Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

It turned out that during the time they were delivering wine to the capital, a wine-tasting competition was held in Wu County. The Shen Family Winery, with its newly brewed jars of fine wine, won first place!

More importantly, Shen Mo, representing the government, signed a three-year order with us for several thousand kilograms of first-pressed liquor!

The letter was written by Uncle Huai De, and the old man's excitement could be seen between the lines.

"The news that we've become imperial merchants hasn't reached back yet. If it does, the business will probably double!" Shen Qiongju pointed to the end of the letter. "My uncle said that the current distillery is too small and can't keep up with the demand. He's got his eye on that wasteland at the east end of the village and wants to expand the distillery. He also wants to open two more branches in the county and prefectural cities. He's asking if we agree."

"Agreed, of course I agree!" Shen Qiongju gripped the letter tightly, her eyes gleaming with ambition.

Pei Zhihui looked at her spirited appearance, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

"If my sister-in-law wants to do it, then let her go and do it," he said softly.

"Yes!" Shen Qiongju nodded emphatically.

With the sails raised, the large ship slowly sailed away from the dock and drifted downstream.

Standing at the stern of the ship, Shen Qiongju watched the silhouette of the capital city gradually disappear into the distance. Suddenly, a surge of heroic spirit welled up in her heart. She wondered what it would be like when she returned to the capital next time.

"Let's go back to the cabin, it's windy." Pei Zhihui naturally put his hand on her shoulder.

After several days at sea, the two were very relaxed. At each dock, they would disembark to sample the local specialties and buy gifts and souvenirs, a stark contrast to the tension and seriousness they had shown on their journey there.

Fortunately, they were on a merchant ship, so they had plenty of time.

After traveling at a leisurely pace for more than ten days, the carriage finally entered Wuxian County. The closer it got to Qionghua Pavilion on East Street, the more bustling the crowd became.

Pei Zhihui lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, and all he could see were throngs of people. The liveliness was no less than that of a temple fair in the capital.

"It seems that my uncle's statement in his letter about 'doubling the business' was an understatement."

Shen Qiongju followed his gaze and couldn't help but frown.

The once elegant entrance to Qionghua Pavilion was now completely blocked.

"Whoa—"

The carriage stopped at the street corner; if you went any further in, the wheels would probably run over your heels.

As soon as Shen Qiongju got out of the car, a strong smell of alcohol hit her.

She straightened her skirt and stepped inside.

A young man, about half a year old and unfamiliar, stood at the door, dressed in a waiter's uniform, sweating profusely as he tried to stop the crowd from squeezing in.

"Hey, hey, don't push! Ladies and gentlemen, please be careful not to fall. There's space at the back, please move to the back!"

The kid had a loud voice and a clever air about him, but his lips were so dry they were chapped, and he didn't even bother to drink some water.

Seeing that Shen Qiongju and Pei Zhihui were dressed in fine clothes and barged straight in, the waiter immediately came over and said, "Esteemed guests, we are truly sorry."

He wiped the sweat from his face, forcing a smile, but his eyes were resolute.

"The place is packed today, there's not even standing room. If you two want to drink, you'll have to come early tomorrow."

Shen Qiongju was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

This kid is quite diligent.

"I am……"

Before he could finish speaking, a sharp voice suddenly came from inside.

"Who wants to cut in line? We've already said there's no room!"

Cui Ya squeezed out in a flurry of activity.

It had only been a month or so since I last saw her, but the former Aunt Cui had lost weight, and her once-fitting red dress now looked somewhat loose, though she seemed to be in good spirits.

Her hair was a little disheveled, her face was covered in what looked like oil or sweat, and her voice was hoarse, as if it had been sanded on sandpaper, completely cracked.

"Manager Cui," Shen Qiongju called out.

The surroundings were too noisy, and Cui Ya was busy apologizing to several regular customers, so she didn't hear the soft call at all.

"Uncle Liu, please forgive me! I'm just too busy today. I've saved your wine for you. Why don't you go to the restaurant next door to entertain your friends? I'll have the waiter bring the wine over to you later."

"Oh, alright, alright, it's only because of you, Madam Cui!"

Shen Qiongju nodded without saying anything more, then stepped aside through the crowd and entered the lobby.

As soon as he entered, his brows furrowed even more.

The lobby was bustling with noise, with tables and chairs packed tightly together, and even the aisles that were originally left open had been converted into seating.

The workers, carrying trays, weaved through the crowd as if they were in a battle.

The most eye-catching thing is the ground.

The sunflower seed shells, fruit pits, and even some spilled wine were all stuck together in a sticky layer.

The once gleaming mahogany floor is now so dirty it's almost unbearable to look at.

Excuse me! Excuse me!

A series of hurried footsteps came from the stairwell.

Solan rushed down with her pipa in her arms. The usually charming and exotic dancer looked a little disheveled.

Her curly hair was damp with sweat and stuck to her face, while her skirt was also stained with dust.

She almost bumped into Shen Qiongju's arms because she was running too fast.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!"

Solan didn't even look up, nor did she bother to see who it was, and quickly went up on stage with her pipa in her arms.

"This is too chaotic."

Pei Zhihui stood behind Shen Qiongju, using his body to shield her from a drunken man, his tone slightly somber.

Shen Qiongju remained silent, her sharp gaze sweeping across every corner.

Business is booming, too booming.

This uncontrolled prosperity is like cooking oil over a raging fire; it looks exciting, but in reality, it is fraught with hidden dangers.

She was wondering whether she should go back to the backyard first and tidy up after closing time that night.

The change happened in that instant.

"Ouch--!"

A scream rang out in the center of the hall.

A plump guest dressed in a silk shirt slipped and fell backward.

With a muffled "bang," a small table next to it was overturned.

The wine jug shattered, and the wine splashed everywhere.

The lobby fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a cacophony of noise.

"What happened? The ground looks like it's been oiled!"

The fat customer fell quite hard, groaning on the ground for a long time before getting up, his new clothes completely ruined.

The waiter next to him turned pale with fright and stood there helplessly, stammering as he tried to help him up.

"Sir...sir, are you alright?"

"Get out of here!"

The fat customer shoved the waiter's hand away, burning with rage.

"Is this how you Qionghua Pavilion do business? This floor is dirty and slippery, are you trying to make me fall and die?"

The surrounding diners also started to chime in, "Yeah, the floor is really slippery today."

"Does doing well mean you stop treating your customers like human beings?"

Cui Ya was still being held up at the door and couldn't squeeze in anytime soon.

The waiter was so anxious that tears welled up in his eyes, but he didn't know how to calm the customer's anger.

Shen Qiongju sighed.

She gently patted Pei Zhihui's hand, indicating that he didn't need to interfere, then straightened her sleeves and slowly stepped forward.

"Brother, calm down."

The sound was clear and melodious, not loud, yet it pierced through the noisy crowd.

Shen Qiongju walked up to the fat customer, and without being disgusted by the dirt on the ground, she bent down and helped him up herself.