Chapter 184: "Opening a branch of Shang Shi Fang in Central City."
The next morning, Sheng Ran was awakened by the noise outside the window.
She opened her eyes and found that Tu Shanyi was still holding her, and his nine tails wrapped her tightly, like a warm cocoon.
"Awake?" Tu Shanyi's voice was lazily filled with sleep. "They're putting up Spring Festival couplets outside. Ling Rui and Zhu Jiuyin have been arguing all morning, arguing over who can put them up neater."
Sheng Ran smiled, pushed him away, and got up to wash.
When she walked out of the room, she saw a lively scene in the yard:
Ling Rui was standing on a ladder pasting Spring Festival couplets, while Zhu Jiuyin was holding the paste below, and the two of them were bickering from time to time; Huai Jun was arranging New Year's goods in the yard, with bacon, sausages, and frozen pears spread all over the floor; Pei Xiaoxing was checking the lanterns brought by the guards, making sure each one was lit.
"My wife is awake!" Ling Rui immediately jumped down from the ladder, holding a piece of blessing in his hand. "Look at the Spring Festival couplets I put up, they are much better looking than Zhu Jiuyin's!"
Zhu Jiuyin was unconvinced: "It's obvious that mine is more upright! My wife, please judge for yourself!"
Sheng Ran smiled and waved her hand: "They all look good. Let's go for a walk in the city today and see if there are enough medicinal herbs in the west of the city."
As the group walked out of the inn, the festive atmosphere in the central city became even stronger, especially in the prosperous east part of the city.
The streets are lined with red lanterns, and Spring Festival couplets are posted on the doors of every household. Vendors selling sugar paintings and candied haws are shouting, and children in new clothes are chasing and playing in the snow.
Snowflakes fall on the red lanterns, and the red and white colors complement each other, making the scene particularly festive.
To Sheng Ran's surprise, when the people saw her, they were no longer suspicious and wary as before, but greeted her warmly.
"Miss Sheng! You're here!" An old man selling rice cakes smiled and handed over a piece of hot rice cake. "It's freshly steamed, try it!"
"Miss Sheng, this is the Chinese character for 'Fu' embroidered by my family. Here it is for you!" A woman ran over holding the Chinese character wrapped in red cloth, her eyes full of gratitude, "You cured my mother's illness!"
"Miss Sheng, I heard you were going to buy New Year's goods in the west of the city. We have some white flour at home and will send it to you later!"
Sheng Ran was surrounded, her hands quickly stuffed with rice cakes, blessing characters, and frozen pears. She was a little flattered and quickly thanked them: "Thank you everyone, you don't have to be so polite!"
Tu Shanyi walked over and took the things from her naturally. He smiled and said to the people, "Thank you, fellow villagers. I'll accept them on behalf of my wife. There are still enough medicinal herbs in the west of the city. If you have any difficulties, feel free to come to the Jiuyao Chamber of Commerce to find me."
The people became more enthusiastic and said they wanted to go to the west of the city to help. It was not until Pei Xiaoxing reminded them that "it was time to go to the west of the city" that Sheng Ran was able to escape.
"They... seem to believe me." Sheng Ran walked in the snow, looking at the hot rice cake in her hand, her voice full of disbelief.
"Because you are worthy." Pei Xiaoxing said softly, "They all remember what you have done for them."
"No matter how great the gap between the rich and the poor is in the Central City, ordinary people still make up the majority, and their hearts are connected. If you treat the people in the west of the city well, the people in the east will naturally trust you."
"Yes, nowadays only the nobles are still serving Sheng Jieyue as lackeys."
They went to a noodle shop in the east of the city for breakfast. When the boss heard that they were Sheng Ran and her group, he added more ingredients and served a few bowls of hot soup: "Miss Sheng, you are a good person, we all trust you!"
Ling Rui's mouth was full of oil, and he said proudly: "Look, my wife, now everyone knows that you are a good person. No one believes Sheng Jieyue's rumors anymore!"
After breakfast, they immediately rushed to the west of the city.
As soon as I arrived at the medical tent, I saw the guards of Jiuyao Chamber of Commerce unloading the truck. The yulan flowers on the truck were wilted and the leaves were yellow, obviously frozen by the cold.
