I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

But she was also touched, after all, Pei Yan did this to protect her. At this moment, her expression gradually softened, and the sternness in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a complex tenderness.

Pei Yan watched Fang Xiaoxiao's departing figure, his eyes filled with disappointment and regret. His fingers unconsciously gripped the bed sheet, and he thought to himself, "I'm such an idiot. Why didn't I think to talk to her properly back then? I had to take all the blame myself, which led to this situation."

But he also understood that Fang Xiaoxiao's attitude was firm at the moment, and it would not be easy to get her forgiveness immediately.

He took a deep breath and secretly encouraged himself: "I can't give up now. I must first resolve those troublesome matters in the palace, and then come to ask for her forgiveness in a grand manner, giving her a stable future."

Fang Xiaoxiao's feelings were quite complicated after she left the room.

Her mind was filled with memories of her past with Pei Yan—sweet moments, painful ones, misunderstandings, and touching ones.

She gently shook her head, trying to shake off these thoughts, and firmly told herself, "It's all in the past. Now I have my own life and Lingxi Pavilion to manage. I can't let him affect me anymore."

When Fang Xiaoxiao returned to the room, she found that Pei Yan had already left.

Her gaze swept across the room, finally landing on the note Pei Yan had left on the table.

She slowly walked over, reached out and picked up the note. Looking at the familiar handwriting, a ripple of emotion welled up in her heart.

But she quickly regained her composure, casually placing the note on the candle flame, watching it gradually turn to ashes in the fire, as if burning away all the past emotions along with it.

Over the next few days, Fang Xiaoxiao devoted herself entirely to the business of Lingxi Pavilion.

The store had just opened, but it wasn't as bustling as she had expected.

Many people stood outside the store, pointing and gesturing at Lingxi Pavilion, their faces full of doubt and confusion.

"How can a store sell everything? It would become a general store."

"That's right, clothing stores should just sell clothes, and medicine stores should just sell medicine. Why are they all like this?"

The murmurs of the crowd reached Fang Xiaoxiao's ears. She frowned slightly, realizing that it would take some effort for this new business model to be accepted by everyone.

So, Fang Xiaoxiao came up with a solution—free of charge.

When she presented this proposal to everyone, the meeting room erupted in chaos.

Li Renyi jumped to his feet, his face full of incomprehension: "Miss Fang, what are you doing? Why are you giving things away for free? We open a shop to make money, right? How are we going to make a profit if this continues?"

Long Jinyan, Ouyang Tuoba, Murong Changqing, and others nodded in agreement, their faces showing worry.

Seeing this, Fang Xiaoxiao quickly waved her hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.

She cleared her throat and began to patiently explain the free method: "Everyone, please be patient and let me finish. We've designed a lucky draw wheel at the store entrance. Each participant can spin the wheel once for free, and whatever they draw, they get."

Furthermore, they can invite friends to come and play together. If they invite more than five friends, they can get a 9.8% discount on their purchases, and so on.

In the end, you can even get a five-tael coupon from the store.

As Fang Xiaoxiao explained, the expressions on everyone's faces gradually changed from doubt to contemplation, but most people still looked completely confused.

Only Zhou Wenjian's eyes lit up, and a look of sudden realization appeared on his face. He nodded slightly, secretly admiring Fang Xiaoxiao's intelligence.

After Fang Xiaoxiao finished speaking, she looked at everyone's reaction and smiled slightly: "Don't rush to conclusions. Let's try this plan first. Maybe it will have unexpected results."

After saying this, she ordered everyone to leave and begin to spread the word.

In no time, the staff of Lingxi Pavilion sprang into action, posting posters in the streets and alleys to introduce Lingxi Pavilion's new activities to passersby, and the entire capital city was gradually covered by Lingxi Pavilion's publicity.

Fang Xiaoxiao stood at the store entrance, her voice clear and loud, explaining the event rules to the crowd in an orderly manner: "Dear fellow villagers, don't miss this opportunity! Our Lingxi Pavilion is opening a new store, and to thank everyone, we are holding this lucky draw event. It's absolutely genuine and valid!"

Her voice echoed through the bustling street, attracting many passersby to stop and watch.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "Are you serious? There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Renyi, who was acting as a shill, wearing a white fake beard and tattered old man's clothes, stretched out his hand shakily and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Let me try, let me try!"

The surrounding crowd, with amusement at the spectacle, began to discuss the matter amongst themselves.

"Hmph, this is definitely a scam. There's no such thing as a free lunch. It's definitely a trick."

"Exactly, they might try to charge us some other fees later, so let's not fall for it."

Fang Xiaoxiao maintained a smile throughout, and calmly had someone help Li Renyi forward, saying, "Grandpa, please take your time."

He then gestured for him to spin the wheel.

Li Renyi pretended to rub his hands together, then vigorously spun the roulette wheel, which began to spin rapidly, drawing everyone's attention.

When the roulette wheel slowly came to a stop and the pointer steadily pointed to the 5% off section, the crowd erupted in excitement.

"How is that possible? They must have tampered with it beforehand."

"Exactly, what a coincidence."

A group of people still didn't believe it and made sarcastic remarks from the sidelines.

Ignoring everyone's doubts, Fang Xiaoxiao softly asked Li Renyi, who was dressed as an old man, "Grandpa, what would you like to buy?"

Li Renyi's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "I want to buy the quick-acting pills. I heard from a friend that these pills can cure chest pain. This old problem of mine flares up from time to time, and I really need them."

Fang Xiaoxiao immediately sent someone to bring out the pills. She took the pills and first carefully introduced their effects: "Fellow villagers, our quick-acting pills are carefully developed by Lingxi Pavilion. They are specifically designed for symptoms such as chest pain and have remarkable effects. Moreover, the price of these pills is one tael of silver."

Although the onlookers didn't know if the event was real or fake, they all knew that Lingxi Pavilion's medicines were of superior quality and that the quick-acting pills were indeed priced at one tael of silver.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Xiao smiled and said to Li Renyi, "Grandpa, congratulations on winning a 5% discount. This pill is now yours for just half a tael of silver."

Li Renyi was so happy that he danced around, his face beaming with smiles, and he kept repeating, "This is such a great deal! Such a great deal!"

Before he could finish celebrating, Fang Xiaoxiao raised her voice and said, "Not only that, but if you can bring five friends to participate in the event, you can get an additional 9.8% discount on top of the 50% off. The more people you bring, the bigger the discount, with no upper limit!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd that had been watching the spectacle immediately became restless.

"Really? I'll try it!"

"I'm coming too, I'm coming too!"

Everyone crowded around, chattering and asking to participate, instantly creating a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere. Fang Xiaoxiao watched this scene with secret satisfaction; she knew her plan had succeeded in its first step.