Chapter 102 A Family Celebration Leads to Business Closure, Dowry, and a Visit to Fanlou...
By early June, Bianjing (Kaifeng) was already sweltering. Small boats laden with vegetables and fruits often lined the Bian River, their vendors calling out their wares. Bamboo baskets on the boats were overflowing with ripe apricots and melons, and the boatmen's calls were long and drawn-out: "Apricots and melons! Water pears and small plums, all big and sweet!"
The sound was carried far away by the water's waves, then carried back by the sweltering wind; just hearing it as one passed by on the bridge made one's mouth water.
On Jinliang Bridge, Ning Yi was having a contest with a stubborn donkey.
This beast belonged to Meng San's family. Beneath its glossy fur lay a stubborn bone that wouldn't let anyone ride it. Every time they tried to climb onto the donkey's back, they would be thrown off, leaving the two boys drenched in sweat.
"They should be taken to the horse market to be sold!" Ning Yi wiped the sweat from his brow, his hand gripping the reins so tightly it trembled with anger. The donkey, however, was quite arrogant, holding its head high and chewing on willow twigs, not even glancing at people, and even letting out a string of loud farts.
Meng San smiled bitterly and helplessly, "My father said that this donkey has a terrible temper and won't fetch a good price. It's a total loss."
"I can't win an argument, I can't beat it in a fight, it's not a donkey, it's my ancestor!" Ning Yi glared angrily at the proud and smug donkey. "With so many donkeys, why did your father pick this one?"
"My dad got drunk that day and was tricked into buying a donkey by the seller," Meng San said, scratching his head.
Ning Yi waved his hand weakly: "Alright, alright, we're almost there. I'm never using you as a donkey again. I'd rather walk myself."
Meng San asked curiously, "You were just released by Mr. Feng, why are you in such a hurry to climb over the wall again? And why did you have to drag me along..."
"There's nothing I can do. Shang'an is sick and resting at home, and Xie Jiu isn't at the academy either, so who else can I turn to besides you?"
Ning Yi was filled with grievances. A few days ago, he saw Xie Qi drawing shrimp and guessed that Shen Ji must have served new dishes. That night, he wanted to climb over the wall to get out, but he ran into Mr. Feng halfway there and was dragged to help copy the book he had compiled. He didn't expect to be copying for five days straight. As soon as he opened his eyes, he was hunched over the table, writing furiously. His life was so miserable!
After finally finishing copying, he rubbed his sore wrists and went back to the schoolhouse. Apart from Meng San reciting his lessons, there was no one else there!
Meng San gave an "oh." He knew that Shang An was sick and hadn't come, but he didn't know where Xie Qi had gone. He only heard that a servant had come looking for him, and then he hadn't seen him return. He couldn't remember very clearly either; at that time, he was full of inspiration and busy writing the homework assigned the day before.
When Ning Yi returned and found everyone gone, he felt even more justified in skipping school! He also remembered that Meng San had a donkey, and riding it into town would probably be much faster, so he dragged him out as well.
I just couldn't wait any longer; I hadn't even had the crayfish I'd been longing for yet.
Who knew that the journey would be full of twists and turns? The donkey wouldn't let anyone ride it, and it would bray and spit and kick at people.
He's so angry!
"What are we doing out here? Of course, we're here to save seats at Shen Ji! You don't know, I've heard that during the night market recently, the line of people coming to Shen Ji to eat crayfish stretches all the way to the street corner. If we don't come early, we won't be able to get any at all."
Ning Yi looked serious. He looked up at the sky, which was as blue as if it had just been washed. The increasingly intense sunlight slanted across the gray roof tiles along the road. It was not yet noon!
He nodded in satisfaction: This time he had made thorough preparations, and no one should have arrived earlier than him, right?
Meng San was so shocked his eyes almost popped out: "Are you crazy? You came half a day early just to eat crayfish that are only available at the night market?"
