Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

"The auspicious time has arrived!" Xu Li shouted.

"Miss, you light the first firecracker!" Xu Li handed the lit incense stick to Yun Chu.

"Me?" Yun Chu covered her ears as she approached. Holding a lit incense stick, she cautiously approached the string of firecrackers.

"Do you need my help?" Luo Yan asked worriedly, but Yun Chu shook her head.

With a "sizzle" sound, the first small firecracker was lit. Then, like a chain of sparks, one firecracker after another quickly followed, making loud "crackling" noises. Red paper scraps and sparks flew everywhere, as if they were blooming into dazzling fireworks in the air, turning the entire street red. Amid the sound of firecrackers, the shop signs gleamed in the sunlight.

As a string of firecrackers went off, a crowd began to gather. Children covered their ears, watching the colorful sparks bloom in the air with a mixture of excitement and fear, while adults whispered among themselves, full of curiosity and anticipation for the new shop.

The sound of firecrackers subsided, and Zhu Ling pushed Xu Li forward. Xu Li picked up the gong and banged it hard, announcing, "Today, Shili Pu officially opens for business! Welcome all fellow villagers! All goods in the store are on sale as a token of our gratitude!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers rang out from the crowd, and everyone's face was filled with happy smiles.

"Finally, the business opened smoothly," Yun Chuxin thought.

Across the street, in a building facing the street, sat a man sipping tea and listening to the noise outside. Standing by the half-open window was Chengfeng, who muttered a complaint, "I wrote the signboard myself, and I can't even attend the opening? What's going on?!"

After a long day's work, everyone dragged their weary bodies back to the courtyard. Nan Rao handed the money box to Yun Chu, "Miss, I've counted it. Today, after deducting costs, we have 470 coins in income."

"Wow, so many!" Ping An clapped his hands and exclaimed.

"It's a good start," Yun Chu said with a smile.

“The prince said he would give me a red envelope if I performed well on the opening day!” Ping An said happily, then quickly realized he had said the wrong thing and hurriedly fell silent and lowered his head.

"You've all worked hard today. This is a red packet I prepared for you. Please accept it. I hope we can all get along better and better in the future," Yun Chu said with a smile.

"Yes, yes, things are getting better and better."

After taking a bath, Yun Chu leaned against the window. The moonlight was beautiful tonight, and the gentle moonlight spilled into the courtyard, like a hazy veil.

He should be back by now. Did he succeed in persuading her? There's no news of war now, so they must have reached an agreement. But... Never mind, none of this concerns her anymore. They'll probably never cross paths again, Yun Chu thought, a strange pain welling up in her heart.

Life goes on like this. Shili Pu went from being bustling and lively at the beginning to being deserted now. Fortunately, the money they earn is still enough to support their family of five.

Sigh, Yun Chu sighed. Everyone was listless and lacked any fighting spirit. They still had to think of a solution.

These days, Luo Yan has been very busy due to the rapid development of business. However, he often sends his servant to Yun Chu to see if there's anything he can help with. This friend is quite good, Yun Chu thought.

That day, Luo Yan came to the shop to find Yun Chu during her day off. Looking at the situation in the shop, she asked with some concern, "Do you need my help?"

"No need," Yun Chu shook her head. "There will be a way."

Luo Yan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "It's been a long time since I've seen Your Highness. I didn't see you at the opening either. Didn't you invite me?"

“Your Highness is a busy man, so we common folk don’t need to bother you,” Yun Chu said, looking at the account book.

"Then what about you and the prince?"

“We have no relationship; at most, we are in a relationship of ruler and subject. Nanrao, didn’t you make some new pastries? Bring them over for Luoyan to try.” Yun Chu changed the subject.

Feeling utterly bored, Yun Chu, who had been sitting idly in the shop all morning, stood up. "Xu Li, Nan Rao, you two mind the shop. Zhu Ling, Ping An, let's go for a walk on the street."

A convenience market opened in the north of the city today, and people from all walks of life are gathering there; who knows what new things they might find.

The market was bustling with activity, the calls of vendors rising and falling, some loud and passionate, others gentle and delicate. Their goods were dazzling, from fresh fruits and vegetables and tender meats to hand-woven baskets and exquisite porcelain—everything imaginable was available, a feast for the eyes.

The market was bustling with people of all ages and genders, dressed in a variety of styles, some elegantly attentively, others simply and plainly. They wandered among the stalls in small groups or alone, selecting their favorite items and haggling with the vendors. And each stall had its own unique character.

Yun Chu looked around and saw that there were a lot of people and a lot of things, but none of them were really suitable for the business in Shili Pu. She wondered if there was any way to set up a stall here and maybe she could get some customers.

Ping An ran back, "Miss, I found out that the market stalls here are expensive, costing three hundred coins a day!"

This amount of money terrified Yun Chu and Zhu Ling. Yun Chu shook her head and sighed, "Even a tough guy can be brought down by a penny. I'm afraid I won't be able to squeeze into this market."

A commotion arose ahead, as if people were arguing about something.

"No, no, I have to transport it to the Northern Region myself, it's too far and too much trouble!" The vendor shook his head, waved his hand, and chased away the merchant whose clothes and appearance were obviously different from everyone else's.

"Let's discuss it some more!" the strangely dressed merchant pleaded, but the vendor remained unmoved.

The restless Ping An darted ahead.

"Miss, I've found out." As expected of someone who hangs out with Zhu Ling every day, Ping An's inquisitive skills are quite impressive.

"Those three are merchants from the Northern Region. They came to our capital to buy goods, I think they wanted tea, silk, cloth, and some porcelain. They were willing to sell, but it seems no one was willing to deliver them. They offered high delivery fees, but no one paid attention. They all insisted that the people from the Northern Region transport them back themselves. So the deal fell through," Ping An explained, his tone slightly regretful.

Transporting goods to the Northern Region? Yun Chu couldn't help but ponder this.

She remembered that the princess of the Northern Region had said that the Northern Region was short of resources but vast. If she could transport goods to the Northern Region to sell, wouldn't she be able to make a fortune? Oh, and she could also transport the goods from the Northern Region back to the capital to sell, which would be another source of income.

As Yun Chu was envisioning her wonderful plans, Zhu Ling poured cold water on her enthusiasm. "Who would go? It's too far. A trip there would take a month and a half, not to mention the round trip. It's too long. Besides, who knows how safe it is on the road?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Chu blinked, thought for a moment, and made her decision.

"Ping An, go and invite those three Northerners to the teahouse up ahead. Tell them their business has been taken over," Yun Chu said confidently.

"Miss?" Both of them looked at their young mistress in surprise.