Destined

After speaking with Su Wan, Liu Yu Ru went out the next day with Jiang Rou to find the former employees of the Gu Family's rouge shop.

The Gu Family had relocated many of their businesses to Youzhou, and the rouge shop was one of them. The two women talked with the employees for an entire afternoon, and finally persuaded them to leave their previous shop and join Liu Yu Ru's new store.

Liu Yu Ru couldn't offer the same compensation as before since they had limited capital—all within the government's requirements—and couldn't be as generous as in the past. To motivate these employees, she decided to allocate shares of the shop, giving two shares to these skilled rouge makers.

This way, they also became co-owners of the shop, and everyone was essentially in business together.

With the employees secured, Liu Yu Ru began working on sourcing raw materials. Fortunately, these were businesses the Gu Family had previously managed. Jiang Rou accompanied her to the market for several days, and they quickly sorted out all the supplies.

Soon after, Zhou Ye came to visit and took them to see the shop.

Their shop was located in East Third Alley, not directly on the main street but requiring a turn from the main road. It could even be considered somewhat remote.

Zhou Ye looked somewhat embarrassed and said to Liu Yu Ru, "Sister-in-law, the shops we're providing were acquired by the government from the people with limited funds. The better locations are too expensive, and we can't forcibly seize them. This is the best one available, I know..."

"No problem, no problem," Liu Yu Ru quickly reassured him, noticing his growing embarrassment. "Brother Zhou has already put in a lot of effort, and this location isn't bad at all. There's no need to blame yourself."

"Exactly," Gu Jiusi chimed in from the side, smiling. "Brother Zhou always thinks too much about others. I think the feng shui here is quite good; it should be a place that attracts wealth."

Zhou Ye forced a smile and then added, "Oh, and since Jiusi isn't particularly fond of business, I found him a position. He can start working there, gain some experience, and after a while, we can find a reason to promote him."

"That's perfect," Gu Jiusi said with a laugh, glancing at Liu Yu Ru. "If I stay idle at home any longer, she'll probably bully me to death, saying I'm living off her."

"Nonsense," Liu Yu Ru retorted softly, feeling a bit embarrassed. Zhou Ye laughed and handed a box containing the deed, keys, and other documents to Liu Yu Ru, saying, "I wish you prosperity, Boss Liu."

After bidding farewell to Zhou Ye, Liu Yu Ru felt troubled on the way back.

Though she had spoken confidently, such a remote location would undoubtedly affect business. She needed to find a solution.

She tossed and turned all night, lost in thought. Gu Jiusi noticed and slowly opened his eyes, looking at her back. "Don't worry too much," he said. "There's always a way."

"By the time we figure it out, who knows how much money we'll have lost."

They had already purchased materials and started production. Next month, they would need to pay the remaining balance for supplies and the employees' wages, yet they hadn't earned a single coin. How could she not be anxious?Gu Jiusi thought for a moment and comforted Liu Yu Ru, saying, "Actually, a remote location isn't necessarily a bad thing. Think about it—Jiang Ziya fished without bait, and Zhuge Liang only revealed his talent after being visited three times. It's the same in business; you need to carry yourself with enough presence to show that your goods are good and you have confidence. A street-front location is naturally good—everyone can see it, it's lively—but it also seems a bit too eager to please customers. If your location is a bit out of the way, people might even think it's because 'the wine is good enough to draw customers from a deep alley,' and your products are exceptional."

Liu Yu Ru listened, thinking Gu Jiusi was just rambling, but the more she heard, the more sense it made. She calculated the rent for a street-front shop versus the current location and pondered the surrounding environment of the shop.

East Third Street was clean, with each storefront relatively large. Since it wasn't too far from the residences of wealthy merchants and officials, overly noisy or unlucky shops weren't allowed. Because it wasn't directly on the main street, it didn't cater to large crowds; most shops dealt in niche items like antiques and writing brushes, giving it a much more refined atmosphere. The more Liu Yu Ru thought about it, the more she felt Gu Jiusi made sense. After all, East Third Street wasn't so remote as to be outside the city—it was just not directly on the main street, accessible by turning into an alley. So the key was to make her rouge shop worth seeking out.

