Ch 198: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

As Qi Wu and Jin Lu ascended the stairs, they heard a commotion. The sounds of an argument filled the air, and they quickened their steps to see what was happening.

In the ticketing area, a small crowd had gathered around the lounge, where a loud dispute was taking place. They noticed a group of people surrounding several odd-looking machines. Some of these machines had transparent fronts with rows of colorful cans inside, while others held strange stuffed toys and small boxes, with a claw dangling inside, and buttons and levers outside.

The argument seemed to be centered around one of the claw machines. A bearded, burly man with a booming voice was confronting Lu Yao, the cinema’s manager, accusing her, “This thing is rigged! You can’t grab anything!”

Someone beside him murmured in agreement, “It’s true! I tried five times, and the claw just let go. Even when it did catch something, it slipped off halfway.”

Another man wearing a gray cap chimed in, “We’re not here to cause trouble, but after so many tries, we still couldn’t grab anything. The claw isn’t steady, and even if you catch something, it just wobbles and falls off.”

The burly man added, “I’ve always liked this cinema, but this machine feels unfair. We don’t want anything more; just give back the money we spent. My friend and I tried more than ten times—each attempt cost five coins—so a refund would be fair.”

Lu Yao had set up a currency exchange station beside the machines, where customers could exchange copper coins for tokens usable in the claw machines and vending machines. Each try on the claw machine cost five coins, and the vending machines offered items at various prices based on the drink or snack selected.

The machines, filled with movie-themed toys, small gadgets, snacks, and some rare items, had drawn a lot of attention from the morning crowd. Dozens of customers had lined up to try their luck, especially at the machines with movie-themed plush toys. Yet, after countless attempts, no one had successfully grabbed anything, which had led to the current confrontation.

Seeing Lu Yao surrounded, Qi Wu and Jin Lu, both well-versed in martial arts, instinctively felt uneasy and immediately pushed forward to help her. But just as they reached the front, Lu Yao had already freed herself from the burly man’s grip.

She took a step back, calm and unflustered, even throwing out a taunt with a smile, “You’re new to claw machines, I see. Ten tries, and you think you can master it? How naive.”

The customers fell silent, stunned.

The burly man clenched his fists, visibly irritated.

Lu Yao then turned to the claw machine near the vending area. With practiced ease, she inserted five tokens, grabbed the lever, and positioned the claw. With a soft whirring sound, the claw descended, scooped up a small, fluffy seal plush, and lifted it.

The crowd gasped as the claw actually held onto the plush tightly, bringing it all the way to the prize chute without dropping it. The fluffy seal slid out, and Lu Yao caught it, holding it up with a smirk.

“See?” she said, handing the plush to the gray-capped man. “It’s possible. You just need to get the hang of it.”

The burly man and his companion exchanged looks, momentarily speechless.

Under Lu Yao’s skilled operation, the claw wobbled as it moved. Just as it neared the chute, the claw released, and the little seal plush dropped, hitting the orca plush that had previously fallen there from other customers’ attempts.

The crowd held their breath.

“Thud—”

The seal knocked the orca plush down, and both toys fell into the dark chute below.

Lu Yao crouched down, retrieved the two plush toys from the slot, and turned to the customers. “If you can’t catch them, it’s just because you lack the skill.”

The crowd was silent, faces frozen in a mixture of disbelief and self-doubt.

Lu Yao moved to the next claw machine, inserted coins, and skillfully grabbed a plush of Prince Jing holding a roast duck. Then, moving to the machine filled with mystery boxes, she attempted three times, successfully retrieving a box on the third try.

She crouched down to pick up the box, feeling its weight as she opened it for everyone to see. “These boxes are trickier because they’re smooth, but it’s still possible,” she explained.

A small rectangular metal case with a mirror and various blades and parts inside tumbled out. Lu Yao quickly assembled the pieces into an old-fashioned razor, holding it up to the bearded man. “It’s a classic razor—perfect for shaving. I don’t need it, but if you don’t mind, it’s yours.”

The bearded man felt both his pride bruised and his interest piqued, and struggled to respond. “Uh…”

Seeing his hesitation, Jin Lu jumped in, “If he doesn’t want it, I’ll take it! It looks neat.”

