Wei Nanxun hadn’t been out of the house or on the streets for many years. When she was young, every time her father returned from outside, he would take her and her mother to the streets to play.
She would sit on her father’s shoulders, held high to watch the juggling performances in the center of the crowd, while her mother would buy her rabbit lanterns and candied haws. Unfortunately, after her mother passed away, she never went to the streets again.
Firstly, the Wei family restricted young women from going out, and secondly, she didn’t like going out alone, always feeling that it would trigger memories of her mother.
But now she was someone who had died once and been reborn, and her state of mind was completely different from that of the past. She had to step out and see a wider world, and could no longer confine herself to a small inner courtyard.
“Miss, is this really okay? Won’t we be discovered?” Zhi Xia awkwardly tugged at the cloth clothes she was wearing, feeling that something was wrong everywhere.
Wei Nanxun’s long hair was tied up high, and she was wearing a sapphire blue long gown, holding a folding fan in her hand, dressed as a young master from a wealthy family.
She had a bright appearance and fair skin. In order to look more like a man, she not only applied gray powder to her face, but also deliberately thickened her eyebrows and wrapped cloth around her chest. Looking at her from a distance, it was really difficult to tell the difference.
Hearing this, she closed her folding fan and gently lifted Zhi Xia’s chin with the fan bone: “Don’t worry, we’ll only be out for half a day. With Uncle Qiu covering for us, we definitely won’t be discovered. If you’re still afraid, I’ll go alone.”
Zhi Xia was so ashamed by her frivolous expression that her face turned red. Hearing that the young lady was going alone, she immediately shook her head repeatedly: “How can that be? This servant is not afraid. If you really encounter someone, just hide behind this servant.”
Wei Nanxun was amused by her fearful yet brave appearance, but her eyes were full of emotion. In this world, the only people who were willing to protect her unconditionally, apart from her father and younger brother, were probably Zhi Xia.
Steward Qiu arranged the matters for leaving the mansion. He found a trusted servant and arranged a carriage at the side door, escorting them all the way to the entrance of the shop.
The shop was located next to the moat. Although it wasn’t the most bustling street market, the foot traffic wasn’t small. It was approaching noon, and the shop entrance was already crowded with customers.
Four long rectangular tables were placed outside the door, filled with all kinds of pastries, from delicate Suzhou pastries to various northern square cakes, with a variety of dazzling products.
These pastry selections were all chosen by Steward Qiu and Wei Nanxun together.
There were many pastry shops in the capital, both from Suzhou and local ones. How could they gain a foothold in the capital?
Wei Nanxun thought of having a wide variety, good taste, and low prices. No matter what, they had to make people willing to pay first, so that they could take the next step.
Therefore, the shopkeeper at the door held up the pastries and loudly said: “Xia’s Pastries is opening today, only giving away and not selling. Customers who want to taste can line up here to receive them. Everyone gets a share, no money needed.”
Sure enough, human nature is such that if there’s a bargain to be had, they’ll take it. Originally, they were just watching, pointing and commenting that this shop was not as grand as the old Chen’s brand next door, and the pastries were not as exquisite as Qin’s. But as soon as they heard that they were giving them away for free, everyone rushed forward like crazy.
After tasting them, they all said they tasted good. When they asked the price, they were surprised to find that they were two or three tenths cheaper than those on the market. They all said they would come to buy them.
The shopkeeper was still happily saying: “Don’t worry, everyone. When we officially open tomorrow, we will not only have every kind of pastry, but also give everyone a 50% discount. The taste will never change.”
Free today and 50% off tomorrow? The people instantly became even more excited and squeezed forward, almost knocking Wei Nanxun and her servant down. Fortunately, Steward Qiu was quick to spot it and helped them.
“Young master, be careful. Your idea is good, but I’m afraid that after tasting this 50% discount, no one will come to buy.”
“Uncle Qiu, don’t worry. I’m confident in the taste of our shop’s pastries. Besides, even if we restore the original price, it will still be cheap. As long as they’ve tasted and liked our pastries, they will definitely come back to buy them.”
