After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

In real life, when a new store opens, the red cloth is unveiled before the firecrackers are lit, but for the sake of the plot, the order is reversed.

Xiahe Village.

Two vehicles were parked in front of the Zheng family's house: an oxcart belonging to Uncle Zhang and a donkey cart hired by Gu Lin from the county town. The villagers of Xiahe Village had never seen so many vehicles at once, and they all rushed over to see what was going on.

The villagers initially thought the two carts were hired by Gu Lin to transport food to the county town for business, but when they saw Gu Lin, Zheng Hao, and Sister Zhao carrying wooden boxes, book boxes, and bundles out and then loading them onto the oxcarts and donkey carts, they felt something was amiss.

An aunt who lived near the Zheng family's house couldn't help but ask, "Lin-ge'er, where are you going?"

Xiahe Village is so small that everyone knows about any changes in the village. Gu Lin hadn't expected that they could keep their move to the county town a secret, but he didn't tell the truth either.

He said to the group of people gathered outside the Zheng family's house, "Xiao Hao has to study in the county during the day, and I also have to get up early every day to go to the county town to do business. For convenience, we simply rented a house in the county town to live in, so that we won't have to worry about going home every night."

Upon hearing Gu Lin's words, the people of Xiahe Village were all stunned. They knew that Gu Lin made money doing business in the county town, but they never imagined that they could move to the county town with just a small stall.

Looking at the father and son in front of them, they felt a sense of unreality.

The once miserable orphan and widow have become glamorous residents of the county town without anyone noticing.

The villagers felt a pang of sadness in their hearts, and they said it aloud: "Renting a house in the county town must cost a lot of money, right?"

Gu Lin never overestimated human nature. When he was about to announce that he was moving to the county town, he predicted that some people would be envious.

However, he seemed oblivious to the sourness in the other person's words and complained to the villagers, "That's right, the houses in the county town are not only expensive but also dilapidated. I spent more than 100 coins to rent a small and run-down house. That's not all. What's outrageous is that the roof leaks when it rains."

Gu Lin changed the subject, saying, "What's even more unacceptable is that firewood and vegetables in the county town cost money. If it weren't for my children and business there, I wouldn't be willing to waste that money!"

Hearing that the other party had spent over a hundred coins to rent only a dilapidated, leaky little house, the villagers of Xiahe Village felt somewhat better. When they heard that Gu Lin would later have to spend money to buy firewood and vegetables in the county town, their previous feelings of jealousy and bitterness immediately dissipated.

An old woman said with a proud look, "Brother Lin is right. Houses in the county town are ridiculously expensive. My nephew works as a waiter in a restaurant, and he has to spend four or five hundred coins a month just to rent a place. Good houses in the county are in high demand, and you have to spend a lot of money to rent one."

After the old woman finished speaking, everyone became even more convinced that Gu Lin's life in the county town was not going to be easy. Some people felt a little schadenfreude, thinking that since he had moved to the county town, the money he earned from his business each month would probably be barely enough to rent a place, and there wouldn't be much left.

Although the aunt who used to fetch water and gather firewood for Gu Lin regretted that she would not be able to earn this money in the future, she thought that she could now earn an income by selling melons and vegetables with him. She said to Gu Lin, "Brother Lin, don't go yet. I'll go pick some melons and vegetables for you to take to the county town, so you don't have to spend money to buy them."

Watching the auntie leave in a hurry, only to return a short while later carrying a basket of melons and vegetables, Gu Lin's lips moved slightly. When his gaze met the sincerity in her eyes, Gu Lin finally accepted the basket and thanked her, saying, "Thank you, Auntie."

Seeing the woman do this, the others realized what was happening and wanted to go back and pick some melons and vegetables for Gu Lin. Gu Lin quickly stopped them and said, "Aunties, don't worry. Brother Zhao goes to the county town every day to deliver melons and vegetables. Although I am not as carefree and happy in the county town as I am in the village, I will not lack melons and vegetables to eat."

That's what they say, but in the eyes of all the aunts and uncles, Lin Ge'er's trip to the county town was a hardship, as he had to cut back on the fruits and vegetables he used to eat whenever he wanted.

So, after all his luggage was packed and loaded into the two cars, Gu Lin left Xiahe Village under the sympathetic gazes of his aunts and uncles.

Watching the car and figures gradually disappear into the distance, Wang Ge'er, who had not appeared in the crowd for a long time and had been kept at home by his husband's family, only gaining a little freedom today, said leisurely to Grandmother Chen beside him: "Grandma Chen, I remember that your Zixiang only studied at the private school for half a day for the first six or seven years before being brought home, right? How long has it been since this boy Zheng studied before he could go to the school all day? Even Gu Lin moved to the county town for him. Could he really be a scholar?"

