The Young Shopkeeper of the Republic Era

New stories updating daily: After the Breakup, the Aloof Beauty Finally Opens Up; Raising My Nemesis, Meow~ (Interstellar, please add to your reading list) Blurb: A-Sheng is mute. As the young master of the Changqing Restaurant in Fucheng, he has no trouble finding a wife, even though he cannot speak. No matter how eloquently the matchmakers plead their case, A-Sheng just smiles and shakes his head, turning them all down. The curious Boss Sun, who runs Zheng's Eatery on the neighboring street, asks him, "A-Sheng, what kind of girl do you like, anyway?" A-Sheng points toward the tallest building in Fucheng: the Fucheng Governor's residence. Boss Sun gasps. Good heavens! The governor's daughter is far beyond the reach of an ordinary family! If this were still the previous dynasty, a daughter of the governor's household would have to marry a member of the imperial family or a minister's son. In any case, she'd never marry the young master of a restaurant. When his father finds out, he flies into a rage and curses him without thinking: "A toad dreaming of eating swan meat! A penniless bachelor dreaming of marrying a beautiful bride! Stop daydreaming!" A-Sheng smiles and rubs his fair, round cheeks, without arguing. Isn't that right? But he just can't control his heart. What is he supposed to do? Besides, his father and Uncle Sun are both wrong. The person he likes isn't the governor's pampered daughter. He likes the gentleman who lives in the old-fashioned garden next to the governor's residence! For the first half of his life, Xie Fang lived freely and happily, believing that a gentleman should enjoy life while he can. If his eldest brother wanted to fight for power, then let him. If his third brother wanted Xie Fang's share of the family business, then let him have it. All Xie Fang wanted was to listen to opera, tend to his flowers, and live like a carefree recluse. Then his mother died, and his younger brother schemed against him until he lost all his wealth. Heartbroken, he spent his days drinking. His drinking became an addiction, and he was thrown out like a dog, filthy and with snot running down his face. The bones in the hands he was so proud of were crushed underfoot. He was covered in filthy water from head to toe. Flies buzzed in his ears. Even he hated himself so much that he wished he could end it all. Only one person came close, held him, and carried him home. In the tenth year of Qinghe, on an ordinary evening, Xie Fang, who sat on the stone steps outside his house every day, no longer saw his little mute boy come back. Only then did Xie Fang understand that in these troubled times, without power, influence, or money, he couldn't even protect himself, let alone his A-Sheng... Note: The love interest is reborn. The protagonist was mute until his death in his previous life, but will be cured in this one. Blurb for The Republican-Era Opera Star Reborn to Become a Hit in the Entertainment Industry In his life, Chu Jiu had stolen food from the mouths of wild dogs, humbled himself and greeted people with a smile, and been spat on and beaten with sticks. He had risen from a little beggar to the star performer of the opera house, earning the respectful title of Master Jiu. He had also poured strong liquor down his throat and tasted a few tender embraces, but Master Jiu's heart was made of ice and had never warmed. When he opened his eyes again, the once-famous star of Fuzhou City had become a pretty young celebrity in the entertainment industry, dogged by scandals. The young celebrity was beautiful, timid, stupid, and vain, always trying to cozy up to powerful people. He was ostracized on a variety show, then slapped across the face onstage. It was supposed to be a staged slap, but Chu Jiu was the one who took the hit. After more than ten years in the opera world, Chu Jiu had every role and its appropriate reaction etched into his bones. The instant the slap landed, his eyes reddened, full of resentment and anger. He completely overpowered his fellow actor, who stood frozen onstage like a wooden dummy, forgetting his lines. [Holy crap!! Is this Chu Jiu? The stone-faced Chu Jiu?] [???!!! Chu Jiu is so dominant! Damn, am I allowed to say that?] [I'm stunned. Since when has Chu Jiu's acting been this good?] [It was probably a one-time thing. He'll go back to his old self next episode.] Chu Jiu was like a cheat code. In a tribute to classic martial arts, his swordplay was smooth, graceful, and a joy to watch. In a dream of the Tang Dynasty, he played a tipsy Consort Yang, with a supple figure and seductive eyes. And as a young master from the Republican era, he transported viewers straight into those turbulent times. Thanks to his stellar performance on the variety show I'm Serious About Acting, Chu Jiu gained countless fans. Someone had the nerve to grope Master Jiu's behind. Chu Jiu seized the person and pinned him against the sink, then turned on the tap and drenched him. "You want to fuck your ancestor, huh? Well? Let's see if you have the life for it." Irritated, Chu Jiu walked out of the restroom and ran into someone coming in. The man was tall and slender, with an air of noble elegance, like a breath of fresh air. Well, well. Wasn't this the powerful man the pretty young celebrity had been trying so hard to cozy up to? Chu Jiu's gaze slid over the man's Adam's apple. He licked his lips. The pretty young celebrity had a good eye. But Chu Jiu had always been the one others tried to cozy up to. No one had ever been good enough to be his powerful patron. His powerful patron turned cold the moment Chu Jiu teased him. Chu Jiu made the first move, and the man still pushed him away. Interesting. Chu Jiu had never been one to behave. The more the man ignored him, the more determined Chu Jiu became. He pulled out every trick in the book. And finally, he won the man over. Much later, one day, Chu Jiu clung to Lu Hanzhang in his arms. "Lu Hanzhang, I'm going to fuck you!!" Master Jiu had finally taken things too far and gotten himself caught up in his own game. Theme: Adrift in the great transformation of life, neither delighted nor afraid.