Chapter 41: The Restaurant and Soap Shop Open for Business! (Ming...)
"No worries."
Wen Zhongnan called out that familiar name with a sense of relief. His face was still smiling, but his heart felt as if it had been soaked in warm water, slowly calming down.
In his previous life, he was a pen pal of Wuyou, who communicated via carrier pigeon. It wasn't until later that he learned that Wuyou was actually the Second Prince. Wuyou had once invited him, but then came all sorts of controversies... well, let's not dwell on that. Wen Zhongnan never cared, and he knew that Wuyou didn't care about those things either.
But when he had the chance to start over this time, and opened his eyes to find that he had had a miraculous encounter, he decided to set off.
He didn't know that before. But now he can't just stand by and watch Wuyou—the future emperor—suffer here all by himself, can he?
This time, it was his turn to take the initiative.
"Wen Er, wait a moment." Qi Chengming's voice was a little awkward at first, but it became more and more fluent as he spoke. He used the pen and ink in the flower hall to copy a densely packed document and handed it over: "There are some piglets raised on that estate. You can take a look at them when you have some free time."
Wen Zhongnan raised an eyebrow, the first thing he noticed was the familiar handwriting:
Wow, it's crooked and messy, but it's actually much better than when you wrote to him. Is he trying harder now, Your Highness the Second Prince?
Wen Zhongnan was greatly surprised, but he held back his surprise. They had only just met; they weren't at the point where they could laugh at each other yet. They could talk about it later.
Even though Wuyou ascended the throne in the previous life and became the new emperor, Wen Zhongnan still respected him. However, the first impression was that he was a "friend," a concept that had been deeply ingrained for so long and could not be removed. He might never be able to react with the same respect as others in front of Wuyou.
"Leave it to me," Wen Zhongnan replied again after reviewing the information.
Actually, his attention was focused on the handwriting; he already knew the contents of those things by heart.
Qi Chengming watched the young man turn and leave, even his back exuding a carefree spirit. He hesitated, staring intently at him, as if wanting to say something but holding back: "..."
Even now, Qi Chengming still doesn't understand why the Second Young Master Wen was willing to help him.
If it's just curiosity about new things, or curiosity about him, then Young Master Wen will leave sooner or later. The other person isn't the type to be constrained.
Qi Chengming made up his mind that if that day ever came, he would not try to keep the other person, but the relationship could not be severed.
...If only we could continue to get along like this with a relatively equal attitude.
"Your Highness, what should we do with the men sent by the caravan?" Song Gu asked casually from the side, his eyes also fixed on the door, but his gaze was gloomy.
Manager Song had completely opposite thoughts.
—It seems General Wen's attention is entirely focused on studying farming right now. I'll think of a way to keep the general's enthusiasm going.
In short, we will absolutely not let His Highness's expectations be disappointed this time!
"Settle down on the back street first, and we can open for business on an auspicious day once I choose one," Qi Chengming replied absentmindedly, his mind already working on the perpetual calendar in the infrastructure system.
In just one month, because the area next to the Prince's Mansion was to be expanded, several small courtyards were bought and put to good use. Gradually, more houses were bought, and a "back street" was formed on the side of the Prince's Mansion, which was also a place where people who depended on the Prince's Mansion lived.
Qi Chengming was somewhat stunned and amused when he heard this. He thought of Ningrong Street outside the Rongguo Mansion in Dream of the Red Chamber. Wasn't this the same thing? Except that the people living on the street weren't his relatives.
"...Five days later will be fine." Qi Chengming finally set the date.
He's been in Liuzhou for almost a month now, and after so much preparation, it's time to liven things up in the city.
"Yes," Song Gu replied knowingly.
...
Five days later.
"Crackling and popping!" A series of festive firecrackers exploded in the street. The signboard of the new restaurant, covered with red silk, was lifted by the manager, who was dressed in a satin robe and looked very impressive from head to toe.
A crowd had gathered on the street, and upon hearing this, they cheered: "It's open! Bai Family Restaurant is open!"
