Chapter 58 is an extra chapter containing 9k units of nutrient solution...
Lu Xiaoqi and Song Wusao have been staying in Qinghe Ancient Town for some time now, and rarely return to their residential compound, so they naturally don't know what's going on here.
If He Guihua hadn't brought it up, Lu Xiaoqi would have completely forgotten about it.
Both of them were surprised to hear this: "What happened?"
It's only been a month. Back then, this young couple was in a hurry to get the shop back so they could run their business. How come they couldn't even last a month?
“I actually know about this,” He Guihua laughed, her tone tinged with schadenfreude.
She was a loyal customer of Song Sao Fish Restaurant and had long been disgusted by the young couple's lack of commitment to their contract. She had even explained their behavior to the neighbors. Most of the neighbors had frequented the restaurant and knew that it closed early because of their dishonesty; who would still go there?
"Besides, they're getting a bit cocky. Look how well Sister Song's fish are selling..."
It turned out that the young couple had assumed that since Sister Song Wu could sell such expensive fish from such a low-cost restaurant, they were incredibly envious after calculating the profits and thought they could do the same. Even if they only made half, that would be great!
So, they started mainly operating a fish restaurant. Previously called "Song Sao Fish Restaurant," they didn't dare copy it verbatim, so they changed one character, calling it "Song Sao Fish Soup Restaurant." And, quite cunningly, the very next day they tore down the sign announcing that "Song Sao Fish Restaurant" was no longer in business, and even covered the storefront like the previous one, intending to mislead people.
Lu Xiao knew about this; "Did they tag me in the group chat because of this?"
She happened to be in Hangzhou and Chengdu at the time, and didn't pay much attention to it after finding out. Mainly because Song Sao Fish Soup is a famous historical dish, and there was nothing wrong with him using it in the restaurant's name. Also, she felt that the young couple's cooking skills weren't anything special.
Sister-in-law Song frowned deeply: "Won't many customers think the fish restaurant is still open?"
Although they had already announced the closure through various channels, not everyone would refresh the online news.
He Guihua: "That's right! In the first two days, many people were fooled and made a fortune, but the taste was wrong! People have mouths, they can tell whether a dish is good or not with just one bite."
As a result, the store quickly became deserted, and more people became even angrier when they discovered online that it was a fake. A quick search revealed countless posts warning people against it.
The young couple managed to hold on for half a month, but they couldn't take it anymore and hurriedly switched back to selling their fast food. However, the fast food market is highly competitive, with three or four other businesses doing the same thing. They had driven customers away in the first half of the month, and now they wanted to beg them to come back. It wasn't that simple.
What's more, there's a group of "haters" constantly giving them low ratings on various review websites.
"Right now, they can't keep going any longer. I went to check this morning and they've already put up a 'For Sale' sign. They probably want to move to a different location to reopen," He Guihua said happily.
Everyone was very happy.
Do you really think anyone can take a small fast food stall and sell dishes priced at over fifty yuan per item?
"They really shot themselves in the foot," said Sister-in-law Song, shaking her head. "I wonder if the money they took back then will even cover the rent for these two months."
Lu Xiaoqi asked curiously, "What do you think of that new fish restaurant that opened at the intersection?"
She vividly recalled that it was suspected that this restaurant had colluded with the couple to drive Song Sao Fish Restaurant out of business.
“That place is alright, it was quite crowded when it opened, but it’s much quieter now.” He Guihua looked at Song Wusao with great emotion. “Many people in our group have eaten there, but they still think it’s not as good as what you make, Song Wusao.”
Anyway, after she ate it once, the next time was a long way off.
Unlike before, when I went to Song Sao Fish Restaurant, I would have wanted to eat there every week if it weren't so hard to get a table.
After finishing that topic, He Guihua looked at Lu Xiaoqi eagerly and asked, "Xiao Lu, are you selling Chinese herbal sachets now?"
She's been constantly pressured by her son and daughter-in-law lately. Her grandson's sachet is due for a new one soon, and many of his classmates want to buy one too. And her son—he was initially reluctant when she gave him the sachet, as if she were involved in some kind of pyramid scheme or superstition.
