Chapter 24 Who Will Fill the Hole

Chapter 24 Who Will Fill the Hole

"Miss, the cost of ingredients and alcohol is really high," Kang Ping said after some thought. "Your way of selling does attract people, but those who come don't bring in any profit. We could lose ninety percent today."

Xing Dairong was a college student before she crossed over.

In her time, it was the era of encouraging entrepreneurship. Shared bicycles, shared economy, ride-hailing platforms, and food delivery apps were all emerging one after another.

Big capital was pouring money recklessly, burning cash, and the entire society was thriving and prosperous.

Hearing about these losses, she only saw Kang Ping as short-sighted. "What do you know? This is called cultivating the market, creating momentum, and expanding our pie. Who doesn't burn money when they're first acquiring customers?"

Kang Ping didn't understand a single word Xing Dairong was saying.

Xing Dairong continued to cling to Cheng Yunshuo's arm. "Yunshuo, this is about capturing an untapped market. Initial losses are inevitable, but we need to see that the market is more important than anything. If we capture it first, others will have to pay a much higher cost to compete."

Kang Ping: "..."

Who would be foolish enough to spend so much money to compete for the poor market!

Seeing how happy Xing Dairong was, even though he didn't understand, Cheng Yunshuo still smiled along. "Yes, I'll follow your lead."

Half a month passed quickly.

Xing Dairong's buffet did indeed become increasingly popular.

It became so popular that no one in the Imperial City was unaware of it.

The new dining experience, abundant food, and cheap meal prices made Jufu Buffet packed every day.

By midday, they had to hang up a closed sign.

All the ingredients brought in daily were consumed completely.

Many people came with their children to queue for meals before dawn.

With this, Xing Dairong's name once again swept through the entire Imperial City.

Everyone knew that Jufu Buffet was opened by the Ningyang Marquis' son for Xing Dairong.

For a while, the title of a remarkable woman echoed throughout the streets.

Storytellers embellished the tale of Cheng Yunshuo and Xing Dairong, portraying them as a perfect match.

Even within noble circles, despite disapproving of Xing Dairong's background, they had to admit she had truly shone this time.

Some of Cheng Yunshuo's friends teased him, saying he had married a remarkable treasure.

During this period, Xing Dairong truly basked in glory. Even when Qiu Ling encountered her in the mansion, she had to step aside.

After reviewing the accounts in her courtyard, Lu Lingyun unexpectedly received a visiting card.

"Where is it from?"

"It's from General Wang's residence."

Qiluo?

Lu Lingyun immediately became delighted. "Quickly invite her in!"

"Yes!"

Ever since her marriage, she hadn't been in touch with Wang Qiluo. One reason was the busy management of the marquisate after marriage; the other was that she was now married while Wang Qiluo was not, making it inappropriate for her to visit as freely as before.

Upon hearing Wang Qiluo's visit, Lu Lingyun hurriedly instructed the servants to tidy up the courtyard and present the best snacks and drinks.

When Wang Qiluo, dressed in a light yellow gauze dress, entered the courtyard, Lu Lingyun eagerly greeted her.

"Qiluo!"

"Lingyun, how have you been?"

"Very well." Lu Lingyun led her to sit in the small garden. "How are you and Aunt doing?"

"My mother has been worried about you. She keeps telling me at home that the rules of the marquisate are strict, imagining your life here must be tough." Wang Qiluo looked serious. "You're quite stubborn, never telling us anything."

Lu Lingyun chuckled. "I haven't had any issues. The elders are kind, the servants are obedient, and managing the household is far more enjoyable than being at the Lu residence."

Wang Qiluo stared at her. "You're still hiding things from me. Now everyone in the streets is praising that Xing girl, calling her a perfect match with the Ningyang Marquis' son, leaving you, the legitimate wife, in the shadows!"

"What does it matter?" Lu Lingyun smiled faintly, handing Wang Qiluo a glass of red watermelon juice. "Have some drink."

"Oh! Isn't this that watermelon juice!" Wang Qiluo recognized it.

After all, Xing Dairong's buffet was known to almost everyone, and her new items had sparked new trends.

"The taste is quite nice, more interesting than eating watermelon directly," Lu Lingyun said.

"You're really carefree. That woman is riding on your head, and you're drinking something she invented."

"How are people talking about her?" Lu Lingyun asked with a smile.

"They praise her as a fairy from heaven, a kind-hearted heroine, a shining example of benevolence, a living bodhisattva saving the world. They praise her as if she's the only one in the world!" Wang Qiluo rolled her eyes.

Lu Lingyun sipped the sweet watermelon juice. "It's quite fitting."

"Are you really that naive? That woman is using your family's money to build her reputation, and you can tolerate it!"

"Who said it's the marquisate's money?" Lu Lingyun released the cup, her eyes filled with cunning.

Wang Qiluo was surprised at this moment, "If it's not the money from the Marquis's residence, who else could fill such a big hole?"

"The name that's being spread outside is the one who filled it." Lu Lingyun approached Wang Qiluo and whispered in her ear, "All the material costs were deferred."

Wang Qiluo's eyes gradually widened. After a moment of shock, she suddenly understood, "You're brilliant!"

Losing forty to fifty taels a day amounts to over a thousand taels in twenty days. Which family could afford to defer so much money to Xing Dairong?

If the Marquis's residence doesn't step in, these people will surely sue!

When the time comes, whoever's name is shouted the loudest will have to pay up!

Wang Qiluo was completely reassured about Lu Lingyun. She spent the entire afternoon drinking tea with her in her courtyard, chatting about various trivial matters, and even mentioned quite a bit about Lu Hanyi.

She heard that Lu Hanyi had not been getting along well with her sister-in-law at the Li family recently. Her sister-in-law managed the household and had been withholding resources from Li Er's courtyard. Lu Hanyi had suffered several silent losses, and when she complained to her mother-in-law, the latter was even less supportive than Qin Shi, who at least sided with her and was generous.

Her mother-in-law was a crafty person, always deflecting her complaints with smooth talk, leaving Lu Hanyi frustrated and unable to vent her anger.

"However, Lu Hanyi doesn't dare to find fault with her husband. It's strange; how come someone like Lu Hanyi, who usually bullies those close to her, doesn't pressure her husband to argue on her behalf? Instead, she speaks to him softly and serves him well," Wang Qiluo gossiped.

Lu Lingyun smiled lightly, realizing that her sister still had her sights set on the top scholar next year.

The two continued their private conversation until dusk began to fall. As an unmarried woman, Wang Qiluo couldn't stay too late at the Marquis's residence, so after her nanny reminded her for the third time, they stopped talking.

Lu Lingyun made plans with her to go shopping on the street three days later and then escorted her out of the residence.

As they passed through the garden of the Marquis's residence, they encountered Cheng Yunshuo and Xing Dairong, both looking cheerful, along with a few of Cheng Yunshuo's friends.

"Prince."

Lu Lingyun stopped to bow.

Wang Qiluo, wearing a hat, followed behind and bowed to greet them.