Tomb Sweeping Day is three days away, and the paper money business in the West Courtyard shop has been particularly prosperous these two days. The young couple was at the coffin shop in the West Courtyard today, and sent several waves of paper bundles.
Before the shop closed in the evening, Shen Luzhu stopped Gao Tongshan, who was about to lock the door and leave: "Master Gao, wait a moment."
"The boss lady."
Shen Luzhu came to Gao Tongshan and whispered: "Master Gao, you can come to the shop at the normal time tomorrow, but just go directly to the shop in the east courtyard. It will open half an hour later than usual."
Gao Tongshan stayed at the paper money shop in the east courtyard all day today. He didn't know what was going on here. Although he was a little confused, he nodded in agreement, then locked the door of the shop from the outside and left.
The young couple returned directly to the west courtyard of their home from the back door of the shop. Chu Yi looked at his wife's cheerful figure and couldn't help but feel a little funny.
The news that Chu Ji's funeral would require paper delivery for three consecutive days was passed among the households as those who bought the paper money left. Some notified their relatives, and some informed their neighbors who were close friends with them. , thinking about everyone who has bought paper money at Chu's house, the proprietress said it was first come, first served, and they went to get another one for free, and it was nothing.
The news was spread covertly but widely. Everyone thought that not many people knew about it, not to mention that Chu Ji’s proprietress agreed to it for three consecutive days and thought that as long as she went to Chu Ji’s shop, she would definitely get free food. Paper tie.
As a result, when I arrived in front of Chu Ji's funeral the next day, I was dumbfounded. Before the shop opened, there were many people gathered in front of the door. When I asked, I found out that they were all rushing to tie up the paper.
Some people came to buy paper money and wanted to drop by to get a paper tie. Some came here specially, and some stayed after seeing people gathered in front of the shop and asking about it.
When many people saw this situation, they beat their chests and regretted it. If they had known it yesterday, they would not have told others.
I looked around and saw that the paper money shop was already open, so someone ran over and asked, "Man, is your coffin shop closed today? Didn't you say that the first ten people came here today to deliver paper bundles?" , why haven’t you opened the door yet? Do you want to regret it?”
Gao Tongshan stretched his neck and looked outside. There were more good guys than just now. About half an hour had passed, so he made up a lie and said: "Open the door, open the door. Wait for me for a moment. I'll be there soon." Just open, isn’t it that my paper money business has been too busy these past two days? The coffin shop will open a little later, wait, I’ll call my boss right now.”
Although Gao Tongshan held the key to the outer door of the west courtyard shop, there were a lot of people surrounding him right now. He was afraid that as soon as he opened the door, people would rush in and be difficult to control, so he had to call the young couple out first to help control them together. The next scene will do.
As soon as Gao Tongshan pushed open the back door of the shop, he saw Chu Yizheng walking over and whispered quickly: "Boss, there are a lot of people gathered in front of the shop in the west courtyard. It's almost time to open the door now. I'm afraid they will crowd in and damage the things in the shop." ”Kanshu La
Chu Yi came here to inform Gao Tongshan to open the door, so he said: "It doesn't matter, I'll go to the shop in the west courtyard now. Master Gao, just wait a moment and open the door."
"Okay boss, by the way, they just asked why it wasn't open yet. I said it was because it was too busy here, so it opened later."
"I understand, Master Gao."
Gao Tongshan lingered at the back door for a while, guessing that Chu Yi had already entered the shop in the west courtyard, then he turned around and walked out of the shop with the key.
"Don't push, don't push. Everyone, please step back. This door opens outwards. Be careful of bumping into you. Besides, you are so close, I can't open the door!"
Gao Tongshan shouted a few words, and when he saw the crowd retreating, he opened the door of the west courtyard shop in fear. He only opened half of the door when he was once again squeezed in by the crowd, unable to move.
Afraid of being overtaken by others, the people who finally squeezed to the front couldn't get into the shop at all. After a closer look, they discovered that the young couple had pulled a rope from the inside of the shop door, blocking the entire door.
When Shen Luzhu saw Gao Tongshan finally squeezed out of the crowd, he said: "Everyone, aunts and uncles, please don't squeeze in. Let's come one by one, and the first one will pick."
Once you have chosen, take it away and the next person will come in. "
After Shen Luzhu said that, Chu Yi opened the door half way away. The nearest one thought that the uncle was going in. The others couldn't help but feel a little irritated when they saw the door being blocked again.
"Mrs. Boss, why did your store open so much later than the shop next door? We've been waiting outside for a long time. You could just let us in. Why bother stopping us here one by one?"
"That's right. We came earlier than the person who just entered, so we haven't grabbed it yet."
This is what Shen Luzhu wants. She thinks about her past life, when she would always line up in long lines to get some free eggs. Every time she passed by, she was actually a little curious about what was going on inside. Something like that, I thought that the publicity effect of this trick should be good, so I also came to the event to give out free paper tie. Unexpectedly, the effect was not bad.
Leaving Xue Changshan and Chu Yi to control the entrance and exit of the shop, Shen Luzhu bent down and walked out from under the rope, explaining to everyone with a smile on his face.
"My family has been really busy recently, but the shops here are a bit quieter. I just want to open a little later and take a break. Also, I'm afraid that if they open early, some people will come and all the places will be used up. Later, No one else saw it, and it won’t be easy for us to explain when the time comes. If everyone is watching, and they go in one by one, there can’t be any lies, right?”
