Chapter 85 Blackrock City Branch Officially Opens for Business, Grand Opening Specials...

Early in the morning, before dawn, the newly paved cement ground in front of the shop was already packed with a dense crowd. The scene was ten times more exaggerated than when the Hope Soup was being sold during its trial opening a while ago. Poor people, mercenaries, artisans, and even a few stewards who had come to scout ahead for their masters, all craned their necks and stood on tiptoe, eagerly waiting for the heavy wooden door, carved with a symbol of gears and ears of wheat, to slowly open.

Lin Yue had anticipated today's grand occasion and had Tie Niu and Amu set up a winding queue along the roadside using newly made iron chains and wooden stakes to barely maintain order.

"Don't push! Don't push!" Carwin shouted at the top of his lungs, but his face was filled with a long-lost pride and excitement of a successful businessman. "Grand opening special, everyone gets a share! Anyone who dares to cut in line and cause trouble will be asked to leave by our blue-vested security team, and they can forget about ever setting foot in our store again!"

Behind him, Fei Ye led his team of blue-vested soldiers, each with a tall and straight posture and sharp eyes, standing silently at the door. Their disciplined presence was so imposing that anyone who was tempted to make a move subconsciously restrained themselves.

When the auspicious time arrived, the shop doors slowly opened.

There were no deafening firecrackers, nor any fancy ribbon-cutting ceremony. What greeted everyone were two rows of staff members wearing matching blue aprons and sporting warm smiles, along with a clean and warm atmosphere that blended the aromas of food, the scent of wood, and a faint smell of soap.

To handle today's grand occasion, Lin Yue specially transferred another batch of logistics personnel from Hope Town. At the same time, he had Aunt Leah select several quick-witted and efficient young women from among the new workers at the outlying base, and Mia personally trained them as new shop assistants. Although they were still somewhat inexperienced, their renewed vitality and anticipation for the future were their best asset.

Welcome to Hope Store No. 1!

The uniform welcome speech made everyone who entered the store for the first time feel inexplicably flattered.

The spacious and bright hall, the smooth, mirror-like blue floor tiles, the neatly arranged mortise and tenon structure tables and chairs, and the vibrant green plants in the corners... all of this was a world apart from the dirty and chaotic Blackstone City outside.

The most eye-catching area is naturally the shopping mall section on the right, which is filled with a dazzling array of goods.

Rows of two-meter-high wooden shelves were filled with a dazzling array of goods, categorized into different types.

The most prominent location is the food section.

The snow-white, delicate Hope Salt, packaged in a small burlap sack, was accompanied by a wooden sign that clearly read: "Quality Guaranteed, Tenfold Compensation for Fakes. Grand Opening Special, Available in Bulk!" This news made everyone's eyes light up. It meant that even with just one copper coin, one could buy enough Hope Salt to transform a bland soup into a savory and delicious dish.

Next to it was starlight wheat flour emitting a faint glow, and golden, crispy honey-roasted potato chips in a ceramic jar.

What truly captivated the shrewd and calculating housewives was the special offer on today's grand opening sale – Hope brand potato noodles.

It was a dried food they had never seen before, crystal clear and translucent like crystal. To let everyone experience its deliciousness firsthand, Lin Yue even arranged for a clever girl to demonstrate it on the spot. She would blanch a small handful of vermicelli in boiling water, then scoop it out, pour a small spoonful of fragrant minced meat sauce* on top, and divide it into dozens of small ceramic bowls for every customer who entered the store to sample for free.

"Don't miss out, everyone!" The girl's clear voice attracted everyone's attention. "This is our Hope Vermicelli, chewy and smooth, delicious and inexpensive. For just one copper coin, you can buy a big bunch enough to feed a whole family. It comes with its own serving utensils and a free small spoonful of our secret minced meat spice packet."

The price, the portion size, the delicious-sounding description, and the actual delicious taste instantly won over the hearts of all the working-class people.

Next to the food section is the daily necessities section.

