Chapter 949: Black Hills Town
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
âAll right, there will be some significant changes here.â Su Binglan nodded.
Luo Jinâan smiled when he saw his wifeâs confidence. The couple then walked along the streets and saw people selling groceries, food, and daily necessities.
Further inside was a small street at the corner that had many stalls. People shouted left and right.
âCome and get your sesame seed buns here!â
âWould you like some eggs, sir?â
âFresh fruits for sale!â
The hawkersâ voices made the streets livelier as others strolled around with shopping baskets. They even stopped at the stalls and bargained with the merchants before buying some things and heading home.
Su Binglan and Luo Jinâan also bought some snacks as they walked. Su Binglan said, âThis sesame seed bun tastes okay, but itâs cheap. I saw quite a few people buying it.â
Luo Jinâan added, âThereâs not much food around here if you noticed. There wasnât as much variety, either. Itâs not as lively as Su Teng Village yet.â
Su Binglan made a guess, âIt looks like this place needs a little work. Weâve yet to transport most of our products here. There arenât any hotpot restaurants here, either.â
The couple would have already seen a hotpot restaurant if they were in another state. That was because Su Wenwu had arranged for his subordinates to open restaurant chains in various places.
Since his hotpot business was perfect, there was no reason there should not be one at the border province.
Luo Jinâan said, âThis place has just begun working toward a brighter future. It looks like the people have just started repairing the streets and houses. Perhaps it wonât be long before a hotpot restaurant opens here.
âWenwu can also bring his other businesses here, like his mala hotpot and kebab restaurants.â
The border prefectureâs traffic was crucial from Su Binglanâs point of view. If they traded with other countries, it would boost Chu Countryâs economy.
Foreign business people could sell their goods here, and the locals could buy goods from other countries before transporting and selling them in various parts of Chu Country.
Merchants worldwide would gather in the border province to share their culture and trade goods. It would then become a vital economic town.
The couple realized it was late and soon rested at an inn for the night. As they rested, they could hear many people talking at the restaurants. Su Binglan and Luo Jinâan could gather plenty of information just by listening.
âWhen did the border province change so much?â
âYeah, there werenât many people here during the war because most of them moved out. The new emperor has brought peace and stability. Everyone moved back to their homes because they feel much safer.â
âYeah, even my family and I returned.â
âI think thereâs an excellent business opportunity here. Since there arenât many snacks here, we should open a shop and sell something unique.â
âYeah, weâve been to Teng County, right? I remember how lively it was there. Still, we donât know how to make different snacks.â
âWe can make pancakes with eggs, vegetables, and ketchup. I know theyâll be delicious because weâve eaten them before. Donât forget that we can also make kebabs. We just need to get the seasoning right.â
âYeah, letâs open a shop or set up a stall. We should revisit Teng County to buy some ingredients and then return here to sell them.â
âWe can also import and sell stinky tofu here. Itâll save us time and effort. After all, weâll only need to buy and fry the products here.â
The three siblings discussed and planned how to start a business in the border province. Considering their conversation, their home was at the border, but they had fled to escape the war.
During their time away from their home, they visited many places and realized how developed Teng County was. Although they initially wanted to settle down there, they ultimately changed their mind and decided to do business in their hometown.
Therefore, they returned to assess the situation before deciding to start their own business.
âBig Brother, Second Brother,â a girl said, âCan I learn how to make pastries once we earn enough money? I want to open a pastry shop.â
âDonât worry,â the big brother said, âWeâll rent a shop for you to make and sell pastries once weâve earned enough.â
The girlâs eyes sparkled when she heard her elder brotherâs words. The latter added, âWe canât forget about reclaiming the wastelands that the government has arranged for us. We can use that land to grow food and crops. The government will even reward us for doing that.â
âIf we have children in the future, they can attend school for free and learn many skills to build better lives.â
âThe border province will only improve from now on because itâs safer. Weâll be okay with the general and his two hundred thousand troops that are stationed here. We just need to build our lives starting now.â
Su Bingnlan overheard everyoneâs discussion. Most who had moved back had ambitions and planned to improve their lives. She could already feel the border province improving.
After resting at the inn that night, the husband and wife continued their journey. A day later, they arrived at Black Hills Town and saw a large restaurant that was full of customers.
There was also a dumpling shop next door with the Su familyâs name on it. Not only were there many customers inside, but there were also parasols at the entrance outside. People sat on stools under the parasols and ate dumplings.
âWaiter, Iâll have a few hawthorn dumplings. Theyâre so refreshing and easy to digest.â
âOkay, please wait a moment while I get your order. They should be ready very soon.â
âIâll have a plate of cabbage, pork, and eggs with wild vegetables, please.â
âRight away, sir.â
Su Binglan looked at the two people serving the customers and said, âJinâan, look. Isnât that Wei Song and Wei Yong from Black Mountain Village?â
She was familiar with the villagers because she had stayed in Black Mountain Village before. Of course, the villagers also consisted of the Wei family members.
Back then, Su Binglan had taught the villagers how to cook dumplings and other cuisines. Before returning to Su Teng Village, Su Binglan suggested that they open a dumpling shop.
Even so, she was shocked when she saw how big the shop was and how popular it had become. There was not even enough space for the customers, and some had to sit by the entrance.