A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

He Jinglan leaned to the side to look at Gu Xixi.

"Then why don't you lose one and show me?"

"Anyway, I've already gotten my dowry. If I unfortunately lose it all, that's fine, since I don't want to get married anyway."

Gu Xixi couldn't help but chuckle, "You don't want to get married?"

"In the Imperial Guard, what is our old friend surnamed Meng?"

He Jinglan pretended not to understand, saying, "An old friend is an old friend, what else could it be?"

Gu Xixi shook her head with a helpless smile, "Why do I feel like you're setting me up?"

"The more you say it doesn't matter if you lose everything, the more concerned I become."

He Jinglan finally couldn't hold back her laughter and said, "Can we both stop pretending?"

“I know you’re confident, and I’ve got my backing. This shop is mine, so even if we lose money, it won’t be by much. Let’s go all out and make it big.”

"Besides, we already agreed that you would be the second boss, so don't try to put on airs with me now!"

Gu Xixi laughed and said, "Alright, seeing how eager you are to make money, I'll give you all the recipes when we get back to the inn. Thirty-six recipes, including some for spring and summer, enough for you when you first open your shop."

He Jinglan was both surprised and delighted, "You've already written down the prescription?"

"You're still saying you're afraid of this and that, when you're already prepared."

Gu Xixi smiled but remained silent.

Gu Xixi had already started writing down recipes for sweet soup when He Jinglan returned to the capital.

In addition to the varieties she had already successfully developed, she added pearl milk tea, flower milk tea, and Fu brick tea milk tea, and also adjusted and upgraded the recipes for citron black tea and plum juice.

Gu Xixi personally prepared each recipe, using her experience from drinking so many beverages to determine the flavor.

The final thirty-six types of sweet soup were all enduring and highly praised flavors from various milk tea shops and bottled drinks she had tried.

It's a pity that the original "happy water" can't be restored, otherwise it would have caused a sensation in Beijing upon its release.

However, despite her confidence, Gu Xixi wouldn't be so presumptuous.

She had no business experience after all, and was only looking at it from a consumer's perspective; the reasons for a store's popularity were complex.

Are the store's exterior and interior decoration attractive?

What is its style? What consumer group does it target?

How should we price it? How should we promote it?

Every single thing is a subject of study.

Gu Xixi recommended that He Jinglan hire a manager with experience in running a teahouse.

He Jinglan readily agreed, "It's just poaching people, that's easy. We also need to hire staff anyway, so we can arrange that together."

"We also need to discuss the interior and exterior decoration. I'll draw up the blueprints tonight, and we'll have someone measure and start construction tomorrow."

Gu Xixi sighed, "Are you in such a hurry?"

He Jinglan smiled, "Since we're already here, we might as well do a little more."

"I also want you to personally cut the ribbon for the grand opening of our dessert shop before you go home."

The two spent the entire afternoon in the shop.

During this time, driver Lao Li delivered a food box that had been packed from a nearby restaurant.

After dinner, Gu Xixi and He Jinglan continued their work and finally finalized the basic renovation plan for various parts of the shop.

The remaining interior furnishings, decorations, and ornaments can be further refined over time.

On the carriage back, Gu Xixi was still pondering.

"It's impossible to please everyone, and I'm not entirely sure if I can win over the locals."

"It's best to have as many people taste the food as possible before opening the shop."

"Hmm..." He Jinglan frowned and thought for a while, then suddenly understood.

"I have a solution."

She kept everyone in suspense for a moment, saying, "You go ahead and do your thing, I'll take care of this."

Upon arriving at the inn, He Jinglan got out of the car and followed Gu Xixi into the inn.

Gu Xixi looked at her in surprise, "It's getting late, aren't you going home?"

“Go back,” He Jinglan said matter-of-factly. “Take your luggage and come back with me.”

Gu Xixi tried to persuade them with reason, saying, "I'm quite comfortable living here, and it's convenient for me to visit various teahouses and tea shops."

He Jinglan smiled and said, "My home isn't far from here, it won't affect your business."

"Living in my own home is quiet, safe, and clean."

Gu Xixi didn't want to bother others, "but..."

"No buts!" He Jinglan said decisively, "It's settled then."

She went upstairs and uninvited to pack Gu Xixi's belongings, then knocked on the door across the street.

After He Jinglan explained her purpose, An Qinghe was in high spirits. "I used to stay at Xixi's house, and now I'll switch places with you. I think it's a good idea."

He glanced at Gu Xixi and added, "As long as Xixi goes, I'll go."

Jiang Mingyuan and He Jinglan had only met once from afar and had never even spoken, so they were naturally not as familiar as An Qinghe.

He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and said politely, "Thank you for your kind offer, Miss He, but I really cannot trouble you."

He Jinglan stared at Jiang Mingyuan, a smirk playing on her lips. "Are you trying to avoid suspicion like this? Do you know who my brother is? Are you afraid that if you step into my house, you'll be branded as a member of the He family?"

"Or is it that Young Master Jiang has already chosen a certain official and wants to become his disciple?"

At such moments, He Jinglan still reveals the keen insight of a legitimate daughter of a prominent family.

Despite such obvious probing intent, Jiang Mingyuan remained calm and unhurried.

“I come from the Northwest and have no connections in the capital. I don’t think I have the ability to climb any ladder to heaven.”

Therefore, I only want to stay home and study lately.

He looked at He Jinglan with clear eyes, showing no sign of wavering.

"I have long admired Lord He's reputation and aspire to serve him. If I have the opportunity to learn from him in person, I would be honored."

"If I am fortunate enough to receive your offer after the results of the imperial examinations are announced, I will certainly pay you a formal visit."

The answer was neither humble nor arrogant, and also showed good manners.

He Jinglan's attitude towards Jiang Mingyuan also became more serious. "Alright, then I wish Young Master Jiang all the best in achieving his wish and becoming a disciple of the Emperor."

Jiang Mingyuan returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

Before leaving, He Jinglan told Jiang Mingyuan that if he had any difficulties, he should go to the He family mansion to find Gu Xixi.

An Qinghe also said that he would often come to the inn to see Jiang Mingyuan, so everyone didn't need to worry.

Gu Xixi rode in He Jinglan's carriage, while An Qinghe followed behind in an empty carriage.

Xiao He Mansion is located in Tonghua Ward, separate from the original He family residence in Beijing.

Tonghuafang was very close to the imperial city, and most of the residents here were officials and nobles, especially the street where Xiao He's mansion was located.

As soon as the carriage turned the corner, Gu Xixi felt that the surroundings were much quieter than outside.

She could vaguely see a brightly lit area outside, and curiously lifted the curtain to look.

Several guards stood outside the gate of a mansion, and more than a dozen bright lanterns illuminated the surrounding area.

The plaque above clearly reads: Regent's Palace.

Gu Xixi froze, her mind automatically translating it into two words: Underworld.

He Jinglan behind him was as quiet as a quail.

An Qinghe's excited voice came from behind the carriage, "Is this the Regent's Palace?"

When Gu Xixi turned around as if she had lost her soul, He Jinglan quickly clarified, "I didn't mean to trick you into going to his house! It's just that we live a little close by... that's all."

Gu Xixi was dazed for a moment, then suddenly grabbed He Jinglan's shoulders and shook her, "Why didn't you tell me before we left?!"

He Jinglan looked aggrieved. "If I tell you, will you come home with me?"