Ning Yi licked his lips and said, "I brought a chessboard. We can play a couple of games at Shen's. It won't take long to pass the time."
Just hearing that, he could almost smell the spicy aroma of the crayfish sizzling in the red oil of dogwood.
Meng San said, "...I'm going back." As he spoke, he turned to lead the donkey around.
"No, we've already reached Jinliang Bridge, just come with me." Ning Yi shamelessly grabbed his sleeve, and when she couldn't hold him back, she simply opened her arms and hugged him. "Please, I'll risk my life to accompany you. I'll treat you to a meal, and I promise you won't regret it."
Meng San was so pestered that he had no choice but to go with him.
After crossing the bridge, Meng San, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed that the door under the eaves of Chen Ji's house seemed to be tightly closed, and muttered, "It's not open."
Ning Yi panicked immediately: "No way! I can't be this unlucky again, can I?"
He immediately ran over to see.
Two red gauze lanterns under the eaves of Chenji Soup Dumpling Shop were blown askew by the wind, and a red paper was pasted on the tightly closed door panel: "Due to a happy occasion, we will be closed for two days."
"Why is it like this again..." Ning Yi peeked through the crack in the door, unwilling to give up. The empty shop contained only tables and chairs, and empty bamboo baskets were piled up in the corner. Only a fat sparrow flew from the backyard into the shop and hopped around in the empty hall, pecking at the crumbs of yesterday's cakes.
There's definitely no one there; the business is definitely closed.
Meng San stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder: "Since you're closed, let's go back. I haven't finished my homework yet."
"Why is it always closed when I come here!" Ning Yi's eyes reddened, and when he turned around, his eyes were filled with tears. He looked at Meng San with a pitiful expression, grabbed Meng San's long sleeve, covered his face, and actually cried out, "Meng San, why is my life so miserable! Waaah—"
***
Shen Miao did indeed have something to do today. Early this morning, the Xie family brought the betrothal gifts from Chenzhou with great fanfare!
Thirty-two loads of glossy red lacquered rosewood gift boxes, covered with gold leaf and the character for "double happiness," were carried into the Shen family courtyard by long queues of people bringing gifts. The servant in blue clothes and a blue hat carrying the betrothal gifts squeezed the three-zhang-wide alley so tightly that it was like a sausage being bound together, completely blocking the way.
This was the "betrothal ceremony" of the Six Rites, which had to be held on an auspicious even-numbered day in the lunar calendar. Xie Qi's parents, elders from his clan, and the matchmaker all came. Shen Miao didn't have any relatives, and she didn't want to invite Uncle Shen's family. After the Xie family informed her in advance, Shen Miao simply invited Aunt Gu, Grandma Zeng, Aunt Li, and other elders from the neighborhood who were closer than family to her to make up the atmosphere.
That's fine too. Shen Miao had anticipated that the Xie family would prepare a considerable amount of betrothal gifts. After all, the Xie family came from a different background, so the amount of gifts they prepared would probably be different as well.
Sure enough, the Xie family delivered gift boxes one after another, filling the courtyard to the brim, leaving no room to even step. Many passersby came to join in the fun after hearing the festive sounds. Some crowded outside the threshold, craning their necks and counting on their fingers to see how many packages there were; others climbed trees, craning their necks to peek into the courtyard.
However, as more and more red silk banners were delivered, a flurry of gossip erupted. Some were envious, some admired, and others whispered with jealousy.
However, they were quickly chased away by the aunts, who had now become part of the maternal family, with their hands on their hips and a fierce expression: "Go away, all of you! We're not your family! Stop gossiping! You're so annoying, all of you get out of here!"
