Chapter 1042: Opening for Business

Commandant Zhao answered "yes" several times in a row and went out to give instructions. Commandant Wu leaned back, stroking his increasingly shiny forehead. The world changes fast; he was glad he hadn't truly burned bridges with He Lingchuan, otherwise, wouldn't it be awkward to be arrogant before and servile now?

He just didn't know about Does Bailie...

That man surnamed He really had some ability, even managing to make a connection with the State Preceptor of Mou. From this perspective, it was a wise move for him to maintain good relations with He, and for Blade Harbor to maintain good relations with the Yangshan Archipelago.

Just then, the minor official from before rushed over and presented him with an invitation: "My lord, the Yangshan Archipelago's storefront is about to open, and they invite you to attend the ribbon-cutting!"

"Let me see."

The gold-stamped invitation was indeed exactly that.

Commandant Wu did know that the Yangshan Archipelago's first storefront in Blade Harbor had originally been planned to open, and the date had been set, but it was temporarily delayed by a hurricane. Now that the wind and rain had stopped, the plan was back on the agenda.

But when he saw the address on the invitation, his gaze suddenly froze.

The Yangshan Archipelago's first two storefronts on the mainland were actually not opening in Blade Harbor, but in Qu City, the capital of Does Bailie?! The signature at the bottom was He Lingchuan's own handwriting.

Island Master He certainly wouldn't make a mistake about such an important matter himself.

"Interesting, truly interesting." Commandant Wu couldn't help but chuckle, "It seems Does Bailie has also been given a 'dose of medicine' by Mou."

Otherwise, with Does Bailie targeting the Yangshan Archipelago both openly and secretly, how could He Lingchuan's shop successfully obtain a license and open? But with this, the Lu family must be feeling quite stifled, right? Commandant Wu smiled and said: "Go reply to the Yangshan Archipelago; on the day of the opening, I will certainly go to show my support."

￥￥￥￥￥

The surging undercurrents of all parties finally turned into superficial harmony on this auspicious day.

The Yangshan Archipelago's two shops opened simultaneously in Qu City, the capital of Does Bailie! The opening scene was very lively; after all, the new master of the Yangshan Archipelago had already made a name for himself and had topped the list of hot topics for relatives and neighbors in the surrounding areas to discuss over tea and after meals.

Ding Zuodong had been advertising the new shop's opening for several days, and with the new shop offering significant discounts, it was packed solid with residents early in the morning.

The celebrities and gentry of Does Bailie and Blade Harbor were all invited to show their support.

However, the commoners didn't expect that even Lu Lu Qingan, the eldest son of the Lord of Does Bailie, and Commandant Wu of the Blade Harbor Shipping Department would arrive, greeting Island Master He with smiles and bowing to the commoners watching the excitement.

Rumors in the streets said that Island Master He was at odds with the Lu family and Commandant Wu, but wasn't everything harmonious on the scene? Only those familiar with the Lu family could see that Lu Lu Qingan's smile was actually a bit forced.

The master of ceremonies found by Guan Ke spoke exceptionally well and often drew thunderous applause.

Amidst the sound of gongs and drums, the dragon dance team performed several good acts, winning a round of applause.

Once the time arrived, several local top figures stood at the shop entrance, picked up scissors, and with a "click," cut the red ribbon, completing the opening ceremony for the new shop.

He Lingchuan reached out to Lu Lu Qingan with a "please" gesture: "Eldest Master Lu, thank you for your trouble."

Lu Lu Qingan's facial muscles were sore from smiling today, and he just wanted to finish the process quickly.

Fake smiling was just too damn tiring.

He and He Lingchuan acted together to unveil the red cloth on the restaurant's plaque.

Dragon Spine Restaurant.

The three hundred strings of firecrackers in the back crackled and popped, celebrating the auspicious opening.

After the ribbon-cutting and unveiling process was finished, He Lingchuan respectfully welcomed the distinguished guests to their seats, and the people of Qu City could also enter the Dragon Spine Restaurant to order food and dine.

For a moment, heads were jostling.

"Eldest Master Lu, the business of the Yangshan Archipelago in the future will still need your care." He Lingchuan bowed to Lu Lu Qingan, "Let's keep in touch!"

After saying this, he waved his hand, and someone presented seven gold-painted gift boxes.

Lu Lu Qingan's face changed color, and he subconsciously took half a step back.

Last time, the Yangshan Archipelago had sent seven human heads to his family in gift boxes!

He immediately realized he was showing weakness and immediately spoke to cover it up: "Oh my, Island Master He is too polite!"

In public, He Lingchuan certainly wouldn't do anything so outrageous. He considerately lifted the lid of a gift box; inside were all kinds of beautifully packaged gifts:

"This is for Patriarch Lu, this is for Lady An, this is for you, Eldest Master Lu, this is for Second Master Lu..."

He introduced them one by one.

Lu Lu Qingan stood beside him, feeling particularly uncomfortable.

He had already heard the report that this kid killed while talking and laughing, without any warning beforehand.

The six hundred Bailong people failed in their uprising, and the Lu family could still think that the Wanqi uncle and nephew were brainless brutes with poor ability; but the Beijia Captain and numerous demon guards also fell at the Yangshan Archipelago, so what could be said? Yes, he knew now that the one who came to the door to ask Lu Zhensheng for help back then was not some Beijia bounty hunter, but a regular military officer of the Black Tiger Army from Lingxu City! Even such Beijia elites returned defeated from the Yangshan Archipelago, so the Lu family would have to weigh things carefully before offending He Lingchuan again.

So when Lu Lu Qingan finished reading the personal letter from State Preceptor Wang, he didn't feel as uneasy.

Since State Preceptor Wang requested that both sides maintain good relations, and He Lingchuan obviously agreed, the safety of the Lu family members should not be threatened.

