Chapter 235: Flower God Festival
She didn’t take it for nothing either, because she felt that this income would definitely increase in the future.
Following the process and procedures, with added fame and new recipes launched, plus promotion methods and business model boosts, monthly income of fifty or sixty thousand should be achievable.
One must have ideals.
“Ahem… By the way, about your smoked dried tofu business…”
“Hmph! Master Ye, this is a small business, so don’t keep eyeing it!”
“Hey, what are you thinking? What this heir means is that smoked dried tofu sells well in the restaurant, and next month’s revenue should be pretty good!”
Haven’t you already sold me all those various stir-fried dried tofu recipes? Why not sell him the specific details for making smoked dried tofu as well?
Luo Zhi’er’s smoked dried tofu is supplied exclusively to Yumian Tower and cannot be sold privately! After Shopkeeper Zhu stated this requirement, she was a bit unwilling at the time, but thinking that she gets a share from Yumian Tower, one family it is then. Anyway, if she secures the operating rights for the entire Yumian Tower in the future, this is also protection for the restaurant.
“Oh, so that’s what Master Ye means?”
Hmph, don’t think she didn’t hear that…
“Actually, this heir thinks your bread business could also be brought out…”
“Master Ye, this is the single-plank bridge I want to walk alone, no, no!” Her round head shook like a rattle drum. Who would share a piece of the pie with you?
“Pizza?”
Ye Beiyao saw her guarding her food tightly and glaring at him. “Forget it. Next time you have any fun ideas, come discuss them with this heir!”
“Got it.”
“This heir just thinks you’ve been talking about that bread shop for so long without opening it. Look at this heir’s efficiency—hasn’t the lipstick shop already been set up?”
That had to be acknowledged, otherwise why would she cooperate with him.
“Remember, on the eve of the opening, draft an initial plan for any good opening activities and give it to me; I’ll implement it.”
“Good!”
“If there’s nothing else, this little woman will take her leave.”
So soon?
“What’s the rush? In a few days it will be the Flower God Festival. Shaoqing has been so busy with that courtesan matter you mentioned that he hasn’t had time to come over. Why don’t you go take a look?” Ye Beiyao suggested.
“Since he’s so busy, this little woman won’t disturb him.” Making silver is more important; depositing these banknotes in the money house from her bosom is even more important…
Hahaha, silver, oh silver.
Ye Beiyao saw her eyes gleaming at the numbers on the banknote and looked at her speechlessly. “Fine, to tell you the truth, he’s run into a little trouble and has been agonizing over it for several days. Go give him some advice!”
Lately he’s been busy with the lipstick shop, Shaoqing with his own matters, and the two haven’t seen each other for a while! As for how he knows, they met once a couple of days ago to discuss cooperating with the courtesan on lipstick.
Jiang Shaoqing is also a man with extremely strong self-esteem; it’s not good to always go to Luo Zhi’er for help with his own problems instead of solving them himself.
Besides, she’s already given him such great ideas and suggestions, and even sent him that priceless dyeing cloth recipe as a huge favor. This is just execution on his part; if he can’t even do this well, what right does he have to be the young master of Jiangnan Hong Futai?
“Is that so? Appreciating beautiful women isn’t something you men are good at?”
“Just say if you’re going or not?”
Oppressive presence.
“Alright then!” More friends mean more paths; she also wanted to know what kind of woman he found to compete as the courtesan!
She always held this idea: building more connections would benefit her.
It had to be admitted that this Jiang Shaoqing had great fortune with women lately; scouring everywhere for beauties, his reputation for loving beauties over family business and lingering in brothels day and night, living a life of drunken indulgence, had spread even louder. Those few thought he had given up on himself…
Jiangnan Hong Futai’s fashion show was scheduled after the Flower God Festival. He had secretly recruited a clothing team beforehand, all poached from various clothing workshops, without using a single old employee from Hong Futai to avoid leaks.
The newly formed technical team’s collaboration was somewhat difficult, with an undercurrent of everyone competing against each other. They still needed to be urged to work overtime designing and making ready-to-wear clothes.
