The Reborn Legitimate Daughter is Frivolous - Chapter 31
Naturally, the people who had traveled with me were also dissatisfied. Some even came secretly to cause trouble, but Murong Jie dealt with them quietly. Since then, no one dared to make trouble at the jewelry shop again. Everyone knew there was a powerful person backing it.
“I want to open a few more branches of our Jewelry Zhai. What do you think, Shopkeeper Wu?”
After all, she wasn’t a businesswoman. She just said what came to mind.
In her previous life, she had seen Shui Xinting do this, and although she didn’t know the result, she had thought about it carefully and believed it could work.
But in both her past and present lives, she rarely stepped outside her home. How could she possibly know the ins and outs of business?
Since Shopkeeper Wu was trusted by Murong Jie, Murong Qing naturally trusted him too—otherwise, Murong Jie wouldn’t have kept him.
At that moment, Murong Qing wasn’t sure if what she said was right or wrong. She asked cautiously, afraid that Shopkeeper Wu might laugh at her.
After all, women are easily embarrassed.
Shopkeeper Wu quickly hid the displeasure that had shown on his face and looked at Murong Qing again.
As an experienced businessman, he could read her thoughts and behavior clearly.
Still, he was surprised. How could a young woman like her even think about opening a branch? That was something only men usually considered.
He thought to himself, No wonder General Murong trusts her to manage the jewelry shop. She truly is different from other women—no less capable than a man.
“I’m ashamed,” Shopkeeper Wu said sincerely. “I misunderstood the young lady. It was a petty thought.”
Murong Qing knew what he meant and accepted his apology with calm grace.
A good shopkeeper, she thought, isn’t someone who sees himself as superior, but someone who can admit his mistakes and correct them. Apologizing is also a way to make things right.
She believed Shopkeeper Wu wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
“I’m just a young woman, not a gentleman. And Shopkeeper Wu isn’t a petty man,” Murong Qing said with a smile.
Shopkeeper Wu was surprised by her generosity and even more by her sharp mind.
He hadn’t said anything specific, just apologized—yet she seemed to understand exactly what he was thinking.
Feeling guilty, he became even more respectful toward Murong Qing and silently vowed to fully support her in running the jewelry shop.
Relaxing a little, he smiled and said, “Like father, like daughter. I’ll do my best to help the young lady take care of the shop, just as the general would.”
Shopkeeper Wu was a straightforward man. No wonder he’d survived in the business world for so long without returning home.
Murong Qing couldn’t help but wonder how Murong Jie had found such a capable person.
The two no longer spoke formally. When it came to business, there was no need for too much politeness—what mattered was careful planning.
“The young lady mentioned opening a branch,” Shopkeeper Wu said. “With our current reputation, that’s possible—but…”
“But what?” she asked.
“To open a new branch, we need a good location. The best ones are on busy streets. Our current shop is in such a place, but finding another like it would be almost impossible.”
“How so?” Murong Qing asked.
She sat down and motioned for him to do the same. At that moment, they weren’t superior and subordinate but partners discussing business.
“This area,” Shopkeeper Wu explained, “is one of the busiest parts of the city. People love coming here because it’s spacious, full of shops and restaurants. Many travelers stay nearby too.
To buy another shop here would be very difficult unless someone’s business failed or they had to move away. Otherwise, it’s nearly impossible.”
“So what you mean is, we have the money, but not the right location?”
“Exactly.”
Shopkeeper Wu had likely thought of this idea before, but he would have needed Murong Jie’s approval—and the general, being a soldier, wasn’t much interested in business. He probably only kept the jewelry shop out of love for a certain woman.
He knew that if word got out, others might laugh at him.
So when Murong Qing asked for the shop two nights ago, even though he was worried, he still handed it over to her gladly.
After all, a daughter managing her late mother’s dowry business wasn’t shameful—it showed filial piety.
“This shop is in the west of the city,” Murong Qing said. “Has Shopkeeper Wu checked the south side?”
He shook his head. “The west side is the most prosperous area in the capital. The south can’t compare.”
She had been there before and agreed—it wasn’t as lively as the west.
Still, it wasn’t too far. It just took a bit more time to get there, which made it less convenient.
The east was near the palace, while the north led outside the city.
In the whole capital, the west was bustling while the south was relatively quiet—a clear contrast.
After some thought, Murong Qing asked, “If we were to open another branch in the west, it would cost a lot, right?”
“Yes,” Shopkeeper Wu replied. “The money we have now would be enough for one branch in the west—or three in the south.”
Murong Qing smiled slightly. “Then why don’t we open one in the south? It would cost less.”
“This…” Shopkeeper Wu frowned.
After their last exchange, he didn’t dare assume her intentions. Opening a shop in the south clearly meant lower profits. Why would she suggest that?
Murong Qing explained, “The south may not be prosperous, but that doesn’t mean there are few people. The capital has a large population. Since our jewelry house has already made a name for itself, customers will come.
Besides, many people in the south don’t like traveling all the way to the west—it’s too far. If we open a shop nearby, won’t those people prefer to buy close to home rather than stay inside all day?”