Flustered, the man quickly took the razor from Lu Yao’s hand. “I’ve got a lot of beard to shave; I’ll give it a try. Sorry about earlier.”

Lu Yao waved it off as no big deal.

The onlookers, realizing the machines weren’t rigged, began wondering if they just lacked skill. This spurred them on, determined to get a prize from the claw machine themselves. Now, the plush toys weren’t the only draw; the unique items in the box machine were tempting as well.

Seeing the crowd’s enthusiasm, Lu Yao took the chance to demonstrate the vending machine’s function. She inserted coins, selected a drink, and retrieved it smoothly from the slot below.

“These two machines work differently from the claw machines. Just insert coins, press the button, and your drink will come out,” Lu Yao explained as she pulled the tab on a grape soda, releasing a sweet grape aroma.

The crowd had been so focused on the claw machines that they hadn’t paid much attention to the vending machine, but now they were intrigued.

Lu Yao stepped aside, letting customers decide whether to try the claw machine or buy a drink.

Spotting Jin Lu and Qi Wu still standing by, she handed them the seal and Prince Jing plush toys. “Here, take these if you want.”

Qi Wu hesitated, thinking of Die Qi, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I don’t have any use for them. If you don’t want them, I’ll just put them back in the machine tomorrow,” Lu Yao replied.

Jin Lu didn’t hesitate, grabbing the snowy white seal. “Thanks, boss!”

Qi Wu looked at the remaining orca toy and took the Prince Jing plush holding the roast duck, recalling they had seen customers at the restaurant with similar keychains—they all came from the cinema.

Lu Yao handed them the grape soda next, “I can’t drink it while I’m working, so take this too. And your movie’s about to start.”

Before heading upstairs, Jin Lu and Qi Wu had bought popcorn and drinks, now resting on the coin exchange counter.

They’d never tried grape-flavored soda before, and this can looked different from the ones downstairs.

Gradually forgetting Die Qi’s reminders, they grabbed the plush toys and grape soda, thanked Lu Yao, and happily headed towards the screening room, chattering all the way.

Qi Wu remarked, “boss Lu is really nice. Maybe Die Qi’s just overthinking?”

Jin Lu nodded, “She’s straightforward, capable—I like women like that.”

Qi Wu halted, giving him an odd look. “You better not be getting any ideas.”

Jin Lu looked confused. “…What?”

Seeing his clueless expression, Qi Wu figured she might be overthinking herself and shook her head. As they walked, the scent of grapes wafted from the can’s small opening. Unable to resist, Qi Wu took a sip and exclaimed, “This tastes even better than orange soda!”

Jin Lu grabbed the can and took a big gulp, saying with genuine enthusiasm, “I really want to work at the cinema.”

Qi Wu nodded—she wanted to, too.

As they approached the entrance for ticketing, they took a second glance at Ming Yuan.

Ming Yuan was two years older than Gouzi but lean and delicate-looking, with an almost ethereal appearance. Jin Lu and Qi Wu were taken aback at seeing him; they hadn’t noticed him yesterday.

Quiet yet highly efficient, Ming Yuan was second only to Die Qi and Hong Yu in his duties.

…

After the first screening of the morning, the claw machine and vending machines had already stirred quite the buzz.

The claw machine required some skill and had yet to yield a prize, sparking a competitive spirit among customers. The vending machines, on the other hand, were simple to use, offered various drink flavors, and featured attractive can designs—customers could take them on the go. In just twenty minutes of intermission, both vending machines were nearly sold out.

…

The Jiang family also arrived early at the cinema. They kept a low profile, bought tickets with Zhao Guanghong, and went straight into the screening room.

Initially, Zhao Guanghong intended to book a private room for Miss Jiang. However, Jiang Yudie came dressed in men’s clothing that morning, insisting on joining the head steward and Jiang Cheng in the regular theater.

Unable to dissuade her, Zhao Guanghong led the three to the cinema.

They chose to watch the Sea Train, a film Zhao Guanghong had described during their journey as particularly intriguing.

After escorting them inside, Zhao Guanghong went home to fetch goods he’d brought back from Jiangnan, then returned to the cinema to find Lu Yao.

