Chapter 142

Chapter 142

Heshun Tower stands at the intersection of West Ward and North Street, and almost all who come here to eat are officials or wealthy families.

The food at the tower is not particularly good, but the owner is Prince Shun. Ordinary people don’t even have the chance to make a reservation.

The appointed time was in the afternoon during the Shen hour, but Lu Yao arrived at the end of the Wu hour. Since Madam Lin kindly helped him arrange this meeting, he didn’t want to keep anyone waiting.

Upon arrival, Madam Lin had already booked a private dining room in advance. After Lu Yao gave his name, the waiter led him to the second floor.

It was evident that the decoration here was extremely luxurious, comparable to the Gold and Jade Building in Ping Prefecture. Everywhere were gilded items, dazzling to the eye. If not for his status, Lu Yao might have taken a piece home.

After waiting for a quarter of an hour, Madam Lin arrived.

Today, she wore a moon-white silk robe with a matching cape, and around her neck were the southern pearls that Lu Yao had gifted her. These southern pearls had such a beautiful luster, and the matching southern pearl hairpin on her head completed her elegant and noble appearance.

Lu Yao quickly stood up, “Madam Lin, you’re here. Please, come inside and sit down.”

Madam Lin sat down next to Lu Yao with a smile, “Did you wait long?”

“No, I just arrived.”

Madam Lin looked down at her necklace, “These southern pearls you gifted me have such a beautiful luster. Even Baoyue Tower doesn’t have anything this lovely.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Gift-giving requires thoughtfulness, and it seemed that this necklace was quite appreciated by Madam Lin.

“How have you been feeling lately, Madam Lin?”

“It’s been fine,” Just as they were speaking, the door of the private room was knocked on, and a woman in her thirties entered shortly after.

“Chaoxia, come over here. This is the young Master Lu I mentioned.”

The woman named Chaoxia laughed heartily, “Pleased to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from Qinglan.”

Madam Lin introduced, “This is Doctor Gao Zhen of the Imperial Academy’s wife.”

Lu Yao quickly stood up to greet her.

“No need for formalities, please sit,” Chaoxia said.

The maid helped the woman remove her cape and stood by her side, while a waiter brought tea.

Soon after, two more women arrived. They met on the way and decided to come together.

One of them was the wife of the Director of the Imperial Sacrifices, Lady Deng, and the other was the wife of the Supervisor of the Court of Judicature and Revision, Lady Xiao. Lu Yao greeted each of them in turn.

Once everyone arrived, the waiters began serving the dishes.

Madam Lin mentioned Lu Yao’s plan to open a restaurant, “The food at their place is something you must taste. I guarantee you’ll never forget it after just one taste!”

Madam Deng smiled, “Oh, you’ve piqued my curiosity. Young Master Lu, what signature dishes does your family offer? Tell us about them.”

Lu Yao quickly explained, “I haven’t finalized the menu for Shang Jing yet, but I also run a restaurant in Ping Prefecture. Let me tell you about our signature dishes from there.”

“Please do.”

Lu Yao began to introduce them. Over the past few years, the Lu Family’s restaurant in Ping Prefecture had gained some reputation, and these ladies had heard of it. But hearing was not like seeing, and today, listening to Lu Yao’s menu, they realized he truly had some skill.

“The hot pot originated from your Ping Prefecture, didn’t it?”

Lu Yao raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Forgive me for my candor, Mrs. Deng, but the copper pot hotpot was first created by my family. It's not just the hotpot; the grilled skewers also originated with us."

Mrs. Deng said in surprise, "Those grilled skewers were so delicious. I had them once last year and have been craving them ever since. When your restaurant opens, I must go and try the authentic skewers for myself!"

Perhaps it was due to Lu Yao's good looks, his eloquence, and his attentiveness that he easily won their favor.

"When will your restaurant open?"

Lu Yao replied, "Forgive me for my honesty, but the shop has already been purchased and is currently under renovation. If everything goes smoothly, it might open before the New Year. However, I don't know anyone in the Chamber of Commerce. I've heard that opening a shop in Shang Jing requires the Chamber's approval..."

Everyone understood the implication of his words. Mrs. Deng smiled and said, "I thought it was something major. I know the president of the Chamber of Commerce. I'll send someone to talk to him tomorrow. When you go, just mention my name."

The imperial court does not allow officials to engage in business, but relying solely on their meager salaries is not enough to support a large family, so the ladies of the inner quarters all have business acumen.

For instance, Mrs. Lin has two shops and an estate from her dowry, covering most of the household expenses.

Mrs. Deng's family has even more assets; the largest jewelry store in Shang Jing, Baoyue Lou, is her family's business, so it’s no surprise she knows the Chamber of Commerce president.

