A Blessed Wife At Home

Due to these developments, Brother-in-law Fu pressured Shao Yunduan to bring Zhao Shu back, which escalated tensions. Eventually, Shao Yunduan took Brother-in-law Fu hostage briefly, causing awkwardness between him and Prefect Fu.

Now that Zhao Shu had regained control of the flower field, the perfume workshop could resume operations promptly. Originally kept under wraps per Qiao Xuan's advice, the revelation of the perfume's existence meant there was no going back. It was time to operate openly.

With demand for the perfume already exceeding supply, expanding production seemed inevitable. Additionally, they decided to venture into making lipstick as well.

Taotao sought Qiao Xuan's opinion on the matter, and she promptly agreed. However, she suggested seeking investment from three or four prominent families in Hangzhou City, stipulating that they would only receive dividends and not interfere in production or management.

The contract stipulated that first-class stewards and accountants must exclusively come from the Zhao Family, while other investors could appoint one mid-level steward and two low-level stewards, a condition set in stone.

Now was the time for perfume and lipstick to make their debut.

Qiao Xuan planned to recruit doctors willing to specialize in producing creams that nourished and beautified the skin, aiming to make this profession thrive.

As a prosperous hub in Jiangnan, Hangzhou was ripe for expansion. Limiting production maintained the allure of exclusivity; abundant availability would diminish its value.

Qiao Xuan understood the financial prowess of southern wealthy families and foresaw the potential for staggering production scales with their backing.

Taotao and Zhao Shu secured Qiao Xuan's approval and promptly began operations.

The venture was akin to a golden goose. News of its profitability sparked intense competition among Hangzhou City's elite for the four available positions.

Some tried to negotiate for additional slots, but Zhao Shu and Taotao firmly declined.

Such a lucrative enterprise had to be firmly controlled by them.

It wasn't that they couldn't handle it alone, but the business attracted too much attention. Even with Shao Yunduan's backing, it was risky to expose too much.

To ensure stability and minimize future complications, they reluctantly agreed to share some profits.

Despite the concessions, the potential gains were immense. Immediate expansion by several folds promised significant overall profit increases.

In Jiangning.

The news of Zheng Sangge and Qin Wuyou conquering Hangzhou City shocked everyone at court, including the Third Prince.

The initial reaction from everyone was disbelief: Could this be real or just a rumor?

It was understandable why such doubts arose. Hangzhou City was renowned as one of the most prosperous cities in Jiangnan. How could it fall without any forewarning?

Despite their arrogance and stubbornness, Su Huai and his forces were formidable. Even with losses, losing Hangzhou City in one fell swoop seemed implausible!