The next morning, Li Yundong rose exceptionally early. Though now a cultivator who preached composure and unflappability, it was the grand opening day for Di San Xian, and securing a good start would undoubtedly bolster the confidence of Li Yundong and his companions.
The Chinese are superstitious, and ever since Li Yundong began his cultivation path, he had become an unwavering believer in such things.
Despite his early start, upon stepping out of his room, Li Yundong found Su Chan and the others already bustling about in the living room, even Zhou Qin was moving back and forth helping out.
Ziyuan spotted Li Yundong at once and greeted him with a smile: “Up already?”
Li Yundong managed a somewhat sheepish smile. “I’m truly ashamed; I seem to be the laziest one here.”
Ziyuan chuckled. “These folks were too excited to sleep last night and were up causing a ruckus before dawn. You, however, were clearly in deep meditation and didn’t even notice.”
Li Yundong laughed lightly. “Is everything prepared?”
Just then, Su Chan called out to Li Yundong with a bright grin, “All ready! Just waiting for you!”
Li Yundong waved his hand grandly. “Excellent, everyone, let’s go! Today, Di San Xian officially opens for business!”
At this, Su Chan, Ruan Hongling, and the little fox spirits from the Fox Zen Sect all cheered in unison: “Hooray, we’re open!”
Li Yundong then adopted a serious tone and declared loudly, “Before all that, let me brush my teeth and wash my face first!”
The group burst into laughter, echoing in chorus, “Hurry up, hurry up!”
After Li Yundong finished his ablutions, he intentionally changed into a men’s formal suit he had bought with Su Chan previously. Dressed impeccably in his suit and tie, he looked invigorated, radiating an imposing aura. Su Chan, too, donned the gown Li Yundong had bought for her, appearing like a beautiful princess utterly doted upon, her beauty simply astonishing.
It wasn't just her; the three senior uncles and the little fox spirits of the Fox Zen Sect had also solemnly changed into their best attire, looking polished and lovely. Ziyuan and Zhou Qin, though not in formal gowns, wore long dresses, one elegant and plain, the other poised and stately, like water lilies and secluded orchids.
Even Ruan Hongling, usually unconcerned with appearances, had soberly put on a rose-red qipao. The high collar and V-shaped neckline added a touch of mature allure to her.
Li Yundong looked at the assembled women and laughed warmly. “With so many beauties here, who needs guests? With you all present, Di San Xian shines brightly enough. However…”
“However what?” Su Chan inquired curiously.
Li Yundong chuckled. “However, I worry that customers who come in won’t be here for tea, but just to look at the beauties. That would be putting the cart before the horse!”
Ruan Hongling snorted. “We live in an age that prizes the beauty economy and the attention economy. With this many stunning women accompanying you, you should just enjoy yourself and be thankful—you’ll be dazzled to death!”
Ziyuan smiled gently. “Alright, alright, enough talk. Let’s get going quickly before we’re late.”
The group took a taxi to the pedestrian street. The moment they stepped out of the vehicle, they drew countless gazes.
Li Yundong, with his masculine handsomeness and an air of refined detachment that few modern, metrosexual men could match, immediately captured the attention of many women along the roadside. However, what drew even more notice were the numerous dazzling beauties surrounding him.
From Su Chan to Ziyuan, Zhou Qin, Ruan Hongling, and the members of the Fox Zen Sect—they represented every shape and face, yet every single one was a peerless beauty.
So many exquisite women gathered together left passersby’s eyes spinning. They couldn't help but secretly wonder: Who were these women? And who was this young man, positioned as the center of attention, surrounded by a galaxy of stars?
Noticing signs of the crowd beginning to bottleneck, Li Yundong quickly exchanged a meaningful glance with Su Chan and the others. “Hurry up and get inside first! We don’t want to cause a traffic accident again!”
As they were about to move, a surprised cry rang out from nearby: “Li Yundong!”
Li Yundong followed the sound and saw Feng Na, dressed in a coffee-colored long dress, standing in the distance, looking at him with pleasant shock and waving vigorously.
Li Yundong waved back, smiling. “What a coincidence!”