Hearing this, Lu Yao immediately stood up and bowed in gratitude, "Thank you, Mrs. Deng!"

"No need to thank me. When your restaurant opens, just treat us to a good meal."

Mrs. Lin said, "You're always thinking about food."

The group couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh.

After discussing the main matter, the ladies began to chat about gossip, and Lu Yao helped pour tea. He listened intently.

The gossip was mostly about the affairs of the inner quarters, but since the people involved were high-ranking officials, it made the stories particularly intriguing.

"The son of the Taipu Temple Secretary was taking Cold Stone Powder (Five Stone Powder) and lost his mind. He jumped off Yunxiang Lou and broke his leg."

"Ah, he's the only son. It's unlikely he'll be able to pursue an official career now."

Cold Stone Powder, also known as Five Stone Powder, is one of the earliest drugs. Lu Yao had read about it in a history book in his previous life. It was originally a prescription to enhance male potency. Those who consumed it would feel a burning sensation and heightened skin sensitivity, needing antidote pills to feel comfortable.

Mrs. Xiao added, "This Cold Stone Powder has become quite popular in Shang Jing recently. Many wealthy young men are trying it. When you return home, make sure to watch your children closely and ensure they don't get involved."

Mrs. Lin wasn't worried about Zi Jian. The boy was more cautious than she was. As the imperial exams approached, he had stopped attending gatherings with regular friends and only studied with Zhao Beidou and a few familiar scholars.

"Did you hear that the Deputy Minister of Personnel's house was in turmoil again?" Mrs. Deng whispered.

"Yes, someone gave him a concubine, but his wife stripped her clothes, threw her into the courtyard, and poured a bucket of water on her, freezing her to death. When Minister Li returned at night, he accidentally kicked the frozen corpse and was so scared that he urinated on the spot."

Mrs. Lin covered her mouth with a handkerchief to hide her smile, "Oh dear, that must have been horrifying."

Mrs. Deng spat in disgust, "He deserves it. Who told him to keep giving concubines as gifts? It's his turn to have bad luck."

"Speaking of which, Qing Lan, you're too lenient, which allowed that woman to exploit the situation. When she was first introduced, you should have sent her away to avoid future problems."

Lu Yao knew they were talking about the concubine of the Lin family. When he had visited last time, he saw how much Mr. Lin valued her. It would be difficult to remove her now.

Mrs. Lin's smile faded a little, "It's not that I was lenient. He hid Zhang outside and only brought her into the house when she was about to give birth. By the time I found out, it was already too late."

The other ladies knew about the Lin family's situation and couldn't help but show expressions of sympathy.

Mrs. Xiao said angrily, "You can't let her continue to be so arrogant. If necessary, send her to the countryside estate."

"Forget it. I plan to take Zi Jian to a local post after the New Year, so I won't be managing the household matters anymore. Let them deal with it as they see fit."

"You, you're leaving?!" All the women were shocked.

Madam Lin nodded. "Zijian has already passed the **ju ren exam** and will take the imperial examinations next year. If he passes and becomes a **jinshi**, he can be assigned to a position of the sixth rank or higher. By then, I'll **pull some strings** to get him a good posting."

Madam Gao held her hand reluctantly. "Why go to such lengths? If that despicable woman wants to cause trouble, let her. **My nephew Zijian** is capable enough to eventually establish his own household and move out."

"I just don't want to see those people again, nor do I want my son to **endure any more hardships**. " Madam Lin dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "We'll **take a few years' respite** and return when Zijian is married."

Madam Deng sighed. "It's probably for the best. **Life outside will be more liberating**, and you've thought this through better than we have."

After the meal, Lu Yao got up to settle the bill, only to find that Madam Lin's **attendant** had already paid. He now owed Madam Lin a **great debt**.

He saw each lady off to their carriages and rode back himself. On the way, he **met Zhao Beichuan**, who was coming to meet him, **lantern in hand**. Lu Yao quickly invited him onto the carriage.

"Why come out in such cold weather?"

"It got dark, and I was worried when you weren't back. I couldn't just wait."

Lu Yao rubbed Zhao Beichuan's frozen ears. "Silly, why wouldn't I **feel safe** with Lu Jia by my side?"

Zhao Beichuan lowered his head to make it easier for Lu Yao to rub his ears. "How did the conversation with those ladies go? Any news about the **guild**?"

"Yes, one of the ladies is the wife of the Taichang Minister. She knows the **guild president** and said she'd **speak well of me**."

"That's wonderful! I was worried we wouldn't find a way in." Zhao Beichuan looked up with a smile in his eyes. "Yao, you're really amazing!"

Lu Yao laughed at his compliment. "What's gotten into you today? Your mouth is as sweet as honey."

