Chapter 130: The Second Batch of Guests
Lin Sanniang was currently nervously using a pencil to record accounts in a notebook.
Both the pencil and the notebook had been given to her by Jian Xingxia. Knowing that Lin Sanniang was illiterate, Jian Xingxia had told her to represent things with diagrams—drawing two matchstick figures with a circle, and a branch with four forks underneath, represented a person.
Then, breakfast was represented by a single “egg,” while lunch and dinner were represented by two and three eggs respectively, followed by the money.
As for the money, it was represented by the same simple line drawings of flowers and plants from the price list.
Although the young mistress owner had said that she would handle the accounting herself, she had still taught Lin Sanniang this method so that Sanniang could slowly ponder and learn it whenever she had free time.
Owner Xiaxia had said that in the future, when they could afford to hire a teacher, they would have the teacher teach everyone how to write. If they couldn’t hire a teacher, once Xiaxia had some free time, she could teach everyone herself.
Since there were only two guests at the moment, Lin Sanniang slowly drew out the accounts she had memorized in her head.
“Two guests, two breakfasts, original price 20 yuan, discounted today, actual amount received 16 yuan.”
But very soon, she didn’t have the time to draw slowly anymore.
Because three batches of guests arrived one after another.
Among the three batches, the first to arrive were Sister Yu and Brother Zhang.
Driving his large SUV, Brother Zhang called Jian Xingxia at the entrance. The barrier gate opened, and Brother Zhang drove straight to the front of the front courtyard, found a parking spot, and stopped.
Brother Zhang supported the pregnant Sister Yu as she got out of the car, heading straight for the front counter. “Where’s Sister Xiaxia?”
Jian Xingxia emerged from the back. “Brother Zhang, Sister Yu!”
Sister Yu presented a fruit basket. “I know you’re not short of fruit baskets at the farm, so I brought you this instead. Wishing you a prosperous business and soaring wealth!”
With that, she handed over a bunch wrapped like a floral bouquet… a lottery ticket bouquet!
The place where fresh flowers should have been was packed entirely with colorful lottery tickets, looking exceptionally festive.
Jian Xingxia was completely stunned. There was actually such a way to give a bouquet!
She accepted it, stuck between tears and laughter. “Thank you, Sister Yu, Brother Zhang!”
Brother Zhang said cheerfully, “It’s only been about ten days since we last met, but your place in the mountains has completely transformed. You’ve even paved the road!”
Jian Xingxia smiled. “It’s only a bit over five hundred meters. Everyone helped out, and it was finished in just a few days.”
The cement road connecting the old house’s main gate to the village was only 480 meters long. Jian Xingxia handled it easily, and Brother Zhang and Sister Yu didn’t suspect a thing. As for other areas in the mountains, virtually no one had seen them, and even the villagers rarely came up here, so Jian Xingxia didn’t bother to explain.
Brother Zhang glanced at the price list. “Which room did we book? How much was it again? Add two breakfasts for us, the expensive tier. Don’t include green onions, ginger, or garlic; my wife can’t eat them.”
“Also, for that camping activity of yours, set us up with the highest specification, the 100 yuan per person option!”
“Wife, do you want a drink? Any snacks? What about fruit? I’ll have Sister Xiaxia send them up to the room.”
Since these were repeat customers, Jian Xingxia was personally hosting them to prevent any slip-ups.
Lin Sanniang wasn’t idle on the side either. Murmuring to herself, she calculated the bill rapidly in her head: The room is the 220 yuan suite, two breakfasts are 20 yuan, the highest specification for camping is 100 yuan per person—so 200 yuan for two. They didn’t want drinks or snacks, but they booked lunch and dinner in advance, which is 140 yuan for four meals… The grand total is 580 yuan.
With today’s 20% discount, that makes it 464 yuan.
Goodness! Spending this much for a single day out is equivalent to ten days of my wages! Lin Sanniang thought silently to herself.
On the other side, Jian Xingxia had also quickly calculated the total. “After the discount, it’s 464 yuan in total. Brother Zhang, QR code or cash?”
“Scan the code. I don’t like carrying cash when I go out.”
Brother Zhang said cheerfully, “Meals, accommodation, and camping all added together only come to four hundred-plus? Xiaxia, can you make any money running this business?” After all, when entering the mountains, the service along the way had involved quite a few people and was highly spot-on.
Jian Xingxia smiled. “Opening promotion, gotta build up a good reputation first.”
