Tongxin Lane is bustling right now, and it's not just lively, it's incredibly lively.

Not only did Su's Restaurant open to customers, but Liu's Restaurant across the street was also joyfully cutting red ribbons. The two lion dance teams collided head-on, and the sound of firecrackers attracted almost all the people in the prefecture.

At the main entrance, Liu's vendor shouted excitedly, "Today our Liu's Restaurant opens! We have hot and spicy hot pot, fragrant Tangshan Eighteen Flavors, hundreds of stews and stir-fries, and all kinds of fruits and iced drinks! All customers who dine in will receive a 20% discount!"

The restaurant offers memberships: silver, gold, and black gold cards, each with its own discounts!

Don't miss it if you're passing by!

Erpi and Tiedan stood next to Su Erhu, their faces turning black as they listened. "Boss, the Liu Ji Restaurant across the street is really shameless!"

The restaurant is completely copied from ours, inside and out. It not only sells hot pot, fruit and cold drinks like we do, but it has even copied the flower and plant paintings in the private rooms and the membership system created by the owner.

And those shouts, they're all copied from us!

Moreover, their hot pot broth and various side dishes are all priced 10% lower than ours!

Tie Dan was also indignant. "Boss, this Liu's Restaurant is probably targeting us. They even sent several people to solicit customers at the alley entrance."

"We've been open for a little over an hour today, but we've only had half the number of customers we had when we opened in Qingshui County. The vast majority of them are still our regular customers from the restaurants in Qingshui County."

Su Sanhu glanced at the east private room on the second floor opposite, and smiled slightly. "It's alright. There are many guests in Tangshan Prefecture. Having another Liu's Restaurant won't make a difference. After all, our Su's Restaurant is in the business of long-term success."

Erpi pursed his lips, still feeling uneasy. "As the old saying goes, a good opening brings good fortune for life. Now, Liu's Restaurant has specially chosen its opening day to compete with us. Perhaps this is just the beginning. Who knows what dirty tricks they will use in the future?"

"Boss, we have to be careful!"

He and Tiedan had just visited Liu's restaurant, and the smell of the hot pot there was exactly the same as theirs.

But this hot pot is their young owner's secret recipe, and Liu Ji somehow learned it and made it so similar. Next, they might be eyeing spicy hot pot, barbecue, and hot and sour noodles.

Moreover, the other party is the daughter of Prefect Liu, a local bigwig in Tangshan Prefecture. If they resort to underhanded tactics, Su's Restaurant will likely face serious trouble.

"There's plenty of time, let's wait and see!" Su Erhu waved his hand, a smile flashing across his dark eyes. "If this Miss Liu can really develop all of my Su family's secret recipes, she'll be quite a capable person."

Liu Ji Restaurant, second floor, east side private room.

Liu Yuxian, dressed in a long, flowing red dress, stood by the window, taking in the disapproving looks of the waiters across the street. Her foxy eyes were full of smugness; Su's Restaurant was nothing special.

Immediately, she smiled gently at the man beside her, "Third Prince, today is the opening day of my shop. Please tell me what you would like to eat or drink, and I will have the staff bring it all to you. Today is my treat."

"A small shop?" The man chuckled, turning to look at the boiling red oil pot on the table. "Miss Liu is too modest. If Liu's Restaurant is a small shop, then Tianxianglou, which has flourished in every county of Dayu, must be a mosquito's nest."

And this spicy hot pot seems to have a similar feel to Su Ji's.

“Since they are both from Sichuan, they will naturally have some similarities.” Liu Yuxian raised her lips. “However, I am different from the Su family. Since it comes from Sichuan, I will openly admit it, instead of making a name for it as a so-called self-created secret recipe, which would only make me a laughing stock.”

Jun Yan raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt flashing in her peach blossom eyes, "Is this hot pot a Sichuan specialty?"

“That’s right, this hot pot is a unique local delicacy in Sichuan.” Liu Yuxian nodded, smiling charmingly. “It’s quite a coincidence. Ever since the Third Prince invited me to Su’s Restaurant in Qingshui County last time, and I tried the hot pot, I bought three packets of the base sauce to eat at my residence.”

There happened to be a cook from Sichuan in the family who recognized this hot pot.

I have a lot of free time on weekdays, so I thought I'd open a small shop to kill some of it.

Having said that, he had a maid lead the person to a seat, "Your Highness, why don't you try it and see if my hot pot is better or Su Ji's?"

Liu Lin frowned slightly upon hearing this. There was indeed a cook from Sichuan in their household's main kitchen, but over the years, he had never heard him mention the so-called hot pot.

Moreover, if she hadn't asked him and the Third Prince to attend the ceremony together today, he probably still wouldn't know that she had quietly opened a restaurant.

Junyan took his seat, ladled out half a spoonful of broth, and took a small sip. His peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly. This hot pot not only smelled exactly like Su Ji's, but even the taste was exactly the same.

He didn't really know if this so-called hot pot really existed in Sichuan, but the Su Ji Restaurant across the street, although it sold the base sauce separately, had restrictions: no more than three small packets at a time, and no more than ten small packets in total per month.

Therefore, it is clear that Liu's hot pot restaurant did not originate from Su's.

Seeing the man's expression, Liu Yuxian's smile deepened, and she beckoned Huayi to come forward, "Huayi, go and blanch some meat slices and vegetables for His Highness."

"Yes," Huayi quickly replied.

Just then, there was a knock on the door of the private room. Manager Liu entered with a big smile, carrying an account book and a money box. After bowing to the three people, he smiled at Liu Yuxian and said, "Miss, this is today's revenue. I brought it here for you to review."

Liu Yuxian casually took the money box, but to her surprise, it was as heavy as a boulder, causing her wrist to slip and the box to fall to the ground with a thud.

Silver ingots and banknotes were scattered all over the ground.

Liu Lin stared wide-eyed at the pile of silver notes on the ground, all of them worth a thousand taels each. "This... in just half a day, you can earn so much?!"

Jun Yan paused slightly in his chopsticks, his expression finally becoming serious.

I had seen the restaurant packed with customers before, but I never expected it to be so lucrative in just half a day.