Gu Liyue was a bit dazed. She really knew too little about gambling. At most, she had only heard a thing or two about a prodigal son reforming himself from storytellers. But even if a prodigal son gambled away his fortune, as long as he kept his life, there was always a chance for him to turn over a new leaf.
However, looking at Feng Chen's expression, it seemed that he didn't even believe in the possibility of a prodigal son's reform.
Seeing Gu Liyue in a daze, Feng Chen thought she still pitied the gambler's family. So he persuaded her again, "I know the young lady is kind - hearted, and perhaps there are some unclear parts in the laws of the Great Zhou. But that is ultimately the matter of the imperial court and the government. I'm just a merchant, and what I can do is really limited. Young lady, I'm willing to help the poor and the suffering, but I must never get involved with gamblers."
Gu Liyue murmured, "I was just thinking, since Lady Shen is in such a difficult situation, why doesn't she get divorced or find a way to leave?"
Feng Chen heaved a long sigh. "Not everyone has the courage of the young lady to burn their boats. Especially after becoming a mother, one has to plan everything for their children."
Gu Liyue felt heavy - hearted. She wasn't Lady Shen, so she couldn't say that it was Lady Shen's own fault. Nor was she Feng Chen. Everyone had different thoughts, and she couldn't force Feng Chen to use his own silver to buy someone else's impossible future.
Feng Chen thought this conversation was too heavy and might make the young lady unhappy. So he changed the topic. "I've opened a snack shop by the Tianmi River. In winter, we sell hot milk tea. Would the young lady like to have a try?"
Gu Liyue asked, "Is it another idea from your Nanyang friend?"
Feng Chen laughed heartily. "Yes, my friend is really interesting. He's given me a lot of ideas, and most of them have been successful when implemented."
Gu Liyue happily followed Feng Chen to the Tianmi River. Although it was extremely lively during the Lantern Festival, it was also a place with pleasant scenery on ordinary days, a good place for an outing and enjoyment. There were young men and women who didn't care about the winter cold and were willing to stroll hand in hand along the riverbank, reciting poems and expressing their feelings.
Feng Chen's snack shop wasn't very big, but from afar, seeing the hot steam rising, one would feel a bit warmer. All kinds of milk tea were on display, filling the air with the fragrant smell of milk, making people's mouths water.
Gu Liyue looked around curiously and for a moment didn't know what she wanted to drink.
Feng Chen immediately told the shopkeeper to prepare a cup of each kind of sweet tea. "Since this is a snack shop, most of the customers are young people and children. So I only make sweet tea and no bitter tea. If the young lady wants bitter tea, I have a teahouse in front where you can try some."
Gu Liyue waved her hand. "There's too much. I can't finish it."
Feng Chen laughed. "I had them make these not for the young lady to finish, but just by the way, I'd like the young lady to help me taste how they are."
There weren't many seats in the shop, and they were all occupied by a few young girls. So Gu Liyue and Feng Chen stood outside the shop. Every time a waiter finished making a cup of tea, Feng Chen would take it and hand it to Gu Liyue.
The cups were bigger than ordinary teacups and just right to hold in the hand. In winter, they could warm the hands. When the tea wasn't so hot, one could slowly drink it, feeling completely comfortable all over. This novel way really interested Gu Liyue.
"This method is great in winter when it's cold. It's both warming and thirst - quenching. But in summer, when it's so hot, I'm afraid not many people will be willing to drink it."
Feng Chen smiled. "I've thought about that. In summer, I'll make iced drinks. I've also collected some suitable recipes and will start making them soon."
Gu Liyue listened to his various ideas, nodding while drinking. "It's really good. Your friend is very capable, and so are you. You've managed to build such a successful business in such a short time."
However, when exchanging the cups, Gu Liyue accidentally spilled some milk tea on her cloak.
Feng Chen quickly took the cup and took out a handkerchief from his pouch and handed it to her. "Be careful."
Gu Liyue was in a very good mood. She smiled brightly at Feng Chen and took the handkerchief.
A carriage slowly passed by on the street. Two young girls inside lifted the curtain and saw this scene clearly.
The younger girl was Shu Ke'er, the youngest daughter of the Shu family. She smiled and said, "A fair maiden is a gentleman's good mate. Sister Mingzhu is looking so intently. Are you in love?"
Shu Mingzhu said expressionlessly and coldly, "In love? I'll never forget why my adoptive mother asked me to return to the capital."
Shu Ke'er paused for a moment and then asked, "Do you know those two people?"
Shu Mingzhu said, "I don't know the man. The woman... is Gu Liyue."
Shu Ke'er quickly lifted the curtain again and looked carefully at the young lady. She couldn't help but sigh, "She's really beautiful. People say that Qi Manyan, the young lady of the Qi family, is the most beautiful woman in the capital. But I think Qi Manyan is just cold - tempered. Gu Liyue is very gentle and beautiful. Her looks are no less than Qi Manyan's."
Shu Mingzhu touched her own face and said indifferently, "When I saw her, I knew why my adoptive mother chose me. No matter how much I resemble the Gu family, I can never be like her. Not only is she gentle, but the heroism between her eyebrows doesn't detract from her beauty at all. Instead, it adds more charm. There's even a kind of endearing innocence in her."
Shu Ke'er chuckled. "Sister Mingzhu is so strange. I've never heard you praise someone like this."
Shu Mingzhu let the curtain down. "Only by facing up to the enemy's strengths can we better plan. I can't match her in looks, but in terms of temperament, no one can match her. That bit of heroism on her is just for show, but for me, it's real. Since I want to avenge the Gu family, I can't be hasty."
Shu Ke'er had a round face, and a hint of venom showed in her eyes. She shook her head and said, "I don't think so much. My mother just asked me to come here to find a good family to marry into. But Sister Mingzhu, is the Crown Prince of Liang really good to you? You look in good spirits. Originally, I thought you two were a good match. But after seeing Miss Gu Liyue, I think that just in terms of looks, how could the Crown Prince give her up for you?"
Shu Mingzhu wasn't angry at such words. She just rubbed her fingers. When she lifted the curtain again, the two people were already out of sight. She sneered with a curl of her lips. "I still can't quite figure out the Crown Prince of Liang's thoughts. But because of my presence, he's had some slight changes. That's already the best result."
Shu Ke'er looked at Shu Mingzhu, and greed showed in her eyes. "I've never seen such a celestial - like person before. If sister really becomes the Crown Princess, don't forget me."
Shu Mingzhu looked at her coldly. "If you act rashly, don't blame your father for being ruthless. The Crown Prince is not an ordinary person. The only thing I can think of for now is to play hard to get. It's taken me two months to achieve some results. Don't mess things up."
Shu Ke'er pouted but finally said nothing.