Wine-scented Beauty

Chapter Sixty-Two: Seeking Profit, Not Sentiment

It was delivery day again, and Ji Meiqing got up early. She didn't tell Lu Yu, who had his own things to do, and went straight out the door.

The Li family had made preparations a day in advance, and the two of them hired several people to push a cart into the city.

“The demand is increasing, should we hire two more people?” Li suddenly said. “The workload is far from enough with just the few of us.”

With no one bothering them these past few days, and thanks to Ji Meiqing, their lives have become increasingly better. Li Shi looks younger and younger, attracting countless covetous glances.

Even when matchmakers came in to propose marriage, she refused outright.

Ji Meiqing watched for a while and thought that what Li said was right. There were four people, not to mention that the two of them didn't do much work.

This quantity was entirely due to the two of them; otherwise, there wouldn't have been so much.

"It's time to find some more people. I'll check how the sales went this time when I went to deliver goods over there. When we come back, we'll find a couple more in the village."

"Okay." Li smiled faintly. After discussing work, it was time to talk about personal matters. She looked at Ji Meiqing with a smile, but her ambiguous gaze sent chills down one's spine.

"Miss Ji must be sixteen by now, right?" she suddenly asked.

Ji Meiqing nodded, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"Do you have someone you like?"

"No," she answered decisively, then immediately followed up with what she was about to say, "I don't plan to get married right now."

"Actually, Young Master Lu is quite good too, and he's been very kind to you. Why..."

When Lu Yu was mentioned, Ji Meiqing's face immediately turned cold. "Brother Lu is just my savior. He has his own world, and besides, he already has someone he likes."

Her words stunned Li.

"Lu Yu... does he have someone he likes?" she asked tentatively, but seeing that Ji Meiqing's expression didn't seem to be lying, her heart trembled, and she then forced a dry laugh: "How could that be? Lu Yu, that boy, I've seen him treat you so much better than anyone else."

"Yes." She chuckled twice, not knowing what to say, so she simply ignored him. Li was about to say something when Li Ming nudged her. She wanted to scold him, but then she saw him wink at her.

She understood immediately and fell silent.

Throughout the journey, Ji Meiqing's complexion was rather poor, and Li Shi secretly blamed herself for talking too much.

After finally arriving at the place, Li ran up to her and went inside together. This was her first time in such a place; it looked quite large, but not as lively as it was at night.

She couldn't help but glance at it a few more times. This was a man's paradise, a place that all girls envied. Ji Meiqing passed by with a calm expression.

Seeing that Ji Meiqing had no expression, Li Shi also withdrew her gaze. There didn't seem to be anything interesting there now; it was just a brothel.

She withdrew her gaze and followed her into the mother's room.

Early in the morning, Mrs. Hu hadn't gotten up yet. She was wearing a nightgown and called for someone to come and serve them.

Ji Meiqing sat in the chair, waiting for him to get up, and then looked at everything around her.

Everything in the room remained largely unchanged. Mrs. Hu looked at Mrs. Li beside her with a meaningful gaze.

Ji Meiqing glanced at Li Shi, then asked, "Does Madam Hu have any complaints?"

"No, I just think this girl has a nice face. Want to come over here?"

Openly poaching people, Ji Meiqing smiled and stood in front of Li Shi, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam Hu, but Li Shi can't withstand your meddling."

"Oh dear, what are you saying? All the girls here are beautiful as flowers, and you see none of them are happy in their lives?"

Ji Meiqing smiled and said, "I don't know about you. Once you drink this infertility soup, you will be free from future troubles."

Li's face turned pale, and she quickly hid to the side. Ji Meiqing laughed twice more, "You've already poached this person, where am I supposed to find someone else?"

"What you're saying is wrong of me." She waved her fan and walked slowly forward, her steps steady, as if she were floating rather than walking.

Ji Meiqing followed them to the place where the wine was kept.

They tasted the wine in each jar and nodded. All the jars were taken inside, and the job was done. Mrs. Hu settled the bill with them, and then the two of them went home.

"You go back first, I have something to do," Ji Meiqing suddenly said, which puzzled Li Shi.

Where are you going next?

"Okay, I'll take a look. I'll be back soon."

Li nodded belatedly, and the two parted ways at the fork in the road. Ji Meiqing then hurried towards the porcelain kiln, calculating that it was about time.

When she arrived at the entrance of the porcelain kiln, no one stopped her this time, so she swaggered in.

Everyone inside was busy, and the air was tinged with gray.

Upon hearing the news, Boss Guan immediately came over.

"Miss Ji," he called out, then walked to the side, "please follow me."

The two went directly to another room, which was filled with porcelain ornaments, probably a finished product room.

Ji Meiqing was led to a table with a tray on it, covered with a red cloth.

"Everything you instructed has been completed. Miss Ji, you may take a look first."

The red cloth was lifted, revealing several cups inside. The cups had exquisite patterns, and the embossed areas were very smooth.

Ji Meiqing picked it up and examined it carefully. Following her own drawing, she placed the scenery and other objects on the cup as decorations. Based on the design of the vase, she broke with traditional thinking and abandoned the flat peony pattern.

It directly highlights the layers of those patterns.

Ji Meiqing put them away. "They're fine. I'll keep them here for the next few days. I'll contact the Chamber of Commerce."

"Okay," he replied, his eyes still lingering with amazement.

Ji Meiqing said nothing more, only saying, "If this cooperation is successful, I hope we can continue in the future."

"May it be as you wish, young lady."

Ji Meiqing nodded, and after leaving, she went straight home.

Lu Yu returned early, and there was a lot of food on the table.

Ji Meiqing was surprised. "Why are you back so early?"

"Oh, I have something to tell you."

Ji Meiqing walked over casually. "What is it?"

"Xunhua sent someone over to inform you that the imperial physician has arrived. They asked when you are free."

Upon hearing this, Ji Meiqing remembered that there was such a thing. After thinking about the timing, she realized there was no need to think about it; given Xunhua's personality, the sooner the better. However, this time, Lu Yu suddenly said, "There will be a heavy rain in four days, let's set it for that time."