Chapter 257: Chamber Of Commerce Takes Shape
“Older Sister, I’ve thought it over. I’ll go with you all.” Xiao Huan carefully placed the stewed Bird’s Nest Soup on the table, then sat down on the stool. “We’re family. Wherever you are, that’s where I’ll go.”
Shang Wan stirred the Bird’s Nest Soup in the small bowl with a fine spoon, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, only asking, “How do you plan to handle Bao Yue Zhai?”
“I want to sell it off.” Xiao Huan had thought it through seriously. “After we go to the Capital City, with such a long distance, I won’t be able to manage it.”
If she hired someone to run it, it wouldn’t just be hard to find reliable help right away; even if she did, after being away for so long, the manager might start paying lip service while acting against her wishes.
Besides, most customers come for Bao Yue Zhai’s characteristic dishes, and those recipes are all my hard work. I don’t want to hand them over to others lightly.
If I leave and those characteristic dishes are gone, Bao Yue Zhai’s business will definitely suffer. Better to sell it now while business is good and get a good price.
After sharing her thoughts, Xiao Huan stared at Shang Wan. “Older Sister, do you think this is feasible?”
Shang Wan: “Bao Yue Zhai is yours. If you’ve thought it through, that’s fine. Do you need me to help you find a buyer?”
“I want to try on my own first.” Xiao Huan smiled and glanced at Shang Wan’s belly. “Older Sister, you’re carrying twins now. You can’t overexert yourself.”
“It’s just talking. How is that tiring?” Shang Wan couldn’t finish half a bowl of Bird’s Nest Soup.
These days, Xiao Huan had been making all sorts of food for her, eating seven or eight meals a day. Shang Wan felt like even a pig didn’t eat as much as she did.
“It is just talking, but it still takes brainpower to think about.” Xiao Huan wanted to persuade her sister to drink a couple more sips, but seeing Shang Wan’s expression, she figured her sister wouldn’t listen even if asked.
Just then, Lu Chengjing came in holding Yuan Yuan.
Ever since Lu Chengjing became the Top Scholar, invitations to Shang Manor suddenly increased.
Lu Chengjing wanted to stay home to accompany Shang Wan, so he screened and declined many, but some banquets he still had to attend, making him much busier than before.
He’d just returned from the County Magistrate’s banquet. Thinking he smelled of alcohol and worried about bothering Shang Wan, Lu Chengjing had deliberately gone back to the room to change clothes before coming over.
In the Garden, he ran into Yuan Yuan watching a turtle, so he picked her up and brought her along.
“Mother.” Yuan Yuan climbed onto Shang Wan’s lap and sat properly, reaching out her small hand to touch Shang Wan’s belly, her eyes curving happily as she greeted, “Younger sister, good.”
Ever since learning Shang Wan was pregnant with a little baby, Yuan Yuan was convinced it was a younger sister, greeting her once in the morning and once at night without fail.
Shang Wan hugged her good child and kissed her, while pushing the bowl of Bird’s Nest Soup toward Lu Chengjing.
These days, Lu Chengjing could be said to share meals with his own Niangzi.
Whenever he was around, all the tonic foods Shang Wan couldn’t finish went into his belly. After days of this nourishment, Lu Chengjing’s complexion was remarkably rosy.
After finishing half a bowl of Bird’s Nest Soup, Lu Chengjing couldn’t help but glance down at his own belly.
If he kept eating like this, it wouldn’t just be about gaining weight—he’d need to lose it.
“Did you see Lu Chengyuan?” Seeing he had finished eating, Shang Wan finally spoke up to ask.
Lu Chengyuan had returned from the Capital City to take the Provincial Examination. Perhaps well-taught by the Great Scholars, he made the list this time.
Though his ranking was low, it was said Lu Chengyuan was quite happy and had given out quite a bit of reward money that day.
Today’s banquet had also invited Lu Chengyuan.
“Not at the same table.” Lu Chengjing’s smile faded as he wiped the corner of his mouth with a cloth. “Didn’t speak to him.”