It was just stifling.

He Lingchuan had just sent them heads, and then immediately demanded that the Lu family come to stand for his grand opening.

The Yangshan Archipelago's first storefront was actually opened in Qu City! And not far from the Lu family's residence! This was deliberately coming under the Lu family's nose to disgust them.

But Lu Lu Qingan still had to come.

He looked at Commandant Wu; every smile of this old slippery fox seemed to come from the heart, and he didn't know how he managed it.

The Yangshan Archipelago's two shops, one called "Dragon Spine Building," specialized in snacks and tea. The guests ate snacks made from the products of the Yangshan Archipelago, such as nut sugar made from nuts on the island, fine wine brewed from grapes and berries, steamed buns made from dragon bamboo shoots and yellow mushrooms, soup dumplings made from large shrimp and mackerel caught in the Yangshan sea area, and so on.

Of course, palm oil and aphid sugar were used in the making of many snacks.

Guests who paid and left would also receive a bottle of exquisite palm oil and a portion of aphid sugar shortbread as a souvenir before leaving.

Because there were grand opening discounts, Dragon Spine Building was bustling with noise and excitement, as if it were about to be carried away by everyone together.

There were more merchants who came to taste the food that day than commoners.

In such a place, delicacies were savored in small bites; it was clean, elegant, and very suitable for a business lunch or a light discussion of business.

Of course, today was an exception.

And next door to Dragon Spine Building was the other shop opened by the Yangshan Archipelago:

Crane Call Building.

This place displayed the products of the Yangshan Archipelago and also did wholesale business, with a warehouse in the back. After merchants finished eating and drinking at Dragon Spine Building and felt the taste was good and the goods were nice, they could walk a few steps to Crane Call Building, separated by a wall, to discuss business.

How good was its business? To say nothing else, six hundred fluorescent spores were sold in one morning.

Guests who came later wanted to buy more, but sorry, they were out of stock.

Zhu Erniang had only recently settled in the Yangshan Archipelago, and the cultivation of new fungal mats took time, so the output of fluorescent spores was limited.

With delicacies before him, Commandant Wu ate with great relish while observing his surroundings.

When he went to Crane Call Building for a stroll, he was surprised by the richness of the goods there: the Yangshan Archipelago actually had so many things to sell? He saw with his own eyes many merchants come in, discuss for a while with the clerks and managers here, and then leave with gift boxes or cargo lists.

The Yangshan Archipelago rented several large warehouses by the pier in Blade Harbor; customers who ordered bulk goods could pick up the goods at the pier with the cargo list and load them directly onto the ship; those who were not in a hurry could also have them shipped from the Yangshan Archipelago.

The delivery-to-ship service was gifted by the seller, the Yangshan Archipelago, which was very thoughtful.

Restaurants, storefronts, separate storage of goods, direct logistics delivery—although a bit chaotic, it was generally organized. This group of people surnamed He didn't look like laymen when it came to managing business.

Just then, Does Bailie's Registrar Yang was nearby, and Commandant Wu asked him in a low voice: "Old Yang, did the Yangshan Archipelago produce glowing spores in the past? I've never seen anyone use them."

He didn't need to buy them; He Lingchuan directly packed a few in a gift box and gave them to him.

Registrar Yang smiled awkwardly: "This, I'm not very clear about."

Could it be a specialty of a newly opened island?

Commandant Wu added: "Your Third and Sixth Masters of the Lu family are both here; they greeted me in a private room on the second floor of Dragon Spine Restaurant just now. I even saw them arm in arm and chatting happily with that Island Master He."

"I saw it." Registrar Yang rubbed his face, "They have long been mixed up with Yangshan. When Dragon Spine Restaurant opened, I heard the gifts they sent were very heavy."

When Dragon Spine Restaurant opened, Island Master He invited partners to show their support, and these two from the Lu family were among them, and they seemed particularly familiar with Island Master He.

Lu Lu Qingan was forced to come, but these two from the Lu family were not.

When He Lingchuan gave them gifts, they took them very happily.

Registrar Yang asked him: "Is the Yangshan Archipelago's shop in Blade Harbor also opening soon?"

No matter who wanted to open a business in Blade Harbor, they had to go to the Shipping Department to get an opening license, so Commandant Wu certainly knew very clearly: "Yes, in two days, I'll have to go show my support again."

A storefront located in a busy area with booming business could boost sales. This was the peak season for palm oil sales, so the Yangshan Archipelago certainly couldn't delay opening the shop any longer.

He walked to a remote shelf and coughed lightly: "Did the Lu family also receive a letter from an expert?"

The word "also" was used very cleverly. Registrar Yang stared: "You received one too?"

"The State Preceptor of Mou wrote a letter to Imperial Consort Yu, and then Imperial Consort Yu... well..." Commandant Wu spread his hands, "Anyway, it became like this. What about the Lu family?"

Registrar Yang looked left and right, and only after confirming there was no one around did he say in a low voice: "The State Preceptor of Mou sent a personal letter to the Patriarch."

Oh, State Preceptor Wang wrote to Lu Zhensheng personally? "State Preceptor Wang said in the letter that the Bailong people and Beijia people took advantage of the hurricane night to cause trouble in the Yangshan Archipelago, and it just so happened that he was a guest on the island and was quite disturbed..."

Commandant Wu was startled: "State Preceptor Wang was in the Yangshan Archipelago that day?!"

The master of the Yangshan Archipelago really had eyes and ears everywhere, even being able to invite the dignified State Preceptor Wang to the island!

"Keep your voice down!" Registrar Yang shushed him, "State Preceptor Wang also specifically mentioned that those few Beijia people came from the Black Tiger Army of Lingxu City. Do you know about this?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1043 =====