The Tofu Queen: A Modern Woman's Ancient Kingdom Journey

Even though Tangbao likely didn't understand what a surprise was, Jiang Huaiyu couldn't help but embrace the ritual of hiding the wooden box containing the zhuazhou items.

Just as she finished, Zhu Zhu stepped into the room. "Madam, a young lady surnamed Qin is here to see you. Should I let her in?"

"Tell her I'm not home," Jiang Huaiyu replied without hesitation, not even bothering to look up.

It wasn't hard to guess who it might be. Ever since she arrived in the capital, Jiang Huaiyu had encountered few normal people. Qin Jiuru's impulsive nature and thoughtless behavior made her a particularly unwelcome guest. Jiang Huaiyu had no problem dealing with cunning individuals for business purposes, but she drew the line at befriending fools.

After all, a foolish ally could drag her down too, and who had time for that?

Waving Zhu Zhu off, Jiang Huaiyu figured the matter was settled. However, before Zhu Zhu could even step out, Qin Jiuru stormed into the room.

"Jiang Huaiyu!"

"Miss Qin," Jiang Huaiyu said with a sigh, setting aside her patience. "If I recall correctly, didn't you promise to avoid me at all costs? Three feet of distance, remember?"

Qin Jiuru froze, momentarily taken aback. No one had ever spoken to her so bluntly before. But things were different now, and she had come prepared to endure the humiliation.

"I've realized my mistakes," Qin Jiuru said through gritted teeth, her voice trembling slightly. Her lowered head revealed red-rimmed eyes, and her pink-tinged cheeks bore what looked like a faint slap mark.

"I see," Jiang Huaiyu replied, her tone detached. "There's no need for apologies. Just avoid disturbing my life any further. If you have grievances, take them to someone else."

She didn't care for melodramatic reconciliations, much less the possibility of some unlikely friendship blossoming out of pity.

"I was scolded by my father," Qin Jiuru said, lifting her head stubbornly. "He revealed things to me that I had no idea about. It turns out the person I trusted most, my closest friend, was the one who harmed me the most. The reason I kept pestering you about the zaodou was because she manipulated me."

"Well, that's unfortunate," Jiang Huaiyu said flatly. "But it's not my concern. Misfortunes have their origins. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I want to start a business with you!" Qin Jiuru blurted out suddenly. Her frustration and helplessness boiled over into words. "I have silver, shops under my name, and I know you're capable. That... that snake Li Sumeng stole several of my properties and reinvented herself as a businesswoman. I can't swallow this humiliation!"

Jiang Huaiyu stared at her for a moment, feeling both bemused and exasperated. The childishness of Qin Jiuru's request was astounding. Starting a business to settle personal grudges? How naive.

"Perhaps to you, running a business is just about giving orders to some steward," Jiang Huaiyu said coolly. "But real management is much more complicated than that. Miss Qin, I suggest you find someone else to play with. Good day."

Her words left no room for negotiation. Jiang Huaiyu wasn't afraid of offending someone like Qin Jiuru, even with her privileged background.

Qin Jiuru bit her lip, her face flushing with a mixture of anger and shame. Unable to maintain her composure, she turned and stormed out.

Once she was gone, Zhu Zhu, who had been standing nearby, looked at Jiang Huaiyu with wide-eyed admiration. "Madam, you were amazing! That young lady must be someone important, yet you didn't even flinch."

Jiang Huaiyu waved her off casually. "Go finish your tasks."

Picking up Tangbao, she headed toward the courtyard, her mind already moving on from the encounter. Qin Jiuru's offer wasn't worth wasting any more thought. Instead, Jiang Huaiyu focused on more pressing matters—her plans for the future.

While her goal had been to maintain a peaceful life, the opportunities presented by her burgeoning spice business had pulled her further into the world of commerce. If she wanted to protect her position, she needed to establish herself firmly.

The spice trade, in particular, was her priority.

Though many dismissed seasonings as a minor commodity, Jiang Huaiyu believed they would one day become an indispensable household staple—just like salt and iron. For now, she trusted Jin Chong to handle market expansion, but she remained vigilant. Jin Chong's cunning made him an unpredictable ally.

"I'm heading to the shop," Jiang Huaiyu announced to Xiaocao, leaving Tangbao in her care.

As she approached the store, Jiang Huaiyu noticed an unusual commotion. The shop was packed with people, their chatter and activity spilling onto the street.

"What's going on here?" she murmured, stepping into the neighboring shop owned by a fellow merchant, Madam Wang.

"Wang Manager, what's causing the crowd at my store?"

"Oh, haven't you heard?" Madam Wang said, her voice animated as she relayed the gossip. "A store on the next street over was destroyed—something about selling inferior goods. I also heard some restaurants and taverns were attacked too, all for deceiving customers with fake seasonings!"

"Oh my, did you hear about that shop on the next street? It got trashed, along with a couple of restaurants! People said they were using subpar ingredients to cheat customers," Madam Wang recounted excitedly, gesturing animatedly as if she had seen the entire fiasco unfold with her own eyes.