But now, they actually come to ask if there are any more sachets, looking quite anxious.
My daughter-in-law told me that her son's insomnia problem has improved a lot. He used to suffer from chronic insomnia, but now it only happens occasionally, and his mental state is much better than before.
Therefore, He Guihua has been keeping a close eye on the availability of herbal sachets.
Lu Xiaoqi beamed: "It'll be soon! Our old TCM doctor went to the province for his renowned doctor certification, and he'll be back soon. We can start work as soon as he gets back."
She wished she could use a megaphone to spread the word far and wide.
He Guihua beamed with joy: "That's good, that's good."
This doctor must be reliable. She plans to take her son and daughter-in-law to Qinghe Ancient Town to see this doctor and get some treatment when they visit Qinghe City again.
"We really need to open for business as soon as possible," she urged Lu Xiaoqi. "You have no idea how much people in the group are thinking about buying annual memberships."
Lu Xiaoqi gave her a no-questions-asked gesture: "Don't worry, it will open on time at the end of the year."
After saying goodbye, Lu Xiaoqi and Song Wusao happened to pass by the newly opened restaurant at the intersection, and saw several people in uniforms coming out of it, whispering to each other.
Lu Xiaoqi had sharp ears and overheard the gist of it.
"This is what it means to have a shiny, clean surface. It looks spotless on the surface, and the kitchen seems acceptable at first glance, but the details in the corners and freezers are not to be missed. Next time you encounter something like this, be sure to check carefully." The older man was instructing the students.
The two younger civil servants nodded hurriedly, indicating that they understood.
The restaurant owner chased after them, smiling and trying to invite the three to stay a little longer, but they politely declined.
Lu Xiaoqi and Song Wusao, standing on the street corner, witnessed the entire scene.
Sister-in-law Song said with some disdain, "Hygiene is very important in a restaurant."
Lu Xiaoqi smiled and said, "Just think about it. Since they can come up with such a despicable trick, they are obviously not people who do business properly. It's not surprising at all that something like this happened."
Sister-in-law Song: "That's true."
This is truly karma!
......
Qinghe City has a typical climate of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Summer begins in July, and the temperature can reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius. At that time, there is not a breath of wind outside, and you can only hear the cicadas chirping incessantly in the trees.
Until the end of August, outdoor work was impossible during the midday hours, so everyone stayed indoors with air conditioning, fans, or ice. Lu Xiaoqi arranged for a high-temperature allowance and had the canteen prepare mung bean soup every day. Zhang Zhongjing also provided a recipe for a cooling herbal tea. With these two measures combined, they finally managed to get through the hot summer in Qinghe City safely, and the project was progressing on schedule, even a little faster than expected.
As September arrived, the temperature gradually dropped. By mid-to-late September, it even got a little chilly in the mornings and evenings, requiring a light cardigan and jacket to be worn outside.
The period from the end of September to December is the most comfortable season in Qinghe City.
Early in the morning, Huang Si Niang and Lin Qiao'er got up and opened the door on the fourth side of the area. Yuwen Kai had planned a side door here for their convenience, and there was a guard on duty. On weekdays, they would send their children to school through this door.
The security guard greeted them warmly: "Did you take your child to school?"
A few months ago, Huang Si Niang and Lin Qiao'er would never have spoken to such a stranger; they would have been mortified. But after these past few months, they could now reply with complete confidence:
"Yes, taking the kids to school, good morning."
Even Ali, Xiang Xuezhi, and Xiang Yunniang greeted him in unison: "Uncle Li, good morning!"
The teacher said that we should greet people with "Good morning" when we meet them in the morning, as that is polite.
Security guard Mr. Li watched them leave before closing the gate. Guarding the gate in Zone 4 was an easy job; there were only a few people coming and going in the early morning and evening. Apart from the residents of Zone 4, everyone else left through the main gate of Zone 1.
Mr. Li didn't know what kind of area the fourth zone was.
Scenic area? Staff dormitory?
All he knew was that the first batch of areas to be opened to the public had already been decided. There was no Zone 4; instead, it was Zone 1, which was under renovation, and the adjacent Zones 2 and 3.
