Lin He, however, harbored other considerations. First and foremost, she found Uncle Wen to be a genuinely good person. Though bearing the shrewdness and sharp edge of a businessman, he hadn't lost his childlike sincerity through years of commerce.

Having dealt with him several times, he had never once looked down on them for being country folk. This was precisely why Lin He had agreed to sell him the stuffed dolls in the first place. Had Uncle Wen or any of the shop assistants at the Butterfly Silk Pavilion shown even a hint of disdain back then, the situation today would likely never have materialized.

Furthermore, Uncle Wen owned such a prominent establishment as the Butterfly Silk Pavilion in town, and the errand boy mentioned he had considerable other business interests as well. In the future, whether Lin He or Dabao chose to pursue the path of traveling merchants, Uncle Wen would be an excellent guide. This was another crucial reason Lin He sought to cultivate a good relationship with him.

Dabao, standing beside her, wasn't thinking that far ahead. Entering the back of the shop and seeing such a spacious courtyard left him stunned. Dabao, being as old as he was, had never seen such a fine house.

He presumed the thirty taels a month, though expensive, must have its justification. He kept quiet, observing the premises meticulously. Lin He then discussed with Boss Wen the name she had conceived for the shop and the required signage text.

Boss Wen felt that "He Cai Dolls" was quite fitting. 'He' incorporated a character from Lin He’s name, and 'Cai' (Color/Brilliance) related to the origin of his original shop, the Butterfly Silk Pavilion. He didn't quite grasp 'Dolls,' but he found the overall effect excellent.

Without scrutinizing it too deeply, he finalized the shop name as "He Cai Dolls" and agreed to proceed with the layout exactly as Lin He described. Next came the matter of interior decoration. Lin He planned to install a large wooden shelf shaped like Mickey Mouse’s head on the wall directly opposite the entrance.

The shelf’s color would be bright and conspicuous, used to display various toys. In the other two directions, she proposed standard rectangular wooden shelving units, multiple tiers high. The walls of the shop would be painted white to ensure the colors of the toys themselves stood out.

In the center of the room, there would be lower wooden display units, painted attractively, perhaps two tiers high, reserved for smaller stuffed animals. The lower section could eventually hold larger items, though none were available yet, allowing children to pick up and examine smaller items themselves. Presently, the shop’s inventory would be somewhat limited upon opening.

However, they couldn't release too many new styles all at once. The plan was simply to produce the existing dolls in a greater variety of colors, letting Boss Wen's embroidery house manage the dyeing process, ensuring each doll had a distinct hue. Displaying all styles prominently on the shelves would allow customers to see everything at a glance upon entering.

Uncle Wen listened to Lin He’s explanation, his understanding somewhat vague as to the exact visualization. Lin He asked an errand boy for a writing implement; the boy returned with a brush. Lin He wasn't proficient with a brush, but sketching a simple diagram was manageable.

After drawing it out, she explained the concept to Boss Wen in detail. Now, Uncle Wen completely understood and was thoroughly pleased. He was astonished that this young girl could visualize and sketch out such detailed decoration plans after merely glancing at the shop—it was truly remarkable.

Lin He found his gaze amusing. In her time, toy shops were ubiquitous; she was merely replicating what she had seen everywhere. What was so difficult about that?

Lin He then sketched a small cashier's counter near the entrance. Ancient shops often occupied large footprints but utilized very little of that space, resulting in significant waste. For instance, a fabric shop might only have a small counter, a small rack behind it for cloth, and a small service desk in front—a colossal waste of space.

Lin He's design maximized the usable area within the shop. This arrangement would prevent the interior from feeling cramped while allowing more samples to be placed on the shelves. A small counter at the front would enable the proprietor to handle all transactions centrally, while the assistants would only need to escort customers to retrieve the toys on display.

This structure also streamlined management. After discussing shop decor with Uncle Wen for so long, they had covered nearly everything. Lin He decided it was time to return with Dabao.

Uncle Wen requested that Lin He design two new doll styles so they could feature fresh items upon opening to attract more visitors. Lin He agreed. Originally, they planned to take an ox cart back, but Uncle Wen insisted they stay for a meal and then use his own carriage for the return journey.

Sitting inside Uncle Wen's carriage, Lin He sighed. Regardless of the era or location, being wealthy truly made things better. This carriage was infinitely more comfortable than their ox cart.

The carriage compartment was spacious, with seating along both sides, padded thickly with cotton batting underneath. There was even a small central tea table holding several exquisite teacups and a teapot. The ox cart ride was jarring, but the carriage moved with remarkable smoothness.

Lin He felt so comfortable she almost didn't want to disembark, wondering how long it would take for their own family to afford such a vehicle—it seemed a distant, faraway prospect. The carriage was also significantly faster than the ox cart. A journey that usually took over an hour was completed in less than half an hour that day.

Lin He and Dabao emerged from the carriage in the late afternoon; school dismissal had already passed. Xiaobao and Chen’er rushed out from the house, startled to see a horse outside and their elder brother and sister descending from it. Xiaobao jumped up, exclaiming, "We have a horse!

My brother bought a horse back!" Xiaobao had witnessed his siblings getting off the ox cart last time, followed by the family acquiring an ox. Seeing this scene today, he naturally assumed they had bought a horse. Lin He pulled Xiaobao aside.

"This is someone else's horse, Xiaobao. Our family can hardly afford a horse, stop shouting nonsense." Xiaobao was quite disappointed to hear it wasn't their own horse, though his eyes remained fixed on the carriage. Dabao spoke a few words to the driver, who then promptly turned the carriage around and left.

Lin He then noticed Xiao Jun standing quietly to the side, saying nothing. Xiao Jun, though young, possessed a profound maturity—a thoughtfulness unbefitting his age. He was usually quiet at home, rarely making his presence known, yet he studied diligently.

Whatever the family tasked him with, he strove to execute it perfectly. Lin He saw a reflection of her younger self in him, which inspired extra care towards Xiao Jun, often prompting him gently to speak more. Lin He beckoned Xiao Jun over, patted his head, and asked, "What did the teacher cover this morning?

You need to teach Big Brother Dabao later." Xiao Jun nodded. After all, he was still a child and clearly craved more direct attention. Although Old Man Qin doted on him, Qin Laodie spent very little time at home, only returning in the evenings.

When Lin He first took in the old man and the boy, she was moved by the sight of Xiao Jun shivering in threadbare clothes; it had been heartbreaking enough to offer them shelter. Lin He intended for Xiao Jun to either accompany Xiaobao or continue his studies in the future. If Xiao Jun wished to study, she would fund it completely.

If not, he could serve as a study companion to Xiaobao or Dabao—a young attendant would suffice. Xiaobao’s nature was quite restless, and someone like Xiao Jun would be the perfect companion for him.