Aunt Li had just returned from showing off at her parents' home when she stumbled upon this joyous occasion. She was bursting with energy, and when she heard people gossiping that Shen Miao had been divorced and remarried to climb the social ladder, she immediately exploded like a lit firecracker, coldly pressing forward and launching into a tirade:
"Where did you come from, you shrew? Before you spout nonsense, take a look at yourself! If you're so capable, when you remarry, find a handsome, rich young man like him. If you're not, then stop being so sour. So what if you're trying to climb the social ladder? Just because you can't doesn't mean others can't! Standing on the Shen family's turf, gossiping about the Shen family's daughters, what kind of character do you have? Bah, why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror!"
The man was so enraged that his face turned blue, and unable to argue with Aunt Li, who spoke rapidly and like beans spilling from a bamboo tube, he could only angrily fling his sleeves and leave.
"Who would want you here? You must have been kicked in the head by a donkey." Aunt Li stood outside the courtyard gate with her arms crossed, looking around like a door god, even wondering if anyone else would be so foolish as to bump into her.
Sister-in-law Gu also grabbed a broom and chased people away, so angry that the hairpins and ornaments on her head swayed back and forth, hitting her face, but she didn't care.
The aunties in the alley put on their best new clothes and shoes early this morning, and wore all their valuable jewelry on their heads and hands. Grandma Zeng was the most extravagant, wearing all the family's gold hairpins on her head. She had to hold her head while walking, and Shen Miao was afraid that she would twist her neck.
Shen Miao and Xie Qi, hiding in the house, felt a warmth in their hearts as they watched.
At this moment, next to the two heads peeking out the window, there were two other hairy heads, one big and one small, belonging to Leiting and Qilin.
Due to the constraints of etiquette, the couple getting married during the betrothal ceremony cannot be present, even if they are already very familiar with each other; they still have to pretend. So, from the moment the betrothal gifts were displayed, the two of them, along with Lei Ting and Qi Lin, were confined to a room and could only watch their own spectacle through the cracks in the window.
It was still hot inside. Although it was only the beginning of summer, the big willow tree at the entrance of the alley was drooping under the sun. Only the lively and festive atmosphere of the Shen family complemented the weather perfectly.
After all the betrothal gifts were brought in, Aunt Gu counted them three times. Grandma Zeng squatted in front of the pair of gilded bronze goose sculptures for a long time, even poking them with her fingertip, before affirming to Grandpa Zeng beside her, "Look at these geese, they're solid, they must weigh at least two pounds!"
Grandpa Zeng nodded: "I think so too, what a lavish gesture. A while ago, the extremely wealthy Master Zhou got married. Some people went to see it, and the betrothal goose he sent was just covered with a layer of copper, but the inside was actually wood. The bride's family complained and looked down on him."
"That's nothing!" Gu Dalang strolled over and whispered in Grandpa Zeng's ear, "You haven't seen it yet. In the third load, there's a huge mother-of-pearl inlaid lacquer box containing about twenty pieces of dragon and phoenix tea cakes stamped with the imperial seal. Those are rare treasures that money can't buy."
In addition, they also saw a jade ruyi carved from a single piece of jade, brocade piled high in baskets with lids touching the top, and large, round pearls bought from Persian merchants in the south...
After looking around, Sister-in-law Gu and Aunt Li were both terrified and wanted to close the gate—there were so many good things, what if one or two were lost!
But the Xie family's servants, relatives, and the very handsome Xie Langjun and Xie's eldest daughter-in-law just watched with smiles. They were not afraid. Aunt Li also gave Gu's sister-in-law a wink: "Let's not be petty. Stand up straight and pretend we've seen these big scenes before. Let's not let people look down on our eldest sister."
So they all puffed out their chests and held their heads high, pretending to be knowledgeable and calm, but their hearts were pounding like rabbits.
Fortunately, the auspicious time arrived quickly. Today, an elder of the Xie family acted as the master of ceremonies, solemnly unfurling the gold-flecked gift book, his voice booming like a bell: "Respectfully upholding the oath of the wild geese, I dare to proclaim the rites of the phoenix book. Twelve ingots of red gold, three gold pieces—gold bracelet, gold pendant, and gold shawl—are all complete; six chests of brocade, six chests of satin, eight loads of sacrificial animals and seafood delicacies, land deeds and deeds..." He recited the words for the entire time it took to burn an incense stick.
