Chapter 366 The Lively Zoo

Preparations for a high-spec, grand ceremony lasted months, yet the main event only took place for a single day.

Zhao Xiyao sat in the meticulously built pavilion, drank a cup of tea, and ate a few pastries, but she only gave the garden a cursory glance.

To most people, the concrete walkway, the newly built pavilion, and the garden seemed abandoned; a hundred thousand guan had been thrown away, making many hearts ache with regret.

Just as everyone was consoling themselves that Prince of Tang Gao Yuan had simply gotten addicted to infrastructure and done it on a whim, a notice signed by Prince of Tang Gao Yuan was posted throughout all the counties of Guangzhou.

The notice was simple: Prince of Tang felt everyone's daily lives were too dull, so he had built two gardens featuring flowers and trees from various regions, as well as all sorts of rare and exotic animals for viewing.

Each person only needed to pay ten wen for a day's visit. It also noted that active-duty soldiers, veterans, seniors over sixty-five, and children under seven were free with their household registration booklets.

To say it caused a stir would be an understatement, but it certainly created a sensation. Everyone was curious: what exactly was this Zoo and Botanical Garden that Prince of Tang had built so carefully and the Empress had praised so highly?

Soon, the residents of Panyu couldn't sit still. Ten wen wasn't expensive—everyone could afford it—so they brought their families and changed their travel destination to the Zoo and Botanical Garden.

Once they arrived, they couldn't help but feel the trip was worthwhile. If nothing else, the scenery was excellent and far more comfortable than the wild countryside.

However, when everyone finished their day of fun and walked out of the garden, they were surprised to find they had actually spent so much money inside.

It wasn't too much for children to touch the novel animals, was it? Or to feed them personally? Didn't the signs say this was "getting close to nature"? These deer had even been hand-fed by the Empress.

A few scraps of vegetable leaves cost two wen and were gone in an instant. A small, scruffy sweet melon cost five wen, and the elephant finished it in one bite.

When they got tired, thirsty, or hungry, there were delicious drinks, fruit teas, candies, and pastries available. A novel drink called "Milk Tea" was especially popular.

Now that everyone's pockets were full, and seeing the children so happy, they didn't notice the cost at first. But when they left and tallied it up, a family had actually spent nearly a hundred wen. Still, seeing the children's excitement made them feel it was all worth it.

Outside the garden, they found the adjacent building had opened as a restaurant. The first floor offered simple meals and snacks, the second floor had private rooms for fine dining, and the third floor reportedly offered palace-level service.

The desires of some wealthy people were instantly sparked. They were willing to pay the extra one guan service fee just to experience the third floor.

Coming down the mountain, they found there were even four-wheeled public carriages. For just a few wen per person, they could return to Panyu City comfortably. After walking all day, everyone was tired; since they'd spent so much already, they didn't mind a few more wen.

Back home, though it stung their wallets, the whole family had been happy all day. They could only secretly tell themselves to work harder to earn money so they could try the private rooms on the second floor or even the third floor next time.

Soon, visiting the Zoo and Botanical Garden on Rest Days became a trend in Panyu and even the whole of Guangzhou. Children competed with each other; those who hadn't been didn't even have a chance to join the conversation.

Children who felt isolated went home and cried, throwing tantrums until they received a promise to go on the next Rest Day, only then turning their tears into smiles.

Soon, various guides spread among the people, such as suggestions to bring one's own food and vegetable leaves.

How could Chu Yue allow this? Bringing one's own food was acceptable, but bringing one's own vegetable leaves to feed the animals was strictly forbidden.

But the children's interest was piqued, and they couldn't be dragged away. Their parents had no choice but to open their wallets and buy several portions of vegetable leaves to satisfy them.

This was just for the commoners. For the wealthy, not only was there a separate parking area for carriages, but they could also hire guides to introduce everything and enjoy various line-cutting services.

Additionally, there were experiences like riding elephants, watching tigers hunt live chickens, and tasting tribute tea in the garden. Of course, all of these cost money.

In just a few months, at the end of the twelfth month of the twenty-second year of Daqian, Gao Yuan smilingly placed a business report for the Zoo and Botanical Garden in front of big shots like Gao Yao, Yu Qian, and Zheng Ting.

"Take a look, everyone. See if I've won?"

Gao Yao didn't even flip through it before pushing it to Zheng Ting, saying with a smile.

"No need to look. I took my family's children there a few days ago. Between parking, hiring a guide, feeding the tigers, and finally eating a meal on the third floor, we spent a full dozen guan in one day."

Everyone knew the Zoo and Botanical Garden was busy, but they hadn't expected it to be so profitable. The first month had only a slight surplus, but by the second month, it started making huge profits, reaching several hundred guan in just one month.

More importantly, the Zoo and Botanical Garden employed many veterans and disabled soldiers, and it also boosted the businesses of the surrounding residents, providing benefits to everyone.

While everyone was marveling, Gao Yuan said something else that surprised them.

"This is just a small merchant's trick; I was only doing some experimentation. So, next, I plan to sell the operating rights of this Zoo and Botanical Garden through a public auction."

Gao Yuan knew the Zoo and Botanical Garden would definitely make money, but earning back the hundred thousand guan investment would be an extremely long process. He couldn't be bothered to wait, so it was better to just sell the operating rights.

Everyone immediately understood. Gao Yuan was giving them a favor; since they were the first to know this news, they could naturally gain a head start.

Even if they didn't want to buy the operating rights themselves, they could pass the news to friends to do them a favor. In this society, what was most expensive? Favors were definitely the most expensive.

Soon, the news that the court would sell the Zoo and Botanical Garden spread. Many people began to prepare their funds, ready to buy this hen that lays golden eggs at the auction after the New Year.

Having successfully operated a project independently gave Chu Yue a great sense of achievement, and her proud little head held even higher.

Seeing she was already a young woman in her twenties, although Chu Weiguo and Nie Hongxia didn't say it, they were secretly anxious. To this end, the two elders had hinted, both openly and secretly, at the intention of finding her a husband.

However, because of Chu Yue's special status and the fact that she spent all day in the palace following Gao Yuan, who would dare to come forward and propose marriage easily?

One evening, while the family was sitting together for dinner, Yang Xin suddenly spoke up.

"Husband, do you have any thoughts regarding Yue'er's marriage?"

The scene suddenly froze. Everyone looked at Gao Yuan in surprise, wondering if their husband had already ruined his sister-in-law.

Gao Yuan's old face also turned red.

"This matter... should probably be asked of my father-in-law..."

Seeing Gao Yuan blush, everyone knew he had a guilty conscience, and their expressions immediately changed.

Looking at Chu Yue next to him, who had been happily devouring her food just a moment ago, her little head now looked like it wanted to bury itself in her rice bowl. Yet, she would occasionally look up at Gao Yuan, creating the visual sense of a secret romance being discovered.

Gao Yuan knew things were about to go south...