Chapter 378: What's the Difference Between This and Giving it Away for Free?
Liu You was guided by a group from the Gao Family Village Disciplinary Committee, racing towards the commercial district, with several people helping him push his cart.
Liu You was already exhausted and drowsy, struggling to pull his cart anymore. But with the group helping him push, he found his burden lightened, and in a flash, they burst into the Gao Family Village commercial district.
The colorful plastic buildings, along with festive lights of every hue, made the entire Gao Family Village commercial district appear vibrant and bustling, far surpassing the few commercial streets in Heyang County. Liu You couldn't stop exclaiming, "Wow, wow, wow!" fully embodying the awe of Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.
The shops here offered a dazzling array, selling everything imaginable. The goods were incredibly abundant, leaving Liu You dizzy with wonder, yet too intimidated to ask for prices.
Someone called out, "Officer Zhang, are there any empty storefronts left?"
Zhang Laowu pondered. "All the prime locations have already been taken. It's not easy to find a good spot now."
A Disciplinary Committee member suggested, "What about the brothel? That brothel has been empty all this time."
Zhang Laowu replied, "The brothel's location is excellent indeed! It's right in the best spot in the middle of the commercial district. Leaving it vacant isn't practical. Let's just use it to open a snack shop."
Hearing this, Liu You was utterly bewildered. "What? What, what, what?"
Liu You broke into a cold sweat. "I mind, I mind very much."
Zhang Laowu added, "No rent, free to use."
"Don't mind at all!" Liu You exclaimed. "What's the big deal? Just change the signboard, and it'll be fine, won't it?"
Everyone was speechless.
And so, the matter was settled. Zhang Laowu led Liu You on a half-tour of the Gao Family Village commercial district before arriving at the brothel. It was a rather large building. The first floor was spacious, enough to accommodate many tables. And it wasn't just the first floor; there were many small rooms on the second floor.
Such a large space, and he could use it for free! Liu You was overjoyed. From now on, the first floor would be filled with square tables. As for the second floor... for now, it would be his living quarters. Any extra rooms could be used as storage.
The only problem was the signboard wasn't quite suitable. The plaque with the three characters "Yihongyuan" hanging above the entrance felt a bit odd. Beside it, a couplet read: "May business flourish and bedsprings creak," and the lower couplet: "May wealth abound and belts loosen." The couplet made Liu You's scalp tingle.
He wanted to tear them down, but they wouldn't budge.
It turned out the couplet was part of the building itself, molded directly onto the plastic structure, not simply pasted on.
But Zhang Laowu had a solution. He ran to the paper shop and got a blank couplet scroll. He covered the existing couplet at the brothel's entrance with the blank one, pasting it securely with paste. Now, little of the brothel's original ambiance remained visible.
"A blank couplet is really a bit strange," a Disciplinary Committee member whispered. "Shouldn't we write something on it?"
Liu You shook his head. "I only recognize a few simple characters; I can't write myself."
The Disciplinary Committee members all shook their heads. "Oh no, none of us can write proper script."
Liu You suggested, "How about we just draw something on it?"
Zhang Laowu suddenly chuckled. "I'll go find a scholar to help."
Liu You was greatly surprised. "Scholars who can read and write are usually very proud. Who would be willing to help a humble vendor like me with writing? And if I have to pay to hire one, I don't have that much money."
Zhang Laowu chuckled. "Just you wait. It won't cost a thing."
He took off and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Everyone waited quietly for a moment. Then Zhang Laowu came running back again, and behind him followed a man dressed as a scholar. It was none other than Dian Dengzi, Zhao Sheng.
This scholar, back in Qingjian County, had always enjoyed helping his fellow villagers write letters home, couplets, and such. He never charged for it. Because of this, he was deeply loved by the people of Qingjian County, which was why they had chosen him as their leader when they rose in rebellion.
Zhao Sheng was panting heavily. "Zhang Laowu, you... *huff*... you want to... *puff*... write... something... what... what exactly?"
Seeing him gasp for breath, Liu You was startled. He worried the scholar might not recover his breath.
Fortunately, after panting for a while, Zhao Sheng slowly calmed down. His speech returned to normal. "What do you need written? Could you explain it to me?"
Liu You quickly described the delicious Shuixian Heluo noodles in detail. After listening, Zhao Sheng immediately had an idea. He picked up a brush and swiftly wrote several large characters on the blank couplet.
The upper couplet read: "A thousand strands of noodles bring fortune and longevity."
The lower couplet read: "A bowl of fragrant broth warms the soul."
And the horizontal inscription: "Shuixian Heluo Noodles."
Liu You was overjoyed. "Sir, you are truly talented! Even though I'm illiterate, these two lines still sound festive and delightful."
Zhao Sheng laughed heartily. "Back in my day, I aspired to achieve scholarly renown. I read countless books. How could I not have some talent?"
Hearing him use the words "back in my day," Liu You found it quite strange. "You don't seem that old, sir; you could still take the imperial examinations. Why do you sound as if you once wanted to, but now have no intention of trying again?"
Zhao Sheng burst into laughter. "Even if I passed the exams and gained an official position, who knows where I'd be assigned to govern? It wouldn't be as joyful as being here in Gao Family Village."
Liu You thought to himself: *Living here is more comfortable than being an official? I don't believe it!*
However, on second thought, the people of Gao Family Village truly were good-hearted. I was the one opening a shop, yet they were so enthusiastic to help. A large group of people were fussing over a stranger like me. This kind of atmosphere couldn't be found anywhere else.
Just as he was thinking this, he saw the group who had just helped him all walk into the shop. They pulled a plastic table over, sat around it, and stared at him with wide eyes.
Liu You: "???"
Zhao Sheng said, "Hurry up and open your shop! We're still waiting to eat Shuixian Heluo noodles."
With an awkward expression, Liu You replied, "It's still too early for that. I still need to set up the stove, buy ingredients for the Shuixian Heluo noodles, and I haven't even figured out how much a bowl of Shuixian Heluo noodles should cost."
Zhao Sheng urged, "What are we still chatting about then? Get to it!"
Liu You understood. This group was absolutely determined to eat his Shuixian Heluo noodles. They wouldn't leave until they had some today.
Alright, time to get ready.
He unloaded all the cooking equipment from his small cart. He used a few stones to improvise a stove. On his cart was coal he had brought from Heyang County. He quickly shoved it into the stove, getting a fire going.
Next came the most important ingredient: flour.
Zhao Sheng instructed, "Just around the corner on this street, there's a 'Gao Family Village Grain Store.' Go there to buy flour; it's incredibly cheap."
Liu You quickly ran over. His heart was somewhat anxious. In this year of great calamity, grain prices were not low, and he wondered what the grain prices were like here in Gao Family Village.
He cautiously asked, "Do you have buckwheat flour?"
The shop assistant smiled. "Yes, we do!"
Liu You asked, "How much is it per jin?"
The shop assistant replied, "Seven copper coins."
"Hiss!" Liu You gasped. "So cheap? What's the difference between this and giving it away for free?"
Comments