Grandma Chen was Tian Dahua's mother-in-law, which meant she was Chen Zixiang's grandmother. Although she disliked her daughter-in-law Tian Dahua, she had high hopes for her eldest grandson, Chen Zixiang.

After Chen Zixiang showed intelligence that set him apart from the other children of the Chen family when he was six years old, the Chen family made up their minds to send him to a private school in the county town with all their resources.

For more than a decade, his family scrimped and saved to support Chen Zixiang, hoping that he could pass the imperial examinations and wash away the mark of generations of peasants in the Chen family.

Therefore, although Chen Zixiang is now sixteen years old and has not yet taken the exam, his grandmother has great confidence in her grandson and is very certain that he will pass the exam with flying colors and become the first scholar in Xiahe Village.

Therefore, in response to Wang Ge'er's veiled criticism, Grandma Chen said bluntly, "No matter what others do, your boy was born to be a peasant."

To strike a snake at its vital spot, compared to Tian Dahua's loud and boisterous nature, Grandma Chen, who could suppress Tian Dahua to the point of not daring to utter a single fart, tended to kill her with a single blow.

Upon hearing her blunt and contemptuous mockery, Wang Ge'er's neck and face turned red with anger, but he dared not curse at Grandmother Chen.

Seeing Wang Ge'er's pathetic state, Grandmother Chen glanced at him disdainfully and left.

In Grandma Chen's eyes, neither Zheng Hao nor the other Wang Hao or Li Hao could compare to her grandson. Her grandson was intelligent from a young age, a reincarnation of the God of Literature, and anyone who dared to compare themselves to her grandson was simply humiliating themselves.

Unbeknownst to them, after they left, Brother Wang and Grandmother Chen had a terrible argument because of them.

After Gu Lin moved to his new home, he quickly moved his luggage to his room. His bedroom was a large and bright main room. Zheng Hao lived in the east room and study, while Zhao's wife lived in the west room.

The group spent the whole day busy in their respective bedrooms. As dusk fell, Gu Lin came out when he saw that his room was almost finished, and Zheng Hao was also standing outside.

Seeing that Sister-in-law Zhao hadn't come out, Gu Lin walked to her door and called out, "Sister-in-law, what would you like to eat tonight?"

Hearing Gu Lin's voice from outside, Zhao's wife, who had been staring in a daze at the beautiful and tidy house, came back to her senses. After putting her bundle on the table, she came out of the bedroom and asked Gu Lin and Zheng Hao, "What would you like to eat? I'll make dinner."

Zheng Hao wasn't picky about food, while Gu Lin told her what he wanted to eat. After Zhao's wife went into the woodshed, he tried to follow her in to help, but Zhao's wife chased him out, saying, "Go away, don't make trouble."

So, Gu Lin stood outside the woodshed and looked at Zheng Hao. Zheng Hao paused for a moment, then looked at Gu Lin and asked, "Uncle Gu, would you like to go and take a look at my bedroom and study?"

Gu Lin had been to Zheng Hao's room and study, both of which he had helped decorate. But he hadn't yet seen what the rooms looked like after Zheng Hao had arranged them. Now that he had been kicked out by Sister-in-law Zhao and didn't have to cook, he couldn't find anything else to pass the time, so he immediately became interested when he heard the invitation.

Seeing the other person's eyes light up instantly, Zheng Hao led the way: "Uncle Gu, come with me."

First, Gu Lin went to Zheng Hao's bedroom. As requested by the other party, Gu Lin had a screen placed a few steps inside the door so that even if someone looked inside, they could not see what was inside.

Walking around the screen, Gu Lin looked at the three bookshelves against the wall in front of him. The bookshelves not only contained books, but also some small wooden boxes.

Zheng Hao walked deeper into the inner room and then stopped.

Seeing the figure suddenly stop in front of him, Gu Lin was a little confused. After a moment, he saw Zheng Hao walk in again. Gu Lin followed him in and saw the scene in front of him. He immediately sighed in admiration at how clean it was!

Indeed, both were moving, and after a morning and afternoon of tidying up, Gu Lin's bedroom was still quite messy. But Zheng Hao's bedroom was clean, tidy, and orderly, with everything in its proper place, without the slightest clutter.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Gu Lin looked at Zheng Hao in front of him and asked, "How did you manage to keep your bedroom so tidy?"

Zheng Hao had never been to Gu Lin's bedroom before or now, so he didn't know that the seemingly beautiful and clean boy's bedroom was extremely messy, with clothes either thrown on the table or spread on the bed.

Zheng Hao said, "Put frequently used items where they can be seen at a glance, and store infrequently used items in cabinets or boxes. Put items you grab casually back in their place after use. This way, the bedroom can be kept clean and tidy."

After hearing the method the other party mentioned, Gu Lin touched his nose, feeling that he could never do what the other party said in his entire life.

