The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

As early as half a month ago, on the second day after Ji Lingfeng went to the Grand Tutor's Mansion, a letter destined for Xin'an County had already been sent out.

After half a month, it was finally delivered to Shen Cao's hands.

This morning, the sun rose slowly like a dazzling golden ball, casting its warm and bright light upon the earth.

The sky was a deep, jewel-like blue, without a single cloud obscuring it, allowing the entire world to be bathed in the warm winter sun.

The soft light penetrated the cold air, gently caressing people's skin and bringing a delightful warmth.

The renovation project of Baicao Garden was completed seven days ago, but Shen Cao was too busy to go and check it out.

Having finally arrived on such a beautiful, sunny day, she decided to take advantage of the wonderful weather and go to the Hundred Herbs Garden alone to find out more.

At this moment, the sun hangs high in the sky, radiating intense light, as if to bake everything in the world into a warm and cozy state.

The family business is now thriving, and after a period of careful management and guidance, Shen Cao is finally able to entrust it entirely to Li Xiaoyu and her parents.

With the completion of the renovation of the herb garden, the recruitment of shop assistants is also progressing smoothly.

Most of the new recruits came through introductions from Xiaoqiao and Xiaoqi; they were mostly friends they had met while begging together.

However, Shen Cao had specifically instructed them beforehand to choose people who were of good character, hardworking, and efficient.

After all, the smooth operation of the store depends on the hard work and dedication of every employee.

In the past few days, the sunlight has been shining on the lush grass of the Hundred Herbs Garden. Xiaoqiao and Xiaoqi have been carefully sweeping every inch of the land with brooms in hand.

Meanwhile, Shen Cao strolled leisurely along the road, her steps relaxed, as if she were enjoying the tranquility and beauty.

As Shen Cao walked, she silently counted the days in her mind, and suddenly realized that she had been in this wonderful world for almost a year.

After this period of adjustment, she has become quite adept at her current life, handling everything from daily living to social interactions with ease.

As you stroll along Xin'an Street, you'll see all sorts of shops lining both sides of the road, offering a dazzling array of goods and services.

Moreover, along the wide official road and in front of the shops, there were many stalls selling all sorts of trinkets. These stalls were filled with colorful items, a dazzling array that was hard to look away from.

Meanwhile, shouts could be heard from the street, as vendors pushing carts were enthusiastically hawking their goods.

They would shout loudly or display their goods to attract the attention of passersby.

Due to its unique geographical location, Xin'an County attracts people from all over the country.

Therefore, amidst the bustling crowd, one could also see many blond-haired, blue-eyed Persians and robust, burly people from the Great Qing Kingdom. Some were hurrying along, while others lingered, selecting items they desired.

However, for local residents, such scenes are already commonplace.

After all, this place is just like the bustling streets of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty. Everyone is already used to these merchants from neighboring countries whose appearances are so different from their own.

And so, Shen Cao walked and stopped along the way, finally arriving at the very center of Xin'an Street.

Looking up, a magnificent four-story building stands prominently before you.

The building is magnificent, with flying eaves and brackets, and exquisite carved doors and windows that reveal a strong classical atmosphere.

She stood there quietly, her gaze fixed on the magnificent and bustling Drunken Immortal Pavilion across the street.

Just a few months ago, she stood confidently in front of the owner of Zuixianlou Restaurant and made a bold promise that one day she would open an even better restaurant right across from him.

However, to her surprise, this seemingly unattainable dream became a reality so quickly.

At this moment, although the Drunken Immortal Pavilion was bustling with guests, she did not show the slightest envy on her face.

Because she knew that as long as she persevered in her efforts, sooner or later, these bustling guests would also flock to her herb garden and gather in front of it.

With this firm belief in her heart, she felt exceptionally happy, and her steps became light and cheerful as she walked briskly towards the Hundred Herbs Garden.

When she arrived at the entrance of the Hundred Herbs Garden, the first thing that caught her eye was the still-preserved archway-style gate. After careful renovation, this ancient gate radiated a brand-new brilliance and exuded a unique charm.

However, the old plaque that was originally located in the center of the gate has been removed and replaced with a brand new plaque that she personally designed and prepared.

She spared no effort in creating this flawless plaque.

Initially, she went to the carpenter's shop with great effort and finally found the best quality wood after careful selection;

Then, full of anticipation, she wrote a letter to her elder brother in the capital, asking him to use his talents to write the shop name on the plaque.

Finally, she specially sought out skilled carpenters and, based on the exquisite pattern drawn by her friend Wanyue, asked the craftsmen to be meticulous and exquisite, ensuring that every detail was carved to perfection.

Time flies, and a whole month has passed in the blink of an eye.

However, what is causing great anxiety is that the carpenter has not yet finished carving the door plaque.

Even so, her passion and anticipation never diminished for a moment.

Their shop faces south, and at midday, the blazing, dazzling sunlight shines in like a golden torrent, illuminating every corner of the shop.

Shen Cao stood outside the shop and looked inside through the open door. The strong light made the fine dust particles in the air, which were originally hard to see, clearly visible. They seemed to have been given life, dancing and leaping happily in the sunlight.

When Shen Cao gently pushed open the shop door and walked inside, she found them busy cleaning and tidying up the first floor.

Some people were diligently sweeping the floor, while others carefully wiped the shelves and counters. Xiaoqiao, with her sharp eyes, noticed Shen Cao's arrival the moment she stepped into the store.

She quickly put down what she was doing, her face breaking into a radiant smile like spring flowers. Overjoyed, she ran toward Shen Cao, calling out, "Sister Cao'er, you've finally come!"

