I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

Chapter 271: Opening a Shop with the Princess

Fang Xiaoxiao was slightly taken aback, then revealed a delighted smile.

"It's wonderful that the princess has this idea, but I wonder how the princess plans to cooperate?"

The princess blinked, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"I, the princess, will contribute some capital and leverage my connections to attract more customers to the shop. You, on the other hand, will be responsible for the shop's operation and management. We'll split the profits proportionally. What do you think?"

Fang Xiao quickly calculated in her mind, feeling that this was a rare opportunity, and hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"The princess's suggestion is excellent, but the profit-sharing ratio needs to be carefully discussed to ensure fairness and reasonableness."

The princess readily agreed.

"That's easy to discuss, we can talk about it slowly. However, since we're going to go into partnership, the size of the shop and the variety of goods will need to be expanded. Do you have any ideas?"

Fang Xiaoxiao said confidently.

“Princess, I think we can add some customized services, creating unique products based on customers’ needs. In addition, importing some novelties from other places will definitely attract more customers.”

The princess nodded repeatedly as she listened.

"Great, great, we'll do it your way. But shouldn't we also change the name of the shop to make it sound more impressive?"

The two chatted animatedly about their future plans, as if they could already see a larger and more prosperous shop about to be born.

In the days that followed, Fang Xiaoxiao and the princess enthusiastically searched for a suitable storefront on West Street in Kyoto. West Street was one of the busiest areas in Kyoto, teeming with people and brimming with business opportunities.

They went from shop to shop along the street, asking around and carefully observing every possible store. However, things didn't go as smoothly as they had imagined.

"This store has a good location, but unfortunately it's too small."

The princess looked at the somewhat cramped shop and frowned slightly as she spoke.

Fang Xiaoxiao nodded helplessly.

"Yes, we're opening a big store, this place isn't big enough."

They continued walking and saw another spacious storefront, but before they could ask anything, the shopkeeper next to them told them, "This storefront has already been reserved. You're too late."

The princess was so angry that she stomped her feet.

"How could this happen? Our luck is just too bad."

Fang Xiaoxiao comforted her.

"Princess, don't worry, let's look again."

They searched all day but still couldn't find a satisfactory storefront.

The next day, they arrived at West Street early as usual, only to find that several previously empty shops had been marked "rented" overnight.

The princess was filled with doubt: "This is too strange. It seems like someone is deliberately going against us."

Fang Xiaoxiao also felt that something was amiss. After making some inquiries, she learned that a wealthy merchant from West Street had heard that the princess and she were going to open a shop here. Fearing that the princess would steal his business, he secretly sabotaged the business and rented a number of suitable shops in advance.

Fang Xiaoxiao and the princess were in a predicament and didn't know what to do.

Upon learning that it was a wealthy merchant from West Street who was secretly sabotaging things, the princess was so angry that her eyebrows furrowed and her beautiful eyes widened. "What a fool who doesn't know his own limits! How dare he oppose this princess!"

Fang Xiaoxiao quickly pulled the impulsive princess back, "Princess, please calm down. Let's think this through carefully and not fall into his trap."

The princess gritted her teeth and said indignantly.

"When have I, this princess, ever been treated like this? I will make him pay!"

Fang Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment and then said.

"Princess, this man must be quite influential in West Street. It might not be wise for us to confront him directly. Perhaps we should investigate his background secretly first and see if there are any weaknesses we can exploit."

Although the princess was furious, she also felt that Fang Xiaoxiao's words made sense, so she suppressed her anger and nodded in agreement.

So they began to secretly inquire about the wealthy businessman.

This wealthy merchant, named Zhao Decai, usually bullied people on West Street by relying on his wealth and power, and had offended many people.

Through some connections, Fang Xiaoxiao found several merchants who had been bullied by Zhao Decai.

These merchants were initially hesitant and dared not easily reveal the truth.

Fang Xiaoxiao had to persuade them with great kindness and promises of benefits before they finally relented.

It turns out that Zhao Decai's business was not entirely clean; some of his transactions involved selling inferior goods as superior ones and deceiving customers.

Upon learning this news, Fang Xiaoxiao and the princess had an idea. They decided to first gather evidence, and then find a way to expose Zhao Decai's evil deeds and ruin his reputation.

However, they also encountered numerous dangers during the process of collecting evidence. Several times, Fang Xiaoxiao and the princess were almost discovered by Zhao Decai's men, but fortunately they cleverly escaped.

One night, Fang Xiaoxiao went alone to a shop that had business dealings with Zhao Decai to look up the account books, but accidentally triggered a mechanism.

The alarm suddenly went off, and Zhao Decai's men quickly surrounded them.

Fang Xiaoxiao's heart was in her throat as she desperately searched for an escape route.

Just at this critical moment, the princess arrived with her entourage and engaged in a fierce battle with Zhao Decai's men. The princess, wielding a long sword, was valiant and heroic, while Fang Xiaoxiao also mustered her courage and fought back against the enemy.

After a thrilling battle, they finally escaped and obtained the crucial ledger.

With the evidence, Fang Xiaoxiao and the princess immediately exposed Zhao Decai's crimes to the public.

The incident caused an uproar in West Street, with people expressing their anger and condemnation of Zhao Decai.

Zhao Decai's business plummeted, and the shops he had rented all terminated their contracts.

Fang Xiaoxiao and the princess finally found their ideal storefront on West Street and began preparations for the opening of their new shop.

Princess and Fang Xiaoxiao finally opened their new store. The opening day was a lively and bustling affair, with firecrackers going off and drums beating.

But their joy didn't last long before they noticed a group of random people constantly coming to the store.

These people file in as soon as the store opens each day, find a place to sit, and occupy the space without buying anything.

A burly man with a face full of scars plopped down in a chair, crossed his legs, and kept shaking them while humming an off-key tune.

A skinny man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face leaned against the counter, his eyes darting around, muttering to himself, though it was unclear what he was saying.

There was also a fat woman with several children running around the store, making a lot of noise and creating a mess.

The princess was so angry that her eyebrows stood on end, and she stood with her hands on her hips and shouted.

"What are you people trying to do? If you're not going to buy anything, then get out of here!"

But those people acted as if they didn't hear it and continued to do as they pleased.

Fang Xiaoxiao tugged at the princess and whispered.

"Princess, don't be impulsive. I don't think this is so simple. Let's observe first."

The princess bit her lip, suppressing her anger as she nodded.

That day, Fang Xiao secretly followed one of the people out of the store and found them all gathered in a corner not far away, whispering to each other, seemingly discussing something.

Fang Xiaoxiao quickly returned and told the princess about her discovery.

The princess frowned and said, "Hmph, someone must be sabotaging us behind the scenes, trying to ruin our business."