It was a pity that Jiang Fuying didn't know about the absurd remarks of this mother - son pair.
Otherwise, she would surely roll her eyes at them.
In her previous life, when she married into the Pingning Marquis Mansion, they didn't talk like this!
Back then, they said to her, "You're the eldest legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, yet you're inferior to the second Miss Jiang in every aspect. How can you be worthy of being a wife of my Pei family?"
Now, due to the switched marriage, even their tune has changed!
It really lives up to the saying: what you can't get always seems the best!
...
Jiang Fuying had no time recently to watch the jokes next door.
There was no other reason. The shop was being decorated in full swing and would be ready soon, but she still had a lot of things to deal with.
Of course, Lu Huaizhou was also very busy. Gathering craftsmen, setting up small workshops, and teaching the glass mirror - making process kept him on his toes.
To make it more convenient to discuss the glass mirror designs, they went to the study together with great tacit understanding.
Knowing that he had good ideas, Jiang Fuying asked specifically, "My lord, how should we display the glass mirrors in the shop to achieve a better effect?"
Lu Huaizhou was silent for two seconds, then he pulled out a piece of rice paper from the table and started scribbling on it.
"Keep a certain distance between each glass mirror. When selling..."
As he spoke, Jiang Fuying leaned over the table, listening intently.
The more excited he got while speaking, the more absorbed she became while listening. As a result, one was concentrating intently, one suddenly looked up and the other suddenly turned his head. Just like that, they... bumped into each other.
If it were just a simple touch, it would have been okay. But by sheer coincidence, Lu Huaizhou's soft thin lips just brushed across her forehead.
The sudden softness on her forehead made Jiang Fuying stiffen all over, and a searing heat immediately spread through her body.
Although they were husband and wife, they had never consummated their marriage. This kind of behavior was a bit too intimate!
"My lord, you..."
Lu Huaizhou was stunned at first. When he came to his senses, he was even more shocked and immediately sat up straight.
He and Miss Jiang were innocent. Accidentally having such... physical contact with her, would she blame or resent him?
Lu Huaizhou stole a glance at her expression and saw that her earlobes were bright red and her cheeks were like the most brilliant peach blossoms in March, extremely charming.
Something in his heart stirred violently. He tentatively said, "Miss Jiang, I can actually take responsibility for what happened today..."
The word "responsibility" was still stuck in his throat when Jiang Fuying suddenly interrupted him.
"My lord, don't think too much. What happened today is nothing serious." Jiang Fuying straightened her expression and tried to calm herself down. "I still have many questions to ask my lord."
Saying that, she pointed at the rice paper on the table. "For example, my lord, how many glass mirrors do you think we should sell each day when the shop first opens?"
The fair and slender finger was swaying in front of his eyes. For some reason, Lu Huaizhou felt a faint sense of loss in his heart.
He couldn't tell for a moment whether he was feeling lost because his words were interrupted or for something else.
"Ahem." Seeing that he was still in a daze, Jiang Fuying cleared her throat to remind him. "My lord, business comes first."
The shop was about to open, and other small matters could wait!
Lu Huaizhou suddenly pulled his thoughts back and stared at her for two seconds.
Miss Jiang was bent on starting a business and opening a shop. As her family member and husband, he should fully support her!
He reluctantly shifted his gaze and refocused on the rice paper. "There's no need to set an upper limit on the number of glass mirrors sold to ordinary customers. The more we sell, the better. But for distinguished guests..."
"It's best to only offer ten spots for custom - made glass mirrors to distinguished guests each day, and the custom - made price must be high, preferably ten times or even dozens of times that of ordinary glass mirrors."
Jiang Fuying thought seriously for a moment and instantly grasped the essence.
Ordinary customers could easily buy unique glass mirrors, so naturally, the more etiquette - conscious distinguished guests would also want them.
However, due to their noble status, they wouldn't deign to use the basic glass mirror products with ordinary customers.
At this time, the custom - made glass mirrors with very few daily spots would be their best choice.
As for the possibly high price?
That was not a problem at all!
The distinguished guests were all from noble families. They lacked nothing but a bit of silver, and they would surely be willing to pay for it, even happily!
Her autumn - water - like eyes sparkled with a dazzling light, like the bright stars in the deep night.
"My lord, do you mean to make it rare and precious?!"
Lu Huaizhou raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Miss Jiang is really perceptive. You understand with just a hint. You have the potential for business."
"That's because my lord has given good advice." Jiang Fuying said modestly.
Although they said so, when their eyes met, they could see the recognition and admiration for each other in each other's eyes.
There were countless intelligent people in the world, but those who just understood your meaning and had a tacit understanding with you were really rare.
By chance, Lord Lu was one of them.
Even more by chance, Miss Jiang was also one of them.
With such admiration, they discussed back and forth.
...
As the decoration of the shop was nearing completion, the second and third branches of the family, the neighboring Pingning Marquis Mansion, and even other noble families sent many people to visit them both openly and secretly after hearing that they were going to open a shop.
Among the visitors, some were trying to get information. "I wonder what kind of shop the lord and the lady are going to open?"
Some didn't understand. "The Zhennan Duke's Mansion has a great family business. Why do the lord and the lady have to go to so much trouble?"
There were also those like Jiang Fuyue who specially sent someone to mock them. "Our young lady said that no matter what, the result will be the same. The lord and the lady might as well face the reality and give up as soon as possible."
In response, Jiang Fuying and Lu Huaizhou just smiled it off.
In their hearts, they didn't agree with these remarks.
On the contrary, they thought that opening a shop was the fastest way to prove the capabilities of their eldest branch and clear its name!
Their eldest branch was not as weak and incompetent as the world thought!
"Miss Jiang." Lu Huaizhou took the initiative to reach out his palm.
"Okay." Jiang Fuying also brought her palm over.
"Slap!"
When their palms slapped together, there was only one thought left in their hearts: a battle without gunpowder had already begun.
And they were companions fighting side by side!
...
After being busy for many days, Jiang Fuying finally had a little time to catch her breath.
"My lord, before our shop opens, I'd like to stroll around the capital and take a look at other shops." Jiang Fuying suggested.
Lu Huaizhou immediately put down the drawings in his hand. "That's a good idea. I'm just free. I'll go with you."
The capital was prosperous, and there were countless shops. They chose to go to the south of the city to check the situation.
Despite the bustling crowd, Lu Huaizhou had sharp eyes and spotted a group of people not far away at a glance.
He pointed at one of them. "Miss Jiang, why do I feel that that person looks familiar?"
Jiang Fuying fixed her eyes in the direction he pointed at, and the corner of her lips twitched imperceptibly.
How could she not be familiar with him?
That person was Pei Qing'an!