But currently, the trickiest issue was the clothes for the Flower God Festival courtesan to wear.
The clothing styles had been changed several times, but no one was satisfied. Thinking of this, headache!
As for the courtesan, Jiang Shaoqing had recently visited every brothel in Taoyuan Town and persuaded a woman from Guixiang Garden to work for him. This woman was named Mei Lan, sixteen years old, with a steady personality. Originally not very famous, she had ranked second in Guixiang Garden for two consecutive years.
Mei Lan wasn’t very famous in Taoyuan Town; trapped in the brothel with no control over her life, forever the second place with no hope of rising, better to go all out and take first place at the Flower God Festival. Then her status would be different, and she could get a large sum of money. The condition was that she wouldn’t receive guests if successful.
Taking first place was also to avoid bullying from some in Guixiang Garden and the feeling of being trampled underfoot. Jiang Shaoqing met her demands as long as she cooperated to complete the task.
This courtesan, as the name implies, means the top courtesan, not just the favored top one in her own brothel, but the top one in the entire Taoyuan Town!
If she became a sensation overnight, even some celebrities and nobles in the capital city would rush towards her. If spotted by someone, she might even leave this land of flowers and willows for a better place.
This Flower God is not that Flower God; it should be held in spring when peach blossoms are blooming, but in the northwest region of Dongli Kingdom, early spring is still a bit cold. To better showcase the elegant, seductive, and beautiful demeanor of the women, it was chosen for September 13th at the end of summer and beginning of autumn, neither cold nor hot, and extremely beautiful with light breezes, faint clouds, and green grass like a carpet.
Major brothels submit rosters, and little flower fairies come to compete in talent, beauty, and wisdom; this is certified by the Taoyuan Town government officials.
In Taoyuan Town, there are major brothels like Yicui Tower, Guixiang Garden, Meijin Court, Zhuyue Tower, etc. Smaller vaudeville brothels can also register to compete, going through layers of selection to choose ten little flower fairies for the finals. There’s a new courtesan selection competition every year, with fierce and lively competition.
The government officials promote this folk activity to stimulate Taoyuan Town’s economic consumption. When lots of tourists come to the town to play, watch the competition, eat, drink, and dress up, scholars vie to compose poems and couplets for the little flower fairies to boost consumption.
Many people are still willing to come from faraway places; the inns in Taoyuan Town are fully booked every Flower God Festival, an important means to drive economic development.
It promotes Taoyuan Town’s outstanding people and lands, various goods, and attracts out-of-town merchants to invest, open shops, do business, and trade, letting goods circulate to other places or even nationwide…
Once the economy improves, their tax revenue goes up. Why not allocate a little to support the Flower God Festival rewards for the courtesan?
Moreover, the love of beauty is universal; men toil through the seasons and seek some fun when tired. Officials can also gather through this to connect feelings.
Luo Zhi’er said goodbye to Li Sanmao and had him go back first. After thinking, she took out the banknotes from her bosom and had him deposit them in the money house, then went with Ye Beiyao to Guixiang Garden.
Li Sanmao was stunned seeing this banknote, while Luo Zhi’er casually told him she’d explain in detail when they returned in the evening.
Passing by the ready-to-wear shop on the way, Luo Zhi’er went in and came out as a white, chubby, soft young man. Not enough, she even stuck on a mustache, gave him a playful glance, and spoke in a Sichuan accent, “How about it? Master Ye, just say if Luo Erye is handsome or not? Can he attract young women?”
“Pfft!”
Song Wu was amused by her outfit, and Ye Beiyao was thrown off by her words… “Luo, Luo Erye?”
“Sigh, this Jiang Shaoqing really has great fortune with women lately; he’s surely appreciated all the beauties in the town’s pleasure quarters!”
“Brother Beiyao, quick, off to Guixiang Garden. Go with Brother Luo Er to see the beauties!”
She walked ahead, her movements practiced and smooth.
“Nonsense!”
She, how is she this kind of person? She just said she wasn’t going. Ye Beiyao flung his wide sleeve, face ashen, and strode past her ahead!
“Hey, Brother Ye Tuotuo, don’t walk so fast, wait for me!”
