Chapter 21: The Buffet Restaurant

Chapter 21: The Buffet Restaurant

Lu Lingyun finished dealing with Cui Da and looked at the others with both kindness and authority. "Everyone should take Cui Da as an example. However, rest assured that as long as you do your work clearly and honestly, I will not treat you unfairly!"

"Yes, Young Lady!"

The various managers and stewards responded.

Lu Lingyun sat back down, and only one ledger remained in front of her.

After flipping through a couple of pages, she frowned. This time, before she could ask, the steward responsible for this ledger stepped forward cautiously. "Young Lady, this is the revenue ledger for our restaurant on East Street."

"Why is there such a significant loss this month?"

"The Prince ordered us to renovate the restaurant," the steward said, observing Lu Lingyun's expression. "He wants to turn it into a buffet restaurant."

"A buffet restaurant?"

Aunt Qiu, who had been listening all along, spoke up. "Mistress, I know what it is!"

"On the day that little vixen entered the residence, she pestered the Prince to open a buffet restaurant, saying it would definitely make money! It was all her doing!"

"What is a buffet restaurant?"

"It basically means that all the food in the restaurant is free for consumption; you just pay an entrance fee. Meat and vegetables aren't separated," Qiu Ling said, pursing her lips. "I don't know what she's thinking. Without separating meat and vegetables, everyone will just eat meat, and we'll lose a fortune!"

Lu Lingyun raised an eyebrow after hearing this. She flipped back a few pages to review the previous revenues of the restaurant. This restaurant was still a profitable business for the Marquisate, bringing in five or six hundred taels of silver every month, with steady earnings.

It had not reopened since the renovation.

"Young Lady, the restaurant is ready to open," the steward asked in a low voice.

Given the current situation of the Marquisate, he wasn't sure whom to report to directly.

Although the Prince had directly instructed him to renovate it, it was still a business of the Marquisate, and the Mistress needed to be informed.

Otherwise, he would be the one to suffer.

Qiu Ling watched Lu Lingyun closely, hoping she would suppress the matter and then call Xing Dairong over to deal with her. Instead, she saw Lu Lingyun close the ledger.

"I understand."

She looked approvingly at the steward. "What is your name?"

"This servant is Kang Ping."

"Good, Kang Ping. From now on, bring the ledgers of this... buffet restaurant to me, but you should consult the Prince about its operations."

"Yes!"

After finishing the day's tasks, Lu Lingyun dismissed the stewards and maids. Now, she had time to listen to Aunt Qiu's grievances.

Being the head of the household, there were rarely any idle moments.

With the entire family's affairs inside and outside the house, everything needed Lu Lingyun's attention.

Fortunately, the household was small. If there were more relatives and social events, she would have even more to manage.

"I've heard your story. What do you want me to do?" Lu Lingyun asked Aunt Qiu.

Qiu Ling's eyes flickered. "Mistress, compared to your responsibilities, my issues are trivial. I won't trouble you further."

"You're quite understanding."

Qiu Ling looked at Lu Lingyun. "Mistress, you must be bored staying in the residence all day. How about we go see the buffet restaurant when it opens?"

Lu Lingyun tapped her head lightly. "You certainly have a lot of ideas."

"Mistress, I'm truly on your side. That little vixen will surely ruin our Marquisate. We must go and see it for ourselves!"

Lu Lingyun smiled faintly. "Alright, let's go when it opens."

"Great!"

Qiu Ling left Lu Lingyun's courtyard happily.

As she walked back to her Autumn Fragrance Courtyard, she ran into Xing Dairong, who was strolling with her maidservant.

Today, Xing Dairong was radiant and in high spirits. Not only had she reconciled with Cheng Yunshuo recently, but he also told her that the promised buffet restaurant could finally open.

Xing Dairong felt invigorated.

As a time traveler, gaining a passionate love affair was one thing, but using modern innovations to astonish the ancients was equally important!

She had long planned to open a buffet restaurant.

Once the restaurant opened, it would undoubtedly amaze the entire Imperial City. She could already imagine the restaurant bustling with customers, each amazed by the variety of dishes, and she would profit immensely.

With the opening date set, Xing Dairong felt refreshed. Seeing Qiu Ling approaching from afar, she deliberately blocked her path, strutting arrogantly.

Qiu Ling moved left, and Xing Dairong blocked her left. Qiu Ling moved right, and Xing Dairong blocked her right.

"What do you want?" Qiu Ling stopped.

"Aren't you quite skilled?" Xing Dairong sneered. "Why doesn't the Prince visit you anymore?"

"Who is more skilled than you? A vixen from a brothel!"

"Can't you insult me without mentioning the brothel?"

"Then what else, what else have you learned besides the skills from the brothel?"

Ah! This is just the point that Xing Dairong likes to show off!

Xing Dairong immediately donned a look of arrogant disdain as she looked at Qiu Ling, "Do you think I'm like you, someone who's only good at engaging in female competition and can't live without a man, a feudal woman! I have so many skills! I could scare you to death with just one!"

"What's the matter?" Qiu Ling raised her eyebrows.

Xing Dairong's gaze turned sharp at this moment, feigning profundity as he declared, "Clothing, food, shelter, and transportation—I am transforming the entire world in every aspect!"

"Hahaha, hahaha." Qiu Ling laughed uncontrollably.

"What's so funny?" Xing Dairong looked at her as if she were a monkey, "Just you wait and see! When I become renowned in the annals of history, and you're so far beneath me that you can't even touch the tips of my toes with your admiration, you'll realize just how ridiculous you're being right now!"

"Hahaha, hahaha!"

Qiu Ling was holding her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.

Xing Dairong glanced at her as if she were a monkey, and led the way forward, "Come, let's go check out my buffet restaurant!"

Outside the mansion, on Dongjie Street.

When Xing Dairong arrived at the Gather Good Fortune Building with her entourage, Kang Ping was already inside entertaining Cheng Yunshuo.

"Yunshuo!"

"Dairong, you're here," Cheng Yunshuo said with a smile upon seeing her, "Do you see if it's done according to your thoughts?"

Xing Dairong walked in cheerfully, and upon entering, she immediately saw the dessert area, which was set up with various fruits and snacks as she had requested.

"Why are there so few fruits?" Xing Dairong only saw some watermelons, peaches, pears, red dates, dried fruits, and some handmade pastries. "Are there no bananas, pineapples, or durians?"

"Hm?" Both Cheng Yunshuo and Kang Ping were puzzled.

Xing Dairong muttered to herself at this moment, "Right, this era doesn't have it yet, forget it, forget it, then just put more snacks! Fill this place with snacks, it won't look good if there's too little."

Kang Ping furrowed his brows upon hearing this.

Oh my great-aunt, does she have any idea how expensive the dim sum is?