Chen Xiaocai did the math. The entrance fee to the hot spring resort was one tael of silver. Soaking in the hot spring was free, but you had to pay extra for a massage or your own private bathrobe.

Chen Chi glanced at the ledger and said, "Quite a few people are buying bathrobes!"

Chen Xiaocai nodded and said, "Yes, there are quite a few fussy people."

If you buy a bathrobe, it belongs to that person. They can take it or store it in their own locker at the hot spring resort. Actually, even if people don't buy any, the bathrobes in the shop are all clean. A bathrobe costs 500 coins, which is not cheap. Compared to the sales of bathrobes, there aren't many people who go to the hot spring resort for massages. Chen Xiaocai thought that massage is still a new thing, and many people here are still resistant to a stranger massaging them.

Chen Chi glanced at Chen Xiaocai and said, "Xiaocai, how do you think Brother Lin came up with the idea of ​​massage?"

Chen Xiaocai shook her head and said, "I don't know."

In fact, when Lu Lin first told Chen Xiaolai that he wanted to find someone to provide massage services at the hot spring resort, Chen Xiaolai felt very uncomfortable, as she felt that this was a bit out of line. However, Lu Lin was so open about it that Chen Xiaolai felt that it was no big deal.

How did Lu Lin come up with this idea?

Chen Xiaocai suddenly realized that perhaps her older brother and Brother Lin often hid in the room to kiss and massage each other, which is why she thought of massage.

Chen Xiaocai shook her head, banishing the strange thoughts from her mind. Her older brother was a person who valued rules and regulations. It must have been Brother Lin who was clumsy and inappropriate, which was why he came up with the idea of ​​a massage, even though massages can be quite comfortable.

Looking at Chen Xiaocai's expression, Chen Chi asked in confusion, "What's wrong? What are you thinking about? You look strange." Chen Xiaocai blushed and said, "Nothing."

Chen Chi tilted his head, resting his chin on his hand, and said, "Brother Lin, you always seem to have some strange ideas."

Chen Xiaocai nodded and said, "Yes, Lu Lin has so many strange ideas. It's just a massage, it doesn't seem like much." Chen Chi looked at the ledger and said, "That's strange, there are quite a lot of people buying meal tickets!" They clearly gave away meal tickets.

Chen Xiaocai nodded and said, "Yes, that's quite surprising."

Once you buy an admission ticket, you can stay at the hot spring resort for as many days as you like. However, only two meal tickets are included. If you want to eat at the hot spring resort after the first two meals, you need to buy additional meal tickets. Each meal ticket costs 200 wen and has sold quite a few.

"I heard that guests have given high praise to the food at the hot spring resort, and some people even stay there specifically to eat."

Chen Chi said with some confusion, "What are these people thinking? If they want to eat, they can go to a restaurant. The restaurants in the hot spring resort are just decorations, and the prices are generally a bit expensive."

However, on the other hand, hot spring resorts are positioned as high-end establishments, and reputation is extremely important. Therefore, there is a wide variety of food available at hot spring resorts, and buffets are likely to be quite popular. The dining environment at hot spring resorts should also be quite pleasant.

"Perhaps some people think that they can make money by eating at the hot spring resort restaurant," Chen Xiaocai said.

The hot spring restaurant operates on a "take what you can eat" basis. Chen Xiaocai was initially worried that she would be taken advantage of if she encountered people who could eat a lot, but in fact, people who could eat a lot were in the minority, and the profits were quite substantial.

The hot spring resort was packed on its opening day. Although the proportion of people choosing massage was not high, quite a few people still tried it because of the large number of people.

The hot spring resort was bustling for three days, after which it gradually became deserted.

Ultimately, the prices of hot spring resorts are still somewhat high, making them unaffordable for ordinary people. Even if some wealthy young men enjoy them after trying them a few times, they won't spend all their time soaking in hot spring resorts.