Rows of linen and cotton fabrics, dyed in various colors with plant dyes, were neatly stacked. Next to them were finished garments, ranging from durable and stain-resistant work pants to simple dresses, each piece cheaper and more attractive than those sold in tailor shops in the city.

There's even a dedicated ironware area at the very back.

Iron cleavers, iron spatulas, iron hoes… each piece gleamed with a cold metallic luster. Although they were expensive, their superior quality was so evident that every passing mercenary and craftsman couldn't help but stop and gaze intently at the sturdy and durable tools.

"Look carefully, everyone! Today is our grand opening, and all items are 10% off!" Lin Yue, holding his tin megaphone, strolled around the store like a supermarket manager promoting sales in a modern era. "The more you buy, the more you get. Spend over one silver coin and you'll also receive two Starlight Sleep Aid Buns that will help you sleep well."

The crowd erupted instantly.

"Quick! Quick! Give me a pinch of salt, and a big handful of... those glass noodles!"

"This blue dress is so pretty! How much is it? What? Only twenty copper coins? Cheaper than making it myself from the fabric! I'll buy it!"

"Boss, keep this iron axe for me, I'll go back and raise the money right away!"

The entire Yihaodian platform was engulfed in an unprecedented buying frenzy.

Aunt Mia and Aunt Leah, along with several newly trained cashiers, were incredibly busy. Using the Arabic numerals and simple accounting methods Lin Yue had taught them, they quickly calculated prices and collected coins and copper coins. Every customer who left had a happy smile on their face, indicating they had left with a full wallet.

Amidst this bustling scene, a magnificent carriage, escorted by a dozen elite guards, slowly pulled up in front of the shop.

Ryan stepped down from the carriage dressed in a low-key but well-tailored aristocratic outfit.

He didn't go straight into the store, but first looked up at the huge plaque that read "Hope Trading Company · Hope No. 1 Store · Blackstone City Branch", and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes.

"Congratulations, Brother Lin Yue," he said with a smile to Lin Yue who came to greet him. "May your business prosper and your opening be a great success. Even the big merchants in the capital would be ashamed of their generosity."

“Young Master Ryan, please don’t flatter me,” Lin Yue returned the greeting with a smile. “It’s just a small business, barely enough to make a living. Please come in, you are our most important guest today.”

Ryan's arrival immediately caused a stir in the crowd. Everyone respectfully made way for him.

He didn't stay on the first floor, but was directly invited by Lin Yue to a private room on the second floor.

Inside the private room, Carwin, in his capacity as the first manager of the Hope Trading Company's Blackrock City branch, was entertaining several distinguished guests who had also come upon hearing the news. Among them were the city's largest grain merchant, a fat man with a smile like Maitreya Buddha; the branch president of the Mercenary Guild, a burly man with one eye; and even the chief steward sent by the Iron Anchor Merchant Guild to gather intelligence, a tall, thin man with sinister eyes.

Scarface and other local thugs were unusually dressed today, leading their underlings to maintain order around the shops, driving away thieves and beggars trying to take advantage of the chaos. Their dutiful demeanor made them look like security guards hired by the Hope Merchants.

An undercurrent of conflict between various factions in Blackrock City surrounding the Hope Trading Company is quietly brewing in the private room on the second floor.

Lin Yue didn't rush to get involved; he wasn't the main character today. He simply left the space to Carwin, allowing him to leverage his connections and eloquence with Ryan's help.

He himself was more concerned about those who truly needed help.

As night deepened, the hustle and bustle of the opening ceremony gradually subsided.

The lights outside the No. 1 shop were still on, a rare sight of nightlife in Blackrock City besides the taverns. Many ordinary people who had to work hard during the day only had time at night to bring their families here to stroll around and enjoy this rare moment of light and liveliness.

A couple cautiously entered the shop.

They were farmers who had cleared wasteland on the outskirts of the city, working in the fields from dawn till dusk, exhausted. During the trial opening, they had brought their children to indulge in a luxurious meal at Hope's Soup; the feeling of being able to drink to their heart's content without any worries, the warmth and comfort, remained in their memories. Today, on the official opening day, they wanted to see if there was anything more practical and affordable for them.

