This Life, I'm Raising the Right Man

Two female clerks restrained the woman. The woman struggled, but the clerks were strong, and she couldn’t break free no matter how hard she tried.

They searched the woman’s arms and found more than a dozen small bottles. These bottles and jars were exquisitely made, clearly the store’s sample products.

”Our store has a sign that clearly states only one sample can be taken. Even if you can’t read, we have someone to explain it. Where did this thief come from, trying to steal from our store? Now you have two choices: either pay for that bottle of face cream on the ground, or I’ll send you directly to the officials.”

”How dare you, I am from the General...”

”Someone, go to the General Mansion immediately and ask if members of their household can behave so arrogantly outside?” Zhang Zhaodi shouted.

The surrounding customers marveled at Zhang Zhaodi’s audacity.

”Isn’t the owner of this Taoyao Square afraid of death, daring to provoke someone from the General Mansion? Do they perhaps have a more powerful backing?”

”I think so. If not, would she behave so boldly?”

The woman, hearing what the people around said, and seeing Zhang Zhaodi’s strong demeanor, also began to doubt whether Taoyao Square had some backing.

”How much?” The woman reluctantly accepted the situation.

This Capital City is full of noble people. Taoyao Square’s business is so large that no one would believe it has no backing.

”Ten taels of silver,” Zhang Zhaodi replied calmly.

”Why don’t you just rob me?” The woman was furious upon hearing this. ”Isn’t this bottle of face cream five taels of silver?”

”Originally, it only needed five taels of silver, but you damaged our goods, leaving everything scattered on the ground. Doesn’t someone need to clean it up? And with your commotion, you scared away so many customers. Shouldn’t you give us some compensation? Rest assured, I’m not a petty person. Pay the ten taels of silver, and you can take these samples with you.”

”You... I don’t have...”

”Considering ten taels of silver is indeed a bit much, judging by your attire, you probably aren’t a lady of the General Mansion, but more likely a servant. You don’t have to pay in cash. Your hairpin, bracelet, and earrings add up to five taels of silver. Pay an additional five taels of cash. If you don’t even have five taels of cash, your clothes...”

”Don’t pull at my clothes. I have five taels of silver. I’ll give it to you now.” The woman’s face turned red with anger as she reluctantly removed all her jewelry.

”Guest, this way, please.” Zhang Zhaodi flashed a radiant smile and led the woman to the counter to settle the bill.

The woman angrily handed over the silver, picked up the broken bottles, and wrapped the half-full bottle of face cream in a handkerchief, glaring resentfully at Zhang Zhaodi as she left.

”Take care, come again next time,” Zhang Zhaodi waved her handkerchief and said.

”Owner, that was someone from the General Mansion. Aren’t you afraid of offending them?” the woman next to her asked.

”In the Capital City, there are so many nobles and generals. If the servants from this general’s or that official’s household can come here for free goods, then I better just give them my shop directly,” Zhang Zhaodi said, ”Even if they are related to the Imperial family, they should obey the law, right?”

”This General is different.”

”How so?”

”This General made a great achievement by reclaiming five cities that had been ceded away. The Emperor was overjoyed and titled him the National Guardian General. He is the first National Guardian General since the founding of the country.”

”Does that mean he can let his servants bully ordinary people?” Zhang Zhaodi scoffed, ”I refuse to abide by that.”

”Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the disturbance earlier,” Su Yaoguang stepped out, carrying a basket filled with various sachets. ”These are the sachets we newly launched in our store. Different scents have different effects: this one aids sleep, this one soothes the mind, and this one refreshes and stimulates... As compensation, they’re five cents each.”

Jia Chunni said, ”These are formulations by our Doctor Jiang. Our Doctor Jiang even cured an epidemic and saved people in two cities. Quite impressive.”

Jiang Jing, inside the treatment room, felt too shy to come out upon hearing the words outside.

A man riding a horse passed by Taoyao Square, followed by more than ten guards. The man stopped at the entrance of Taoyao Square, eyes full of curiosity.

”General, what’s going on?”

”I don’t know why, but I feel an inexplicable sense of familiarity here.”

”The Emperor is looking for you, there’s no time to lose. You have to hurry to the palace.”

”Understood.”

In the evening, Su Yaoguang left the workshop and saw Zhang Zhaodi drinking in the courtyard, so she sat down beside her.