Across the street, Huang Si Niang and Lin Qiao'er led the children around a corner and arrived at their current school. Ali and Xiang Yun Niang attended Anping County Sunshine Kindergarten at the end of the street, while Xiang Xue Zhi went alone to Anping County Sunshine Primary School across the street to attend the third grade.
The plan to send these children to school had been in place for some time. At the start of the new semester, Lu Xiaoqi contacted the community and secured enrollment for several of the younger children. Kindergarten was easy to arrange, but getting Xiang Xuezhi into primary school was a bit more difficult. He was eleven years old and couldn't start from first grade, so during the summer vacation, Xiang Ming specifically paid Zhao Simin to tutor him one-on-one. When school started, a test was conducted, and the teacher suggested that he could start from third grade.
Although they are three years older than the third-grade students, it is still a pretty good solution.
The only problem is the few sixteen or seventeen-year-olds who are still struggling with how to go to school. But Huang Si Niang thinks that people like Zhang Ying and Xiang San Niang, who are very independent and have their own ideas, have already figured out what they want to do.
"I'm going to school." Xiang Xuezhi said goodbye to Lin Qiao'er as he stood at the school gate with his schoolbag on his back.
Lin Qiao'er straightened his collar: "Listen to your teachers at school, okay?"
Xiang Xuezhi nodded sullenly: "I know, Mom... Mother."
Lin Qiao'er smiled and watched him walk into the school. They had been in class for half a month. Because his grades were still a bit worse than his classmates, Xiang Xuezhi had been working very hard during this time. He also had to find time to learn woodworking, which made her, as his mother, feel a little sorry for him.
"Alright, alright, he'll be back tonight." Huang Si Niang teased her, "Your Xue Zhi is a clear-headed child, he knows what he wants, so you don't need to worry."
Lin Qiao'er: "That's what his grandfather said too. Let's go, we still have to see you two little ones off."
She gently patted her daughter Xiang Yunniang's head.
"Goodbye, Mom." When they arrived at the kindergarten gate, Xiang Yunniang took the teacher's hand and sweetly said goodbye to Lin Qiao'er.
Ah Li stood to the side and waved to Huang Si Niang, but didn't say anything. From their appearance alone, the two of them were not much different from today's children, wearing kindergarten uniforms, sneakers, and with pigtails.
You can't tell that she was malnourished and emaciated just a few months ago.
Xiang Yunniang led her younger sister inside. Huang Si Niang's smile deepened as she watched her daughter's back as she carried her little schoolbag, and she suddenly felt an urge to cry.
Since she uttered those few words, Ahri's muteness has gradually improved. Although she still doesn't speak much on her own initiative, she will open her mouth to ask for something, but she still only utters a few words at a time.
Huang Si Niang was initially worried that the kindergarten teacher would dislike her performance, but to her surprise, the teacher comforted her, saying that it was normal for the child to be like this, that some children are just late talkers, and that they would eventually have a language explosion period.
"Come on, come on, we'll be back tonight. Don't bother looking, they've already gone inside," Lin Qiao'er teased her.
Huang Si Niang: ......
The two then turned back.
Of course, we'd chat for a while on the way.
"Now that your child is in kindergarten, are you also planning to go out and work?" Lin Qiao'er asked Huang Si Niang.
Huang Si Niang let out a long sigh of relief and nodded emphatically: "Of course. You have no idea how envious I am every month when I see you all receiving your salaries."
Although Xiang Dali's salary was entirely used to support her family, she still wanted to have some money of her own to spend.
Lin Qiao'er chuckled a few times; as a young wife, she understood this feeling very well.
"So, have you made any progress?"
"Not yet." Huang Si Niang shook her head. "But I think that with so many shops opening in Qinghe Ancient Town, I should be able to find a job."
Lin Qiao'er: "That's true. By the way, I'm no longer planning to cook in the kitchen."
Huang Si Niang was somewhat surprised: "Are you quitting your job? You don't plan to come out and work anymore?"
She felt it was a bit of a pity.
Lin Qiao'er quickly denied it: "No, I just quit my job at the cafeteria."