The lady next to her laughed after hearing what she said: "Hey, little wife, you think too much. How can anyone doubt you? You think too much."
While listening, Shen Luzhu guided everyone to spread out a little, smiling without saying a word. He didn't know who was still asking them if they had regretted it yesterday. If they really opened the door early, , now I tell them that all ten places have been used up, and I can’t say that they are cheating and don’t want to be punished.
Seeing that the first man who entered was still choosing, Shen Luzhu took the opportunity to introduce the new activities of his shop: "If you think this paper tie is good, you can come back to the shop to buy it. In addition to our paper tie, What is currently displayed in the shop can also be customized according to customers’ needs.”
"Customized? How can I customize this thing?"
Shen Luzhu explained with a smile: "It means you have any requirements, or a particular style you want. For example, the current paper courtyard in the shop is a small courtyard with one entrance. If you want a second or third entrance, If you have a big house, we can make one specially for you. The color, style, and size can all be made according to your requirements."
"This is the first time I've heard of people selling goods like this. Don't tell me, it's really interesting."
Another aunt asked with some disbelief: "You can really have whatever you want? Will it be expensive?"
Shen Luzhu was about to answer when the first man who went in finally picked out the paper bundles he wanted and walked out of the shop. He took a house paper bundle and held it in his arms, carefully avoiding the others, and was heading towards the door of the shop. People pushing forward.
"Slow down, slow down, everyone, don't be impatient, come one by one."
Before Shen Luzhu could finish speaking, the second person had already entered the shop. Seeing that it was quiet again outside the door, he continued the topic and explained: "As long as you can say something, we can try The price is determined based on the size, complexity, and how many raw materials are used. I can’t say for sure at the moment, but Auntie, you know that our paper bindings are not too expensive. If you buy more, we will There are also gifts.”
"Gift, how do you give it away?"
Shen Luzhu counted in details: "Buy five and get one free, buy ten and get three free. Also, anyone who buys a coffin from our house in the future will receive a piece of Baisaqian for free. According to the price, every two taels of silver will get another paper bundle." , if you are a member of our family, we will give you one for every twenty taels of silver you spend buying paper money."
"Buy five and get one for free. Who would need so many!"
Shen Luzhu said with a smile: "Our paper bundles can be used for funerals and sacrifices. For such a big event as a funeral, not only the attendants but also the maids, oxen, carriages, sedans, and houses, etc., I have to buy one for them all. It is considered a grand event and it also shows that we, as juniors, are filial.
The next step is to catch up with Qing
During the Ming Festival and Winter Clothes Festival, everyone has a lot of deceased ancestors, so we can’t favor one and forget the other. I’m afraid that when the time comes, auntie, buy five and get one free, buy ten and get three free, you still think it’s not enough. It’s over. "
Although there were only ten places a day, it still took a lot of time to go in one by one and pick slowly. Most people turned around and left when they saw that seven or eight people had already entered and figured it was no longer their turn. , and also secretly made up his mind to come early tomorrow.
For three consecutive days, many people gathered in front of Chu Ji’s coffin shop. In addition, people came to the paper money shop to buy paper money. Chu Ji’s funeral paper bundles, as well as the novel ways to customize them, soon became popular in the county. Made a name for himself.
Daqian people attach great importance to filial piety and pay attention to the grandeur of funerals. They buy sets of paper bundles to accompany the funeral procession. This soon became a new trend in the county. The business of coffins and paper bundles became more and more intensive, and the young couple successively launched many bundles. Activities, such as customization of coffins, package discounts for coffins and paper bundles plus paper money, etc.
Comparing some funeral customs in his previous life, Shen Luzhu added two new businesses to his coffin shop, one is fake flowers or flower bouquets, and the other is spiritual flags.
Since ancient times, there has been a custom of visiting graves to offer sacrifices and placing bouquets of flowers, and Xing'an County is no exception. During the sacrifice, a bunch of wild flowers are randomly picked on the road and placed in front of the tomb to express one's condolences. However, this place is located in the northernmost part of Daqian. Only half of the year can you see wild flowers in full bloom everywhere.
Shen Luzhu then came up with an idea. In summer and autumn, he asked workers to pick some budding flowers every day on the two mountains under his control, tie them into bunches and soak them in water. The price would be cheaper, and they could be sold or given away. In the other two seasons, artificial flowers made of paper can be used and placed in paper money shops to solve the problem of no flowers in winter.
In addition, there are the spiritual flags, which are actually very simple to make, except that you need to write on them. Generally, funeral shops only sell some blank spiritual flags, and then ask someone to write on them according to the gender, age, identity, etc. of the deceased.
The young couple originally planned to hire another old man who could write, but it was rejected by both Uncle Chu and Gao Tongshan. They both knew a lot about funerals, and they didn't care about writing spiritual flags, especially Uncle Chu. , and he is also good at handwriting. Before his leg was broken, people in the village often asked him to help write spiritual banners.
But later he broke his leg, and reconciled with Xiuxiu's mother-in-law. He was depressed for a long time, and gradually fewer people were looking for him. When he heard that the young couple had this plan, they naturally refused to allow them to look for him again. human.
