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墨書 Inktalez
After all, this was the feudal era, where rumors could spread like wildfire if anyone knew that a married woman was traveling with another man, and it could even cost someone their life.
Xia Muxin was well aware of this; she couldn't joke around with someone's reputation and life.
Under Shen Muhan's guidance, they circled the supermarket, and the manager was called over. Xia Muxin carefully pointed out some areas that needed improvement and then had someone buy some snacks for everyone to enjoy during their downtime. After giving her instructions, she headed towards the Workshop.
The Workshop was located near a village not far from the supermarket. Perhaps due to the prosperity of the nearby residents, this village had fallen into disrepair. The old adobe houses were covered in cobwebs. Initially, Shen Muhan had used his connections to find the county magistrate here and leased the village. He built several large greenhouses and established a few big Workshops, while also constructing residential buildings designed by Xia Muxin. These buildings resembled modern school dormitories. She wanted to ensure that once the supermarket stabilized, the workers would have a safe place to live—nothing extravagant, but at least shelter from the elements, a comfortable bed, their own wardrobe, and even a shared kitchen so everyone could feel at ease.
Additionally, they were building a large warehouse since there was a significant amount of goods that required ample storage space. The bricks for the supermarket were transported from Daimiao Village by large ships. For the warehouse and dormitories, she planned to use regular Azure Bricks because it was too costly and labor-intensive otherwise. If it weren't for Shen Muhan, getting Fire Bricks would not have been so easy. It took ten massive ships working day and night for an entire month to transport everything, consuming about ten kilns worth of bricks—an enormous expense indeed.
The people coming here were mostly young couples in their twenties or thirties, along with a few unmarried young girls who had come with their parents; their fathers worked at the supermarket while their mothers were at the Workshop. This arrangement allowed them to look out for each other and avoid any gossip.
Xia Muxin tasted everything they made and offered valuable feedback on both technique and flavor, leaving everyone in awe of her insights.
It was remarkable that she was only in her teens—barely older than some of their children—but her capability and understanding were truly impressive.
They had struggled for decades without grasping such Business Opportunities.
Some had entertained thoughts of competing, but how many could match Xia Muxin's capital? Moreover, they had signed contracts; if anyone opened a shop outside without permission, they would have to share profits—40% for them and 60% for her. However, working here came with no pressure; wages were five copper coins more per day than elsewhere, plus meals and lodging were provided. They could bring their families along as long as the supermarket maintained sufficient sales daily; only when goods ran low would deductions occur from their paychecks. Who would willingly give up such an opportunity?
Furthermore, the Xia Family's reputation was already well-established. If one were to start a business on their own, they could only manage one or two products since many goods couldn't be sourced easily. It was rumored that her ethereal husband had significant influence; many issues that others couldn't resolve were easily handled by him with just a word. This further deterred those who might have considered competing.
"It's getting late; are you tired? Do you want to explore more?"
As they walked out of the Workshop hand in hand, Shen Muhan gently tucked a strand of Xia Muxin's hair behind her ear and asked affectionately.
At that moment, Xia Muxin dared not meet his intense gaze; his palm felt slightly warm against her skin. Even without looking into his eyes, she could sense his expression.
Her ears turned red as she shook her head and said, "Let's go back; there's nothing to see."
Shen Muhan smiled and took her hand, leading her toward a restaurant. Xia Muxin initially thought he would take her directly back to the restaurant, but instead, Shen Muhan guided her through the bustling streets until they arrived at the entrance of a quiet residence. He pointed at the house and asked her, "Do you like this place?"
Above the house hung a gilded plaque with the words "Shen Manor" elegantly inscribed. Xia Muxin immediately thought of his surname and couldn't help but glance at him in confusion.
The house wasn't very large, but it looked warm and inviting. Perhaps because it had been uninhabited for many years, it appeared tranquil and isolated. However, the entrance was well-kept, and through the courtyard wall, she could see towering trees with lush foliage standing proudly throughout the yard.
The walls were made of azure bricks with red tiles on the roof, and a grand vermilion door stood at the entrance, flanked by two large pillars that resembled those of a noble family.
Occasionally, branches peeked over the courtyard wall, adorned with white blossoms that exuded an enticing fragrance. Xia Muxin's eyes lit up with joy as she exclaimed, "Osmanthus!"