"President, this Hua Yun is like this after coming here, you see..." The guard looked anxious.
Sheng Ran walked forward, a light golden vitality flashing from her fingertips, gently brushing across the withered petals.
A miracle happened - the originally yellow leaves gradually turned green again, and the withered petals unfolded again, even more fresh than when they were first picked.
"Alive! Really alive!" The people cheered and applauded.
Sheng Ran looked at the fresh and lively Yu Lanhua and smiled with her eyes curved: "That's great! This way we don't have to go all the way to Yu Lan City to keep it fresh. It saves a lot of trouble!"
Pei Xiao walked over to her side, his gaze fixed on the direction of Danxue Mountain, where the flames were still blazing. He whispered, "If these flowers can be reborn, Yun Ling can too. The Phoenix's rebirth is no longer just a legend."
Sheng Ran's heart warmed up, and she clenched the black feather in her palm and nodded: "Well, I believe him."
In the next few days, Sheng Ran worked hard with the beastmen and the people.
The medical officer used the spiritual spring water to prepare medicine, the beastmen helped build a new medical tent, and the people helped each other repair the roof and put up Spring Festival couplets.
The plague in the west of the city was gradually brought under control. Most of the patients who were previously bedridden were able to get out of bed and walk around, and their faces regained color.
"Miss Sheng, you are truly a messenger of God!" A young orc who had just been able to get out of bed kowtowed to Sheng Ran, "If it weren't for you, I would have died long ago!"
"God's messenger! Miss Sheng is the real God's messenger!"
More and more people shouted, and the sound spread throughout the entire Central City.
Sheng Ran responded with a smile and did not correct everyone.
Everyone thought she was a messenger of God, even she herself thought so.
But the voice in her dream repeatedly told her that she was the goddess of flowers.
That evening, Sheng Ran looked at the smiles on the faces of the people in the west of the city and suddenly said, "I want to open a branch of Shangshifang in the central city."
Everyone looked at her, their eyes full of confusion.
Sheng Ran explained, "Shangshifang can make affordable medicinal cuisine. It can not only solve the problem of poor people not being able to afford hot meals, but the medicinal cuisine can also help treat the aftereffects of the plague."
She also considered the issue of manpower, and suddenly turned to look at Ling Rui, "I know the cat tribe is having a hard time this Spring Festival. If your family is willing, I can teach them crafts and business skills."
Ling Rui suddenly looked up, his eyes full of surprise: "Really? My wife!"
The cat tribe once did business in the central city, but without outstanding skills and resources, they were gradually replaced by others.
If my wife can get the cat tribe to contract Shangshifang’s business in the central city, then gaining a foothold in the central city will not be a problem!
"Of course it's true." Sheng Ran smiled and nodded, "I know your people are kind-hearted. I trust them, and I trust you too."
She then looked at the other beastmen, "Tu Shanyi, I'll trouble you with the venue and ingredients. Pei Xiaoxing, please help report it and don't let Sheng Jieyue cause any trouble. During the initial opening period, I'll have to ask Huai Jun and Zhu Jiuyin to help purify the water source for ingredients and take care of the fire in the kitchen, respectively."
"No problem!" everyone responded in unison.
The snow was still falling, but it was warm in the medical tent in the west of the city.
People are pasting Spring Festival couplets, children are chasing and playing, and yulan flowers are blooming beautifully in the corner.
Sheng Ran looked at the scene in front of her, then looked at the lingering flames on Danxue Mountain, a faint smile forming on the corner of her mouth.
No matter whether she is the Goddess of Flowers or not, no matter whether Yun Ling can come back or not, she will guard this place and the people around her.
In the streets and alleys of the central city, the legend about "God's Messenger Sheng Ran" became more and more widespread, and the anticipation for Shangshifang also spread quietly.
When Sheng Jieyue heard this in the Saint Lady's Mansion, she was so angry that she smashed the teacup.
"She heard there's a Shang Shi Fang in Beining City that's doing booming business, so she wanted to copy it and open a branch?"
"That's hilarious. Have you ever asked for anyone's opinion?"
"Did that pig, the owner of Shang Shi Fang, ever try to curry favor with me?"
"Call him to Central City and expose the fake Sheng Ran!"
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