My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 50 The Return Journey

After delivering the items to Tao Ju'an, the carriage became much emptier. On the way back, the group squeezed into one carriage, and because it was hot, they lifted all the curtains, making it feel like riding a tractor.

"Let's go back and have another meal. I didn't get enough to eat at Tao Ju'an's house," He Jinbao said, rubbing his stomach.

Zhao Xiancheng said, "How can you say you're not full? Young Master Jinbao ate just as much."

He Jinbao said aggrievedly, "When I went to relieve myself, I passed by the kitchen and heard Tao Ju'an's father ask his sister to borrow meat from the village head to cook for us. I... how could I possibly eat more?"

Ji Xun smiled and said, "Did Young Master Jinbao eat too little today?"

“Don’t tease me. We went to Chunhua Restaurant a couple of days ago and it cost three taels of silver for one meal. Afterwards, we each gave Lin Ziping one tael of silver, which is almost ten taels of silver. I heard from Tao Juzheng’s father that his family’s annual expenses for food, clothing and other necessities amount to only ten taels of silver.” He Jinbao frowned.

A year ago, I was still struggling to make a living, but now a single meal costs 6 yuan. This is too decadent and too extravagant!

Having seen the world and been influenced by socialism for a long time, Lin Ziping knew he couldn't be corrupted by the hedonism of the landlord class. He calmed himself, silently recited the core socialist values, and reaffirmed his oath of joining the Party.

"Hey, hey, Lin Ziping!" Ji Xun slapped Lin Ziping on the shoulder.

"Hey, what's going on!" Lin Ziping was startled and turned to look at Ji Xun.

"What are you daydreaming about? Snap out of it! We're getting ready to do business, do you want to come?" Ji Xun asked.

"What are you doing?" Lin Ziping asked in surprise. Doing business? He must have heard correctly. Is this something an eleven or twelve-year-old who has just started junior high school could be thinking about?

Fang Zhili repeated Ji Xun's words: "We want to go into business together, Lin Ziping, do you want to join us?"

"What kind of business?" Lin Ziping asked blankly.

Zhang Mo said, "The card game you taught us to play last time, I went back and asked my dad, and now nobody in casinos knows how to play it anymore."

Casinos, gambling in groups, that's a crime!

Lin Ziping shook his head vigorously: "No, no, I won't go together."

The others exchanged glances, and Fang Zhili frowned and said, "This can't be done without you."

"You have other ways to play those cards, right?" Ji Xun put his hand on Lin Ziping's shoulder. "Or do you have some concerns?"

"I have no money." Lin Ziping came up with a lame but realistic excuse. He didn't know if the original owner had any savings. After a year, he had only saved thirty taels of silver, and five taels of that was thanks to the generous donation from his friends on the "half-day trip to Chunhua Tower".

"Haha...haha," the group burst into laughter.

"You don't need to worry about that. The few of us can still open a shop if we pool our money together." He Jinbao's face showed a smug look.

...At this moment, Lin Ziping felt the inequality of the world; some people appeared to be children, but were actually wealthy.

"But that doesn't mean we can open a casino," Lin Ziping frowned. "I won't do anything illegal or against the law!"

“I support Ziping. The initial costs of a casino are too high, and we also need to put in the effort to train manpower. We can’t rely on Zhang Mojia for everything,” Zhao Xiancheng said calmly.

He fell into deep thought inside the carriage.

Lin Ziping breathed a sigh of relief; as long as the casino method wasn't illegal or criminal, that was fine.

"Then what are you talking about? I used to think that what my family gave me was enough, but after seeing Tao Ju'an today, I realize that Young Master Zhili is right. We have to rely on ourselves." He Jinbao clenched his fist.

Lin Ziping thought for a moment and said, "We can open a teahouse and provide a place for playing cards or playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy and painting."

The group turned their attention to Lin Ziping.

Lin Ziping carefully recalled the teahouses, milk tea shops, and coffee shops he had visited before, and recounted everything he knew.

I don't have any special abilities or time-travel advantages. I was just a lowly employee at the company before, with limited experience and no in-depth understanding of the milk tea industry or teahouses. I haven't done any thorough research on this type of industry, so I can only give a rough overview for your reference.

