When Xie Changshi arrived, Gu Yuzhi was standing on tiptoe looking downstairs. It was already dark, and lanterns were lit in front of all the shops. Unlike the hustle and bustle of the daytime, the night had its own beauty.

He watched intently until he heard Chief Secretary Xie's voice, then turned around, climbed onto the chair with his short legs, and pointed to the chair in front of him, saying, "Chief Secretary Xie, please sit down."

Chief Secretary Xie bowed first, then sat down: "May I ask what business Your Highness has summoned me for?"

Gu Yuzhi was a little embarrassed and gestured with his index finger to his little finger: "Master Xie, I have a small idea. I want to start a small business, after all, I can't keep relying on my brother's charity."

Chief Secretary Xie paused for a moment, suppressing his surprise: "Why would Your Highness have such a thought?"

Gu Yuzhi scratched his head. He couldn't very well say that he now had some kind of system, so he said somewhat aggrievedly, "These past two days, I've been eating at either inns or restaurants, which I don't really like. When I ate the white fungus soup made by Granny Xu before, I thought about opening my own restaurant, so that I won't have to worry about not being able to find good food when I travel in the future."

Chief Secretary Xie thought that Prince Wen was already quite clever to think of asking the Emperor for money and to think of renting a house first and then looking for a fiefdom, but he didn't expect that he was also thinking of doing business...

Thinking back to his visit to Changzhou Prefecture this afternoon, Chief Secretary Xie instantly understood. He was filled with emotion. He had heard that His Highness was exceptionally intelligent, and it was no wonder that the Emperor had gone against the majority opinion and sent him to the northern desert.

However, His Highness's reasons for doing business...

Chief Secretary Xie chuckled inwardly, thinking to himself, "Indeed, this is just a child's idea."

At this moment, Chief Secretary Xie suppressed his deepest dissatisfaction and decided to wholeheartedly assist Prince Wen: "I think that Changzhou Prefecture is the largest city in the northern desert, but there are quite a few restaurants. Your Highness's idea is correct."

Hearing that Chief Secretary Xie also agreed with this idea, Gu Yuzhi put away his aggrieved expression and his eyes sparkled.

Chief Secretary Xie continued, "But has Your Highness considered that the restaurant needs a capable manager and efficient, perceptive waiters? Of course, these can be found in Changzhou, but can Your Highness find a chef who satisfies you? Has Your Highness considered where to look for one?"

Gu Yuzhi was still silently calculating that if his elder brother and sister-in-law could give him more money this time, his small business might turn into a big business. Upon hearing this, he frowned.

He rested his chin on his hand, wondering where he could find such a great chef.

Shu Xiaohan, who had been silent until now, suddenly raised her hand, as if to say something: "Young Prince, Young Prince."

Gu Yuzhi asked silently, "Teacher Shu, what's wrong?"

"The Granny Xu you mentioned before, is she very skilled at cooking?"

Gu Yuzhi nodded repeatedly, his tone full of pride: "Of course! Granny Xu comes from a family of imperial chefs. My mother said that when the previous dynasty fell, the Xu family was ruined, and Granny Xu's family members were sold into slavery. Granny Xu took care of my mother and later followed her into the palace, where she was in charge of the small kitchen. As far back as I can remember, I have often eaten the meals prepared by Granny Xu."

So when the white fungus soup was served, he knew it was made by Granny Xu.

Thinking of this, Gu Yuzhi's eyes darkened slightly. Xu Mama hadn't even recovered yet, but she was already thinking about preparing meals for him...

Shu Xiaohan, however, looked delighted: "Since the young prince wants to open a restaurant serving the style of the capital in Changzhou, and Granny Xu is such a good cook, why not let Granny Xu be the head chef?"

Wen Xiuzhu's expression hardened, and he rebuked, "This is utter nonsense!"

"What nonsense!" Shu Xiaohan immediately retorted, "Isn't Xu Mama a ready-made chef? The young prince grew up in the palace and has eaten all kinds of delicacies. The fact that he still likes Xu Mama's cooking so much proves Xu Mama's ability."

She clapped her hands: "We must make the most of everything! The head chef is one of our own, which saves us some costs. Of course, to avoid displeasing Granny Xu, His Highness can improve her treatment. After all, you can't expect a horse to run without feeding it, can you?"

She doesn't know much about business, but she understands that high salaries are an essential condition for retaining talent.

People can only talk about ideals and aspirations after their own lives have improved.

Wen Xiuzhu was so angry that he snapped open his fan: "How can Xu Mama, a mere woman, be the head chef?"

"What? What?" Shu Xiaohan picked at her ear, looking incredulous. "What's wrong with women? You were born of a woman, so why do you look down on women?"

Wen Xiuzhu sneered: "If Granny Xu becomes the head chef, the restaurant's business will not be good! Don't say I look down on women, after all, no restaurant's head chef is a woman!"

The two started arguing again. Gu Yuzhi gently patted his forehead, silently shouting, "Stop arguing!"

Wen Xiuzhu snorted, put away his folding fan, and turned his back to Shu Xiaohan, appearing unwilling to talk.

With his mind at peace, Gu Yuzhi sighed like a little adult, rolled his big, round eyes, and turned to look at Chief Secretary Xie: "Chief Secretary Xie, Granny Xu's cooking is especially delicious. How about we make her the head chef?"

It's just that Xu Mama's family isn't here. If all of Xu's family members came, the restaurant's business would definitely be booming.

Gu Yuzhi was that confident in Xu Mama's cooking skills!

Granny Xu?

After a moment's hesitation, Xie Changshi said, "I'm afraid Xu Mama's identity is somewhat inappropriate."

Wen Xiuzhu laughed triumphantly at Shu Xiaohan: "I told you, a woman can't be a chef."

Shu Xiaohan was furious, but she couldn't refute it. After all, women were inevitably discriminated against in later generations, let alone in feudal ancient times.

Upon hearing Wen Xiuzhu's words, Gu Yuzhi's eyes darkened. He thought that Chief Secretary Xie shared the same idea as Wen Xiuzhu and asked in confusion, "Is it because Granny Gu is a woman that she cannot be a head chef? But Granny Gu is also a head nanny in the palace."

My mother once said that not only is Granny Gu skilled in cooking, but she is also extremely capable in handling palace affairs. However, just because she is a woman, she cannot be a head chef.

Gu Yuzhi felt something was wrong, but couldn't quite put his finger on why, so he could only wait for Chief Secretary Xie to explain, feeling wronged.

Chief Secretary Xie smiled and said, "It's not just that. First of all, Granny Xu is a head nanny in the Imperial Household Department, a palace servant with status and position. Even without considering these factors, has Your Highness considered whether Granny Xu herself would be willing to be the head chef?"

Gu Yuzhi pouted in frustration.

Seeing his reaction, Chief Secretary Xie patiently said, "However, Your Highness can discuss this with Granny Xu. If Granny Xu is willing, you should explain to her that it may be difficult for the world to tolerate a woman as a head chef, and Granny Xu will have to endure a lot of misunderstandings. If Granny Xu is unwilling, Your Highness should not force her."

Gu Yuzhi nodded and said obediently, "I know, Chief Secretary Xie. But if you're not willing, can I ask you to teach me? After all, your cooking is really delicious."

Seeing his adorable expression, Chief Secretary Xie chuckled and nodded, "Of course it's possible."