MFBOWSBTMT Chapter 81

“Mm.”

 

Qiao Suiman nodded with a smile, then introduced him to Miao Lianhua and the others, “This is Qin Xiaoyao. The noodles from their shop are delicious.”

 

Qin Xiaoyao greeted them, then responded to a customer calling him from inside the store. He turned to Qiao Suiman and the others and said, “I have to go now. Talk to you later.”

 

Qiao Suiman didn’t delay him from doing business. He opened the shop door, and all six people entered the shop.

 

Apart from Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing, the other four were visiting for the first time and couldn’t stop looking around the shop. Qin Yu walked to the backyard and, even though he already knew what was there, he was still surprised. Apart from the time he visited Lu Xiang’s house, this was his first time seeing the back of the shop. And since it was his younger brother’s shop, he was even more curious.

 

After inspecting the place from front to back, they grew increasingly satisfied. Though the rooms at the back were small, they were spacious enough for two people. One is for living and the other for storage, holding firewood, bathing tubs, and other miscellaneous items. The kitchen was larger than the one in their village home, giving Qiao Suiman plenty of room to work. There was plenty of open space in front of and behind the shop, and a simple straw shed could be built to provide additional resting space, which was sufficient.

 

They first unloaded the cart, placing the bamboo crafts, carvings, wooden tables, and the cash counter inside the shop. The rest were temporarily left in the open space at the back.

 

After walking for a long time and working hard for a while, everyone was hungry. Qiao Suiman thought for a moment and said to the others, “Let’s go eat next door. It’s on me!”

 

“Thank you, Xiao Man-ge!” Lu Xuesong was the first to cheer.

 

Miao Lianhua and the others grinned, their eyes crinkling. “Sounds good.”

 

“There might not be enough seats next door. Xiao Man, order me a bowl of wontons with fresh meat. You all go ahead and order, then have them bring the food here. I’ll stay and watch the shop,” Lu Dongqing said.

 

“Alright.”

 

Before long, Qiao Suiman returned with the other four after placing their orders. Lu Dongqing had already set up six chairs around a long bamboo table, providing a place to rest.

 

Wu Qi worked quickly. They had barely sat down, taken a few sips of water, and exchanged a few words before Qin Xiaoyao arrived with six bowls of noodles. After setting down the bowls and chopsticks, he hurried back to his shop.

 

Qiao Suiman and the others picked up their chopsticks and began to eat heartily. They were all hungry and enjoyed the meal. Qin Yu couldn’t stop praising the food, saying that it tasted really good. No wonder Qiao Suiman had praised it so highly earlier.

 

They worked until dusk before finally finishing the shop’s setup.

 

On the right side above the shopfront was Qiao Suiman’s drink stall, with a signboard bearing the words “Qiao’s Fragrant Drinks” hanging prominently. On the left was the signboard for “Lu Family Bamboo Crafts,” the two separated by a short distance.

 

Inside the shop, a brand-new wooden table stood to the right, accompanied by a chest-high cash counter with a pull-out drawer in the middle that could be locked. Two steps forward led to the small door connecting to the backyard.

 

In the center, two bamboo tables that can seat six people are placed on the inner side, with one long bamboo table that can seat eighteen people in the middle and another on the side near the door. Bamboo chairs are neatly arranged around the tables.

 

On the left side of the shop, three four-tiered bamboo cabinets stood against the wall. Only one of them was newly made. Lu Dongqing had been too busy, so they brought two from home as temporary replacements. Each shelf was two chi[mfn]尺 : ~33 cm (about 1 ft.)[/mfn] high, displaying the bamboo crafts Lu Dongqing had made recently. Those that didn’t fit were placed on a low table by the door, leaving some space in the middle to make it easier to weave bamboo crafts while tending the stall in the future.

 

The drink shop and the tables were fairly close together, while the bamboo crafts section was spaced half a zhang[mfn]丈 : ~3.3 m[/mfn] away, making the shop feel comfortable rather than cramped.

 

Qiao Suiman looked at the brand new shop, his eyes welling up. He wiped away his tears quietly when no one was paying attention, turned around, and said with a smile, “We’re done! Come on, Mother, Qin Yu-ge, let’s go to the Fudong Inn!”

 

Since it was already dark and unsafe to travel home, Qiao Suiman had booked two rooms at Fudong Inn days earlier: one for Miao Lianhua and Qin Yu, the other for Qiao Ruifeng and Lu Xuesong. They would stay the night and return home the next day, while he and Lu Dongqing would sleep at the shop.

 

Miao Lianhua and the others had no objections, so the six of them went to the Fudong Inn for dinner. After eating, they each retired to their rooms to rest. They had been working too hard lately.

 

Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing returned to the shop, mustering the last of their energy to wash up before collapsing onto the bed and falling asleep instantly. The past few days had been utterly draining.