"Yes," Shen Muhan replied. "This is where my mother lived when she was young. No one has lived here for over twenty years. Recently, I had someone retrieve the property deed from Kyoto and arranged for it to be cleaned up. The floors were originally plain tiles, but I had them replaced with obsidian overnight. We should be able to move in the day after tomorrow; for now, we'll have to make do for a couple of nights."
Daimiao Mountain didn't have osmanthus trees; it was said that they were rare in Tianli Kingdom and only found in Kyoto. The seedlings were incredibly expensive, something that wouldn't be found in backward villages. This was also Xia Muxin's first time smelling osmanthus since coming to this world. Naturally, her enchanted expression conveyed to Shen Muhan that she liked this place very much, prompting him to explain further.
However, as soon as Shen Muhan finished speaking, Xia Muxin's delicate face fell into a frown as she asked hesitantly, "Isn't this your mother's old home? Isn't it your grandfather's property?"
Perhaps that old man Su Rong would arrive in a few days; then there would be trouble. And there was also that oblivious Su Xiuning—what a scatterbrain she was! Thinking of these things made Xia Muxin's good mood plummet like cold water dousing a fire, causing her to lower her head dejectedly.
Shen Muhan looked at the girl, her expression changing like the weather, and felt a bit confused. He couldn't help but knock gently on her head, disapprovingly saying, "Has your IQ dropped? This is Shen Manor; what does it have to do with the Su family?"
He scoffed at the mention of the Su family.
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin's mind started to turn, her eyes lighting up as she realized, "That's true!"
Shen Muhan sighed helplessly and continued to explain, "This is my grandfather's old home. Before he achieved his scholarly title, our family lived here. Even my mother stayed here for a few days after she got married."
Xia Muxin felt an urge to roll her eyes. Was he teasing her in a roundabout way? Just because they stayed for a few days didn't mean it was his mother's ancestral home. She really didn't know how to respond to him.
She guessed that this house must have been renovated after Old Master Shen gained his title; otherwise, it wouldn't be so new or have such grandeur...
By the time they returned to the inn, it was already dark. The young servant showed great respect towards Shen Muhan, treating them almost like deities. It wasn't until Xia Muxin was led into a tub filled with warm water that she fully grasped the situation. Shen Muhan washed her hair using the shampoo she had recently developed. It was cool, transparent, and quite thick. Just a little bit in his palm and then applied to her hair released a rich fragrance that filled the entire space and created plenty of bubbles.
This shampoo was the most popular item in supermarkets, and he had personally helped extract it. It contained essences from over ten different plants. However, the extraction process was time-consuming and complicated, which made production slow. Despite its high price—ten taels of silver for a small bottle—it remained in constant shortage. Xia Muxin had kept a larger bottle at home and carried a smaller one with her because she loved cleanliness and enjoyed the experience of using this natural shampoo.
"You must have traveled quite a bit for this bottle; did you hurt yourself?" Shen Muhan asked reproachfully as he gently massaged her scalp, thinking about the shampoo.
These plants were all types of spices found deep in the mountains. After going with her for the first time, he never let her go alone again; even when he was busy, he made sure to carve out time for her safety or sent Ming Yi along.
Shen Muhan's massage was perfectly executed, and Xia Muxin found it quite enjoyable; she felt drowsy until his serious tone snapped her back to reality. She quickly smiled and replied:
"Taking the Python Brother's family along, I’m not afraid of the Dragon Pool's tiger den."
The Python Brother hadn't been to the mountains since becoming pregnant. After all, being confined like this in nature felt a bit wrong. So, during those days when there was time, he took his family up the mountain.
This way, Shen Muhan would also feel at ease. Ming Yi and the others were simply too busy, not only managing various matters related to the supermarket but also having to complete Shen Muhan's tasks at any moment.
Only after hearing this did Shen Muhan relax his expression and begin to wash the foam off her head.
"Husband, let me wash your hair too."
By the time Xia Muxin's hair was washed, a whole cup of tea had passed. The small figure was flushed all over, her lips swollen and breathing heavily. It wasn't until she breathed in fresh air that she immediately spoke up.
Shen Muhan's gaze darkened, a glint of wolfish light flashing in his eyes. He stroked her smooth shoulder back and forth before speaking slowly.
"Alright, but not right now."
"Ah..."
- End of Chapter -
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