The guy Gou Dan hired was named Zhu Zi, a thin, long stick that really did look like a pillar.
In Gou Dan's opinion, Zhu Zi was the smartest guy in the watermelon shop besides himself, so sending him to do this job was a sure thing.
"Hey, Fatty's back?"
As summer's coolness arrived, everyone in the backyard greeted Fatty warmly.
"Oh, who is this?"
Someone pointed at the pillar and asked.
"His name is Zhuzi. He's a distant cousin of mine. He had nothing to do at home and heard that his cousin was doing well, so he came to come and stay with me! I'm going to talk to the manager and ask him to keep Zhuzi here since we're short-handed."
Fatty said it casually.
"Oh, I see. The shopkeeper is very easy to talk to; he should agree."
"Yes, we've been so busy lately and we're short-staffed. Your cousin's arrival is just in time!"
"The shopkeeper happens to be in the side room. You should quickly take your cousin in and ask him!"
Fatty agreed and led Zhuzi into the side room.
The innkeeper in the side room was none other than Big Face, who was Fatty's real cousin.
As soon as Fatty Ball explained the situation, Big Face immediately agreed.
"We're desperately short-staffed, this is a timely help!"
After saying this with a big face, he instructed, "Fatty, the popsicles have been selling so well these past few days that we're almost out of ingredients. You can take your cousin to buy some quicklime!"
"Yes, shopkeeper!"
Then he kicked the pillar hard in the butt.
"How can you be so clueless? Hurry up and thank the shopkeeper!"
"Thank you... thank you, shopkeeper!"
Zhu Zi grinned and said something, then Da Lian waved them out.
Zhu Zi limped out, a question lingering in his mind: Why not just say what you have to say? Why use your feet? Especially... why use so much force?
Ouch, that hurts!
...
Following Fatty Ball out the door, the two arrived at a place selling quicklime. Zhu Zi was a little confused and asked a question.
"Hey Fatty, can quicklime be used to make ice?"
"Well, what else would you buy it for?"
Fat Ball Natural Way.
"But...but isn't quicklime used for painting walls?"
Scratching his head, Zhu Zi was utterly puzzled.
"Hey, use it for painting walls? Even a fool would know that!"
Pillar:"……"
"But nobody knows it can be used to make ice! That's why this refreshing summer treat is so profitable! You'd better remember this well, whether you get a reward when you get back depends on this!"
"Uh-huh!"
Zhu Zi nodded repeatedly. He knew what he was doing this time, and if he succeeded, he would naturally reap the rewards!
Buying quicklime went smoothly; it filled a small cart.
When it was time to transport it back, the burly, yak-like man, Fatty, rubbed his back and said, "Ah, as people get older, their health deteriorates day by day. Look, my old back pain has flared up again!"
Then, pointing at the pillar, he said enviously, "You young people are so lucky! You're so agile and strong, pushing such a cart of lime is no problem for you! Pillar, go for it!"
"..."
By the time Zhu Zi had managed to push the cartload of quicklime back by himself, it was already evening. Almost exhausted, Zhu Zi leaned against the corner of the wall, looking utterly hopeless.
They promised intelligence gathering and that it wouldn't be tough or tiring—it was all a lie!
Are you tired?
Fat Ball finally realized the benefits of free labor and was even a little reluctant to let this fool go.
"Forehead…"
This time, Zhu Zi was smarter and didn't rush to answer.
If he wasn't tired, wouldn't he have to do more work? His eyes darted around, and he mimicked Fatty's earlier manner, exclaiming, "Ouch, my back hurts, Fatty! I probably strained my back just now!"
"Did you strain your back? No way?"
Fatty stroked his chin and analyzed, "You've only been pushing the bike for a short while, and it's not even heavy, how could you have strained your back? I think you definitely have a bad back, that's why your back hurts!"
"..."
So what if my kidneys are bad? Anyway, I can't get an erection sitting here, as long as I don't have to work!
"If that's the case, then it's a pity!"
Fatty Ball feigned regret, "I thought you must be exhausted after working so hard all day, so I invited you to have a good time at Chunshui Tower tonight. But I didn't expect your back to give you trouble, so I have to cancel!"
"It's okay, I'll go!"
Upon hearing the words "Chunshuilou," Zhu Zi, who had been unable to get an erection, immediately stood up: "Brother Pang invited me, so even if I'm not feeling well, I still have to show my support, right?"
Fat Ball smiled and nodded, indicating that the boy was teachable.
...
As night falls, a cool summer breeze wafts outside the door.
Fat Ball, dressed in a brocade robe, stood with his hands behind his back, looking both extravagant and dashing. Pillar followed him, but in front of them was a small cart, bulging with several layers of tattered quilts, the contents of which were unknown.
"Fatty, shall we go?"
"The pillar asked."
"Walk!"
Then, pointing to the cart, he said, "Brother Zhu, this cart of things is going to Chunshui Tower. I thought since we're going the same way, why don't you push it with us?"
"..."
To steal the ice-making method, and to get to Chunshui Tower, I'll endure!
Zhu Zi gritted his teeth, dragging his weary body, and continued pushing the cart with a determined look in his eyes…
In the backyard of Chunshui Tower, the madam and Fatty Ball were making a deal.
"Madam, how about our premium fart service?"
Fat Ball is laughing and joking.
"Excellent, excellent!"
The madam's eyes lit up as she looked at the tattered cart covered with a quilt; in her eyes, it was all pure silver!
In the past two days, many people have come to Chunshui Tower to inquire about ice wine. Today, she has promised everyone that there will be ice wine tomorrow.
Use this ice to freeze the wine tonight, and it'll be ready to use tomorrow night!
There was one thing that puzzled her: logically, fifty taels of silver could buy fifty large jars of ice, and the cart should be full. Why did the cart look a little empty?
Seeing the madam looking at the cart with a shifty look in her eyes, Fatty Qiu lifted the blanket on the cart and said to the madam, "Madam, you paid fifty taels of silver for the premium 'Love Butt' treatment. If you bought all of it as ice, that would be twenty-five jars in total, and they're all here!"
"etc…"
The madam frowned and asked in a cold voice, "We clearly agreed that it would be one tael of silver per can of ice. My fifty taels of silver should have bought fifty cans of ice. How come it's become twenty-five cans here?"
————
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