Marrying the Crown Prince

Even after the discount, these items still cost twelve taels, which surprised Zhou Zhou somewhat.

It can't possibly win against Baozhen Pavilion, so why not change its model and adopt a more people-friendly approach?

After leaving the store, Zhou Zhou voiced his doubts.

"Fighting a price war is ultimately a poor strategy," Mr. Du replied.

That's true; ordinary people aren't allowed to buy any jewelry either.

The third shop was located on Dongba Street. It also sold cosmetics and face powder and had always been profitable. As for the reason for the transfer...

"The shop owner is getting old and wants to go back to his hometown to retire," Du explained from the side.

"All the utensils here, whether it's the shopkeeper or the face powder, have been transferred to the new owner, so he's asking for a higher price than the previous two."

"The benefits will naturally be yours once you take them."

After saying that, Madam Du led the two of them inside. A strong, overpowering scent of rouge and face powder wafted into their nostrils, causing Zhou Zhou's brow to twitch slightly.

"Look, this lip rouge, reddish-orange, will definitely make your complexion look better." As soon as Du entered the room, she spotted something she liked and excitedly pulled Zhou Zhou to look at it. "Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I bought rouge, hasn't it?"

Zhou Zhou: "..."

Didn't I just buy six boxes before the Lunar New Year?

However, one can never have too much of a rouge or face powder.

Zhou Zhou looked up, beaming, "It looks really good."

Then, with a wave of his hand, Mr. Du purchased three more boxes.

After visiting three shops, it was almost time to leave, so Madam Du led them to a tavern on East Street. The group went straight inside, and the waiter, seeing them arrive, hurried over, "Miss, what brings you here today?"

Indeed, this tavern called Guixiangju is owned by the Du family. The name of this tavern is excellent, clearly showcasing its characteristics—fragrant and expensive. It is indeed delicious, and it is indeed expensive.

“I was just out for a stroll and happened to be hungry, so I came to take a look,” Madam Du said as she skillfully walked upstairs to the private room. “You don’t need to disturb Lian Niang. Just ask the kitchen to cook a few dishes and send them up.”

"Yes." The waiter withdrew.

"I haven't asked you what kind of shop you want to open yet," Madam Du asked Zhou, tilting her head. "If you want to open a restaurant, why don't I hand this one over to you to manage?"

This shop is already established, having stood in Kyoto for several years and built its own loyal customer base and reputation. Zhou Zhou doesn't need to put in much effort; he can just lie back and wait for the money to come in.

So when Du proposed it, Zhou Zhou was indeed tempted—who wouldn't like to make money while lying down?

Fortunately, she was determined enough to resist the urge to agree, saying, "I want to open a cosmetics shop."

"Oh?" Du raised her eyebrows curiously, signaling Zhou Zhou to continue.

Zhou Zhou then repeated what he and Shen Ning had said to Madam Du.

After listening to Zhou Zhou's words, Madam Du pondered for a while and then reminded him, "This sheep flower ointment can indeed moisturize the skin, making it look smooth and tender."

"But its drawbacks are also obvious. It has a muttony smell and is very sticky when applied to the body. It's okay to use it in winter, but it's really uncomfortable to use it in summer."

After hearing Du's words, Zhou Zhou fell silent—this was indeed a big problem. It seemed that it was impossible to get the goods from the Northern Region. He could only find another way, such as getting the formula for plum blossom ointment from the imperial physicians in the palace.

Zhou Zhou hesitated for a moment, then gave a wry smile. If the recipe for plum blossom ointment were so easy to obtain, it would have been widely known among the people long ago.

"So, have you decided which shop you want?" Madam Du pressed.

Zhou Zhou rubbed his temples, his thoughts a jumbled mess. "The second and third companies were both very good."

The second advantage is the female shopkeeper, and the third advantage is that Zhou Zhou genuinely wants to acquire this cosmetics shop.

“If you take over a third store, you can only maintain the status quo for a while. You still have to buy the same things it used to buy. Even if new goods are added, you still have to pay the original prices for the items in the store.” Seeing Zhou Zhou’s troubled look, Madam Du helped her sort out her thoughts.

"It's like this: you actually develop a sheep flower ointment, but it's all about making money through volume. The products you buy and the sellers you target are small families. Even if it's expensive, one tael is already the maximum price."

After listening to Du's words, Zhou Zhou made a decision: "The second shop."

"Have you thought it through?" Seeing that she had hesitated before, but now she made up her mind so decisively, Du was a little surprised.

I thought that with several thousand taels of silver, a child like Zhou Zhou would hesitate for a long time.

It's important to understand that in the business world, many opportunities are fleeting. If you encounter one, you'll miss it because of hesitation and indecisiveness.

Therefore, Zhou Zhou's decisiveness satisfied the Du family. As for what to do if the wrong choice is made?

No problem, we have plenty of money. Let the child play if she wants.

"I've thought it through." Zhou Zhou nodded firmly.

"Alright, then I'll have someone go and talk to you this afternoon," Madam Du agreed.

Just then, the waiter brought in the dishes. Of course, the waiter wasn't the only one who came in; Lian Niang, whom Du had just mentioned, was also there.

"Young Miss, why didn't you let me know you were coming?" Lianniang feigned displeasure, holding a broken lotus seed heart as she leaned against Madam Du. "It really makes me very sad."

Zhou Yue's eyes widened; it was the first time she had ever seen such a charming and alluring woman.

Du was speechless and pulled the person off her. "I was afraid of you looking like this, that's why I didn't dare let you know."

Pushed away by Madam Du, Lianniang "sadly" wiped away her tears, saying, "Miss, what you're saying makes me feel bad."

Du: "..."

Stop acting!

"Ahem!" Zhou Zhou coughed lightly, breaking the strange atmosphere.

Madam Du finally noticed the problem. "Lianniang, stop making a fuss. There are still children here."

Knowing when to stop, Lianniang stood up gracefully and said, "Look at my poor eyesight, I deserve a beating. I didn't even see the young lady."

“This is the manager of Guixiangju, and also the person I trust most,” Du introduced Lian Niang to Zhou Zhou and Zhou Yue. “She grew up with me since childhood, and we are like sisters. You can just call her Aunt Lian.”

After the introduction, both children exclaimed in response.

Madam Du looked up at Lianniang and asked, "Would you like to have a meal together?"

"No, I have other things to do. Miss and Young Miss can eat on their own." After saying this, Lianniang left.

This little incident didn't affect Zhou Zhou's mood. However, that evening, when the family was having dinner together, Zhou Zhou felt that Zhou Laowu's head was glowing green.