Wang Qiqi and Song Yao exchanged a look. "Well, we really wasted our breath discussing this." Wang Qiqi tossed the paper and pen from her hand aside. "Sis, do you want coffee or tea?" While they were discussing, she hadn't felt thirsty, but now that they stopped, Wang Qiqi felt her throat was already raw, her voice coming out raspy.

Song Yao wasn't sure if she was speechless, or simply because after exerting so much effort, she suddenly realized it had all been for naught. "Whatever." She waved her hand; nothing she could eat or drink now could mend her wounded spirit.

Wang Qiqi watched Song Yao slump onto the sofa and brewed a pot of Jujube and Longan Tea. "It’s a little sweet, but quite tasty." Since trying it at a newly opened lounge near the school, Wang Qiqi had become obsessed. She'd attempted it a few times at home, and although it wasn't as good as the shop’s version, it was passably drinkable. Whether it was psychological or if the tea truly had some effect, after insisting on drinking it for two months, Wang Qiqi noticed her body wasn't as sensitive to the cold as it used to be.

The moment the tea touched her lips, Song Yao looked at Wang Qiqi with a profoundly strange expression. "This tea doesn't suit your palate at all." Everyone knew her younger cousin wasn't fond of sweets. Before the age of ten, she liked cream cakes, but after ten, she only ate the cake part, leaving the cream behind—a habit that persisted. Even the most delicious cream cake would have its frosting scraped off; she took her coffee with minimal sugar, and the tea she drank was bitter enough to make a non-tea drinker spit it out. How could someone like that suddenly be drinking tea this sweet without raising Song Yao's suspicion?

"It's good for my health." Wang Qiqi simply told Song Yao about the changes she'd noticed in her body since starting the tea. She didn't believe Song Yao wouldn't be tempted.

Song Yao’s initial impression of the tea was just cloyingly sweet, which she disliked, but upon hearing about the benefits Wang Qiqi mentioned, her expression shifted. "Tell me how to make it."

Wang Qiqi explained her method to Song Yao. "Actually, Sis, you can use these recipes when you get to the capital later on."

Song Yao instantly realized the truth. "You’re right! I’m not giving up on the shop. If Yang Jing doesn't like this client-attracting method, I won't be upset; I’ll still have a place to implement this plan." "Exactly! What was I worried about? If it doesn't work here, there’s still the capital."

On the way to pick up Yang Jing, Wang Qiqi and Song Yao deliberated on how to broach the subject with her. Song Yao felt it was awkward to bring it up now; it would seem like the two of them had settled everything amongst themselves and were just informing Yang Jing, leaving her, as the daughter-in-law, unsure whether to agree or object.

Wang Qiqi watched Song Yao driving, clearly troubled, and as they stopped for a red light, she placed her hand on Song Yao’s. "Sis, don't worry. We'll explain our thoughts to Yang Jing, and if she disagrees, we won't do it. People have their own perspectives; we aren't the RMB; we can't be liked by everyone." If Yang Jing had reservations about them, that was her business. Wang Qiqi could guarantee that she wouldn't be the one losing out in the end. Moreover, Yang Jing was sharp; even if she had internal thoughts, she wouldn't be unhappy, because this plan, while seemingly disadvantageous at first glance, was definitely a good thing in the long run.

Song Yao looked at Wang Qiqi, who wore an expression of complete certainty that she was right, and was utterly speechless. Her cousin was simply too kind-hearted. "Forget it, forget it. If you say it’s fine, then fine." She truly couldn't manage worrying about everything anymore.

In the car, Yang Jing listened to Wang Qiqi and Song Yao discuss their views on the shop. Her first reaction was a pang of sadness, feeling as though they had decided everything without her, despite their pleasant words about hearing her opinion. How could she possibly refuse? Setting aside the fact that Song Yao currently managed the shop, even the supply of goods came through Wang Qiqi. From every angle, Yang Jing felt she couldn't afford to offend either of them. However, that thought was fleeting.

Yang Jing was no novice. When chatting with classmates, friends, and colleagues about their married lives, she realized that although she had two somewhat forceful elder sisters-in-law, they weren't troublemakers; their focus was entirely on making money. Once, the head of her company’s finance department had envied her, saying she’d married into a good family with capable men, and although she had an elder sister-in-law, she wasn't someone who sought trouble. Her own parents said the same thing every time she visited home. Even those relatives who had looked down on her marriage initially, thinking she had married a train driver with no prospects, now all relied on her to introduce them to wealthy individuals. Yang Jing knew that all these changes were brought about by Wang Qiqi.

Thinking of this, Yang Jing shook off her discomfort. After careful consideration, she said, "Sis, Qiqi, I don't think we need to expand the storefront. First, we don't have the sales volume for it yet; another shop increases costs. Second, we don't have enough stock to fill it. An empty shop might make customers think we lack capability, or that we're just putting on airs..." Yang Jing analyzed the situation from various cost angles. "Also, the lounge area doesn't need to be large initially; we can just partition off a smaller storage room."