Shang Wan raised an eyebrow. Lu Chengjing had forced the Lu Family to flee far away, yet Lu Chengyuan did nothing upon seeing him. Was his self-control really that good?
“Brother-in-law is the Top Scholar.” Xiao Huan pursed her lips. “How could someone ranked outside the top ten have the face to get close?”
That made sense.
There would be a time for settling scores eventually. Shang Wan stopped mentioning this buzzkill and turned to talk about Spiritual Medicine Pavilion matters instead.
Now that Lu Chengjing was the Top Scholar, he would naturally go to the Capital City next for the spring exams.
No matter the reason, Shang Wan planned to accompany him.
If there was a chance, she could also expand her business territory and set up a Spiritual Medicine Pavilion in the Capital City.
That meant arranging everything properly in Dongning County.
Once they left, if Lu Chengjing’s exam luck held and he either stayed in the Capital City as an official or was assigned elsewhere, they wouldn’t be able to return to Dongning County anytime soon—their return date uncertain.
By the time everything was arranged, night had fully fallen.
“Let’s have hot pot tonight.” Shang Wan gazed at the night outside the window, suddenly craving hot pot. “There’s still a lot of wild mushroom left in the Space. We can cook them together.”
She suddenly missed that fresh flavor.
“Okay, I’ll go make a soup base.” Xiao Huan agreed and stood up. “Shi Tou will be back soon. Perfect for eating together.”
“Auntie, me!” Yuan Yuan hugged Xiao Huan’s leg. “Dried small fish.”
Auntie Xiao Huan’s dried small fish were super tasty.
“Good girl, the dried small fish are all gone.” Xiao Huan picked up the little baby girl. “There’s no more small fish at home. Tomorrow Auntie will go to the Marketplace to buy some and make them right away, okay?”
Yuan Yuan blinked her eyes, her little mouth pouting unhappily.
Xiao Huan reached out and tapped her little nose. “There’s still river shrimp in the Kitchen. How about fried shrimp balls?”
Yuan Yuan loved shrimp balls too.
Her little mouth stopped pouting at once, and she nodded her little head. “Want shrimp balls.”
Xiao Huan carried her toward the Kitchen, while Shang Wan continued discussing business matters with Lu Chengjing.
“Sister Shu mentioned forming a Chamber of Commerce.” Shang Wan leaned on Lu Chengjing’s shoulder, her tone lazy. “The sisters in the Lancang Association are all keen to make it happen.”
Lu Chengjing turned his head to look at the person leaning on his shoulder. “Does Boss Shu want you to take the lead?”
“Mm.” Shang Wan’s fingertip toyed with a lock of his black hair.
“The members of the Lancang Association come from all walks of life, already resembling a Chamber of Commerce. Sister Shu must have had the idea of developing the Association into one when she founded it.”
Niangzi Shu was an ambitious woman with ideas; otherwise, she wouldn’t have actively grown the Association over the years.
Lu Chengjing: “Lan Cang Chamber of Commerce?”
“Doesn’t sound good?” Shang Wan looked up at him.
Lu Chengjing shook his head and reached out to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “Whatever Niangzi likes sounds good. Decided?”
“Mm, I want to give it a try.” Shang Wan felt she had to seize the opportunity. “Sister Shu and I agree—we want to establish a Chamber of Commerce that only women can join.”
In this World, it’s hard for women to do business. With a Chamber of Commerce’s protection and support, it’s better than going it alone.
Shang Wan had always thought this World’s rules for women were bullshit, but she alone couldn’t shake that big tree. Forming a women’s Chamber of Commerce was a way to achieve change indirectly.
“If the Chamber of Commerce is all women, I’m afraid the Government won’t approve.” Lu Chengjing didn’t want to dampen Shang Wan’s spirits, but he had to remind her.
A Chamber of Commerce is different from an Association. The latter can be formed casually without involving livelihoods or taxes—as long as no trouble is made, the Government won’t interfere.
But forming a Chamber of Commerce requires registering with the Government: who the President is, what members there are, where the guild hall is… all details must be registered clearly for the Government to issue the document.
