Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Instantly Defeating All Rivals
Qu Fulan started from the moment Sun Wukong jumped out from a crack in a rock, to his apprenticeship and antics in the Heavenly Palace, ending with his bet with the Buddha, carving eight large characters "Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Was Here" on Five Finger Mountain.
The old lady was captivated, and upon hearing this part, couldn’t help but laugh, "Hahaha, this monkey is too mischievous, so what happened next? Did he win the bet with the Buddha? Did the Jade Emperor give up his throne for him?"
Not only was the old lady enchanted, but Hua Hao and Yueyuan were just as captivated, even forgetting to pour tea for the old lady.
Qu Fulan shook her head, "Sun Wukong was ultimately trapped under the Five Finger Mountain by the Buddha."
The old lady was shocked, nearly standing up, "How could this happen? Didn’t he fly to the edge of the sky and carve writing on one of the five pillars?"
Seeing the old lady’s enthusiasm, she seemed eager to jump into the story to testify for Sun Wukong.
Qu Fulan replied, "Those were the five fingers of the Buddha, and Sun Wukong ultimately couldn’t escape the Buddha’s palm and was pressed under the Five Finger Mountain, unable to get out."
"How could this be?" The old lady looked incredulous, and couldn’t help but urgently ask, "When will he be able to come out?"
Qu Fulan said instead, "Does the old lady like this story?"
The old lady nodded repeatedly, "This story is excellent, I’ve heard many mythological tales, but such an exciting mythological story is the first I’ve heard, I really like it. Fulan girl, don’t keep me in suspense, quickly continue."
Her eagerness showed how truly she liked it.
After all, this is Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels!
Once this book is released, the world is mine.
This is probably the only novel among the Four Great Classical Novels that is suitable for all ages.
As for the other three books, they are somewhat selective on readership.
Anyway, she’s watched TV dramas of the Four Great Classical Novels, and what impressed her the most is Journey to the West.
Once Journey to the West is launched, Qu Fulan never worries that someone won’t like it.
But since the Princely Heir has laid out his words, she must hear it confirmed from the old lady in person, and having received the old lady’s approval, she felt assured and immediately said.
"Old lady, this story is not short, we must consider your health and can’t listen to too much at once. The Princely Heir said, if even the old lady likes this story, then others surely will too. I was thinking of using this story to attract business for ’Zhaoying Building’. Once ’Zhaoying Building’ reopens, invite a storyteller to narrate, and the old lady will naturally know the rest of the story then."
The old lady paused for a moment, then said, "That’s a good idea, you clever thing. No wonder he took you from my side, he saw the talent in you."
Qu Fulan mischievously smiled, "I just happened to dream of such a story and thought of this way to attract business. I didn’t write the story, so I don’t dare to claim ’talent’. "
The old lady became interested in Qu Fulan’s dream, "What kind of dream was it? So magical that such a good story appeared in it."
Ancient people mostly believed in gods and Buddhas, so Qu Fulan was not worried about her dream sounding too bizarre. In fact, the more bizarre it was, the more believable it seemed, so she said.
"When I was young, I suffered from a severe illness and nearly didn’t make it. It was my mother who fasted and prayed to the Bodhisattva day and night, moving Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, who gave me a dream at night, saying I was supposed to meet my end. But because of my mother’s sincere prayers, the heavens were moved, and I managed to survive. Since then, I began to dream every night, dreaming of different things, very strange and odd. When I wake up, sometimes I remember, and I record them down; if not, then I just let it be."
"Actually, the dishes I made this morning are not all taught by the family cook, some were dreamt in my sleep."
By making up such a reasonable excuse, it would be much easier in the future if she wanted to use some modern ideas.
For a person to know too much is abnormal, especially for a young girl of her age. But if they were from dreams, it was acceptable.
The old lady indeed believed it, "No wonder you know so much, I was puzzled in my heart; it turns out to be guidance from the Bodhisattva in your dreams, that’s not surprising."
The old lady believing it meant most people would believe it, and as for the few exceptions, like the Heir Pei, Qu Fulan was not worried.
After all, the biggest identity risk was gone. Regarding these matters, if Heir Pei thought it strange, he could investigate if he had the ability; she would admit defeat if he found anything.
"Then do you still remember what happens next?" The old lady was most concerned about this question.
Qu Fulan said, "This, the old lady can rest assured. When I dreamt of this story before, I remembered it upon waking and recorded it down, though later, my home was gone, and the book was burned, but I remember it all in my mind. For now, it’s only written to this point, the rest I’m slowly writing."
"That’s good. Indeed, today I am also tired and need to rest a bit. When ’Zhaoying Building’ reopens, I will definitely go to listen."
Qu Fulan then retreated, while the old lady was still immersed in the previous story.
"What do you think, how did the Great Sage Equalling Heaven finally get out?"
Fulan had previously summarized the story like this: it tells the legendary adventure of five master and disciples, experiencing eighty-one trials, on a journey to obtain scriptures from Western Heaven.
That implies Sun Wukong will definitely be released in the end, just not sure how he was released.
Yueyuan said, "Perhaps the Tathagata saw the sincerity of the Great Sage Equalling Heaven’s remorse and released him voluntarily."
The old lady snorted coldly at this, "Could he be so kind? Sun Wukong is just impatient and competitive, if not for the celestial gods provoking and humiliating him by giving only the Horses’ Fortune position, he wouldn’t have wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and ended up pressed under Five Finger Mountain by the Buddha."
Hua Hao said, "Then maybe it’s just that the time of imprisonment was up, so he was released."
The old lady thought this possibility was the greatest.
Meanwhile, Qu Fulan was already planning the final details for "Zhaoying Building".
Anyway, as long as the Heir Pei said the old lady was satisfied, everything would be fine.
But for safety, Qu Fulan still had a guard go to confirm with Heir Pei whether she indeed had full authority over ’Zhaoying Building.’
Heir Pei was busy all day, and waiting for a response would waste a lot of time. She believed the guard had a way to contact him.
Sure enough, by evening, Shi Yi returned with a message.
"The heir said since the old lady is satisfied, you have full responsibility for the matters of ’Zhaoying Building.’"
Qu Fulan was then reassured to boldly make plans.
In fact, there are many entertainment projects from modern times that could be referenced, but because of the special staff at Zhaoying Building, those flashy entertainment projects were inappropriate; her current plan was the best.
She also drew a simple renovation plan to redecorate certain areas.
Finally, coupled with her secret recipe dishes and the wonderful Journey to the West.
One can imagine, once Journey to the West was showcased, it could absolutely outshine everything and become an instant hit.
Would there still be a fear of having no business then?