The mother's eyes were dazzled by the wide array of goods on the shelves, but when she touched her empty pockets, she lowered her head in self-consciousness.

"Let's go, just take a look." Her father tugged at her sleeve, his voice tinged with helplessness.

“Wait…wait a minute,” his mother stopped him, pointing to a large bag of snow-white salt in the food section, and said softly, “Honey, let’s…let’s buy a small pinch of salt. We’re almost out of the coarse salt at home, and it’s even tastes bitter. I heard…the salt here is a bit more expensive, but it tastes better, and just a little bit is enough. They can still sell it in bulk today, so let’s just buy two copper coins, and that will last us for several days.”

The father hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. He carefully took out a small money bag wrapped in rags from his pocket, poured out a few copper coins covered in dirt, and counted them again and again.

Just as they were about to leave, the mother's gaze was drawn to a small pile of golden snacks wrapped in oil paper on the nearby shelf. They were the leftover, discounted honey-roasted potato chips from today.

She gritted her teeth and took out the last copper coin from her purse.

"What are you doing?!" Her father exclaimed, grabbing her hand. "We only have this one copper coin left, and we need to save it to buy some wheat bran tomorrow. Why are you buying this useless thing?"

"My dear husband," the mother's eyes reddened, her voice trembling with emotion, "look at our eldest son... he's almost ten years old, so sensible. He always lets his younger siblings have the best food first. He... he's grown up and has never even had a decent snack..."

The father fell silent, a pang of sadness in his heart.

He let go of her hand.

The mother used her last copper coin to buy a small bag of golden, crispy potato chips, which she clutched tightly in her hand.

As the two walked home, the father suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse: "I heard from the elders that Blackrock City wasn't always like this. It was very prosperous in our ancestors' time. Later, for some reason, the land became increasingly barren, and the current duke, in order to maintain sufficient profits, has been raising taxes higher and higher, making life harder every day..."

The mother sighed sadly, but quickly cheered up: "Don't think about it too much. I heard that Lord Ryan is planning to open a textile factory in the city and hire female workers. I'll give it a try then."

The father curled his lip, looking unconvinced: "Open a textile factory? People in the city can't even get enough to eat these days, where would they get the spare money to buy new clothes? I think it's just those noble gentlemen wasting their time."

“That’s not necessarily true,” the mother said decisively. “Why should we care who he sells to? As long as he hires workers and pays them, that’s fine. Whether he sells it or not is the city lord’s problem. It’s better than us having to rely on fate like we do now.” She added, “And what about that Hope Trading Company? Isn’t it cooperating with the city lord’s mansion to start a construction team? They’re also recruiting, saying they prefer men—strong, willing to follow instructions—and they’ll provide three meals a day. Keep an eye out for news, and if it’s true, you can go too.”

Back in the dark shack, they found that their eldest son was still awake, sitting by the fire watching over his sleeping younger siblings.

The mother opened the precious bag of potato chips and handed the largest portion to her eldest son.

The eldest son shook his head and pushed the potato chips back to his mother: "Dad, Mom, you eat. I...I'm not hungry. Leave some for your younger siblings."

The mother could no longer hold back and hugged all three children tightly, tears streaming down her face silently.

Ultimately, at the mother's insistence, the family of five shared the small bag of sweet and crispy snacks.

That taste was the sweetest they had ever experienced in all these years.

It's good to be alive. As long as we persevere, there will always be a time when things improve. I just hope that good days will come soon.

That night, their whole family had sweet dreams.

...

Inside the shop, after the last customer left satisfied, Lin Yue and all the shop assistants finally dragged their tired bodies and closed the door.

"Thank you all for your hard work," Lin Yue said excitedly, looking at the astonishing sales figures in the ledger. "Tonight, we're not having a communal meal. I'll cook a celebratory feast for everyone. Order whatever you want!"

"oh--!!!"

Everyone let out a tired but incredibly excited cheer.

The kitchen lights came on again.

A more lavish and heartwarming celebration banquet, exclusively for the employees of Hope Bank, is quietly underway.

This time, they were treating themselves.