NOVEL NEXT 88
Chapter 88
“Number 221?” Luo Zhanming checked the potted plant in the middle-aged scholar’s hands several times, then exchanged a glance with the scholar before slapping his folding fan against his thigh with excitement. “Brother-in-law, we’ve won!”
“What?”
Even Zhou Wen was a bit stunned at this point. He had joined the activity just for fun, fully aware that the chance of winning, one in three hundred, or 1%, was very slim. Moreover, considering the lottery was freshly completed in public, even if the shopkeeper had the intention to curry favor, it would be impossible to fake it under so many eyes.
“Is it really true?” Zhou Wen also took the potted plant and looked at it. “Number 221, what a coincidence!”
“Sir, you have great luck!” The middle-aged scholar laughed and bowed.
“Yes, brother-in-law, so many people participated, some bought four or five pots and won nothing, yet you won the first prize with just one! Bringing this Yao Huang peony home will make my brother ecstatic!”
“Luo Zhanming, you go,” Zhou Wen said, handing the potted plant towards Luo Zhanming, but then changed his mind, “No, better yet, Yang Ji, you go.”
The middle-aged scholar, Liu Yangji, was momentarily taken aback but quickly accepted the potted plant and headed towards the entrance. Luo Zhanming’s smile grew wider, “Brother-in-law, this trip wasn’t in vain, was it?”
It was completely different for him to go versus Uncle Liu.
Although he was the brother-in-law’s brother-in-law, he was still just a brother-in-law. If he went, people might think the flower shop had some connections but wouldn’t think much more of it. However, Uncle Liu was a direct subordinate of his brother-in-law, a chief clerk with an official position in the county office. In a way, he represented his brother-in-law!
It seemed that his brother-in-law had a good impression of the He family.
Luo Zhanming glanced at He Ze, who was conversing with Liu Yangji ahead, then turned his gaze to He An, who was holding onto Dad Li’s arm. With a mischievous smile, he seemed to be plotting something.
He An glared at him, and he immediately stood up straight, wiping the smile off his face, assuming a serious demeanor. He tidied the lock of black hair on his chest and lightly waved his folding fan, looking handsome and suave.
Unfortunately, his charming gestures were wasted on someone who didn’t appreciate them. He An’s expression turned complex, and he tugged on Lin Yu’s sleeve, the two of them heading to the backyard.
Luo Zhanming: “…”
…
Undoubtedly, the promotional activity before the flower shop’s opening was a huge success. The novel and unique promotional method combined with the lure of significant benefits turned everyone into natural promoters. As a result, many ordinary people showed up, but there were also plenty of wealthy individuals who could afford to spend, including some notable merchants in the county.
Although Zhou Wen kept a low profile, he was still the parent official of Qiongchuan. Any household with some business aspirations would want to curry favor with him. So, recognizing him wasn’t exclusive to Hong Shun, the manager of Hong’s Pawnshop. There were also others like Manager Liu from the pharmacy and Manager Wang from the fabric store…
However, they were all reminded by Hong Shun and refrained from disturbing him. Nonetheless, seeing Zhou Wen’s close aide collect the prize made their hearts flutter.
Could it be that this newly opened flower shop really had connections with the county magistrate? Otherwise, how could they afford to give away a Yao Huang peony, and why would the magistrate accept it so openly? Wasn’t it clearly a signal for them to take care of the business and provide some conveniences when possible?
What? You say the county magistrate won the first prize fair and square? A 1% chance and he nailed it?
Ha, even a three-year-old wouldn’t believe that!
This beautiful misunderstanding got passed along, from those who attended to those who didn’t, spreading far and wide. Consequently, the flower shop’s business flourished for a long time after its opening.
He Ze: Astonished.jpg.
With Liu Yangji claiming the prize, the He family’s flower shop garnered the attention of many hidden potential customers, marking a successful end to the opening celebration. The crowd, which had gathered for excitement and the chance to win prizes, finally dispersed, but the shop remained bustling. After a discussion with He Youcai, He Ze decided that for the first three days of business, all items would be sold at a 10% discount.
The customer flow only normalized by late afternoon, around Shen time (3-5 PM).
Considering it was the opening day and the flower shop targeted a high-end market, He Youcai closed the shop at sunset and treated everyone to a meal at Yu Family Restaurant. Since the shop’s backyard was not yet fully equipped, he stayed behind to keep watch, ensuring the two ox carts they had arrived in were also used for the return trip.
Zhao Cheng, Liu San, and He Dalang rode in the first cart, leading the way. He Ze drove the second cart, carrying Dad Li, He An, and Lin Yu.
Dad Li was in good spirits, smiling gently. He An, on the other hand, was almost bursting with excitement, shaking Lin Yu’s arm constantly and nearly jumping up and down in the cart. He Ze glanced back and couldn’t help but give him a gentle tap. “Calm down a bit. Your brother Lin is holding the lantern.”
The moonlight was poor that night, and He Youcai had bought two lanterns to ensure safe travel.
“I know, I know!” He An rolled his eyes at him, letting go of Lin Yu’s arm, only to move closer to He Ze the next moment. “Brother, how much do you think we made today? I sold a pot of lilacs and another of orchids, totaling over twenty taels!”
“Don’t worry, we’ve certainly saved enough for your dowry!” He Ze laughed, nudging the ox’s flank.
“Brother—”
“Your brother’s right. You turned seventeen last year and are almost eighteen now. We can’t delay this. I need to find some time to talk to Matchhmaker Wang. If there’s no suitable match, we can look in town,” Dad Li, now more confident with the money they made, spoke with more authority.
