CHAPTER 254: CHAPTER 254: JUNE

Le Zhao said, "Our family does possess a tea house in Jinxi Town, though it has consistently been operating at a loss. My brother still wishes to renovate it and turn it into a cloth shop. If Miss Shen is interested, I could discuss it with my brother and see if he might transfer the tea house to you."

"Why has it been operating at a loss?" Shen Qinglan asked, puzzled.

Although Jinxi Town is not large, there are many passersby. From what she observed, other tea houses seemed quite bustling.

Duan Yunfei explained, "The Le Family themselves are tea merchants, and the tea leaves used in their own tea house are all top quality, costing hundreds of taels per ounce. Even nobles cannot bring themselves to drink it regularly."

"That expensive?"

Shen Qinglan clicked her tongue, no wonder it was operating at a loss.

"I’ve advised my brother not to use such fine tea in Jinxi Town, but he simply doesn’t listen!" Le Zhao looked helpless. "Well, now it’s proved too costly, and he no longer dares to open a tea house in Jinxi Town."

"That would do!" Shen Qinglan said, "Tell your brother I wish to take it over."

Le Zhao nodded, "Okay! I will immediately write to my brother when I return."

After saying their goodbyes at the entrance of Shengxiang Restaurant, Shen Qinglan headed straight home.

————

In the blink of an eye, June arrived, and the oppressive heat swept over all of Jinxi Town.

The cicadas sang incessantly in the courtyard, causing an irritable mood.

Originally, Shen Qingzhu’s betrothal gifts were ready to be delivered to the Qiu Family on an auspicious day, but unexpectedly, Old Master Shen and Old Lady Shen blocked the plan.

According to the two elders, marriages cannot be conducted in June, as it marks the year’s halfway point, suggesting the couple would only complete half their marriage journey. July is close to the Ghost Festival, so that’s out too. After much discussion, both families finally decided on the sixth day of August.

Recently, due to the intense heat, Shen Qinglan seldom ventured out and spent most of her afternoons cooling under the large tree in the courtyard.

Curiously, since that encounter in the empty alley, the Heavenly Killer Sect people haven’t sought her out again.

Uncertain whether the Medicine Sect intercepted them or they abandoned the hunt, during mid-May when the assassins were expected, not a shadow was seen.

"This weather, truly hot enough to kill!"

Dong Yao approached, fanning herself with a round fan and drenched in sweat.

Sitting beside Shen Qinglan, she muttered, "You clever child, at least you know to hide in the shade here; it was unbearable inside."

"Mother, do you know where to buy ice?" Shen Qinglan asked.

In modern times, at least one could use air conditioning. In ancient times, come summer, even the natural coolers stopped, and not a branch stirred.

"Why buy that stuff?" Dong Yao replied, "That thing, come summer, a small piece fetches a sky-high price and isn’t practical, melting away quickly."

Shen Qinglan sighed lightly; the house has an ice storage room, but she was so busy at the time that she had long forgotten about storing ice.

"Third Miss, there’s a guest!"

While Shen Qinglan was regretting, she noticed a carriage driving in.

Upon closer inspection, the visitor was actually Xuan Ying.

"Miss Shen!"

Xuan Ying pulled the reins and jumped down, greeting her with a smile.

"What brings you here?" Shen Qinglan raised an eyebrow.

"At my master’s instru..."

"Ahem~"

Before Xuan Ying could say ’manor owner’, Shen Qinglan quickly coughed lightly.

Xuan Ying paused, immediately correcting himself, "Oh, at our Shopkeeper Tang’s order, to bring some ice blocks for Miss Shen!"

"And this young gentleman is..."

Dong Yao curiously glanced at Shen Qinglan, her eyes occasionally assessing Xuan Ying.