Learning she was upstairs, he climbed the stairs, and, upon spotting her, his attention was momentarily drawn to the machines before him. Quickly refocusing, he greeted, “Good day, Boss Lu.”

Lu Yao recognized him instantly. “Ah, Mr. Zhao, you’re back from Jiangnan. How did the mooncakes sell?”

Zhao Guanghong nodded enthusiastically, “They sold even better than expected! Not just the mooncakes—the tissues and hand sanitizers sold out as well. Here, I’ve brought some Jiangnan brocade, porcelain, embroidered handkerchiefs, ink sticks, and tea. I hope you won’t mind accepting them.”

Lu Yao was taken aback. “Mr. Zhao, that’s very generous of you.”

To Lu Yao, these items were quite remarkable—just as Zhao Guanghong and others viewed the cinema’s tissues and hand sanitizers.

The brocade alone, with just a small portion revealed, shimmered beautifully, the porcelain was delicate and refined, the handkerchiefs were double-sided embroidery, and even the ink sticks and tea appeared to be of exceptional quality.

Zhao Guanghong chuckled good-naturedly. “It’s all thanks to Boss Lu. I gained quite a bit from this trip to Jiangnan. This is just a small token, so please don’t feel burdened. There is one more thing I’d like to discuss with you, though.”

Nearby, some customers were buying drinks and trying their luck with the claw machine, occasionally approaching Lu Yao to exchange coins. Seeing how busy she was, Zhao Guanghong got straight to the point, mentioning that he wanted to introduce some prominent merchants from Jiangnan.

When Lu Yao heard the words “richest in Jiangnan,” she was reminded of old TV dramas from her childhood about wealthy merchants whose fortunes rivaled those of kingdoms. Guessing they might want to discuss some sort of collaboration, she suggested meeting over lunch.

After delivering his gifts and informing Lu Yao of the introductions, Zhao Guanghong considered his job done, though his eyes kept darting to the nearby machines. Lu Yao, amused, handed him a handful of coins and explained how the machines worked.

Eager to try, Zhao Guanghong hurried over to experience them. By the time the Jiang family had finished watching their movie, he was still upstairs, even paying out of pocket a few times to keep playing.

During this time, Die Qi came upstairs, accompanied by Chen Lianlian from the Jinghong Pavilion and Madam Xu from the Rouge Pavilion. They had planned to visit Lu Yao together, with Madam Xu curious about the unique cosmetics at the cinema and interested in learning how to apply the “Dawn Makeup” style.

As Lu Yao was tied up in the morning and had a lunch meeting, she informed them that they could come back in the afternoon. After seeing Chen Lianlian and Madam Xu off, Lu Yao called over Die Qi. “Qi, you’re quick at picking things up. Let me walk you through the upstairs responsibilities so you can cover for me this afternoon.”

Since joining the concession stand, Die Qi had been tough on Gouzi, ensuring his math and customer service skills had improved significantly. During quieter times, he could now handle the booth on his own.

Die Qi had no objections to Lu Yao’s arrangement and was eager to learn more about the cinema. She had seen the five new machines for the first time that morning and enjoyed the chance to explore something novel up close.

Lu Yao added, “Once we’ve hired new staff, you can return to the concession stand. For now, I’ll need you here for the next few days.”

Die Qi shook her head. “I’m more than happy to help, Boss Lu.”

After informing Gouzi, Die Qi headed upstairs to begin her training. At the same time, word of the cinema’s hiring notice spread, and waves of interested applicants were reportedly on their way. Yet, by noon, not a single person had successfully arrived at the cinema. Lu Yao found this strange, wondering if the cinema’s reputation was still that unappealing.

…

Qin Sanwei had recently taken on numerous book-copying jobs to cover his expenses at the cinema. The place was a real “money pit”—he couldn’t resist going once, and after that, he just couldn’t stop, constantly wondering if any new films were showing.

Today, while delivering books to the Rongxi Bookstore, he heard a young clerk excitedly mentioning that the cinema’s second floor had opened and that they had added new attractions. Exiting the bookstore, Qin Sanwei clutched the fifty copper coins he’d just earned but found his feet leading him to the cinema anyway. Looking up, he noticed the hiring notice posted by the door.

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