Yang Jing's words made Song Yao's eyes light up. She had been focused on driving and hadn't noticed the fleeting change in Yang Jing’s expression. She assumed Yang Jing’s silence meant she was deep in thought. Wang Qiqi saw it, though. Yang Jing’s response was quick, and her suggestions were very sound. Yes, although Wang Qiqi thought the girl was a bit timid, since Yang Jing would be managing the shop, her opinion should take precedence. "Yeah, Sister-in-law is right. Sis, what do you think? I also feel if we take over the shop next door, the second-floor lounge will become too large, and we might end up with more people taking advantage of free food and drink." If the space is small and exquisite, with limited seating, people with short tempers or those who dislike freeloaders will naturally speak up to those brazen enough to eat and drink without buying anything—that’s better than us having to say anything.

Song Yao pondered and didn't have much objection. "If we have more inventory later, we can just store things at home." She would be moving to the capital eventually, leaving the house here vacant, so there would be plenty of space to stack things. "If there are no further issues, maybe we should start construction quickly." It’s a small project; the sooner we modify it, the better. "Why didn't we ask for Qiqi's opinion back then?" Now she regretted it deeply.

Wang Qiqi looked at Song Yao with feigned innocence. "Sis, what do you mean by that? When we were designing it, how was I supposed to know you’d have this idea?" Hmph, Wang Qiqi would never admit that the idea started because she suddenly craved good coffee and wanted to smuggle a coffee machine back, but the snag was that her idea required the cooperation of a certain person.

Uh oh, Song Yao was furious. While waiting at a red light, she reached out and ruffled Wang Qiqi's hair. "How can you say that? If you hadn't said you were going to gift me a coffee machine, would I have gone this far?"

Saying this, Song Yao suddenly remembered something serious. "I suddenly realize that for this so-called gift of a coffee machine from you, I might end up spending quite a bit of money." As she spoke, Song Yao tallied up for Wang Qiqi how many thousands of Yuan she might spend because of that "free" coffee machine.

Yang Jing, sitting in the back seat, listened, dumbfounded. She had originally assumed that the idea of renovating the lounge was something her elder sister-in-law had conceived long ago, and that she’d only approached Wang Qiqi to discuss it now because Qiqi had just returned from the capital. She hadn't expected it to be a sudden thought, or that Song Yao’s idea was prompted by a coffee machine. Yang Jing didn't have much love for coffee machines, but she often heard her sister-in-law complaining whenever she drank instant coffee at home that it wasn't as good as the coffee Qiqi brewed for her in the capital, so she was looking forward to it. Yet, for the sake of this one coffee machine, the apparently shrewd sisters, Song Yao and Wang Qiqi, were doing something so foolish. Yang Jing didn’t know how to comment, especially watching the two of them bicker in front of her.

Wang Qiqi could only shake her head at the unreasonable Song Yao. She had thought that if she stayed quiet, her sister wouldn't keep nagging, but this girl’s fighting spirit was something else. She kept droning on. Wang Qiqi wondered if this was a side effect of constantly having to recommend products to clients every day.

Wang Qiqi had no idea how Song Yao communicated with her husband, whether it was like this endless chanting, or if she had finally found a chance to unleash her rhetoric. "Sis, forget it, forget it. I take back my offer. I won’t give you the coffee machine either, and I’ll even save money." Heavens, she was already spending money to give a gift, yet the recipient was still complaining endlessly. Since that was the case, she might as well not give it at all. Wang Qiqi felt much happier that way. It was just a few cups of coffee; she could endure it, drinking jujube tea instead would suffice.

Song Yao never expected that her long tirade would elicit such a statement from Wang Qiqi. She had her reasons for nagging for so long. "Hey! You’re going back on a promise to give a gift, Qiqi? Do you have any sense of propriety as an aunt or elder sister...?"

Wang Qiqi was exasperated by the constant chanting. It was impossible: she couldn't give the gift, but she couldn't take back the promise either. "Sis, what exactly do you want me to do? You don't expect me to cover the renovation and furniture costs, do you?" Good heavens, Wang Qiqi felt the pressure was enormous, terrifyingly so. After dividing the money earned from Song Yao and the others into three shares, Wang Qiqi felt she would still have to shell out quite a bit of her own money.

Ye Yu Jing He, the good friend who diligently writes word by word, has finally rested enough to start uploading a new book. Ye Yu’s books have always been liked by Bu Bu, and she hopes all fellow readers will also like and support Jin Ke Yu Lu and Yun Zhuan Yao Zhang.

Born as a concubine’s daughter, she must tread cautiously, yet hold the heavens in her hands. What untold hardships did she endure to ascend the throne from a position of isolation, becoming a vital asset to the Empress?

The mortal world is like a fleeting dream, and time flows like spilled water.

If she could, she would wish to remain forever in that initial moment, vowing life and death under the Acacia Tree, unafraid of the instant beauty fading away...

One sentence summary: Follow the Empress and you’ll have good things! (To be continued)