Liu Yu Ru didn't sleep all night, repeatedly mulling over the mindset of the customers she wanted to attract. When she woke up the next morning, she hurried to the shop.

The idea of selling rouge was Liu Yu Ru's proposal. Jiang Rou also wanted Liu Yu Ru to learn how to manage a household, so she rarely interfered with Liu Yu Ru's decisions, only offering a reminder or two if things went too far off track, but mostly leaving her to it.

When Liu Yu Ru arrived at the shop, there were now five people: two shop assistants, herself, Yin Hong, and Yun Yun, plus Jiang Rou and Su Wan, who dropped by occasionally. Today, everyone happened to be there, so Liu Yu Ru shared the ideas she had pondered all night.

"I thought about it yesterday—since we're opening a shop here, we can't just run an ordinary rouge store. During wartime, when girls buy our products, it's not really about using them up. Instead, our rouge should give them a sense of rewarding themselves, of living well, and even a feeling of competition—that without our rouge, they don't feel like proper ladies."

"So our rouge must be exquisitely made. This refinement should be carefully considered in every aspect: the price, the packaging, the shop's decor, and even the store name."

"Once we have the goods ready, we need to start letting people know about our products. The price of our rouge shouldn't be too low—that wouldn't give people a sense of refinement and would undermine the idea of a reward. But it shouldn't be too high either; it should be just enough to make them feel a pinch. We need to create some flair around the products—the more elaborate, the better—so that using our rouge feels like celebrating a festival. It would be even better if they felt like burning incense and bathing before using it."

Liu Yu Ru already had a rough plan in mind and led everyone in brainstorming. The group of women chattered and discussed all day, and by late at night, they headed back together, excited and laughing along the way.Envisioning the future was always a joyous affair. Repetitive work bred weariness, yet groundbreaking endeavors, though potentially unprofitable, ignited fervor in everyone’s hearts during contemplation, as if nurturing a child.

They settled on the name for their shop: Floral Visage.

Clouds yearn for her garments, flowers envy her visage;

Spring breezes caress the railings, dew-laden blossoms glow with richness.

Next, they determined the pricing.

They categorized their Rouge into three tiers:

Four Seasons: Named after the solar terms—Spring Equinox, Summer Reign, Autumn Harvest, and Winter Reserve—these were the four most exquisite and unique shades, the finest and most expensive. A single box cost roughly one-tenth of a typical girl’s monthly expenses.

Eight Blooms: Two flowers from each season were selected as names, representing their corresponding hues, priced at a mid-range level.

Twelve Hours: Named after the twelve two-hour periods of the day, these shades covered nearly all complexions, with cost reductions in packaging materials but offering exceptional practicality.

They also discussed the arrangement of items and every other detail meticulously.

When Liu Yuru returned home, she was too exhilarated to sleep. She dragged Gu Jiusi along to share her ideas, and he listened with a smile.

At first, he listened casually, but as she went on, he grew stunned. He had never imagined so many innovative concepts himself. Gazing at the young woman before him, he couldn’t help but feel she always possessed a capability that surpassed his expectations.

Watching the light shimmer in Liu Yuru’s eyes, he remained silent until she looked up and asked, “What do you think of my ideas?”

“Boss Liu,” Gu Jiusi replied with a grin, “rest assured,” he said earnestly, “you’re incredibly impressive.”

Liu Yuru could tell his praise was genuine, and it instantly bolstered her confidence. In the following days, she personally supervised the production to ensure the first batch of goods was flawless. Meanwhile, she asked Zhou Ye to have his mother try the initial products.

While Liu Yuru was busy, Gu Jiusi awaited his appointment order from Zhou Ye, spending his days secluded at home, immersed in books.

