Episode 13 recap: Ying Bai Chi's Desire to Become a Famous Writer
Four years ago, Bei Xiao Hai became delirious due to hunger, and Meng San Xi quickly carried him to a clinic for a check-up. The diagnosis revealed that Bei Xiao Hai was perfectly fine, just extremely hungry. Meng San Xi shamelessly asked the doctor for some food, but since he couldn't even afford the consultation fee, they were kicked out of the clinic. With no other options, Meng San Xi had to wander the streets with Bei Xiao Hai, searching for food. Using the excuse of taste-testing, he grabbed a handful of melon seeds from a vendor. Just as he peeled one and placed it in front of Bei Xiao Hai, Bei Xiao Hai opened his eyes and came back to life.
Ignoring the fact that the seeds had shells, he quickly devoured all the melon seeds in Meng San Xi's hand. The vendor, repulsed by their behavior, promptly chased them away, refusing to let them take advantage any further.
Today was Liu Da Xia's birthday banquet, and Meng San Xi carried Bei Xiao Hai there in hopes of getting something to eat, even if it meant washing dishes. However, no one paid attention to him. Bei Xiao Hai had a clever idea and had Meng San Xi pretend to be his underling and sneak into the mansion. As soon as the pastries were served, they disappeared in no time, startling the serving maid. When she brought another plate, it vanished once again. This time, she noticed Meng San Xi's bulging cheeks and decided to place the third plate directly in front of him. Meng San Xi and Bei Xiao Hai were truly famished, and they didn't care about their dignity. They ate while stuffing the pastries into their pockets. The people at their table looked at them with disdain. Just as a hot dish was served, before they could even take a bite, the butler arrived with others and exposed their identities, kicking them out.
The construction of the Liu Family Bathhouse finally came to an end, and Ji Ming Zhao was excited about getting his hands on the payment. However, Liu Yun Zong only paid 3,500 taels and left a 30% balance, which would be paid in ten days. Ji Ming Zhao became angry, considering that he had not only invested money but also put in a lot of effort during the past three months. Now that the project was finished, he couldn't receive the full payment, and he couldn't help feeling frustrated. He subtly threatened Liu Yun Zong, implying that if he didn't pay on time, the rumors about the haunted Liu Family Bathhouse would be spread. Meng San Xi, Ye Wu Zhi, and Yan Si Fang had thought they would receive 100 taels of silver notes, but they were only given 70 taels, leaving them disappointed.
Ji Ming Zhao brought everyone back to the store and learned that business had picked up in the past couple of days. She believed it was due to the collaboration with the Liu Family Bathhouse, which excited her. However, Lao Ding quickly delivered bad news to her. The group of men who had changed from ruffians to decent individuals was now exclusively serving the Unnamed General Store this month. As a result, Ji Ming Zhao would have to pay them 56 taels of silver. Ji Ming Zhao's financial situation was already strained, with only 50 taels of silver on hand. She decided to owe 16 taels for now and settle the payment in a few days. Ye Wu Zhi quickly lent her the remaining 14 taels of silver from her pocket to help Ji Ming Zhao through this difficult situation. Ji Ming Zhao was grateful, but when she found out that Ye Wu Zhi had gone gambling again, using up the last 14 taels, she couldn't help but feel angry and resentful toward Ye Wu Zhi for not being ambitious and constantly lingering in the gambling den.
Ji Ming Zhao wanted to expand her business, which meant she needed more merchandise. However, she didn't have enough silver at the moment, so she went to discuss it with Ying Bai Chi. Ying Bai Chi refused to take on any debts, but he had always had a wish—to become a well-known bestselling author. To achieve this, he had even written a dedicated poetry collection for publication. Ji Ming Zhao understood Ying Bai Chi's desire for fame but didn't want people who flattered him to buy his books. She wanted genuine admirers of his work to recognize and appreciate it, which posed a dilemma for her. The poetry collection went through the hands of Meng San Xi, Yan Si Fang, and Ji Ming Zhao, and none of them dared to compliment Ying Bai Chi's skill. However, they needed Ying Bai Chi's financial support, so Meng San Xi and Ji Ming Zhao agreed to take on the task of selling his books. They convinced Ying Bai Chi to sell only 100 copies and create a frenzy where the entire city would join in the rush, thereby increasing Ying Bai Chi's popularity. Ying Bai Chi was deeply moved and ultimately agreed to sell only 100 copies, but he had one condition: the Unnamed General Store could not use any tricks.
Ji Ming Zhao wanted the Unnamed General Store to become the first store that came to mind when people thought of a general store in Mu Yun City. She spent a large sum of money to acquire a large quantity of ice and had craftsmen channel the cold air from the ice into the general store, allowing customers to experience the coolness in the scorching summer. Gu Nian Jiu heard about the cooling system at the Unnamed General Store and made a special visit to observe it. She knew Ji Ming Zhao would be remembered as the first person to do such a thing and felt a bit envious. Ying Bai Chi, eager to see the reaction to his book in the market, spent a whole day squatting at the Unnamed General Store but didn't find a single person reading it. To draw attention to the book, Meng San Xi exaggeratedly emphasized its quality with his acting skills and almost got punched.
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