Chapter 57 New advertisement
It was already the latter half of September and the summer heat began to gradually dissipate. There was even a cool feeling that filled the breeze in the air.
On the trees by the roads, there was a trace of yellow that appeared in the originally green leaves. When the wind blew through them, there would be one or two that fell down with it from time to time.
However even in this refreshing autumn weather, Freeman was covered in sweat, soaking the shirt that he was wearing. It was very uncomfortable having the shirt stick to his body.
But there was no other choice here. Anyone who was carrying a two hundred pounds bag of wheat from Ireland to Banta City, which was a trip of close to thirty kilometers would be covered in sweat.
Actually he didn’t need to make it this hard for himself because the day of the fall harvest, the McGrady Chamber of Commerce from Banta City that specialized in the grains business had already sent someone to the villages to buy their harvest. Most of the wheat in the village had already been sold to them.
Freeman had done this in the past few years, but this year he chose to send his best wheat to Banta City himself to sell.
The reason was very simple. He had asked around this year and he found that if he sold it in Ireland Village, each pound of would be sold for three copper coins less than in Banta City.
If it was for over two hundred pounds of wheat, this difference was around seven-eight silver coins.
Perhaps to the nobles of Banta City, if seven-eight gold coins were to fall on the ground, they would be too lazy to acknowledge their existence. Even for the citizens of Ireland Village, they didn’t care that much, so they almost all chose to sell their wheat to the McGrady Chamber of Commerce in their villages.
However, for Freeman with a poor family of three children crying for food, seven-eight gold coins was an amount he couldn’t ignore.
The other villages thought it was too troublesome, but Freeman insisted on bringing his wheat to Banta City just for these seven-eight silver coins.
A cool breeze suddenly blew and made it much more refreshing for Freeman.
He temporarily stopped his cart and grabbed a towel to wipe his sweat, as he prepared to rest for a bit.
The walls of Banta City was already in sight and there was still some time before noon, so he didn’t need to rush.
Looking up after wiping off the sweat on his face, Freeman’s eyes suddenly fell onto a location outside of Banta City and he suddenly made a yi sound.
Outside the walls of Banta City, there was a giant brand that had been there the entire time. Not only were the citizens inside Banta City familiar with it, even the villagers like Freeman from outside the city were familiar with it. Each time he had business in Banta City, Freeman couldn’t help taking a look at the sign.
It was for no other reason than to see the beautiful and noble girl on the sign.
But when Freeman looked at the sign once again out of habit, he found that the picture on it had changed.
On the sign, other than the beautiful girl, there was the Frestech Brand Magic Fan on it.
The first time he saw the picture on the sign, Freeman had already been deeply attracted.
Other than remembering the beautiful girl, he also remembered the Frestech Brand Magic Fan. He even secretly made up his mind that as long as his family became a bit richer, he would definitely buy a Frestech Brand Magic Fan to bring back, letting the three kids in his family enjoy a cool breeze on a hot summer day.
However on the image of the giant sign now, other than the beautiful girl that Freeman was familiar with, there were two other young girls on their as well.
Although the two girls weren’t as pretty as the other girl, they were also still quite pretty. One was very lively and one was a gentle beauty, giving people different feelings.
The three girls in the picture were around a table and based on the cooked dishes, they were prepared to eat.
But in the center of the table was a strange round iron tub. The lively looking girl with a round face had a rice paddle in her hand and was digging out fragrant rice from the strange iron thing.
“What is that thing?” Freeman looked at the image in confusion. After thinking for a bit, he guessed something, “The previous image was an advertisement the Frestech Chamber of Commerce did for the Magic Fan, so this should also be an advertisement? But what is that strange thing? Why is there cooked rice inside it?”
There were two lines of words on the image, but it was a pity that Freeman was illiterate. In the end, driven by his curiosity, he found a middle aged man who seemed a bit educated passing by to ask some questions.
“What is written on there?” The middle aged man looked at where Freeman was pointing and he revealed a smile, “Oh, that. Let me tell you, that is the new advertisement the Frestech Chamber of Commerce just put up two days ago. It is to advertise their company’s newest product, the Magic Rice Cooker.”
“Magic Rice Cooker? It’s that round thing inside the picture? What is it used for?” Freeman became even more curious.
“You can’t even understand that? Look, isn’t there rice inside? So that means that this Magic Rice Cooker is used to cook the rice.” The middle aged man pointed at the sign and read it word for word, “There are two lines up top. The first line is ‘Frestech Brand Magic Rice Cooker, letting you enjoy the purest rice’. The second line says ‘A healthy life, leaving behind firewood smoke’. Do you understand what this means?”
Freeman honestly shook his head, “I don’t.”
The middle aged man couldn’t help rolling his eyes, “What is there not to understand? If you use the Magic Rice Cooker, you don’t need to use firewood to light a fire and you’ll still be able to cook rice. Not only is it faster than using firewood, there isn’t any smoke at all. How about that? Isn’t it convenient?”
“Not using firewood? How is it possible to heat it up?” Freeman asked in a stunned voice.