Zhao Beichuan leaned over and kissed him. "Sweet?"

"Sweet." Lu Yao kissed him back, the warm breath on their faces raising the temperature inside the carriage.

After a while, they broke apart, and Zhao Beichuan swallowed. "The masons finished building the heated walls on the first floor today, and the carpenters are ready. With some effort, **we can complete the renovations** in another seven or eight days. **That's the advantage of Shang Jing**; as long as you have **money**, you can find the best craftsmen."

"We need to hurry then. Tomorrow, we'll go to the blacksmith to **commission a batch of copper pots**, and we'll need to purchase porcelain. We also have to hire staff for the restaurant. I'll send Ma Kuan back to our hometown to bring over **several hundred jin of Lu Wine**. We can't open without any wine."

"Alright, you handle the arrangements."

*

**Having court connections simplifies matters**. With Madam Deng's help, joining the **guild** was simpler than Lu Yao had imagined.

When he arrived, the **guild president** greeted him warmly and **complimented him on his youth and accomplishments**. "I've heard of the Lu Family's restaurant in Ping Prefecture. I didn't expect the owner to be so young!"

The **guild president**, Mr. Huo, was a middle-aged man in his forties with a booming voice. Lu Yao thought to himself that if the man could sing tenor, he'd be excellent.

"I'm flattered. We're just small-scale compared to the big restaurants in Shang Jing."

"**Mr. Lu is too humble**. Your Lu Wine has been quite famous in Shang Jing these past few years. I haven't had the pleasure of tasting the authentic version yet. When your restaurant opens, I must go and try it."

Lu Yao was honored. "It would be an honor. You're welcome anytime!"

After some pleasantries, President Huo brought up the matter of joining the **guild**. The Shang Jing **guild** was a privately established organization **not under court jurisdiction**, but it involved many connections with court officials since many wealthy merchants in Shang Jing had ties to **court officials**.

Any merchant wishing to open a shop in Shang Jing had to pass the **guild's** review. **Those who passed could open, while those who failed could not**. If someone tried to open without approval, no matter the method, they'd be **compelled to shut down within three months**.

There was a Jin merchant who didn't believe this and challenged the **guild's** authority by opening two pawnshops without notifying the merchants. Within half a month, he was implicated for pawning items from a criminal official, and not only was his shop closed, but he was also imprisoned.

So, no matter where you are, it's essential to understand the local situation. A strong outsider can't compete with the local powers, especially in Shang Jing, the capital city. Those who can set rules here aren't afraid of a small merchant from out of town.

Joining the **guild** also came with conditions. Small merchants had to pay an annual fee of fifty taels of silver, while large merchants had to pay five hundred taels.

This money isn't something you can just decide to pay at will. Individual merchants are not protected by the Chamber of Commerce, and the money serves as a referral fee. The Chamber of Commerce uses this to select suppliers and prioritize recommendations for larger merchants.

To be certified as a large merchant, there are many conditions. The first is that you must own property in Shang Jing.

Properties on Doumen Street are not suitable; that area is home to the lower classes and property prices are low. Houses on West Street also depend on their size. Lu Yao’s house is located on Zhangtai Street in the eastern part of the city, which perfectly meets the requirements. This is also a method to verify capital. Furthermore, the size and location of the shop are important. Lu Yao’s tavern in the West Ward is spacious and meets the Chamber of Commerce’s regulations. Additionally, you need a sponsor. With Madam Deng as his sponsor, Lu Yao can join the Chamber of Commerce directly.

Five hundred taels of silver is not a significant amount, and Lu Yao is certainly willing to pay, but he did not understand the purpose of this fee. If it were merely for protection, there would be no need to formally establish a Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Huo was not upset and patiently explained, "The Chamber of Commerce doesn't just take money and do nothing. All shops that join the Chamber of Commerce will have priority access to supplies from individual merchants.

For example, since you run a tavern, I can ensure that you receive priority supplies of chickens, fish, pigs, sheep, fruits, vegetables, and various types of alcohol. Moreover, we also prevent unfair competition. If there is any evidence of unfair pricing, provocation, or framing by competitors, the Chamber of Commerce will take action and will not tolerate such behavior."

The more Lu Yao listened, the more his eyes lit up. While having priority access to food supplies is not a major advantage, as these items can be purchased elsewhere, the other conditions were extremely appealing to him!

In Ping Prefecture, he had suffered many hidden losses due to unfair competition, and it was only thanks to the support of the Northern Pacification King that he had managed to gain a foothold.

Now that he has come to Shang Jing, he is concerned that his tavern might attract too much attention, but he hadn't expected the Chamber of Commerce to have already thought this through so thoroughly!

"I want to join the Chamber of Commerce!"