Chapter Forty-Seven: The Lotus Pond in My Dreams

“Opening a shop?”

“Yes, look at this rouge in my hand. Its quality is much better than the ones sold outside. And this rouge carries a fragrance that draws customers’ attention. Compared to other rouges, it has more commercial potential,” Meng Yun explained confidently.

“But the materials we have are just this much, and the raw ingredients were sourced from the Dabie Mountains. The red-blue grass from Dabie was discovered by chance. In the long run, it might not be sustainable,” Zhang mused.

“You’re right. If it doesn’t work, I’ll go back and search the mountain again. Maybe we’ll find more. If we really can’t, perhaps we can try to see if other plants can substitute,” Meng Yun recalled that Gu Xiaoxiao had stumbled upon these by accident, and neither of them had paid attention to how much there actually was. Once back, she would have Lin Sanlang look around and see what could be done.

“If only we could cultivate this on a large scale—it would save so much trouble!” Zhang, born into a family of merchants, always looked ahead.

“That’s a brilliant idea!” Meng Yun’s eyes lit up. “When Father returns, I’ll suggest it to him.”

Hearing this, Zhang smiled and nodded.

Meanwhile, Fubao, having been carried off by his doting grandmother to the Gu family, was now wreaking havoc in Gu Li’s study.

“Brother Li, look! Look at what I drew!” Fubao, his face smeared with ink, rushed over with a sheet of paper.

Gu Li had been quietly painting. Hearing Fubao’s voice, he looked up, only to see Fubao’s smeared face.

“…Did you go mining?” Gu Li sighed, seeing Fubao’s ink-stained cheeks.

Originally, Fubao was supposed to be reading with Bai Yulan. Bai Yulan was calm and elegant, but Fubao, with his carefree nature, couldn’t sit still. Just as Madam Meng was heading to the Gu residence to visit Madam Gu, Fubao caught wind of it and pestered her to take him along to play. And so, Madam Meng brought him to the Gu household, and after Madam Gu doted on him for a while, Fubao slipped away to Gu Li’s study.

Gu Li happened to be painting. Seeing all the vibrant colors, Fubao clamored to try drawing as well, which led to this scene.

“Let me wash your face first. You look like a tabby cat,” Gu Li picked up a handkerchief and wiped Fubao’s face.

“Look, look, I drew a fish!” Fubao insisted, even as his face was being cleaned.

“Yes, yes, it’s a fish, it’s a fish,” Gu Li replied helplessly, trying to coax him.

But is this really a fish? Gu Li looked at the drawing—a creature with wings.

Do fish have wings? No, that’s not right!

Is this supposed to be a fish? I don’t see any fish here. Gu Li was embarrassed by Fubao’s creative style.

“This is a fish! I saw it in my dream!” Fubao pointed at the drawing with conviction.

“In your dream? What else did you see?” Gu Li asked, amused.

“Hm… There were beautiful flowers, and really sweet water. They were all in a huge lake—much bigger than Grandmother’s lake!” Fubao’s eyes sparkled as he spoke, recalling dreams he’d had long ago. Every night, he saw beautiful flowers!

“…What nonsense is this! But it all sounds familiar!” Gu Li chuckled.

“I’ll take you to our lotus pond—it’s beautiful, with lovely flowers and big, magnificent carp. Would you like to go?” Gu Li remembered their lotus pond at home.

Hmph, let me show you a real carp!

The lotus pond at the Gu residence had been built by Father Gu to delight his wife. Inside, he kept all sorts of rare fish, bought at high prices from foreign merchants. They were truly precious.