"And how does that explain why my shop is now overrun with people?" Jiang Huaiyu asked, already piecing together the likely explanation. Jin Chong had probably pulled one of his infamous bait-and-switch maneuvers. He'd built up the restaurants' reputations using high-quality seasonings, only to abruptly cut off their supply. With no choice but to use inferior replacements, the food quality had dropped drastically, drawing the ire of their wealthy, discerning patrons.

These diners, accustomed to paying for perfection, weren't the forgiving type. It wasn't long before someone claimed that the subpar seasonings were being sold at a store owned by the same restaurants.

But the real kicker? Those same restaurants had been loudly proclaiming that they sourced their cooking seasonings from none other than Jiang Huaiyu's shop.

And just like that, the swarm of outraged patrons turned their attention to her little shop, drawn by the promise of authentic quality.

"Your shop's been bustling ever since," Madam Wang added with a grin.

"I see," Jiang Huaiyu replied, fighting the urge to laugh. The turn of events was unexpected but not unwelcome. She didn't bother going inside her shop just yet. The crowd looked too overwhelming, so she turned to Madam Wang.

"Would you mind lending me one of your boys to help out? It's getting a bit chaotic over there," Jiang Huaiyu asked.

"Of course, dear."

While her borrowed helper made his way to her shop, Jiang Huaiyu settled in for a chat with Madam Wang.

"By the way, little sister, have you thought about remarrying?" Madam Wang asked suddenly, her tone casual but curious.

The question caught Jiang Huaiyu off guard, but she responded calmly. "Not really. I'm doing just fine on my own. Besides, I have my son to think about. Why complicate things?" She chuckled. "I'd rather avoid putting him in a situation where he might face unnecessary hardships. He's my priority."

Madam Wang nodded thoughtfully. "You have a point. If I'd had kids when I divorced, I might've made the same choice. Still, if the right young man came along, it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot. Life can be tough for a woman on her own."

"Thank you for the concern, but I've got everything I need. Everyone has their own path, and this is mine," Jiang Huaiyu replied with a soft smile.

Once the rush at her shop began to subside, Jiang Huaiyu walked inside, covering her nose against the spicy scent of seasonings in the air. It was fragrant, but the intensity stung her nostrils.

"Thank you both for holding down the fort," she said to Qi Jue and the borrowed helper, whose clothes and hair were dusted with fine powders.

The helper waved off her thanks, quickly returning to Madam Wang's shop. Qi Jue, on the other hand, looked exhausted but amused.

"I thought it was a mob coming to riot," he joked, massaging his sore hands. "I've never worked this hard in my life."

Jiang Huaiyu laughed. "Well, those restaurants certainly didn't see this coming. They spent so much time building up a reputation for their food, only to drive all the customers to us. I should send their owner a thank-you gift!"

She spoke in jest, but in one of the very restaurants that had lost customers to her shop, Li Qingruo was far from amused.

"Feixue, your plan not only failed but caused significant losses to my family's businesses." Li Qingruo's voice was restrained, her upbringing as a proper lady evident in her measured tone. She bit her lower lip lightly, her frustration barely concealed. "Fortunately, my father isn't holding me accountable, so I think it's better to just let it go. After all, people have their own fates. As for my cousin..."

The mention of Qin Ziqin brought a mixture of longing and heartache to her expression. The rumors of his supposed romantic preferences still echoed in her mind, filling her with a bitter sadness. She couldn't understand why he failed to notice her feelings, despite her subtle hints. She had hoped for a tale straight out of the storybooks, where they'd be a perfect match—talented scholar and beautiful maiden, destined for one another.

Hearing that Li Qingruo's father wouldn't pursue the matter, Murong Feixue let out a sigh of relief. She may have ambition, but her modest background meant she couldn't afford the consequences of angering a powerful family like the Lis.

Though her circumstances were ordinary, Murong Feixue's aspirations were anything but. She had no intention of marrying someone of her own station. Having glimpsed the luxurious lives of the wealthy and noble, she dreamed incessantly of becoming the mistress of a grand household, adorned in gold and jewels, dining on the finest delicacies.

"I admit, my previous strategy lacked foresight," Murong Feixue said, her voice tinged with an artful hint of remorse. "But there's more at play here than meets the eye. I did some investigating, and it's clear there's foul play involved. Jiang Huaiyu's spices are all sourced from foreign merchants. The same ingredients, yet people claim ours taste inferior. I've tried both, and honestly, there isn't much difference."

Li Qingruo furrowed her brows. "You mean to say…"

"I believe she caught wind of your feelings for the Marquis and deliberately set this in motion. She must have hired people to spread rumors, stirring up trouble and sowing discord among the customers. That's why everything unfolded as it did."

If spinning wild tales were an art form, Murong Feixue was undoubtedly a master. Beneath her seemingly innocent and straightforward demeanor lay a knack for deception honed on the bustling streets of the city. And as Li Qingruo slowly began to nod in agreement, Feixue's eyes gleamed with triumph.