Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

"The owner of the rouge shop in the north of the city will reply directly to Jingwan from now on, but..." Mrs. Shen hesitated and did not finish her words.

"Just what?" asked Mrs. Shen.

"Among the younger generations of the Shen family, Jingwan is the first one to be given a shop after passing the imperial examination. The other boys didn't have much trouble. Some of them took the imperial examinations, while others went to the army for training. They didn't have the energy to run a shop. But as a daughter of the Shen family, it doesn't make sense for Aning, the legitimate daughter, not to have a shop."

Madam Shen understood. "You just want to get a shop for Xiaojiu. As for all the roundabout ways, why don't you just take the shop list and let Xiaojiu pick one she likes?"

Shen Jingwan's eyes were red with jealousy, and she bit her back teeth hard to prevent herself from losing her composure.

For this shop, she ground pearls herself every day, until her hands were covered with blisters, just to make Old Madam Shen feel sympathy for her so that there would not be too many obstacles when she asked for the shop. Only then did she get a rouge shop.

And Shen Chuning didn't even have to show up, someone would plan for her, and she could choose from all the shops.

Old Madam Shen said how much she liked her, but in fact, she cared about Shen Chuning the most.

"Yes, then I, the daughter-in-law, would like to thank the old lady on behalf of Xiaojiu." Madam Shen Er bowed to the old lady and left with Madam Shen Da.

Shen Jingwan stared at the backs of Madam Shen Da and Madam Shen Er with a sinister look. She hated her own background, and now she hated Madam Shen Da and Madam Shen Er as well.

"Is mother really confused? She treats a child born out of a concubine like a jewel, giving it to the courtyard and the shop. I'm afraid that soon it will be the only one in the Shen family." Madam Shen said angrily.

Madam Shen Er hurriedly grabbed Madam Shen Da and looked around. Seeing that no one was around, she breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Sister-in-law, please keep your voice down. If someone hears and tells mother, she'll be very upset with you again."

Madam Shen Da took Madam Shen Er's arm and said, "Pay attention! Have you forgotten that I am a martial artist? I can hear anything if an ordinary person gets a little closer."

Second Madam Shen: "We have to be careful. Everything else is fine. If she doesn't live in Zizhu Courtyard, it won't be our turn to live there. The shop she gave us is public property anyway. Even if this shop goes bankrupt, it won't affect the foundation of the Shen family."

Madam Shen: "Are you willing to accept this? When you first entered the mansion, the Shen family was living in such a difficult situation. Although the Empress Dowager in the palace gave them some gifts from time to time, it was never like this. I heard that the last time Mother went to Daxiangguo Temple, she added 5,000 taels of silver to the incense money. This little fortune was accumulated by you bit by bit, and now you are squandering it like this. You didn't even tell me about this shop, you just gave it to me without any permission."

Madam Shen Er: "This is originally the shop of the public family. I am managing it on their behalf. It would be better to give it to others. I am also happy to have some free time. However, my sister-in-law needs to pay attention. Shen Jingwan is going to the clan school. I heard that your nephew is also there. I wonder if she has learned her mother's seductive skills. Don't seduce your nephew's soul."

Madam Shen said, "Oh!" "I actually forgot about this. As his aunt, I can't tell this to the child. I have to go back to my parents' home and ask his mother to talk to him."

Madam Shen Er smiled and said, "Then go quickly, sister-in-law."

Madam Shen took two steps and then turned back, "The annoying person is here, you still have time to run away now."

After saying this, Mrs. Shen ran away.

Before Second Madam Shen could react to what First Madam Shen meant, she heard Shen Jingwan shout from a distance, "Second Aunt, wait for me."

Mrs. Shen rolled her eyes. Now she couldn't run away even if she wanted to.

Madam Shen Er turned around, her face already full of smiles, "Jingwan, what's the matter?"

Shen Jingwan walked up to Madam Shen Er, took her arm and said with a smile: "Didn't Second Aunt ask Sister to choose a shop? Wan'er hasn't seen Sister for a long time, so I'll go with her to take a look. It just so happens that Wan'er has something to tell Second Aunt."

"I'm sorry, I don't like people touching me." Madam Shen Er pulled her arm out of Shen Jingwan's hand, "If you have anything to say, tell me."

Shen Jingwan smiled awkwardly, "Second Aunt, it's like this. When I was making pearl powder for my grandmother, I found that even broken pearls were very expensive."

Madam Shen nodded. "The monthly allowance for the young lady of the Shen family is ten taels of silver. Since there are only two girls in the mansion, you and An Ning, I did not distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate children. Your monthly allowance is also given in the same amount as An Ning, and the rest is a reward from the elders. Your monthly allowance is certainly not enough to buy pearls for your grandmother to grind into pearl powder every day. But this is a filial act of yours, so the palace will not cover this part of the expenses. You will have to find a way on your own."

Shen Jingwan bit her lip and said, "No, Second Aunt, Wan'er doesn't want the Duke to pay the money. Wan'er has a business deal that she wants to discuss with you."

Mrs. Shen Er was interested. "What's the deal? Tell me about it."

Shen Jingwan whispered, "Wan'er knows a way to grow pearls."

Madam Shen Er glanced at Shen Jingwan and asked, "Did you read it in a book again?"

Shen Jingwan nodded. "The reason pearls are valuable on the market right now is because there are so few of them. They all rely on fishermen going out to sea to catch clams, and only by opening the clams can pearls be found. If we can cultivate pearls ourselves, it will be a very profitable business. If we only have this technology in our hands, we can control the pricing. When the production increases, the price will remain the same. Second aunt, do you think this is a profitable business?"

"If you really read it in a book, then you should be more than one person who has read this book. Since so many people have read it, and I haven't heard of anyone being able to grow pearls, how can you be sure that this method is true?" asked Mrs. Shen Er.

Shen Jingwan hesitated and said, "This... This is because the book Wan'er read is a rare and incomplete copy. It's unlikely that many people have read it. And the method of mixing honey with pearl powder is written in this book. Second Aunt has also seen the effect, right?"

Madam Shen shook her head. "Just because one method works doesn't mean another will work. Tell me what you want first."

"I want to sell this pearl cultivation method to my second aunt."

"Oh? How much do you want to sell it for?"

"Twelve thousand taels." Shen Jingwan said.

She signed a contract with Wanbaoxuan, which was approved by the government. If she provided ten design drawings every month, she would receive five taels of silver, otherwise she would have to pay compensation of ten thousand taels of silver.

But now she has to manage the rouge shop and go to the clan school, so it is difficult for her to concentrate on painting. Therefore, she wants to pay the penalty as soon as possible to put her mind at ease.

The remaining two thousand taels of silver will be used for emergencies.

"Only twelve thousand taels? Isn't that too little?"