Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 36

Five days later.

Xiao Wangshu finalized the shop’s layout and the types of building materials with the craftsmen. Her first shop in this other world officially broke ground.

“Brocade Gate?”

Xiao Fuguang looked at the brand-new shop sign on the table and laughed, “Sister, this new name for your shop is rather imposing. With Father’s calligraphy, it doesn’t look like a place that sells women’s clothing and jewelry at all – it’s more like a treasury, or an armory.”

After saying this, Xiao Fuguang sighed, “Father really does favor you more. We could never get Father’s calligraphy so easily.”

Once Father wrote the sign, the plaque alone was worth more than the shop itself.

After opening, who knows how many people will come to Brocade Gate simply because of that sign.

“You never even tried to ask, so how do you know you wouldn’t get it?” Xiao Wangshu countered, then smiled. “Everything has a first time. It was my first time asking Father for his calligraphy, so of course he would agree.”

Her little brother was still a bit naïve.

He probably didn’t know about her arranged marriage to the Tuoba Tribe, nor that in the coming months, it wouldn’t just be calligraphy – whatever she wanted, Xiao Hong would try his best to grant it.

Because she was about to be sent to the barren lands of the Tuoba Tribe for marriage, Xiao Hong felt guilty.

Her father’s guilt as Prime Minister was something she could exploit while it lasted.

As for whether she would actually go through with the marriage, who could say?

“By the way, Sister, what about Shopkeeper Xiao, the one who was greedy for money in the shop? When do you plan to deal with him? Are you really going to keep him until the new shop opens?” Xiao Fuguang asked.

Xiao Wangshu replied, “Of course not. The opening of a new shop is all about good omens. How could I let him stay until then? Wouldn’t that bring bad luck?”

“Then why did you let him supervise the craftsmen and oversee the renovations?” Xiao Fuguang pressed.

Seeing that Xiao Wangshu was still leisurely looking at jewelry designs, he reminded her again, “You’ve invested a lot in this renovation, Sister. So much silver has gone into it. If he cuts corners or plays any tricks, won’t your money just go to waste?”

“What’s the rush?” Xiao Wangshu looked up at him slowly, the corners of her mouth lifting in a slight smile.

Under Xiao Fuguang’s puzzled gaze, she continued, “Isn’t that exactly what I want?”

Follow the vine to find the melon – if you don’t trace the trail, how will you find what you’re after?

If she didn’t have a solid enough reason to silence gossip, how could she justify dismissing the old family servant her grandmother and mother had trusted for years, right after taking charge?

If she dismissed an old family retainer without reason, she’d only make enemies.

“Sister, lately you’ve been speaking in riddles, even with me,” Xiao Fuguang muttered, propping his chin up on his hands across from her, a little displeased.

Xiao Wangshu’s smile deepened. “I’m saving a surprise for you. You’ll know soon enough.”

By then, she would have money and could share the first wave of profits with her shareholder brother.

“Fine.” Xiao Fuguang pouted slightly, then asked, “Sister, you’ve been busy with Brocade Gate these days. Have you gone to choose the Guards Father granted you?”

After coming back from the banquet at Gu Mansion, Father said Mother should assign you a few more Guards, but it seems you keep forgetting to pick them.”

Xiao Wangshu raised her eyebrows, picking out clothing designs as she spoke. “What a coincidence – Matron Du reminded me just half an hour ago to go choose after lunch, and now you’re reminding me again.”

“That’s because you’re so focused on the shop you even forgot about this. We have to keep reminding you.”

Xiao Fuguang stretched his neck, craning to look at the designs. “Are these drawn by the embroiderers in the shop? They don’t look like it.”

These designs were far more refined than before – not the work the shop’s embroiderers could have produced.
Xiao Wangshu replied casually, “If they were the same as those drawn by the Embroiderers in the other shops, would I need to pay a high price to poach them?”

“Sister, you didn’t poach all the Embroiderers from other shops, did you?” Xiao Fuguang picked up the designs she had selected and began to look through them seriously.

Only after looking did he realize just how great the difference was.

Just by looking at these designs, it was clear that the final products would be excellent.

“I haven’t poached them all,” Xiao Wangshu said indifferently, continuing, “I don’t have that much silver for now.”

If she had enough capital, who wouldn’t want to monopolize the market from the start?

“For now, I’ve only hired a few experienced Embroiderers whom I approve of, letting them handle the supply of new products after opening. Recruiting more people can’t be rushed; it’s best to take it step by step. Otherwise, if all the silver is invested and there’s no money for turnover, it won’t work.

“Once Brocade Gate opens, although Father’s reputation will keep anyone from openly causing trouble, there might still be those who try to trip me up in secret. I can’t put all my chips in at once; I need to keep some cards in hand.”

Xiao Wangshu was well aware of the consequences of being too eager for quick success-she’d experienced it herself.

If you bite off more than you can chew, it’s easy to choke yourself.

“Sister, you’re thinking quite far ahead. Fine, since Mother has given you the deeds to these two shops, just do things your way.”

Xiao Fuguang put the designs back and continued, “But don’t tire yourself out too much, Sister. It’s just two shops; don’t push yourself too hard.”

The beginning is always the hardest; the first time you try anything, setbacks are common.

The merchants outside aren’t like Father-they’re shrewd and won’t go easy on Sister just because it’s her first time running a shop.

Although Sister is thinking long-term, she might not be able to outwit those old foxes.

Xiao Fuguang had already imagined the worst possible outcome in his mind, even considering how he would comfort his sister if Brocade Gate’s business turned out poorly.

Xiao Wangshu was completely unaware of this and nodded in response, “Don’t worry, little brother, I can handle these small matters.”

It’s just two shops-how difficult could it be to manage them? Could it be harder than running a top-listed company with the highest market value?

What she found most challenging now wasn’t the shops, but understanding the laws of this strange world.

After all, money that defies power doesn’t last long.

—

Xiao Fuguang sat and chatted for a long time, accompanying Xiao Wangshu for lunch.

After lunch, he went back to continue his studies, while Xiao Wangshu took Yichun and Shuxia to Fang Qin’er’s courtyard.

When Fang Qin’er saw her, she looked up and smiled, “How rare! You’re finally willing to leave your Brocade Gate and come out for a walk.”

Xiao Wangshu pretended not to hear, smiling as she walked over and sat beside Fang Qin’er, watching her embroider a sachet.

“I’ve seen Mother embroidering this sachet for days, finishing it and then undoing it, over and over. What kind of masterpiece are you trying to create?”

Fang Qin’er smiled and said, “I wanted to embroider a sachet for both you and Fu Guang, so you siblings could carry them with you. But I haven’t picked up needle and thread in so long that my hands have grown clumsy.”

As she spoke, Fang Qin’er sighed and put down the sachet and needlework in her hands.

Xiao Wangshu took it and looked it over, smiling, “Mother, you’re making me feel ashamed. If something this beautiful is the result of clumsy hands, how could my own Needlework be worth looking at?”

“You and that mouth of yours lately!” Fang Qin’er was amused, reaching out to gently tap her forehead twice.

Xiao Wangshu raised her hand to touch her head and smiled. After chatting with Fang Qin’er for a while, she went off to select a Guard.