She was originally a kitchen helper in Zone 4, but later the kitchen was merged into the main canteen, and all the helpers, including the cook Du Fang, went with her. Lin Qiao'er was responsible for serving food in the canteen, which wasn't a very strenuous job, but she didn't particularly like it either.
“Isn’t Li Niang assisting Han Shanggong and the others right now? They’re short-staffed, and they asked if I wanted to come.” Lin Qiao’er said, “I was thinking that although I’m not very good at embroidery and tailoring, I can still do some spinning and sewing.”
She preferred working with fabrics to her job in the cafeteria.
“That’s definitely possible,” Huang Si Niang praised her. “Even when you were a young girl, you were already quite skilled at spinning and weaving.”
"Do you want to come? I remember you're quite good at needlework."
Unexpectedly, Huang Si Niang hesitated for a moment and then shook her head: "I still want to see if there are any other opportunities."
Her needlework was indeed quite good, but she didn't enjoy it. If it weren't for the fact that every woman had to learn it back then, she certainly wouldn't have.
As they walked and chatted, they encountered acquaintances from the county who greeted them. Some were parents of their children's classmates, while others were businesspeople they had dealt with before. Unconsciously, they began to integrate into the local life, developing various connections with the outside world, some deep, some shallow.
They walked back through the main entrance.
The entire Qinghe Ancient Town has changed dramatically – several areas undergoing renovation and repair are almost entirely covered by scaffolding, making it impossible to recognize its original appearance. Qinghe Tower is no exception, completely surrounded by scaffolding from top to bottom.
Against this backdrop, the distinctive buildings enclosed by the blue curtain appear less prominent.
These past few months have been a critical period for construction, and all the craftsmen have canceled their vacations and are working tirelessly to catch up on the work.
"I don't know when it will be demolished," Lin Qiao'er said.
"It'll be soon, it'll be open for business in January." Huang Si Niang said with a smile. "Everyone guessed that Miss Lu wanted to open on New Year's Day."
"This is a good day."
Along the way, they encountered many employees of Qinghe Ancient Town. They smiled and nodded at some of the familiar faces, but most of them were unfamiliar.
In recent months, Qinghe Ancient Town has been actively recruiting. It's graduation season, and Chen Yingying has visited several campus recruitment events, bringing many recent graduates to the town. The customer service and performance departments have the most openings, filled with handsome men and beautiful women, radiating youthful energy, making anyone walking down the street feel inexplicably happy.
Qin Shaohua had already recommended a musical director in July, and they were working on a musical.
"I heard," Lin Qiao'er glanced around and whispered to Huang Siniang, "that the musicians and dancers from the brothel who came a while ago are all going to participate in the performance."
Huang Si Niang was taken aback, then smiled and said, "That's a good thing."
“Who says otherwise? They were all unfortunate people before, but now they can enjoy their good fortune.” After saying that, Lin Qiao’er was envious of those who were saved by the gods because of their special skills and could find a place to use their talents as soon as they arrived. Her tone was a little sour. “Unlike us, we are just an extra.”
Huang Si Niang was amused by her tone: "Doesn't this just prove that we are the truly lucky ones?"
Lin Qiao'er laughed heartily, and suddenly felt less sour after hearing what she said: "You're right, we're the ones who really hit the jackpot. Sigh, we still need to have something to rely on."
She decided to learn from the two Han court ladies and the other embroiderers and weavers who had also been summoned.
Although she is mediocre now, perhaps decades later she will become a skilled SR, instead of just an extra.
Looking at her companions who had rekindled their fighting spirit, Huang Si Niang was suddenly filled with endless emotions.
In the past, artisan families like theirs often followed the crowd. The men were responsible for external affairs, and the women for internal affairs; they only needed to take care of their own small plot of land. But now, apart from a few very old women, the wives and young women like them are actively planning for their future.
The men, too, changed their attitude and became acquiescing or even supportive.
For example, Xiang San Niang from the Xiang family, after pestering her father for several months, finally got him to relent and take her on as an apprentice to teach carpentry. She was also the first female apprentice in the Xiang family village in a hundred years.
