Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Chang He Ju was situated in the West Ward. There was no curfew in Shang Jing, and the restaurant operated until around 7-9 PM.

When they arrived, the restaurant was busy with guests arriving. As the early evening lanterns flickered and the night fell, the entire street was illuminated by hanging lanterns, seeming even busier than during the day.

There were about four or five carriages parked in front of the restaurant, and people dressed in richly embroidered robes were getting off the carriages and sedan chairs.

The coachman parked the carriage, and four people got off in succession. The host helped by guiding the carriage to the backyard. Lu Yao looked up at the three-story Chang He Ju restaurant. A massive signboard featured a carved lotus flower, matching the restaurant's name.

Ma Kuan explained in a low voice, "The owner of Chang He Ju is from the Jiangnan region, so the dishes mainly feature southern cuisine. I hope it suits your taste, Sister-in-law."

"It's perfect. I've been wanting to eat some light dishes recently."

As they entered the restaurant, an attendant immediately greeted them. "How many in your party, sir? Did you make a reservation?"

Ma Kuan replied, "We are four in total. No reservation. Are there any private rooms available upstairs?"

"Please wait a moment."

The attendant went to the front desk and soon returned. "There's a private room available on the third floor. Please follow me."

Lu Yao looked around the main hall. While the entrance of Chang He Ju appeared spacious, the interior was not very large. It was smaller than their own family’s restaurant. The first floor had only six rectangular tables, each seating about six to eight people, and they were not separated by screens.

They followed the waiter upstairs. The staircase was narrow, only wide enough for two people to walk abreast, and it creaked underfoot.

On the third floor, the attendant opened the farthest room and lit a few lamps. "Please be seated. I’ll bring you some tea shortly."

Zhao Beichuan pulled out a stool and guided Lu Yao to sit first. Zhao Beidou and Ma Kuan also sat down beside them.

Zhao Beidou looked around and said, "This isn’t as nice as our family’s restaurant. This private room is too small."

Lu Yao nodded. "Probably because real estate in Shang Jing is expensive. Having such a large storefront is already an achievement. By the way, Ah Kuan, I heard you bought the restaurant across the street?"

"Yes, I was just about to tell you. The restaurant we acquired is right across the street. You should be able to see it from here." He stood up and opened the window. The cool breeze made them all shiver slightly.

Pointing in the direction, they could see a darkened shop, also three stories high. It was hard to tell what the interior looked like.

After closing the window, Ma Kuan continued, "That restaurant was previously called Chang Le Restaurant. It was part of the family estate of a Deputy Director from the Central Secretariat. This year, he was demoted to Lingzhou for offending the royal family and wanted to sell off his family's properties to raise some money for bribes."

"The restaurant was originally quite expensive. It was initially priced at 20,000 taels of silver but couldn’t be sold at that price. It was eventually sold for 17,000 taels, which I bought." Ma Kuan paused. "Coincidentally, we also bought the house from the same family. Including the courtyard and the restaurant, it cost a total of 30,000 taels."

Lu Yao asked, "You didn’t have enough money, did you?"

"Yes, I happened to meet Boss Feng, a wine merchant from Suzhou. He placed an order for 30,000 jin of Lu Wine with us and paid a deposit of 20,000 taels of silver in advance. I took the liberty of using that money to buy both the shop and the courtyard. I hope Big Brother and Sister-in-law won't blame me."

"Of course not! I'm thrilled! When I received your letter, I was anxious at home, regretting that I didn't bring more silver with me."

Ma Kuan smiled. "It was a coincidence; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to buy this restaurant. Although the location isn’t as good as this one, the space is much more spacious than Chang He Ju. You should go and take a look tomorrow."

"Good!"

As they spoke, the attendant brought hot tea and menus.

The menu was exquisitely made, a painting covered with silk fabric. It featured sixteen dishes for customers to choose from.

Lu Yao ordered the signature steamed bass, lotus flower pastry, lotus leaf rolls, crab roe stuffed lotus, and steamed pork. For the main dish, he selected their specialty, lotus leaf cakes.

