Hearing the voice, Ruan Jiu turned around.
There, in a neat row, stood all the clerks from the silk store.
Ruan Jiu rose to her feet, her expression solemn as she looked at them.
Surely they were all aware of the difficulties the silk store was facing. If they decided to leave now, it would be understandable.
But after all these years of working together, Ruan Jiu couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of them leaving.
"I hope you can give me some time!" Ruan Jiu paused for a moment.
Then, she held up three fingers and continued, "Just three months! If the silk store still can't get out of trouble after three months, you can leave. Is that okay?"
There was a pleading look in Ruan Jiu's eyes.
After all, she had poured all her heart and soul into the silk store.
She couldn't just let the soldiers run away before the battle had even begun.
No matter what, she had to persuade them to stay!
After hearing this, Xiao Wu immediately stepped forward and said, "We all know that no cloth - making workshops are willing to supply materials to the silk store anymore. The store can only last for about three months at most."
Ruan Jiu said firmly, "Don't worry. I will definitely come up with a way to save the silk store!"
Xiao Wu continued, "We all depend on the silk store for our livelihood. If it goes under, how can I ever get married in the future?"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu lowered her head and bit her lips.
Her eyes were filled with disappointment.
Yes, sentiment was one thing, but she couldn't hold back these clerks who had accompanied her all the way.
Just then, Xiao Wu stepped forward, took out a heavy money - bag from his bosom, and placed it on the table.
Ruan Jiu looked at the money - bag on the table, her face full of astonishment.
What did this mean?
Seeing Ruan Jiu's confused expression, Aunt Qiu stepped forward and tapped Xiao Wu on the head, saying, "Look at you, child. You've almost made Cousin Ruan cry."
After saying that, Aunt Qiu also took out a money - bag from her bosom.
Then she stuffed it into Ruan Jiu's hand and said with a smile, "We heard everything outside. Although the money is not much, it's our heartfelt contribution."
Xiao Wu scratched his head and said with a silly smile, "Cousin Ruan, this silver was saved for my wedding. Don't dislike it."
Only then did Ruan Jiu understand what they meant.
But how could she accept their silver?
So, she immediately returned the money - bag, saying, "No, I can't take this silver!"
Aunt Qiu stuffed the money - bag back into her hand, "Cousin Ruan, you always say that we are a family. Now that the silk store is in trouble, we should do our part. Please accept it!"
"Yes, please accept it!"
"This is mine!"
"And mine!"
Everyone chimed in.
Looking at the increasing number of money - bags on the table, Ruan Jiu felt her emotions welling up.
Tears gradually filled her eyes.
Facing their determined looks, Ruan Jiu no longer refused.
With gratitude in her eyes, she said, "Everyone, please rest assured. I will definitely save the silk store!"
Now, the silk store was no longer just Ruan Jiu's alone.
It belonged to everyone in the store!
"Cousin Ruan, it's still far from enough."
Jiang Jibai and Chun Tao counted the silver collected by everyone.
But it was still just a drop in the bucket.
Chun Tao lay on the table, clasping her hands together, "If only a large sum of silver could fall from the sky right now."
Just as she finished speaking, a clerk rushed in in a hurry.
"Cousin Ruan, Young Master Shen invites you to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant to talk."
Hearing this, a glint of cunning flashed in Ruan Jiu's dim eyes.
Here it comes.
Not far away, Shen Yu couldn't help but sneeze.
Why did he feel that something was about to happen?
-
In the Drunken Immortal Restaurant, Ruan Jiu and Shen Yu sat facing each other.
Shen Yu was still swinging his eye - catching folding fan in his hand.
"I wonder what Young Master Shen wants to talk to me about today?" Ruan Jiu was the first to speak.
Shen Yu was in no hurry. He waved his folding fan and said, "Miss Ruan was crying so sadly the other day. I'm here today to show my concern."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Was this concern?
It was more like mockery.
So she said irritably, "If you have something to say, just say it. If not, I'll leave."
Shen Yu smiled and said, "Miss Ruan is really a straightforward person."
Then he closed his folding fan and continued, "I heard that Miss Ruan has encountered some troubles recently."
"So what?" Ruan Jiu replied calmly.
"I thought you would at least try to hide it." After all, no one would like to admit that they were in trouble.
"With Young Master Shen's capabilities, there's no news in Qinzhou City that you can't find out. Why should I bother hiding it?"
Shen Yu nodded and looked at Ruan Jiu playfully, saying, "Since Xie Jing is being unreasonable and the old master of the Xie family is blind to the truth, why don't you come and join me?"
"Join you?" Ruan Jiu said disdainfully.
"Yeah," Shen Yu raised his head confidently, "I'll make you the manager of this Drunken Immortal Restaurant."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu couldn't help but burst out laughing.
She glanced around and curled her lips in mockery, saying, "Your Drunken Immortal Restaurant is probably not even as good as my silk store."
Shen Yu was teased. His hand slipped, and he almost lost his balance.
When the Drunken Immortal Restaurant first opened, it was indeed bustling with customers.
But gradually, the business started to decline.
Even though they used the finest ingredients, no one seemed to care.
If it were in the capital, it would probably be full every day.
Shen Yu forced a smile and said, "But my Shen family is wealthy after all. Even if the Drunken Immortal Restaurant fails, we still have the Moon - embracing Tower."
Ruan Jiu smiled faintly.
If it weren't for the fact that he still had some use, she wouldn't have wasted her time here.
"The Drunken Immortal Restaurant is the first step for the Shen family in Qinzhou City. Doesn't Young Master Shen want to bring it back to life and make this step a beautiful one?"
Ruan Jiu hit the nail on the head.
When he decided to move the Shen family out of the capital, Shen Yu had made a solemn promise to his father.
He was determined to establish a foothold in Qinzhou City first.
So he chose to open a restaurant. After all, food was the most important thing for the people.
But he, who had always been pampered, had stumbled on this.
If the Drunken Immortal Restaurant couldn't stay in business, who knew how many side branches of the Shen family would laugh at him.
The smile on Shen Yu's face disappeared. He frowned tightly and asked, "Then in your opinion, what should I do?"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu smiled, "Why should I tell you?"
After saying that, she calmly picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.
"If you don't tell me, I'll tell everyone about what happened that day!" Shen Yu showed a fierce look in his eyes.
Ruan Jiu squinted her eyes slightly, tilted her head, and raised her eyebrows, "Are you threatening me?"
Shen Yu immediately deflated. After letting out a long sigh, he complained, "Why are you like this?!"
Ruan Jiu smiled.
She knew that Shen Yu wouldn't tell anyone. If he was going to, he would have done it long ago.
Moreover, even if Shen Yu told this matter, it wouldn't do any good to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant. Instead, it would make him enemies with her.
Why would Shen Yu do such a thankless thing?
"It's not impossible for me to tell you." Ruan Jiu put down the teacup in her hand.
Looking at Shen Yu, her eyes were full of shrewdness.
She paused for a moment and then continued, "How about we make a deal?"