He read from morning till night, his speed increasing rapidly. He voraciously absorbed all the knowledge he had missed, constantly pushing himself to go faster, ever faster.

His only daily outing was when Liu Yuru returned late from the shop. He would then take a lantern and go to fetch her.

Not wanting to disrupt her train of thought, he would bring a book, squat by the shop entrance, and read by the lantern’s light as he waited. Thus, Liu Yuru often emerged to find the young master sitting on the doorstep, a lantern at his side, a book in hand. Hearing her approach, he would lift his head and say, “Is Boss Liu finished? I’ve come to take you home.”

In those moments, she felt a profound sense of tranquility and fulfillment.

After all the goods were dispatched and the shop’s plaque was officially hung, Gu Jiusi also received his appointment order.

He was assigned to the County Government Office as a low-ranking guard, responsible for daily patrols. On his first day, when he donned the red-and-blue uniform, Liu Yuru couldn’t stop laughing. Gu Jiusi shot her a glare before heading off to report.

It was the lowest-ranking position, paying one tael of silver per month—a sum equivalent to what Gu Jiusi used to tip servers in the past.

But since he had never earned money himself, he was content with that single tael.Now that their family no longer had a carriage and they had to travel almost entirely on foot, Gu Jiusi got up early in the morning and arrived at the Magistrate Office before dawn. After entering, he presented his transfer order and found Zhou Ye, who was supposed to receive him. The man looked him up and down and said, "Alright, let's go. You're Gu Jiusi, right?"

"Yes."

"Bookish type," the man said unhappily. "I'm Huang Long, your boss. From now on, you'll be working under me."

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Huang."

Huang Long grunted in acknowledgment, eyeing him as if waiting for something. Gu Jiusi was momentarily confused but soon realized what was expected. He fumbled in his sleeve and finally pulled out a small pouch containing fifty coins—emergency money Liu Yu Ru had given him. Though embarrassed, he quickly handed it over, saying, "Brother Huang, I'm new here and still learning the ropes. Please accept this small token for now. I'll prepare a proper gift once I return home."

Huang Long took the pouch, weighed it in his hand, and snorted, "At least you know how things work. Let's go."

With that, Huang Long led him to the back of the County Government Office and introduced him to the others.

Soon after, Huang Long assigned them to patrol the streets in pairs.

Gu Jiusi was paired with a man named Wang Cong, nearly thirty years old and still unmarried. Wang Cong was a head shorter than Gu Jiusi and seemed to take an instant dislike to him.

Wang Cong spoke in a thick Youzhou accent and stubbornly refused to use the official dialect when talking to Gu Jiusi. Unbothered, Gu Jiusi simply followed behind, listening to his instructions.

"You outsiders always flee to Youzhou when there's war, but when times are peaceful, you hide away and enjoy your luxuries," Wang Cong remarked, glancing at Gu Jiusi. "You look soft and delicate—must have been from a wealthy family, huh? Now you're no different from the rest of us. Tsk, how the tables have turned."

Gu Jiusi remained silent, simply listening. Wang Cong, finding no response, soon grew bored and stopped bothering with him.

By evening, Gu Jiusi went to the shop to pick up Liu Yu Ru.

She had been working late. Seeing him, she asked gently, "How was your day? Everything alright?"

"It was fine," Gu Jiusi replied. In the past, he might have complained, but now he had learned to conceal his troubles. "Don't worry, everyone has been very kind to me."

They walked home together, chatting along the way.

Liu Yu Ru's new shop had just opened. She had asked Zhou Ye to escort his mother there the previous day, and the very next morning, the woman arrived with her entourage. The visit from a high-ranking official's wife instantly boosted the shop's reputation.

Liu Yu Ru also collaborated with other jewelry stores in Youzhou City, offering free Rouge with every jewelry purchase. She even hired the newest opera troupe and incorporated a scene where lovers exchanged Rouge as a token of affection.

