Li Wanming was truly broadened her horizons.
She used to think she was quite capable and well - traveled. But now she realized that she should learn from Pei Yanqi and Liu Yiyi on how to make money, and learn from Xiao Jingnan on how to spend it.
When it came to "money", whether it was making or spending, she was still too inexperienced...
"Even if it's not exceeded, it's still useless for you to make it like this," Li Wanming glared at him and said, "Just look at these pear blossoms all over the ground. When the lion dance team comes later with so many people, won't they trample them all into mud?"
They came early by carriage. At this time, the large group was still on the way.
Moreover, this street was originally a bit out - of - the - way and sparsely populated. Now the street was quiet, making the whole street seem like a world of crystal and jade.
It was a pity that in a short while, this beautiful, quiet and peaceful scene would be shattered by the noisy crowd.
Just thinking about it, Li Wanming couldn't help feeling heartache.
These were all her money!
Xiao Jingnan smiled mysteriously. "I have my own tricks. Don't worry, wife."
Liu Yiyi was seeing the renovated paper - making shop in the south of the city for the first time.
She was stunned.
"Is this a paper - making shop?"
"Is this really a paper - making shop???"
She widened her eyes, tugged at her hair, and couldn't stop screaming, "You've decorated a paper - making shop like this. Are you going to build a palace for King Yama?"
"No no no, even King Yama's palace isn't this luxurious. This must be the Crystal Palace of the Dragon King!"
"My goodness! You two, husband and wife, are really full of ideas. You've made a paper - making shop more luxurious than the most high - end jewelry store in the capital!"
Li Wanming said, "Go inside. You'll know what real luxury is when you see the things in the shop."
Liu Yiyi tiptoed and walked carefully along the wall. The carpet of pear blossoms under her feet was so beautiful that she was afraid that one step would ruin this unparalleled beauty.
Finally sneaking to the shop front, Liu Yiyi let out another series of screams.
"Brocade? This is brocade! You're using brocade as clothes for paper people?"
"Made of jade? The eyes of this paper horse are made of jade?"
"Surely this gold leaf isn't real... Oh my god, it really is real!"
"What's this shiny paper? Silver powder? Silver powder is specially mixed into the cotton paper?"
"Goodness... Oh my god... My goodness..."
"Li Wanming, do your parents know you're so prodigal!"
Li Wanming kicked Xiao Jingnan forward and said coldly, "Go, explain to her what you told me crying the day before yesterday. If you can't take the hat of prodigality off my head, I won't spare you!"
Xiao Jingnan patted the footprint on his robe and said, "That's easy. Don't worry, wife. I'll surely explain it to her clearly so that she'll know you're diligent and thrifty, while I'm the prodigal master."
He stepped forward, straightened his expression, and was just about to give a long - winded explanation to Liu Yiyi when he heard the gong and drum sounds approaching from the street corner.
"Here they come!"
Xiao Jingnan stopped walking, glanced at Lu Ping and Wu Yao who had been standing beside the carriage. The two nodded and left to carry out their orders.
In the blink of an eye, the crowd簇拥ing the lion dance team had arrived at the street.
The crowd suddenly fell silent.
Even the nine little lions, which had been wagging their tails and looking majestic, were stunned and stopped in their tracks.
The scene in front of them was so beautiful and shocking.
It made everyone hold their breath involuntarily.
It was like a world of ice and jade, with pear blossoms piling up like snow.
Li Wanming noticed that several naughty kids had climbed onto the houses on both sides at some point, each holding a huge bamboo basket in their hands.
Xiao Jingnan gently raised his hand.
A shower of pear blossoms fell from the sky.
The fluttering pear blossoms danced lightly, covering the whole street like a holy white blanket.
White petals, white ground, white silk and wind lanterns.
The world seemed to be silent, leaving only this pure and spotless place.
In the street, the silver flowers stretched as far as the eye could see.
Everyone suddenly felt an indescribable peace and holiness in their hearts, as if they had been inspired by the gods.
All the miscellaneous thoughts faded away, leaving only peace in their hearts.
In this peace, Xiao Jingnan spoke.
He said, "Gold ingots, ten taels of silver for a string."
...
The on - looking crowd was still in a daze when a piece of paper was stuffed into their hands.
Taking a closer look, they found it was a price list.
Paper people and paper horses set: 688 taels.
Gold ingots and candles set: 188 taels.
Silver dragon and white tiger set: 3,688 taels.
Custom - made pavilions, boats and houses: starting from 10,000 taels.
Everyone looked at each other in dismay and couldn't say a word.
Only then did they realize that the terrifying "gold ingots, ten taels of silver for a string" he had just mentioned was actually the cheapest one!
...
This feeling was very strange.
It was as if you had knelt step by step, endured the sun and rain, and gone through all kinds of hardships before finally reaching the Spiritual Mountain and worshipping the legendary Bodhisattva.
The Bodhisattva sat on the nine - petal lotus platform with lowered eyes, holding the Buddhist beads on the fingertips of his right hand. He was spotless and solemn, just as you had imagined.
Then the Bodhisattva moved his lips slightly and said, "Money."
...
The leader of the lion dance team was a bit at a loss. He stuck his head out of the delicate lion's head and asked hesitantly, "Mr. Cheng, should we... should we still perform?"
Perform a lion dance among the flying pear blossoms and white mourning flags all over the street?
This was a bit, out of place...
He wasn't unfamiliar with funerals, but the lions danced on those occasions were mourning lions in plain white, not these golden, colorful and lively lions.
Dressed in bright and festive colors and coming to the door with white mourning flags to shake their heads was like ruining the occasion.
So the leader was very confused and didn't know what to do.
Xiao Jingnan waved his hand gracefully. "There's no need to perform here. You can go to the Hongbin Restaurant. The venue there is already ready, and someone will greet you."
The leader heaved a sigh of relief, quickly put on the lion's head, and led the remaining lions towards the Hongbin Restaurant.
The crowd, who were gradually coming to their senses, also followed them out.
However, everyone became inexplicably quiet and solemn, no longer as jubilant and noisy as before.
Even the gong and drum band, whose festive music now carried a strange sense of depression and panic.
Perhaps they were scared. The crowd only stood for a while in a small area at the street corner and didn't dare to go inside. Finally, the carpet of pear blossoms on the ground was preserved.
Li Wanming nudged Xiao Jingnan and said crossly, "You've gone to so much trouble to create such a grand scene, but no one comes in. Isn't it all a waste?"
Xiao Jingnan waved a finger in front of her.
"Not so. Those who don't dare to come in are not our target customers. Wife, look. Those who still dare to go in after taking my price list are the ones we really need to pay attention to."
Li Wanming looked up and indeed saw a few people holding the price list in their hands, walking in with great interest on the carpet of pear blossoms.
They looked around and marveled in admiration.
When they saw the statue of the God of Exorcism and Blessing at the end of the street and a row of delicate paper - made items, everyone was amazed beyond words.