Jiang Zhuozhuo grumbled to herself for a while, but in the end, she couldn’t resist the temptation of gossip and continued mingling with the flock, listening to the Seagull Sailor excitedly share stories about the Royal Capital.
After this strange tales sharing session was nearly over, Jiang Zhuozhuo finally squeezed to the front and asked the rather talkative Seagull Sailor, “Why don’t you ever buy books to sell when you come back?”
As someone spoiled by games, anime, and novels in modern times, what Jiang Zhuozhuo found hardest to adjust to now was the utter lack of entertainment every day was so boring that all she could do was sunbathe.
She just couldn’t believe it. Wasn’t there a vibrant entertainment industry in the Royal Capital?
But after wandering through these sailor markets several times, she still hadn’t seen anyone selling books.
That Seagull Sailor saw Jiang Zhuozhuo looking like a fledgling who hadn’t grown her adult feathers yet and didn’t mind her naive question at all, just cackled, “Buy books? How many birds here can even read? Don’t you know only Nobility can read?”
Jiang Zhuozhuo: .
Got it. If she wanted people in her territory to write novels and draw comics for her, she’d have to first make Nine-Year Compulsory Education universal, right!
No worries, no worries, she had a long life ahead—one day, she’d definitely eat fries and read comics!
Jiang Zhuozhuo puffed out her bird chest, a surge of responsibility welling up inside her—”Change the world, starting from me!”
She swept through the sailor market, and when she saw there really wasn’t anything new to buy, she flew back to her own Castle.
Inside the Castle, both the stone grinder and stone mill were already in use. These tools were set up at the Order of Knights, and all day long, Knights worked diligently dehusking, peeling, and grinding flour. They did it with utmost devotion, as if what they were grinding wasn’t flour, but the love of their life.
Jiang Zhuozhuo almost felt bad pointing out that they could use livestock instead of manpower.
It felt disrespectful to this (in the Knights’ eyes) sacred work.
For example, when Jiang Zhuozhuo flew over the Order of Knights just now, she saw the robust Knights all turning the millstones (or pushing the stone rollers) in perfect unison, each with trim waists and strong arms—broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, absolute hunks.
Bird can’t fly anymore, bird needs to stop and secretly admire for a bit.
The Old Ancestor once said, food and beauty are both basic human needs!
It’s nothing to be ashamed of food and beauty are the most fundamental desires!
Jiang Zhuozhuo circled above the Order of Knights twice, happily admiring the hardworking Knights from every angle before returning, perfectly content, to enjoy a freshly made bowl of Stewed Meat Noodles.
To make the meat palatable, Jiang Zhuozhuo had carefully simmered a pot of Braised Broth. The best thing about this Braised Broth was that the longer you used it, the richer and more fragrant it became—throw in a melon rind and it’d come out smelling heavenly!
By now, this pot of Braised Broth had become Chef Helena’s prized treasure. Anyone who dared have designs on it would get chased out of the Castle by Helena wielding her broom!
The Knights also adored the meat cooked in this Braised Broth. No one knew what magical blend of spices Jiang Zhuozhuo used, but when ordinary beast meat was braised in it for half a day, not only did it come out savory and fresh, it even boosted their explosive power!
After eating Braised Meat, whenever they sparred, their reaction speed and attack power were both better than usual.
Some who were sensitive to cold even found it improved their resistance to chill, though for these top-tier Royal Knights, the effect wasn’t very noticeable. But for ordinary people, especially the elderly and children, it would make a big difference.
This was actually very important for Woye Plain, because winters here were long, and once winter set in, most ordinary Bird Tribe members wouldn’t leave their homes; only the stronger, able-bodied ones could go out to earn a living.
Unfortunately, for ordinary people, it was already hard enough to fill their bellies—how could they afford to eat Braised Meat every day?
Jiang Zhuozhuo ate her Stewed Meat Noodles while listening to Mei Yin talk about the Knights’ feedback.
She slurped a mouthful of noodles soaked in Braised Broth, and did indeed feel a cozy warmth spreading through her body.
So this was the cold-resisting effect the Knights talked about? Maybe it was because of her bloodline, but even this boost felt pretty minimal to her.
“If it works, Braised Beans should be fine too.” Jiang Zhuozhuo offered her idea.
There were several edible beans here; she’d tried quite a few, and while none tasted great, braising them in the broth would definitely make them delicious. That’s the magic of an old Braised Broth—everything cooked in it turns out tasty!
Mei Yin’s eyes lit up: “Really?”
Jiang Zhuozhuo nodded seriously: “It’s worth a try!”
Making buns was too labor-intensive, but Braised Beans were much simpler, and beans were cheap—perfect for making an affordable cold-resistant food. That way, everyone could get out and about in winter, and no one would have to worry about not making it through the cold!
Mei Yin said, “I’ll go tell Helena right away.”
Before Jiang Zhuozhuo could even reply, Mei Yin had already disappeared. Truly a decisive and reliable adjutant!
A few days later, a tidy and bright new shop opened at the docks. Even before opening, it had already drawn a crowd—
Because the smell wafting out was just too good.
What on earth was that?!
Even the Seagull Sailors, who were in the middle of swapping gossip, were lured over, abandoning their stories and unconsciously following the others toward the new shop.
The shop’s sign was still ceremoniously covered by a red cloth, blocking it from view. The onlookers, though they’d never seen such a thing before, could feel the festive air radiating from it.
“Make way, make way, let me through.”
Jiang Zhuozhuo called out from the edge of the crowd.
Even though the shop hadn’t opened yet and the turnout was this big, Jiang Zhuozhuo was quite pleased. But with the place packed so tightly, as the boss, she couldn’t even get in to announce the opening!