Feng Na, wearing high heels, hurried over, jogging the last few steps. She first greeted Su Chan, Zhou Qin, and the others warmly, then offered polite nods to Ziyuan, Ruan Hongling, and the host of beauties from the Fox Zen Sect, before finally smiling at Li Yundong. “I was worried I was too early and your shop wouldn't be open yet! Hehe, how are the opening preparations coming along? You must have been busy for days?”
Li Yundong laughed heartily. “Not at all! You know, it’s just a small shop, so a few acquaintances messing around is enough for a bit of fun! By the way, why are you alone? Where’s Cheng Cheng? And the class monitor? Where is everyone?”
Feng Na didn't believe him for a second. In her eyes, Li Yundong was an omnipotent superman; even opening a small shop couldn't be a simple affair for him.
She covered her mouth and chuckled. “They’re busy with makeup. Cheng Cheng went to the salon first thing this morning to get her hair done; poor thing woke them up before they were even officially open. Now, several salons near the school are completely packed.”
Li Yundong was slightly taken aback. “How many people? Is it really that exaggerated?”
Feng Na counted on her fingers. “Excluding me, Cheng Cheng, and Sun Li, there are about twenty others. There are only two salons near our school, and they aren’t very big. Can you imagine? How could there not be a line?”
Li Yundong questioned, “Didn’t you say there were twenty people including yourselves?”
Feng Na spread her hands. “I wish! But once the news spread that you were opening a shop on the pedestrian street, our school forum instantly exploded. They all wanted those twenty invitation cards! Did you know that someone actually offered five hundred yuan to buy one of those cards?”
As she spoke, Feng Na shook her head and sighed. “Ah, if I had been a bit tougher back then and sold all twenty cards, I could have easily pocketed ten thousand yuan! Alas, why am I such a soft touch?”
Li Yundong roared with laughter. “Is it really that over the top? But I’m guessing you all sold your own cards, right?”
Feng Na stuck out her tongue and gave a sly smile. “You caught me! Thanks to you, this old lady made a nice little profit! I bet you couldn’t even guess the price your personal invitations, written by your own hand, were fetching privately around school!”
Li Yundong asked with genuine curiosity. “No way? How much did they go for?”
Feng Na’s eyes twinkled, and she smirked cunningly. “I won’t tell you! You can guess for yourself!”
Li Yundong feigned anger. “You little rascal! I’m warning you, anyone without an invitation today is not allowed entry!”
Feng Na laughed. “Oh, you wouldn't. You say harsh things, but your heart is actually as soft as cotton!”
Li Yundong looked deflated. “Hmph, you just keep acting smug! Let’s go, let’s go! Don’t just stand here; can’t you see how many more people are gathering?”
During their conversation, the roadside had already attracted close to a hundred people, forming layers deep around them. Li Yundong and his group quickly hurried further down the pedestrian street.
On the way, Su Chan curiously tugged on Li Yundong’s arm and whispered, “Yundong, your terrible handwriting can actually sell for money?”
Although she spoke softly, Ziyuan, Zhou Qin, and the others nearby heard her perfectly clearly. Li Yundong’s face flushed deeply. He shot Su Chan a look. “You naughty girl, what nonsense are you spouting! Handwriting being ugly yet selling for money—that is skill!”
Seeing Li Yundong getting slightly annoyed, Su Chan quickly smiled sweetly and conceded, “Yes, yes, my great master is the most skilled!”
Li Yundong threw his head back and let out a loud laugh, then lowered his head to carefully examine his own body, patting and feeling around. Su Chan asked, confused, “Yundong, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Li Yundong adopted a serious expression. “Since even my ugly scribbles can fetch money, I’m thinking that if this tea shop business ever fails, I could just sell a few organs, and I certainly wouldn’t let you beauties starve!”
Su Chan immediately reached out to cover his mouth, spitting, “Ptooey, ptooey, don't say such inauspicious things! Don't ever say that again!”
Ruan Hongling rolled her eyes dramatically and shook her head. “Look at you, lacking any ambition. Are you really hoping to die before your success, leaving heroes to weep endlessly? You wrote the Chu Shi Biao, didn't you?”
