Chapter 11: It Is I Who Should Thank You

"What kind of seasoning are you using? It smells absolutely incredible!"

Seeing her looking like a hungry little kitten, Shen Xuan handed her a few skewers. "Go ahead, eat!"

Xiao Lin did not stand on ceremony; she took them and immediately bit into one. The sharp, spicy kick of the prickly ash filled her mouth, followed instantly by the rich, mellow fragrance of fennel seeds.

"Hiss-ah! How is this thing so delicious?"

Shen Xuan chuckled at her ravenous appearance but said nothing, continuing to grill more skewers.

"This flavor is truly wonderful! Thank you for treating me!" Xiao Lin said, licking a sesame seed that had stuck to the corner of her mouth.

"It is I who should be thanking you," Shen Xuan replied with a smile.

"This is just part of my job. Anyway, I have military duties to attend to. I’ll come back to your stall another day for more of these skewers." With that, Xiao Lin turned and left.

After she departed, the surrounding crowd grew even more enthusiastic.

"Even General Xiao Lin says those skewers are delicious! Let's buy some to try!"

"Hurry up! If we’re too late, they’ll be sold out!"

News of Shen Xuan's identity had also spread. Hearing that the young master of the Prime Minister's estate was personally selling skewers, many commoners flocked to the stall to get a taste.

Qin Shaotian would never have guessed that his actions today, rather than ruining Shen Xuan’s business, had actually made it an even bigger sensation.

Shen Xuan worked through the morning before deciding to pack up. It wasn't that he didn't want to keep selling, but his ingredients were already completely exhausted. By the end, even young ladies from the capital's noble families had heard of the delicacy and sent their servants to buy some; the small supply Shen Xuan had prepared was nowhere near enough.

Calculating his earnings for the morning, Shen Xuan realized he had made several taels of silver. Though he had only set up shop for half a day, the profit was substantial. At this rate, he would have enough money to open his own restaurant within a few months.

Thinking of this, Shen Xuan felt a surge of motivation. He decided to find a place to stay, buy more meat in the afternoon, and return to set up his stall again in the evening.

It wasn't long before the news of Shen Xuan’s street vending reached the Qin household.

"Father, look at Xuan'er! How humiliating for him to be out there making a spectacle of himself! If he wants to do something, I can go beg his father to arrange a minor official position for him—wouldn't that be the same? Why on earth would he want to sell things on the street? When he returns, I will certainly have a word with him."

Inside the Qin estate, Madam Song complained to Elder Qin with extreme dissatisfaction.

"Xuan'er has his own ideas. As his elders, we shouldn't interfere," Elder Qin said, holding a different view. He didn't think there was anything wrong with what Shen Xuan was doing; instead, he began to persuade Madam Song.

"Father, how can you say that? That is the trade of a merchant," Madam Song grumbled, clearly holding a poor opinion of the merchant class.

"What is wrong with being a merchant? Shen Xuan didn't steal or rob anyone. I hear those skewers are incredibly fragrant. When the boy comes back, I’ll have him grill a couple for me to try," Elder Qin said dismissively.

"Grandfather, Mother, what are you talking about? What smells so good?" Qin Shujun asked as she walked in.

Madam Song explained to her that Shen Xuan had been out selling skewers.

"Skewers? Are they really that good?" Upon hearing that Shen Xuan had taken up the trade of a merchant, Qin Shujun felt an instinctive disdain. However, hearing that the skewers were selling like hotcakes, she felt a flicker of curiosity and thought she would have a servant buy a couple for her later.

That evening, Shen Xuan pushed his small four-wheeled cart out to the street. The moment the townspeople saw him, they blocked his path on Vermilion Bird Avenue, preventing him from even reaching his original spot.

"Young Master Shen, these skewers are just too delicious!"

"That’s right, give us some more!"

Seeing the continued enthusiasm of the crowd, Shen Xuan set up his stall right there. As it happened, the capital’s largest house of pleasure, the Flower Pavilion, was nearby. At this hour, the pavilion was decked out in colorful lanterns, with an endless stream of guests coming and going. Upon smelling the aroma of the skewers, many of them drifted over.

"Hey, have you heard? They say a new top courtesan is debuting at the Flower Pavilion tomorrow! And she’s quite the talented scholar, too!" a customer eating a skewer said to his companion.

"I heard! They say this courtesan is not only breathtakingly beautiful but also a master of the zither. Everyone who has heard her play says she has the grace of a true virtuoso."

Shen Xuan paid little attention to the gossip as he kept flipping the skewers in his hand.

"They say she’ll be presenting some couplets tomorrow. Whoever can answer them will not only receive a thousand taels of silver but may even get to drink and sing with the courtesan herself! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" said a refined-looking scholar, his eyes filled with confidence.

"Hahaha, with your talent, brother, you are sure to win her favor. I offer my congratulations in advance!" his companions chimed in with flattery.

Upon hearing the mention of a thousand taels of silver, Shen Xuan’s eyes lit up instantly. He pricked up his ears to listen more closely.

"They say this courtesan was originally the daughter of a wealthy family. Who knows how she ended up in this place..."

"Alas, the world is unpredictable!"

"Young Master Shen, are our skewers ready yet?" Several men who had been waiting for a while, seeing others eating, could no longer restrain their hunger and urged him on.

"Ready, ready," Shen Xuan quickly handed over the grilled food.

A thousand taels of silver—if he could solve those couplets and win that money, he could open his restaurant much sooner.

"So you really are out here selling skewers? You are a disgrace to the Qin family!"

Qin Shujun arrived at the stall, flanked by several guards, her tone sharp and unpleasant.

"Princess, there is nothing shameful about earning my own keep," Shen Xuan said without looking up, his hands never stopping their work.

"You! Forget it. I don't want to argue with you today. I heard these skewers are delicious—give me two to try." Seeing Shen Xuan’s attitude, Qin Shujun wanted to flare up, but remembering her purpose, she suppressed her annoyance and spoke in a commanding tone.

"That will be five copper coins," Shen Xuan said, handing her five skewers without a trace of emotion in his voice.

"I have to pay?" Qin Shujun’s eyes widened, staring at him in disbelief.

"If you want to eat, you must pay. That is only natural. Otherwise, please leave early so you don't delay my business." Shen Xuan finally looked up, his clear eyes devoid of any impurity, his tone perfectly logical.

Hearing this, Qin Shujun wanted nothing more than to turn and walk away, but the intoxicating aroma wafting into her nose made her compromise. She pulled a tael of silver from her sleeve, tossed it onto the stall, and snapped, "Take it! And keep the change!"