Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Early that morning, after enjoying a simple but nutritious breakfast, Li Ruoyue and Luzhu set out for the dental clinic. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, spilling onto the cobblestones, adding a touch of warmth and hope to the morning.

The shop's facade is unremarkable, but the two characters "Yahong" ("red in red") hanging above its lintel stand out in the sunlight. Inside, one finds a bustling scene, the sounds of various transactions interwoven into a vibrant scene.

Li Ruoyue and Luzhu approached the brokerage's supervisor, a middle-aged man who appeared shrewd and capable. His name was Yinghong, and he was the most experienced broker in the area. Yinghong greeted them warmly and ushered them to a quiet corner for a deeper discussion.

First, Li Ruoyue and Luzhu outlined their needs: a young boy between ten and thirteen, bright and capable, and quick at work. Yinghong listened to their request and nodded in understanding. He flipped through a booklet at hand, revealing a few pages of information on children who met the criteria.

"Here are several suitable candidates. You can take a look." Yinghong handed the booklet to Li Ruoyue. She flipped through it carefully and saw one of the names - Lu Zixuan, which caught her attention.

"What is the origin of this Lu Zixuan?" Li Ruoyue asked, pointing at Lu Zixuan's name.

Yinghong took a look and replied, "He's an orphan, but he's smart, studious, and hardworking. He used to work in a restaurant, but because he had too many sisters and his mother was sick, he came to this pawnshop to sell himself.

"Then let's meet these three people first." Li Ruoyue said.

Yinghong listened to their request and nodded to show that she understood. He took out a few pages from the booklet at hand, which contained the letters of some children who met the requirements.

Yinghong took a look and replied, "He's an orphan, but he's smart, studious, and very hardworking. He used to work in a restaurant, and because of his outstanding performance, he was recommended to us."

Yinghong immediately arranged a meeting, and soon after, the three children came to them. Li Ruoyue observed them carefully, talked with them for a few words, and had a preliminary judgment in her mind.

While interacting with the three children, Li Ruoyue noticed that the middle child had clear, bright eyes, revealing a sense of cleverness. He introduced himself as Lin Feng, twelve years old.

When asked why he wanted to work here, Lin Feng answered without hesitation: "I want to make money to support my family and let them live a better life." This answer touched Li Ruoyue's heart, and she felt that Lin Feng was a responsible child.

The other two children also had their own characteristics, but in comparison, Lin Feng left a deeper impression on her. Li Ruoyue decided to learn more about Lin Feng's situation, so she asked Yinghong about Lin Feng's family background. Lin Feng was an orphan for thousands of years. Because of famine, his parents died, leaving behind a younger sister. He could only sell himself as a slave to support his sister.

After listening to Yinghong's introduction, Li Ruoyue became even more satisfied with Lin Feng. She secretly thought: Maybe he is the right person she has been looking for.

Li Ruoyue chose and chose, and finally her eyes stopped at Lu Zixuan. A hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes, as if she was very satisfied with this choice. Then, she looked at Lin Feng next to her and nodded secretly, thinking that he was also a good candidate. So, without hesitation, she pointed her finger at the two of them and announced, "It's you two!"

Li Ruoyue and Yinghong said, "I want this person. How much do you want? Just name your price." Yinghong smiled and said, "Miss Li has a good eye. These two children are rare talents. How about this? I'll give you a special price of eleven taels of silver each."

Li Ruoyue thought about it for a moment and felt that the price was fair. He turned to Luzhu and told her to pay, and asked her to take out 23 taels of silver and hand it to Yinghong. "This is 23 taels of silver. The extra money is a tip for you."

Yinghong took the banknote and smiled even brighter. "Thank you, Miss Li. If you need any help in the future, just come to me." She smiled so hard that her teeth were not visible. She said to Luzhu attentively, "Miss Luzhu, come with me. Let's go get their indenture contract. It's difficult. After he's not angry, he will be your lady's from now on. Your lady has the final say on his life and death." Holding the indenture contract in her hand, Li Ruoyue said to Yinhong, "Do you have any vacant shops here? I want to open a medical clinic. Do you think there is anything suitable?"

Upon hearing this, Yinghong beamed with joy and said, "Miss, isn't this a coincidence?" "I happen to have a few shops. One is a medical clinic. It's not big, but the location is great. I have a shop with four rooms. It used to be a small business, but I had to sell it because of capital turnover. Now I have a grocery store, and I have to go back to my hometown to sell it one day. The shops are of different sizes and different locations. I don't know which one you like. How about I take you to see them all?" Li Ruoyue heard this and said in a calm manner, "Since there are some, let's take a look tomorrow. It's getting late today. I'll take them back first. I'll come back to see these shops tomorrow. You should be ready and arrange the time. Then we'll go and see them."

Upon hearing this, Yinghong readily agreed and said, "Miss, don't worry. I have decided to arrange the time properly and will be waiting for you."

Li Ruoyue escorted Lu Zixuan and Lin Feng out of the dental clinic. Along the way, she urged them to work hard and told them to always tell her if they had any difficulties or ideas. Lu Zixuan and Lin Feng nodded repeatedly, promising to work hard.

Li Ruoyue didn't take them home. Instead, she found an inn and settled them there. Since they hadn't bought a shop yet, they were staying there for a while. She didn't want Madam Hua to know what she was doing, so she had to keep them there. She assigned them some simple tasks. They were to inquire about the business conditions and reputation of various pharmacies in Kyoto, who was in charge, and who was the owner behind them. Lin Feng was efficient and completed the task quickly. Lu Zixuan was a bit clumsy, but his serious attitude pleased Li Ruoyue.

A few days later, Li Ruoyue began to teach them some business skills. The two learned quickly, especially Lu Zixuan, who showed amazing talent. Li Ruoyue was secretly happy, thinking that her choice was right. As time went on, Lu Zixuan and Lin Feng gradually became Li Ruoyue's right-hand men, and their presence made the store's business more and more prosperous. In the process, the relationship between the three of them also became more and more tacit, but of course, this is all for later.

Li Ruoyue returned to the mansion from the pawnshop. Despite the day's events, she rested for a while and headed straight to the dining room. Lu Zhu was already waiting there. A simple meal was laid on the table: light vegetables, fragrant rice, and a pot of warm tea. These were Li Ruoyue's favorite foods, simple yet rich, helping her recover without overtaxing her body.

Li Ruoyue sat at the table. Luzhu poured her a bowl of hot soup and said with concern, "Miss, you've worked hard today. Come and eat something." Li Ruoyue smiled and nodded, picked up her chopsticks, and tasted the food on the table. Every bite made her feel the warmth and comfort of home, which was the comfort she needed most after a busy day.

During the meal, Li Ruoyue and Luzhu occasionally chatted, sharing their experiences and feelings of the day, which filled the dining room with a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Li Ruoyue knew that no matter how complicated the outside world was, she could always find a piece of peace and comfort that belonged to her.

After dinner, Li Ruoyue, accompanied by Lu Zhu, returned to her room to rest. That day, she had not only resolved the issue of the Qihuang Pavilion's leader, but also made some progress in her shop, which made her look forward to the next day. In the tranquility of the Marquis's residence, Li Ruoyue closed her eyes and fell asleep, preparing for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.