Ziyuan also smiled faintly and said, “Li Yundong, it’s opening day. You shouldn't speak like that; it's bad luck.”
Li Yundong looked at them, then at Zhou Qin, who had remained silent beside them. He said with an air of frustration, “My disciple is the best; you all just lecture me!”
Zhou Qin finally spoke slowly and methodically, delivering a gentle barb. “Master, I just haven’t decided what to say yet. Once I have, I will speak.”
Li Yundong grumbled. “You wicked girl, why are you learning from them too?”
Zhou Qin fought back a smile and quoted, “I love my teacher, but I love the truth more!”
The group immediately dissolved into laughter.
Li Yundong cursed playfully, “Do you think you’re Aristotle? Even if you were, I’m certainly not Plato!”
The group walked on, chatting and laughing, and soon arrived in front of the shop.
Feng Na looked up and saw that the establishment was two stories high. The roof of the second floor was covered in golden-yellow glazed tiles; beneath the tiles were projecting eaves supported by intricately carved dougong brackets. At the four corners of the roof stood four wooden lions carved and painted gold. Each lion had a red wooden ball under its paws, staring forward with imposing majesty, giving the place an extraordinary grandeur.
Feng Na couldn't help but nod in admiration. “Not bad, it has quite the presence and ancient charm! I like the feel!”
Her gaze dropped lower, revealing a row of red, latticed wooden windows on the second floor. The patterns on the windows varied, but most depicted deities from ancient Chinese mythology. Feng Na looked at them one by one—Nuwa, Kuafu, Pangu, Taibai Jinxing, the Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother—all familiar figures. Having witnessed so many extraordinary things surrounding Li Yundong, she didn't find these carvings overly exaggerated; she simply thought the decoration was exquisitely beautiful, refined, and refreshingly unique.
After looking around, Feng Na suddenly felt something was missing and couldn't help but ask, “That’s strange, I don’t see a plaque? Right, where is your shop sign?”
Li Yundong chuckled and signaled Su Chan and the others. The little girl ran inside gleefully and soon returned holding a huge plaque covered with red cloth.
Feng Na noticed immediately that the plaque was larger than Su Chan’s entire body. Su Chan wasn't short, yet holding up the sign made her look like a child.
She called out nervously, “Be careful! Don’t drop or bump it.”
Li Yundong burst into loud laughter. “It’s fine, it’s fine!”
Su Chan stopped in front of her, playfully winked a few times, then with a slight flick of her wrist, tossed the massive plaque into the air. She caught it easily with a casual sweep of her hand, smiling sweetly, “Don't worry, nothing will happen!”
Seeing Su Chan treating the large sign like a child’s toy, as if it weighed nothing, Feng Na gaped and reached out tentatively to lift the plaque.
The moment she touched it, she felt the sign was immensely heavy, easily weighing twenty or thirty pounds!
Feng Na was startled and about to question it, but her eyes scanned past Li Yundong and froze on something behind him. “Li Yundong,” she asked, surprised, “is that your family’s tea shop too?”
Li Yundong inwardly snorted and replied, “Yes.”
Feng Na couldn't help but frown. “Isn't this direct confrontation? Opening a business directly opposite yours? Is that how you do business?”
Li Yundong stated calmly. “If heaven wants rain and a mother wants to marry, what can I do if they want to open? Let them be!”
Feng Na gasped suddenly. “Are they also opening today?”
At this, Li Yundong and his companions were all surprised. They turned their heads in unison and saw a group of people emerging from the shop across the street. Leading them was Zhao Yougen, his face beaming with smug satisfaction. Behind him stood a group of slender, graceful women in qipaos. These women were jointly carrying another plaque, also draped in red cloth, and stood obediently behind Zhao Yougen, their faces set in professional smiles.
Li Yundong’s brow immediately furrowed. Could it be that coincidental?
Just as disgust began to settle in his heart, Zhao Yougen laughed heartily and strode forward, saying boastfully and triumphantly, “Little brother, I never expected we’d be so fated! Choosing to open shops together, choosing the same opening day—what a coincidence, truly a coincidence! Hahahaha!”