A few years later, she may become the first female carpenter in Xiangjia Village in a hundred years.
Xiang San Niang and Zhang Ying were having breakfast in the cafeteria.
The new cafeteria is large, with two floors, and can accommodate more than two hundred people at the same time. Since it's not open to tourists, the decor is modern, bright, and simple. The new employees from outside felt like they were back in college; it was a familiar feeling, a mix of warmth and a little bit of disdain.
But for these people from ancient times, it felt very new and they liked it.
They eat almost all three meals here.
Xiang San Niang took a bite of the osmanthus steamed cake. It was made with freshly picked osmanthus flowers this year. It was sweet, soft, and chewy, with a delicate osmanthus fragrance. It was absolutely delicious.
She bought an osmanthus cake, a bowl of soy milk, a fried dough stick, and a tea egg, while Zhang Ying bought a basket of steamed buns and a bowl of porridge. The head chef in the cafeteria was quite skilled; it was said that Miss Lu had poached him from the hotel, and Miss Lu herself often ate there. If you were lucky, you might even run into Sister-in-law Song, who was itching to cook, and the cafeteria would definitely be packed that day.
“I suddenly remembered that when we first arrived, it felt like we hadn’t had a proper meal in centuries,” Zhang Ying suddenly laughed. “I could eat three baskets of these steamed buns.”
Xiang San Niang said quietly, "Indeed, we haven't had a proper meal in hundreds of years."
“I’m actually eating less now.” Zhang Ying scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth. A few months ago, she didn’t eat so elegantly; she wolfed it down as if someone was trying to take it from her.
Now that she's used to having enough food every day, she can't eat as much as before. It's as if her body and stomach know that she'll never experience hunger again and won't need to force herself to eat a meal to store energy.
However, they still ate very quickly.
After putting the tray back, the two prepared to go to work.
Xiang San Niang is apprenticing with her father and is going to Qinghe Tower. Zhang Ying is currently helping out at Guanmai Hall.
"Is carpentry difficult?" she asked Third Sister curiously.
Xiang San Niang rubbed her sore arms and looked distressed. "It's tough! I still only know how to plane wood. But my dad said I have some talent. Even if I don't have the strength to make big things in the future, I can still make small things. If I go down the path of delicacy, I might not lose to others."
He started off with a sour face, but by the end he was all smiles.
She put her arm around Zhang Ying and whispered, "You have to work hard too. It would be best if Dr. Zhang would take you as his apprentice."
Zhang Ying: "...I don't even dare to think like that."
Xiang San Niang: "What's there to be afraid of? Just like Miss Lu said, the bigger your heart, the bigger your stage."
Zhang Ying had actually made two plans. It would be best if she could become an apprentice, but if that wasn't possible, she wanted to study nursing at a vocational school so she could still work at Guanmaitang. This was Teacher Zhao's advice, so she had been diligently studying various textbooks during this time.
Just as she was about to say something, a group of young women wearing white T-shirts with the words "Qinghe Ancient Town" printed on them walked by. The two women kept turning around, which made the women in the group smile.
The leader among them was a woman who looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. She was beautiful yet had a heroic air about her, and her hair was tied in a high ponytail. She looked very dashing, and her surname seemed to be Gongsun.
“It’s those musicians,” Xiang San Niang said excitedly in a low voice.
These are the newcomers Miss Lu summoned half a month ago. They are said to be court musicians from the Tang Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. There are those who play the pipa, those who play the konghou, those who play the flute, and several dancers. There are twelve people in total, and they came together.
They now live in District 4.
Section 4 is almost full.
Xiang San Niang sighed, "They are so beautiful. No wonder they came from the palace."
Zhang Ying nodded vigorously beside her.
The two young girls were at an age where they admired beauty. Looking at the other girl's beauty and figure, and then at themselves, they couldn't help but feel ashamed. It wasn't until Zhang Ying pulled out her secondhand phone, which she'd bought for a few hundred yuan, and checked the time:
"Oh dear, I have to hurry over there. We're selling sachets near the main gate today, and I need to get my things ready."
I almost missed it.
Xiang San Niang was also in a hurry: "I have to go right away. My father is very strict with me now."
