Chapter 1091 He Tai Restaurant
Madam Xu stood there, looking at Xu Da with utter disgust. She had never realized her son was so stupid.
"Alright, let's not talk about the impact of this book on Wuya. It's an overstatement to say that one person can exchange for one city. So the pacification of the Northwest was all thanks to your face?"
On the battlefield, they fought valiantly and cleverly against Helian Cheng, resulting in countless deaths and injuries. All the soldiers' achievements were overshadowed, and only the romantic affair between Xu Da and Wuya was endlessly magnified, becoming the talk of the town among the common people.
Previously, Madam Xu hoped her son would become successful and had high expectations for Xu Da. However, after Xu Da's series of questionable actions, she gave up.
With no hope for her son, Mrs. Xu could still teach her grandson, which calmed her emotions somewhat.
Xu Da pondered the matter carefully and realized that his mother's words made a lot of sense.
"You bastard, Xiao Chengyu!"
Xu Da did not want to show off his talent. One day, after drinking, he was persuaded by the Prince of Luo to write a story about one man exchanging a city, and the Prince of Luo immediately tricked him into publishing the book.
Next, he was so flattered that he fell into the trap set by Luo Wang.
After figuring things out, Xu Da rushed to the Prince of Luo's residence to settle accounts with the person responsible.
"You've come at the perfect time."
The sales of "Tales of the Great Qi Dynasty" are booming, and the Prince of Luo has released a custom version framed with gold leaf, which is being sold at a high price.
With silver flowing into his pockets in a steady stream, King Luo was very satisfied.
The cases in the capital were written by the Prince of Luo, but some of these cases were well-known to the people and were not popular, nor did they cause a stir.
To make money, you have to sneak in your own personal message and write unique jokes that satisfy people's gossip.
After reading Xu Da's writing, the Prince of Luo immediately took it to heart and decided to trick Xu Da into publishing the book.
As expected, Xu Da couldn't resist being fooled and easily fell into the trap.
Good brothers are meant to be betrayed, and Luo Wang showed no mercy whatsoever; on the contrary, he was smug about it.
Having money in hand gives you a sense of security. It's much simpler than struggling to buy goods and start a business. You don't need to invest too much capital, and as long as you have a gimmick, you can guarantee sales.
Besides, even if this matter is discovered, Luo Wang has a lot to say. After all, he boasted that the part he wrote was not his own, and Xu Da, as the person involved, didn't mind. So others have no reason to criticize him.
This move was intended to lure Xu Da into a trap and also to silence others.
The Prince of Luo remained calm and composed, holding a copy of "The Great Qi Anecdotes" and enjoying it.
"I've come to have tea with you."
Xu Da had come to demand an explanation, but he swallowed back his words of accusation just as he was about to speak.
Yes, on the surface it seems that he took advantage of Prince Luo. If he hadn't spoken nicely and had acted like he had gotten the benefit but was being ungrateful, Prince Luo would definitely have had something to say to him.
Xu Da was not stupid; on the contrary, he was quite shrewd. After a moment's thought, he came up with a plan.
We can't openly fight the Prince of Luo; we have to scheme behind the scenes and strike hard at his weaknesses.
After figuring things out, Xu Da became sworn brothers with the Prince of Luo, and they not only drank fine tea but also got a free meal.
Upon returning to the Xu residence, Xu Da immediately went to discuss the matter with his mother, Madam Xu.
"Mother, you have to do your son a favor."
Officials in the capital are now on tenterhooks, fearing a major purge after Qi Heng takes office. Many are even considering selling their daughters for personal gain. Unfortunately, Qi Heng hasn't returned, and his attitude is clear: he won't be holding a talent show.
"You mean, you want Mother to go to the old Princess and bring up the marriage proposal for Prince Luo?"
Madam Xu nodded with relief; her son wasn't completely stupid, there was still hope. With someone standing in front of him, Prince Luo was a good candidate.
