Transmigrating to the Song Dynasty: Water Margin Business Management

Hou San'er, that kid, had accepted Wu Yong's bribe, and his eyes were practically slits with laughter. He was seen shaking his head and shouting all over the street, and in no time at all, he had actually gathered more than fifty vendors.

These vendors were incredibly diverse. One vendor selling candied hawthorns shouted at the top of his lungs, "Candied hawthorns! Sweet and sour candied hawthorns!" Another vendor selling socks yelled in a tattered voice, "Cheap socks, three pairs for ten coins!"

There were also toy vendors shaking rattles, making a "dong dong" sound.

They surged toward Wang Zhiqiang's shop in a mighty, densely packed crowd, resembling a long, crooked dragon. They surrounded the shop entrance three or four deep, completely blocking it, making it virtually impassable.

An old woman selling vegetables plopped down on the ground, put her basket in front of her, and muttered, "I'm right here! Even if the King of Heaven himself came, he wouldn't make me move!" A man selling stinky tofu was emitting such a strong smell that people around him couldn't help but cover their noses.

Zhao Tianming's restaurant was finally out of crisis, which made everyone extremely happy. Dai Zong rushed back with fresh beef, and the kitchen immediately sprang into action.

Before long, an enticing aroma wafted from the restaurant; the familiar delicious food was back. Gradually, drawn by the fragrance, guests entered the restaurant one after another.

At first, there were only a few regular customers, but gradually, more and more people came. The restaurant was soon full, and later customers even formed a long queue at the door. Not only did it regain its former bustling business, but it also saw a significant increase in customers compared to before.

Zhao Tianming stood in the lobby, watching the lively scene, a gratified smile on his face. He Xiang was also happily helping to greet the guests, her forehead beaded with sweat, but her eyes were full of joy.

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, He Xiang stopped, turned around, and hugged Zhao Tianming tightly. Before Zhao Tianming could react, He Xiang kissed him on the cheek.

This scene was witnessed by Li Si, who had just entered the room. Li Si's eyes widened, his mouth gaped open enough to fit an egg, and he stammered, "Oh my, this is too much to bear!" Wang Wu next to him chimed in, "That's right, that's right! How are we bachelors supposed to live like this in broad daylight!"

Old Sun, the accountant standing behind the counter, shook his head with a smile as he fiddled with the abacus: "Young people, they really can't help themselves."

After being kissed, Zhao Tianming's face turned bright red to his ears, while He Xiang was very generous and said with a smile, "I'm happy that our restaurant is doing well!"

Wu Yong then carefully examined the accounts and said to Zhao Tianming with a beaming smile, "Manager Zhao, the restaurant has earned a total of five thousand taels of silver today, which is the net profit after deducting all expenses."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tianming's smile grew even brighter, his eyes almost squinting into slits.

Then, Wu Yong turned to He Xiang'er and said, "How is it, madam? Are you satisfied now?"

He Xiang'er smiled and said to Li Kui, Wu Song, Song Jiang, Shi Qian'er, and Dai Zong, "Thanks to your help, we're slaughtering pigs and sheep today. You all have a good time and drink until we drop."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhishen immediately perked up and exclaimed, "Drinking? Besides kung fu, this is my greatest hobby! I caused a huge ruckus at the Wenshu Monastery on Mount Wutai back then, all because of drinking, and as a result, the abbot banished me to the Xiangguo Temple. Alas, this wine, I truly both love and hate it!"

After saying that, he shook his head, looking both helpless and longing, which made everyone burst into laughter.

Wu Song patted Lu Zhishen on the shoulder and laughed, "Brother, let's just drink and have fun today, and not bring up those old stories anymore."

Li Kui chimed in, "That's right, that's right! Let's drink! A true hero doesn't drink to his heart's content!"

Song Jiang smiled and looked at everyone, saying, "Enjoy yourselves to the fullest today, but don't let your drinking lead you astray."

Shi Qian'er winked mischievously and said, "Don't worry, Brother Song, we know what we're doing."

The tender mutton on the plate exuded an enticing aroma, while the mellow wine in the glass wafted with an intoxicating fragrance. Zhao Tianming and his brothers sat around the table, drinking heartily in a joyful and harmonious atmosphere.

At the dinner table, everyone clinked glasses and chatted, creating a lively atmosphere.

Zhao Tianming, his face flushed, raised his wine cup and shouted, "Brothers, let's drink until we drop!" Wu Song responded heartily, "Brother Zhao, with your words, we'll definitely drink to our hearts' content!" Li Kui even picked up the wine jar, tilted his head back and took a big gulp. The wine dripped down his chin, and he wiped his mouth and laughed heartily.

He Xiang served wine and dishes continuously, her face beaming with joy. She moved gracefully among the crowd, her trays steady in her hands. "Come on, everyone, the freshly served mutton, eat it while it's hot!" He Xiang's clear voice rang out.

