Duoduo flashed a bright smile at Lüdou.
"Lüdou, let's call these pastries 'Fu Duoduo Pastries', what do you think?"
Lüdou froze for a moment before reacting.
"Fu Duoduo?" she repeated.
"Yes! If people eat our pastries, they will have lots of blessings, lots of wealth, and lots of good luck!"
Duoduo's eyes were astonishingly bright.
Lüdou broke into a smile and nodded vigorously.
"Yes! Lots of blessings! Lots of wealth!" Lüdou really liked the name.
Seeing Lüdou's approval, Duoduo bounced up and down happily a few times.
"I'm going to go write a signboard!"
"Princess, wait!" Li Da's wife called out to stop Duoduo.
"Li Da's wife, what is it?" Duoduo stopped.
"You don't need to write a signboard for this. Firstly, it's not convenient to carry out of the manor."
"Secondly, Shitou is just one person. If he's holding a signboard, how can he carry the goods?"
Li Da's wife had just heard a rough explanation of the situation from Lüdou and was very supportive.
She genuinely treated Lüdou like her own daughter, not to mention that the Princess was also involved.
Duoduo tilted her head in thought. What Li Da's wife said seemed to make sense.
"But, if we don't write a sign, how will others know what Shitou is selling?"
"Princess, if you and Lüdou want to open a shop, you can absolutely make a signboard."
"However, you are leaving for the capital tomorrow."
"If your goods sell well today, someone will definitely use the name you just came up with to sell the exact same things."
"Then, the next time you actually want to open a shop, the name will already be taken."
Li Da's wife was, after all, many years older, so she carefully explained her experience to Duoduo.
Duoduo couldn't help but nod after hearing this.
"Then we will just sell them like this for now. It's the perfect chance to see how good Lüdou's craftsmanship is."
Duoduo felt a bit regretful that she couldn't use the name she had worked so hard to come up with.
However, Duoduo was not one to dwell on things, and she quickly accepted Li Da's wife's advice.
"Whether or not they can be sold will depend entirely on Shitou."
Scholars all had their own aloof pride. Asking Shitou to go sell things was a tremendous test for him.
Duoduo had someone call Shitou over to the main kitchen.
After eating some porridge and receiving acupuncture from Duoduo, Shitou was already feeling much better.
He came over, knelt down, and kowtowed to Duoduo.
Duoduo waved her hand at him. "Dispense with the formalities, get up. I have something to tell you."
Shitou stood up and stood to the side with his head bowed.
Duoduo organized her thoughts and decided to be completely frank with Shitou.
"Something you said today was right."
Hearing this, Shitou looked up in confusion.
Something he said?
Which sentence?
"You are seven years old, older than me. So, when it comes to making money, you have to rely on your own abilities."
Shitou nodded vigorously at Duoduo. "Yes! That is exactly what this lowly one thinks as well."
"I thought of a way to make money, but I can only handle the first part. The rest is up to you!"
Shitou patted his chest. "Princess, just leave it all to me!"
Duoduo stared at Shitou. "Do you mean what you say?"
Shitou nodded, his eyes very firm.
"Of course! A gentleman's word is a bond that a team of horses cannot chase down!"
Duoduo finally revealed a relaxed smile and pointed into the kitchen.
"I had Lüdou make some pastries. In a little while, you will take these pastries out of the manor to sell."
"Of the silver you make, after deducting the costs, half of the profits will go to Lüdou, and the other half will be kept for your daily living expenses."
"How much you sell will determine how many days you can survive!"
"You just promised me you would handle it!"
After Duoduo finished speaking, she waited for Shitou's response.
Shitou looked at Lüdou and Li Da's wife bustling about in the kitchen. Finally, his gaze landed on Duoduo.
Duoduo furrowed her brows.
If Shitou couldn't do it, then she would have to arrange for someone else to go out.
She absolutely would not allow her very first business venture to die prematurely like this.
With a thud, Shitou knelt down before Duoduo.
"This lowly one has caused the Princess to worry!" After speaking, Shitou kowtowed three times loudly.
Disappointment showed in Duoduo's eyes.
She should have known earlier—how could a scholar ever cast aside his pride to go sell things?
Scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant—merchants were always considered a step below the rest!
"Alright, since you are unwilling, I will arrange for someone else to go."
Duoduo comforted herself, knowing that there is always a way forward once you reach the mountain. Since she had already started, she was going to see it through.
Shitou straightened his posture.
"Princess, there is no need to arrange for anyone else. I will definitely complete the task! Please rest assured!"
A barely perceptible look of surprise appeared in Duoduo's eyes.
"Are you sure? Aren't you afraid of losing face?"
A trace of bitterness unsuited for his age appeared on Shitou's face.
"Face? As long as I don't feel ashamed, no one can trample me underfoot!"
Duoduo looked at the stubborn Shitou and clapped her hands for him.
"Shitou, remember what you just said! In the future, you will definitely trample all those who once looked down on you under your feet!"
Hearing Duoduo's encouraging words, tears welled up in Shitou's eyes.
He kowtowed to Duoduo once more.
"I will definitely sell out all the pastries today!"
Shitou stood up, a light shining in his eyes.
Duoduo nodded. "If this method works, when we go to the capital, we can use the same way to make money."
"I heard there are a lot of rich people in the capital, so we can definitely earn even more."
"When the time comes, perhaps we won't just earn enough for your expenses, but you might even save up enough silver to buy your freedom!"
Duoduo painted a grand picture of the future for Shitou.
Sure enough, Shitou's eyes filled with hope.
Half an hour later, the pastries Lüdou made came out of the oven.
Li Da's wife took one first, broke it in half, and took a bite.
Duoduo and Lüdou both stared nervously at Li Da's wife.
Li Da's wife chewed carefully, and then a smile broke out on her face.
"Mhm, not bad at all. It's about seventy or eighty percent there."
Seeing Lüdou's disappointed expression, Li Da's wife explained with a smile.
"Today is your first time making them. To reach seventy or eighty percent perfection is already incredibly impressive!"
"Moreover, the standards in the Prince's manor are extremely high; color, aroma, and taste must all be flawless without a single thing missing."
"But if you take these out to sell, they are already top-tier pastries."
"Really?" A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Lüdou's face.
Li Da's wife nodded.
"You made everything today all by yourself."
"For one person to make this much is already amazing!"
"When you make them again tomorrow, they will definitely be even better than today's!" Li Da's wife affirmed.
Duoduo clapped for Lüdou. "Lüdou, you need to have confidence in yourself!"
"You did say that you want to be the head manager of a pastry shop in the future!"
Lüdou lowered her head in embarrassment.
Shitou's eyes flickered.
A mere maid actually had such aspirations?
What about him?
Li Da's wife found a clean bamboo basket, lined it with white cloth, and placed all the pastries inside.
Duoduo looked at Shitou. "The rest is up to you!"
