Chapter 369 Why Not Open a Shop in Gao Family Village?
Gao Yiye stood before the "Shuixian He Le" noodle shop, gazing up at its sign. "Oh dear," she murmured, "I don't recognize these two characters."
Next to her, Qiu Ju whispered, "Those two characters mean 'water-fresh'."
Gao Yiye clarified, "I meant the last two characters."
Dong Xue quickly added, "Those characters are 'He Le'."
Gao Yiye pondered, "So, the question is, what exactly is 'Shuixian He Le'?"
Both young women, Autumn and Winter, shook their heads. "We don't know."
Not just them—even the Heavenly Lord was baffled. Staring down from his celestial perch, utterly bewildered, he thought: *What in the world is that? Why have I never eaten, or even heard of, such a thing?*
He immediately opened a popular food delivery app and searched for "Shuixian He Le," but found nothing. Not a single vendor in Shuangqing City sold it. This simply wouldn't do. He had to try it.
Li Daoxuan commanded, "Yiye, go into the shop and eat!"
Li Daoxuan mused, "Oh? You've eaten all that already?"
Gao Yiye replied, "Weren't you watching from above the whole time?"
Li Daoxuan offered a silent, "......"
Right. He had been so engrossed in watching the young woman's cheerful, adorable antics that he hadn't noticed her constant snacking. Troublesome, indeed. He was about to tell her to skip it if she couldn't eat anymore, but then Gao Yiye rubbed her slightly bulging stomach and chuckled.
"Perhaps I can manage a little more. Qiu Ju, would you help me eat half?"
Qiu Ju said, with a hint of grievance, "I already helped you eat half of that lamb flatbread stew."
Gao Yiye turned to Dong Xue, who looked embarrassed. "I also helped you with half a bowl of the Heyang noodles."
Gao Yiye spread her hands. "Your appetites are terrible! How can both of you only eat half a person's portion?"
Qiu Ju and Dong Xue murmured, "We've been taught this since childhood... only eat until you're half full. Never get fat."
Gao Yiye didn't quite grasp it, but Li Daoxuan understood. A pang of sorrow for them flickered in his heart as he sighed. "Go inside. From now on, eat your fill. Don't stop at half-full. It doesn't matter if you gain weight. Here with me, no one will mind if you get plump."
Only then did Gao Yiye finally understand. She said, a little awkwardly, "Come on, let's go in and eat. The Heavenly Lord says you can eat your fill from now on, and no one will dislike you for gaining weight."
The two young women were overjoyed. "Thank you, Heavenly Lord."
The three then entered the "Shuixian He Le" shop. "Owner, what exactly is this 'Shuixian He Le'?" they asked.
The owner, seeing three "distinguished" women—the leader dressed like a wealthy lady with two finely attired maids out shopping—quickly approached with a smile. "Madam, 'Shuixian He Le' is a specialty of our Heyang County. It's made from pressed buckwheat flour. When we mix the dough, we add wormwood seeds, or sometimes water from burnt bluestone. This makes the noodles firm and very chewy. After they're boiled, they're immediately rinsed in clear water, hence the name 'Shuixian He Le,' or 'Water-Fresh He Le.'"
Gao Yiye's mouth watered as she listened.
Li Daoxuan's mouth watered too.
"One bowl!"
Both spoke almost simultaneously.
After speaking, Gao Yiye looked up. "Oh? Heavenly Lord, did you mean for me to order a bowl, or do you want one for yourself?"
Li Daoxuan coughed. "Cough! Cough! Of course, I meant for *you* to order a bowl. I've traveled the four corners of the world; what delicacies haven't I sampled? I have no need for such things."
As he spoke, his fingers flew across his phone, searching rapidly. Nothing on the popular food delivery app, nothing on another delivery platform, still nothing on a social media delivery service. He couldn't order it. He was starting to get annoyed.
Finally, the omnipresent online marketplace came to his rescue. It actually sold "He Le," though it was Chunhua He Le, not Heyang's "Shuixian He Le." Six boxes for just over twenty yuan—so cheap. *Sigh!* He'd have to make do. He placed the order, paid extra, and requested expedited delivery.
A short while later, the owner prepared the "Shuixian He Le" and brought it to their table.
Gao Yiye took a small taste and immediately beamed. "Delicious, truly delicious!"
The two young women also tried it, their faces lighting up with delight.
"From their expressions, I can tell it's good," Li Daoxuan chuckled. "Yiye, why don't you ask the owner about his business? Is it doing well or not? Just chat with him a bit."
At his words, Gao Yiye beckoned to the owner. "Shopkeeper, your 'Shuixian He Le' is quite tasty! But I see hardly two people in your shop. Is business not so good?"
The owner sighed deeply. "It hasn't been good for years, because of the great drought. For the past two years, I couldn't even get buckwheat flour. It was only after the people from Gao Family Village arrived and distributed flour everywhere that everyone had enough to eat. Then, some families who had hoarded buckwheat flour were willing to sell it at fair prices, and that's how I managed to buy some to make 'Shuixian He Le.' But folks now only seek to fill their stomachs, not to eat well. My business is truly... hard to describe."
Li Daoxuan understood. Heyang County had only just begun distributing grain, and it would be a long while before things returned to normal. People with any savings were hoarding their wealth, afraid to spend it. They wouldn't loosen their purse strings for delicacies until they no longer worried about their future. Otherwise, they'd rather fuss with flour at home to make simple meals.
Li Daoxuan smiled. "Invite him to open a shop in Gao Family Village."
Gao Yiye grinned. "Shopkeeper, your food is quite good. Why not open a shop in Gao Family Village? There are still a few vacant storefronts in the Gao Family commercial district right now, and for the first three months, rent is free! If you open a shop selling 'Shuixian He Le' in Gao Family Village, I guarantee you'll be swimming in money."
The owner exclaimed, "Oh? Will it sell well in Gao Family Village?"
Gao Yiye assured him, "Absolutely! The people of Gao Family Village live quite affluently. They're no longer just content with 'eating enough,' but now demand 'eating well.' If you don't believe me, you should go and see for yourself someday."
Hearing this, the owner was rather tempted.
If Gao Family Village were very far away, requiring him to leave his home, he wouldn't agree. But Gao Family Village was close, right at the border of Heyang County and Chengcheng County, only a few tens of li away. Plus, roads were being built, and once they were open, travel would be quick. To give it a try in such a nearby place, it wouldn't hurt.
The owner chuckled. "Thank you for the suggestion. When I close the shop for a break someday, I'll go to Gao Family Village to take a look. If I can do business there, I'll move over and try it."
Gao Yiye smiled. "You'll know once you see it."
As they spoke, a rider on a swift horse galloped into the city. The rider, a constable, shouted as he rode:
"Good news, good news! The bandit army of the great rebel Wang Jiayin was stopped at Qichuan Ferry by our local militia and the Gao Family Village Militia, working together! The bandits have fled!"
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