Chapter 383: Qingge Clings to Heir

Chapter 383: Qingge Sticks to the Heir

Xie Liuzheng thumped his chest and promised, "Don't worry, Sister Yuntang, I can handle it."

Luo Sinian quirked an eyebrow and let out a low chuckle. "Him? He's a man who's about to get married. If he still can't get his act together, even I, his best friend, won't be able to put up with it."

Xie Liuzheng picked up his teacup, tilted his head back, and gulped down a mouthful of tea. "Since I've promised Princess Jiu, I'm not going to loaf around like I used to. I'll definitely straighten up—just you watch."

He turned to look at Luo Sinian after speaking. "Prince Chen, we grew up together, and I'm about to tie the knot. You better hurry up!"

Luo Sinian smiled but didn't say anything, though a striking figure inexplicably popped into his head.

He sat for a bit longer, then left with Xie Liuzheng.

The next day, the morning sun was just peeking through the haze.

It was opening day for the Fireworks Grill.

As New Year's Eve approached, the capital's streets were bustling with people coming and going. Every household had bright red lanterns hanging at their doors, and vendors on both sides of the street hawked their wares nonstop, throwing all of White Tiger Street into a pre-holiday frenzy.

Ji Yuntang showed up at Fireworks Grill bright and early. The moment she got off her carriage, she saw Xie Liuzheng standing at the entrance, calmly barking orders at the shop's staff.

Tao Zhi exclaimed, "Princess, the grill doesn't open until noon, but Heir Xie is already here!"

"Yeah, I rushed over at around seven in the morning, thinking we'd be early, but it turns out my brother beat us here."

Ji Yuntang figured Xie Liuzheng probably hadn't slept a wink all night.

For this grill opening, she'd only provided the seasonings, recipes, and menu. Everything else—finding the location, hiring staff and chefs, buying ingredients, and decorating the shop—was all done by Xie Liuzheng alone.

Amazingly, in just three short days, he'd managed to pull it off so well.

The grill had two floors. For the upper floor, Xie Liuzheng took Ji Yuntang's advice and made it into private dining rooms.

The lower floor was a big open hall, split into sections for picking food, grilling, drinks, and dining.

Every table had a number, and they planned to seat customers by calling out numbers in line.

Ji Yuntang had originally planned to come early to take some weight off Xie Liuzheng's shoulders.

Now, it looked like that wouldn't be needed.

Just as she was thinking about whether to go for a stroll and pick up some New Year's supplies, she spotted a fancy carriage pulling up in front of Fireworks Grill.

A woman in a long blue brocade dress stepped out, and Tao Zhi gasped, "Princess, it's Princess Jiu!"

Luo Qingge naturally spotted Ji Yuntang too and ran over happily to say hi.

"Third sister-in-law, what a coincidence! You're here as well."

Ji Yuntang asked, puzzled, "Qingge, what are you doing here?"

Luo Qingge's ears suddenly went red. She gave a nervous laugh and stammered out an explanation.

"I... I heard your grill is opening today, and I was worried Xie Liuzheng might be too clumsy and slow you down, so I thought I'd come early and see if I could lend a hand."

Her eyes darted around nervously, but her cheeks were as red as if she'd put on blush.

Ji Yuntang, having been through it herself, could see right through her little scheme.

She thought to herself: A girl who's just started dating really does want to be with the guy she likes every second.

After they'd hashed things out yesterday, Luo Qingge was already glued to Xie Liuzheng today!

Ji Yuntang knew that sticking around any longer would be rude.

She came up with a lame excuse. "Qingge, why don't you go on in? I'll go do some shopping and come back later."

With that, Ji Yuntang took off with Tao Zhi.

She didn't come back until the grill officially opened at noon.

Ji Yuntang and Xie Liuzheng cut the ribbon together. Luo Sinian and Pei Zhiyi also showed up to support them, and they brought in a ton of customers with them. It was a real lively scene.

What nobody noticed was that in a tavern not far from the grill, Luo Jingshen and Ji Huaiche sat across from each other, both staring at the newly opened shop.

Luo Jingshen leaned back in his chair, looking all high and mighty, tapping his fingers on the table as he asked, "Heir Ji, what do you think of Princess Ye's new Fireworks Grill? Can it make money?"

Ji Huaiche lowered his gaze and said respectfully, "To answer Your Highness, I don't think this grill will make a single coin."

"Besides, our Dongchen Kingdom has never seen such a newfangled way of eating. People have different tastes, and they won't easily accept something so out of the ordinary."

"Plus, Princess Ye put that good-for-nothing Heir Xie in charge of the shop. He's obviously not cut out for business. I'd bet that within a few days, the place will be cleaned out of every last cent!"

Luo Jingshen took a sip from his cup and laughed out loud. "Heir Ji makes a good point. I think so too."

Ji Huaiche's eyes darkened, swirling with unreadable emotions.

He said in a low voice, "The capital is never short of restaurants and food stalls. Knowing that, they still opened another one—that's just asking for trouble."

"Just wait and see, Your Highness. I think those customers will raise a stink once they taste the food. Who knows, this grill might have to close its doors on day one."

After he finished, Luo Jingshen was looking forward to it. They both believed Ji Yuntang and Xie Liuzheng's grill would go under in no time.

But to their surprise, the grill was packed. Everyone who went in to eat came out smacking their lips and singing its praises.

From noon until around seven in the evening, a long line stretched out the door, and customers just kept coming.

By the end of the day, the grill had pulled in three thousand taels of silver.

When Luo Jingshen heard the news, his face went dark!

His most profitable restaurant only made a thousand taels a day, and that was during the busy season.

Why should Ji Yuntang and Xie Liuzheng's half-baked grill make three times that in one day?

Was the grilled meat really that good?

Ji Huaiche didn't look too happy either. They'd waited in the tavern from day to night, hoping to see someone start trouble at the grill.

Instead, business was so good that even as it got dark, the place was still jam-packed.

Seeing Luo Jingshen's sour face, Ji Huaiche quickly buttered him up, "Your Highness, don't worry. They might have made three thousand taels today, but that's probably just a fluke. Maybe the customers will take one bite, be disappointed, and not come back tomorrow!"

"Your Highness owns restaurants, so you know best—the key is repeat customers. Keeping them coming back is what keeps the money flowing in."

Luo Jingshen heard this and thought it made sense.

He couldn't just sit there and let Ji Yuntang's grill steal business from his restaurants.

This is only the first day, so it's hard to tell yet. He'll observe a bit longer.

At 7:45 PM, as dusk fell, The Smoke & Fire Grill closed on schedule.

Xie Liuzheng, staring at the silver recorded in the accounts, was so excited his hands trembled.

"Heavens, I've never earned this much money before."

"Three thousand taels a day—at this rate, in a year, I could go toe-to-toe with the richest merchants!"

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