Lu Zhishen picked up a piece of mutton, put it in his mouth and chewed it heartily, praising as he ate: "This mutton is fresh, tender and delicious, extremely tasty!" Song Jiang smiled as he looked at everyone, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"Hahahaha..." Hearty laughter echoed throughout the room, filling it with a joyful atmosphere. Shi Qian'er took a sip of wine and began recounting amusing tales from the martial world, eliciting gasps of amazement and bursts of laughter from the crowd.

Dai Zong also joined in enthusiastically, sharing his recent experiences with his brothers. After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was a little tipsy, but their spirits only rose higher.

"This gathering today has been truly delightful!" Wu Song exclaimed. Everyone echoed his sentiments, and another round of laughter and chatter ensued.

Wang Zhiqiang's housekeeper has been extremely anxious these past two days, like an ant on a hot pan. The shop is completely blocked by vendors, making it impossible to do business. He is angry, annoyed, and helpless.

That day, the steward paced back and forth in the shop, his brow furrowed and sweat beading on his forehead. He stared at the chaotic scene, his heart filled with anxiety. Just then, a usually shrewd shop assistant approached and cautiously said, "Manager Wang, it's been two days already, and we still haven't seen him. I suspect he's with the Japanese swordsman, Kiyoharu, probably discussing a big deal. I've heard he's been trying to replace Gao Qiu as the leader of the palace football team. Alas, that's just wishful thinking."

Upon hearing this, the steward stamped his foot in anger, "What kind of time is this to be thinking about such unrealistic things! We're already overwhelmed with problems right now, we need to find Manager Wang as soon as possible!"

The shrewd waiter quickly nodded and replied, "Steward, you're right. But where can we find this?"

The butler glared at him. "How should I know? Aren't you always full of clever ideas? Hurry up and think of a solution for me!"

The waiter looked distressed, thought for a moment, and said, "Why don't we send someone to look in the places Manager Wang frequents? We can also ask at the homes of his close friends."

The butler shook his head. "We've searched all the places we can think of, but there's still no news."

The waiter thought for a moment, "How about we go check out Jiaogen Jingchun? Maybe Manager Wang is really there."

The butler hesitated for a moment, "Go to the Japanese? Is that feasible?"

The man gritted his teeth. "There's no other way right now, we have to give it a try. We can't just sit here and wait."

Manager Guan sighed, "Alright, then quickly take a few people and go check it out. We absolutely must find Manager Wang, otherwise our shop will be finished!"

The waiter responded and hurriedly led a few men out to find Manager Wang. The steward watched them leave, silently praying that they would find Manager Wang quickly and resolve their current predicament.

Wang Zhiqiang knew that Gao Qiu was a tough nut to crack, unyielding to both soft and hard tactics. So, he changed his mind and set his sights on Jiaogen Jingcun. To establish a connection with them, Wang Zhiqiang went to great lengths, using all his connections, and finally made contact.

After that, Wang Zhiqiang invited Jiaogen Jingcun to dinner every few days. In a private room of a luxurious restaurant, Wang Zhiqiang smiled broadly and attentively poured wine and served food to Jiaogen Jingcun. After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Wang Zhiqiang felt the time was right and cautiously told Jiaogen Jingcun his idea.

“Mr. Foot Heel, you see, I’ve always longed to join the Imperial Cuju Team. You know my skills; if I had the chance, I’d definitely bring glory to His Majesty.” Wang Zhiqiang said, while observing Foot Heel Jingcun’s expression.

Jiaogen Jingcun remained noncommittal, only taking a small sip of wine. Seeing this, Wang Zhiqiang quickly took out the gifts he had prepared beforehand from his pocket. He first took out a pair of fine shoes for each person, made of the best silk and with exquisite handcraftsmanship; the shoes were of the highest quality in terms of workmanship and materials. Then, he took out a piece of warm and translucent jade and handed it to Jiaogen Jingcun.

"Mr. Foot, this is just a small token of my appreciation. If you could put in a good word for me before the Emperor, allowing me to shine in this Cuju (ancient Chinese football) competition, I would give you forty percent of the profits after it's done." Wang Zhiqiang's eyes were full of expectation and flattery.

Jingchun picked up the jade and played with it in her hand for a while. She smiled slightly and said, "Manager Wang, you are really thoughtful. But this matter is not easy to handle."

Wang Zhiqiang quickly replied, "Mr. Footprint, as long as you're willing to help, there's always a way. I, Wang Zhiqiang, will definitely follow your lead from now on."

After pondering for a moment, Jingchun finally nodded: "Alright, I'll give it a try. But you have to perform well too."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhiqiang was overjoyed and quickly toasted Jiao He Jingchun a few more times. The dinner ended in a seemingly harmonious atmosphere, while Wang Zhiqiang waited hopefully for good news.