"Don't worry, leave this to your mother."
Madam Xu readily agreed. She wouldn't directly mention the matter to the old princess, but would instead go around in circles, encouraging other officials' wives to bring it up so that Prince Luo wouldn't be able to find fault with it.
Madam Xu and her son Xu Da were of one mind. Within two days, official matchmakers came to the Luo Prince's mansion every day. The Luo Prince had nowhere to avoid them and was in unbearable pain.
Lin Yuesha occasionally received news from the capital, and when she heard that the Prince of Luo was being pressured to get married, she just laughed it off.
After traveling for several days, the group finally arrived in Wuzhou City.
After arriving in Wuzhou, the couple discreetly found an inn to stay overnight, preparing to investigate the encroachment on farmland in Sunjia Village.
The waiter brought a pot of hot water; if you wanted to make tea, the inn also provided tea leaves.
"I can tell you've come from afar. Since you're in Wuzhou, you must try some of Wuzhou's specialties."
The waiter was very attentive, introducing the local delicacies of Wuzhou.
In Daqi, only Wuzhou has the custom of slaughtering donkeys. If you are passing through Wuzhou, you should naturally try the most distinctive donkey meat sandwiches and donkey meat dumplings.
Merchants who traveled from the south to the north spoke highly of donkey meat.
"Dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat on the ground, which shows that the deliciousness of donkey meat can be compared with that of dragon meat."
The waiter proudly explained, "You can't get this anywhere else."
"sounds good."
Lin Yuesha was very interested. As a chef, cooking donkey meat was a blind spot for her; she had hardly ever eaten it before.
Lin Yuesha gave the shop assistant a tip and asked, "Are there any century-old brands in Wuzhou?"
When she's traveling, she prefers the old shops.
At least established brands cater to the tastes of most people; otherwise, they wouldn't have lasted so long.
"Yes, there is a Li Si Donkey Meat Restaurant on the back street."
Li Si's Donkey Meat stall sells snacks, including donkey meat dumplings, donkey meat sandwiches, and pies. They set up their stall in the morning and close up shop by this time.
There are many shops selling donkey meat in Wuzhou city, especially the small shops in the alleys, which have the most authentic taste.
Donkey meat is not very expensive in Wuzhou, so you should definitely avoid eating it in fancy restaurants.
After giving her a tip, Lin Yuesha received a detailed introduction from the waiter. She noticed a hidden meaning in his words, and when he mentioned the grand restaurant, her face immediately showed disdain.
"Isn't the donkey meat in fancy restaurants authentic?"
Lin Yuesha asked casually. She was new to Wuzhou and didn't know much about the local customs and culture. Asking more questions would help her avoid pitfalls.
"That's not what I meant."
The waiter was taken aback for a moment, then quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Donkey meat isn't a rare treat in Wuzhou, haha."
If you want to eat ordinary food, go to a small shop; only a fool would willingly go there to get ripped off.
"My husband and I were walking down the main street when we saw a restaurant called He Tai Restaurant that was packed with customers. We just didn't know how the food was."
Lin Yuesha decided to have dinner at a grand restaurant and try some local specialties.
"Oh dear, He Tai Restaurant is far beyond what I can afford."
The waiter was a little flustered. After Lin Yuesha asked him in detail, she learned that He Tai Restaurant was actually owned by Prefect Shen's brother-in-law. Business owners who did business in Wuzhou and merchant caravans from afar often frequented He Tai Restaurant.
There was an unwritten rule among large caravans entering Wuzhou: they had to have a meal at the He Tai Restaurant in order to leave Wuzhou safely and avoid trouble.
The waiter used a rather euphemistic way of putting it: his monthly wages were only enough to buy a few peanuts at the He Tai Restaurant.
Each private room at He Tai Restaurant has a minimum spending requirement, starting at twenty taels of silver. A single meal there is enough to cover the expenses of a family of more than ten people for at least a year, which explains why the waiters are terrified of it.
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