TATSD Chapter 109

The next morning, it was the auspicious day chosen by Old Master Zhang, the perfect day for the new shop’s grand opening. Ji Wei woke up early. He hadn’t wanted to disturb Liu Yimian’s peaceful sleep.

However, since they shared the same bed, there was inevitably some movement when getting up. Liu Yimian, with a light sleep, stirred and, groggily, saw Ji Wei getting out of bed and followed suit. His head was heavy with sleep, but he insisted on helping Ji Wei comb his hair.

Ji Wei had been in this world for nearly four months, and combing his hair, which had been a clumsy task at first, had become something he could do quickly and skillfully, even without a mirror. But since Liu Yimian was offering to help, he didn’t want to refuse. He obediently sat still, letting the half-awake Liu Yimian comb his hair.

When Liu Yimian fully woke up, the comb slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor. Ji Wei, who had been keeping his eyes closed, opened them and saw his hair bun lopsided and almost falling off. He ground his teeth and said, “Yimian, are you awake now?”

“I’m awake, I’m awake! This time, I’m awake!” Liu Yimian shivered, but secretly, where Ji Wei couldn’t see, he couldn’t help but laugh and cover his mouth.

Ji Wei could feel the fingers that were holding his hair tremble. Without even needing to look back, he knew what this little one was up to. He helplessly curled his lips and urged him to hurry.

After all, the new shop on Yong’an Street was opening at the auspicious hour of Chen (around 7–9 AM), and while it wasn’t too early, there were still many things to do. If they delayed any further, they might miss the good timing.

Liu Yimian, with his skilled hands, finished combing Ji Wei’s hair in no time. They washed up, held hands, and headed out.

The morning breeze was cool, and Yong’an Street was already bustling. Many street vendors had set up stalls along the road—selling steamed buns, fried flatbreads, porridge, noodles, and more. Many people were sitting on the roadside, happily eating from large bowls.

Ji Wei had planned to take Liu Yimian to a restaurant, but Liu Yimian dragged him to a porridge stand. They ordered two bowls of plain rice porridge with some salted vegetables.

“This is a bit too bland,” Ji Wei said, drinking his porridge quickly. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed at the lack of fried dough sticks, something he missed about the past.

The main issue was that oil was expensive, and ordinary families couldn’t afford to use it for deep frying. Not to mention, fried dough sticks required a lot of oil, which made it less feasible for street vendors.

Without fried dough sticks to dip in the sauce, it was truly a pity.

He sighed, and Liu Yimian gave him a puzzled look. “Should we get something else?” He reached for the vendor, but Ji Wei pulled his hand back.

“No, I just want fried dough sticks,” Ji Wei explained quickly. “It’s like making steamed buns, but you have to add alkali and salt, cut it into strips, fry it in oil, and it puffs up into something crispy, golden, and delicious. That’s fried dough sticks.”

“I’ve never seen them,” Liu Yimian said, curious. “Are they tasty?” He immediately seemed regretful, adding, “If Ji Ge thinks they’re good, then they must be.”

“They’re delicious, especially with dipping sauce. I’ll let you try some next time.”

They finished their porridge quickly. After sitting for just a moment and chatting a little, they paid and left. They had just finished their porridge on Yong’an Street, and the shop was just a short walk away.

At the shop, the manager was already standing at the door, shouting instructions. “Move everything to the sides, don’t block the way! And the flower baskets—where did you put them? Firecrackers shouldn’t be here! Do you want to blow someone up?”

The workers, all hired temporarily to help, were busy moving things around. Since they would only work for the day, they were somewhat disorganized, which had the manager in a panic.

When he saw Ji Wei, the manager quickly walked over to ask, “Everything has been prepared as per your instructions. Is there anything else you need?”

Ji Wei led Liu Yimian down the long red carpet and took a quick look around the shop. The space was not as large as the one on North Street, but the freshly painted walls looked clean and comfortable. Large cabinets lined the four walls, with one side open to display rows of baked goods—meat floss buns, cookies, croissants, doughnuts—and another cabinet dedicated to Chinese snacks like mung bean cakes, peach crisps, and jujube cakes.

There weren’t many varieties yet, but for a new shop, it was fine. With an unstable customer base, offering too many types would have made things harder for Ji Wei and his workers.

The shop was very clean, with only the cabinets and counter taking up space. Behind the counter, there were some vases and porcelain plates displayed on a wooden shelf.

“Where are the clothes?” Ji Wei asked, about to turn around, when the manager immediately appeared with a neatly folded set of clothes and handed them to him.

Ji Wei needed to oversee the opening of the shop, so naturally, he had to dress appropriately. However, he didn’t have the time to worry about this. Fortunately, Old Master Zhang had already thought of everything. Shortly after arriving in Daxi Town, the manager found a tailor and had his measurements taken while Ji Wei was inspecting the shop. The tailor had already made the new clothes.

“Ji Ye, here you go,” the manager said respectfully.

Ji Wei couldn’t help but feel impressed. It was clear that the manager, having worked for Zhang’s family for many years, was reliable and organized. Even when Ji Wei wasn’t around, everything was taken care of smoothly.

With the shop still not officially open, Ji Wei slipped behind the counter to change into his new robes.

The new robe was a deep blue with dark patterns. In the dim room, the patterns weren’t visible, but under the sunlight, they would stand out, making him look both energetic and handsome.

Liu Yimian, following behind, felt a little dazzled. He unconsciously blushed. Afraid Ji Wei would notice, he quickly turned his face away and stood to the side, fiddling with the slightly disheveled flower baskets.