Lin Sanniang handed over the card Jian Xingxia had prepared in advance. Sandwiched inside the transparent acrylic plaque was a square piece of paper completely covered in black and white dots.
Lin Sanniang couldn’t figure out what this object was, but the previous guests had done the same thing—taking out a [cell phone] and waving it in front of the card with black and white dots, and then another small box on the counter would broadcast in a loud voice:
“…Four hundred and sixty-four yuan has been received!”
Yuan, Lin Sanniang knew, was the same as “kuai.” Just like a copper coin or a tael of silver, it was a term used for money.
Brother Zhang paid the money straightforwardly and asked Jian Xingxia to arrange for someone to deliver the food to the room. “Your sister woke up too early and is sleepy again. We’ll head up to rest first. Knock gently later.”
“Alright. Sanniang, prepare the breakfasts. I’ll show the guests to their room.” With that, she led Brother Zhang and Sister Yu upstairs.
Fortunately, the old house had only two floors, and the rooms were on the second floor, requiring them to climb only one flight of stairs. Since the metal staircase was well-made and sturdy, Brother Zhang didn’t say anything, supporting Sister Yu as they went up.
Once upstairs, Jian Xingxia arranged for them to stay in the large suite to the left of the landing.
“Currently, the guesthouse only has six rooms in total, with only two large suites. Have a look, and if you need anything, you can just call out from the landing; we have someone at the front counter to handle it.”
Brother Zhang had originally been a bit worried. Sister Yu’s belly was already so big, yet to support Jian Xingxia, she had insisted on coming to stay in the mountains for a day. He had feared that if they weren’t comfortable, they would have to drive down the mountain roads late at night to go home.
But upon stepping onto the second floor, Brother Zhang’s heart settled by more than half.
“Did you use solid wood for all of this remodeling? What did you coat it with? It doesn’t look like clear varnish, is it wood wax oil? Actually, it doesn’t seem like it; it looks even more lustrous than wood wax oil.”
There were recessed spotlights on the corridor ceiling, and strip lights along both sides of the floor. They were all light-sensitive and motion-activated, lighting up sequentially as a person walked by. The short corridor was softly and brightly illuminated. The wainscoting on both sides, along with the decorations and suspended ceiling, were all made of solid wood.
Jian Xingxia smiled. “It’s wood wax oil, but it’s a specially customized type—environmentally friendly and lustrous, with very little odor. After the oil was applied, I even had someone specially buff it.”
Brother Zhang didn’t doubt her. Jinmen Town was surrounded by mountains, and a vital source of economic income was timber. The people of Jinmen Town certainly knew a thing or two about processing wood.
Sister Yu had already found the suite. Pulling out the brass key Jian Xingxia had given her, she opened the door and was instantly drawn in by the cozy, bright room.
The large suite consisted of one bedroom and one living room. The simple white paint combined with the raw wood accents looked minimalist yet sophisticated. In the small living room sat a sandalwood-colored wooden tea table and chairs, along with a chaise longue. The chaise longue was double-layered, and once pulled out, it could transform into a double bed. Even if left unextended, its 90cm depth was enough for a person to sleep on.
The balcony door, made of wood and translucent frosted glass, was currently wide open, offering a direct view of the mountain scenery outside—lush, green, and completely fresh, as if even the wind carried the scent of green grass and leaves.
Sister Yu had originally felt a bit uncomfortable from the pregnancy, but smelling this scent, she couldn’t help but take a deep breath. “What wonderful air!” Although they were both in Jinmen Town, the air in the mountains was a completely different matter compared to the air in the town.
Jian Xingxia smiled as she demonstrated the room’s features to Sister Yu. “The lights are all switch-operated plus motion-activated, turning on wherever you walk. Sister Yu, test out the bed; this mattress is very comfortable and can relieve lower back pain.”
“Really?” Sister Yu wasn’t convinced. “You wouldn’t know, but when you’re pregnant, your lower back is so uncomfortable. Standing doesn’t work, lying down doesn’t work, sleeping on your side doesn’t work, and sitting doesn’t work either… It’s rare to have a comfortable moment.”
Brother Zhang bore witness, “For this stay, we even specially packed a pregnancy support pillow; otherwise, your sister wouldn’t be able to sleep well.”
Jian Xingxia said with a smile, “Sister Yu, try it out first, and if it’s uncomfortable, call me again; we have spare pillows.”
But seeing her confident manner, it seemed Sister Yu didn’t think the pillows would be needed.
