Chapter 30: Cutting Off Raw Materials and Shaping Public Opinion

"This is no welcoming gift; it is clearly a show of force."

With a flick of her finger, she tossed the object into the nearby charcoal brazier.

"Prepare to open," she commanded the shop assistants.

This was the result of Ye Qingyan pushing her "Touch of Crystal" ability to its absolute limit.

"Is that... a palace where immortals dwell?"
"I heard this is the shop opened by that hell-raising witch of the Ye family!"
"A witch living in a crystal palace? What kind of divine goods could she possibly be selling?"

The shop doors swung wide, and two rows of assistants in crisp attire bowed in unison. A strange, unprecedented fragrance wafted from within—a complex and ever-changing scent that was both layered and intoxicating.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our shop is officially open today! Perfume and snowflake crisps are available in limited quantities!" the shopkeeper shouted, his voice nearly drowned out by the excited crowd.

"Perfume? Snowflake crisps? What are those?"

Driven by curiosity, the crowd surged inside. Ye Qingyan had decorated the interior with minimalist elegance. In the center, several glass display tables held crystal-clear bottles and exquisite little pastries, arranged with artistic precision.

"Please feel free to test the perfumes and sample the snowflake crisps," a crisp voice rang out. Ye Qingyan stood among the crowd, dressed in a simple, elegant gown. She wore no makeup, yet she shone brighter than anyone else in the room.

She picked up a bottle of perfume and gave it a light spray. A fine mist filled the air, releasing a subtle floral scent that immediately spread, followed by the sweetness of fruit, and finally, a steady, grounding woody base. The three notes intertwined, yet remained distinct, creating an infinitely shifting aroma.

"This scent... it's absolutely marvelous!" a noblewoman exclaimed. She had never smelled anything so fresh and refined, as if she were standing in a valley of blooming flowers.

On the other side, the crowd sampling the snowflake crisps was equally impressed.

"It melts in your mouth, sweet but not cloying, with the richness of milk and the crunch of nuts!"
"I have never eaten such a delicious pastry!"

Within a quarter of an hour, the shop was packed. Amazement, admiration, and desire rippled through the crowd.

"Shopkeeper, how much for this perfume?"
"Are there any more snowflake crisps?"

Ye Qingyan replied calmly, "There are three types of perfume: Floral Whisper, Fruity Rhyme, and Woody Depth. Each is limited to thirty bottles per day. The snowflake crisps are limited to one hundred portions daily, with a purchase limit of one per person."

"Limited?!" The crowd erupted in an uproar.
"Why limit them?!"

"Because they are difficult to craft, and I strive for perfection," Ye Qingyan said with a faint smile. "Scarcity creates value. Once sold out today, please return early tomorrow."

"One hundred portions? How is that enough!"
"I want Floral Whisper! Give me a bottle, quick!"
"I want the snowflake crisps! Nobody touch them!"

The strategy of hunger marketing instantly ignited the scene. In order to snag a "glittering" item, the noblewomen of the capital pushed and shoved, abandoning all pretense of decorum. Even the most reserved young ladies were now frantic, terrified that a moment's hesitation would mean losing out.

***

A long queue snaked from the shop entrance all the way to the corner of the street. Those who failed to purchase anything looked on with bloodshot eyes, and scalpers even began buying items at double or triple the price to resell them.

The title "Ye Family Witch" had, in the circle of noblewomen, suddenly become synonymous with "exquisite taste." To hold an item from the "Yan" shop was a symbol of status.

Watching the silver roll in like a tide, the System was delighted, its voice trembling: [Not bad, rebellious subject! My treasury grows more abundant by the day! I shall reward you... with a lucky draw!]

Ye Qingyan sneered inwardly, though her expression remained impassive. She knew this wretched System was stingy whenever it felt proud.

She casually flipped over a tile, only to see the words: [Imperial Robe Experience Card (15 minutes)].

Ye Qingyan’s eye twitched, and she nearly threw the ledger in her hand. What was the use of this? Should she strut through the streets in an imperial robe and wait to be arrested as a lunatic? Or wait to be beheaded by the Emperor?

[Rebellious subject, what is that look for? This is a grand favor from me! Do you know how many people would give anything to wear an imperial robe?] the System boasted.

"To hell with your favor!" Ye Qingyan cursed in her heart, restraining herself from acting on the urge to go on strike.

Just then, a discordant voice rang out.

