readytorunbook Chapter 573 Xie Jue's Route: Disliking the Other Party
Chapter 573 Xie Jue's Route: Disliking the Other Party
Gao Wanzhi took a few steps closer, holding the reins, her eyes filled with doubt. "Aren't you busy with things at your shop?"
Some time ago, Xie Jue often broke his promises because of the Fuyu Tower.
That day, because of Fuyu Tower, she waited in vain at the Pear Garden for two hours.
Xie Jue looked up at her seriously and explained, "Before, Fuyulou was developing new products. There was a lot to do, from flavor testing to packaging design. We had to take care of everything and were running around a lot."
“However, I’m not busy now.” He said, opening a food box he was carrying, taking out a porcelain cup, and handing it to her.
"Try it, it's freshly made recently."
Gao Wanzhi took the sniff and raised an eyebrow: "Did you add osmanthus?"
Xie Jue smiled and said, "You said before that you liked the scent of osmanthus, so I tried it on purpose this time."
Gao Wanzhi glanced at him, her eyes flickered slightly, but she didn't say anything. She just lowered her head and took a sip.
The aroma of tea and milk blend together in your mouth, while the fragrance of osmanthus lingers perfectly between your lips and teeth.
Her eyes lit up, and she looked up at him: "It really tastes delicious."
Seeing that she liked it, Xie Jue couldn't help but smile. "This flavor was something Lu Xinghe spent a long time developing. She tried seven or eight rounds just to adjust the amount of osmanthus and the steeping time."
Gao Wanzhi repeated in a low voice, "Lu Xinghe?"
Xie Jue then realized that he had never seriously mentioned this person to her.
"Yes, she's the head manager of Fuyu Tower now. She's the one who came up with all those novel things. She's quite clever."
Seeing his frankness, Gao Wanzhi raised an eyebrow. "She sounds like an extraordinary woman. I'd like to meet her, is that alright?"
"Of course." Xie Jue turned to Chang Qing and instructed him to make the arrangements.
After finishing her milk tea, Gao Wanzhi handed the empty cup back to the maid, clapped her hands, stood up, pulled on the reins, and mounted her horse.
Xie Jue also got up, and the two rode side by side into the spacious riding arena.
The two walked back and forth between the horse farm, one in front of the other, their breathing rhythms surprisingly in sync.
Unbeknownst to them, sunlight peeked out from behind the clouds and shone on their shoulders. Gao Wanzhi looked down at the overlapping shadows of Ma Ying and Xie Jue, and the corners of her lips curved slightly.
The next day in the afternoon, at the Princess's residence.
Gao Wanzhi sat upright on the soft couch, dressed in a plain-colored brocade gauze dress, playing with the tea lid in her hand.
Lu Xinghe was wearing a blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a plain wooden hairpin in her hair. Her expression was delicate and scholarly.
As soon as she entered the room, her gaze lingered on Gao Wanzhi for a moment, and a hint of amazement was undisguised in her eyes.
The two sat facing each other, with Gao Wanzhi only responding occasionally and speaking very little.
The scene she saw that night still haunted her.
Xie Jue patted Lu Xinghe's shoulder. It was just a light pat, but Xie Jue rarely did this to women. He had only ever been close to her since childhood, but now, it wasn't just her anymore...
She felt a little sad whenever she thought about this.
Just as she was thinking, Lu Xinghe had already started talking about the aroma of tea and the new pastries from Fuyulou, and then mentioned the milk tea that was circulating in the market, speaking with great interest.
Gao Wanzhi listened, her curiosity piqued, and asked softly, "Have you been working at Fuyu Tower for a long time?"
Lu Xinghe shook her head. "It hasn't been long. Making milk tea was an accident. My identity as a woman was discovered at the time, and I came up with the idea of making milk tea in order to stay."
After that, Lu Xinghe talked about many other things.
As Gao Wanzhi listened, she gradually developed more respect for Lu Xinghe.
As they talked, the two began to discuss Xie Jue.
"What kind of person do you think Xie Jue is?" Gao Wanzhi pursed her lips and asked slowly.
Lu Xinghe pursed her lips, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "Young Master Xie is a very good boss, decisive and efficient, and also very smart."
She spoke frankly, but noticed that Gao Wanzhi across from her tensed up almost imperceptibly, clearly more nervous than before.
Lu Xinghe raised an eyebrow and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
No way... Is she suspecting that I have feelings for Xie Jue?
She couldn't help but chuckle softly.
How could a woman who has received a modern education possibly like an ancient man?
We have completely different values and can't talk to each other at all.
Looking at Lu Xinghe, Gao Wanzhi couldn't help but recall Xie Jue's expression when he spoke yesterday.
Is it her imagination?
Why do these two seem to dislike each other?
Gao Wanzhi chuckled as she recalled the matter that had been bothering her before.
Prince's Mansion, Tinghe Pavilion.
Xie Jue looked up. "Any progress at the tea plantation?"
Changqing bowed slightly. "As you instructed, we secretly negotiated with the four main suppliers. They have agreed to hold onto the goods in their warehouses for three days, using the excuse of delayed delivery to avoid the Jiang family. On the surface, they are saying it's a problem with the shipping. The Jiang family hasn't suspected anything yet."
"We've spread the word at the spice shop that the Jiang family has a new manager and their finances are unstable. Several of their main customers have temporarily suspended their purchase contracts, saying they want to wait and see for a few more days," Changqing said quickly. "Although the Jiang family is still dealing with it, they're already in a real bind."
"What about the fabric from the tailor shop?" Xie Jue picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
"We have joined forces with three major cloth shops in the South City to raise the price of the materials. The Jiang family can't get the materials at the original price, and they dare not raise the price to deliver the goods. They can only delay. They have already lost a repeat customer yesterday."
Changqing continued, "As for the raw silk and medicinal herb business in Jiangnan... we asked Manager Qin from Chuzhou to handle it. He has already contacted several raw material suppliers, and has reached agreements with three of them. The remaining two are still at an impasse, but he has softened his stance."
"In summary," Changqing looked up at Xie Jue, "this game is half done."
Xie Jue nodded, her tone still calm: "Very good."
A gust of wind suddenly rose outside the window, rustling the bamboo leaves. Xie Jue glanced at the swaying bamboo shadows and said softly, "Don't push too hard yet. Wait until they realize the wind has changed direction before slowly closing the net."
The main hall of the Jiang residence.
Gao Wanzhi sat at the head of the table. "Several days have passed. I wonder if the Jiang family has made up their minds?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang subconsciously looked at her son, unsure of what to say.
Finally, Jiang Huaiyu spoke up, "Princess, the Jiang family does not agree to annul the engagement."
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
Gao Wanzhi paused in her hand holding the teacup, then smiled.
She gave the Jiang family face and only gave them a few days to consider it. Did she really think they could make the decision on this matter?
Gao Wanzhi put down her teacup. Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and a servant rushed in looking flustered.
"Young Master!" He quickly walked to Jiang Huaiyu's side and whispered a few words in his ear.
Jiang Huaiyu's originally calm expression froze instantly, and then her face gradually turned pale.
"What did you say?" he asked in a low, hoarse voice.
The attendant repeated it in a low voice, and Jiang Huaiyu panicked completely.