This was more than she had imagined. Shen Miao turned to Xie Qi in a daze and asked softly, "How can there be so much?"
Xie Qi's ears turned red, and his eyes darted around: "Not many, my... my family always follows this custom when we get married, really."
Really? Shen Miao looked at him suspiciously, but Xie Qi had already turned his head away.
In the Northern Song Dynasty, most betrothal gifts consisted of "twelve rites," including gold and jade items that had to be in pairs, and tea and wine that had to be served together. This amounted to thirty-two loads, almost tripling the previous amount.
She suddenly remembered the thick letter Xie Qi wrote back to Chenzhou to inform him of the marriage, a letter so thick it couldn't be sealed... Given Ninth Brother's meticulous nature, he must have been planning this day back then!
Shen Miao didn't know how to describe this feeling. She wasn't a vain girl. Even if the Xie family didn't give so many betrothal gifts, she wouldn't feel neglected, much less that Ninth Brother disrespected her.
But at this moment, she truly felt the Xie family's special regard for her, and her heart slowly brightened as if it had been warmed by the sun.
After the morning festivities, the gift list was handed over, and the betrothal gifts were counted and locked in the side room, Shen Miao and Xie Qi, along with their dog and cat, were finally released from their confinement and could come out openly.
Both Madam Xi and Xie's father looked at her with loving eyes, and her gaze almost made her blush.
"Come here, today is a great day, you should rest. I've already sent someone to Fanlou to reserve a table, let's go celebrate together." Xi smiled and put her arm around Shenmiao, then whispered in her ear.
“Ninth Brother is just like his father, but he’s a bit better than his father. At least he doesn’t like to write those pretentious poems. But this child has had a lot of bad luck. We thought he was not blessed, so we never had high hopes for him. We only hoped that he would be healthy and safe. We never expected that he would be so ambitious and meet you. Only then did we realize that all his good fortune was here.”
Shen Miao was so embarrassed by the praise that she lowered her head shyly.
Madam Xi smiled and patted the back of her hand, then said affectionately, "Ninth Brother's great-grandmother is not well, so she couldn't come today, but she asked me to bring you the jade bracelet from her dowry. It's a sign that she likes you. Not only your great-grandmother, but Ah Chong and I also like you very much. In the future, you don't necessarily have to go back to Chenzhou to live. You can live wherever you want. I've always believed that a woman, even after marriage, is still the same person. So, you just need to focus on being the head manager of Chenji and don't need to worry about anything else."
Shen Miao's eyes widened in shock, but Xi Shi simply smiled gently at her.
"If you and Ninth Brother live a happy and harmonious life together, we will be overjoyed."
Xie Qi was pulled over by his aunts, who all chattered about how to treat her well. Gu Dalang even slipped a book into his hand amidst the chaos, winking and telling him to take a look at it when he had time at night.
Xie Qi looked down with a serious expression and saw the words "Book of Rites" neatly written on the blue cover... Although he had already read it, he still obediently accepted it and thanked the author.
And so, after seeing off her neighbors, Shen Miao closed the shop and headed to Fanlou in a carriage with the Xie family. She left, and Ning Yi arrived right after; they missed each other just like that.
It's true that she's been in Bianjing for so long, yet she's never been to Fanlou even once. She only knows roughly where it is and hears people praising its great name every day.
Sister Shen had never had a real memory of Fanlou. In her imagination, Fanlou was a towering restaurant that seemed to reach into the clouds, like a fairy mountain. Therefore, Shen Miao also had a preconceived notion that Fanlou was just a five-story restaurant.
Having seen hundreds of stories in later generations, she remained very calm on her way to Fanlou.
When she finally saw the real Fanlou and looked out from afar behind the carriage curtain, she was immediately stunned.