“Dad!” He An’s face showed clear displeasure.
“Dad, I’m not married yet. You can focus on finding a match for Xiao An first,” He Ze said generously, coming to He An’s rescue. “A good match takes time to find. Even if we find someone suitable, we need to spend more time getting to know them to ensure they’ll treat Xiao An well after marriage.”
“Of course… Alright, it’s clear you’re siding with your brother,” Dad Li realized, glaring at He Ze before turning to hold Lin Yu’s hand. “You should worry about your own marriage. With business so good today, how will you manage in the coming days?”
“I’ll manage even if it’s tough. If needed, we’ll hire more people. Tomorrow, I’ll discuss with Father and see if there are suitable candidates in the village to help out. Giddy up!” He Ze cracked the whip gently on the ox’s flank, then turned to Lin Yu with a big smile. “Don’t worry, when it’s time to propose, I’ll have everything ready!”
“Alright, that’s good,” Dad Li said, beaming with joy. Once the date for the proposal is set, the wedding won’t be far off. And once the wedding happens, he’ll soon have his chubby grandsons!
“Dad, stop talking about this! You’re making Brother Lin embarrassed~” With Dad Li, who was about to become his mother-in-law, discussing his marriage, Lin Yu looked visibly uncomfortable. Normally, if He Ze said something like this, Lin Yu would have been annoyed, but now he just lowered his head slightly, staying quiet with a faint smile on his face, appearing shy under the glow of the red lantern—like a bashful young ger.
Seeing Lin Yu being so obedient was a rare sight, and He Ze couldn’t help but feel a bit restless.
“Watch the road! You’re about to hit a tree!” He An turned his head back, full of disdain. “Brother, can’t you wait until we get home?”
Lin Yu: “…”
…
Amidst their bickering, about half an hour passed before the two ox carts stopped at the village entrance. Zhao Cheng and the others went their separate ways, while He Ze first took Dad Li and He An home, then went to escort Lin Yu.
It was late at night, with the half-moon hidden behind the clouds, and the village was silent.
He Ze held a red lantern, and the two of them walked out of the courtyard. Lin Yu stared at his feet, while He Ze’s gaze followed Lin Yu’s silhouette. They walked in silence, yet an inexplicable atmosphere seemed to be brewing.
After walking about ten yards, He Ze suddenly dropped the lantern, grabbed Lin Yu, wrapped one arm around his waist, and the other behind his head, and kissed him hard. It was a seamless series of actions.
“Mmph…”
Lin Yu couldn’t struggle free; he couldn’t bear to bite or hit, let alone kick. Hesitating for a moment, He Ze immediately pried open his teeth.
A passionate kiss was the best way to express their feelings as lovers.
All of Lin Yu’s senses heightened, his mind foggy, and he found himself quite comfortable. His hands instinctively wrapped around He Ze’s back.
It was a long, deep kiss.
“How does that feel?” Seeing Lin Yu still in a daze, He Ze couldn’t help but kiss his eyelid again, speaking softly, “I wanted to do this on the way, but everyone was there.”
“You…”
Just as Lin Yu uttered a word, He Ze kissed the corner of his mouth again. “I know you’re shy. You looked so beautiful and adorable when you were blushing earlier, and you still do now. My whole body is screaming at me to kiss you properly.”
“Don’t believe me? Listen to this.” He Ze took Lin Yu’s hand and placed it on his left chest. “This is the loudest.”
“Thump, thump, thump—”
Under his palm, the strong heartbeat echoed, urgent and fervent.
Perhaps still reeling from the kiss, Lin Yu’s face was flushed, and his chest felt full.
Suddenly, Lin Yu grabbed He Ze’s right hand and placed it on his own left chest, mimicking him. His eyes sparkled. The same passionate heartbeat, one beat after another, slowly synchronized with the other’s.
Time seemed to stand still, and suddenly the two, with their intelligence momentarily lowered by affection, burst into laughter. He Ze squatted in front of Lin Yu, “Hop on, I’ll carry you home.”
Lin Yu jumped onto He Ze’s back. “You’ve been working all day. Aren’t you tired?”
“Not at all. You’ve worked hard too, my dear,” He Ze adjusted Lin Yu’s legs to find a more comfortable position, answering him with his actions. “From the moment you came out of the door until now, I counted—99 steps in total.”
“99 steps? You’re so bored,” Lin Yu said, swinging the lantern he picked up, a smile playing on his lips and twinkling in his eyes. “And then?”
“It reminded me of a line from a love poem. It says, if there’s a thousand steps between us, as long as you take the first step, I’ll walk the remaining 999 steps towards you.”
“Just as long as you take the first step, I’ll walk the remaining 999 steps towards you,” Lin Yu repeated, then playfully tugged on He Ze’s ear. “Where did you learn that from? Tell me, have you said that to many other people?”
“…Unjust accusation! I swear, if I’ve said that to anyone else, may I be struck by—” Before He Ze could finish, Lin Yu covered his mouth, making He Ze grin smugly. “Can’t bear to let me finish, can you?”
“In your dreams! Now, get moving!” Lin Yu kicked his ankles, laughing softly.
As the night deepened, the shy moon peeked out from behind the clouds. He Ze walked, carrying Lin Yu through the fields and along the paths, their shadows merging as if they were the only ones in the world.
“Wait,” Lin Yu’s sleepy voice broke the silence. “Weren’t I supposed to only take one step? Why did I walk 99?”
“Ahem, one step would be too close to the front door,” He Ze replied, chuckling. “What if Dad and Xiao An saw us?”