Chapter 34: The New Things at the Trade Fair (Part 1)

Liu Zhanggui wasn't crazy; the wealthy families in Dengzhou City had collectively gone mad, like a plague. This madness spread westward, affecting the wealthy families in Laizhou, …, and even those in Jinan.

Why did they go mad? Did they eat beef infected with mad cow disease? Of course not. Slaughtering oxen was punishable by death, and although this law was not strictly enforced during the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, it was still a rare occurrence.

The root of the collective madness was the trade fair held at Chunxiang Building on November 26. This trade fair was not just a simple display of goods; it was something that couldn't be explained in a few words. Although Chen Xie was not present, Liu Zhanggui meticulously carried out his plan.

Chunxiang Building was closed for three days, with the public being told that it was for interior renovation. However, this renovation did not involve any changes to the internal structure. Instead, dozens of colorful, transparent glass lampshades were installed, carpets were laid on the floor, the entire interior was cleaned, and a batch of tableware was delivered to the kitchen. After that, there was no further activity.

At exactly 9:00 AM one morning, the doors of Chunxiang Building slowly opened, and several servants came out, carrying a roll of red carpet, which they laid all the way to the street below the steps. Yingniang, the madam of Chunxiang Building, was dressed in a particularly unique outfit. Men who saw her couldn't take their eyes off her, and women who saw her would secretly envy her, then spit in disgust or run away with red faces.

At first glance, the dress seemed to be in the Ming Dynasty style, but upon closer inspection, it was different. The neckline was cut in the center, and upon closer inspection, a row of legendary "tortoiseshell" buttons could be seen, with a few of them seemingly unbuttoned, revealing a hint of light. A pink belt cinched her waist tightly, with a blue gemstone embedded in the center. This additional belt not only accentuated her slim waist but also highlighted her shapely buttocks and lifted her ample chest. There were no other significant changes, but these few details made the men of the Ming Dynasty take notice. To add, the fabric of the dress, with its intricate patterns, was something the Ming Dynasty could never have imagined. It was actually a plain white base with blooming lotus flowers printed on it. Any woman who saw this fabric would want to wear it.

Following Yingniang were the girls of Chunxiang Building. Today, they were receptionists and did not need to flirt with the guests. Each wore a long dress made of light green fabric with countless small flowers, covering everything except their hands and faces. Even their necks were covered by high collars and buttons. They stood in two rows, hands clasped in front of them, faces solemn, eyes level, and exceptionally dignified.

These girls, who could be toyed with for a few silver coins in the past, now stood on either side of the red carpet, looking completely transformed.

Liu Zhanggui, dressed formally, was the last to come out of the building. He stood at the door and loudly announced, "The time has come!"

With a swish, several colorful banners descended from above. Several well-dressed servants lit three-barreled guns, and the sounds of explosions echoed in quick succession, creating a grand atmosphere. Before the sound of the guns had even faded, a long string of firecrackers was ignited, and the sound of explosions continued without pause.

The scene was bustling with excitement, with people crowding in layers. Liu Zhanggui glanced around and saw nothing but heads. He worriedly looked at the street, but it was not as congested as he had feared. The preparations were thorough, and the local ruffians had been bribed in advance. They were now leading the beggars, who had come to freeload, to a nearby open area where stoves were set up, and hot porridge was being cooked. Any beggar who came could get a bowl of millet porridge, which would warm them up in the cold winter.

The city officials and their subordinates were also on the streets, maintaining order and ensuring smooth traffic. Anyone who tried to cross the red rope would be hit with an iron ruler, and they would have to retreat in pain.

The wealthy families in the city, who had received invitations, arrived in sedan chairs, and when they reached the steps, the attendants would open the curtains. As they stepped out, they saw Liu Zhanggui and Yingniang standing side by side, bowing and welcoming them. When they saw the red carpet, the Ming Dynasty's wealthy families showed their true colors, stepping cautiously onto it.

As they ascended the steps, they saw two rows of beautifully dressed girls, who smiled and turned slightly, saying in unison, "Welcome, Sir X!"

This scene made their bodies feel weak and their steps light, as if they were slightly drunk. They felt a sense of peak satisfaction, a feeling of utter joy and exhilaration!