After hanging around the docks for days, Jiang Zhuozhuo had learned some basic etiquette: when everyone’s together, it’s not polite to take off and fly over people’s heads!
The crowd turned to look at the little round bird trying her best to squeeze forward, laughing cheerfully: “You little thing, you want in on every bit of excitement? Aren’t you afraid of the cold?”
Jiang Zhuozhuo said, “I’m the owner of this shop! If you don’t let me in, you won’t get to eat our Braised Beans today!”
The onlookers: ???
What did you say? What’s that amazing smell?
What are Braised Beans?!
Wait, isn’t that the same old beans everyone’s sick of?
That’s right—a lot of folks disliked the taste of Guazui Gu, and the most common dish was Steamed Bean Rice, which was a staple for ordinary people. After all, beans dried properly could last a year or more without spoiling—perfect for winter stores!
You went to all this trouble to open a new shop just to sell us that stuff?
Plenty of birds secretly wondered if Jiang Zhuozhuo had more money than sense.
But that intoxicating aroma kept drifting into their noses, and even if it cost a bit more, they were willing to try these magical Braised Beans!
All the birds quickly made way for Jiang Zhuozhuo.
Jiang Zhuozhuo happily walked to the front, grabbed the red cloth, and gave it a tug, revealing four grand, old-style characters on the sign—
Get Some Fries!
The crowd was dumbfounded.
What are those characters?
No clue at all!
Jiang Zhuozhuo had actually wanted to use the local script, but since there was no word for “fries” here, she had no choice but to use her own specialty… calligraphy!
To make this sign, she’d even made a bunch of calligraphy brushes of various sizes herself—plucked straight from the Yuma at the Order of Knights!
Horsehair brushes were perfect for writing big characters.
Don’t ask why she even knew how to make calligraphy brushes—art students can get intense; they even grind their own pigments. Making a few handy brushes when you’re bored is only natural, right?
Seeing the confusion on every bird’s face, Jiang Zhuozhuo enthusiastically taught them how to read the shop’s name—yes, our shop is called Get Some Fries!
Of course you had to call it this when opening at the docks!
For now, the shop staff were Maids doubling as clerks; after the trial run, they’d start hiring new staff.
The onlookers watched the little round bird stand on a Maid’s shoulder and declare the shop open, looking a bit dazed: Wait, you’re selling such cheap beans, but you have your staff dressed so beautifully? Even selling out all the beans wouldn’t cover half a sleeve of those Maid uniforms!
Only Nobility could afford to employ Maids like that!
Many people looked at the little round bird at the front with new eyes.
Who would’ve thought that this little bird, not even fully feathered and always wandering around the docks, was actually of noble birth!
Jiang Zhuozhuo didn’t feel awkward at all, briskly ordering the shop to start selling.
Clearly marked prices, fair to all!
No silver coins? Barter is fine!
Beans and Guazui Gu, they accepted both!
As for why, as a lord, she wasn’t handing out Braised Beans for free, well… they were just too poor. They couldn’t afford to give every resident free Braised Beans every day.
The shop could break even, but it couldn’t drag down the whole territory’s finances!
Jiang Zhuozhuo wasn’t clueless enough to do something that foolish.
Besides, didn’t she need to make some money for compulsory education?
With the Maids’ patient explanations, the onlookers quickly learned the benefits of Braised Beans—not only did they smell delicious, but after eating them, you’d feel warmer!
Unlike Braised Meat, Braised Beans didn’t boost explosive power—that was probably a special effect of beast meat combined with the spices. But for ordinary folks, the warming effect alone was already super useful!
This wasn’t just some ordinary bean, this was the expensive cold-resistance medicine sung of by bards!
More importantly, two jin of beans or three jin of Guazui Gu could be traded for one jin of Braised Beans which was practically free!
With just one jin, a whole family could enjoy a day’s worth of warmth, and their children could roll happily in the snow.
Some people immediately started squeezing forward, eager to buy these magical Braised Beans.
Jiang Zhuozhuo stood on a Maid’s shoulder and called out, “Line up, line up! No crowding, form a line and come one by one limit one jin per person, don’t be greedy, eating more won’t help!”
Now, everyone’s gaze at her had changed not seeing her as a fledgling, but as someone mysterious and impressive. They obediently lined up in human form, forming a long queue.
Anyone who tried to cut in line would be scolded by the crowd—the order was surprisingly good.
Jiang Zhuozhuo was very pleased, and took advantage of the wait to start advertising Get Some Fries Chain Store’s job openings—now hiring managers and staff for the long term, with positions available in various towns, alternating work days, great pay and benefits, and Five Insurances and One Fund starting from your first month on the job!
The crowd was full of curiosity: “What’s Five Insurances and One Fund?”
Jiang Zhuozhuo had to give a brief explanation.
Simply put, if you work here, not only will you get a salary every month, but the shop will also put aside five sums of money for you: one for your retirement, one for healthcare, one for childbirth, and two others—unemployment insurance and work injury insurance, which you can claim if you lose your job or get hurt!
As for the last “fund,” that’s the housing fund, which is also added monthly to your account. In the future, if you rent, build, or buy a house, you can use it!
Although only a little is set aside each month according to your salary, if you work for ten years or so, you’ll have security in every aspect of life!
Don’t just dream about it—sign up now!
Get Some Fries Chain Store, recruiting all across the territory!
You can even sign up your partner—dual-income couples make family life easier!
The crowd, who’d only come to buy some Braised Beans: ??????
It’s over—they all wanted to sign up to sell Braised Beans now.