Pan Hu was immediately delighted upon hearing this.
"Young Master is right!"
"Chang'an is such a wonderful place! We'd rather die here and take root here!"
The two discussed it all night, and the next day they built a small cart, bought iron pots, flour, alum and other items, and began preparing to set up their stall.
Soon, the two opened their mobile stall on Suzaku Street.
When the golden-brown fried dough sticks were scooped out of the pot, the eyes of these ignorant Tang people widened in astonishment.
What smells so good?
"You don't even know that? That's Shijia fried dough sticks!"
What is a fried dough stick?
"Why don't you go and try it? It's not expensive. A fried dough stick that's been deep-fried in hot oil only costs three coins!"
The best thing about good food is that it doesn't need much advertising; people will spontaneously advertise for the business after they've tasted it.
Soon, Li Jue and Pan Hu's fried dough stick stall on Zhuque Street became a local attraction.
Every day, diners flocked to the stall, drawn by its reputation. Even officials who had come to and from court would occasionally send their servants to buy a large bag of fried dough sticks to take back to their wives, concubines, and children.
What pleased Li Jue the most was that the two middle-aged men who blocked his way that day did not cause him any trouble.
This put his mind at ease, and he could finally walk boldly on Suzaku Avenue.
"Uncle Tiger, our business is booming! How about we rent out some shops on either side?"
While helping to knead the dough, Li Jue chatted with Pan Hu with a smile. Upon hearing this, Pan Hu vigorously wiped his hands on his apron, then picked up the large teapot and gulped down several mouthfuls.
"Young Master, we are a small business and can't afford to rent a large shop."
"I've asked around at all the shops on both sides of Zhuque Street. They all belong to the families of high-ranking officials and nobles. Ordinary people wouldn't dare to make holes in the walls of the neighborhood, let alone open a shop!"
"If we rent their shops, we won't make any money in a month, and we might even lose some!"
"This is perfect for us. Small investment, big profits. As long as we bribe the thugs in charge of this street every month, our business will continue to thrive. Hehehe!"
Looking at the grinning Pan Hu, Li Jue felt genuinely happy for him.
Uncle Pan Hu has found his place in Chang'an, but he remains a wanderer, as if he were merely a passerby in the Tang Dynasty and Chang'an...
This left Li Jue feeling very disappointed. He always wanted to do something, but his status made it difficult for him to do anything.
After all, at his current age, he can neither pass the imperial examinations to become an official nor join the army to fight.
The only thing he could do seemed to be studying and going to school, but the Four Books and Five Classics of the Tang Dynasty were completely useless to him, a person from the 21st century!
Instead of learning this rubbish, I'd rather lie in bed and reminisce about my nine years of compulsory education!
However, just as Li Jue was pondering what he should do, two uninvited guests suddenly appeared at his small fried dough stick stall.
"Little kid, you're not even going to greet the guests?"
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