So, for a moment, she forgot all about feeling inferior and pitied herself, and immediately started running.
The tall girl who had been smiling with her lips pursed in the group of musicians turned around and saw this scene. She couldn't help but say to the person next to her, "I heard they only arrived a few months earlier than us, but they look just like the people here. They're so lively."
The person next to him had a hint of envy in their eyes: "It's always good to be young, you adapt quickly."
The tall girl chuckled: "You're only in your early twenties, yet you act like you're so old."
The woman touched her face, smiled bitterly, and remained silent.
Although I'm only in my early twenties, after visiting the Imperial Music Bureau and the palace, I always feel like I'm already very old.
The tall girl never expected that a casual remark would cause her, or rather, everyone's, distress, and she couldn't help but sigh.
The woman who was leading the group, named Gongsun, turned around and said, "Alright, alright, these are all things of the past, let's not think about them anymore. This is a good place, let's all live our lives well, things won't be bad in the future."
She must have been quite popular among the group of musicians, because as soon as she spoke, everyone gave a slight curtsy: "Yes, sir."
Her graceful demeanor and elegant, ancient charm were like a beautiful painting, attracting passersby to take a second look.
Gongsun comforted them a few more times, and finally the matter was brought to a close.
Passersby resumed their hurried pace, heading to their respective work posts. This was an ordinary morning in late September in Qinghe Ancient Town.
By 10 a.m., the sunshade and long tables and chairs of Guanmaitang had been set up at the main entrance of Qinghe Ancient Town.
Lu Xiaoqi also arrived at this time.
She parked her car in a designated parking space in the Qinghe Ancient Town parking lot. After enduring the scorching sun in July, she finally made the painful decision to give up her electric scooter and bought a four-wheeled vehicle worth over 100,000 yuan. Now she can be considered a car owner and a house owner.
According to current classification standards, they belong to the urban middle class.
An ordinary, well-off citizen burdened with a bank loan of 100 million yuan.
As soon as I exited the parking lot, I saw a long queue in front of the main entrance plaza. The staff even had to use ropes to keep the queue winding around several corners so that it wouldn't spill onto the road.
Lu Xiaoqi even saw several familiar faces, all regular customers she'd met when Song Sao Fish Restaurant was still open. They must have come from the customer group; she checked her phone and, sure enough, they were:
[Report: We have arrived. There are many people on site.]
[Great! Buy a few more, those of us from out of town can't go, we're counting on you.]
I have a bad feeling; with so many people, they might impose purchase limits.
That would be the end of us.
He Guihua, comfortably staying at home in Qinghe City, couldn't help but laugh when she saw the discussion in the group chat. "Oh my, this is one of the advantages of being neighbors with Xiao Lu!" she thought. "Lu Xiaoqi just gave her a few; there was no need to go to the scene to grab them."
Of course, this kind of joy can only be secretly enjoyed in one's heart; it cannot be shared and cause trouble for Xiaolu.
Lu Xiaoqi glanced at the diners' group chat, then at the Guanmaitang group chat.
Since the multiple projects in the ancient town began, she's been added to various groups, now boasting over twenty work-related groups on WeChat. Lu Xiaoqi has muted messages in each group, only appearing when colleagues tag her, maintaining her aloof boss persona. In reality, she occasionally checks in to quietly observe and enjoy the gossip.
Wow, this is a huge line even before it's officially started? Amazing!
Of course! Our sachets are always popular; we only sell them once a month.
"Won't there be enough to sell?"
[Maybe. How about this, limit purchases to one or two per person?]
Two should be enough, since many people come from the city. One seems too few. I've calculated it, and it should be about enough, if the number of people doesn't increase later.
[I asked Dr. Zhang, and he also said two, but it depends on the situation. If the number of people increases, they'll change it to one per person, with one person required to make a reservation. Then he told us to brew two pots of honeysuckle tea and bring them over for those in line.]
【receive. 】
【receive. 】
Lu Xiaoqi smiled silently as she watched. "Tsk tsk, no wonder he's a young and promising graduate. His attitude is so sunny, cheerful, and positive."
