Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 300: The Women’s Building

Chapter 300: Chapter 300: The Women’s Building

"What are Lin’s brothers here for?"

"Moving the wine."

Xu Chou’s wine can no longer be stored here; it’s unpredictable when someone will find out.

What needs to be done now is to take the wine back home first.

Upon hearing from Lin Xiaoquan that they needed to move the wine, the Lin brothers roughly understood what their sister meant and so they rented a carriage to come over.

As for Shen Yuntian, he was called by Xiaoquan to come over from the Tavern as they were short-handed.

A large group of people came in grandeur and left in the same manner, leaving behind only the villagers of Niuniu Village who loved the excitement, standing at the entrance of the village, chattering away.

"Did you hear what the young lady said?" An old woman spoke, scraping the rice grains from her bowl before continuing: "Xu Chou is now on the rise! Even the young ladies from the city are calling him uncle!"

"Right? Judging by that, if Xu Chou says the village head’s wine is good, this business might succeed!" says another.

"The world has changed now, even the ugliest guy can make a name for himself." A man clicks his tongue twice, lighting up his dry tobacco.

They had spent their entire lives in Niuniu Village with not much achievement, taking care of their farmland, finding odd jobs in the city during the slack farming season. Their biggest amusement was chatting and discussing household matters, especially about the Xu family at the end of the village.

But up to now, Xu Chou, who was the most despised by everyone, seemed to have made something of himself.

In Xu Changsheng’s house, Wang Jinlan sat on the side, looking as if she had lost her soul.

"Mother-In-Law..." The daughter-in-law of the Xu family looked worriedly at her mother-in-law, just about to call out to her when she saw her getting up shakily and going into the house.

"Mother, what’s wrong with Grandma?" Zhaodi tugged at her mother’s sleeve, asking curiously.

"Zhaodi dear, it’s nothing." Gently rubbing her daughter’s head, Mrs. Xu didn’t pay any more attention to her mother-in-law and started cleaning up the dishes with her daughter.

Today’s meal had both meat and vegetables. Although there wasn’t much meat left over, it was definitely better than what they usually had.

She gave the leftover soup and small pieces of meat to her daughter, only then did Mrs. Xu start clearing the dishes.

Lying on the bed, Wang Jinlan could see the shiny twenty silver taels in front of her every time she closed her eyes.

However, every time she reached out to grab it, she grabbed at nothing.

That very night, Wang Jinlan fell ill, staying in bed all day, looking depressed.

Those in Niuniu Village who had conflicts with her just sneered and said that she was upset because Xu Chou was becoming prosperous, and that’s why she fell ill.

As the weather got hotter, the business of Samwei Residence gradually picked up.

The number of women who used to come for the new fruit wine were reducing daily, giving Shen Miaomiao a headache.

"Sister Nanzhi, the number of female customers has been decreasing these past few days." The little girl looked at the people chatting in the main hall, looking somewhat worried.

"The weather is getting hotter, and many male customers are rolling up their sleeves in the hall, causing the female customers to feel embarrassed to come." Nanzhi replied, lightly fanning herself with a small round fan.

"What should we do then?" Shen Miaomiao asked hesitantly, their fruit wine was mostly consumed by women, and if no female customers came to their door, it would be bad for business.

Moreover, with the weather getting hotter, they should have some cold dishes, this might not appease the male customers.

"The third floor of ours is still vacant." Nanzhi suggested, indicating towards the counter with her fan as she smiled.

"Sister Nanzhi, are you suggesting that we refurbish the third floor to only serve female customers?"

"Yes." Nanzhi nodded in agreement.

In recent years, the status of women was no longer confined to the past belief of women not stepping out of the house or receiving visitors. She had also quietly observed that female customers who came to the restaurant were always in a hurry, fearing too much contact with male customers. Even some male customers who were drunk might forget their decorum, which was not very suitable for female customers to have dinner in the main hall.

If there were young ladies or wives who came to the restaurant, they would opt for a private room on the second floor. But it couldn’t always be guaranteed that there would be enough private rooms.

If they could tidy up the third floor directly and only allow female customers to dine there, it would be much better.

After finalising the plans, Nanzhi and Shen Miaomiao began to arrange the layout of the third floor.

This required half a month’s time.

The third floor was smaller than the main hall and the second floor, and in the end, they could only set up ten low tables. On the left and right sides, they set up a private room each.

On the sixth day of May, the Women’s Floor of Samwei Residence officially opened.

Nanzhi and Shen Miaomiao, wearing bright smiles, stood at the entrance of the restaurant, welcoming customers after noon.

They had sent out invites in advance for the opening of the Women’s Floor.

These were to the "female proprietresses" of Yan City.

There was the Miaodong family from the Yin Building, Mrs. Xu from the Pastry Shop in Southern City, the tea house manager Qiao from Northern City...

The first to arrive was the Miaodong family from the Yin Building.

Nanzhi had personally delivered the invitation to the Miaodong family.

Miaodong, almost twenty-seven or eight years old, was a bona fide beauty. She was curious when she received the invitation as she didn’t seem to have any dealings with Samwei Residence. But when she saw Nanzhi, she remembered. This girl was the one who had sold her pearls to them.

The two pearls had already been made into two pieces of head-jewelry, waiting for the Liao family to pick them up.

"Wishing both of you a booming business."

"Mrs. Miao, please step inside."

Liao Da and Aze, as usual, led the arriving female guests to the third floor.

While Shen Miaomiao went upstairs to entertain the guests, Nanzhi continued to wait downstairs.

They had also sent out invitations to the four prominent families, but they did not receive any replies. As to whether they would come or not, nobody knew.

After all, in the eyes of these people, Samwei Residence was still not a notable place.

It was only after they had waited till the evening and still didn’t see anyone, that Nanzhi went up to the third floor.

The female guests on the third floor were eating fruit wine with smiles indulged in chatter. Only when they saw Nanzhi come upstairs did they greet her.

"Manager Lin, this Women’s Floor of yours is really good." Miaodong’s face was flushed, only her charming eyes still gleamed.

"Thank you for your compliment, Manager Miao." Nanzhi smiled and nodded, and then began to look for Shen Miaomiao.

"Manager Shen is over there!" Manager Qiao, currently twenty-two years old and not a local of Yan City, was more outgoing and unrestrained. Seeing Nanzhi looking for someone, she happily pointed towards a table nearby.

Shen Miaomiao was a bit tipsy at the moment, her face flushed as she stared straight at Nanzhi.

"Miaomiao?"

"Sister Nanzhi, the ladies here are very beautiful, why are there...why are there two of you?" Shen Miaomiao’s speech was already slurred. Nanzhi found it amusing and just poured her a cup of tea.

The fruit wine was not intoxicating, but there was no telling how much the little girl had drunk.

The others laughed when they saw this. They could only drink like this when they were among close female friends; even in front of their own husbands, they could only take a sip.

Initially, only some light refreshments were served.

A quarter past the evening, Aze and Liao Da brought up the dishes.

They obviously served roast meat, but considering the consideration for the ladies and wives, they also prepared some light dishes.

After all the dishes had been put away, just as Aze and Liao Da were about to withdraw, they noticed Shen Miaomiao looking a bit dazed off to the side.

Almost instinctively, they paused in their steps.