The group exchanged glances, then their eyes sparkled with even greater interest. She was indeed as beautiful as the rumors claimed—whether her temper was fiery remained to be seen, but she was clearly different from any other woman they had encountered.
That glance—that glance was unmistakably filled with contempt!
How intriguing, truly intriguing!
They decided not to leave, choosing to wait outside while casually observing the newly constructed building.
Judging by its structure, this couldn’t possibly be a residence. Could it be the Hua family’s eldest young lady’s new business venture? They’d have to send someone to inquire later!
While Hua Zhi remained composed, the same couldn’t be said for her attendants. The maids were so tense their hearts felt ready to leap from their chests. Nian Qiu, walking at the rear, promptly closed the courtyard gate, as if that alone could ensure their safety. Though they had brought four guards, the opposing party outnumbered them!
Dongzi stepped forward to seek instructions. "Eldest Young Lady, please don’t go out. This humble one will return to summon more people."
Though he spoke of "summoning more people," Dongzi was determined to fetch Mr. Wang. With Mr. Wang’s skills, these intruders wouldn’t stand a chance of getting close!
"There’s no need for that." Hua Zhi lifted her gaze to the small building, admiring its classical charm and entirely wooden construction. She genuinely liked it. "Let them look if they wish. Once they’ve seen enough, their interest will fade. It’s only when we hide and conceal things that they become more persistent."
Dongzi dared not disobey her order, yet he feared those reckless men might startle the Eldest Young Lady. Anxiety gnawed at him, and he even entertained the desperate thought of rushing out to perish together with them if necessary.
The party stepped into the small building, greeted by an expanse of greenery. Neatly trimmed potted plants were placed at intervals of three to five steps. Wooden planks covered the floor, and on both sides, private spaces were partitioned by screens. The common area featured wicker chairs, with an empty bookshelf positioned nearby. On the opposite side stood a chessboard with two chess boxes. Further in, a small table surrounded by four wicker chairs offered a spot to share a drink and converse with acquaintances.
At first glance, the atmosphere was exceptionally relaxed. Even without dining here, simply sitting for a while felt soothing.
This was precisely the ambiance Hua Zhi had envisioned—reminiscent of the high-end clubs she had visited in the past. Their offerings weren’t necessarily superior, yet they commanded exorbitant prices solely by cultivating an environment that made patrons willingly spend generously.
Her establishment aimed to achieve the same.
Like the first floor, the second floor was adorned with lush greenery, yet it differed in layout. Here, private rooms replaced open spaces, and the relaxed vibe gave way to a more structured setting. However, the rooms weren’t entirely enclosed—instead of doors, beaded curtains hung in the doorways.
This was, after all, a dining venue. Hua Zhi wanted to avoid unsavory incidents, and this semi-open design struck the perfect balance.
In a secluded corner, a small stage was set apart, where musicians would eventually be invited to play evocative instruments like the pipa, guzheng, or guqin.
The others who had accompanied her widened their eyes in astonishment. Observing their reactions, Du Cheng felt a faint surge of pride. Yet, his primary concern remained Hua Zhi’s opinion. He had listened to her descriptions and worked from her sketches to transform this place step by step. Though he found it flawless, he wondered if it met her standards.
"It’s even better than I expected. You’ve worked hard, Du Cheng."
Du Cheng’s tension eased, and his body felt so light it seemed he might float away. "This humble one is not weary."
Hua Zhi gave a slight nod. "How much longer until the custom-made items are ready?""I went to check just yesterday, and it will take about six more days."
"Good, start preparing everything else. Fu Dong, will you personally select the items for the kitchen?"
Fu Dong bit her lip and nodded.
"We won't wait for an auspicious date. The official opening will be in half a month."
"Yes."
The people waiting outside were growing impatient. Someone shouted, "Why haven't they come out yet? I don't even feel like waiting anymore."
"As if anyone asked you to wait."
"Exactly, hurry up and leave. Don't let the door hit you on the way out."
The first speaker rolled his eyes inelegantly and slumped over his horse's back. He hadn't slept all night and had rushed over from the Golden Silk Pavilion as soon as he got the news this morning, without even having time to eat. After waiting this long, he was almost falling asleep.
"I think I heard some movement..."
The nearly asleep man immediately sat up and looked toward the tightly closed courtyard gate. Sure enough, after a moment, the gate opened. A figure in plain white... no, this one's a maid. The next one, still a maid. Then an old matron followed them out. He yawned impatiently, and when he looked again, the woman dressed in plain white, with skin as pale as snow, had already boarded the carriage. He instinctively called out, "Miss Hua..."
Hua Zhi felt a chill run down her spine, her mind flooded with images of Japanese soldiers chasing after "flower girls." She stood straight in the carriage and looked toward the group of men who had come to gawk at her.
They were born winners in life, entering the world with silver spoons in their mouths. In their youth, they indulged recklessly and committed all sorts of outrageous deeds. As they gradually settled down, their families arranged for them to enter officialdom, step by step advancing into the centers of power. They wielded immense authority, standing above countless others.
It was precisely because power was passed down through generations of people like them that dynasties declined over time, lasting at most a few hundred years.
The Great Qing Dynasty would likely follow the same path.
Just as everyone expected her to fly into a rage, she lifted the curtain and entered the carriage.
Even after the carriage had traveled far into the distance, the group of men remained standing in place. They were wondering: What did the young lady's gaze mean? Why did it feel so uncomfortable when it fell on them?
Exchanging glances, the man who had called out "Miss Hua" shrugged. He had seen her now—it was time to go back to sleep.
Tsk, she certainly had spirit!
As soon as Hua Zhi returned home, she took Fu Dong to her study. "The reason I've been having you experiment with multiple ways to prepare one ingredient all this time is for this shop. Are you confident?"
Fu Dong nodded, then shook her head. "When I cook at home, I feel like there's no problem. But if we're going to rely on this to run a shop, I'm not so sure."
"I understand your concern. Don't worry, I'll be there with you for the first while."
Fu Dong waved her hands repeatedly. "No, no, I can manage. There are still two weeks—I'm sure I can do it."
Hua Zhi sat down and gestured for Fu Dong to take the seat opposite her. "I need to go. Once you've adapted and can handle any new ingredient someone might bring, I'll feel at ease."
Looking at her timid maid, Hua Zhi wished she could share half of her own boldness with her. "What standard do you need to reach? It's to the point where if I give you a single flower, you should be able to make twelve different dishes from it. How far do you think you are from that now?"
Fu Dong bit her lip and thought for a moment, her expression turning somewhat dejected. "I can only think of seven dishes, including pastries.""So you still have significant room for improvement, but you won't have the opportunity to grow by staying with me. Only by going there can you progress."
"I understand, mistress. I will go."
PS: The outline flows smoothly, but outlines can't be used as main text. A single sentence can be revised repeatedly, and the same event can be written in many different ways. I often write something only to feel it's not right and delete it to start over. I haven't only written these two chapters in a day - the amount of writing and revising I do is beyond what you might imagine. I'm not complaining; this is my passion. I want to write well, and I won't allow myself to forget that I started writing novels because I love it.
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