NFBE Chapter 257 Liu San Niang's Doggerel
Chapter 257 Liu San Niang's Doggerel
"What are you doing?"
"You're not doing business anymore? Why are you closing down?"
Despite their words, the thugs weren't afraid at all, seeing only a few women and one man in the shop. "You guys aren't planning on doing something with us, are you?"
Tian Tian shouted, "Guys, grab them!!"
Dozens of men rushed out from the backyard and quickly subdued the thugs.
"We've never told anyone today... how did you know we didn't have any ingredients?" Tian Tian kicked one of the thugs hard and questioned him.
The thugs stubbornly insisted, "We...we were just guessing...you haven't opened the door for so long..."
Tian Tian snorted coldly, "Then why don't you guess if it's because I have a VIP customer in my shop that I'm not opening the door?"
"What, what distinguished guest?" The thug was dumbfounded.
Tian Tian told him, "The current Emperor and Empress are on the second floor of the Tea Fragrance Pavilion. Would you like to go and see them?"
Upon hearing this, the thug's legs went weak, and he immediately lost control of his bladder.
A foul odor wafted out, causing Tian Tian to turn her face away in disgust. "Useless."
"It's none of our business; we're just being paid..."
"We're not here to cause trouble, we just want to make a big fuss about your business opening without ingredients, and spread the word."
"If you can't open for business on the first day, they'll say your shop has bad feng shui..."
"You definitely won't last more than three months."
Upon hearing this... it won't last more than three months?
"Did the gambling den send you here?"
The thug paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, the people from the gambling den sent us."
"They...were afraid you'd stay too long, so they sent us to sabotage you."
Ling Yao clenched his fist, "How dare they act so recklessly right under the emperor's nose!!"
“Take them to the government office.”
The thugs looked up at Tian Tian, asking, "Princess?"
Tian Tian waved her hand, "You few take them to the government office, the rest of you... open the shop and do business."
The men escorted the thugs out the main entrance...
Tian Tian arrived at the door and looked at the crowd of onlookers dozens of steps away. "Tea Fragrance Studio is officially open for business. Everyone is welcome to come in and take a look."
After saying that, she turned back.
Ling Yao came over and said, "Sweetie, don't worry. I'll send someone to keep an eye on them when they go to the government office and see who will try to smooth things over."
Tian Tian smiled; she knew he hadn't come up with anything unplanned.
Upstairs, Ling Jun and Empress Li could not hear the two people's normal conversation.
But Ling Jun and Ling Yao had the same idea. He glanced at the guard, who then turned and went downstairs...
*
Because Ling Jun and Empress Li were inside the shop, the customers outside dared not come in... but they still wanted to go in and try the tea and snacks, so they had no choice but to wait at the door.
"They're all the same tea snacks, but at Tea Fragrance Pavilion... they taste quite different." Ling Jun put down his chopsticks, still savoring the experience.
"Empress, from now on... you must accompany me out often."
Empress Li raised her eyebrows smugly, "Your Majesty, you just haven't tried eating hot pot."
"That would be even more interesting."
She has a carefree personality and doesn't like the Zen-like way of eating tea snacks.
She still prefers the warm and lively way of eating, like hot pot.
Ling Jun's personality was actually similar to hers, so Empress Li was quite certain that the Emperor would prefer hot pot.
Ling Jun clicked his tongue and shook his head. "It's a pity I didn't have the chance to try it."
"That's why I said, if Tian Tian becomes the Crown Princess, she can live in the capital permanently... and then she can open all sorts of shops in the capital..."
"Are you worried about not being able to eat hot pot?" Empress Li said confidently.
Ling Jun simply smiled, "Didn't you tell me to keep an eye on things? Then I'll just watch...and wait..."
"Eunuch Yin, prepare to return to the palace."
Eunuch Yin shouted, "Prepare the carriage and return to the palace!!"
The imperial carriage departed, and the guests waiting outside were finally able to arrive.
"Commander, please come in." The waiter addressed the guest who entered as "Commander," which was a sign of respect.
These people were all visiting Tea Fragrance Pavilion for the first time, and they didn't have Ling Jun's composure.
Upon entering the shop, exclamations of surprise and delight frequently rang out.
"Oh my god!!"
"Brother Wenjin, you're here for dinner too?"
"Since Mr. Su praised these tea snacks so highly, of course we had to come and try them."
"That's right. I heard that Cha Xiang Zhai is very popular in Yunzhou Prefecture. Scholars from the surrounding area all want to try it."
“I was thinking of going to Yunzhou Prefecture before, but now it’s great, I have the capital.”
