lose money."
Thinking of something, Xu Mubai continued, "In a few more days, our Su Ji will also be opening some antique shops and pawnshops. Mubai is confident that by then, the Su Ji name will be even more renowned."
Su Li nodded. "Very good. Once the shops in the capital are more stable, we can expand into the surrounding towns."
"Yes. Brother Wang sent a letter a while ago; he's actively looking for goods and shops in the south as well. With the north and south covered, we'll certainly have our hands full then. I hope it won't all be for naught," Xu Mubai said with a laugh.
"With you all around, how could it be for naught? Oh, and the ready-to-wear clothing shop shouldn't just sell ready-made clothes. Find some embroiderers and open an embroidery workshop. We can also offer custom tailoring. That way, our paths will become wider and wider."
Xu Mubai cupped his hands. "Alright, Mubai will arrange it immediately."
After they finished discussing business, Su Li refilled Xu Mubai's tea.
"Young Master Xu..."
"Young Miss can just call me Mubai."
"Alright, Mubai. You're not young anymore this year. Have you thought about starting a family?"
Xu Mubai took a sip of tea, his eyes clouded with a hint of confusion. "To be honest with Young Miss, it's not that I don't want to; it's that I dare not and cannot."
Su Li sighed. "I know what you're worried about, but I believe you already possess the ability to protect yourself, and you'll soon be able to take revenge for yourself. What you fear won't happen."
Xu Mubai looked at Su Li and said, "Young Miss, Mubai has experienced the despair of seeing loved ones die right before his eyes, utterly powerless. Mubai never wants to implicate those close to him again. Before I take revenge, I dare not think of anything else."
Seeing his earnestness, Su Li understood perfectly.
Wasn't she originally planning to focus solely on revenge and nothing else? Yet, who knew her plans would be interrupted.
Now that she thought about it, walking hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, and having a shoulder to lean on when tired, wasn't so bad either.
However, Xu Mubai's situation was different from hers. His consideration wasn't wrong; it precisely showed that he was a responsible person.
"Young Miss, I know you're worried she'll be sad, and that we might miss our chance. But missing out is always better than me implicating her. If we miss out, she can still have her own life. But if I haven't arranged everything and she gets hurt, how could Mubai bear it? If I fulfill my wish and she hasn't moved on, Mubai will certainly devote his entire life to protecting her."
Su Li raised her cup. "Then I wish you swift success in avenging your great vendetta!"
The two clinked cups, using tea as a substitute for wine, and drained them in one go.
After Xu Mubai left, Su Li tapped her finger on the table.
It seemed for Mo Hua's sake, she would have to intervene.
"Mo Yun."
Mo Yun appeared, saying, "Young Miss."
"Help me investigate something."
"Please tell me, Young Miss!"
"Send someone to Liangzhou for a trip. Thoroughly investigate the inside story of the big fire that happened a year ago at the Xu family, the wealthiest family in Liangzhou, and find out who from the Xu family is still remaining."
"Understood, Young Miss!"
Su Li rose, saw that it was almost noon, and headed towards the main courtyard.
Accompanied by the howling cold wind, Si Qin held an umbrella for her.
"Mother!"
Mother Su stepped forward to brush the snow off her, caressing her small face with a pang of heartache.
"In the future, have the kitchen send your meals to your room, to avoid you running back and forth. The wind is strong and the snow is heavy."
Su Li helped Mother Su to the table and smiled. "Mother, dining alone is so tasteless. Your daughter isn't cold."
Gazing at her mother's increasingly round abdomen, Su Li felt a surge of excitement.
Soon, she would have another relative in this world, a blood-connected family member.
As the mother and daughter ate their lunch, Mother Su looked out at the world of ice and snow.
"The New Year festivities are almost here. Our manor needs to start preparing."
Su Li looked up and said, "Mother, please don't worry about these things this year. Leave them to your daughter."
Mother Su said, feeling uneasy, "Li'er, you've never handled festive gifts before. Can you really manage?"
Although she knew her daughter was capable, the matter of festive gifts was complex and highly significant. It involved social courtesies and specific etiquette regarding what gifts to prepare for each family.
Su Li smiled. "Mother, if there's anything your daughter doesn't understand, I'll ask Steward Xu. You can just rest assured and take care of your pregnancy, and give your daughter a chubby baby brother next year."
Mother Su gently tapped her forehead and asked tenderly, "Li'er always says 'brother.' If it's a sister, will you not like her then?"
"How could that be? Whether it's a brother or a sister, Li'er will love them just the same!"
It seemed she shouldn't keep saying "brother" anymore. She knew her mother's current pregnancy was a boy because of her memories from her previous life, but Father and Mother didn't know.
Mother Su said, "You're not young anymore; it's time you learned to manage these things. So, I'll hand over the matter of festive gifts to you. If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me, or ask Steward Xu."
"Understood, Mother."
In her previous life, she had suffered greatly in this regard. As an unmarried young lady confined to her chambers, she had never learned such matters, and after getting married, she was completely clueless, earning a lot of disdain from Zhao Huai'an's mother.
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