Chapter 461 - Strawberries (2/2)

Li Mengru looked at the large and bright red strawberry in her hands that was wafting off a sweet fragrance. This strawberry was larger than any of the ones she had previously eaten and the smell it gave off was more dense too. She couldn't help but swallow down her saliva and then glance sheepishly at Yu Xiaocao.

Yu Xiaocao didn’t even notice the embarrassed look in the other girl’s eyes. She stepped onto the slightly moist soil and walked into the strawberry fields. She bent down as she searched within the strawberry leaves and picked the ripe ones she came across. She washed the ones she picked in a dipper of water that was in Wutong’s hands and happily ate them after they were washed.

Li Mengru hesitated for a moment before she copied the other girl’s movements. She placed the strawberry she had just picked into the water dipper to wash clean and then took a big bite from it. It was so sweet and fragrant! Li Mengru’s eyes curved up in delight and finished the strawberry in another few bites. Then, she followed Xiaocao from behind and looked for new targets.

The two maidens had their heads lowered as they continued to search for ripe strawberries. Although they didn’t speak much, their hearts had unconsciously become a lot closer. By the time they left the greenhouse, Li Mengru was no longer as stiffly polite as before. Even though she still wasn’t very talkative, the smile on her face had become much more sincere. The friendship between these two young maidens had started like this.

While filling her stomach with a bunch of strawberries and small tomatoes, Li Mengru felt as if she was in a dream. She was in a comfortably warm greenhouse eating icy cool fruits that she had personally picked herself. It was truly a strange and eye-opening experience for her.

By the time they got back to the receiving room, the kitchen had sent a few plates of delicate pastries to them. After asking, Li Mengru discovered that Yu Xiaocao herself had come up with the recipes for all of these novel and beautiful desserts! A wave of admiration surged within her——it was no wonder that Xiaocao at such a young age was able to become the only female official in the Great Ming Dynasty. She truly had the talents to back it up!

Li Mengru tried a piece from every pastry and was at the point that her belly bulged from eating. The two young maidens had become close friends after eating and drinking tea together in a harmonious manner.

“Older Sister Mengru, I won’t beat around the bush now and will just say it outright! This time I invited you over because I wanted to discuss with you about collaborating together in opening a store!” Yu Xiaocao stated her motives for inviting the other girl after drinking a sip of digestive tea.

“Collaborate in opening a store?” Li Mengru replied in a very surprised tone and then immediately added sheepishly, “I’m only the daughter of a concubine and I don’t have a lot of money on hand. If Younger Sister Xiaocao doesn’t disdain this, then I can have Jiner take out all of my savings and bring it over to you.”

Jiner, who was standing by her side, had also been given a few pieces of pastries to eat. She was quite grateful that she had gone out today with her young miss. When she heard her young miss offer her life savings, she couldn’t stop her lips from twitching a bit as she thought, ‘Young Miss ah! You probably don’t have more than ten taels saved up right now and the only reason you have that much is because it’s winter right now and you can’t buy your ingredients for your cosmetics. Official Yu has so many money-making ventures in her hands, so how could she possibly lack your insignificant ten taels?’

As expected, Yu Xiaocao chuckled gently, “Older Sister Mengru, I want to open a cosmetics shop that targets women. I’m sure you’ve also heard of my residence’s peach blossom tea, right? Since it’s a beautifying cosmetics store, it can’t just rely on flower teas alone and needs some products targeting the outer skin. I heard that you’re quite good and creative at coming up with new cosmetic products. Thus, I boldly invited you over…”

“Are you saying that you want to sell the cosmetics that I make in this new store?” Li Mengru’s eyes were opened wide in disbelief as she asked in a flabbergasted manner. Yu Xiaocao nodded her head and replied, “Yes! Not only you, but I also invited the daughter of the Prime Minister, Older Sister Yuan, to also collaborate with this venture and see if she wants to sell her products…”

“Oh no, oh no!” Li Mengru repeatedly waved her hand and said, “Those cosmetics are just some random things I made in my free time and they are nowhere near finished products. It’s fine to take some out and play around but if I dare to sell them in your store, I’m afraid I might drag you down a bad road, Younger Sister. I absolutely cannot!”

“Older Sister, is it necessary for you to be so humble? Even Older Sister Yuan, one of the two beauties of the capital, praises the cosmetics you make without end. She also said that the products you make are even better than the cosmetics that are sold by Full Spring Fragrance. The other noble maidens who have tried your products also have the same opinion. Older Sister, do you still have any doubts now?”

“But…”

“No need for buts! People need to learn how to try before they know what they truly can or cannot accomplish! Back when the emperor titled me as a sixth-ranked official and put me in charge of managing the Imperial Plantation, I was also feeling a bit uneasy. However, now, didn’t the facts show that I am capable of doing this?” Yu Xiaocao knew that the other maiden wasn’t necessarily without talent but more had an issue with confidence. Thus, she tried to bolster the other girl.Please go to

to read the latest chapters for free