However, the hot spring resort had only been open for a short time, yet it had already brought in several hundred taels of silver, recovering about a third of its costs, which made Chen Xiaocai very satisfied.

The hot spring resort has already established a good reputation, and Chen Xiaocai estimates that it won't be long before it breaks even.

“Hot spring resorts are still very popular!” Chen Chi said.

Chen Xiaocai nodded and said, "Yes, quite a few wealthy people from the surrounding towns and cities have also come."

"Even so, the number of customers is still decreasing, so maintaining our customer base is still very important!" Chen Chi said with some concern.

The prices at this hot spring resort are a bit high. The chefs, masseuses, and other general workers all need to be paid. If there aren't enough customers, maintaining such a staff would be a big problem. Business has been good lately, but that's only because everyone is looking for something new.

Chen Xiaocai nodded and said, "For now, we don't need to worry about the customer base. Brother Lin said that if we really run out of business, we'll give out some admission tickets and invite people to come and have fun for free."

Chen Chi glanced at Chen Xiaocai and said, "Free? Wouldn't that mean we'd lose money?"

Chen Xiaocai said with some difficulty, "Brother Lin said that this can attract more people. If people who go there are willing to eat inside, it will boost consumption. Moreover, giving away free admission tickets is also a way of doing a favor. However, we can't go that far yet."

Chen Chi nodded and said, "I also think it's not time to go that far... Hot spring resorts seem to have become a good place to discuss business. Many people like to do business in hot spring resorts. Although there have been fewer customers recently, there are still quite a few people going there."

"Let's talk about it when the off-season comes. Judging from the current situation, it should stay popular for a while longer," Chen Xiaocai said.

Kyoto.

After Prince Cheng returned to Kyoto, hot pot restaurants gradually appeared in the city.

Many people who have eaten Shaxian hotpot can learn to imitate it to a great degree after going back home and doing this.

Kyoto has many talented people. Although Lu Lin's hot pot base recipe is a secret, many chefs can still replicate it to a high degree after tasting it. Some can even make improvements based on Lu Lin's hot pot.

Prince Cheng strolled around the street and said disdainfully, "Another hot pot restaurant has opened. Yes, Your Highness, would you like to try it?"

Prince Cheng curled his lip and said, "No need, it's probably just another fake shop. After eating here and there, I still think Shaxian Hot Pot tastes the best. As for this place, they've probably just copied their recipes."

"Your Highness is right!"

"I wish I could go to Shaxian again sometime," Prince Cheng said wistfully, fanning himself.

The steward of the Prince's mansion said helplessly, "Your Highness, please stop making a fuss."

The previous mission to comfort the troops had taken too long, and the Emperor seemed to have some complaints. However, the Emperor was a wise ruler after all, and he did not punish him harshly.

Prince Cheng waved his fan and said, "I was just saying. I heard that a new delicacy called roasted whole lamb has appeared in Shaxian. It seems to be quite good. There's a little rascal in the Gao family who spent eighty taels of silver to buy it. If I were still in Shaxian, that brat wouldn't have gotten a chance!"

"Yes, Your Highness, if you were still in Shaxian, those little brats wouldn't have a chance to cause trouble!"

Prince Cheng stroked his chin and said, "I heard that Ji Yun'an and Chen Xiaomai got engaged. That kid has quite the eye for talent." The official of the Prince's Mansion gave a dry laugh. Ji Yun'an passed the imperial examination in the autumn and it caused quite a stir. He seemed to have made quite a name for himself. Many prestigious families in the capital had their eyes on him. However, he gave up his ranking in the exam and went to the border to find a silly boy.

Many people in Kyoto are gossiping privately that Ji Yun'an must have lost his mind. Otherwise, why would he abandon those noble ladies and marry a silly girl like Shuang'er?

"Your Highness, do you know this Chen Xiaomai? Everyone says that this Xiao Shuang'er is a fool."

Prince Cheng nodded and said, "He is a bit slow, but he's not stupid! He's a very interesting little Shuang'er. He looks particularly energetic. Ji Yun'an is in for a treat."

