In Fengjing, the Jiang Family was undisputedly a prominent family. Even though the family had split due to some conflicts in the past, the overall atmosphere remained harmonious and affectionate.
Jiang Chengyuan was very satisfied to have been born into such a family. His parents' relationship was loving, his grandmother was caring, and his siblings were friendly. Even when his grandmother harbored some dissatisfaction later due to the mystery surrounding his sister's birth, the rest of the family members were still harmonious and intimate. His sister was especially clingy and considerate, with her heart and eyes full of nothing but her elder brother.
When Jiang Chengyuan practiced calligraphy, Jiang Chenghua would grind ink for him. When Jiang Chengyuan trained in martial arts, Jiang Chenghua would bring him tea. When Jiang Chengyuan went out to compete with others, Jiang Chenghua supported her elder brother without hesitation.
In Jiang Chengyuan's heart, Jiang Chenghua was the best sister imaginable, and also the best young lady from a prominent family one could find in Fengjing.
Having such a sister made Jiang Chengyuan extremely content.
That is, until he noticed the chubby-cheeked Jiang Sheng, and saw how she interacted with her brothers, especially her second elder brother. The two would play and chase after each other, bicker and tussle, but were unable to conceal their intimacy.
This was when Jiang Chengyuan realized there could be this kind of sibling dynamic.
He couldn't describe the feeling, but as if possessed, he lingered in the corner silently watching the little Jiang Sheng and her brother.
It was a bit like... envy?
Jiang Chengyuan didn't want to admit it. But he was a little reluctant to turn away.
Not until Jiang Chenghua had picked out some things, glided over lightly, and softly called out "Elder brother, let's go," did Jiang Chengyuan return to his senses. "Done with your shopping? Shall we continue strolling, or head home?"
Jiang Chenghua blinked. "If elder brother is tired, we can return to the residence. If you still want to stroll, Chenghua will accompany you."
Jiang Chengyuan felt a warmth in his heart. Fortunately his sister was so considerate, no one could compare to her thoughtfulness.
"Let's not stroll anymore," he said breezily. "It seems a new shop is about to open over there. When it opens for business I'll bring you to take a look."
Privately, Jiang Chengyuan wanted to help promote Jiang Sheng's shop a little, so their encounter in Anshui wouldn't be in vain.
But unexpectedly Jiang Chenghua's expression changed slightly when she turned her head and saw Jiang Sheng. "It's them? Opening a shop on this prosperous Tian Street, aren't they afraid of losing everything, with no background or status? I'd be wary of 'closed for good' the moment they open."
Such venomous words were unlike her usual gentle and considerate self.
But considering their previous conflict, Jiang Chengyuan tactfully reassured his sister, "Just taking a look. If there's anything novel we can buy it for you and Mother."
It still sounded like he was putting her and their mother first.
Finally Jiang Chenghua's face lit up in a smile as she lightly stamped her feet and acted cute. "Elder brother's word is final."
The siblings boarded the carriage, one after the other, heading back to the Jiang residence.
Outside the new shop.
Jiang Sheng had chased fruitlessly and failed to catch up to Zheng Ruqian. Hands on her hips, she fumed, "Stinky Second Brother, I'm ignoring you!"
She huffed angrily and turned to go to the back kitchen to watch Zhang Auntie make pastries.
Zheng Ruqian hurriedly approached with an ingratiating smile to coax his sister. "I lied, I lied! How could I bear to spend fifty taels on clothes? I made that number up, these are cloths I got myself and Auntie sewed for me, only cost ten taels of silver."
Although ten taels was still not cheap, compared to fifty it was acceptable.
"Really, I lied, I'm a little pig." Zheng Ruqian lifted his nose to imitate pig nostrils.
Jiang Sheng laughed through her tears, no longer speaking.
But Wang Xiaozhu, who was sorting medicinal herbs at the clinic, poked her head out in puzzlement. "Second Young Master called me?"
"No, no, no," Zheng Ruqian quickly waved his hands.
Jiang Sheng burst into laughter at the side, and the siblings regained their intimacy and harmony.
Passersby curiously asked about the new shop, and Zheng Ruqian suavely introduced it while Jiang Sheng chimed in supplements. Their cooperation was quite seamless.
In the corner.
Chang Yan muttered to Wen Zhiyun, "If Second Brother had just directly said ten taels for the clothes, our money-grubbing little sister would definitely have exploded. So he exaggerated it to fifty taels first, then brought it back down to ten. The psychological drop makes the ten taels of clothes acceptable."
With that inflating and deflating, Second Brother really has a mind for business.
Wen Zhiyun deeply agreed, nodding repeatedly. But when he thought of his own mediocre medical skills and the clinic he was about to open, his brows furrowed deeply again.
Sometimes he really envied Second Brother, always so confident and...nonchalant.
That night.
After Xu Mo returned, the siblings together settled on an opening date - just three days later.
The ingredients for the pastry shop were ready.
The medicinal herbs for the clinic were also complete.
Everything seemed perfect, just waiting to open for business and earn money.
But that wasn't the case.
After dinner, Chang Yan tapped the knuckles of his right hand on the back of his left. "Second Brother, do you really plan to just attract customers like that at the entrance, without any other preparations?"
Opening a shop in Fengjing was different from other places - background and connections mattered more here.
Like shops opened by imperial relatives needed no publicity before people came to patronize them. That was because the imperial relatives themselves already had star power and followers.
But Zheng Ruqian didn't.
Not just him, Xu Mo, Wen Zhiyun, Chang Yan, Jiang Sheng - none of them did.
As ordinary commoners opening a shop in Fengjing, relying on fame to draw people in would be too difficult. They could only use quality to build word of mouth.
But that would be too slow - they wouldn't break even for three to five years.
Chang Yan was originally worried for Second Brother, but unexpectedly Zheng Ruqian gave a sly smile and looked towards Eldest Brother.
"Don't worry, Eldest Brother already discussed it with me," Xu Mo said lightly. "Today I spoke with Zhu Sihuan and he will bring people to patronize us. Zhao Yuanqi will also come over. This is already all the connections I can mobilize."
Perhaps insignificant among imperial relatives, but for them siblings it was timely help.
Zheng Ruqian bowed with clasped hands, unusually solemn as he earnestly said, "Thank you Eldest Brother, thank you Fifth Younger Brother, thank you everyone."
This shop had used up all the silver they earned in Fengjing, and poured in all his heart and effort. It was his desperate gamble after being humiliated by You Ran House, and also where his hopes lay for the future.
Luckily none of his siblings, from Eldest to Youngest, said a word against it. They had always supported him, even calling in all their connections, thinking through everything meticulously, spending ten taels on clothes.
"Rest assured, I will not let you down with this shop," the youth vowed, fist clenched towards the heavens. "I will definitely build the most popular confectionery shop in Fengjing."
Not just relying on the patronage of prominent families, but also unique confections, and irreplaceable ingredients.
The day of opening arrived in the blink of an eye.
