The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 107

The dishes included stir-fried water bamboo with pork, fish soup, steamed pigeon with Tianma, Dongpo tofu, and a dessert made from apricot crisp and lotus fish.

Wang Shuhuai stared at these familiar yet unfamiliar dishes for a long while.

The lotus fish was Xie Yunchu’s specialty. He vaguely remembered that summer when she was pregnant. She would often make it for him. At home, she would personally bring it to him in the study. When he returned to the government office, she would send it after him.

He had once dismissed it, but now he found himself missing it.

His throat tightened, but he slowly suppressed the lingering bitterness, greeting Xie Yunyou with a smile.

In the afternoon, Wang Shuhuai selected some books, instructed Xie Yunyou to study hard, and sent him home.

After seeing him off, Wang Shuhuai planned to head back to his official quarters but was stopped when he saw Xie Yunchu playing with the child in Chunjing Hall.

Xie Yunchu smiled and said, “It’s hot in Chunjing Hall. I brought Ke’er here to cool off. Did we disturb you?” In front of Chunjing Hall was the study.

Ke’er loved to laugh and was fascinated by everything. She was wearing a pink silk outfit and waved her little arms at Wang Shuhuai, calling for him.

Wang Shuhuai took the child into his arms and held her for a while, his gaze never straying to Xie Yunchu. He simply said, “Yunyou is clever, but his foundation is not solid. He may not pass the autumn exams.”

Xie Yunchu wasn’t in a hurry. “Let him take his chances.”

Wang Shuhuai had no response and handed the child back to her. “I’ll stay at the official quarters tonight.” He turned and walked towards the study.

Xie Yunchu wasn’t surprised. “Then don’t stay too late. I’ll send some soup to you later. Remember to drink it.”

His tall figure stopped momentarily behind a tree branch. The light from the canopy flickered on his broad back.

Wang Shuhuai felt a strange emotion surge inside him at those words.

He glanced back at the mother and daughter, whose bright laughter echoed in the air. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of longing. Xie Yunchu’s fair face shone brightly in the sunlight, and the love in her eyes as she looked at Ke’er was so pure, just as it had once been when she gazed at him.

Just because he was busy with official duties and had no time to accompany her, did she start treating him with respect?

A man with no ability would be trapped in the inner courtyard, constantly clinging to his wife.

It was better this way. His wife wasn’t clingy. She had her own life, and he had his duties.

Wang Shuhuai entered the study, changed into his official robes, and headed to the Ministry of Revenue.

Two days later, the gatekeeper handed a letter to Xie Yunchu. When Chun Qi opened it, she exclaimed, “Madam, your aunt has sent someone to invite you for tea.”

The aunt was Xie Yunchu’s maternal aunt, Mrs. Xiao, the mother of Xiao Youran.

“Does the letter mention anything?”

Chun Qi shook her head. 

Mama Lin, who was standing nearby, spoke up, “It’s probably about the matter from the other night.”

Xie Yunchu stood up and went inside to prepare, saying,  “I’ll go visit.” 

She instructed Mama Lin to watch the child and set off for the Xiao residence. On the way, she stopped to talk to Uncle Lin. He began discussing what the Xie family had provided earlier…

“The accounts for those two stores have been settled. One used to deal in brushes and ink, while the other operated as a bookstore. Their combined monthly turnover was no more than a thousand taels, and the profit each month was only around a hundred taels of silver. Following your instructions, I’ve merged the stores and refurbished them. The staff, including the tailor and the manager, are all in place. However, the current issue lies with the supply of goods—the prices being quoted are too high. What do you think we should do?”

“Go ahead and buy the best silk for now. As for the supply, I’ll think of a solution,” Xie Yunchu instructed decisively.

She already had plans for the two stores. In urgent need of funds to establish a new canal-side goods depot, she had to make quick profits. Drawing on her experiences from her previous life, she ultimately decided to open a high-end ready-to-wear clothing store.

Wasn’t Wang Shuhuai heading to Jiangnan soon? She planned to arrange for a young servant to accompany him southward, locate a reliable source of silk, and ensure a steady supply to the capital. Despite the many ready-to-wear clothing stores in the capital, their operations were typically small-scale—taking measurements, tailoring, and delivering the finished garments to various households.

Xie Yunchu, however, had a sudden inspiration.

She intended to produce a collection of premium ready-to-wear garments, using the finest silk and employing the most skilled seamstresses. Each design would be available in limited quantities, priced extravagantly, and not restocked once sold out. The concept of rarity would add value. With the upcoming Qixi Festival, she planned to leverage the occasion to attract customers.

Silk was precious, and its production involved complex craftsmanship. Only a limited quantity reached the capital each year, and she aimed to monopolize the supply.

The capital was never short of nobility, and the wealthy ladies were perpetually engaged in competition—from their husbands and children to their fashion choices.

Xie Yunchu planned to target these official wives as her clientele.

She drafted several designs and handed them to Uncle Lin, saying, “Instruct the tailors to make one set of each of these four designs for me to review.”

“Prepare well; time is running out. We’ll open on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month,” she added.

Uncle Lin took the package handed over by Chun Qi, mounted his horse, and hurried back to the shop.

Meanwhile, Xie Yunchu headed to the Xiao residence. The steward woman serving Madam Xiao had been waiting at the door for a while and warmly ushered her inside.

To Xie Yunchu, the Xiao family was like a second maternal home. After her mother passed away, she entrusted her two children to her cousin, Madam Xiao. Madam Xiao frequently visited the Xie residence to check on the siblings. Growing up, whatever Xiao Youran had, Xie Yunchu wasn’t left wanting. In her heart, Xie Yunchu regarded Madam Xiao as her mother.