 

The next day, Miao Lianhua, Qin Yu, and the others took a cart back home, planning to return on the fifth day of the month. After seeing them off, Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing spent the next two days resting, only cooking and eating before finally regaining their energy.

 

The fifth day of the second month is an auspicious day for opening a business.

 

Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing got up early. They put up a bunch of red paper in the shop, even on the tables and chairs. They covered the two signboards with red cloth early on, just waiting for the right time to open the shop.

 

Lu Dongqing lit firecrackers every hour. After the middle of chen shi[mfn]辰时 : 7-9 AM[/mfn], there was only an hour left until opening.

 

The auspicious time, chosen by a master, was the early hour of si[mfn]巳时 : 9-11 AM[/mfn]. Miao Lianhua and the others arrived a quarter past chen shi[mfn]辰时 : 7-9 AM[/mfn], and were now chatting outside. Many from Xiahe Village had also come, as well as the Chen family, Butcher Wang’s family, Village Chief Yu Ping’s family, and Feng Jie, not to mention many local residents eager to join the fun. Soon, several dozen people had gathered outside.

 

“I heard all the drinks are two wen cheaper today. Is that true?” someone shouted in the crowd.

 

“Yes, yes! Once the auspicious time arrives, everything’s two wen off!” Lu Xuesong shouted from the shop entrance.

 

“What about the bamboo crafts?” another asked.

 

“We’re giving low prices on bamboo products today. Baskets and winnowing baskets are only thirty or forty wen!” Lu Dongqing also said loudly.

 

Bamboo wares came in many varieties, with prices ranging greatly. For some intricate bamboo carvings worth several taels of silver, lowering the price by just three to five wen would be laughable, so they simply priced everything low for the day, planning to return to normal afterward.

 

“How much longer until the opening?”

 

“Soon, soon, just under an hour left.”

 

“Alright, save me a tube of Persimmons of Good Fortune! I couldn’t bring myself to buy it for twelve wen last time, but ten wen is fine.”

 

Qiao Suiman smiled and replied, “Yes, we made an extra barrel of today’s drink to ensure that everyone can purchase some!”

 

The shop was bustling with activity, taking up a lot of space on the street. The day before, Qiao Suiman had delivered two jars of drinks of the most expensive Persimmons of Good Fortune to every shop owner on the street, informing them of the opening. Most were happy to accept, telling him not to worry and to just focus on welcoming customers.

 

Only the shop owner across the street, who sold drinks and noodles, snorted disdainfully and refused to take his drink.

 

Qiao Suiman was not one to fawn over people. Since they openly refused to give him face, he saw no need to curry favor. Business was business, and no one was above anyone else. He turned and walked out of the shop, ignoring the shop owner’s even louder snort behind him.

 

Lu Xiang’s family had also come, including Yuan Shan’an. They chatted with Miao Lianhua and the others near the shop. With the crowd growing, Qiao Ruifeng was worried about Qin Yu getting jostled and led him to the backyard.

 

As the auspicious time approached, Lu Dongqing lit several rows of firecrackers, which exploded with a loud crackling sound throughout the alley. Lu Xuesong stood nearby, beating a gong and shouting, “We’re about to open! We’re about to open!”

 

The final moments counted down.

 

Qiao Suiman’s heart pounded wildly as he and Lu Dongqing each gripped one of the red cloth strips covering the signboards.

 

Finally, the auspicious time has arrived!

 

“Auspicious hour arrives. Unveil the red silk!” Lu Huaqing said as he lit another string of firecrackers and tossed them aside.

 

At the sound, Qiao Suiman yanked the red cloth away, revealing the characters on the signboard.

 

The shop was officially open!

 

Those who could read glanced at both signs and chuckled. “How interesting. Two businesses in one shop. So one of them is surnamed Lu, and the other Qiao.”

 

The crowd gathered on the street rushed into the store, chattering excitedly, afraid that the drinks would sell out and they would miss out on the bargain.

 

“I want two Persimmons of Good Fortune. Pour them into my waterskin to take away.”

 

“Three Roselle Drinks, also to take away.”

 

“I’ll take a Crabapple Drink in this bamboo tube, the one with the carved crabapple tree. How much?”

 

There were too many people, and Qiao Suiman, Miao Lianhua, and Qiao Ruifeng were all busy serving customers. Qiao Suiman replied while serving drinks, “The bamboo tube costs eight wen today, and your total is sixteen wen.”

 

“Alright. Give it to those two ge’r over there, right?” The customer gestured to Qin Yu and Chen Xuesheng.

 

“Yes,” Qiao Suiman answered loudly.

 

Even though they had prepared for a long time, they were still busy when they first opened. They didn’t have time to greet Zhou Shuifen and the others, and even had to ask them to bring drinks to those who wanted to drink in the shop.

 

Fortunately, amidst the chaos, no mistakes were made. Qiao Suiman lost count of how many drinks he had served before the crowd finally thinned enough that he didn’t have to shout while working.