"There's no need to go to Yunzhou Prefecture. The shops in the capital have a better atmosphere than those in Yunzhou Prefecture."
"This Princess Fufeng has such ingenious ideas, she can even create clouds and mist."
"Sitting here feels like being in paradise... I wonder when I'll be able to go up to the second or third floor."
The second and third floors require a minimum spending requirement, so ordinary students like them can only stay on the first floor.
The view from the first floor alone is enough to make the trip worthwhile.
As they were talking, the more than seventy seats set up on the first floor were already full.
Many guests also entered the second floor.
On the third floor lived Ling Yao and Tian Tian's family.
No one sat down; everyone was circling the edge of the third floor, peering down...
"This place is so beautiful." Liu San Niang turned around and finally sat down in a rocking chair.
She looked up at the sky... "When the moon comes out tonight... I have to say, I feel like reciting poetry too."
Lu Tao chuckled, "Can you? Why don't you recite one?"
“I’ll recite it then.” Liu San Niang never admitted defeat.
"Uh..." Liu San Niang turned her head... looking around...
"I'll sit in the chair!"
Lu Tao suppressed a laugh.
Liu San Niang continued reciting, "White clouds pass by in the sky!"
Lu Tao burst out laughing, "He even put it on the line."
"A sparrow alights on a branch." Just then, a sparrow landed nearby.
"Tilting its head...looking at me!!" The sparrow tilted its head and looked at Liu San Niang, instantly giving her an idea.
Liu San Niang proudly raised her chin, "How about it? My recitation wasn't bad either!!"
"Hahaha, not bad, not bad!" Lu Tao was already laughing so hard she was practically paralyzed. "Very good."
Tian Tian sat down. "I'll have someone write down Aunt Liu's poem and hang it in our shop later."
"That won't do!" Despite her playful antics, Liu San Niang knew that her poem was not presentable.
"Why not?"
Tian Tian, however, felt the poem possessed a Zen-like quality: "Aunt Liu, your quiet observation of nature, without discrimination, without thought or worry, perfectly embodies the essence of Zen..."
"Observing one's own nature, the equality of all things, the state of no-mind..."
At first, Ling Yao only thought that Liu San Niang's poems were rather childlike, but after hearing Tian Tian's explanation, he really appreciated their Zen-like quality.
He looked at Tian Tian with admiration, "Tian Tian, your explanation truly shows Zen wisdom."
I doubt any of those scholars could grasp the meaning behind this.
"Let's hang Madam Liu's poem in the most conspicuous place on the first floor."
"As for my father's poem, it... hangs on this third floor."
Tian Tian looked at him suspiciously, "Are you sure?"
The third floor of her shop isn't for displaying academic credentials, but for displaying wealth; she even hangs the Emperor's poems on the third floor.
Isn't that too tacky?
“Father’s calligraphy is not really suitable to be placed on the first floor…” Ling Yao said slowly.
Tian Tian smiled and said, "Alright, then we'll do as Your Highness says."
Liu San Niang stood up in surprise, "Sweetie, are you serious?"
Are we really going to hang that poem she just wrote on the first floor?
Tian Tian nodded emphatically, "Of course it's true."
Can this be false?
Liu San Niang blinked. "This... how about I recite another one?"
Tian Tian nodded playfully, "Okay, Aunt Liu, then... try reciting another one."
Liu San Niang stood with her hands tucked in her pockets, frowning as she pondered, pacing back and forth...
At this moment, she had no interest in looking at the sky or the sparrows.
Naturally, he couldn't compose any poetry anymore.
Ling Yao sighed again at this moment, reflecting on Tian Tian's explanation just now...
The simplicity and lack of attachment that Liu San Niang inadvertently revealed led to the poem she just wrote.
Now, my heart is no longer as clear as a mirror, and I can no longer compose poetry.
Liu San Niang scratched her hair, clicking her tongue...
She just couldn't think of a single word, which made Lu Tao anxious for her.
"Mother," Qin Youyou went up and took her arm, "Don't even think about it."
"The poem you just recited was unintentional, and that's the most meaningful one."
"You can't think of anything better for you now."
"Just listen to your second sister."
Liu San Niang smiled awkwardly, "Okay, I'll listen to Tian Tian."
The kitchen brought up the food, and the family and Ling Yao ate a simple meal together.
*
In the evening, Cha Xiang Zhai's business was even better than during the day, and because the third floor was open, the shop didn't close until midnight.
The shopkeeper was a responsible person and wanted to settle the accounts in the shop before leaving.
However, it was too late, so Tian Tian told him to go home first, and she would settle the bill.
