Chapter 280: Shops in the City
Because Qin Qingyou only took the right path.
The carriage sped along, and Tong Huaqiong and others sitting in the carriage hardly felt any bumps.
After lunch, Tong Huaqiong took a nap in the carriage.
In the haze, a burst of noise came into my ears.
"Mom, wake up, we're here at the city."
Gu Taohua pushed Tong Huaqiong.
Tong Huaqiong opened her eyes and saw Liu Yue'e, Chen Sufen and Man'er Yaozu all pulling aside the curtain and looking outside.
"We're here." Tong Huaqiong stretched and drank a cup of strong tea.
Just like in her previous life, Tong Huaqiong felt sleepy whenever she sat in a car.
This was her first time in the provincial capital, the legendary big city. Tong Huaqiong became excited after drinking the strong tea. She moved to the window, lifted the curtain and looked outside.
What comes into view is a towering green city wall.
I saw people coming in and out of the city wall.
"We'll be entering the city soon." said Gu Taohua.
During this era, city management was very strict and people could not enter or leave the city at will, especially those who came from other places needed a pass.
Qin Qingyou drove the carriage to the foot of the city wall and handed over the pass. The other party looked at it and waved his hand to let him pass.
"It's quite simple. I thought they wanted us all to go down for a body search." Liu Yue'e said, patting her chest.
Gu Taohua continued, "I heard that it was like this before. If outsiders wanted to enter, they not only had to have a pass but also had to give silver to the gatekeepers. Otherwise, they would mistake you for a Beiliang spy and arrest you. It means you have to pay more money. It is said that when Lord Yao came, they would not let you pass unless you gave them silver. They almost arrested Lord Yao as a Beiliang spy. Lord Yao was very angry and later killed the squad leader of the city guards. Now no one dares to ask for silver when entering the city."
Tong Huaqiong sighed, it seems that Lord Yao is a man who gets things done.
If she has the chance to meet him again, she will have to cling to Lord Yao's thigh. At least when Gu Jingzhe pursues a career in politics in the future, she can follow the right path by following him.
The carriage entered the city.
Tong Huaqiong looked outside through the curtain. The city walls were built so majestically, and the interior was equally majestic.
The road is wide and can accommodate three or four carriages side by side, and it is paved with bluestone bricks.
It was almost dusk, but there were still various small vendors on the roadside, and the place was bustling with people.
If it were dusk in Yanguan Town, half of the town would be empty.
The provincial capital is also called Ningcheng. It has a developed commodity economy and a lax curfew. It is said that some restaurants can be open all night.
The carriage continued to move forward, passing restaurants and teahouses on the roadside one after another, with waiters wearing white towels and greeting people warmly.
There were people sitting in every teahouse, and the storytellers were telling stories passionately.
"Look, that dancing sister is so beautiful." Maner pointed to the opposite side and leaned forward excitedly.
Tong Huaqiong looked in the direction of Maner's finger.
It was a tavern owned by the Hu people. A Hu girl was dancing at the door. Her blue skirt was flying in the air as she spun around. She was very beautiful.
There were also two Hu people playing drums and violin next to them.
"Oh, Hu Ji is so pretty, and her eyes are blue." Chen Sufen said in surprise.
"Won't you feel dizzy from spinning like this?" Liu Yue'e looked curious.
"Let's go to the Hu people's tavern later and try their food." Tong Huaqiong said.
"Look, that guy is so powerful, he can swallow fire and spit fire." Yaozu shouted in surprise.
There was a high stage in front of us where a circus troupe was performing.
There was a man performing fire-eating, which drew constant cheers from the people below.
Yaozu was so eager that he begged, "Grandma, I want to go see it."
Tong Huaqiong said, "Let's go to the shop first, and then ask your father to bring you and Man'er to see it."
Yaozu pouted.
Liu Yue'e couldn't wait to get off the carriage and walk around since she entered the city, but she wanted to see Gu Dashu earlier, so she said to her son, "Listen to your grandma. It's not like you're not allowed to see it. Now there's no one to take you there. What if you meet a beggar and get kidnapped?"
When Yaozu heard that someone was begging for money, he shut up obediently.
"Boss, we'll be there just around the corner." Qin Qingyou turned his head and said to Tong Huaqiong.
The shop in the city is on Pearl Lane.
It is said that in the previous dynasty, a princess went to Beiliang to marry a prince, and when she passed by Ningcheng, she dropped a pearl hairpin. The place where she dropped the hairpin was named Pearl Lane by later generations.
Soon, a bustling street appeared in front of Tong Huaqiong.
It was more prosperous than any street she had just seen, with more people and more shops.
This is not an alley, it would be more appropriate to call it a lane or a street.
It was Tong Huaqiong's idea to open a shop in Pearl Lane. She said that since the shop was to be opened in the capital, it should naturally be opened in the most prosperous place in the capital.
The competition in the capital city is more intense than that in Yanguan Town and Pingchuan County. As the saying goes, even good wine needs to be hidden in a remote alley. Peach Blossom Dessert is new here, so it cannot hide in a secluded place, otherwise how can it make a name for itself.
Of course, the rent for opening a shop in the most prosperous area is not low, and the cost of hiring people in the city is also high.
Tong Huaqiong spent a lot of money.
Tong Huaqiong is very open-minded about this.
Doing business? You have to invest.
"Mom, we're here." Gu Taohua said.
Qin Qingyou tightened the reins and the carriage stopped in front of a shop.
The curtain was opened, and Gu Dashu, He Chao and Hong Xiaoxi came forward to greet them.
"mother."
"My boss."
Gu Dashu and others spoke up one after another, unable to hide their joy on their faces.
Tong Huaqiong got off the carriage and was greeted by a grand and bright shop with a sign of Peach Blossom Desserts hung up.
Tong Huaqiong expressed her satisfaction with this.
He Chao and Gu Dashu welcomed Tong Huaqiong and others into the shop, served them tea, and reported on their work.
Tong Huaqiong took a sip of tea and said, "You have all worked hard. After the shop opens, you will all be rewarded."
Hong Xiaoxi said with a smile: "It's not hard, it's not hard. Thanks to the boss, I can come to the city to gain more experience."
Almost all new shops in the city recruit employees here.
Since everyone is not familiar with these new guys, we have to arrange for someone familiar to take charge.
When He Chao was communicating with Tong Huaqiong about who to put in the provincial capital, Tong Huaqiong suggested transferring Hong Xiaoxi over.
Through Tong Huaqiong's observation over the past few months, she found that Hong Xiaoxi was a smart person who thought things through carefully. After he had some experience, she thought of promoting him to be the owner of a shop in the city.
The smart Hong Xiaoxi also knew Tong Huaqiong's intention and was full of gratitude to Tong Huaqiong. He vowed that he would not let Tong Huaqiong down and strive to become the shopkeeper as soon as possible.
"Boss, these are the guys in our shop."
He Chao called all the guys to meet Tong Huaqiong.
Tong Huaqiong was relatively confident in He Chao's work, as these people seemed smart and honest.
However, how well the performance is ultimately going to be revealed only when the shop officially opens for business.
"......Since you are employees of Taohua Dessert, I don't ask you to work there for the rest of your life. You are free to come and go and make your own choices. Taohua Dessert will not treat you unfairly. I only have one request. If you don't want to work there in the future, you must make it clear in advance and never do anything to backstab Taohua Dessert." Tong Huaqiong said.
The guys all said that they must work for Peach Blossom Dessert and would not dare to betray them.