Passing through the rows of beautifully dressed girls, the feeling of satisfaction reached another peak.

Today, no officials were present, as commerce was considered a lowly profession. However, representatives of the officials, such as the secretaries of various government offices, did attend. The gifts from the Zhang family could not be ignored, and the officials knew the rules.

Mr. Mo, the chief secretary of the newly appointed governor Sun Guozhen, was probably the last to arrive. Having traveled with Sun Guozhen, he was well-versed in various situations. However, today's scene left him stunned. The red carpet on the ground made him hesitant to step on it, and the beautiful Yingniang caught his eye, making it hard to look away. As he walked up the steps, he felt a sense of satisfaction, just like the others, and then he entered the hall with a light step.

On both sides of the hall, long tables were set up, but no products were visible. Instead, the tables were filled with various pastries and cold dishes, and beautiful women stood by, holding different types of wine. At this point, Liu Zhanggui and Yingniang excused themselves, saying that all the guests had arrived and they had some business to attend to. Mr. Mo, representing the governor, was a distinguished guest, and there were plenty of scholars and wealthy families in the hall to keep him company.

However, as he looked around at the guests holding wine glasses, Mr. Mo noticed something odd. The glasses in their hands were all transparent, like water, in tall glasses. This was something not even the imperial palace had. Upon closer inspection, he was even more shocked to see that many of the plates on the long tables were made of glass, and some were made of a bright metal (stainless steel).

Even more shocking was the variety of fruits in some of the plates, some familiar and some not. Fortunately, if one approached, a beautiful woman would introduce them, saying, "This is an oil peach, this is a grape, this is a dragon fruit, this is …."

Following the example of the earlier guests, Mr. Mo quickly learned to hold a glass of bright red wine, which was slightly sweet and had a good taste, said to be imported from the West. It was actually the cheapest red wine from the supermarket, mixed with Sprite and raspberries, but this process was not shown to the Ming Dynasty's wealthy families. The most loyal servants of the Zhang family prepared it, and the Sprite bottles were carefully collected and destroyed afterward to cover up the evidence.

At this moment, Liu Zhanggui and Yingniang stood side by side on a temporary two-foot-high platform and bowed to the audience.

"Welcome, esteemed guests, to the grand opening ceremony and trade fair of the United Business Association. Today, you are free to enjoy yourselves, but there is one condition: the girls of Chunxiang Building have been reserved by the association. If any guest finds a girl to their liking, please be patient and wait until after today for everything to return to normal." Liu Zhanggui's words came just in time, as many guests were already feeling restless. The girls who usually catered to their every whim now had a different demeanor, not allowing even a touch of the hand, and were completely proper. This made the guests even more restless, as the girls, who they didn't think much of before, now seemed to have a higher status, making them want to drag them into a room and enjoy themselves.

With Liu Zhanggui's reminder, the guests, all respectable people, had to restrain themselves in broad daylight. They could only make a few comments and plan to come early the next day to deal with these uncooperative women.

Yingniang, who understood men's thoughts, was amazed today. After being treated by the divine doctor and resting for a few days, the girls seemed to have transformed. Looking at the men's eyes, she knew that Chunxiang Building's business would be booming after today. At this moment, Yingniang deeply missed the "old girls" who had been hospitalized, as she herself was a good example. Following Chen Xie's advice, she changed her clothing style, added some accessories, and used a bit of the divine doctor's perfume. By being a bit more reserved, the men treated her like fresh meat to a pack of wolves.

Yingniang felt better than ever before. Today, she realized what it meant to be in the limelight, and all of this was thanks to that small man. At this moment, even if Chen Xie asked her to kneel and serve him, she would do it willingly, and she might even worry that she couldn't serve him alone. What? The divine doctor was not good in bed? You must be joking! Haven't you seen the wealthy men here today? They all owe their prowess to the divine doctor!

A man like the divine doctor was truly a man, with god-like skills, able to turn the tide with a mere gesture. Not to mention, all the items used today would be left at Chunxiang Building as payment for the venue.

Unfortunately, the divine doctor was not present today. Thinking of his tall, muscular, and fair face, Yingniang felt a heat rising in her body, a warm flow that she couldn't stop, and she had to endure it.

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End of Chapter 34 (Part 1)