Chapter 59
**Chapter 59: Recruiting New Employees**
...
At the Wangshu Inn, on the third floor in a private room.
A cool, refreshing aroma of tea wafted through the air, filling the room with the delicate fragrance of tea leaves. Ye Qiushuang, dressed in a green gown, cradled a cup of white tea, a specialty from Jiangnan.
The tea was crystal clear, with a few tender green leaves resembling phoenix feathers floating in the cup. Ye Qiushuang sighed deeply, “I wonder if, once I enter the Wang residence, I’ll ever have the chance to drink tea from my hometown again.”
The maid, kneeling beside her, looked worried. “Miss, the Yanjing Princess has kept many things from us. I’ve heard that the Yan Wang is cold-hearted and fickle; he loves one woman after another, and no concubine can hold his favor for long.”
“Just a few days ago, a concubine made a mistake and was beaten to death on the Yan Wang’s orders... The Wang residence is truly a den of demons!”
Ye Qiushuang examined the blue-and-white porcelain cup, revealing a bitter smile. “I know the Yanjing Princess has ulterior motives, but I’m already a discarded child of the Ye family; there’s no turning back for me.”
Born in Jiangnan, where she had basked in the freedom of spring since childhood, Ye Qiushuang lamented that her future would likely be spent trapped within the high walls of the Wang residence.
A lifetime without freedom.
“Knock, knock—”
There was a knock at the door, and the maid, thinking it was the innkeeper bringing snacks, hurried to open it.
To her surprise, two strangers stood outside: a woman wearing a white veil and an astute-looking old woman carrying a food box.
“Who are you?” the maid asked, puzzled.
Shen Wei replied, “I’m here to find Miss Ye and offer her a way out.”
The maid’s face turned wary.
Inside, Ye Qiushuang spoke calmly, “Let her in.”
Shen Wei entered the cozy private room with Mama Rong. Shen Wei took a moment to assess the Jiangnan girl sitting at the table: her light green cloud-patterned dress, a translucent white jade hairpin, and a face that was both elegant and lovely, exuding the essence of Jiangnan’s misty rain.
She was quite a beautiful girl.
Shen Wei sat down opposite her and removed her white veil. Ye Qiushuang glanced at Shen Wei, “Madam, may I ask who you are?”
Having just arrived in Yanjing, Ye Qiushuang was unfamiliar with her surroundings and hadn’t expected someone to seek her out specifically.
Shen Wei didn’t hide her identity. “I’m Shen Wei, a concubine of the Yan Wang.”
Ye Qiushuang tightened her grip on the teacup.
Coming from a prominent family, she was accustomed to the internal struggles among wives and concubines. Having traveled thousands of miles to Yanjing, Ye Qiushuang was mentally prepared for the intrigues of the household.
But she hadn’t anticipated that a concubine of the Yan Wang would come to confront her!
Shen Wei noticed her thoughts and smiled brightly. “To be honest, even if you enter the Wang residence, you won’t be my match. Rather than burying you alive in the Wang residence, I’d like to show you a way out.”
Ye Qiushuang remained silent, her eyes warily studying Shen Wei.
Shen Wei was indeed beautiful.
Unlike the traditional women who followed the rules, Shen Wei possessed a captivating charm. Her smile radiated confidence, and her gaze seemed to see through everything, as if she could handle anything with ease.
Noticing the Jiangnan white tea on the table, Shen Wei poured herself a cup and took a sip. “The tea is fragrant and elegant, leaving a lingering taste. In the Wang residence, without favor, one cannot survive. If you enter the Wang residence, you may find it hard to enjoy authentic Jiangnan white tea again.”
“How do you know I won’t win the Wang’s favor?” Ye Qiushuang replied calmly. “I may not be bad-looking, and I have knowledge and talent.”
Shen Wei chuckled lightly. “There are many beautiful and talented concubines in the Wang residence; they won’t miss you.”
Ye Qiushuang lowered her gaze.
She knew Shen Wei was right.
Shen Wei’s lips curled slightly. In her past life, she had run a company, honing her persuasive skills to successfully recruit talented employees.
Ye Qiushuang was an exceptional candidate she needed to bring on board. Shen Wei began her persuasive tactics: “If you become a concubine in the Wang residence, you might say it’s for your family’s future. But deep down, you know you’re a discarded child of the Ye family, and there’s no place for you there anymore.”
“Miss Ye, I’ve heard you’re quite skilled in business, managing to revive your family’s dying enterprise. The Ye family has turned against you, claiming women shouldn’t engage in business, seizing the shop you worked so hard to build—are you willing to accept that?”
Ye Qiushuang clenched her teacup, the thought of her hard-earned shop being taken away causing her heart to ache.
Tears welled in her eyes as she forced a bitter smile. “Yes, I’m very unwilling, but what can I do? Just because I’m a woman, I can’t engage in business?”
Shen Wei tapped the table. “Yanjing is prosperous, and there are many female entrepreneurs. Why not open a shop here?”
Ye Qiushuang lowered her gaze. “It’s not that easy... Yanjing is expensive, and I have no money.”
Shen Wei had been waiting for this response. She pulled out a business plan for “Wei Xue Ice City” from her sleeve and handed it to Ye Qiushuang.
“Here’s the plan,” Shen Wei said calmly. “I’ve rented a dessert shop in Yanjing, with all the materials and storefront ready; I just need a manager to run it. You can be the manager, recruit employees, and oversee operations. I’ll pay you five taels of silver a month as salary, plus bonuses.”
“When the shop grows and thrives, I’ll open branches and restaurants. By then, you won’t be trapped in the Wang residence anymore; you can live freely and happily.”
Ye Qiushuang furrowed her brow.
She had thought Shen Wei was here to cause trouble, but it turned out she was offering her a managerial position. Ye Qiushuang opened the “Wei Xue Ice City” business plan and remarked, “What terrible handwriting.”
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