Chapter 67: Narrow Road of Enemies

  Xu Mingjin smiled slightly and said: "Since it's like that, let's make a written agreement."

  Wang San Niang never expected that Xu Ming Jin, a young lady from a wealthy family, would be so low-key in her actions. She took a closer look at Xu Ming Jin and then said, "Alright." With that, she got up to write the IOU.

  Xu Mingjin sat there quietly drinking tea. After a while, Wang San Niang finished writing and handed it to Xu Mingjin herself: "Miss Xu, is this okay?"

  Xu Mingjin took over the two copies of the document, carefully read through them, saw that what he had just mentioned was all on it, and nodded in satisfaction. He then pressed his fingerprint on it and signed his name.

  "Ah! So Miss is the young lady of Xu Shangshu's family, I'm really sorry for my disrespect." Wang San Niang exclaimed after seeing the name signed on the contract by Xu Mingjin.

  Xu Mingjin said solemnly: "Please don't let Wang San Niang leak my identity, if the identity is leaked, our contract will be terminated immediately."

  Wang San Niang hastily nodded in agreement. She also added this clause to the contract, signed her name and stamped it with her seal before handing it over to Xu Ming Jin.

  Xu Mingjin took a look and left one for himself, handing one to Wang San Niang. He said: "Alright, you first make clothes according to the pattern I just drew. A month later, I will instruct my maid to bring new drawings."

  Wang San Niang said: "Only one a month? Isn't this too few?"

  Xu Mingjin said: "Wang San Niang, there are many ready-made garment shops in this capital city, right? The competition among peers is very fierce, right? You make clothes here, and before a few days pass, other ready-made garment shops will have identical knockoffs. If everyone buys that same piece of clothing, how do you make money?"

  Wang San Niang was stunned, she really hadn't thought of this. She couldn't help but look at Xu Ming Jin.

  Xu Mingjin said, "The embroiderers in your shop must be extremely trustworthy to use. Think about it, if your embroiderer's mouth is not tight, or is bought by another shop, and the drawings are leaked out, can you still make money?"

  This Wang San Niang nodded repeatedly: "Miss Xu is right."

  "Also, for these clothes, don't make one and sell one, make a big batch first and then sell them together. Once you've sold this batch, stop making them and start making the new designs I drew for you, got it?"

  Wang San Niang listened and praised: "This method is good! Even if other shops imitate my clothes, I have already made a profit first. In this way, I am not afraid of their imitation."

  Xu Mingjin nodded and said, "I'll go first."

  Wang San Niang respectfully sent Xu Mingjin away and returned to the shop, where she began to gather all the embroiderers together to give them a lecture.

  Xu Mingjin came out of the shop and onto the main street. Yu Zhu said, "Miss, the clothes you drew earlier were really beautiful."

  Xu Mingjin smiled slightly and didn't say a word. The two of them strolled around some more, then Xu Mingjin said: "I'm feeling hungry, are you?"

  Yu Zhu nodded, and Xu Mingjin glanced around at the wine houses and restaurants on both sides of the street, saying: "I've never been to a big restaurant for dinner before! Yu Zhu, you're in luck today. I'll take you out to eat."

  Yu Zhu listened to Xu Mingjin's interesting words and couldn't help but chuckle, then remembered when Xu Mingjin had just scolded Wang San Niang, saying "You're the one who's a concubine, your whole family is made up of concubines." The young lady's way of scolding people was indeed unique. She followed Xu Mingjin into the largest wine house on this street: Wen Xiang Lai.

  As soon as they entered, the shopkeeper enthusiastically came forward and said, "Please go upstairs." He saw that Xu Mingjin was not dressed in a common way. Yu Zhu, on the other hand, looked like a maid from a wealthy family at first glance. The shopkeeper had seen many such young ladies from rich families before. He didn't dare to be slow, knowing that these young ladies didn't want to be seen by too many people, so he directly led them to the second-floor private room.

  At the corner of the stairs, Xu Mingjin was suddenly bumped by someone. Turning her head to look, she found that it was indeed a narrow road and an old enemy, the person who bumped into her was Xuan Yuan Qiyue.

  Xuanyuan Qiji recently came to eat with a few friends, but didn't expect to run into Xuming Jin. He was exceptionally happy and said: "Miss Xu Liu, we really are fated! Better to bump into each other than to make an appointment. Last time I ate the dishes you made with your own hands, how about today I'll be the host and invite you to dinner?"

  Xu Mingjin refused, saying: "Sorry, I like to eat alone, don't disturb me." He was about to go downstairs and leave the restaurant. What bad luck, how did he run into him again? Xu Mingxia suddenly appeared at the hotel entrance, looking furious, and Xu Mingjin thought she was angry because she saw him sneaking out of the house, so he went forward to greet her, preparing to say a few good words to let her not pursue this matter.

  But Xu Mingxia stepped forward, suddenly stretched out her hand and slapped towards Xu Mingjin. Pre-warned although was watching vigilantly from the side, but also didn't expect that this Miss Xu wouldn't say a word, yet came over and gave her a slap in the face. She was caught off guard, hurriedly went to block it, but ultimately was one step too late, that one slap still landed on Xu Mingjin's face, however because of her blocking move, Xu Mingxia's slap on Xu Mingjin's face had almost no force behind it. Yet a loud "slap" sound echoed out.

  Xuanyuan Qiwai suddenly walked up from behind and came to Xu Mingxia's face, without saying a word, he heavily slapped her with a loud slap, making her stumble and almost unable to stand. Her left cheek was red with five palm prints, and soon half of her face swelled up.

  Xu Mingxia looked at Xuan Yuan Qi in disbelief, never expecting him to treat her like this. Tears gushed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably, her heart aching with sorrow as she stared at Xuan Yuan Qi.

