After settling all the matters at the restaurant, Qiao Zilin and Long Zhenting drove their carriage toward the Xiao family shop.
Once the carriage was parked, the two entered together.
Although the shop’s exterior looked somewhat old and weathered, the inside immediately caught Qiao Zilin’s attention.
Despite being called a general store, everything inside was arranged with remarkable order. Goods were categorized neatly and displayed clearly, making it easy to find whatever one needed at a glance.
As Qiao Zilin was quietly admiring the shop, a short elderly man approached them.
He looked about the same age as Old Man Guan. His face carried a warm smile, and his voice was gentle and friendly, making people instinctively feel comfortable around him.
“Are the two of you here to buy supplies for a roof beam ceremony?”
Qiao Zilin blinked in surprise.
Had Grandpa Guan already informed him beforehand?
Before she could ask, Old Man Xiao laughed cheerfully and explained first.
“Old Man Guan came by this morning and told me a beautiful young lady would be visiting today to purchase ceremony supplies. The moment I saw you, I knew you must be the person he mentioned.”
He pointed proudly toward a pile of prepared items nearby.
“I’ve already selected everything for you. Come take a look.”
Qiao Zilin could not help feeling impressed.
Grandpa Guan truly handled things reliably, and the shopkeeper he recommended was equally dependable.
She genuinely appreciated this kind of straightforward business relationship.
“Thank you for your hard work, Shopkeeper Xiao.”
Old Man Xiao immediately waved his hand with a broad grin.
“Haha, young lady, there’s no need to be so polite.”
Qiao Zilin walked over and carefully checked the prepared goods.
Everything matched Grandpa Guan’s description exactly.
Nothing was missing.
“Shopkeeper Xiao, please pack everything for us.”
“Right away!”
While Old Man Xiao busied himself wrapping the supplies, Qiao Zilin leisurely wandered through the store.
As expected of a general shop, the variety of goods was astonishing.
There were grains, household necessities, ritual supplies, farming tools, and all sorts of miscellaneous items.
Thinking back to the Boiled Fish she had made earlier, Qiao Zilin suddenly realized how perfect it would have tasted with bean sprouts.
The moment she spotted sacks of soybeans and mung beans, she decisively bought fifty catties of each.
Just as she was about to settle the bill, something in the corner caught her attention.
Bundles of dried kelp.
Her eyes immediately widened.
They sold kelp here?
Did that mean the sea was nearby?
“Shopkeeper, pack all of these as well. I’ll take them.”
Old Man Xiao glanced toward the bundles she pointed at.
“That’s kombu,” he explained. “It smells strongly fishy, and I’ve had it sitting here for over half a year without anyone wanting to buy it. Since you like it, young lady, I’ll just give it to you for free.”
Qiao Zilin instantly shook her head.
Even though she was pleased, she believed business should always remain fair.
“Shopkeeper Xiao, you shouldn’t give things away for nothing. You paid money to stock these goods. Besides, you’ve preserved them very well, which means you’ve put effort into maintaining them.”
Old Man Xiao looked at her approvingly.
The more he interacted with this young lady, the more admirable she seemed.
After thinking for a moment, he said seriously,
“Then how about two copper coins per catty?”
“Deal. Please weigh them and calculate the total.”
Old Man Xiao immediately pulled out his abacus.
The beads clicked rapidly beneath his fingers.
After only a short moment, he announced the final amount.
“Young lady, the total comes to fifteen taels and eight hundred thirty copper coins.”
Qiao Zilin felt very satisfied with the price.
For such a large quantity of goods, fifteen taels was definitely a bargain.
Grandpa Guan’s recommendation truly had not disappointed her.
She took out two ten-tael silver ingots from her purse and handed them over.
After receiving her change, the two of them finally left the store.
Since they were not in any hurry on the way home, Long Zhenting deliberately drove the carriage slowly.
Qiao Zilin sat at the edge of the carriage, quietly admiring the scenery around them.
It was already July.
The peach trees lining the road were heavy with ripe fruit.
Only now did she finally understand why this place was called Peach Blossom Village.
When spring arrived and the peach blossoms bloomed across ten miles of orchards, the scenery must be absolutely breathtaking.
She suddenly wondered whether wealthy young masters and noble ladies ever visited the area during springtime for outings and sightseeing.
Almost instantly, an idea formed in her mind.
What if she opened a countryside resort?
Something similar to a farmhouse retreat where visitors could eat, relax, and enjoy the scenery.