She thought for a moment, then called Sister-in-law Song. After hanging up, she sent a message to the regular customers' group:
[Chef Song is helping out at the restaurant in the ancient town today. We can accommodate ten tables, with a limit of four people per table. Anyone want to come? Reply "1" in the group chat if you're interested. First come, first served. Please confirm your availability before replying; don't take up empty spots if you can't make it.]
After she posted it, the regular customers in the group were discussing the sachets, but then they saw this message, and all the chat came to an abrupt halt.
[Holy crap, what did I just see?! Reservations opened today?! Why didn't I go to Qinghe Ancient Town today?!]
Someone excitedly posted a message, only to find that others had already quickly replied:
【1】
【1】
【1】
......
He was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized what was happening and replied with: [1]
Seeing that he was second to last in line, he finally breathed a long sigh of relief. Those tentacle monsters! He had planned to play ball with his friends today, but now it seemed he'd have to change his plans.
He called his friend: "Let's skip the game today and go to Anping County."
My friend asked, puzzled: "Why are you going to Anping County? Didn't we agree to play ball? We've already booked the courts."
"Let someone else call. Come on, let's go to Qinghe Ancient Town for fish! It's on me. If you don't come, I'll invite someone else, but don't blame me for not telling you beforehand."
"Go! I want to see what you're up to."
The man hung up the phone, satisfied.
Qinghe Ancient Town, here it comes!
Embracing the joy of successfully grabbing one, he watched with satisfaction as those who missed out wailed in the group chat.
[Protest! My internet connection was just lagging.]
[Promise me that next time you hold an event like this, you'll give us advance notice, okay?]
[Oh no! How could they do this? What are we out-of-towners supposed to do? We can't possibly steal anything!]
When will Qinghe Ancient Town finally open? Can't it just open tomorrow for my sake?
He Guihua, who originally thought she could get the sachet without having to compete at home, felt like the sky had fallen when she clicked back to the group after watching videos for a while.
Her fish!
......
Anping County.
Grandma Chen pushed out her little tricycle, on which were placed two large stainless steel buckets. Each bucket had a red paper label on it, one saying "Iced Jelly" and the other saying "Mung Bean Soup".
On the other side was a flat frying pan and some ingredients in sealed containers. There was also a sign that read "Specialty Fried Mochi". In addition, there were several low stools hanging on the side of the tricycle, and two cases of mineral water at the back.
The car was packed full of space, with the goal of making the most of every inch.
Grandma Chen lived in a narrow alley in an old residential area of Anping County. The streets were narrow, and the houses were close together. Her neighbor on the second floor was hanging out laundry and asked, "..."
"Aunt Chen, are you going to set up your stall today?"
She was a little surprised.
Since many construction teams and new employees moved into Qinghe Ancient Town, some resourceful people have started setting up stalls at the entrance of the ancient town, but they mostly set up stalls when they go out to work in the morning and when they finish work in the evening.
Grandma Chen was one of them.
Grandma Chen's family is not well-off. Her daughter was in a car accident ten years ago and is now paralyzed and bedridden, completely unable to work. Her husband divorced her, and she can only rely on her elderly mother for support. Grandma Chen's husband has also passed away, and she herself does not have a formal job. Previously, she supported herself and her daughter by doing hourly cleaning and housekeeping work.
Now we rely on setting up stalls.
She sells zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and mugwort cakes in the morning, and mung bean soup, ice jelly, and water in the evening. She has been doing this for more than two months.
But isn't it a little past nine in the morning? Why did they go already?
Grandma Chen replied with a smile, "You didn't know? Dr. Zhang's sachets went on sale today, and I bet there are a lot of people queuing up right now, so I have to go over and do some business."
"Oh my, sachets are on sale again?" The neighbor put down her clothes and asked curiously, "Are these things really that useful?"
I've been hearing a lot about this lately.
Grandma Chen: "I've never used it either, but with so many people queuing up to buy it, it must be effective."
“That’s true.” The neighbor wiped her hands. “Aunt Chen, wait a moment, I’ll go with you.”
Her relatives in the city called last time to ask if she could help buy it, so she plans to go and take a look, and join in the fun.
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