Ch 185: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

“Train on the Sea?”

It was yet another unheard-of thing, and this time, it felt exceptionally strange.

Since it’s called a train, could it be something like a carriage?

…

On a sinister moonlit night, waves roared as the train raced across the sea.

Inside the carriage, men and women dressed in foreign attire sat together, sharing tales of their journey.

Bang!

A heavy gunshot shattered the night, blood staining the floor as people scattered, only to be herded like lambs to the slaughter, trembling in fear.

This sea train seemed cursed by a brutal, bloodthirsty monster.

One by one, the passengers fell, and the dark, blood-red liquid, as rich and vibrant as red wine, stained the sea’s surface.

Screams, cries, prayers, attempts to flee… all in vain.

What dark secrets lay hidden within the terror-filled night aboard the sea train?

…

The first suspense thriller from Transdimensional Cinema, The Sea Train Serial Murders, is set to premiere on the fifteenth of August in the forty-ninth year of the Wu Calendar.

The fifteenth of August… isn’t that tomorrow?

Unfortunately, there’s a palace banquet tomorrow, and Wan Baozhu must go early. She felt a pang of frustration.

This film was nothing like the previous ones. A train on the sea, a murder mystery, strange weapons… and the costumes, appearances, and mannerisms of the characters all pulled her curiosity.

Cui Zhu and Qing Fei accompanied Wan Baozhu into the palace, and later, directly to Song’an Street. Both maids were by her side now.

It was Qing Fei’s first time at a cinema. She had heard about it from Cui Zhu but had no time to take in the surroundings. The moment she looked up at the new film preview, she almost felt faint. Leaning in, she whispered to Cui Zhu, “Is that what a movie is?”

Cui Zhu frowned, nodded slightly, and felt that this film seemed a bit too frightening.

It was even scarier than In Search for the Deep-Sea Beast, released a few days earlier, with its blood-filled scenes and unsettling mysteries stirring deeper fears in people.

Wan Baozhu, unfazed by the maids, noticed Lu Yao emerging from a side screening room. She took a step forward, “Young boss.”

Lu Yao looked up, and his eyes brightened. “Lady Qian,” he greeted the lavishly dressed woman before him.

Wan Baozhu had previously gone by “Young Master Qian” when disguised as a man, so Lu Yao adjusted his address accordingly.

“You recognized me at once,” Wan Baozhu replied calmly. “Could I ask what exactly this ‘Sea Train’ is?”

“It’s a type of train that runs on the sea, made up of a series of carriages connected together, equipped with a power system, staffed by train personnel, and operating on a set schedule along a fixed route, carrying passengers.” Lu Yao explained simply.

Wan Baozhu processed this, piecing together new concepts she had gathered lately, barely managing to grasp Lu Yao’s explanation. She looked up, exclaiming, “So that long, rumbling monster in the film was the Sea Train?”

Lu Yao, impressed by her quick comprehension, nodded lightly.

Wan Baozhu suddenly stepped back, eyes wide.

Cui Zhu and Qing Fei rushed to support her, worry in their eyes.

They couldn’t understand a word the boss said, but it seemed their mistress did.

Could something about this so-called “Sea Train” be… off?

Wan Baozhu’s mind whirled with questions. Looking back at Lu Yao’s calm expression, she felt that asking would be pointless.

Instead of blindly guessing, she wanted to see this so-called “Sea Train” in person before questioning Lu Yao further. But that wouldn’t be possible until tomorrow, which felt torturous.

On the advertisement screen, a preview for Seeking Immortals began to play.

It was a relatively traditional fantasy drama: a low-ranking disciple of an immortal sect falls in love with a cold immortal master, and their entanglement spans multiple lives through heavens and demonic realms.

The series had thirty episodes, with each edited to about forty minutes, following the same screening schedule as The Little Chef: the first three episodes would air during the first screening tomorrow.

Cui Zhu and Qing Fei were mesmerized by the “celestial maiden flying” scene, quickly forgetting the eerie atmosphere left by the Sea Train preview and watching with great interest.

Wan Baozhu glanced at it briefly. While the story seemed intriguing, her mind was still entirely occupied by the Sea Train, leaving her with no interest in anything else.

To distract herself, Wan Baozhu finally recalled her initial purpose for this trip and walked quickly to the merchandise counter.

The display case had only price tags and packaging models left; the mooncakes they had prepared had already sold out.

Scanning the counter, she noticed a golden birdcage on display. Her gaze brightened. “How much for this?”

The clerk quietly explained the price and various styles.

Wan Baozhu: “How many of the premium deluxe versions are left?”

Clerk: “One was reserved by a customer earlier, leaving two more.”

Wan Baozhu: “Alright, I’ll take them all.”

The clerk took out a pen and paper. “Please leave your address, and we’ll have them delivered to your residence tomorrow.”

Wan Baozhu waved her hand. “No need; I’ll pick them up myself tomorrow.”

As for the palace banquet, Her Highness noted, it was the same old affair every year, with her arriving early only to sit around drinking tea. Arriving a bit later this time wouldn’t be an issue.

…

The trailers for The Sea Train Serial Murders and Seeking Immortals had already stirred up quite a buzz among film fans, as both films had such unique styles that they completely gripped the audience’s curiosity.

Yet, the mooncake gift boxes jointly produced by the cinema and Yuguizhai generated even more discussion. This collaboration between the two establishments surprised patrons familiar with each place.

The cinema had appeared suddenly this past summer, strange and mysterious, captivating all who entered.