Wei Nanxun had really changed her views and admired him from the bottom of her heart. Not to mention anything else, just this courage and foresight was something that many men couldn’t compare to.
Just then, a waiter came over and said that the shopkeeper was looking for Steward Qiu to discuss something. He had to swallow the words he wanted to say: “Young master, wait here for a while, I’ll be right back.”
“Uncle Qiu, if you have something to do, don’t worry about me. I’ll go back to the mansion after strolling around for a while.”
Letting her go alone, Steward Qiu was still a little worried, but the other side was urging him urgently. He thought that it should be fine since it was just at the entrance of the shop, so he had to leave first.
At first, Wei Nanxun was indeed a little unaccustomed to so many people, and her ears were full of noise, but after a while, she got used to it. Instead, she felt that the comings and goings of people in the market were the fireworks she hadn’t felt for a long time.
Seeing that the pastries were about to run out, she couldn’t help but join in the fun.
“Let’s go, little Zhi Xia, let’s also get a share and take it back to taste.”
Even if she had tasted it beforehand, the meaning was still different at this moment. This was the first shop she had opened herself.
Zhi Xia also went from being timid, nervous, and afraid to speak at first, to being infected by the atmosphere and wanting to squeeze in. She had long been eager to try. Hearing that she was going to line up, she nodded hastily.
The two of them lined up at the very end of the line. Although their clothes were simple and clean, with Wei Nanxun’s face, they couldn’t be ordinary no matter what.
Many nearby aunts and young girls were already secretly looking her up and down. Some people in front came to inquire about which family’s young master he was, and that he had even come to buy pastries, so they must be delicious.
When they finally managed to get to the front, there was only one last serving left.
Zhi Xia was about to rejoice that they were lucky and reach out to take it, when she heard a few gasps and exclamations from the surroundings.
“Young master, be careful.”
Wei Nanxun was stunned for a moment before she realized that the young master was herself, and subconsciously turned her head to look.
She saw a man dressed in a rogue-like manner standing in the center of the crowd, with a bamboo skewer in his mouth, staring at them contemptuously. This didn’t make her feel anything.
The most terrifying thing was that the hooligan had a rope in his hand, and a Tibetan mastiff, half her height, was tied to the rope.
The mastiff was dark brown all over, and its fur looked messy and shiny. She didn’t know where it came from. Its eyes were blood red and as big as copper bells, staring straight at the pastries in Zhi Xia’s hand, and its mouth was constantly drooling, occasionally revealing sharp fangs.
Its expression was leisurely, and it occasionally shook its fur, as if it was patrolling its territory, which made her spine tingle.
“Get out of the way, get out of the way, everyone get out of the way for me! Since you’re giving things away, why don’t I have any? Hurry up and bring out the pastries.”
“I’m sorry, young master, we’ve already given away all the pastries today. Tomorrow, you can come earlier tomorrow.”
“Bah! If you don’t have anything, then don’t open a shop. I can’t wait, I must eat it today.”
Wei Nanxun’s first instinct was that this person was here to make trouble, maybe he was a competitor from next door, who was jealous of their many customers.
She was frowning and thinking of a way, when she saw that the person had already turned his gaze towards her: “Didn’t you say there was nothing left? How come he still has it in his hand? Go, get it!”
Zhi Xia quickly hid the pastries behind her and protected Wei Nanxun: “This was what our young master got in line for. Who are you? Why should we give it to you? We won’t give it.”
The man spat out the bamboo skewer in his mouth and gave an ugly smile: “Heh, why? Because everyone on this street has to listen to me, Chen Er!”
“You don’t appreciate a toast, so you want to be forced to drink a forfeit, huh? Wangcai, go, bite these two ignorant things for me.”
As Chen Er spoke, he actually let go of the rope in his hand. The surrounding people scattered in fear. They saw the behemoth bark wildly, open its bloody mouth and pounce towards Wei Nanxun and her servant…