The whole Empire was suffering from famine but Hangzhou's mountains were still green with it's green tea leaves and plains were filled with green paddy fields.
The city center was built around the eastern and northern sides of the West Lake, just north of Qiantang river.
Qiantang river was the longest river in the Zhejiang province which was also one of the reason of Zhejiang's rich agricultural soil.
After reaching Hangzhou, Gu Yanyan didn't rush to open her shop. Instead, she first looked around the city and market streets, had a small conversation with local shopkeepers and the customers too.
She sent the few maids and housekeepers she brought with her on errands.
She tried to understand how government worked there and what the system was.
Because Hangzhou was the capital of Zhejiang province, it was a big and populated city in the south. And because it was big and populated, the rules and regulations here were stricter than other ordinary cities in Zhejiang.
To establish a business in such a chaotic city Gu Yanyan knew, she had to establish a connection with the government here. But as a mere five year child, she knew it was not possible yet.
She was not disappointed with this instead she relied on her brain and on her trusted subordinates.
When her maids and butlers who were sent for errands returned after gathering information all around the city. She had all in's and out's of the city in her hand. The people left behind her mother and her grandfather for her were not to be underestimated.
In her past life these people couldn't go out of her way and barged into the Gu residence directly because of the strict rule of the capital city and also lack of information about her outside Gu Residence otherwise she was sure, she wouldn't have ended up so bad with these people protecting her.
And the rumors about her spread I'm the outside world by Gu Residence and Madam Yun was also one of the reason that these people didn't try to reach her out.
But this time everything was different. This time she had left that cage named Gu Residence and had found these people who loved and cared for her as if she was their own child.
After seeing the information she found a very unfamiliar name which was not heard in her previous life.
Black Peony.
It was founded three years ago and in just three years, it had spread it's root not only Hangzhou but the entire Zhejiang province and was still growing it's powers very rapidly.
In just three years it had taken whole Zhejiang under it's wing, she was sure if it would had existed in her last life, in next few years she would surely have heard it's name in the Capital city.
But she didn't dwelled on in it for long and read forward.
In the information it was shown how Black Peony had appeared overnight and had taken down many corrupt officials in the government house from top to bottom without living any trace.
Just two words.... Black Peony.
Even the team sent by imperial court couldn't find it's trace and had to return with nothing but disappointment in their hands.
After that only these two words was enough to shake the officials and nobles in Hangzhou city and slowly these two words covered the whole Zhejiang province.
After reading the information about Black Peony, Gu Yanyan knew what would be her next step but for now she took her two strong maids and two bodyguards and along with Yang Xumei she left the city and entered the village area.
After looking and asking she finally settled on two manors; one consisted 1500 mu of land while the other was 2000 mu of land.
Land prices in south were usually higher than the north because of it's rich agricultural soil and four distinct seasons in a year which was suitable for farming. While Qiantang river also provided it's water which made it more easier for formers to grow their rice without caring for draughts.
It was another matter if there would be flood but as per the provided information, imperial court had spent more than a million of silvers to rebuilt the dam on the river just four years ago so there shouldn't be any cases of flood in the near future.
But only if she knew the truth of reconstruction of the dam.
After finalizing two manors in the well-watered northern plains, Gu Yanyan also bought a tea manor at the Lion peak in Xihu district.
Money was not the problem for Gu Yanyan it was something even the maids and butlers she brought with her knew.
They didn't know from where she got so much silver and where she had stored them but they knew better than to ask.
They were so devoted towards her grandfather and towards her mother that even if she were to be a monster, ther wouldn't care about that and would still be as attentive to her as before and may be more protective than before.
They were loyal to The Great Marquis Zhiwu and they would die for his only descendant.
After a month of hard work, they had finally established themselves in the Hangzhou city.
Gu Yanyan had made one of her trusted and most suitable butler, Zhou Fengfeng manager of her two manors and put two assistants, Qi Rui and Qi Gui under him.
Both Qi Rui and Qi Gui were brothers and were good at calculation and had were good at management.
They were recommended by Zhou Fengfeng himself. He said that they both were found by his grandfather in the north. They had lost their father in the battlefield and only after few month their mother died too. It was said that she caught wind and couldn't recover from it.
Two kids were left in the cruel world to fend for themselves.
It was not until old Marquis Lin heard about their situation that he asked someone ti bring them to him.