Phi-Fic Chapter 167
Chapter 167
Although Zhao He was young at that time, he had been taught by many great Confucian scholars. Although he knew how to love the people, he was more knowledgeable about the skills of a king.
But perhaps because of Zhao He's personality, the way of loving the people has taken deep root in his heart.
When Aunt Mo got into trouble, Zhao He found out and pleaded with Concubine Jing'an for mercy. However, it was difficult for a little kid, even if he was a prince, to change the adults' minds. As a result, Zhao He was always resentful and extremely disliked the capital.
When it was his next birthday, Zhao He asked to travel around the world. His Majesty loved this child very much and agreed to this decision.
Pei Yuan said after a long while: "I know...but the Pei family needs you, and the Third Prince and Concubine Jing'an both need you."
Zhao He stared at Pei Yuan for an unknown amount of time before he turned his eyes away without saying a word.
……
In a blink of an eye, ten days had passed. Guo Xin got off the carriage and looked at the bustling Suining City. He let out a long sigh, relaxed his shoulders, and said happily: "Suining City is still homely!"
Guo Ruo got the news and waited at the city gate early in the morning. When he saw Guo Xin, who looked a little dusty, he stepped forward and said with a smile: "We have not seen each other for a few days, but I miss you so much. This is the first time we have been apart for such a long time."
"Although the capital is prosperous and my grandmother and uncles are very kind to me, it is still not as comfortable as my own house. I can do whatever I want. The aunts at home are very easy-going and there is no need to abide by any rules."
Guo Ruo followed Guo Xin into the carriage and said with a smile, "You haven't been in Suining City these days, so you don't know how lively Suining City is."
Guo Xin was surprised when she heard it, "Lively?"
"Yes, didn't you run a salesman's home before? At the beginning, because you only admitted women and children, the whole Suining City scolded you. I was worried at that time. But who would have thought that just a while ago, all the refugees suddenly yearned for your salesman's home."
"There are still many refugees who want to go to our orphanage. You can hear many people praising you just by walking on the streets." Guo Ruo couldn't help but smile and gestured with his hands.
Guo Xin smiled, and suddenly thought of Zhao He's toy store, so she asked, "You said in your letter that a toy store opened opposite our mall. I wonder how the toy store is doing now?"
Hearing this, Guo Ruo made an indescribable expression and pursed his lips and said, "That toy city is still alive. I don't know what means it used to attract so many people to go there. Not only the rich and powerful, but even the slightly richer people take their children there every now and then."
Guo Xin frowned slightly. Suining City had received so many refugees. It had just passed a famine, and there was a war on the border. How could so many people go to this toy city? Could it be some gambling house?
"Big sister, let's go directly to the toy city. Let the maid who follows the car help take the remaining items back."
After that, he gave a few instructions outside the carriage, then got off the carriage with Guo Ruo and walked towards the toy city.
"Sister, have you ever noticed what's inside the toy city? Why are the people in the city so fascinated by it? Is there a gambling house inside?"
Guo Ruo shook his head and said, "I also found it very strange before. A toy city is at most similar to those small toys along the street, but the people in the city behind it are playing together in groups of three or five."
"Because of this, I also thought there might be a gambling house, or multiple gambling houses. Out of curiosity, I walked in, only to find that there was not a single gambling house inside."
"Hmm?" Guo Xin was a little confused. If it was the era before the end of the world, it would be understandable that the toy city could still arouse people's obsession even without the gambling house. However, there was a lack of entertainment in the Zhao Dynasty. Apart from the gambling house, what else could make people so obsessed?
Guo Ruo hesitated for a long time and couldn't say anything, so he could only say: "You will know when you see it."
Guo Xin had no choice but to suppress his curiosity. After walking for about a cup of tea, he looked up at the black wooden plaque with three big words written in vermilion - Toy City.
There were several waiters and ladies standing at the door, soliciting customers. The ladies were dressed conservatively, and it didn't look like a place of entertainment. Guo Ruo took Guo Xin inside.
Seeing this, the lady at the side immediately stepped forward and said enthusiastically: "Ladies, it looks like this is your first time here, right? Can I recommend some fun activities for you?"
Guo Xin nodded and said, "Thank you for your help, madam. This is my first time here. Could you please let me see what there is to play?"
"We have everything here, whatever the young lady wants, but we don't gamble here, that's what our boss keeps reminding us of. We only need to pay the entrance fee for the corresponding floor to enter and we won't charge any more money."
"Look, there are several sensible girls and boys there. Doesn't it look like Fengyue Tower? Actually, it's not. It's there to answer questions and resolve problems for the guests who come here. They are very knowledgeable too."
"Go further in, and you'll find the place for pitching pots. If you want to win some prizes, you can come here, but there won't be much food every day, at most some food or inexpensive hairpins..."
The lady in front led Guo Xin and the others up to the third floor, pointed at the few remaining stalls and said, "This is the most expensive floor. The stall is a homemade brand of the owner. Every day, the customer with the most wins will be selected to send a high-end silk product to the mall opposite."
Guo Xin was about to walk forward to find out what was going on when he heard a surprised voice in his ear.
"Sister Guo Xin!? Sister Guo Ruo!?"
They both turned around and asked in surprise: "Hu Zongrui!? Why are you here?"
Hu Zongrui waved his hand to signal the lady to go down, and led the two to a private room at the end. He said, "I had a quarrel with my mother before, and later my family finally agreed to let me start a business. However, I have no capital, so I looked around for a place that can hire me."
"But after searching everywhere, no one was willing to take me in. Just when I was planning to work as a waiter in a restaurant to save up some capital, a nobleman from Suining City came to me. I think his name was "Sixth Master."
"That Sixth Master wanted to open a mall across from you at first, saying he wanted to imitate Sister Guo Xin's method, but that was impossible. Although Sister Guo Xin was no longer in the city at that time, I couldn't do such a thing either, so I racked my brains to come up with this toy mall."
After saying that, Hu Zongrui looked at Guo Xin and asked for credit: "Sister Guo Xin, what do you think of this toy city just now? Is it good?"
When Guo Xin heard that Zhao He was going to open a mall, she was furious. Zhao He didn't tell her everything in the capital, but he didn't show it on his face. He smiled and said, "Your toy mall is great. I'm afraid you are the only one in the entire Zhao Dynasty. I want to stay here for several days."