Qixi Festival Promotion

Qixi.

According to legend, it was essentially a story of a toad lusting after swan meat.

But that toad happened to be a scholar, so the scholars of the world had dressed it up as a romance.

The day before Qixi.

After breakfast that morning, Jun Jingyi quickly got busy.

His experience as someone from a later age told him that whenever a holiday like this came around, never mind whether the people celebrating it were happy or not.

As a merchant, he certainly needed to be happy.

If he couldn't seize the holiday to run a promotion, he would have wasted his upbringing as a new-era youth in a later world awash with capital.

Before long, the people of Tianfu City noticed the Journey to the West Restaurant.

And practically all the restaurants belonging to the Journey to the West Merchant Alliance had put up all sorts of bizarre promotions.

A waiter stood outside the restaurant, in front of a pile of goods stocked in large quantities, and called out at the top of his lungs.

Every one of the waiters was tremendously excited.

The shopkeeper had said that if they sold a lot today, he would give them bonuses.

The more they sold, the bigger the bonus!

"Come take a look! For the Qixi Festival, our shop is running a special promotion for married couples!"

"Twenty percent off everything, twenty percent off everything..."

Before long, the people of Tianfu City, who had never seen anything like this, gathered around out of curiosity.

"A special promotion for married couples? What does that mean?"

someone asked in confusion.

"Young master, it means that as long as a husband and wife buy something at our restaurant together, they get twenty percent off!"

The waiter was even happier.

Sure enough, just as the shopkeeper had said, people came over as soon as he called out.

As long as some of them bought something, his bonus would...

"Oh, you mean even Dukang Liquor is only eighty taels now?"

"Yes, yes!"

The waiter nodded vigorously. "Our shopkeeper said that tomorrow is the Qixi Festival, the finest occasion for talented scholars and ladies. Dukang Liquor will naturally be in great demand, and our restaurant doesn't want to spoil anyone's good time, does it?"

"But Dukang Liquor is a little expensive, because its ingredients are precious. It contains ginseng, deer antler, and other precious ingredients, and has the effect of nourishing primordial yang. We really can't make it too cheap."

"But it's Qixi now, and the shopkeeper said that to thank the good people of Tianfu City for their support during this time, he would grit his teeth and take a loss for one day, all for everyone's happiness!"

The waiter called out with an excited expression, following the script.

The eyes of the crowd around him gradually lit up with excitement as well.

Those who could already afford Dukang Liquor felt that buying it today was... worth it!

Those who couldn't afford it also thought the timing was perfect. They could grit their teeth and buy a jar to try. Either way, they wouldn't lose out.

After all, it had so many good things in it.

And it... nourished primordial yang!

Many more still couldn't afford it, but felt from the bottom of their hearts that the shopkeeper of the Journey to the West Restaurant was a decent person.

In a world full of unscrupulous merchants, someone was actually willing to take a loss just to thank them.

"Ah... I heard the restaurant's shopkeeper is Young Master Jun. He truly is one of us scholars!"

"Indeed, indeed! He really is a scholar. Even in business, he serves the country and its people!"

"Enough said. For Young Master Jun's kind intentions alone, I must go have a proper meal at the restaurant today."

"Brother, let's go together!"

The talented scholars sighed in admiration and filed into the Journey to the West Restaurant.

At the same time, many young ladies secluded in their boudoirs also heard about it, and all were deeply moved.

Their eyes shimmered, as though they could see the impossibly beautiful Young Master Jun standing before them.

They admired him immensely.

"He does business, yet takes a loss for the people. What other merchant in the world could do that?"

And so, the young ladies began heading to the Journey to the West Restaurant for meals, bringing their families along.

Before long, word of the matter spread.

The great clans and all the talented scholars and ladies vied with one another to get there.

It was as though... with Jun Jingyi acting this way, any one of them who failed to show their support would lose face.

The Bai residence.

"My lady..."

Lian'er watched Bai Ruoli, who was deep in thought, with care.

"Phew..."

After a long while, Bai Ruoli frowned to herself.

She felt this had to be one of Jun Jingyi's schemes. He absolutely couldn't be such a great man.

Taking a loss for the people, indeed...

She didn't want to go and show that fellow any support.

But now it seemed she had no choice.

After all, she still had to move in Tianfu City's circles of talented scholars and ladies in the future.

She felt utterly stifled.

If Jun Jingyi had been there, she would have wanted to crack his head open and see what was inside.

If you're going to run a restaurant, just run it. Why do you have to stir up so much trouble?

Other people make money, but you take losses? What kind of restaurant are you running? Who are you trying to fool?

But no matter how stifled she felt, she still had to go.

That was the tide of things, and she could not turn it back!

That night.

As though they had agreed on it beforehand, Tianfu City's high-ranking officials and dignitaries, prominent and powerful figures, and renowned talented scholars and ladies gathered at the Journey to the West Restaurant.

All eyes were upon them!

Bai Ruoli also came in with the Bai Clan's party, most unwillingly.

Then, after taking just one casual glance at her surroundings, she froze.