Chapter 36 Commercial Street

After solving the problem of growing medicinal herbs, Su Qing talked to Fang Qing about building a commercial street. She thought that relying solely on base missions to make money was not a long-term solution. Once the number of people increased in the future, there might not be enough missions to distribute to everyone.

There are many skilled people in the base. Providing them with a chance to start their own business might be better than what they have now.

"This is a good idea. We have several elderly people here who are too old to do any work. Their skills are worthless and should not be buried." Fang Qing thought about it and agreed.

"Yes, I bought a few bamboo baskets from Grandpa Guan a while ago. They are very useful. Grandpa Guan's bamboo craftsmanship is simply amazing." Su Qing thought about the bamboo baskets she had bought before. She had been using them all the time. The surface was smooth and flat, and the weaving was very tight. The quality was quite good.

There is a lack of modern products, but the old craftsmanship is still there. Replacing machine production with traditional hand-made products is also a way to solve the problem.

Su Qing came to the base warehouse, where various supplies searched and handed in by the base members were stored. She packed everything into her backpack and used up all her current materials to build two rows of houses behind the wishing tree.

What was originally an empty lot is now filled with small street-side shops made of green bricks and black tiles, with red lanterns hanging under the eaves.

Some passersby saw this street shop that appeared out of nowhere, and walked forward to take a look out of curiosity.

Su Qing posted an announcement in the mission center that the base's commercial street is now recruiting investors. The monthly rent for small shops is 20 new coupons, and the monthly rent for large shops is 50 new coupons. If you want to open a shop but don't have the funds, you can negotiate with the base to invest in shares.

Regarding the issue of purchasing, Su Qing added a new display cabinet to the base store, which is specifically for merchants to wholesale basic resources.

After everything was done, Su Qing's backpack was empty. All the things she had accumulated for a long time were used up. It seemed that she had to go out to search again.

…

Guan Xiao was dragging the bamboo on her way home when she saw a lot of people gathered together, not knowing what they were looking at. Out of curiosity, she walked over.

After finally squeezing forward, Guan Xiao discovered that where there used to be an empty lot, there were now two rows of houses facing the street. There was a memorial archway at the intersection with the words "Shuguang Commercial Street" written on it.

"Is this... a commercial street?" She couldn't help but ask the question in her mind.

"Don't you know yet? Our base has just built a commercial street, and the mission center has issued a notice to recruit investors. It would be great if you had the ability to do some business on your own." A person standing next to Guan Xiao heard her and replied.

Guan Xiao and her grandson came from the Liehuo Base. They were penniless when they first arrived and initially relied on farming for the base for a living. Later, her grandfather had nothing to do and made some bamboo products. By chance, he sold a few of them. Due to her grandfather's good craftsmanship and affordable prices, the products were well received.

As word of the business spread, more and more people came to her grandfather to make things for them. After much deliberation, the two of them decided to take custom orders at home and make bamboo products for sale.

Thanks to the bamboo products, his life became more and more comfortable and he saved a lot of money.

Now that the base has opened a commercial street, perhaps they can rent a shop to sell things. Thinking of this, Guan Xiao turned around and walked quickly towards home.

…

However, after a few days, Fang Qing told Su Qing that all the shops in the commercial street had been rented out. She discussed with the merchants and decided to officially open the business street in three days. There would be a promotion on that day, and all shops would offer a 20% discount, and the discount would be borne by the base.

Su Qing thought, most people in the base now have no worries about food and clothing, and some even have some money left over, leading a very leisurely life. When they have some free time and money in their hands, they want to spend it! The opening of the commercial street is likely to be very popular.

She thought so, and so did the merchants, so some of the supplies in the base were in short supply. Su Qing had no choice but to go out and search for supplies without stopping.

Three days passed quickly. Today was the opening day of the commercial street. Fang Qing set the opening time at dusk. Originally, she wanted Su Qing to perform the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but Su Qing repeatedly refused. She had no choice but to do it herself.

Everyone in the base gathered at the intersection, and Fang Qing and several merchants cut the ribbon for the commercial street.

After a round of applause, Fang Qing said, "The commercial street is opening today. All shops are offering a 20% discount. This discount is valid only tonight. We welcome your support."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a crackling sound all around. Su Qing had someone set up a few charcoal braziers nearby and put bamboo joints into the charcoal braziers one by one to burn. The bamboo crackled due to the heat, making crackling sounds, which added some fun and festivity.

This method was told to her by Grandpa Guan. If there are no firecrackers, bamboo can be used instead.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, people began to pour into the commercial street.

The base had not been so lively for a long time. Su Qing followed Fang Qing inside. She still didn't know what was inside and was quite curious for a while.

"Hey~ Come and take a look! Pure fresh milk tea! Hand-beaten fresh lemon tea! Hand-ground coffee!"

Oh my god! Milk tea!!! Su Qing was so excited that he rushed over to queue up.

The entrance of the milk tea shop was full of people, everyone's face was full of excitement, and they were chatting while waiting in line.