Fanlou is not a single building, but a massive complex of five interconnected pavilions. There are five buildings with upturned eaves in total, located in the east, west, south, north, and center. The pavilions are connected by flying bridges and railings, creating a seamless flow of light and shadow. The scale is extremely grand, with the tallest building, the East Tower, being one of the tallest buildings in Bianjing (Kaifeng), offering a panoramic view of the imperial palace.
After arriving, we were delayed for a while.
There were so many people that the carriage shed in front of the gate, which was specifically for parking horse-drawn carriages, was completely blocked. There were also many wine merchants who drove to Fanlou to pick up wine. Fanlou was the top of the seventy-two official wine shops in Bianjing, and nearly three thousand scattered wine merchants would pick up wine from Fanlou to sell every day.
Shen Miao's eyes lit up as she looked at him.
Seeing that she was staring intently, Madam Xi understood and explained to Shen Miao that Fanlou was not only a restaurant for drinking and dining, but also had theaters and various shops where you could buy anything.
The shops inside were not run by Fanlou itself, but were all "buy-a-shop"—the shops were leased to merchants and rents were collected for profit.
Shen Miao understood.
Fanlou was the only "Wanda" in Bianjing and even the entire Song Dynasty.
It's an ancient people's general shopping mall!
Yes, in fact, our ancestors had already been thinking about many of the business methods used in later generations; she simply hadn't seen them.
Shen Miao became more and more interested as she looked. In the past, she had heard diners praising Fanlou every day and neighbors comparing her cooking skills with those of Fanlou's chefs, but she had never taken it seriously. However, the image of Fanlou in Shen Miao's mind had led her astray, and she had been too busy to visit it in person.
Perhaps the reason she never went to Fanlou was because she herself didn't realize that she still harbored the arrogance of a modern person—the era she came from had developed for over a thousand years, so what hadn't it seen and what hadn't it done?
But when Fanlou looked at her, it truly opened her eyes.
Shen Miao couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.
However, it's good that she's here! To be able to open such a large shopping mall in Bianjing and make it so successful, she must have a lot to learn about its business secrets!
Seeing Shen Miao's bright eyes, Xie Qi lowered his head and smiled. He could tell at a glance that Shen Miao's mind was on business again, and whether today was the big day for the engagement and receiving betrothal gifts didn't seem to matter that much.
He thought to himself, as long as she's happy, that's all that matters.
Once inside, just as Shen Miao had guessed from the outside, Fanlou was a large shopping mall.
Upon entering through the main gate in the center, the lobby on the first floor, and the private rooms on the second and third floors, were all rented to different merchants. The various signs and advertisements were dazzling. The most numerous shops inside were those selling alcohol.
The air was filled with the aroma of wine.
"The best Shoumei and Zhihe wines in Bianjing can only be brewed by Fanlou." Xi Shi linked arms with Chen Miao and strolled around Fanlou with her. "There are many delicacies on the second and third floors. They will make the dishes and serve them to the diners to see and order. Even the utensils are silver."
Shen Miao listened thoughtfully. Fanlou's business model is not only unique, targeting the high-end market, but also has many of its own signature products, no wonder it has such a great reputation.
"The West Tower is mostly occupied by entertainers who sing and play instruments. I've heard that the late Emperor once came here to meet with popular courtesans, and some of the songs and lyrics have even been sung here," Lady Xi said in a lowered voice. "The North Tower specializes in expensive imported goods such as silk, jewelry, and spices. My third brother even bought a hawk-owl here before, and they also sell hunting dogs. The South Tower has a 'gate, bed, and horse path,' with quite a few scattered seats, and the things sold there are cheaper and more affordable..."
Shen Miao understood. This Fanlou was truly comprehensive, encompassing luxury stores, pet shops, KTVs, and a bustling food street.
"We've arrived. Our reserved room is here."
Upon reaching the third floor, a neatly dressed and handsome waiter was waiting at the entrance of the building. After politely and softly checking the reservation sign, he led them inside.