Many believed it would one day disappear as suddenly as it had come.

In the past, people were curious, skeptical, wary, and even resistant… while others entertained unscrupulous thoughts. But it had never occurred to anyone that coexisting with the cinema might be possible in this way.

People were curious about how the Yuguizhai’s Boss Yu had managed to team up with the cinema and wondered if there might be some shady backstory behind it.

But all branches of Yuguizhai, including the main store and the two branches in Liangjing, were overwhelmed with orders, working late nights to fulfill hundreds of mooncake orders, leaving no one with time to offer any explanations.

…

Late at night, on the shopping street.

A white delivery van pulled up in front of the cinema, and two young men got out from each side.

The driver walked to the back and opened the cargo hold.

Zheng, dressed in a blue-gray checkered shirt, approached Fu Chi. “Boss, all sixteen boxes of goods are here.”

Standing on the cinema steps, Fu Chi nodded slightly. “Just leave them by the entrance.”

These were the Mid-Autumn Festival promotional gifts Lu Yao had commissioned, available in two types.

One type was a postcard featuring popular characters from past films shown at the cinema, given as a gift for every four mooncakes purchased at once. The other was a plush keychain (in an ancient style) of a popular character, gifted when an entire box of mooncakes was bought.

The promotional items were personally designed by Lu Yao, who, as usual, would likely have needed the system’s help.

But when Fu Chi saw Lu Yao working on the designs, he immediately introduced her to a large manufacturer he knew and even sent his assistant to supervise.

Typically, such a factory wouldn’t accept such a small order, but Fu Chi’s staff was highly capable, and with just one call, everything went smoothly.

The cost was also quite reasonable, coming in at just a few thousand yuan.

The system sulked quietly but had no choice but to accept the situation.

Lu Yao opened one of the boxes for inspection; the quality was excellent, and the production consistency was impressive, with almost no defects. “Not bad. Daylight is coming; let’s bring everything inside.”

Zheng looked up at the sky, then checked his watch. It was clearly only half-past eleven at night; how could dawn be approaching?

Before he could ask, he saw his boss rolling up her sleeves and bending down to lift the boxes. “Boss, let us handle it—there’s no need for you to do the heavy lifting.”

Fu Chi shook his head. “No need for you to come in; it’s just a few boxes. I can handle it myself.”

After unloading, Fu Chi insisted that his assistants not help, leaving Assistant Zheng and the driver standing by the roadside, watching with complex emotions.

Assistant Zheng was no stranger to the shopping district and knew Fu Chi was recuperating here, with recent treatments proving effective.

Initially, he had been curious about what treatment plan the doctor used here, but now he suspected his boss might be getting conned.

Who spends ten million to address psychological issues, only to end up working night shifts and doing manual labor? It was too outrageous.

After finishing the unloading, Fu Chi waved. “You can leave now. I have other things to handle.”

Assistant Zheng hesitated to say something but stopped. “…”

The van disappeared into the night, and as the darkness deepened on the shopping street, the first light began to break in the east, signaling the dawn of a new day in the Great Wu Dynasty.

Lu Yao sent a third of the promotional gifts to Yuguizhai’s main store, with the promotion lasting only for Mid-Autumn Day; once the gifts ran out, the offer would end. The rules were the same as in the cinema.

Customers who pre-ordered yesterday and met the conditions would also receive gifts.

By early morning, a long line had already formed in front of Yuguizhai.

The first customer had ordered an entire box of “assorted mooncakes” and received a small gift bag alongside the box, which bore the logos of both the cinema and Yuguizhai. The customer looked puzzled. “What’s this?”

The clerk explained, “A Mid-Autumn gift. You get one if your mooncake order meets the criteria.”

Curious, the man held his box in one hand and the paper bag in the other, carefully taking out the gift. It was soft, fluffy, and pure white.

He gasped, “Ah, it’s a little seal!”

The seal appeared in In Search for the Deep-Sea Beast, living in the glacier regions. When born, it’s round, furry, with big, glistening eyes—utterly adorable.

Initially, he hadn’t paid much attention when he heard about the gift. Small bonuses often came with purchases, likely just leftover trimmings from mooncake production. He hadn’t expected such a thoughtful gift.

Already looking forward to his mooncakes, this unexpected delight lifted his spirits even more.

The commotion at the front of the line caught the attention of those queued behind, who craned their necks to see the gift in the man’s hands.

The second customer, a young woman who had also ordered a full box, received a Shen Xiangjun plush keychain and almost jumped in excitement.

Her favorite film was When blossoms fall. Although sad, it had left a deep impression on her.

She hadn’t expected to get such a beautiful gift with her mooncakes. After picking up her items, she immediately moved to another window and called, “Hey, can I order another box and get another keychain?”

The film had such an unresolved ending; she had to make it right by getting a matching set!

Meanwhile, the lines at the cinema were even longer than those at Yuguizhai, with customers eager to buy tickets or pick up mooncakes.

The cinema offered more types and flavors of mooncakes, even allowing single-piece purchases, which had left customers nearly overwhelmed with choices the previous day.

Those collecting their orders this morning were thrilled to find out about the complimentary gifts. The postcards and character keychains, featuring their favorite characters, were incredibly popular.

Many customers who had only ordered two or three mooncakes, falling short of the requirements for a gift, regretted it immensely.

Inside the screening room, the audience’s excitement was palpable as the much-anticipated Sea Train Serial Murders finally began!

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