The attendant asked if they wanted any wine. Initially, they declined, but when Lu Yao saw "Lu Wine" on the menu, he asked, "Is this Lu Wine from Ping Prefecture?"

"Yes, authentic Ping Prefecture Lu Wine, would you like a jug?"

"Yes, bring a jug."

"Alright, please wait a moment, the food will be served shortly."

After the waiter left, Lu Yao said, "I remember our winery hasn't supplied Shangjing."

Ma Kuan nodded. "Speaking of this, I recall when I came to Shangjing two years ago to negotiate with several taverns, they looked down on our Lu Wine, and no one was willing to try it. Later, the Shangjing Chamber of Commerce issued a notice, and we were forced to withdraw from Shangjing and moved to other prefectures."

Lu Yao was curious about the Shangjing Chamber of Commerce. "Does the chamber have that much authority?"

Ma Kuan said seriously, "They have a lot of power. Currently, our tavern isn't under renovation yet, so it's best to meet with the chamber president in advance to build a good relationship. Otherwise, there will definitely be troubles in the future."

"Yes, I understand." Lu Yao wasn't afraid of trouble, but he was worried that he would be holding silver and unable to find the right person.

After about fifteen minutes, the waiter brought the dishes up. As he set the table, he described the dishes. The appearance looked good, but it was unknown how they tasted.

The warmed Lu Wine was also served. The waiter wanted to pour the wine for them, but Lu Yao declined, "No need, we'll do it ourselves."

"Alright, then I'll wait outside. If you need anything, just let me know." The waiter thoughtfully closed the door.

Lu Yao picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of fish belly into Zhao Beichuan's bowl. "Try the flavor."

"I'll get my own."

Lu Yao also took a bite, tasting it. The flavor wasn't bad, just average.

The seasoning in the steamed fish wasn't heavy, preserving the original taste of the fish. Compared to braised fish, it was very mild, and those unaccustomed to it might not like it.

Sure enough, Zhao Beichuan didn't enjoy it much. "No flavor, not as good as what I make."

Lu Yao smiled. "That's just how they make it. I've heard that people in the south prefer light flavors, unlike us in the north who eat heavier."

Zhao Beidou didn't like it either, but Ma Kuan was fine. He was the type who was tactful and never said anything offensive.

The lotus leaf rolls were deep-fried with meat wrapped in lotus leaves. The meat had the fresh aroma of lotus leaves and its original flavor, which suited everyone's taste.

The lotus flower pastry was a dessert. Lu Yao didn't like sweets and only ate one bite. The best delicacy was probably the crab roe stuffing, a bowl of crab roe and crab paste steamed with green onion and ginger strips, which was very delicious.

Unfortunately, crabs are cold in nature, and since Lu Yao was pregnant, he didn't dare to eat much.

The braised pork was prepared the same way as in Ping Prefecture. Overall, the meal was average, with nothing particularly outstanding.

Lu Yao noticed that in this era, most cooking methods were steaming, boiling, and frying, with very little stir-frying, baking, or grilling. The flavors were almost the same, lacking the refreshing tastes of their stir-fried dishes.

After a few bites of the dishes, Lu Yao was full. He poured a little Lu Wine for the three of them. "Try this and see if it tastes the same as ours."

Zhao Beichuan took a sip and immediately grimaced. "Not the same, not good."

Ma Kuan also nodded in agreement. "This isn't our wine; it must be adulterated."

Lu Yao couldn't help but laugh. "That's good. It's time to let the people of Shangjing see what real Lu Wine tastes like."

After the meal, Zhao Beichuan went to pay the bill. This meal cost twenty-seven taels of silver...

Sitting in the carriage, he was still in disbelief. "How dare they charge twenty taels for such a small amount of food? Is the value of money in Shangjing different from Ping Prefecture?"

Lu Yao said, "The price is reasonable. The bass itself is expensive, costing three to four taels per fish. The Lu Wine was priced at ten taels per jug on the menu, so twenty-seven taels is about right."

"Not to mention twenty-seven taels, these dishes are too expensive at seven taels!"