"You didn't expect to run into Bai Family Restaurant here, did you? Old Zhao, we're in for a treat!" A well-dressed middle-aged man, dressed like a businessman, pulled his old friend along, confidently pushing them inside.
"I heard they recently launched a new 'stir-fried dish,' and it smells amazing! It's so popular elsewhere; I've passed by several times but never managed to get in line! Let's try it today—"
"It's truly a rare thing for a restaurant to open in Liuzhou," Old Zhao said, glancing around. The crowd gathered at the entrance were all poorly dressed, their eyes filled with longing, drawn by the spectacle. Now that it was actually open, not a single person dared to step inside; they were all just peeking in, trying to greedily sniff out the air.
Old Zhao chuckled and shook his head.
"In my opinion, this restaurant won't be open in Liuzhou for much longer." Old Zhao was a little confused; he couldn't understand the legendary Bai family of Wuling this time.
What kind of place is Liuzhou? It's an impoverished place where you can barely extract any oil. It's also full of miasma and poisonous insects. If it weren't for exiles or merchants like them who had to pass through, who would come to such a godforsaken place? The people living here are so poor that their clothes are patched upon patched. How many of them can afford to dine at Baijia Restaurant?
This restaurant would lose a lot of money even if it stayed open for a month. From the very beginning, the Bai family should have realized that they couldn't have chosen Liuzhou City as their location!
"Hey, Old Zhao—you're really out of your mind!" The middle-aged merchant tugged at his sleeve, his face full of disappointment. Perhaps Liuzhou was too poor; the Bai Family Restaurant didn't have any private rooms, only tables. The two could only drag themselves to the table furthest from the entrance before daring to whisper amongst themselves.
"Old Wang... what do you mean by that?"
"You just came back from the south, didn't you? You're so out of touch... There are so many more people in Liuzhou lately. If it weren't for that prince who's been enfeoffed, who would come to a place like this?" The middle-aged merchant gestured on the table and gave him a look that told him to figure it out himself.
"..." Old Zhao finally understood.
He usually worked honestly, buying and selling around, earning only a meager living each year. Sometimes he would even lose everything except the money he had saved up for his funeral back home. After a month of hard work, all he wanted was to go to the Bai Family Restaurant for a nice meal to wash away his fatigue. He couldn't compare to those big businessmen, so he never thought much of it. Now, he suddenly realized.
Your Highness the Second Prince, the current Prince Rui has been granted the fiefdom of Liuzhou!
How many people want to curry favor with him?
The Bai family isn't suddenly blinded by greed; this is a huge business deal for them! Even if the Bai Family Restaurant goes bankrupt in Liuzhou City, they'll still open it here!
The middle-aged businessman was still gossiping in a low voice to his old friend: "The Bai family acted so fast. They quietly opened a soap shop and introduced some new cooking recipes, directly winning over the prince. The shop opened today, and I heard that the prince especially likes one of their soaps and uses it every day... The cooking is the same; he won't eat anything that isn't cooked!"
"Cough cough...!" A young man dressed like a nobleman at the next table suddenly choked on his laughter and couldn't help but join their conversation, "Listening to you guys, it's like you know how the prince eats at home?"
"Don't be so unconvinced," Wang the merchant retorted, his voice rising considerably as he proudly patted his belly. "I've already signed a contract with the Bai family's shop at the government office, so I'll have a share in the soap business from now on! I even helped them find people to build the soap factory!"
He noticed that the scattered diners in the restaurant were all looking in his direction, which meant he had taken the opportunity to promote his business to these prominent people, and quite a few of them immediately showed interest.
The businessman was pleased with himself.
"So what does this have to do with the prince?" asked the friend of the young nobleman at the next table, bringing the topic back to the present.
"When we went to the Prince's mansion to deliver the new samples, the Prince invited us to stay for a meal." The merchant Wang said confidently, but then lowered his voice, not wanting to be as flamboyant as before when it involved the Prince's private affairs.
"..." Old Zhao became more and more impressed as he listened, but then asked in a low voice, "Then why did you say you wanted to try the stir-fried dishes today? Are the stir-fried dishes you eat at the Prince's Mansion different?"