The middle aged man laughed, “It seems like you still don’t understand, but forget it. Without seeing it yourself, you wouldn’t understand if I explained it to you. If you are really curious, you can buy one yourself to try. Let me tell you, I bought one immediately after it came out and now it’s much more convenient for my wife to cook the meals.”
After watching the middle aged man leave while laughing, Freeman helplessly shook his head. He thought that although the Magic Rice Cooker was a good thing, he wasn’t able to afford it. No matter how good it was, he had no use for it.
After talking by the road for a bit, Freeman felt like he had recovered a bit of strength. He headed out on his carriage, continuing towards Banta City with his carriage filled with wheat.
After half an hour, Freeman arrived at the McGrady Chamber of Commerce. After easily following the stream of people to where they were buying wheat, he sold his wheat and left with two gold coins, thirty seven silver coins, and seventy six copper coins.
After receiving this hard earned income, Freeman looked at the restaurant beside the McGrady Chamber of Commerce before swallowing a mouthful of saliva with difficulty. After that, he took out cloth package that he carried half a day, which contained the sesame cake his wife had prepared for him this morning and got some free cold water offered by the McGrady Chamber of Commerce to settle his lunch.
He had just taken a sip of water and was prepared to eat the sesame cake when he suddenly heard the rushed conversation of two people beside him.
“Hey, are you going to participate in the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s Big Stomach King Competition?”
“I’m participating, but it’s a pity that I can only eat three bowls. Ai——”
“Only three bowls? Aren’t you too lacking? I can eat a full five bowls!”
“Che, what is five bowls? When I went last time, that fellow who stole the championship ate an entire nine bowls! The rice in three Magic Rice Cookers was eaten by him alone!”
“That powerful? This fellow wouldn’t be a pig, right?”
“How would I know……”
…...
Freeman’s ears piqued at this. Big Stomach King Competition? What was that?
The curious Freeman found out from someone working for the company what the Big Stomach King Competition was. It was a contest the Frestech Chamber of Commerce had held since the morning to see who could eat the most.
There was no limits to participation in this competition, it didn’t matter who one was, they just needed to want to participate.
In this competition, the competitors could eat as much as they want of the rice the Frestech Chamber of Commerce provided. Whoever ate the most would be the champion.
The competition would last all day before deciding a champion. Not only would that champion win a Magic Rice Cooker, they would also receive a special membership card from the Frestech Chamber of Commerce. No matter what product they bought from the Frestech Chamber of Commerce in the future, they would receive preferential treatment.
Freeman didn’t care about these prices at all, he just cared about the fact that it was free to eat the rice.
Looking down at his dry sesame cake, Freeman thought about it before wrapping it up and putting it back in his chest. Then he asked the staff member where the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s competition was and headed off with large steps.
Chapter 58 Big Stomach King Competition
When Freeman rushed to the market district, he found that the wide street was already completely filled with people. From time to time, there was even waves of cheering that could be heard.
Even if Freeman was a strong man, he used quite a bit of effort before he could push his way through.
There was a crowd gathered around a large area and there were several tables in line placed there, with ten people of different appearances sitting at the table. In front of each person was the Magic Rice Cooker Freeman had seen on the sign outside the city.
Each Magic Rice Cooker was filled with white rice that released its fragrance in all directions. Each of these ten people were holding bowls the size of their faces which were filled with white rice, preparing to shove them into their faces.
The competition seemed like it had just started and the ten people ate very quickly. Not long after, the ten large bowls had already been emptied.
However, when it came to the second bow, there were already clear winners and losers.
Three people could only eat half a bowl before giving up, announcing they gave up.
Not long after, another two also couldn’t keep going.
Of the remaining five, only two seemed very relaxed after eating their second bowl and the other three seemed kind of stuffed.
As expected, those three only finished a small of their third bowl before giving up. The other two finished the third bowl in a single breath.
As the two remaining people dueled each other, the crowd became more excited. They kept cheering for those two and the atmosphere became very passionate.
After they finished the fourth bowl, the actions of the two slowed down.
After finishing half the fifth bow, there was one person who couldn’t keep going any longer. He spat out a mouthful of rice while the other person slowly finished the rest of his bowl.
This competition had naturally ended. A young person walked out to congratulate the winner and handed the Magic Rice Cooker in front of him to him as his prize.
Freeman asked the person beside him in a daze, “Wasn’t it said that only the final winner would receive a Magic Rice Cooker? Could it be that this is the final competition?”
That person looked at Freeman and said in disdain, “How could the Frestech Chamber of Commerce be petty? Let me tell you, no matter which competition you win, you can receive a Magic Rice Cooker. The final winner not only receives a Magic Rice Cooker, they also receive a special prize. What? You want to enter?”
Freeman nodded.
At this time, the young person who seemed to be in charge announced that the next competition would be beginning soon. Freeman quickly charged out and stole a spot by the table.
Seeing the hesitant looks on the faces of the people, Freeman couldn’t help feeling disdain.
These fellows, there is clearly free fragrant rice and they’re actually not coming, this is just a waste.
After a while, ten people had gathered and another ten Magic Rice Cookers were placed on the tables.