Ma Kuan couldn't help but laugh. "I heard that He Yan Zhai is even more expensive, costing a hundred taels for a meal."

"Everything in Shang Jing is pricey. A few days ago, we had a meal at a small restaurant and it cost us more than two taels of silver," Zhao Beidou chimed in.

Lu Yao didn't say anything, lightly rubbing his fingertips as he fell into deep thought. Opening a wine shop in Shang Jing was highly profitable, but the key was how to connect with the Chamber of Commerce.

They had only just arrived in Shang Jing, not knowing anyone, so they needed a long-term plan.

*

The next morning, Lu Yao took Zhao Beichuan and Zhao Beidou, bearing gifts to visit the Lin family.

Last time they came, Zhao Beidou hadn't met Lady Lin, but this time, thanks to Lu Yao's visit, he saw not only Lady Lin but also Concubine Zhang, whom Lin Zijian had mentioned.

Normally, a concubine wouldn't be allowed to meet guests, but for some reason, Lin’s father allowed this woman to manage the household.

Even Lu Yao was surprised by the chaos in the Lin family and looked at Lady Lin with concern.

Lady Lin, as if oblivious, took Lu Yao's hand and said, "A few days ago, I was ill and couldn't come out to meet Zhao Beidou, even though I heard he had come. I'm so glad you could come too."

Lu Yao replied, "The imperial examinations are coming up soon, and we were worried about leaving Beidou here in Shang Jing alone, so we came together."

"Come inside quickly," Lady Lin warmly ushered him in, while Zhao Beidou and Zhao Beichuan went to the front hall with Lin's father and Lin Zijian to chat.

Once inside, Lu Yao asked with some concern, "Madam, are you well?"

Lady Lin's eyes turned slightly red, forcing a smile as she said, "What could be wrong?"

Lu Yao didn't dare to pry into her family affairs, only exchanging a few pleasantries and asking about the old master's health.

"This time we came in a hurry and I didn't have time to prepare anything, so I brought you a string of southern pearls. I don't know if you'll like it."

Pearls in this era were extremely expensive because they were all natural. Without professional diving equipment, pearl diving was very difficult. A perfectly round pearl could sell for tens of taels of silver, and the larger and more uniform they were, the more valuable.

The string that Lu Yao gave to Lady Lin, consisting of twenty-six nail-sized round pearls, could sell for about a thousand taels, which was a return gift for the hairpin she had received years ago.

"Why spend so much on such an expensive gift?" Lady Lin said, though her face revealed a genuine smile. No woman could resist such things.

Lu Yao replied, "In recent years, I’ve been far away and busy with my business. I should have come to visit you sooner. If it weren’t for your old master in Qiushui Town, Beidou wouldn’t have taken this path."

"That’s because Beidou is competent. You don't need to be so polite."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, a servant informed them that Old Master Lin had risen, and Lu Yao prepared to go and pay his respects.

Just then, Lin Zijian, Zhao Beichuan, and Zhao Beidou were also heading towards the back courtyard, so they all went together.

Lin Jingxian still remembered Lu Yao and, after observing him for a while, said, "I still crave the sweets you made. When will you have time to make some for me again?"

Lu Yao laughed. "I would love to. We're planning to open a food shop in Shang Jing. When we do, you must come and honor us with your presence."

Lin Jingxian nodded with a smile. "Good, good, good! I will definitely come!"

Upon hearing that he was planning to open a food shop in Shang Jing, Lady Lin couldn't help but ask a few more questions. "Have you chosen a location? Where will it be?"

Lu Yao replied, "We’ve secured the shop, but it hasn’t been renovated yet. I've heard that doing business in Shang Jing involves the Chamber of Commerce. I’m not very familiar with it, so I'll take a few days to look into it."

After a moment's hesitation, Lady Lin said, "If it's convenient for you, I know a bit about this Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps we could arrange a time, and I can introduce you to some contacts." Lady Lin had several close friends who were involved in commerce and knew more about the Chamber of Commerce.

Lu Yao exclaimed with delight, "That would be perfect. Thank you so much, Madam!"

