The first day of Jinxiu Pavilion's grand reopening yielded astonishing results, with the clothes in the shop quickly selling out.
After the intense battle, Leng Ruo Li and Shi Zheng He were exhausted, but their faces were still beaming with smiles.
Leng Ruo Li then did a rough calculation of the day's earnings, raking in three thousand four hundred and fifty-six taels of silver on the opening day.
Haha, earning money was truly that easy. She was confident that in the near future, she would become the wealthiest woman in the land.
However, Leng Ruo Li was also someone who knew how to treat people well. The shop employees had been incredibly busy all day selling clothes, so she decided to set aside a small portion of the silver to reward them, thus fostering loyalty.
Besides herself, fifteen people had come to help in the shop today, including Shi Zheng He's sister, Shi Qing Qing. She decided to give each of them a reward of three taels of silver, totaling forty-five taels for the fifteen staff members, which wasn't much. She would also allocate two hundred taels of silver to Shi Zheng He for the shop employees' meal expenses, ensuring they were well-fed.
As for the remaining money, it would be handed over to Shi Zheng He for the procurement of superior fabrics.
When the shop employees received the silver from Leng Ruo Li, they were moved to tears.
They had never dreamed of encountering such a good employer. Not only did she offer them high wages, but she also covered their three meals a day, and rewarded them with bonuses when the shop performed well.
It was said that Leng Ruo Li would also arrange accommodation for them in the future, something called a dormitory. They had never experienced such good fortune.
Just as they were reveling in their excitement, Lin Hong Tao, his belly protruding, led a group of subordinates and swaggered into the shop, scaring everyone present, leaving them pale with fright.
This was because Lin Hong Tao was a notorious villain, known for kidnapping women and oppressing the common folk, making him a recognized bully throughout the capital.
"Who is Leng Ruo Li? Come out!!!"
Lin Hong Tao's face was sinister as he bellowed with his loud voice, grabbing someone.
"Oh, it's Young Master Lin!"
Leng Ruo Li said with a sarcastic tone.
"This Young Master wants to buy clothes!"
"Then, when can Young Master Lin expect delivery for his clothes?"
Leng Ruo Li immediately recognized this fatty as someone here to cause trouble, but she patiently engaged him in conversation, as turning away business would be foolish.
"I want them now." Lin Hong Tao added.
"In that case, I apologize, but all the ready-to-wear clothes in our shop were sold out today. If you insist, I can have someone measure you right now, and I'll have them work overtime to make it for you tonight. You can pick it up tomorrow morning. However, this set of clothes will cost one thousand taels of silver. Young Master Lin, what do you think?" Leng Ruo Li said calmly.
"What?" Lin Hong Tao was utterly stunned. "A set of clothes for a thousand taels? You might as well just rob us."
"What? A thousand taels for a set of clothes is too much for you, Young Master Lin? Then it wasn't excessive for you to collect a hundred and fifty taels of protection money when Jinxiu Pavilion's monthly revenue was only fifty taels?" Leng Ruo Li retorted, unprovoked.
"You ugly hag, how dare you bring that up? You almost killed me a few days ago." Lin Hong Tao said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, it seems Young Master Lin still hasn't learned his lesson." Leng Ruo Li said with a hint of mockery.
"What did you say? You dare... dare to mock this Young Master."
Lin Hong Tao was so infuriated by Leng Ruo Li that he could barely breathe.
"Guards, smash this ready-to-wear shop!"
As soon as Lin Hong Tao finished speaking, his subordinates scattered, grabbing whatever they could and smashing it onto the floor.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
The shelves, cabinets, and bolts of fabric in the shop were all damaged.
The shop employees were terrified.
"Everyone, don't be afraid. All employees of Jinxiu Pavilion, stand with me. Let them smash the shop's belongings."
Subsequently, all the shop employees moved behind Leng Ruo Li. Leng Ruo Li stood with her arms crossed, watching the scene unfold as if everything happening was of no concern to her.
She had been contemplating whether to spend money to renovate Jinxiu Pavilion.
Unexpectedly, Lin Hong Tao had delivered the money so quickly. Wasn't this exactly what she wanted?