Under the young man’s instructions, the ten contestants including Freeman took off the cover of the Magic Rice Cooker. Once the Magic Rice Cooker was opened, there was a fragrant scent that poured out that made the surrounding people cry out in shock.
Freeman sucked in his nose with great force and felt the rich fragrance greet his nostrils, making him unable to stop his drooling. His stomach couldn’t help making rumbling sounds.
This Magic Rice Cooker really was a good thing. He only saw people put rice and water in it and it was cooked into fragrant rice in just a while. It was even more fragrant than the rice he cooked at home with his large pot.
“Let the competition begin!”
With the command of the young man, Freeman immediately used the rice paddle to fill the bowl in front of him. After blowing on it twice, he began to swallow in large mouthfuls.
Since the morning, Freeman had only drank water and hadn’t eaten anything.
For him to carry two hundred pounds of wheat such a far distance, the energy he consumed was quite shocking.
His stomach had been empty for a long time and not to mention white rice, he might have even swallowed down a bowl of wild weed.
The crowd felt like everything was a blur as the large bowl in front of Freeman had already been emptied.
When Freeman continued to his second bowl, he was stopped by the young man in charge.
“What? I’m not allowed to eat?” Freeman looked at the young man in a daze, as his face filled with disappointment.
Alex couldn’t stop the cold sweat from appearing on his face.
Since this morning, there had been thirteen groups of over a hundred people who had participated in the Big Stomach King Competition, but this was his first time seeing a fellow who ate this quickly.
This large bowl, he wouldn’t be able to finish even if he ate for an entire day, but this swarthy looking fellow actually finished it all in the blink of an eye. He really didn’t know what his mouth and stomach was made of.
“No, it’s not that I’m not letting you eat, but I’m asking you to wait a bit for the other participants. It’s more convenient for us to count this way.” Alex maintained his smile as he explained to Freeman.
“Oh.” Freeman could only put down his bowl before looking at the participants beside him, “I say, can’t you eat a bit faster? Could it be you don’t want to win?”
The other nine contestants looked at each other in blank dismay. They did want to win, but seeing how you eat, was there any hope of winning?
After that, two contestants directly left their seats and gave up on the competition.
The other seven contestants were a bit unwilling and finished their first bowls.
After seeing Freeman eat the second bowl like a hurricane clearing up the clouds, the remaining seven participants had all lost their appetites. There was no need to mention any chances of winning.
So after Freeman had only eaten two bowls, he had already been named the winner of this competition.
Watching the other contestants leave, Freeman was a bit curious.
“Hey, why are you all leaving? This rice is this delicious, aren’t you planning to eat a bit more?”
Everyone was speechless.
They had seen many participants of this Big Stomach King Competition, but this was their first time seeing this kind of fellow.
Alex didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he placed the Magic Rice Cooker in front Freeman in his hands. He tried his best to keep a straight face as he said, “This mister, congratulations on winning this round. This Magic Rice Cooker is your price, please take it. Other than this, I ask you to leave your name and to come participate in the final round at six.”
Freeman looked at the Magic Rice Cooker in his hands in a daze. He had just eaten two bowls of rice and he had won a Magic Rice Cooker?
Was there really such a good thing in this world?
Facts proved it and the good things Freeman met was not just this.
After doing some temporary work in the city for an afternoon, Freeman went to the competition area after receiving his three silver coins. In the end, he shocked everyone by eating thirteen bowls of rice to win the entire competition.
Based on this victory, Freeman was led by Alex and he actually got to meet the legendary chairman of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, Xu Yi!
Xu Yi’s eyes swept over Freeman before finally landing on his stomach and his eyes became a bit strange.
He had clearly heard from Alex that this fellow had just eaten thirteen bowls of rice in the finals, but his stomach was only sticking out a little. He really couldn’t see where he put the thirteen bowls of rice at all.
“Perhaps this is a natural talent?” Xu Yi muttered in his heart. He straightened his face and said with a soft cough ,”Hello, I am Xu Yi, you are called Freeman? I’ve heard that you’re from Ireland Village?”
Although Freeman was a bit surprised by how young he was, thinking of the other side’s status as the chairman of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, he couldn’t help being a bit nervous. Hearing this question, he was stunned for a bit before awkwardly replying, “Right, right, I am from Ireland Village. I…..My appetite is just big……”
Xu Yi laughed, “You don’t need to say this, I already know.”
Freeman was instantly embarrassed and his dark face filled with a rare blush.
“Alright, let’s not talk about this. Since you’re the final winner of this competition, our Frestech Chamber of Commerce has to give you some special prizes based on the rules. But before this, can I ask you a question?” Xu Yi then said.
“Ah, sir chairman, please ask, please ask whatever you want.”
“He, he, no need to be nervous. It’s best you keep your calm in front of this question and answer me after you properly consider it.” Xu Yi paused. He looked at how nervous Freeman looked looking at him and he knew it was impossible for him not to be nervous. He gave a nod before continuing, “Listen well, this question is actually a choice. Freeman, you have two rewards you can choose from right now. One of them is fifty gold coins……”