The auspicious moment has arrived.
The long red firecrackers with 1,888 rounds were lit, exploding with a crackling sound. They were like sparks bursting in broad daylight, filling the air with smoke and deafening noise.
The grayish-blue smoke, accompanied by the pungent smell of gunpowder, pervaded the air, making the area in front of the inn seem like it was the Spring Festival.
However, there was no winter chill. Instead, there was only the joy and excitement of spring.
Amid the sounds of gongs and drums, the lion dance team set off.
The young dancers, dressed in colorful clothes, walked majestically on the long street. The lions' fur was fluffy and lifelike. They shook their heads and wagged their tails from time to time, looking exactly like little beasts emerging from the forest.
Xiao Jingnan specifically ordered the most expensive and highest - standard golden lion dance.
The lion's head was pasted with gold foil and colorful silk, and the mane around its neck was woven with gold and silver threads. When the sunlight shone on it, it was like a golden dragon emerging from the water, reflecting a bright light across the sky and earth.
Liu Yiyi watched excitedly. "I didn't know there were lion dances in the capital. I've never seen one before!"
Li Wanming secretly glanced at Xiao Jingnan and said coolly,
"There aren't any in the capital. Someone specifically hired this team from Luyang."
"Wow, the lion dances from Luyang are world - famous!"
"Indeed. And the price is also world - famous for being expensive..."
Xiao Jingnan coughed. "Only a Luyang lion dance is worthy of my wife's business."
"Oh? Opening three shops is really a world - renowned big business. People who don't know might think..."
Before Li Wanming could finish her sentence, she felt Xiao Jingnan getting closer. His soft voice was like a plea. "We agreed not to bring up old scores."
Li Wanming immediately lost her temper.
Right, no old scores.
If she hadn't found out about the expense for the lion dance after the money had already been paid and the lion dance team was almost in the capital, she would have definitely made Xiao Jingnan send them back.
"Since we've already gone this far, we might as well go all the way."
Xiao Jingnan's voice was soft, like a little beast with wet eyes.
"Wife, ever since the paper - figurine shop incident was exposed, I haven't wasted money anymore. Please don't be angry about the Luyang lion dance, okay?"
His breath on her ear made Li Wanming feel a bit numb.
She steadied herself and then glared at him. "If we don't make back the money, I won't spare you!"
Xiao Jingnan's eyes curved into a smile. "No way. With the two of us together, who in the capital can outdo us in terms of wits and schemes?"
Li Wanming pinched a piece of soft flesh under his ribs and twisted it hard.
"Who's scheming? I'm a proper businessperson!"
...
In front of the inn, the lion dance performance had ended. Nine magnificent and colorful lions walked onto the street, and the crowd also moved outwards.
"That's it?"
Liu Yiyi still seemed unsatisfied.
Xiao Jingnan smiled. "No, it's just the opening performance at the Changxing Inn that's over."
He added, "The lion dance performance includes plucking the green, opening the eyes, playing with the ball, and stepping on the poles. What they just performed here were opening the eyes and playing with the ball. The most important part, plucking the green, will be performed in front of the Hongbin Building."
"Then, we'll stand on the second floor together. We'll be able to see it more clearly."
When Liu Yiyi heard that there would be another performance at the Hongbin Building, she immediately beamed with joy.
"Great, then let's watch it later!"
"Pei Yanqi should be at the Hongbin Building by now. I wonder if he'll save a good seat for me..."
Li Wanming teased her. "What's wrong with you?"
"You're the major shareholder of Zhaoyu. These three shops were opened in the name of Zhaoyu. Strictly speaking, they're also your shops. How could they not save a good seat for you?"
"Don't worry. I've already sent Qinglan over to make arrangements..."
Liu Yiyi still frowned. "You don't understand. It's not about the seat. It's all because of Pei Yanqi's thick - headedness!"
Because Zhaoyu was going to compete with the Imperial College, most of the courses in the academy had been suspended, so Pei Yanqi was no longer needed to teach.
So, Liu Yiyi immediately stopped his salary.
Pei Yanqi lost two taels of silver in monthly income. He felt as if the sky was falling!
Every day after court, he would go to Liu's Silk Store and pester Liu Yiyi, demanding that she make up the money for him.
Li Wanming only knew before that he loved money, but she never thought he could be so crazy about it. The prestigious top - scorer in the imperial examination almost got into a hair - pulling fight with Liu Yiyi over two taels of silver!
Once, they even came to her to ask for a judgment.
They stared at each other, both looking resentful, like two black - eyed chickens!
Liu Yiyi had a valid reason.
"Zhaoyu Academy charges according to the courses. Students pay according to how many classes they take. Naturally, the teachers' salaries are also paid according to the number of classes."
"It's not just you. Even Yiyi and I receive our salaries in this way."
"For the next three months, since you don't have any classes, you won't have any salary!"
Pei Yanqi refused to back down and argued forcefully.
"I agreed with Li Wanming that I would be paid two taels a month. It's a monthly payment, not based on the number of classes!"
"Moreover, you stopped my classes because of the academy's problem, not mine. It's not my fault, and I refuse to take the blame!"
"Also, you suddenly stopped my classes without any sense of contract. You should even compensate me..."
When Liu Yiyi heard this, her eyebrows shot up, and she immediately grabbed his ear.
"Who's going to compensate you?"
"Who do you think should compensate you?"
Pei Yanqi screeched while refusing to yield. "You! All of you! You don't abide by the contract, go back on your words, and have no gentlemanly conduct!"
Liu Yiyi tightened her grip. "You're getting bold!"
Pei Yanqi's screams were like a pig being slaughtered, echoing throughout the courtyard.
Li Wanming covered her ears and patted Liu Yiyi's arm repeatedly.
"Be gentle, be gentle! He's at least a top - scorer in the imperial examination!"
She was really afraid that Liu Yiyi would twist off Pei Yanqi's ear and make the Dacheng Dynasty have a one - eared top - scorer...
Liu Yiyi snorted and let go.
"What top - scorer? He's clearly a money - grubbing creature!"
"Back then, Wanming gave you a 500 - tael bonus, and I didn't say anything. Now that the academy is in trouble, you don't even think about repaying, but instead come to me to ask for your monthly salary?"
Pei Yanqi covered his red - twisted ear, and his expression still showed a self - righteous stubbornness.
"The academy's trouble is not a reason to default on my salary!"
"You stingy person, holding onto my money. You're clearly being harsh to your employees, so cruel. You... you're Liu the Skinflint!"
Liu Yiyi's anger flared up. She rushed over to hit him but was firmly held back by Li Wanming.
"Forget it, forget it! Yiyi, it's just two taels of silver a month. If he really wants it, let's just give it to him..."
"No!"
They both said in unison.
Pei Yanqi: "It's my due salary. What do you mean by 'let's just give it to him'?"
Liu Yiyi: "All the other teachers' salaries are paid according to the number of classes. Why should he be special?"
Li Wanming let go of them and stared blankly at the two of them. A sense of pale helplessness suddenly welled up in her heart.
"Since you two think so..."
A cold smile curled up on her lips.
The next moment, she kicked them on both sides, kicking them all the way out of the door.
"If you have any more disputes in the future, don't come to me!"
Later, it was said that until the official opening of her three shops on the second day of the fifth lunar month, the two of them still hadn't sorted out the matter of the two - tael silver.