Li Jin nodded. “Let’s talk inside first.”
Duoduo followed Li Jin into the house, and a waiter brought tea.
“Princess, is there something you need my help with?” Li Jin asked curiously.
Duoduo took a cautious sip of tea. She was indeed a bit thirsty.
“Master, I want you to help me find a shop in the eastern part of the city.”
“Lüdou wants to open a pastry shop. Can you look into whether there’s a suitable place?”
Finding a shop was something Duoduo could have asked Shitou to do.
But in the eyes of adults, Shitou was still just a child.
She worried that he might get cheated by middlemen.
Middlemen had many tricks.
They would inflate prices in the middle, take commissions from both sides, and describe problematic shops as if they were heavenly and flawless.
Moreover, Shitou had little experience. Handling something like choosing a shop was beyond him.
So Duoduo decided to go directly to Li Jin.
Her father had once taught her that professional matters should be entrusted to professional people.
A flicker of admiration passed through Li Jin’s eyes.
He guessed that the silver note he had given Duoduo earlier must have sparked the idea of opening a shop in her.
Most young ladies from respectable families, upon receiving such a large sum of money, would first buy all kinds of gold and silver jewelry.
Or purchase some beautiful dresses and the latest cosmetics and perfumes.
Few would think, as Duoduo did, of starting a business.
Li Jin nodded. “Good, that’s no problem at all.”
“But do you plan to have Lüdou manage the shop?”
There was a hint of doubt in Li Jin’s voice regarding Lüdou.
Duoduo shook her head.
“Lüdou will only be responsible for making the pastries. I plan to find a manager and some staff separately.”
“By the way, I’ve already picked out a suitable manager. Master, please keep an eye out for me.”
“If someone comes to the shop and says they have an appointment with me, that will be the manager I want.”
Li Jin’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Princess, you’ve already chosen your manager?”
Duoduo shook her head again.
“I’ve chosen him, but he still works for someone else for now.”
Li Jin understood immediately.
“Princess, did you just try to poach someone?”
Duoduo gave a mischievous smile. “Not really—just a side errand!”
Li Jin’s eyes lit up.
“So, does that mean you’ve found another fine piece of jade?”
Duoduo blinked.
“Master, how skilled are the craftsmen in the shop?”
Li Jin was puzzled by the sudden question.
“The ones the Prince brought in are naturally excellent.”
Duoduo’s interest was piqued.
“If I draw a picture, can they carve it?”
Li Jin hesitated for a moment.
“As long as the drawing isn’t too complicated, they should be able to.”
Duoduo was overjoyed. “Wonderful!”
“Master, I’ll draw it right now. Go call him over.”
Li Jin stood up, somewhat bewildered, and instructed the waiter to prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone for Duoduo.
He left and soon returned, bringing with him an honest, sturdy-looking craftsman.
“This humble one greets the Princess!”
The craftsman knelt as soon as he entered the room.
“Please rise. I’ll tell you when I’m done with the drawing.” Duoduo was fully absorbed in her sketching.
She thought about the colors of the stone she had seen and recalled the scenery along the way during her journey.
Soon, a vivid and lifelike painting appeared on the rice paper.
Duoduo blew gently on the ink to dry it and then looked at the craftsman.
“Come and take a look. Can you carve the scene in this picture?”
The craftsman bowed respectfully as he approached, carefully examining the painting on the table.
The moment he saw it, he was stunned.
He couldn’t help but steal a glance at Duoduo.
If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that such a painting could have been created by a little girl.
“Can it be done?” Duoduo asked again when the craftsman remained silent.
The craftsman quickly withdrew his gaze and looked at the painting once more, examining every detail.
“Your Highness, it can be done!”
“But may I ask what size stone it will be carved onto?”
Carving a painting was naturally easier on a larger stone.
Both very small and very large stones were difficult to work with.
It was also more challenging to carve on jade material.
“Qingliu, have them bring the stone in,” Duoduo called out the door.
“Yes.” Qingliu responded, and the sound of footsteps gradually faded, then returned.
A guard entered, carrying a stone about the size of a pillow, and carefully placed it on the ground before withdrawing.
The craftsman walked over and examined the stone.
“What kind of stone is this?” He touched its texture.
Li Jin also leaned in curiously.
“The seller said it’s a river stone,” Duoduo explained.
The craftsman took a cup of tea from the table and carefully poured a little over one corner of the stone.
The water quickly seeped-in.
He then picked up a candleholder, brought it close to the stone, and looked more closely.
“This stone seems to contain some color inside. It should be jade material too.”
A smile spread across Li Jin’s eyes.
“Then let’s grind a small window to take a look.”
The craftsman became animated at the suggestion and went out to prepare his tools.
Those who worked with jade loved the thrill of opening a surprise.
Every stone, once polished, revealed its inner colors—for them, it was the most novel experience.
Soon, the craftsman returned with his tools and began carefully grinding.
As the stone’s crust was worn away and washed clean with water, the colors underneath emerged.
Just as Duoduo had seen, they were multicolored.
“It’s actually a five-colored jade!”
Both the craftsman and Li Jin were astonished.
The two of them stared at the stone, unable to take their hands off it.
“Princess, are you willing to sell this stone?” Li Jin’s business instincts immediately kicked in.
“Name any price, and I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!”
Li Jin kept stroking the stone, unable to stop.
This was the first time he had seen such a rare piece of jade.
The red parts were dazzlingly bright.
The yellow parts seemed almost to ooze oil.
And the other colors were all of excellent quality, blending harmoniously together.
It was simply beautiful!
A beauty beyond words!
Li Jin wanted to possess it himself.
Duoduo shook her head. “I’m not selling it.”
“Ah?” Li Jin turned back in surprise.
In his memory, Duoduo’s desire for money rivaled that even of his wife.
He had assumed that when he made the offer, Duoduo would be thrilled and agree immediately.
He had even started calculating whether he could empty his own coffers to buy the stone.
As a family heirloom, it would be absolutely unbeatable!
“I’m going to give it to someone as a gift,” Duoduo explained.
“Can the picture I just drew be carved onto it?” she asked the craftsman.
The craftsman had now recovered from his shock.
He took Duoduo’s painting again and compared it to the stone.
“Brilliant! Truly brilliant!”
The craftsman couldn’t help but praise aloud.
“This stone, combined with this painting… my heavens!”