He could keep the shop spotless and tidy because it was where food was prepared, but in his private bedroom, Gu Lin preferred a messy look, which made him feel a unique sense of security and comfort.

After leaving Zheng Hao's bedroom, Gu Lin followed him to his study.

Compared to his bedroom, Zheng Hao's study was brighter, and its layout was much more rigorous and quiet.

Take the bookshelves in the study as an example. Unlike the bookshelves in Zheng Hao's bedroom, where items are placed randomly, the bookshelves in the study are empty except for books.

Gu Lin could clearly sense that the other party had divided the bedroom and study into a rest area and a work area.

Zheng Hao had no idea what Gu Lin behind him was thinking. He led him to the desk, where writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone were laid out. Then Zheng Hao turned to Gu Lin and said, "Uncle Gu, you can come to the study whenever you need to read or write."

Gu Lin readily accepted Zheng Hao's invitation, smiling as he said, "Okay, I usually use the study during the day so it won't disturb your studies."

Zheng Hao frowned slightly after hearing Gu Lin's words. He didn't think that Uncle Gu coming to the study would disturb him.

He looked at Gu Lin earnestly and said, "Uncle Gu, don't worry about that. The study is a place for learning. I don't think I will be disturbed when you come to the study to read. If I can't concentrate on my studies because of some noise from the outside world, then it means that I am not good enough and need to work harder."

Listening to Zheng Hao's words, which remained unfazed, Gu Lin opened his mouth slightly but could not refute them. The other party always said things that were unexpected, but every word he said made perfect sense, making it difficult for him to refute them.

Just as Gu Lin was struggling with how to explain the reasoning to Zheng Hao, Aunt Zhao outside called them to dinner. Zheng Hao looked at the young man in front of him who looked conflicted and said, "Uncle Gu, let's go eat."

Well, looking at the obedient Zheng Hao in front of him, Gu Lin decided to put the matter aside for the time being. Anyway, the other party hadn't said anything wrong. He would find some free time later to talk to him about these things.

.

Mingrong Street.

A string of firecrackers hung in front of a grand and simple shop, and the shop sign was covered with a red cloth. A crowd gathered in front of the shop, creating a lively atmosphere.

"The auspicious time has arrived, light the firecrackers!"

Gu Lin took the tinderbox and walked to the fuse of the firecracker, handed it to it, and after seeing that it was lit, he immediately ran to Zhao's side, then turned his head, covered his ears, and watched the firecracker crackle and pop.

Amid the sound of firecrackers, some pedestrians were drawn over and asked the people gathered in front, "Which shop is opening? Why are so many people gathered here?"

A middle-aged man turned around and explained to the passersby with a smile, "It's the shop opened by Mr. Gu, who used to sell cold dishes and braised food. He spent five whole days preparing for it, and it's only opening today!"

"It turns out to be him!"

Upon hearing the middle-aged man's words, the passersby who had come over to watch the commotion immediately realized who owned the shop.

The middle-aged man continued, "The new store is opening today, and Boss Gu will be launching new dishes. According to the usual rules, we can try them today. But everyone hasn't had cold dishes or braised food for five days in a row, so we'll definitely be pushing and shoving later. I wonder if I'll be able to try the new dishes when it's my turn."

A passerby, unfamiliar with the rules of the cold dish stall, looked at the middle-aged man with disdain and said sarcastically, "It's just a dish, isn't it? If the stall doesn't give it to you, just pay for it yourself."

Upon hearing his sarcasm, the middle-aged man's face showed anger, but before he could speak, a knowledgeable passerby said, "Every time Boss Gu sells a new food, he only lets people try it the day before, but he doesn't sell it. If it's sold out on the day, you can only buy it the next day."

After being refuted, the pedestrian who had mocked the middle-aged man looked displeased, but still stubbornly insisted, "It's just some food, is it really that big of a deal?"

After saying that, the pedestrian hurriedly turned and left.

But the remaining pedestrians didn't drool like him when they heard Gu Lin was introducing new food.

The initial cold pig ears, followed by pig intestines and liver, all of which should have been unpalatable, became incredibly delicious under Mr. Gu's guidance.

Therefore, nowadays, everyone feels that any food made by Gu Lin is unlikely to be too bad.

Pedestrians rushed to squeeze into the crowd, eager to be among the first to taste the new food.

After the firecrackers burned out, Gu Lin removed the red cloth from the plaque, revealing the three large characters "Xingfu Ju" (Happiness Residence).

The crowd applauded and cheered. Gu Lin, beaming with joy, cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Thank you all for your patronage! The first one hundred customers today will receive a complimentary new dish!"

Upon hearing this, the people behind pulled their companions forward, shouting, "Hurry! Hurry! Boss Gu said the first hundred customers will receive a new dish. Let's hurry, or it will be gone soon!"

Upon hearing the man's words, everyone pushed forward, afraid of falling behind and missing out on the new food.