I bring bad luck to my husband, you bring bad luck to your wife.

New Year's Day.

Xiangxi and Yang Tongchuan changed into new clothes and got ready to pay their respects to Yang's parents for the New Year.

"Husband, this is for you." Xiangxi finally found some time to finish making the money pouch.

Although it's not as exquisite as Ming Le's, it's still presentable.

"When was it made?" Yang Tongchuan didn't expect Xiangxi to value his words so much and actually make it for him.

"I made this in my spare time. I revised it several times before it turned out like this." Xiangxi helped Yang Tongchuan replace the old money bag with the new one she made herself.

"Is it alright?" Xiangxi looked at the money pouch at Yang Tongchuan's waist, feeling a little unsure.

"Great job, thank you, my good husband." Yang Tongchuan gave Xiangxi a big kiss.

He loved his new purse and was almost reluctant to use it.

"I'm glad you like it. I'll make you another one in the future." Xiangxi was also very happy that Yang Tongchuan liked her New Year's gift.

The couple, who barely slept last night, were surprisingly energetic.

Xuebao was also dressed up beautifully and received her first big red envelope from her grandparents.

"She'll be calling me grandpa and grandma next year." Mr. Yang was overjoyed as he watched Xuebao smile at him.

Yang Tongshan and Ming Le arrived shortly afterward, and Ming Le also gave Xue Bao a red envelope.

"Little Xuebao, grow up quickly, Auntie will make lots and lots of pretty little clothes for Xuebao." All the clothes Xuebao is wearing now were made by Mingle stitch by stitch.

Right after breakfast, the eldest brother, Yang Tongshan, went out with gifts. Yang Tongchuan stayed home to entertain the relatives who came to pay their respects for the New Year. He would visit his superior's house later.

Mingle was helping her mother-in-law on the side.

Xiangxi, on the contrary, became the most relaxed, holding her child and hiding in the house for some peace and quiet.

Around noon, Yang Tongchuan came to call Xiangxi.

"My cousin from my aunt's family is here. Please tidy up. They're coming in to see Xuebao in a bit."

"My cousin from my aunt's side?" Xiangxi had never heard Yang Tongchuan mention this relative before.

"Yes, she's my father's older sister. She moved back from Kyoto before the New Year. My uncle's family runs a big business and doesn't associate with ordinary people like me. She came back because something happened."

Yang Tongchuan recounted the whole story to Xiangxi.

My uncle's family runs a cosmetics shop. My uncle is the youngest son, and his older brother manages the family business. His own branch of the family just enjoys the profits.

However, my uncle suddenly passed away from a serious illness last year. My aunt has no children, only a daughter who is not yet married.

The family's intention was for the aunt to adopt a boy from the clan to continue the lineage of her husband.

My aunt disagreed.

They said they wanted to find a son-in-law to live with the girl.

If a son-in-law marries into the family, then the family assets will belong to someone else.

My uncle's family definitely wouldn't want that.

After a while, things got really ugly, and my aunt and cousin found themselves in a very awkward position within the family.

Those who coveted their house and belongings were also eager to make a move, and the orphan and widow lived in their own home as if they were living under someone else's roof.

My cousin is a woman of strong will. Seeing that things were not going well, she decisively sold off her family property, took the money, and moved out with her mother.

She settled in Changxing Town, where at least her maternal uncle's family could take care of her.

After all, the siblings had a good relationship when they were young.

"My cousin is thinking of opening a cosmetics shop in town after the New Year. She came here today specifically to ask my older brother and me for advice. She's staying for lunch, so why don't you come along?"

"How old is your cousin? Is she still unmarried?"

"She's two years older than me and has never married. I don't know why." Yang Tongchuan didn't really want Xiangxi to have too much contact with her cousin.

His cousin's actions were too bold, and he was afraid she would lead Xiangxi astray.

My uncle's surname is Duan, and my cousin's full name is Duan Ziqiu.

Xiangxi knew from the first moment he saw this woman that she was no ordinary person.

She possesses a refreshing air of competence and maturity.

If she were a man, she would definitely be as successful as those big business owners at the docks.

"This is Xige'er. It was my fault that I couldn't come to your wedding. I'm taking this opportunity to make up for it." Duan Ziqiu instructed her maid to bring a rather large box into Xiangxi's room.

"Inside are fabrics I brought back from Kyoto, and some good stuff from my shop." Duan Ziqiu opened the box.

"You're too kind, cousin. I don't use cosmetics." Xiangxi had no idea how to use those things.

"It's not for touching the face. Tongchuan told you I run a cosmetics shop, right? He's a man, he doesn't understand these things." Duan Ziqiu took out a very pretty little jar from the box and handed it to Xiangxi.

In Duan Ziqiu's shop, cosmetics and face powder are only used as customer acquisition products to screen target customers.

She plans to find a two-story shop.

The first floor sells ordinary cosmetics and face powder; the real money-making business is on the second floor.

On the second floor, she planned to sell bedroom supplies, not anything illegal, just lubricants and perfumes to mask body odor.

When she told her uncle about this idea back in the Duan family, she was severely scolded, told that it was shameful, filthy and unclean.

But this business is very profitable. The Duan family serves women and men with financial means. The clients clearly have needs, but the Duan family pretends not to see them.

A box of rouge can last for several months, while a bottle of lubricating ointment is gone in a month.

Why not make money when you can?

What a waste of those two eggs hanging under his eyebrows.

Changxing Town was originally a transportation hub, with a constant stream of merchants coming and going.

You can use these people to wholesale your goods.

Low profit, high volume

This was one of the reasons she chose to return here.

"You mean this is used for..." Xiangxi's face immediately turned red.

Why give such a private gift on our first meeting?

"Don't be shy. You just gave birth, and Tongchuan will definitely be giving you a hard time after you finish your postpartum confinement. This thing will save you from suffering. You'll know once you try it. The experience is completely different from those cheap products." Duan Ziqiu was used to Xiang Xi's expression. Almost everyone she recommended had this expression, and after using it, they all became her loyal customers.

After seeing Duan Ziqiu off, Xiangxi looked at the bottles and jars. Each bottle had its own small box, and inside the box was a "user manual".

The tall, slender bottle contains deodorant balm. Different colored bottles indicate different scents, including floral, fruity, grassy, ​​and sweet ones. It's recommended to apply it to areas like the underarms, neck, wrists, and ankles.

Those short, stout, round bottles were used for sexual intercourse.

Xiangxi looked around to make sure no one was there, then opened all the bottles and smelled them. There was no strange smell, and one of the light pink creams even had a slight floral fragrance.

It seems to be different from the one I used before.

Xiangxi blushed with embarrassment.

Despite blushing, Xiangxi still put all these things away in the hidden compartment by her bedside.

At lunchtime, my eldest brother, Yang Tongshan, returned.

As everyone sat together, Xiangxi noticed that her sister-in-law Mingle's face was also red, probably because of the gifts she had received.

Duan Ziqiu asked Yang Tongshan about the business environment in Changxing Town and where the most merchants were.

They also asked Yang Tongchuan which part of the town market the women and their husbands frequented. They even asked where the largest brothel was located and if anyone knew any brothel owners there.

Yang Tongchuan was so frightened that his eyes widened.

How could he explain this? He couldn't very well introduce the madam he knew to Duan Ziqiu in front of Xiangxi.

Duan Ziqiu was also aware of this problem.

"I'm sorry, I was too hasty. How could my brother go to a place like that?" Duan Ziqiu didn't delve into the topic any further, thinking she would find an opportunity to ask Yang Tongchuan alone.