"Brush sweeps the brows, hands apply the rouge; only Floral Visage conveys longing."

With this slogan, Liu Yu Ru's Rouge shop attracted more and more customers. High-ranking officials and nobles, driven by their collecting habits, often bought entire series at once. Men frequently visited as well, purchasing a box of Rouge as a gift.

Nothing pleased a wife more than her husband buying her a full set of the Four Seasons series of Rouge.

Among women, the moment a Rouge case was brought out, social standing became apparent.

If a man claimed to love a woman but wouldn't even buy her a box of Floral Visage, how could he speak of conveying longing?Thus, in no time, even Liu Yuru hadn't anticipated that business would boom so spectacularly. Many product lines began selling out, and as soon as she noticed certain items nearing depletion, Liu Yuru would grandly wave her hand, have characters engraved on the boxes, and instantly transform them into "Collector's Editions," selling them at marked-up prices.

Every day, Liu Yuru worked late into the night. After finishing his own tasks, Gu Jiusi would go to pick her up. Each evening, she'd settle accounts in front of him, counting the silver coins. Once done, she'd look quite pleased with herself and cheerfully tease, "Young Master Gu, when do you plan to visit my humble shop to buy some rouge for your wife?"

Seeing her gloating like a petty villain, Gu Jiusi could only sigh helplessly. "Given your shop's pricing, I'm afraid it'll be a while. After all, for a wife like mine, I'd need to buy at least the Four Seasons set, don't you think?"

Liu Yuru burst into hearty laughter. "Lucky for her then, your wife can afford the Four Seasons, Eight Blossoms, and Twelve Hours collections herself. If she had to rely on you, what would become of her?"

"True," Gu Jiusi mused. "Fortunately, I'm good-looking, so my wife isn't at a loss. This bowl of soft rice, I'm eating it quite steadily."

"Gu Jiusi," Liu Yuru exclaimed, caught between laughter and exasperation. "Can't you have a bit more ambition?"

"Can't afford it, can't afford it," Gu Jiusi quickly replied. "With ambition comes the need to buy the Four Seasons set. I'd rather keep eating soft rice."

Amused by his response, Liu Yuru laughed along as they walked home together, their sleeves brushing against each other, appearing utterly intimate.

Gu Jiusi worked diligently, and when he received his first month's salary, he smiled at the small silver ingot. Seizing a moment when Liu Yuru wasn't around, he entered her shop and used that very ingot to purchase the Four Seasons set.

That evening, when Liu Yuru saw the set on the table, she stared in disbelief before exclaiming, "Gu Jiusi, have you lost your mind?!"

Gu Jiusi lingered by the door, not daring to step inside. "Doesn't everyone buy it?"

Liu Yuru didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Others buy it to please their wives. Why did you buy this?"

After hesitating for a moment, Gu Jiusi whispered, "I thought... you might want it."

The brush sweeps across the brows, the hand applies the rouge,

Only through Floral Visage can longing be conveyed.

Liu Yuru was taken aback. After a pause, she felt somewhat embarrassed and turned away.

What woman in the entire city wouldn't want her husband to gift her this? But Gu Jiusi, do you truly understand what those wives truly desire when they ask for this box of rouge?

It's not the beautiful colors it lends to their cheeks they seek, but the affection and longing conveyed when their husbands present it to them.

Liu Yuru thought that Gu Jiusi probably didn't comprehend this. After collecting herself for a moment, she pursed her lips and said, "Never mind. You've spent your entire month's earnings. How do you plan to get through this month?"

Gu Jiusi replied sheepishly, "Well, um... you'll still provide meals, right?"

Liu Yuru couldn't help but chuckle, feeling both amused and resigned. "Tell me, why did you buy such an expensive thing for the house?"

"I wanted to make you happy," Gu Jiusi murmured. "Seeing you happy makes me happy."

Author's Note:

Liu Yuru: From product development to copywriting and promotion, I'll do anything to make money.

Gu Jiusi: My innate talent is shopping.