This time, Lu Changqing didn't single out anyone to come forward and take candy. Instead, he declared in a booming voice, "You don't believe me, do you? Then I'll make all of you believe." He then pointed to the mountain of towels beside him and loudly asked, "What is this?"
The people below shouted back, "Towels!" The sound was perfectly synchronized, a deafening roar from over two thousand people. For hundreds of meters around, people heard the commotion, many emerging from their houses to see what was happening.
Lu Changqing stood on the table, his clothes flapping in the wind and snow. He was the focal point of the two thousand people present, every eye fixed on him. With an air of grandiosity, Lu Changqing pointed to the mountain of towels. "These towels, today, I'm giving them all away! If you still don't believe I'm the God of Wealth, then I won't give them out. I'll ask again, am I the God of Wealth?"
"YES!"
Two thousand people, their voices unified, roared to shake the heavens. The snow on the trees rustled and fell. Lu Changqing felt a buzzing in his ears. Finally, they all believed he was the God of Wealth. This trick still worked wonders. In a later era, when people had plenty of food and clothing, no one would care, even if you scanned a QR code to get a free kettle, let alone a towel. But this was 1990, a time of scarcity. All families were not well-off, just barely getting by. During lean times, many families had to borrow food, and patched clothes were common. That's why everyone was so excited at the sight of free candy.
Lu Changqing raised his hand and pointed to the color TV beside him. "Everyone recognizes this, right? A color TV! A 21-inch color TV! An average family couldn't afford this TV even if they saved for three years without eating or drinking. Whichever family has this, that family is truly wealthy! Today, I'm giving this away too. I ask you, am I the God of Wealth?"
The two thousand people went utterly wild, shouting and screaming with excitement, as if they had been injected with stimulants. Their voices were hoarse from yelling.
"Believe, I believe!"
"I believe you are the God of Wealth. You are the God of Wealth!"
"You are our God of Wealth!"
The commotion attracted even more people. Soon, two more circles formed beyond the crowd, bringing the total number to over three thousand. Director Zhao was utterly shocked by Lu Changqing's actions. He was already surprised when the candy was given away. Now, over ten thousand towels were also going to be given away. And now, even the color TV, worth over two thousand yuan, was to be given away. The entire department store only had this one 21-inch color TV. His favorite item was this color TV; he looked at it every day, yet he couldn't afford to buy it. Now, it seemed, opportunity had arrived. He couldn't help but join the crowd, shouting, "You are the God of Wealth, everyone's God of Wealth!"
Lu Changqing felt it was enough. Even Director Zhao was excited, so it was time for the third step. "Everyone, quiet down. Let me finish speaking." Lu Changqing's words were like those of a deity. The people present immediately fell silent. The scene of over three thousand people was eerily quiet; you could hear the falling snow.
Lu Changqing stood on the table, looking around. People were continuously streaming in from afar, like a tide. Lu Changqing cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted loudly, "There are many towels. Some people can get one, some can get two. But there's only one TV. There are too many people here, so it depends on your luck. I'll ask one more time, am I the God of Wealth?"
Four or five thousand people roared like thunder, shaking the earth.
"Yes, you are the God of Wealth!"
"You are the God of Wealth!"
Four or five thousand people, as if injected with stimulants, strained their necks and used all their might to shout. Lu Changqing nodded. "Good, since you call me the God of Wealth, then I'll give you more benefits. It's New Year's, let everyone happily celebrate the New Year. Director Zhao, how much are your department store's thermal flasks?"
Director Zhao answered without hesitation, "Ten yuan, ten yuan each. Everything in our People's Department Store is non-negotiable. From the beginning of the year to the end, whenever you come to buy a thermal flask, it's ten yuan, absolutely fair and reasonable."
Lu Changqing hadn't expected him to be so cooperative. He happily said, "Good, ten yuan for a thermal flask. If I sell it for nine yuan, will everyone be happy?!"
Most of the four or five thousand people were still immersed in the previous excitement. "Happy, so happy!" However, a small portion seemed much less enthusiastic, seemingly uninterested in things that weren't free.
Lu Changqing continued, "There's only one color TV. No matter who gets it, others will have opinions. To be fair, everyone gets one chance. What do you all say?"
This time, everyone's enthusiasm soared again. "Good! Fairness is what we want!"
Lu Changqing pointed to the box beside him. "I have a box here with three kinds of slips of paper. One line is the third prize; if you draw it, you get one towel. Two lines are the second prize; you get two towels. And one line is the first prize; you get the color TV. I guarantee that as long as you draw, you'll at least get the third prize. Now, I'll announce the rules: buy a thermal flask for nine yuan, and you can draw a prize. If you're unlucky, you get one towel. A bit luckier, two towels. If you're fortunate enough to draw the first prize, take the color TV home immediately and watch the Spring Festival Gala tonight on your 21-inch color TV. Understand?"
The crowd stirred. Some shouted that they understood, others said they didn't. Lu Changqing didn't wait for their enthusiasm to cool. He announced again, "Those who understand, line up! Those who don't understand, find someone to ask. If you still can't figure it out, then don't participate! Limited quantities, this opportunity won't come again. Missing out means missing the chance to own a 21-inch color TV. Start lining up!"
Those who understood frantically scrambled to claim their spots in line. Those who didn't anxiously pulled at those next to them, asking questions. Someone explained, "A thermal flask for nine yuan. If you're unlucky and draw the third prize, one towel, it's worth one yuan. That means you buy a thermal flask for eight yuan, two whole yuan cheaper than the department store. If you draw the second prize, a thermal flask is only seven yuan, three yuan cheaper than the department store. If you draw the first prize, you'll get rich! A 21-inch TV is at least two thousand yuan!"
Everyone did the math. No matter what, they wouldn't lose money. They immediately started lining up, bustling and noisy, quickly forming two long queues. Lu Changqing invited a few cashiers from the department store to help collect money, then asked driver Old Liu and Director Zhao to help with retrieving the thermal flasks. He promised that everyone involved would get one chance to draw a prize, and each person would receive a hundred yuan after they finished helping.
The few helpers were so excited they almost jumped. Their monthly salary was less than one hundred fifty yuan, and they would get one hundred yuan for just a little work. This was truly a windfall from heaven. Everyone worked with high enthusiasm.
The first person in line bought a thermal flask for nine yuan, then went to Lu Changqing to draw a prize. He reached his arm into the round hole at the top of the cardboard box and pulled out a slip of paper. It had two brush marks, and he was immediately very disappointed. Lu Changqing gave him two towels. The first customer glanced at the TV, very unwilling. "Can I draw again?"
Lu Changqing smiled. "Yes, but you have to rejoin the line, otherwise it's not fair to everyone." Those waiting behind him started to boo. "Get to the back of the line! Don't delay us from drawing the color TV!" So, he had no choice but to go to the back of the line.
With the first one done, the second soon began. In less than half an hour, half of the ten thousand thermal flasks were sold. Lu Changqing's travel bag was already full of money. One-yuan notes, two-yuan notes, five-yuan notes, and ten-yuan notes. There were only a few hundred-yuan notes. The bag contained nearly fifty thousand yuan.
Remembering that he still hadn't paid for Xiao Qingzhu's and his daughter's meal, he carried the entire bag of money towards the People's Market.