Shen Miao glanced at the interior and nodded to himself.
The hall was decorated in a very elegant and bright style, with banquet halls on both sides, signs hanging on the doors, and thick Persian carpets on the floor.
In the middle of each banquet hall, on the pillars or partitions, hang scrolls and poems of their signature dishes: "Iron cauldron burns pine firewood, snow soup floats amber - mountain boiled mutton", "Golden minced meat breaks the jade urn, chrysanthemum dew dyes the frost-covered mites - crab stuffed orange", "Spring thunder startles the jade bamboo shoots, ice bowl shatters the zither - three crisp soup".
The decor is really nice; it feels like a Chinese banquet hall in a five-star hotel.
Shen Miao was overwhelmed by the sights. As she watched, she gradually began to have some ideas about how to run her own teahouse.
This trip to Fanlou was definitely worthwhile.
Once inside the private room, everyone sat down according to seniority and gender, offering each other polite greetings. Then, they raised their glasses in celebration. Xie's father recited a poem, and two singers were invited in. She was familiar with most of the Xie family members, so she didn't feel awkward talking to them.
Later, after several rounds of drinks, Xie's father was so drunk that he slurred his words. He lay on Xi's lap, holding her tightly and refusing to let go.
Madam Xi felt extremely ashamed. Considering her image as a parent, she gently pushed him twice, but couldn't budge him. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she pushed Xie's father hard. He rolled onto the Persian carpet, muttering, "Chun Jun, don't kick me. I don't want to sleep in the study tonight."
Xi's eyelids twitched, and she quickly stood up to change her clothes.
Shen Miao quickly lowered her head, pretending to be focused on savoring the dishes—but Fanlou's food was indeed very "Song style" and exquisite, the small portions and delicate plating made her imagine the charm of Michelin.
But it fits its tone perfectly.
Therefore, for larger shops to succeed, they need a clear positioning, a decoration style that matches that positioning, unique and competitive dishes, and a brand effect that goes viral.
Fanlou did all of this very well.
This is actually the same principle as the business laws of later generations.
However, it seems that opening a morning teahouse might actually be feasible for her, Shen Miao stroked her chin. The teahouse has its uniqueness, its positioning, and as for the decoration and promotion… there are so many famous morning teahouses from later generations that she can learn from in terms of decoration, and as for promotion…
She's also quite good at marketing.
Xie Qi sat at the low table next to Shen Miao. While she was lost in thought, he silently peeled a bowl of river shrimp for her, carefully deboned and minced mutton into a bowl, and placed it on her table. He also put the last dessert on the table, honey-brewed cherries, on the table as well.
When Shen Miao came to her senses, the small table in front of her was piled high with food, every bowl and plate overflowing.
She turned her head and saw Xie Qi say gently, "Eat quickly, or it will get cold."
Helpless, Shen Miao returned half of the food, muttering under her breath, "How can I possibly eat this much? Do you think I'm some kind of ruthless tyrant?"
"Ah Miao... seems to be a dark-faced man too?" Who would have thought that Xie Qi would take this up with such a serious expression.
Shen Miao quietly reached her hand under the table and playfully patted his arm.
His face flushed red. Even though he had been hit, his eyes crinkled into a smile, and he smiled more gently than anyone else.
After having that grand meal at Fanlou, Shen Miao was like a man possessed. For the next two or three days, she spent her days busily preparing for her own teahouse. She wrote a thick stack of proposals, which were filled with scribbles, corrections, and rewrites, going through several rounds of revisions.
Finally, it's settled.
On the very day she was about to begin renovations to the teahouse, Dwarf Ya Bao pulled up in front of Shen's Soup Dumpling Shop in a heavily veiled donkey cart. Shen Miao was doing accounts in the shop when she looked up and saw Dwarf Ya Bao jump down from the cart, smiling as he said to her:
"Madam Shen, I have successfully completed my mission."
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