The merchant stared wide-eyed, then suddenly choked for a long time: "..."
In fact, he didn't even get to see the prince. He was simply politely invited to the main hall by a senior eunuch exuding the imposing presence of the palace. After discussing the matter, he was told he would have to wait a while, so the eunuch led them to the west courtyard where they were treated to a meal. It was said to be the cooking of the imperial kitchen, but it wasn't stir-fry.
When the palace servants and others were speaking in hushed tones as they passed by, the sharp-eared merchant Wang overheard them.
She said that these past two days His Highness has been craving pork, especially stir-fries made with prepared pork, and he has lost his appetite and doesn't want to eat or drink. He has even lost interest in other stir-fries, which has caused Aunt Fang a lot of worry.
Although Wang Shangren couldn't understand why the high and mighty prince would suddenly have such a whim to eat cheap meat, it didn't stop him from memorizing every single word. He could boast about everything else, but this was something he had to keep hidden. Right now, his only connection to the Bai family was his soap business, and he'd even managed to get a visit to the prince's mansion once—what did that amount to?
To win favor, one must naturally please the prince.
Now is his chance!
He'd been pondering this for days but still couldn't figure it out... How exactly was the prepared young pig meat processed? Regular, cheap meat was unbearably smelly and pungent, so what the prince wanted to eat... was it to enjoy the tender meat of the young pig? But how was it processed?
The merchant Wang only knew that if he were a prince, he would never be able to eat meat that smelled so bad.
Could it be that... we have to feed piglets fruit and fine wine from birth? Only then can we raise truly noble pig meat worthy of being offered to a distinguished prince? Is this expensive idea worth the gamble?
Wang the merchant's expression was uncertain, and he didn't even notice his old friend Zhao the merchant calling him that the food was served and praising how delicious it smelled. Suddenly, he gritted his teeth: "Cheers!"
The little piglet grows fast, it'll only cost about a month! If it succeeds... Old Wang will be able to get rich by clinging to the prince's coattails!
...
"Cough cough..." At the next table, the Second Young Master Wen was still choking from laughing. He looked at Qi Chengming across from him, who had a helpless expression, and continued to laugh in a low voice with certainty, "This merchant doesn't even check where the person in question is before he brags. He's probably never even seen your face."
Qi Chengming, who had changed into ordinary clothes to have dinner with his new friends at the restaurant, also felt a bit amused and exasperated: "I remember this matter. The craftsmen in the manor always need to make time to research new things, and many people in Liuzhou also need to work, so the Bai family shop came forward to explain the establishment of a soap factory."
This was to gradually shift the focus, on the one hand to boost the economy of Liuzhou City and provide some employment opportunities for the poor, and on the other hand to completely sever the connection between the Wangfu craftsmen and this matter.
From then on, the outside world only knew that the soap and vegetable recipes belonged to the Bai family. Those interested would trace it back to a mysterious caravan that cooperated with the Bai family, claiming they were the true suppliers. And then, if they tried to trace that mysterious caravan... they'd only end up searching everywhere, so let them go around chasing after their tails.
What role did the Prince Rui's mansion play in all of this? On the surface, the Second Prince merely accepted the Bai family's tribute and was thus won over.
Look at all the merchants, big and small, who have been inspired by the Bai family. They are all wolves with the keenest sense of smell, rushing to wherever there is profit. What do they care about poisonous miasma and plague? Even the princes are here! It's just a pity that they came one after another too late.
...And isn't Liuzhou City gradually becoming prosperous? There are already signs of it.
Qi Chengming smiled expectantly and raised his glass to the Second Young Master Wen: "Let's also try the restaurant's cooking; the stir-fries are absolutely delicious."
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Author's Note: Reborn Wen Er: I can't just watch Wuyou suffer alone, can I? Sigh, I have to take the initiative and go over there!
In Liuzhou, there's Chief Steward Song, Qin Liusong, and Huang Dong: ?
(And what about us? Aren't we human too?!)
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