The more she thought about it, the more promising it sounded.
Once the idea took root, she could no longer suppress her excitement.
Turning toward Long Zhenting, she asked eagerly,
“Husband, do many wealthy young masters and young ladies come here to enjoy the scenery during spring?”
Long Zhenting looked slightly confused.
Why had she suddenly started asking about spring?
Still, he answered honestly.
“I’m not sure. I only returned to this estate shortly before our wedding. Before that, I was always traveling with Master.”
Qiao Zilin did not mind at all.
Even if such a market did not currently exist, she could create one herself.
After all, once people had enough food and clothing, what they pursued next was enjoyment and entertainment.
“Husband, let’s open a farmhouse resort,” she said excitedly. “We can specifically cater to people visiting the countryside for leisure.”
“Farmhouse resort?”
Long Zhenting looked genuinely puzzled.
His wife often used strange phrases he had never heard before. Sometimes he wondered whether living in the mountains for too many years had made him out of touch with the world.
Qiao Zilin immediately realized she had accidentally used another modern term.
She lightly tapped her lips in annoyance before quickly explaining,
“It’s basically just a restaurant. The only difference is that it’s located in the countryside, so it’s called a farmhouse resort.”
Only then did Long Zhenting understand.
Smiling helplessly, he affectionately pinched the bridge of her nose.
“If Lin’er wants to do it, then do it. I’ll support whatever you decide.”
As he spoke, he casually took out a banknote worth one thousand taels and handed it to her.
Qiao Zilin stared at the note in shock.
Ever since their marriage, Long Zhenting had already given her more than ten thousand taels in silver.
That did not even include property deeds, land ownership papers, and business contracts.
This man was clearly a hidden tycoon.
Seeing the suspicious look in her eyes, Long Zhenting quickly explained,
“This is the silver from selling the bear. Spend it however you like. If it’s not enough, I’ll hunt a few more.”
“A few more?” Qiao Zilin exclaimed. “Are there really that many bears in the mountains? Those things are incredibly dangerous. I don’t want to become a widow.”
Before she could continue, Long Zhenting lowered his head and kissed her directly.
Only after a moment did he pull away and speak softly.
“Don’t worry, wife. Your husband is very capable, you know that better than anyone.”
His meaning was obvious enough to make Qiao Zilin’s cheeks heat instantly.
“With a wife as beautiful as mine waiting at home,” he continued, “how could I bear to let anything happen to myself?”
Qiao Zilin quickly explained herself.
“Husband, I already have plenty of silver. My mother’s dowry alone, combined with the treasures I brought from the Prime Minister’s residence, is enough for us to live comfortably for several lifetimes.”
Long Zhenting laughed softly.
“Fine then. In the future, I won’t hunt bears anymore. I’ll just stay home and live off my wife.”
Qiao Zilin rolled her eyes helplessly.
The two chatted and laughed all the way home.
As soon as Shiyi and the others heard the carriage arrive, they hurried out to help unload everything.
The next morning, everyone woke up especially early.
According to Grandpa Guan, the roof beam ceremony required steamed sponge cakes, symbolizing prosperity and the hope that life would rise higher day by day.
At dawn, Qiao Zilin and Qing Mei immediately began preparing the cakes.
Meanwhile, Long Zhenting and the others carried all the ceremony supplies to the newly built courtyard.
By the end of the Chen hour, the auspicious time finally arrived.
Under Grandpa Guan’s direction, Long Zhenting steadily lifted and placed the main roof beam onto the structure.
Afterward came the most lively part of the ceremony, tossing copper coins and sweets from above.
Although there were no nearby villagers, the atmosphere remained incredibly festive.
Several married craftsmen had brought along their wives and children.
The moment Long Zhenting scattered the coins, the entire courtyard erupted with laughter, cheers, and excited shouting.
Grandpa Guan happily explained that the louder the celebration, the more prosperous the household’s future would become.
That was precisely why he had deliberately invited the workers’ families to join in the festivities.
Once the ceremony ended, the women immediately began helping prepare the feast.
Today, Qiao Zilin had prepared half a pig, along with chicken, duck, and fish.
The spread was exceptionally lavish.
The entire courtyard buzzed with laughter and lively conversation as everyone cooked together.
Although Qiao Zilin did not personally cook this time, she prepared all the ingredients beforehand and guided the women step by step while they stir-fried the dishes.
While the final results could not quite compare to her own cooking, every dish still looked vibrant, smelled delicious, and tasted wonderful.