"It's been so hard. I used to love coffee, and I felt uncomfortable without it every day. Since the apocalypse, I've been starving for over a year, with no food to eat. I never dared to hope that I'd be able to drink coffee again in this lifetime. I never thought I'd be able to have one again in my lifetime! Choosing to come to our base was the right decision."

"Milk tea! I dream of drinking milk tea again! A few days ago, I made a wish for milk tea, and no wonder the wishing card was put up so easily! My wish came true!"

"Before the apocalypse, I could only drink non-dairy milk tea. I never thought that after experiencing the apocalypse, I could actually drink pure milk tea! Mom doesn't have to worry about me drinking something unnutritious anymore."

Most of the young people were queuing for milk tea. Su Qing waited for more than half an hour before it was her turn. This milk tea shop was a small shop with a simple bar with a display screen on it. You could choose what you wanted and then swipe your card. Behind the bar was the production area. After you chose the things and paid, they would receive the order and start the production.

It seems to be much more convenient than before the apocalypse, and does not require so much manpower.

Su Qing ordered two cups of milk tea, one cup cost 10 new coupons, and there was a discount. Although prices are much higher now than before, things are valuable because they are rare, and it is a blessing to have a cup to satisfy your craving occasionally.

Since there is no packaging material, this milk tea is placed in a bamboo tube. Even the straw is made of thin bamboo. There is a circle engraved on the bamboo tube, and the word "tea" is engraved in the circle, which looks quite artistic.

Handing a cup of milk tea to Fang Qing, Su Qing took her own and took a big sip.

Wow wow wow…it’s so delicious that I want to cry!

The small handmade pearl powder balls are chewy and chewy. Because they are made of fresh milk, the flavor is slightly lighter than the milk tea she mixed before. However, for her who has not had milk tea for a long time, this small problem can be completely ignored. Besides, the milk produced by the base is much mellower than the milk on the market before the apocalypse, and it is sweet and delicious.

In just a few seconds, she drank most of the milk tea in her hand. The bamboo tube could not hold as much as the plastic cup, so she drank it all up in no time. Su Qing squinted her eyes and smiled, she was so happy!

"Yoyo Chek Nao Jian Bing Guo Zi, give me a set! Authentic Tianjin Jian Bing Guo Zi made with soybean flour!"

"Mutton skewers! It's lamb skewers! Fatty but not greasy, tender and delicious lamb skewers!"

"Look at the freshly baked bread and pastries."

The commercial street was filled with the sounds of various vendors, and the crowds of people were all excited, holding many things in their hands, eating a bite of this, drinking a drink of that, and having a great time.

In addition to snacks, there are also some shops selling other things. She saw that Grandpa Guan, who used to sell bamboo baskets, also opened a shop here, so she walked in.

"Grandpa Guan, you've opened a shop too."

"Oh, it's Xiao Su." Grandpa Guan was busy weaving bamboo baskets in the shop. He looked up at the voice and saw it was Su. He chuckled and said to her, "That's right. I used to do some small jobs at home, but when I saw that the base had a commercial street, I thought of opening a shop to sell some things."

Su Qing looked at the shop, which was also a small shop, with many things displayed in it, including bamboo cups, bamboo chopsticks, bamboo bowls, bamboo baskets, bamboo tables, bamboo chairs and other various daily necessities.

These are still in short supply in the base. Su Qing only came in for a while and saw that many orders had been completed. Grandpa Guan's granddaughter Guan Xiao was very busy in the store.

"Did you also make this milk tea cup and straw?" Su Qing showed Grandpa Guan the things in her hand. She thought it would be a pity to throw them away, so she kept holding them in her hand, intending to continue using them as cups when she got home.

"Yes, that Boss Zhang gave me a big order. I will keep supplying him from now on." Grandpa Guan smiled when he saw the cup. "Nowadays, without those plastic products, those snack vendors all come to me for custom orders. Before the apocalypse, our craft was in decline. No one used bamboo products at all. Now it's good. I can use my old bones again."

"You should take care of yourself. If you're too busy, I'll find some help for you."

"Hey~ I know, Xiao Su, if you need anything, just take it. Grandpa won't charge you. We can have this day because of you. Grandpa is grateful to you."

"Grandpa Guan, please don't say that. It's because of your good cooking skills that you are so popular."

Su Qing chatted with Grandpa Guan for a few more words before walking out. He then strolled around the commercial street for a while. There were old-fashioned barber shops, pottery shops, handmade toiletries such as soap and bath beans, and all kinds of handmade treasure shops.

After walking around, Su Qing's hands were full. Most of the people walking on this street were the same, holding a lot of things in their hands.

The sky became completely dark, and all the lanterns in the commercial street were lit up. Everyone was eating, drinking, shopping and strolling, as if they had returned to the pre-apocalyptic era.

The red lanterns swayed slowly in the breeze, and the ancient shops with green bricks and white walls made people feel as if they were in a small town in the south of the Yangtze River. The laughter and joy made people forget the cruelty and horror of the outside world.

The shops remained open until the early hours of the morning before people reluctantly left.

Lanterns were lit everywhere in the base. Perhaps infected by the atmosphere, many people were not sleepy tonight. Some young people were walking on the road in groups of three or four, holding many things in their hands, eating and chatting.