Chapter 462: Popular Before the Event
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
As customers saw the faulty fabric displayed by Chu Qingyue, they quickly understood the situation and left the shop one after another.
The once-thriving business was now deserted due to Chu Qingyue’s intervention.
Shopkeeper Zhang came out of the store, infuriated. “Chu Qingyue, what are you doing? Even if a deal doesn’t go through, we should maintain integrity. Are you trying to completely ruin our relationship?”
Chu Qingyue glared back, “Our relationship was already ruined!”
After a standoff, Shopkeeper Zhang realized he was at a disadvantage. Chu Qingyue’s business was unaffected, but he hadn’t made a single sale today. Continuing the dispute would only harm him more. “What do you want?” he asked.
Chu Qingyue demanded firmly, “Return the hundred taels I paid for the fabric.”
Shopkeeper Zhang clenched his fists. In the end, he gave the money to Chu Qingyue and held back his anger. “Can you leave now?”
Chu Qingyue put away the money, threw away the broken fabric, and left with Xiao Yi.
Shopkeeper Zhang was so angry that his face turned green, but there was nothing he could do.
On their way back, Chu Qingyue asked Xiao Yi, “Do you know which shop in the county has good quality fabric?”
Xiao Yi replied, “Tan’s fabrics are quite good.”
Tan? Was it Tan Mengyang, who was also doing other business with her family?
If so, it might be worth checking out.
At that moment, they overheard a conversation about Shen’s Weaving Workshop being up for sale due to financial difficulties and debts. Chu Qingyue stopped to listen, intrigued by the opportunity.
“The Shen’s Weaving Workshop is up for sale. Do you want to take a look?” “Why so sudden?”
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but it seems like it’s not running well. It owes a lot of debt and has to be sold to pay it off.”
“The Shen’s Weaving Workshop is quite big. It’s not bad if they sell it at a low price.”
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go.”
Chu Qingyue heard all of this. She stood on the spot and thought for a moment before following.
If she bought the weaving workshop, she would not have to worry about raw materials in the future. Moreover, if she had more weaving materials, he could open a silk shop. How good would that be!
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. She quickened her pace and went to the Shen’s Weaving Workshop.
Meanwhile, at Guangxi Garden, the auction of three hundred display spots was completed in just one and a half hours, bringing in a total of 3,200 taels.
The next step was to visit various shops for promotional paintings.
This task required Chu Qingzhi’s personal attention to understand what each shop sold.
Under Tang Jinghong’s guidance, the others began decorating Guangxi Garden as per the detailed plan.
The first task was to hang a banner at the garden’s entrance announcing the opening of the first food festival on the first day of September.
There was also a large sign hanging at the city gate, the crossroads of the various county cities, and the entrances of various large shops. In short, they had to publicize the food festival.
There was even a couplet hanging on the gate of Guangxi Garden-
Upper Couplet: “With meticulous craftsmanship and modest profit, our fame relies entirely on the excellent color, aroma, and taste.”
Lower Couplet: “Graciously serving guests from all over, whether they come from the north or the south, offering a range of high to low prices.” Horizontal Scroll: “Food Festival.”
In short, the Food Festival was now the most hotly discussed and eye-catching thing in the county.
Of course, other counties also conducted their own promotions for the food festival, adopting a straightforward and rather blunt method – parading through the streets.
The parades weren’t for criminals but were instead lively processions with gongs and drums to draw public attention. This vigorous promotional effort turned the food festival into one of the most popular events in recent decades.
In other words, even before the event officially began, it had already become a huge sensation.
In the evening, Chu Qingzhi, who had been busy outside for the entire day, returned home. After going home to rest for a while, Li Qingyu called everyone to eat.
At the dining table, everyone talked about and cared about what each other did.
Everyone could only gather together for dinner. After that, they would have to do their own things. They did not have the habit of not talking during dinner. Instead, it was the most lively time of the day in the Chu family.
“Fifth Sister, how’s the food festival going?” Chu Xuhua was now focused on running business outside and did not participate in the preparations for the food festival.
Chu Qingzhi smiled and said, “Everything went well.”
Chu Xuhua smiled and said proudly, “I knew there was nothing Fifth Sister couldn’t do.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled humbly. “Brother, you flatter me.”
After the two of them finished speaking, Chu Qingyue said, “I want to discuss something with you.”
Chu Qingning asked with concern, “Second Sister, what’s the matter?”
Chu Qingyue told everyone about today’s encounter and said, “I want to buy the Shen family’s Weaving Workshop. I’ve already gone to take a look. Once I buy it, I can start weaving immediately.”
Chu Qingzhi secretly admired her second sister’s progress. After expanding her horizons, Chu Qingyue had become increasingly capable and now even demonstrated foresight and a consciousness for expanding their business. Chu Qingzhi’s efforts in nurturing her weren’t in vain.
Everyone’s focus shifted to the purchase of the workshop. Chu Qingning asked, “How much does it cost?”
Chu Qingyue shook her head and said, “Everyone wants to buy it. The Shen family said that they would invite everyone to go tomorrow. They will sell it to whoever bids the highest.”
“I’ll go with you tomorrow,” Ning Yuting said. He had originally planned to leave tomorrow, but now he would postpone it for a day and settle Qingyue’s matter before leaving.
Chu Qingyue smiled gently at Ning Yuting. “Okay.”
Chu Qingning took out a prescription and handed it to Chu Qingzhi. “Fifth Sister, this is the prescription I wrote. What do you think?”
Chu Qingning was currently attempting to create prescriptions for minor illnesses. Chu Qingzhi encouraged her to write boldly, assuring her that mistakes were acceptable as they could be corrected. Motivated by this support, Chu Qingning found the villagers to be willing participants for her experiments, especially those suffering from mild colds, who became her primary subjects of interest.
However, they were also willing to be treated by Chu Qingning, which saved them the money to be treated elsewhere.
Chu Qingning’s prescription format included the patient’s symptoms on the left side and the corresponding medicinal formula on the right, making it easier for Chu Qingzhi to assess and evaluate.
After reviewing the prescription, Chu Qingzhi expressed her appreciation, saying, “The prescription is appropriately targeted to the symptoms, and the medication is mild. The combination and proportions of the herbal ingredients are perfect. It’s very well done.”
Chu Qingning, feeling somewhat reassured by the praise, brought up another concern. “Fifth sister, there’s another issue. The herbs I recently replanted in the garden seem to be wilting and struggling to survive. I can’t figure out why they aren’t thriving. What could be the reason?”
Chu Qingzhi said, “I’ll go take a look later.”
Chu Qingning nodded.
Shen Ruyue looked up and said, “Qingzhi, the children sent a lot of golden cherries over today. I bought at five copper coins per catty according to what you said. They’re now in the accounting room of the old house. By the way, the Xu siblings sent over thirty catties. They’re very capable.”
Chu Qingzhi thought to herself, It seems like these two children have taken her words to heart. “Continue to collect the golden cherries until we have 1000 catties. You can also start to purchase the grapes, bayberries, dates, apples, and pears, each 1000 catties. After the cellar is built, you can store them in the cellar.”
Shen Ruyue nodded. “I understand..”