 

Looking over, he saw one barrel of Roselle Drink already sold out. It seemed the cheaper ones sold fastest. The Crabapple Drink was also selling well, and even Persimmons of Good Fortune had sold more than half a barrel. They had only been open for about an hour, and the speed was so fast that Qiao Suiman hadn’t expected it.

 

With about a dozen customers sitting inside the shop, Zhou Shuifen’s group, seeing they were no longer needed, sat down to chat. Qiao Suiman had Miao Lianhua and Qiao Ruifeng handle the customers while he poured a few bowls for them, placing them on a wooden board and carrying them over.

 

“Uncle, Auntie, Feng-jie, please drink,” Qiao Suiman said with a smile.

 

“You didn’t have to bring them over. We could’ve fetched them ourselves,” Zhou Shuifen said.

 

“Man-ge’r, your business is doing so well! My goodness, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a shop opening,” said an old woman who had come to join in the excitement.

 

“It’s only crowded because it’s the opening. Man-ge’r, you’re really capable. Such a big shop,” Feng Jie praised, her eyes full of envy but without ill intent.

 

Qiao Suiman pretended to lament, “Not at all. We’ve been working to the bone these past months. A few days ago, we didn’t even have the energy to move except to eat.”

 

“At least you remembered to eat! Not bad!”

 

Aunt Qian said loudly, causing everyone in the shop to laugh.

 

Qiao Suiman only chatted briefly before bringing a few drinks over to Lu Dongqing’s side, where Lu Xiang, Lu Huaqing, and Yuan Shan’an were admiring bamboo carvings. Several academy students, likely there with Yuan Shan’an, had also bought drinks and were browsing while sipping. Setting the drinks on the table, Qiao Suiman didn’t disturb them and went back to the drink shop.

 

Yangyang had complained of hunger earlier, so Chen Fanhuan warmed some rice porridge in the kitchen, which Meng Yan was now feeding her. Today was a lively day, and Yangyang had been running around wildly for a while. After eating, she insisted on taking a nap, so Qiao Suiman asked Meng Yan to take her inside to rest for a bit.

 

Perhaps word had spread among the earlier customers, because soon, another wave of customers arrived. Soon, all the Roselle Drinks were sold out.

 

Chen Xuesheng helped carry the empty wooden barrel to the kitchen, and then came back to collect the money with Qin Yu. He was doing the job of collecting money for Wang’s family and was good at counting, so he volunteered to help. Qiao Suiman also trusted him and let him work with Qin Yu.

 

Qiao Suiman and Qiao Ruifeng’s efforts in promoting the drinks in town had paid off. Many recognized their drink as soon as they heard about the shop opening.

 

Young women, ge’r, married women, and fulang bought drinks and sat in the shop chatting idly. When they saw the bamboo utensils and bamboo-carved hairpins in Lu Dongqing’s shop, they were attracted and bought many items.

 

One fulang even laughed and said, “You two are making double the money off us!”

 

“Exactly! Usually, having one skilled artisan in the family is impressive enough, but you’ve got two. If I were you, Auntie, I’d be too excited to sleep at night!” a woman said to Miao Lianhua.

 

Miao Lianhua laughed heartily in agreement.

 

Zhou Shuifen and the others had been out for a while and soon prepared to return to the village. Seeing that Qin Yu could manage, Chen Xuesheng didn’t linger either. After exchanging a few words with Qiao Suiman, he left with the group from Xiahe Village.

 

Lu Xiang’s family had academy matters in the afternoon, and Yangyang, after waking up, whined to go home. The whole family went back to Xide Road. Before leaving, Yangyang hugged Qiao Suiman and wanted him to come back with them, leaving Qiao Suiman both amused and exasperated.

 

Qiao Suiman and a few others didn’t have time to cook, and by the time they remembered to eat, they were already hungry. They decided to have Qin Xiaoyao deliver some noodles, and they took turns eating lunch. It wasn’t until the afternoon that a few people finally showed up.

 

Qiao Suiman sat slumped in his chair, while Qin Yu, feeling a little tired, went inside to rest.

 

As evening approached, fewer customers came. With the drinks nearly gone, Qiao Suiman packed up and half-closed the shop door.

 

At last, the family could sit together and talk.

 

“My voice is nearly gone,” Lu Xuesong said in a hoarse voice.

 

Qiao Suiman tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, “Me too.”

 

“Many people from the East Market came, all recognizing your craftsmanship,” Miao Lianhua thought of those few people who had been waiting here since early morning.

 

“It’s Aunt Xu and her group. They also supported the business at the wine house before.” Thinking of them, Qiao Suiman felt a warm glow in his heart. They were his loyal customers, after all.

 

“I sold quite a few bamboo products, and the carved book boxes also sold well,” Lu Dongqing said with a smile.

 

Everyone’s faces were lit up with joyful smiles. On the first day of business, everything went smoothly!

 

—

 

 

 

 

---

If you enjoy my translations, consider buying me a coffee ☕