GTB Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Showing Support

Ji Shutíng and Jiang Jiuchu found a window-side seat on the second floor and sat down. They watched the guests coming and going below while sipping tea and chatting idly, and before they knew it, half the morning had passed.

Watching the scene below, Ji Shutíng leaned over and whispered, “Jiuchu, how much silver do you think our shop can earn today?”

“I don’t know. If you want to know, come back tomorrow and ask Manager Li.” Jiang Jiuchu was a little disappointed, thinking that the downside of secretly opening a shop was that no one was there to support her.

Ji Shutíng didn’t think that way. Her mind was full of earning silver.

“When do you think we can realize our dream of spending a thousand gold coins at once and become the leading wealthy women in Kyoto?”

Jiang Jiuchu was speechless, feeling that Ji Shutíng was currently in a state of blind confidence. And how hadn’t she noticed Shutíng being so greedy before?

“You really dare to think big. Just one shop is going to make you a wealthy woman? And the leading one at that? Unless all the rich people in Kyoto disappear.”

“Hey! I was just saying.” Ji Shutíng waved her hand dismissively and continued, “But, like last time, if we come across a painting by some wandering artist, we should always be able to afford it, right?”

Jiang Jiuchu was still very confident in the shop’s business, but twenty thousand taels wasn’t a small sum either.

“A painting by a wandering artist costs twenty thousand taels. By the time this shop can earn me twenty thousand taels, it’ll probably take quite a while.”

“What wandering artist’s painting?”

As soon as Jiang Jiuchu finished speaking, a gentle and pleasant male voice came.

She looked up and immediately a look of surprise appeared on her face, “Brother Fu, why are you here?”

Ji Shutíng was stunned by Jiang Jiuchu’s affectionate address. If she remembered correctly, the last time they rented the shop, Jiuchu was still calling him Young Master Fu! How did it become Brother Fu today?

Song Fuge looked at Jiang Jiuchu in a blue embroidered brocade skirt, hid the amazement in his eyes, and smiled, “Aren’t I here to support you?”

As he spoke, he tilted his head slightly to signal behind him.

Jiang Jiuchu looked behind him and saw Leng Da holding several large packages of pastries.

“Buying so much, we can’t eat it all, right?”

“Don’t worry, it won’t be wasted.” Song Fuge said, looking at the empty seat next to her, “I’m here to support you, won’t you… invite me to sit down?”

Jiang Jiuchu heard this and looked at the seat next to her, hesitating for a moment. It was a small four-seater table, and it seemed a little inappropriate for Brother Fu to sit next to her, but it also seemed impolite to let Brother Fu sit at another table.

She looked around and saw that there weren’t many people on the second floor, so she said, “Brother Fu, please sit.”

Song Fuge saw that although she hesitated, she finally agreed.

“Forget it, I won’t sit. I have something to do, I’ll sit next time! By the way, what wandering artist’s painting were you talking about? Who wants to buy a wandering artist’s painting?”

As soon as Jiang Jiuchu heard Song Fuge say he wasn’t going to sit, she felt that her hesitation must have made Brother Fu mind.

Seeing that Jiang Jiuchu didn’t answer for a moment, Ji Shutíng quickly spoke up, but what she didn’t know was that Mo Feng Pavilion belonged to Song Fuge.

“Jiuchu wants to buy it, but wandering artists’ paintings are not only rare, but also very expensive. Mo Feng Pavilion auctioned one off last time, but it sold for twenty thousand taels!”

Song Fuge looked at Jiang Jiuchu, not expecting this young girl to be interested in famous paintings and calligraphy.

That’s not right, the wandering artist wasn’t just any ordinary artist, and his paintings wouldn’t easily be leaked.

“Do you like the wandering artist’s paintings and calligraphy?”

Jiang Jiuchu had never seen the wandering artist’s paintings, and had only seen them from afar on the stage at Mo Feng Pavilion last time, so how could she like them?

“No, my father likes them more. I wanted to buy them as a birthday gift.”

No wonder she went to his Mo Feng Pavilion last time, she went to bid on the wandering artist’s paintings and calligraphy. Song Fuge thought of the one thousand taels silver note in her purse and thought, could she have been stimulated by the price he bid, so she opened this shop?

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but chuckle. Then he raised his hand to his lips and coughed, and bid farewell to the two, “I have something to do, I won’t disturb you two chatting.”

The two watched Song Fuge turn and go downstairs, a little puzzled by his sudden chuckle just now.

Jiang Jiuchu withdrew her gaze and looked at Ji Shutíng in confusion, “Did I say something wrong just now?”

“No, but he looked really good when he smiled just now.” Ji Shutíng’s focus wasn’t on this at all, she continued to ask curiously, “Jiuchu, you called him Brother Fu just now?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong? He’s my savior and he’s older than me, so I should call him brother.” Jiang Jiuchu didn’t think there was anything wrong.

Ji Shutíng thought that although that’s what she said, she didn’t think so. The young master obviously wanted to sit next to Jiuchu, and the way he looked at Jiuchu, although it seemed calm and casual, she just felt that it wasn’t that simple.

She thought for a while and then asked, “Jiuchu, what does Young Master Fu’s family do? Is he a businessman? Where is his mansion?”

“I don’t know.” She didn’t know where Brother Fu’s mansion was? But she knew… Brother Fu had no relatives.

Thinking of this, Jiang Jiuchu couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache. She didn’t know who saved Brother Fu back then, and whether he had been doing well all these years.

Seventh Prince’s Mansion

Outside Shí Yan’s Jingchu Courtyard, Yu Qin was carrying a food box, waiting at the courtyard gate. After being notified, she followed the guard into the courtyard.

Xiao Tao was holding Yu Qin’s Mingniao Qin outside the courtyard. She also didn’t understand. Although Yu Qin’s treatment in the mansion was very good, the Prince had never taken the initiative to enter Yu Qin’s courtyard, let alone summoned her.

Could it be… that Yu Qin was really regarded as a musician? But the Prince hadn’t summoned Yu Qin to play the qin!

Yu Qin walked into the study and saw Shí Yan in white clothes sitting at the desk. He seemed a little different from when they first met, with less coldness and more of a celestial aura.

Seeing him look up at her, she quickly stepped forward and bowed, “Seventh Prince, this is from a newly opened pastry shop on the street these past two days. The taste is excellent, and I thought I’d bring it to the Prince to try.”

As she spoke, she came to the desk, hesitated for a moment, and still didn’t place the food box on his desk, but just held it up and looked at him with shallow hope.

Shí Yan saw the woman in front of him holding the food box, looking so cautious, and said in a low voice, “Put it there!”

Yu Qin heard this, and a hint of joy appeared on her face, and she carefully placed the food box on the desk, “Then the Prince should be busy first, Yu Qin will take her leave.”

After she finished speaking, she left without disturbing him.

Shí Yan continued to look down at the book in his hand. When he heard the sound of footsteps fading away, he called out without raising his head, “Mu Feng.”

“Your Highness.” Mu Feng, who was outside the door, immediately walked in and cupped his hands.