"Oh, so this is the shop of the Ye family's sister? It’s certainly lively."

Ye Qingyan looked up to see Wang Lin, the eldest daughter of the Wang family, walking in haughtily, surrounded by a gaggle of maids and matrons. She was dressed in opulent silks, wearing gold hairpins, her eyes filled with undisguised jealousy and contempt.

"Eldest Miss Wang, your arrival brings light to my humble shop," Ye Qingyan said, her smile not reaching her eyes.

Wang Lin snorted and scanned the crowded shop, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I heard the Ye sister was selling some perfume and pastries—nothing but low-class trifles. How did you manage to attract such a crowd? Did you resort to some sordid tricks?"

"Eldest Miss Wang, you are mistaken." Ye Qingyan remained unruffled, picking up a cup of tea for a light sip. "What I sell here is freshness and uniqueness. Unlike some who cling to their ancestral scraps, unable to produce a single new idea, and can only watch helplessly as others grow their business, stomping their feet in frustration."

As soon as she spoke, Wang Lin’s face turned livid. The Wang family was a long-established spice dynasty in the capital, also involved in the pastry business, but for years they had been overshadowed by rivals and had seen no growth. Ye Qingyan’s words struck a nerve.

"You... you’re talking nonsense!" Wang Lin trembled with rage, pointing a finger at Ye Qingyan. "Don't get cocky too soon. The waters in this capital are deep; it’s not a place for a country girl like you to play!"

Ye Qingyan sneered, her gaze sharp. "Eldest Miss Wang, have you come to buy something or to scout the market? If you wish to buy, please join the queue. If you are scouting, I have no time to entertain you."

Her words were blunt. Wang Lin’s face flushed red and pale in turns, but she found herself unable to retort. She couldn't very well admit she had come to sabotage the shop.

"Hmph! We shall see!" With a final threat, Wang Lin left in a fury with her entourage.

Watching Wang Lin’s departing back, an ominous premonition rose in her heart.

***

Wang Lin was not the type to let things go, and the Wang family behind her was even less so.

Sure enough, just after the afternoon hour, two groups of people arrived at the shop in succession.

The first group were long-term spice suppliers. The manager was all smiles, but his words made Ye Qingyan’s heart sink: "Shopkeeper Ye, I am truly sorry. Our shop has run into some trouble, and we cannot supply you with spices for the time being. As for the contract we signed... we can only tear it up unilaterally. We will return your deposit twofold."

Immediately after, the flour shop assistant arrived with the exact same excuse.

"My apologies, Shopkeeper Ye. Our flour has encountered some issues. I fear it will delay your business, so..."

Ye Qingyan looked at the unnatural smiles on their faces and understood instantly. It was the Wang family’s doing. They weren't targeting her directly; they were cutting off her supply at the source.

She said nothing more, calmly accepting the returned deposits and watching them leave.

That night, the moonlight was like water. Chen Huai'an slipped into Ye Qingyan’s courtyard and handed her a folded note.

"Young Miss, this is what I found out," he whispered.

Ye Qingyan took the note and unfolded it. Several names were written there:

"The capital's largest spice merchant—Dexin Pavilion."
"The largest flour supplier—Fu Man Lou."
"And several other vital sugar and dried fruit suppliers..."

Every name on the note was a raw material supplier controlled by the Wang family in the capital. Ye Qingyan stared at the words, lost in thought. The Wang family’s methods were truly ruthless, cutting off her lifeline directly. She had just opened, and she was at the peak of her popularity; if she lacked raw materials, everything would grind to a halt.

Yet, this was only the beginning.

The next day, the entire capital was thrown into turmoil. In the early morning, the front pages of all the major newspapers in the capital carried striking headlines:

"Shocking! Ye Family Witch Sells Poisonous Goods; Perfumes Cause Disfigurement, Pastries Cause Food Poisoning!"

At the same time, storytellers on every street corner began to narrate a vivid tale:

"They say that witch of the Ye family is heartless and cruel. For the sake of profit, she laced her perfumes with poison, leaving noble ladies’ faces ruined! Her pastries are even more toxic—those who eat them suffer violent illness and are left on the brink of death!"

A war of public opinion combined with a supply chain blockade descended at once. Ye Qingyan sat in her shop, looking at the newspaper in her hand and listening to the storyteller’s voice drifting in through the window, a cold smile on her lips.

"Wang family, do you truly think this is enough to break me?"