Madam Lin waved her hand, "Don’t be polite, it’s really no trouble."

At noon, Madam Lin invited them to stay for lunch, but Lu Yao declined, citing that our household wasn’t settled yet. The Lin family’s current situation was rather delicate, and staying too long would indeed be quite awkward.

After the Zhao family left, Madam Lin stood in the courtyard and saw several servants moving the gifts that Lu Yao and the others had just brought.

"Wait, where are you taking these things?"

"Replying to Madam, Concubine Zhang asked us to move all these items to the storage room at the back, for Father to present as gifts."

Madam Lin scoffed, "These items were intended for Father. And she actually has the nerve to take them to her own room."

The servant was at a loss, holding the box, stuck between leaving and staying.

Madam Lin stepped forward and took a look, "Take the tea and Lu Wine to Father’s quarters. Bring the box of South Pearls to my chambers. You can dispose of the rest as you wish."

"The… the South Pearl necklace has already been taken by Concubine Zhang..."

Madam Lin hadn’t been to Concubine Zhang’s room for a long time. Today, for some reason, anger surged up, and she rushed over with her maid.

When she arrived, Concubine Zhang was comparing the South Pearl necklace with her clothes, wondering what outfit would match it better.

The maid who accompanied Madam Lin on her dowry pulled it away, "Shameless wretch! How dare you secretly take Madam's gift."

If Lu Yao hadn’t mentioned the necklace earlier, Madam Lin might not have known he had sent such a precious gift.

Concubine Zhang’s face fell, "Sister, you’re overthinking. It’s just a string of South Pearls. Is it worth making such a big deal and coming over to demand it back?" She gave a signal to her nearby maid to quickly go and fetch Master.

In the past, Madam Lin had tolerated her for the sake of appearances, but now that she had lost hope in her husband, she no longer cared about their relationship. She slapped Concubine Zhang.

"You, what are you doing?!"

Without saying a word, Madam Lin slapped her again, leaving her cheeks red and swollen.

Outside, Master Lin heard the news and hurried over, "Shufang, what are you doing! Why are you bullying Ah Yue without cause?"

"Master..." Concubine Zhang ran to Master Lin, covering her face and crying pitifully, "I didn’t know the necklace was meant for her. I just thought it was pretty and tried it on. Madam, you could have just sent someone to tell me, why make such a scene..."

Madam Lin scoffed, "You don’t know? What status do you think you have to receive gifts? Look at yourself, do you even deserve this necklace?"

Zhang, a concubine gifted to Master Lin, with a low status, cried even harder when scolded.

Master Lin was also furious and raised his hand to hit Madam Lin.

Just then, Lin Zijian heard the news and rushed over. Seeing his father protecting the concubine and humiliating his mother, he immediately flared up, "What are you doing!"

"Zijian, how did you come?" Madam Lin, not wanting her son involved, hurriedly pushed him away.

"You two are ganging up to humiliate my mother, do you think I’m dead?!"

Master Lin was furious, "You insolent child, what are you talking about? If your mother hadn’t come to provoke, who would pay her any mind?"

Madam Lin laughed coldly, "I know you don’t want to deal with me. Do you think I want to see you? Don’t worry, after Zijian finishes his exams, we’ll never see each other again!"

Master Lin was momentarily taken aback, "What do you mean by that?"

Lin Zijian, with red eyes, said, "I’ve already decided that after the imperial examinations, I will take Mother to another location for an appointment. From then on, we will have nothing to do with each other."

Master Lin let go of the concubine and looked at his son in disbelief, "Zijian, why must you do this? My relationship with your mother is none of your business."

Madam Lin scoffed, "How is it unrelated? Everyone knows the Lin family favors concubines over wives. If Zijian stays in Shang Jing, do you think he can marry a good family’s daughter? If you had any regard for Zijian, you wouldn’t act so shamefully."

Lin Zijian glared angrily at his father and the concubine, and led his mother away.

"Master..." Concubine Zhang, feeling something was amiss, called him softly.

"Leave!" Master Lin didn’t even look at her, and followed them out, his sleeves billowing.