Episode 8 recap: Ji Ming Zhao's drawings were awarded the bid.
Meng San Xi skipped work and went to Lao Wang Noodle House to inquire about Bei Xiao Hai's identity. He wanted to clear Bei Xiao Hai's name and found out that there were indeed some evidence that could exonerate him. However, Meng San Xi was unsure if he would be able to make use of it. Nevertheless, Meng San Xi became immediately excited and knew that he had to pay a hundred taels as a fee. He planned to go back and earn the money first before returning. The shopkeeper remembered how Ye Wu Zhi had done the same thing yesterday, leaving him waiting all night without a trace. He couldn't help but ask Meng San Xi when he would come back. Meng San Xi decided to go back and sell cabbages diligently, accumulating two hundred taels before returning with Ye Wu Zhi.
When Meng San Xi returned to the department store, Ji Ming Zhao was already inside. Meng San Xi immediately confessed to skipping work and going out. He learned that Yan Si Fang had already reported to Ji Ming Zhao about going to the restroom two hours ago, and he silently cursed Yan Si Fang for speaking up early. He grabbed Yan Si Fang and apologized together to Ji Ming Zhao. However, Ji Ming Zhao wasn't angry and simply reminded the three of them once again that they must stay in the store during working hours. In order to supervise them, Ji Ming Zhao promised to give Wei Dong Yang one tael of silver per month to keep an eye on them part-time. However, Wei Dong Yang was rational and couldn't afford to lose his seven-tael job for the sake of a one-tael part-time job. So Ji Ming Zhao had to come up with another solution. He specially hired a musician to watch over Meng San Xi, Yan Si Fang, and Ye Wu Zhi to ensure they worked diligently and didn't leave without permission.
Ye Wu Zhi did well selling cabbage yesterday. After a night of rest, she was lively again today. However, when she looked at the vegetable rack, there wasn't a single cabbage left. She decided to take customer reservations instead. Lao Ding kept a close eye on Ye Wu Zhi's every move and firmly prevented her from stepping out of the shop.
Meng San Xi was going out to purchase goods, and Yan Si Fang wanted to accompany him. However, Lao Ding insisted that only Meng San Xi should go, and he had to return within the specified time. Yan Si Fang felt like she was being confined and was about to complain when she saw Meng San Xi's triumphant expression at being allowed to leave. She couldn't help but sigh helplessly.
Suddenly, something happened to Mr. Fan. Ji Ming Zhao and Gu Twenty-Nine hurriedly took Mr. Fan to Liu Yun Gui's clinic, only to unexpectedly discover that Mr. Fan had been poisoned. The Liu family was supposed to finalize the design for the bathhouse tomorrow, but Ji Ming Zhao and Gu Twenty-Nine's plans for a joint advertisement with Mr. Fan had gone down the drain. Liu Yun Gui knew that Ji Ming Zhao was persistent, so she hinted that Liu Yun Zong was in charge of the bathhouse project and Ji Ming Zhao had one more day to try and convince him.
Liu Yun Zong was a remarkable young man who was mischievous even at the age of fifteen and excelled in medicine. It was perplexing that Ji Ming Zhao didn't like him. Liu Yun Zong asked Ji Ming Zhao why she refused to marry, and Ji Ming Zhao explained that she didn't want to marry because she didn't resemble a wealthy young lady and preferred freedom and purity. Liu Yun Zong deliberately kept the fact of Mr. Fan being poisoned a secret because he didn't want Ji Ming Zhao to be involved. Moreover, the person who poisoned Mr. Fan didn't have malicious intent, and Mr. Fan would wake up in five days.
Ye Wu Zhi, Meng San Xi, and Yan Si Fang were all eager to earn their one hundred taels of silver, so they tried to improve the shop's performance. They worked together, washing, cutting, and selling vegetables. Surprisingly, they sold out all the vegetables by the time of the ninth Earthly Branch (3-5 pm). Ji Ming Zhao was delighted and decided to bring in another batch of goods. Meng San Xi and Yan Si Fang, who were already exhausted, slumped at the news, while Ye Wu Zhi enthusiastically responded. This made the two suspects wonder if there was a traitor among them.
When they learned that Ji Ming Zhao encountered a problem with the bathhouse, they asked her to share the details, and the four of them brainstormed solutions. Ye Wu Zhi remembered that Liu Yun Xiao had mentioned that Liu Yun Zong had always had poor health and a longing for the jianghu (martial arts world). She often heard Liu Yun Xiao talk about the sects and knew Liu Yun Zong's dislikes. Following this line of thinking, the four of them worked overnight and finally designed the blueprint for the bathhouse. Gu Twenty-Nine also created a set of designs for advertising.
Lord Liu favored Gu Twenty-Nine's design, but since Liu Yun Zong was in charge, he preferred Ji Ming Zhao's design. In the end, Ji Ming Zhao's blueprint was chosen, and they arranged to meet outside the city early the next day. Ji Ming Zhao had promised Meng San Xi and Yan Si Fang a day off, but now she had to break her promise. The two of them expressed their dissatisfaction, but Ji Ming Zhao pretended not to hear and was secretly pleased. Every day of running the shop was filled with uncertainties, and she found that novelty enjoyable.
Ye Wu Zhi was the most hardworking and selfless employee. When she learned that Ji Ming Zhao would be going to the bathhouse the next day, she immediately offered her own bed for Ji Ming Zhao to rest, much to Ji Ming Zhao's satisfaction.
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