"I'll have someone deliver the goods to the shop recently," Ling Yao said as he and Tian Tian walked ahead.
Lu Tao and the others walked behind...
Tian Tian nodded, "Okay, thank you, Your Highness."
Ling Yao licked his lips. "Sweetie, there's no need for such formalities between us."
Tian Tian knew, but...
"I thank you not out of politeness, but because you really helped me."
"If you hadn't sent the goods in time, Tea Fragrance Shop definitely wouldn't be able to open today."
Ling Yao nodded. "The people causing trouble behind the scenes are despicable. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on them."
Tian Tian nodded and glanced back. Her family members were already very tired, but since the two of them were walking slowly ahead, her family members could only follow at a slow pace.
The coachman could only follow slowly in the carriage.
"Your Highness, it's getting late. Perhaps we should return to the palace as soon as possible."
Ling Yao glanced at Lu Tao and the others, and noticed that they were all yawning...
"I...can no longer leave the palace often after today..." He cherished every minute and second he spent with her.
How could Tian Tian not feel it? "Your Highness has responsibilities, I understand."
She took a deep breath. "Your Highness...you can come to me anytime."
"I will... wait for you."
As she finished speaking, a blush crept onto her face, making her appear exceptionally alluring in the moonlight.
"Once the shop's business stabilizes, I will also go to the palace... to see the Empress."
Ling Yao gasped, "Sweetie, you..."
"Stop talking, let's go back to the palace." Tian Tian gave him an awkward push. "Let's go back."
"I..." Ling Yao was overjoyed and turned to get into the carriage, but then realized that he was holding a box containing account books and silver.
He turned around again and handed the box to Tian Tian.
Tian Tian took it, "Go quickly."
Ling Yao withdrew his hand in disappointment, but the next second, a pair of warm hands grasped his.
Tian Tian took his hand, led him to the carriage, and pushed him onto it. "Let's go back now."
Ling Yao was pushed onto the carriage in a daze, his eyes staring blankly at his palm...
Outside the carriage, Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou could be heard teasing them.
"Second sister, will His Highness become my brother-in-law in the future?" Qin Youyou's voice was unusually clear.
Tian Tian, embarrassed and annoyed, scolded her, "Don't talk nonsense."
Tian Xiang chuckled.
Lu Tao looked on incredulously, then looked at Liu San Niang with some panic.
"Are we really going to stay in the capital?"
Liu San Niang shrugged. "That's fine too."
*
Despite feeling sleepy, Tian Tian did a rather... unclear account of the day's events.
Because those ingredients were sent from the palace by Ling Yao, the exact quantity was never weighed.
Fortunately, there was no waste, and not much was left. It was put in the refrigerator and can still be used tomorrow.
The ingredients were priced reasonably, so we can only calculate the revenue, not the profit.
The day was busy, and when the turnover was calculated, it was quite a lot, more than five thousand taels.
Tian Tian mentally calculated the costs...
The cost of ingredients usually accounts for 20% to 30%.
The labor cost is fixed, only eighty taels a day.
Housing costs are not included for now.
The cost of water and firewood is also fixed at five taels per day.
If you calculate it this way, you can earn half of the five thousand taels, and you can earn back the money from the shop in two or three days.
Such huge profits...
It won't last three months? How is that possible?
That gambling den... they can just wait to pay her back.
*
The next day, Tian Tian got up early and went to the shop to receive the ingredients that Ling Yao had sent.
After arranging the ingredients, she went to Liu San's butcher shop.
Liu San's shop was very large, with more than a dozen workers cutting pork. Their knives moved with ease in their hands, seemingly gliding lightly across the pig and cutting off a piece of meat.
"Manager Liu!" Tian Tian called out into the shop.
Liu San turned around and was stunned when he saw her.
Since Tian Tian was, after all, a princess, Liu San had no choice but to slowly walk over and say, "Greetings, Princess Fufeng."
He kept his head down, not daring to look at her.
Tian Tian sighed and asked, "Tell me, who stopped you from delivering my goods?"
She believed that Liu San wouldn't just give up his business for no reason.
The amount of goods she ordered for him... while it might not be as much as his other businesses, it was certainly a considerable amount.
Liu San looked troubled. The princess had given him a large order, which would boost his shop's business even further.
He desperately wanted to close this deal, but...
But he was just an ordinary citizen; he couldn't fight against those people.
“Princess, since you know... please understand that I... really cannot say.”
Tian Tian sighed, "But you should know that we have already signed the contract. You are now violating the contract, and I can go to the government office to sue you at any time."