The steward gave a dry laugh, thinking to himself: Finding a wife isn't like finding a cook. Even if the cooking skills are good, it won't be of much use. Prince Cheng had stayed at the county government office for a while and had eaten many of Chen Xiaomai's dishes. He thought highly of Chen Xiaomai.

Thinking of the rolled pancakes Chen Xiaomai made, Prince Cheng subconsciously swallowed. Although the cooks in the Prince's mansion had also made rolled pancakes for the prince, Prince Cheng always felt that they didn't taste quite right.

Prince Cheng clapped his hands with his fan and said, "Ji Yun'an and Chen Xiaomai are not young anymore, they should get married as soon as possible!"

Prince Cheng pondered: Ji Yun'an and Chen Xiaomai seem to be engaged in Shaxian County, but they haven't gotten married yet. Ji Yun'an's family is all in the capital, so the engagement can be held in the countryside, but the wedding should be held in the capital.

The steward looked at Prince Cheng speechlessly, thinking to himself: Ji Yun'an's marriage should be a matter for Ji Yun'an's relatives to worry about. This prince doesn't have much of a relationship with Ji Yun'an, so why is he meddling in this?

"Your Highness, you wouldn't be thinking of..."

Prince Cheng toyed with the fan in his hand and said, "Chen Xiaomai and Ji Yun'an are both talented young men. Such a perfect match should have their marriage arranged as soon as possible!"

The steward looked at Prince Cheng with surprise, thinking to himself: Ji Yun'an is indeed a talented young man, but to say that Chen Xiaomai is a talent is a bit of a stretch. This Xiao Shuang'er doesn't seem to have a very good reputation. Many people have proposed to Ji Yun'an before, but Ji Yun'an didn't accept them. Instead, he chose a silly Xiao Shuang'er. With the deliberate promotion by Zhao Heng's wife, Chen Xiaomai's reputation is actually quite bad.

Inside the county government office.

Lu Lin looked at the letter in his hand, speechless.

Chen Xiaomi walked into the room, looked at Lu Lin who was lost in thought, and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Lu Lin glanced at Chen Xiaomi and said, "A letter from the Prince."

Chen Xiaomi asked curiously, "What did the prince say?" After all, the prince was a prince; he hadn't contacted them for a long time since Prince Cheng left.

"The prince asked Xiaomai and Ji Yun'an when they would go to the capital to get married, and said he would act as matchmaker for them."

Chen Xiaomi said somewhat strangely, "The marriage was already arranged before they came to act as matchmaker."

"Isn't this a bit of hindsight?"

Lu Lin smiled and said, "No matter what, with the prince acting as matchmaker, the marriage between Chen Xiaomai and Ji Yun'an will go more smoothly."

Chen Xiaomi nodded and said, "That's true!" Chen Xiaomi was a little worried about Ji Yun'an's father. If Prince Cheng was willing to speak up, Zhao Heng probably wouldn't say anything.

"Why would Prince Cheng help Xiaomai?" Chen Xiaomi asked, somewhat puzzled.

Lu Lin said with a strange expression, "Prince Cheng wants to eat roasted whole lamb."

Chen Xiaomi was speechless for a moment. "Prince Cheng really goes to great lengths for food!" Chen Xiaomi roughly understood Prince Cheng's intention. If Xiaomai went to the capital, she could make roast whole lamb for the prince there.

"I didn't expect the reputation of roast whole lamb to spread to Kyoto so quickly," Lu Lin said.

Chen Xiaomi puffed out her cheeks and said, "With so many people from Kyoto here, news naturally spreads quickly."

Lu Lin frowned and said, "Go and call Chen Xiaomai and Ji Yun'an over."

Lu Lin thought to himself: The prince has sent a letter; he can't just pretend he didn't see it, after all, the prince is a member of the royal family.

Chen Xiaomi nodded and said, "Okay."