Haha...
The bigger the scene Lin Hong Tao made, the more it benefited Leng Ruo Li.
At this moment, only Leng Ruo Li noticed two tall figures at the shop entrance leaving one after the other.
Leng Ruo Li's alluring red lips curved into a subtle smile.
The real show was about to begin!
An incense stick later, Lin Hong Tao's henchmen were tired of smashing. The group sat on the floor of Jinxiu Pavilion without any regard for appearances.
"Get up, all of you! What useless good-for-nothings." Lin Hong Tao roared from the side.
In reality, Lin Hong Tao's henchmen were just like him, often indulging in alcohol and lust, their bodies essentially depleted.
Despite their arrogant and aggressive demeanor, without the intervention of Lin Hong Tao's hidden guards, they probably couldn't even defeat a village girl.
Just then, a resounding voice echoed from the doorway.
"Lin Hong Tao, you scoundrel, you've caused trouble for me again."
Duke Lin, seeing Lin Hong Tao, immediately began to curse him, then pushed through the crowd and slapped Lin Hong Tao twice.
He then quickly pulled him towards the shop entrance.
Unexpectedly, the father and son were intercepted by the Minister of Justice.
"Duke Lin, your subordinate has just received a report that Young Master Lin has smashed the ready-to-wear shop of Miss Leng. I am here to escort Young Master Lin back to the Ministry of Justice for trial," Yan Song said calmly.
"Lord Yan, this is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! My son was just playing around with Miss Leng," Duke Lin argued.
"Yes, Lord Yan, Young Master Lin and I were just messing around. Later, this young lady will bring her employees to smash the ready-to-wear shops under Duke Lin's estate for a bit of fun too. What do you say, Duke Lin?"
"You..."
Duke Lin's expression immediately turned fierce, his eyes sharply glaring at Leng Ruo Li. How dare this little girl threaten this Duke.
Yan Song, standing by, twitched his lips upon hearing Leng Ruo Li's words. This young girl's temperament was exactly like her father, Leng Jin Yu; neither was one to suffer a loss.
"Then what do you want?" Duke Lin retorted.
"Of course, you must compensate me! This is my newly purchased shop, and it's only been in operation for one day, yet I've suffered so much loss. I still need to pay so many employees. Look at the state of my shop; can I even open for business tomorrow? Do I need to renovate this ready-to-wear shop? Should Lin Hong Tao pay for this renovation?" Leng Ruo Li spoke eloquently and logically.
"Then how much do you want?" Duke Lin's tone was as cold as ice when he asked this.
Leng Ruo Li was not intimidated by him. Her sharp gaze met his fiery fox-like eyes, and she coldly stated.
"I want you to compensate me ten thousand taels of silver."
"What? This broken shop only has those few bolts of cloth left. Do you think it's worth ten thousand taels of silver?"
"Whether it's worth it or not, I, Leng Ruo Li, say so. Who told your son, Lin Hong Tao, to smash my shop?" Leng Ruo Li's words were very firm.
"You..."
Duke Lin was once again angered by Leng Ruo Li.
Meanwhile, Lin Hong Tao was like a shrinking turtle, his head bowed and his entire body trembling.
"Fine, I'll pay. I'll pay. Isn't it just ten thousand taels of silver? I, Duke Lin, can afford it. But I don't have that much money on me right now. Can I pay you another day?"
"No, I want Duke Lin's estate to send the money over now."
"You..." Duke Lin was truly angered by Leng Ruo Li today.
"Guards, go back to Duke Lin's estate and fetch the money."
"Yes!"
A guard respectfully responded and immediately disappeared from everyone's sight.
After waiting for a long time, the guard finally returned with ten thousand taels in bank notes to the ready-to-wear shop. Leng Ruo Li meticulously counted the bank notes.
"Good! Not a single tael is missing."
"Lord Yan, my matter is concluded. The remaining matters are yours."
Yan Song immediately understood her meaning.
"Duke Lin, Young Master Lin must still accompany me back to the Ministry of Justice."
Upon hearing this, Duke Lin's face darkened further. His idiotic son could not escape "going to the palace" for a second time.