in2ebook Chapter 88?! What chapter is this?!
Chapter 88?! What chapter is this?!
Zhao Yunzheng looked up and saw the small, eye-friendly desk lamp that Xu Jiaojiao had made for him; he looked down and saw the wristband that Xu Jiaojiao had sewn for him.
He reached out and saw the fragrant beads that Xu Jiaojiao had carved for him to keep cool in the summer heat. He withdrew his hand and smelled the fragrance emanating from the insect-repelling sachet on his body.
He stood up and saw the pastries Xu Jiaojiao had made for him; he sat down and saw the boots Xu Jiaojiao had mended for him.
He lay down, resting his head on the health-preserving pillow that Xu Jiaojiao had made for him, then got up and put on the clothes that Xu Jiaojiao had embroidered for him.
Zhao Yunzheng: "..."
It's unclear when exactly, but Xu Jiaojiao gradually seeped into my life.
Now, Xu Jiaojiao's traces are everywhere, and it seems that everything can evoke Zhao Yunzheng's memories.
Looking at these things, Zhao Yunzheng was momentarily dazed. He asked himself, did Xu Jiaojiao really love him?
If it really was acting, then wasn't Xu Jiaojiao too immersed in the role?
Otherwise, why would she do so much for him?
But she said that, how could it be false?
Unlike Zhao Yunzheng's struggles and pain, in Yuhua Courtyard, Xu Jiaojiao made a cup of milk tea for Jiarong.
The two sat under the shade of a tree, drinking and chatting in a harmonious atmosphere.
Seeing that Xu Jiaojiao remained calm and composed, Jia Rong was quite surprised.
"Sister Jiaojiao, did you and Second Brother have a fight?"
A hint of disappointment flashed across Xu Jiaojiao's eyes: "I misspoke and angered Your Highness."
Jia Rongweng smirked: "Just one sentence, and your second brother has confined you to your quarters and gotten so angry. Your second brother is being far too petty!"
Xu Jiaojiao grinned.
That's not just a simple matter...
She shook her head with a wry smile: "It was my fault. I don't blame the prince for being angry. Your Highness, please don't interfere in this matter. If the prince takes his anger out on you, I will truly be guilty beyond redemption."
Jia Rong was worried.
She was told to mind her own business, but over the years, it had been rare to find someone who caught her eye and whom she was willing to befriend sincerely. She truly didn't want to see Xu Jiaojiao in such a miserable state.
Besides, in all these years since what happened to his mother, Xu Jiaojiao is the only woman besides Su He who can bring a smile to his second brother's face.
Compared to Su He, she would much rather have Xu Jiaojiao, who is understanding and considerate of her second brother, by his side.
Although Sister Jiao Jiao said that she had misspoke, her second brother, who always hated evil, did not kill her directly, which shows that she did not commit an unforgivable mistake.
However, my second brother is very stubborn. If no one mediates between them, there may be no room for reconciliation between him and Sister Jiaojiao.
She truly didn't want her second brother and Jiaojiao to drift apart like this.
Furthermore, to put it another way, if Xu Jiaojiao is rejected by her second brother and imprisoned in Yuhua Courtyard for the rest of her life, what will happen to her shop?
With the courtyard sealed off, she couldn't access the accounts of those shops, and she didn't even have a chance to discuss with Xu Jiaojiao the details of each shop's activities or whether to open a new shop!
Good heavens! Running an ordinary shop is one thing, but the way these pastry and tea shops are run is unique. They've always been managed by Sister Jiao Jiao herself, so she doesn't have to worry about them at all and doesn't know anything about how to run a business.
If she had known this day would come, she should have learned more from Sister Jiaojiao back then!
Seemingly sensing Jia Rong's concerns, Xu Jiaojiao informed him, then got up and went back into the house, taking out a box and handing it to Jia Rong.
"what is this?"
The box was exquisite, and it was clear that it was something Xu Jiaojiao cherished.
She smiled gently and said, "Princess, why don't you open it and see for yourself?"
Jia Rong was never one to mince words, so upon hearing this, he nodded and opened the box.
What comes into view are booklets with rather illegible handwriting—
Store Market Research and Forecasting
Feasible Product Planning
Optimal Product Display
How to Master Product Pricing
Product Sales and Closing Techniques
The Importance and Application of Product Promotion
How to provide excellent customer service
Performance Appraisal of Store Employees
……
Jia Rong flipped through the books quickly, becoming more and more surprised and tearful as she read on.
How is Xu Jiaojiao's situation any different from entrusting her child to someone else?
She told him all her ways of making money, clearly prepared to be confined here for the rest of her life.
How could her beloved sister be so understanding?
Such a wonderful woman, and her second brother doesn't even know how to cherish her!
That stubborn mule!
She'll see if she doesn't knock some sense into that blockhead of his!
A few tears welled up in Jia Rong's eyes, and her voice was slightly hoarse: "What are you doing, Sister Jiao Jiao..."
Xu Jiaojiao raised her hand and gently wiped the moisture from Jia Rong's eyes, smiling with relief: "I've been so happy to be able to open the shop with Your Highness these past few days. I never dared to think of doing something so daring before. Although we haven't been running the shop for very long, I've been able to be myself without restraint, and I have no regrets..."
From now on, Your Highness will have to manage this shop yourself. I'm so sorry to have left you alone halfway through..."
She lowered her eyes to look at the box, her gaze lingering with reluctance: "These are my experiences in opening a shop. Perhaps they can be of some help to Your Highness. In the future, Your Highness will not need to share the profits from this shop with me. I wish Your Highness's shop will prosper and your business will flourish!"
The more relieved Xu Jiaojiao seemed, the sadder Jia Rong felt.
She felt as if she had a fishbone stuck in her throat, and couldn't speak for a long time.
Finally, she took a deep breath and solemnly promised, "Don't worry, Sister Jiaojiao, I'll go and ask Second Brother to lift your confinement right away!"
"Let me tell you, you're not going to just dump this shop on me and wash your hands of it! I'm the princess, and I'm in charge! You're responsible for managing this shop!"
As he spoke, Jia Rong got up to return to Mingqian Courtyard.
Xu Jiaojiao was slightly taken aback, and quickly pulled Jia Rong back: "Your Highness, please calm down!"
Seeing Jia Rong's determined look, as if she wouldn't give up until she got justice for her, Xu Jiaojiao smiled bitterly and helplessly: "Your Highness, the Prince is in a bad mood right now. If you go to him, you will definitely be scolded. If I cause a rift between you and your brother, I will be even more unable to face him. I will have no choice but to atone with my death."
"What are you saying! What kind of talk is that!" Jia Rong immediately became agitated: "How dare the second brother! If he dares to be mean to me, I'll go find Mother immediately!"
However, Xu Jiaojiao's words reminded Jia Rong.
Her second brother is indeed in a bad mood right now. If she rushes over there, given his temperament, it will only make things worse.
Jia Rong's eyes flickered, and he patted Xu Jiaojiao's hand reassuringly: "Don't worry, Jiaojiao, I'll take care of Second Brother. I'll make sure he lifts your confinement before Mid-Autumn Festival and gets you two back together!"
After saying that, Jia Rong sat down again, picked up the milk tea she hadn't finished and took a sip: "Sister Jiao Jiao, do you have any pastries in your room?"
Xu Jiaojiao was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter.
Jia Rong really does act on a whim...
After Jia Rong finished eating and drinking and left, the faint melancholy in Xu Jiaojiao's eyes disappeared completely.
She turned and went back into the house with an indifferent expression...