  Xu Mingjin stood by and watched this scene, feeling very strange, what was going on? But when she saw Xu Mingxia looking at Xuan Yuan Qishi with a heartbroken expression, she suddenly understood: it turned out that Xu Mingxia liked Xuan Yuan Qi.

  Xu Mingjin turned his head again to look at Xuan Yuan Qiyue, and found that he was expressionless. His eyes looking at Xu Mingxia were full of disgust.

  Xu Mingjin shook her head, the goddess has a heart, King Xiang has no dreams! Then she thought again, their love and affection have nothing to do with her, why did she have to suffer this slap in vain? Xu Mingjin was extremely indignant. Was she just an innocent fish being affected by the turmoil of the pool?

  Xu Mingjin saw that many guests in the wine house stopped to eat and stared tightly at this side. Her heart tightened, and she quickly gave Yu Zhu a wink, and the two walked towards the door.

  Xu Mingxia suddenly said: "Xu Mingjin, stop right there!"

  Xu Mingjin secretly smiled wryly in his heart: Big sister, don't be so blinded by jealousy, okay? I only exchanged one sentence with your crush, you don't have to be so overly attached. But he couldn't help but stand up for her, fearing that Xu Mingxia would do something even more irrational.

  Once a woman is blinded by jealousy, she will do all sorts of crazy things. Xu Mingjin glared at Xu Mingjin with hatred, and Xu Mingjin was afraid that he would say something irretrievable, so he quickly gave Xuan Yuan Qiyue a signal. This was the first time Xu Mingjin had asked for his help, and Xuan Yuan Qiyue was very happy. He suppressed his disgust and stepped forward to pull back Xu Mingxia, who was just about to speak.

  Xu Mingxia turned around and saw Xuan Yuan Qiyue looking at her with gentle eyes, immediately forgetting about Xu Mingjin. Xu Mingjin saw the situation and knew it was time to leave. He quickly took Yu Zhu and walked out of Wenxianglai.

  Xu Mingjin walked and walked, not stopping until he was very far away from the Hears Fragrance Come Wine House. He turned around to look back, but Xuan Yuan Qi didn't seem to be following him. It seemed that Xu Mingxia had held him back. Xu Mingjin glared in the direction of the wine house, muttering angrily: "I'll never go to that wine house again, it's unlucky!"

  "Miss, can you still eat?" Jade Bamboo said.

  "Eat, why not eat? Why should I punish myself for someone else's mistake?" Xu Mingjin said as he strode into a small restaurant by the street. Yuzhu saw him and hastily followed.

  Xu Mingjin walked into the small restaurant and shouted loudly: "Boss!"

  An amiable old lady came out from behind a small restaurant and trotted up saying: "What would you like to eat, miss?"

  Xu Mingjin looked at the old woman and suddenly restrained her anger, smiling to ask: "What are some of your signature dishes here? Bring a few out."

  The old lady said with difficulty: "Miss, this store mainly operates wontons and can only make some simple home-cooked dishes."

  Xu Mingjin's eyes lit up as soon as he heard the word "wontons". She hadn't had wontons in a long time. She said, "Then let's make two bowls of wontons and stir-fry two simple dishes."

  The old woman heard this and hurriedly went to the backyard to work.

  At this time, there was not a single customer in the restaurant. Xumingjin casually found a seat against the wall and sat down. Yuzhu did not expect that Xumingjin, a young lady of a wealthy family, would actually eat at such a small restaurant, it was simply stunning. If she had glasses.

  Xu Mingjin glanced around casually and found that although the restaurant was small, it was clean everywhere, giving people a very comfortable feeling.

  Xu Mingjin suddenly thought of Xu Mingxia slapping her and quickly asked Yuzhu: "Is the palm print on my face still there?"

  Jade Bamboo smiled and said, "When Big Sister was hitting over here, I blocked it once. When the palm wind swept across your face, it was already the end of a strong crossbow. Don't worry, there wasn't even any palm print left."

  Xu Mingjin finally felt at ease: "I told you, why didn't I feel any pain on my face."

  At this time, the old lady brought over a bowl of steaming wontons, carefully placing it in front of Xu Mingjin and Yu Zhu. Xu Mingjin saw that in front of him was a celadon porcelain bowl filled with two bowls of snow-white wontons, topped with bright green scallions, and the broth had a faint sheen of oil. The aroma wafted up to his nose, making his mouth water uncontrollably.

  The old lady brought over two more dishes, one of stir-fried greens and the other of scrambled eggs. The greens were extremely tender, and the eggs were also very tender.

  Xu Mingjin urged Yu Zhu to hurry up and eat. He picked up his spoon, scooped up a dumpling, took a bite, and the fresh flavor filled his mouth. He was so hungry that he almost swallowed his tongue. Yu Zhu was probably also starving, seeing Xu Mingjin eating with relish, she unknowingly ate a lot too. Before long, Xu Mingjin and Yu Zhu had finished all the dumplings and dishes in front of them.

  Yu Zhu smiled and said: "Miss, you ate more today than when you were at the mansion. Tomorrow, I'll go instruct the kitchen to make some congee for Miss to eat."

  Xu Mingjin shook his head and said, "It's no good, the taste of the old lady can't be replicated in the mansion. Don't bother trying."

  "But Miss, you can't come out often."

  "It's the same with things, occasionally eating them makes you feel good, but if you eat them every day, they become tasteless."

  Jade Bamboo nodded slightly.

  Jade Bamboo saw that the two had almost finished eating and went over to pay the bill.

  Xu Mingjin saw the old woman sitting at the gate leading to the backyard, with a basket in front of her filled with big red apples. He walked over and asked: "Auntie, what are you going to do with these apples?"