Chen Lian feels guilty about not mentioning Pan’er’s dealing with Ouyang to Qianfan. He is also uneasy about keeping Pan’er’s teahouse business plan from Qianfan.
Pan’er means no disrespect, but she wants to keep her teahouse secrets because she’s afraid Qianfan might talk them out of it. She has a point, Qianfan has a tendency to worry too much.
On opening day, things get off to a bumpy start for the ladies, but He Si – one of Chi Pan’s employees — shows up and gives them a hand. People start pouring in and it turns into a successful first day.
It doesn’t take long for the news to reach Qianfan because several of his colleagues have stopped by Pan’er’s teashop. So Qianfan visits to see if there’s anything he can lecture her on.
Like always, he points out the danger and difficulties she will be facing given how competitive businesses are in this city. But Pan’er assures him that she has spent money where it needs to be spent to ensure everything will run smoothly. And by that, she means she has done her research to know whom to bribe to get protection, which is like the most important thing any businessman should keep in mind during this complicated time.
Qianfan is still unconvinced, the following conversation between them goes something like this:
Qianfan: I might not always be available to help you.
Pan’er: Once, twice, that’s OK. But I can’t ask you to help me forever.
Qianfan: I can help you 1000xxx times more. Just ask.
Chen Lian: *Why am I here?*
Realizing that Pan’er is determined to try this teahouse thing, Qianfan gives up and asks for a cup of tea. Sly.
Pan’er lets him know while mixing some matcha – I think it’s matcha — that she believes her tea-brewing skills are ever as good as before, though it seems like she’s nervous about it. Well, I wouldn’t worry, Pan’er. By the way your customer looks right now, I’d say he doesn’t care what he puts in his mouth, as long as you make it.
Yinzhang feels nervous and unfulfilled. She wants to do something more to help her friends; and she also wants to devote more time to music. So one day, she comes to a music institution to look for work, hoping to make connections with powerful people.
Due to a great reference letter — and how she sits down in the middle of the practice area and plays her Pipa loudly — she gets the attention of the head of the institution, and he offers her a job as a music instructor. Overjoyed, Yinzhang slips out that she’s always wanted to meet the emperor. This girl’s naivety scares me.
Yinzhang also meets a man here who works here. He notices her right away and asks if she wants him to show her around. Hmmm… I don’t know, he reminds me too much of Zhou She right now with the way he charms Yinzhang with poetry.