“By now, Magistrate Lu should be here. Get the ribbons and scissors ready so that when he arrives, we won’t be scrambling around,” Ji Wei said, glancing at the time. Magistrate Lu, the most influential person in the nearby towns, would surely come with plenty of pomp. Given Ji Wei’s previous efforts for Old Madam Lu’s birthday, the relationship between Old Master Zhang and Magistrate Lu was strong, so it wasn’t difficult to ask him to come for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

With such an important official coming, it would be a lively event, and it was crucial not to lose decorum.

The grand opening would surely draw a crowd.

Ji Wei had anticipated that people in this country loved lively events. He had arranged for all the pastries to be cut into small pieces, and placed on plates so that once the ceremony was over, people in the crowd could sample them.

Liu Yimian had wanted to help, but the workers were already assigned their tasks, so he just watched from the side.

It wasn’t long before a carriage stopped in front of the shop. The first to jump out was the young man, Lu Yushu, followed by his hand as he helped another person down from the carriage.

When Lu Zhanhong saw Ji Wei, he smiled and cupped his fists in greeting, saying, “Young Master Ji, you’ve truly reached the peak of elegance, almost surpassing my son!”

Lu Yushu, upon hearing this, was not upset. He merely held his fan up to his lips and smiled faintly. He then greeted Ji Wei as well before walking over to stand beside Liu Yimian to chat.

Seeing that the two young men seemed to want to chat with each other, Ji Wei did not disturb them but led Lu Zhanhong into the shop, giving him a tour of the counter.

“The meat floss buns are impressive. They’re light and fluffy, and even my wife can’t stop praising them. Once the shop opens, I’ll order two pounds to send to my mother’s house,” Lu Zhanhong said, a loving son through and through. When Ji Wei had sent the buns over, Lu Zhanhong had already planned to do so.

“That’s certainly possible, but the meat floss buns are sold individually, not by weight. Today, whatever the honored Lu wishes, it’s my treat—how could I accept payment from you, when the presence of such a distinguished guest like you already brings so much prestige to this small shop?” Ji Wei smiled and responded courteously.

Just then, the shopkeeper came over with something in hand, signaling that the time had come. In the short time they’d been speaking, a crowd had already gathered outside, whispering eagerly about the new shop.

Ji Wei and Lu Zhanhong stood together on the stairs leading to the shop’s entrance. From a higher vantage point, Ji Wei could see many familiar faces in the crowd, and he waved at them.

After Lu Zhanhong delivered his congratulatory speech, he took the scissors and cut through the red ribbon. Ji Wei was the first to applaud, and soon the crowd followed suit, creating a lively atmosphere.

“Firecrackers are going off!” the shopkeeper shouted, and those closest quickly stepped back, leaving space for the fireworks.

Ji Wei took the candle that was handed to him and walked to where the firecrackers were set up. He bent down to light the fuse, quickly retreating to Liu Yimian’s side. “Everyone, step back a little. Please be careful!” he called out loudly.

The sharp crackle of firecrackers filled the air, and as Liu Yimian stood too close, Ji Wei, worried that he might be frightened, turned slightly, pulling him into his embrace and shielding his ears with his broad hand. When the noise stopped, Ji Wei released his hold and asked with a smile, “Well? Were you scared?”

“I’m not made of tofu,” Liu Yimian replied, giving him an annoyed glance. His cheeks were flushed, though it was hard to tell whether it was from the noise or the warmth of Ji Wei’s hands. Either way, he looked both adorable and enticing.

Ji Wei couldn’t help but tap his nose lightly. “You…”

When Ji Wei took Liu Yimian’s hand and they stood next to Lu Zhanhong and his son, the crowd had already gathered around the man handing out sample portions of the snacks. They eagerly reached out to grab a bite.

“You know how to draw attention. I’ve never seen a business owner give away samples like this, and not just once either. You did the same thing with the mooncakes at Old Madam Lu’s birthday,” Lu Zhanhong commented.

“Well, if I give out a sample and it gets someone to buy two pieces, isn’t that a win for me?” Ji Wei explained. Business back then was straightforward; they didn’t have the cunning tricks of later times. It was all about simply running the shop, with a few calls to advertise. The idea of offering free samples or running promotions hadn’t even been heard of.

Thanks to Ji Wei’s approach, the people were almost going wild. Whatever Ji Wei recommended, they were eager to buy, and business was booming.

As expected, after the sampling, many people rushed into the shop, eager to pick their favorite snacks using wooden tongs. Once they’d chosen, they headed to the counter to pay.

This new self-service system was refreshing to everyone. Customers who originally only wanted one or two items couldn’t resist grabbing more once they were at the counter, picking out all sorts of things. By the time they left the shop, they’d spent at least 10 or 20 copper coins and left with their arms full, either content, thrilled, dazed, or regretful—there were all sorts of expressions.

True to his word, Ji Wei had the shopkeeper pack twenty meat floss buns for Lu Zhanhong to take home.

Lu Zhanhong, deeply moved, insisted on paying, but Ji Wei gently pushed him away.

“I can’t accept that. You’ve helped my son so many times at the academy, and I’m deeply grateful. Please, accept these as a small token of my appreciation.”

Lu Zhanhong reluctantly agreed, but before leaving, he told Ji Wei that if he ever needed help, he should come to him.

Since it was the opening day, the guests were very curious about the unfamiliar snacks and surrounded Ji Wei, asking questions. While Lu Zhanhong was still there, they kept their distance out of respect, but as soon as he left, they swarmed Ji Wei with questions.

When Ji Wei finally managed to escape the crowd, he noticed a man standing a few steps away outside the door. The man had a furrowed brow, deep in thought. When Ji Wei appeared, his gaze shifted from the sign and locked onto him.

However, Ji Wei’s attention quickly passed over the man, instead focusing on the woman standing behind him. What a coincidence—it was someone he had met before.