vstars Chapter 679 Beauty Trap
Chapter 679 Beauty Trap
Qingxiao came back from the market and told Li Changxiao some interesting things he had seen on the road, such as women quarreling on the street and the busy market in front of the gambling house. He was now hopeless about reforming the law and was at a loss, so he focused more on these trivial matters.
There was one thing that Li Changxiao was quite concerned about. Qingxiao heard that a big business group from Hongrao City would be passing by in the near future.
Li Changxiao thought that if he wanted to manage the inn well and make some money, he must not miss this opportunity, so he told Qingxiao that he decided to lure the merchant gang to stay in the inn for a few days.
Qing Xiao was stunned and asked, "Are you really going to do this business?" He took over the Laiqu Inn, but never considered himself a businessman. Therefore, he never cared about the business of the inn. He entertained people who came, and was happy to be idle when no one came.
Qing Xiao was very surprised when Li Changxiao expressed his intentions and acted very seriously. Li Changxiao said, "Of course, we run an inn and do business. Of course, we have to find ways to make our business prosperous and our wallets full."
Qing Xiao's eyes were tired, as if he still didn't want to do this. He thought to himself: "If this is true, I will really become an ordinary merchant." There is always a trace of pride in his heart, which makes him unable to tolerate the mortal world even though he is in the mortal world.
Li Changxiao saw what was bothering him. From his experience, he knew that if Qingxiao didn't integrate into the mortal world, he would spend the rest of his life in confusion and pain. So he patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother Qingxiao, practicing Taoism is like doing business. If you do business well, your Taoism will be high. People like us who practice Taoism are actually no different from people who do business or open shops."
Qing Xiao seemed to understand, but Li Chang Xiao did not force him to do so. He let Qing Xiao rest while he started to prepare. He first decorated the inn, keeping it very clean, and then added various accessories.
Then they went to a nearby town to promote the inn, and with the inn's limited money, they invited painters from the town to come and collect paintings, which they then pasted everywhere.
As a result, the inn really became more and more prosperous. After a few days, some passing wanderers would occasionally come in and see that there were a few more guests.
Li Changxiao was both the shopkeeper and the waiter, and he was exhausted. Qingxiao often came to help, but he was never as attentive as Li Changxiao. It was obvious that Li Changxiao was full of enthusiasm, and he couldn't help but be affected a little, and kept thinking about the sentence, "Practicing Taoism is like doing business."
Traders gain money, while practitioners gain longevity. There is not much difference between the two. A few days passed, and Qing Xiao gradually understood and relaxed.
After finishing his daytime chores, Qing Xiao asked Li Chang Xiao why he was so determined to run Lai Qu Inn. Li Chang Xiao told him that people who traveled outside would always miss the old places. If Lai Qu Inn was well run, people who traveled outside would naturally have more confidence.
This is a mysterious thing, but it is true. It is like a sect disciple traveling outside. When the sect behind him becomes stronger, he will naturally be more confident.
Qing Xiao finally understood, and he worked harder in the future. After spending a few days together, he was deeply impressed, and knew that his business talent was far inferior to Li Changxiao. Therefore, he "stepped down and let Li Changxiao take over the position of the innkeeper, while he himself became a waiter and waited for orders.
As more and more people came to the restaurant, Li Changxiao hired two waiters, a cashier, and two chefs, and asked them to stay in the guest rooms on the second floor.
Just like that, everything was getting better. Every night, when Li Changxiao pulled Qingxiao and counted the money, he would smile from the bottom of his heart and feel happy. This happiness was because of the money, but not because of the money itself.
Li Changxiao jokingly said: "Da Dao has made money."
On this day, Li Changxiao heard word that the big merchant gang had arrived nearby. Several inns in nearby towns, including the Laiqu Inn, were all trying their best to win the big merchant gang's accomodation.
Because the big merchant gang has more than a dozen people and is generous, once they check into the inn, they will even give tips to the waiter. And in the future, when the merchant gang takes this route again, they will definitely give priority to the old inn they have stayed in.
For the inn, it was a "great opportunity" that would bring endless benefits. Since Qingxiao regarded traveling for business as a way of practicing Taoism, he saw the "great opportunity" approaching day by day and was so anxious that he could not sleep. He knocked on Li Changxiao's door at night and asked him if he had any way to get this opportunity.
Li Changxiao thought hard and could only say that he would do his best. After all, the competition was too fierce. Other inns were located in towns and cities, so they naturally had advantages. The competitiveness of Laiqu Inn was really average.
The next day, hearing that the merchant group was about to pass by a town twenty-five miles away, Li Changxiao and Qingxiao put on their clothes and headed for the town, ready to pick up customers and bring them back to the inn.
But the shopkeepers and waiters of several inns in the town all came out to welcome the guests with great fanfare, with firecrackers and gongs making it so lively that passers-by gathered around to watch. Those who didn't know would have thought that someone was getting married today.
Li Changxiao saw that the situation was critical and said, "It's too late. We can only use a killing move." Qingxiao asked, "What killing move?"
Li Changxiao turned his head and looked at Qingxiao. He was middle-aged and fat, but still handsome, and not comparable to ordinary mortals. Although Li Changxiao was handsome, he was too handsome, always giving people a feeling of being close yet distant, as if he was there and not there. Obviously, he was not suitable for soliciting customers, but if he went out in person, the probability of success was not small.
Li Changxiao said with a smile: "Brother Qingxiao, you are also a member of the Laiqu Inn. It's time to tell you a secret." Qingxiao suddenly felt a sense of mission and nodded heavily. Li Changxiao said with a smile: "I am in the Laiqu Inn. No matter whether you are a man or a woman, whenever the inn is in danger of life and death, you must stand up and sacrifice yourself for the greater good!"
Qingxiao's blood boiled, thinking that this was how the Dao should be. He felt that he was back on the battlefield, competing with others, using all the means at his disposal to destroy and crush the opponent.
He thought to himself, "Where the Tao is, it is everywhere. With such an opportunity, I must go all out and leave no regrets." Then he said, "Brother Li, please give me your instructions!"
Li Chang smiled and said, "Very good, in the current situation, there is only one plan that works."
Qing Xiao's eyes were determined. Li Chang Xiao suddenly pushed Qing Xiao to the most conspicuous position, where he came face to face with the big merchant gang.
Li Changxiao's voice gently floated into Qingxiao's ears.
"Use the beauty trap."