Fang Zhili nodded repeatedly after hearing this: "I didn't know that Young Master Ziping had such an idea before. I think this is feasible."

Ji Xun said, "Yes, we need to find a spacious place with a few skilled chefs. The place should be quiet and elegant, since scholars, literati, or high-ranking officials will be coming and going."

“I’ll go back and ask my father,” Zhao Xiancheng said, “and then elaborate on Young Master Ziping’s ideas.”

"We need to find a few quick-witted people. Ah Mo, go back and look for someone who is young and has a skill," He Jinbao said to Zhang Mo.

Zhang Mo nodded: "I'll go back and take a look, but Lin Ziping still needs to teach them how to play cards."

The group discussed their ideas and finalized the basic framework for opening a teahouse.

Lin Ziping could barely get a word in edgewise, and once again felt the inequality of the world. Some people's brains are just brains, while others' brains are like motors, generating ideas with a single turn, and the key is that they can keep turning them.

The carriage curtain was lifted, bringing a touch of coolness and a cloud of dust.

Four guards rode on either side of him, looking very imposing. In this era, horses were considered a means of transportation, just like cars. Lin Ziping thought that he would learn to ride horses in the future. Once he learned, it would be like having a driver's license. With a license in hand, he could go wherever he wanted!

Upon seeing this, Ji Xun said, "Once you come up to the elementary school, you can learn horseback riding, chariot driving, arithmetic, and archery..."

Do we really need to learn so much? It seems the academy intends to guide people towards all-round development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, and aesthetics!

"Lin Ziping, you don't know? You've been here for several years now," He Jinbao said with a look of surprise.

"So what if I've been here for several years? I never had the energy to pay attention to these things before," Lin Ziping said, arms crossed. He couldn't openly inquire about information, lest he reveal that he didn't have the original owner's memories.

Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was not right, Fang Zhili changed the subject: "Other academies may not learn it, but Moshan Academy will definitely learn it."

He Jinbao looked at Lin Ziping, pursed his lips, and glared at him.

Seeing He Jinbao like this, Lin Ziping thought of the bullying he suffered when he first arrived, and a fire suddenly rose in his heart: "Did I say something wrong? Young Master Jinbao and several other young masters, I don't need to say more about how they were before, why is Young Master Jinbao acting so aggrieved?"

"Ziping," Ji Xun tugged at Lin Ziping's sleeve, "Don't say anything more."

Lin Ziping snorted coldly and ignored him.

“I am very grateful to you for accompanying me to find Tao Ju’an.” Lin Ziping paused for a moment, “but I will never forget what you did.”

An eerie atmosphere filled the carriage, and none of the people spoke.

Zhao Xiancheng looked around, not understanding how things had changed so suddenly when everything was fine just moments ago.

After a long pause, Ji Xun said, "Lin Ziping, we were wrong before, and we hope you will forgive us."

Fang Zhili also bowed and said, "It was our mistake, and we hope Ziping will forgive us."

He Jinbao said, "I was wrong before, and I apologize to you."

"Young Master Ziping, I'm sorry," Zhang Mo said.

Lin Ziping took two deep breaths and gradually calmed down, realizing that he had been somewhat displaced in his anger just now. Because of his recent interactions with them, he felt a sense of guilt towards the original owner of the body. The contradiction between his behavior and his thoughts made him somewhat sensitive, which led to his outburst of emotion just now.

After calming down, Lin Ziping smiled, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I lost control just now. Please forgive me. Let bygones be bygones."

Ji Xun put his arm around Lin Ziping's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I'll protect you from now on. No one will be allowed to bully you."

The others also said to Lin Ziping, "We won't let anyone else bully you."

Lin Ziping readily agreed: "In that case, Ziping thanks you all very much."

"Let's become sworn brothers. We don't ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we ask to die on the same day, month, and year," Zhao Xiancheng suggested as the atmosphere eased.

Lin Ziping, hehe, thank you, but I don't want to die with you.

"Go to hell! You're older than us, who wants to die with you?" Ji Xun and the others joked around, returning to their previous lively state.