When dawn broke, more and more people came to offer incense at Lanshan Temple. They were surprised to see a small shop standing beside the memorial archway of Lanshan Temple, looking rather out of place with the solemn and majestic temple.
What surprised them even more was that the small shop was making a racket with gongs and drums and setting off firecrackers in this sacred Buddhist place. Didn't they worry about disturbing the Bodhisattvas in Lanshan Temple and the monks in meditation?
Curious, the crowd gathered around. Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, the big red curtain was lifted, revealing five characters on the plaque: "Listening to the Wind Pavilion Milk Tea".
Some pilgrims from the capital immediately recognized it as the milk tea shop that had become extremely popular in the city. They never expected it to open a branch at Lanshan Temple!
While the crowd was watching, Cuihuan, who was carefully dressed up, came out. With a touch of makeup on her beautiful face and red lips slightly painted, she stood at the door in a green dress, looking like a beautiful landscape.
Behind her, Luo Xunlong stared at Cuihuan's back in a daze.
"Dear pilgrims and benefactors, our shop is having a grand opening promotion today! All milk teas are 20% off! We have all kinds of flavors! Welcome to buy the first cup of milk tea in autumn!" Holding a note written casually by Wei Dongling, Cuihuan at the door read it over and over again like a repeater.
Those who had tasted milk tea rushed into the shop to queue up for purchase when they heard about the discount.
Some pilgrims from other places were confused at first, but when they smelled the fragrant milk tea and saw so many people rushing to buy it, they couldn't resist going in to give it a try after hesitating for a long time.
Some people were tired and thirsty after climbing the long stairs. They didn't care whether they had heard of it or not. They just wanted to have a cup first.
As a result, by the time the sun was high in the sky, everyone was as busy as a spinning top.
Soon, Master Hongming of Lanshan Temple came with two young apprentices. Old Su walked out shakily and invited them in for tea.
Master Hongming looked at the string of Buddhist beads hanging around Old Su's neck, which he had given as a gift. He nodded with a smile, put his hands together, bowed and said, "Amitabha. On behalf of our humble temple, I wish the benefactor peace, joy and all the best. I'm here to chant scriptures and pray for you."
Old Su thanked him repeatedly.
When the pilgrims at the door saw the abbot of Lanshan Temple coming in person and heard the sound of chanting scriptures and beating wooden fish from inside, a large crowd immediately rushed over to queue up to buy milk tea.
Cups and buckets of milk tea were sold out quickly. In the backyard, three big pots were boiling tea at the same time. People were busy carrying water, adding firewood and rolling tapioca balls... Everyone was so busy that they were spinning around like tops.
Wei Dongling's hands were almost cramped from rolling the tapioca balls. She sighed silently in her heart. This was even more tiring than fighting! She felt sorry for Ah Cheng and the others who had to do this every day.
When Wei Dongling was looking extremely disgruntled, Ruan Niang called out to her, "Girl, that He Yao is coming! She should be looking for you. Go and check it out."
He Yao?
Wei Dongling quickly washed her hands in the wooden basin and walked out while drying them with a handkerchief. As soon as she looked up, she saw He Yao dressed elegantly and majestically, followed by a maid. The two were walking in.
Wei Dongling raised her eyebrows and said with a smile, "Oh! What wind has blown the County Mistress of Rong'an here? You're a rare guest. Come in and take a seat!"
He Yao looked a bit embarrassed when she saw Wei Dongling, but still forced a smile and said, "I heard that Sister Dongling's new shop is opening. I've come here specially to congratulate you! I wish Sister Dongling good fortune and prosperity! May you count so much money that your hands cramp!"
He Yao really knew Wei Dongling's preferences well. Every word of her congratulatory speech was exactly what Wei Dongling liked to hear!
Wei Dongling beamed with joy, nodded and said, "Then I'll thank the County Mistress here. I'll take your good wishes!"
He Yao quickly asked her maid to present a stack of silver notes. She bowed and said, "This is just a little token of my appreciation for your new shop opening. May the friendship between us sisters last forever!"
Wei Dongling wasn't polite either. She took the silver notes and couldn't put them down. She immediately began to count the money with a big smile on her face, even forgetting to invite He Yao in to sit down. It was Cuihuan who came over and said tactfully with a smile, "Please come in and take a seat, County Mistress of Rong'an. I'll go and make tea for you right away."
The shop was so small that there wasn't a proper side hall for people to sit and drink tea. He Yao had to smile politely and said to them, "I'm really sorry. I still have some things to do. I won't delay your business! You guys go ahead and be busy!"
The silver notes were worth 10,000 taels in total! He Yao really kept her promise.
Wei Dongling was overjoyed. She quickly put the silver notes into her lapel and pretended to be surprised and said, "You're leaving already? You haven't even sat down to have a cup of tea!" As she was speaking, she snatched two cups of tapioca milk tea from Luo Xunlong's hands and handed them to He Yao and her maid. She said with a smile, "Take these two cups of milk tea. Our shop is shabby and we don't have much to offer you! When we're free tomorrow, let's get together again as sisters!" Anyway, she was so busy that there was no way she could be free. But in front of so many people, she still had to say some polite words.
He Yao knew that she was just being polite. She immediately nodded and said with a smile, "Sure thing. Let's get together later."
The two of them put on a great show of acting, presenting a beautiful scene of affectionate sisters reluctantly parting, which attracted a lot of attention.
As soon as Wei Dongling saw He Yao off, Shangguan Yun and Murong Xuan came hand in hand. Wei Dongling bowed and said with a big smile, "Welcome, two honored guests. I'm sorry I didn't greet you properly in advance. Please forgive me."
Murong Xuan quickly stepped forward to help her up and said with a smile, "I haven't seen you for a few days, Miss Wei. You're looking radiant and charming. It's really true that people are in high spirits when they're happy! Congratulations, Miss!"
Wei Dongling quietly avoided his hand and said with a smile, "Your Highness Prince's presence in our humble shop really makes it shine! Come on, come in and have some tea."
Shangguan Yun nodded slightly at her and followed Murong Xuan in.
Seeing that Wei Dongling was really busy running around and had no time to chat with them, the two of them sat for a while, presented their congratulatory gifts and then got up to leave.
Due to the large number of tourists coming to offer incense, the enthusiasm of the crowd for buying milk tea was much higher than everyone had expected.
As a result, just after noon, all the milk tea had been sold out. The various ingredients purchased early in the morning were also running out. Everyone had to hang out the sign of closing the shop in advance, close half of the door and roll up their sleeves to wash the pots, bowls and ladles in the backyard.
Lin Baiwan was beaming with joy as he held the record book. He never expected that the number of milk tea sold in the morning at the Lanshan Temple branch was even more than the total number sold in the second half of the month at the main store in the capital! He was both surprised and delighted.
After everything was cleaned up, Wei Dongling said that she still had some private matters to attend to. She took Cuihuan to see everyone off for lunch and rest.
The shop door was ajar. Wei Dongling carried a big bucket of well water and placed it at the door of the shop for the passers-by to rest and drink water. She then climbed up a tree and leaned against a tree branch to take a nap.
Cuihuan looked up at Wei Dongling who was exhausted on the tree. She was very puzzled. Wasn't the bed in the Su Mansion's boudoir comfortable? Weren't the pillows soft? Why did she like to sleep on a tree?
Seeing that she didn't move at all and seemed to be really fast asleep, Cuihuan didn't bother to think too much. She got up and went to the kitchen of Lanshan Temple to beg for a few steamed buns. Then she moved a chair and sat at the door munching on them.
The sun had set behind the western mountains, and the afterglow in the sky was breathtakingly beautiful.