Shen Cao smiled and responded, then began to carefully examine the surrounding environment.

The sight before her eyes surprised and delighted her; in just a few days, such a tremendous change had taken place. The once somewhat old and cluttered shops were now completely transformed, with neat and orderly displays that were pleasing to the eye.

Whether it's the neatly arranged goods or the spotless tables and chairs, everything exudes a fresh and comfortable atmosphere.

Shen Cao couldn't help but exclaim in genuine admiration, "Wow, you guys work so efficiently! It's only been a few days, but this place looks completely different. I almost didn't recognize it!"

As soon as Xiaoqi and the others saw Shen Cao approaching, they immediately put down what they were doing and went to greet him excitedly.

"Sister Grass! We are so grateful to you for letting us come here to work," one of the children said with a happy expression.

Another child quickly added, "Yes, and not only that, you also provided us with a place to stay."

Now we won't have to beg outside anymore. His words were full of anticipation for the future.

"Thank you, Sister Cao'er! We really don't know what we would have done without you."

"Thank you, Sister Cao'er..." The children surrounded Shen Cao, each trying to express their heartfelt gratitude.

Shen Cao smiled as she looked at the group of little ones in front of her, who were about the same age as her.

Having spent a long time wandering and begging, these children all looked thin and weak, with sallow and haggard faces, clearly due to severe malnutrition.

However, at this very moment, a glimmer of new hope can be clearly seen quietly igniting in their bright eyes.

Faced with the children's sincere thanks, Shen Cao gladly accepted them and gently reached out to stroke the head of the little boy standing beside her, who was only half a head shorter than her. She softly encouraged him, "As long as you work hard, I, your older sister, will definitely not treat any of you unfairly."

After receiving Shen Cao's resolute guarantee, a blazing fire of hope instantly ignited in everyone's eyes, as if they had finally glimpsed a ray of dawn in an endless abyss of darkness.

However, having lived a life of hardship for a long time, enduring wind and rain and begging on the streets, these people have long since developed the skills of reading people's expressions and flattering others, just in order to win the favor of others and gain a little chance to survive.

Shen Cao naturally took all of this into account, and he keenly noticed the changes in the people's eyes—from their initial dullness to their current hopefulness.

However, he also did not overlook the subtle emotions hidden deep in their eyes: a hint of indifference and a faint sense of wariness.

But he was in no hurry to expose or explain anything, because he knew that time would be the best witness and would prove to everyone that what he said was true.

With a smile, she said softly to Xiaoqi, "Xiaoqi, you should take them back to the house to eat first." Then she added, "I suppose Mother has already prepared the food by now."

After hearing this, Xiao Qi nodded obediently, then turned her gaze to Shen Cao, who was about to go upstairs, and asked, "Sister Cao'er, aren't you coming back with us for dinner?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Cao waved her hand gently and replied, "No need, I've already eaten. You guys should go back quickly, and remember to rest well after you finish eating. There's no rush to deal with things here." After saying this, Shen Cao reached out and gently stroked the stair railing.

Upon touching it, she was surprised to find that the handrail was spotless, smooth and clean as if it were brand new. Looking down at the solid wood staircase beneath her feet, she saw that it was also wiped clean and gleaming. Even the most remote and obscure corners were free of any dust or dirt, clearly demonstrating the thoroughness and care put into the cleaning!

Shen Cao couldn't help but curiously lean closer to the handrail and sniff it carefully. Sure enough, a faint scent of wood lacquer wafted up. So, they had actually applied a layer of wood lacquer to the handrail staircase. No wonder it looked brand new when she looked at it from afar.

She continued upstairs. The layout of the second floor was similar to that of the first floor, except that there were more screens that enclosed the areas near the windows, thus increasing privacy.

In the very center of the second floor, there is an artificial landscape with rockery and flowing water.

Shen Cao was very surprised when she saw it; she never expected that the ancients could create such beautiful indoor landscapes.

The water flow had no electricity, yet it came to life simply by the difference in elevation.

The sound of the babbling water was exceptionally pleasant.

She spent a lot of money to have it repaired.

She prospers when she encounters water! She's quite ambitious.

The third floor is much more luxurious than the second floor, consisting entirely of private rooms.

The tables, chairs, and benches in the private rooms were also much more exquisite than those on the second and first floors.

Once we reached the fourth floor, it was a completely new world.

The fourth floor was divided into four private rooms, each with a different style.

The building was renovated in accordance with the style of the Four Gentlemen (plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum).

Inside, it can be described as a small hall, with a dedicated dining area, a tea-drinking area, a reception area, and even an area where guests can play some elegant games.

Looking at the private room, which was even better than her own, Shen Cao thought that if it weren't for making money, she would have reserved one just for herself to rest.

When she went downstairs, she saw that Xiaoqi and the others had thoughtfully closed the door for her.

Such a large restaurant cannot possibly have enough staff with just a few employees.

She needs to go to the matchmaker's place to hire some more helpers.

Just as she was about to leave, Xiaoqi and the others returned after dinner.

"Sister Cao'er, Mother wants you to go back. She says there's a letter from the capital."

A letter from the capital? Is it from my elder brother or Wanyue?

She was happy no matter who it was.

"Okay, you guys keep busy, I'll head back now."

"By the way, I think it's almost cleaned up. Starting tomorrow, you'll have a holiday. Let Xiaoqi and Xiaoqiao take you out to play."

After saying that, she tossed a money bag to Xiaoqi.

"Once the shop opens, I won't have time to play anymore."

After saying that, Shen Cao walked home without looking back.