Chapter 23: You Have Come Again

"Brother Shen is certainly straightforward!"

Looking at the deed in Shen Xuan’s hand, Liu Ruifeng, who had remained quiet from start to finish, couldn't help but click his tongue twice.

"What else was I to do? Surely you haven't found a better deal?" Shen Xuan said with a smile.

"That I haven't. I was just wondering, once your restaurant is up and running, aren't you afraid of being suppressed by the Xianliu Studio and the Baijia Hall?" Liu Ruifeng first waved his hand in denial, then asked Shen Xuan with a hint of embarrassment.

"Brother Ruifeng thinks highly of my restaurant, then?" Shen Xuan asked, unfazed.

"Naturally. There’s no need to speak of Brother Shen’s culinary skills; it’s only a matter of time before you take the entire capital by storm," Liu Ruifeng declared with conviction.

"In that case, I shall meet force with force and water with earth," Shen Xuan replied with a confident smile, a flash of golden light momentarily crossing his eyes.

Liu Ruifeng felt momentarily dazed, as if Shen Xuan were glowing. Shaking his head to clear it, he asked, "Then, Brother Shen, are we changing the name of the restaurant?"

"Yes! It must be changed. I’ve already thought of one: 'Jun You Lai' (The Gentleman Returns)!" Shen Xuan nodded decisively.

"Jun You Lai? A marvelous name! Brother Shen, you truly have great talent!" Liu Ruifeng savored the three characters, his eyes lighting up as he couldn't help but praise the choice.

"Leave the plaque to me. Consider it my gift for your grand opening," Liu Ruifeng decided after a moment's thought.

"I would be a fool to refuse. Many thanks, Brother Ruifeng." Shen Xuan didn't decline and accepted with a smile.

"Come, come! I haven't had a proper look at the place yet," Liu Ruifeng said, leading the way inside.

Shen Xuan smiled. Since leaving the Prime Minister’s estate, his smiles had become increasingly frequent. Looking up at the azure sky, he felt a great sense of ease, his steps feeling remarkably light.

Late that night, in a study within the Qin estate, the dim, flickering candlelight played across Qin Shaotian’s slightly sinister face, casting a heavy atmosphere over the room.

"You say Shen Xuan has leased a restaurant?" Qin Shaotian asked in a calm voice, looking at the man kneeling on the floor.

"Yes, Master. Our men saw it with their own eyes; Shen Xuan completed the transaction with the man surnamed Qian." The man kept his head bowed, his voice dull.

Qin Shaotian narrowed his eyes, a strange smile creeping onto his face.

"Interesting. So he really intends to become a merchant." Qin Shaotian stood up and walked to the window, his tone icy. "On the day of his opening, go and cause some trouble for Shen Xuan. Make sure that restaurant of his doesn't get off the ground."

"Yes!" The man cupped his hands in a salute and responded with a cold, sharp tone.

The next day, Shen Xuan rose early. He had the premises, but there was still much to procure. Pots, pans, tables, and chairs didn't need to be bought; the items already in the restaurant were in good condition and ready for use. However, Shen Xuan had to select ingredients and seasonings himself.

*I need to find a supplier for steady ingredients. I also need more help; I can manage the cooking for a few days, but I must find someone capable of keeping the accounts,* Shen Xuan thought as he stepped out of the Tongfu Inn.

"Young Master!" A tall figure hurried over upon seeing him emerge.

"Lin Gui? You've already laid your father to rest?" Shen Xuan was surprised. He hadn't expected Lin Gui to be so efficient, completing the burial in just one day.

"Heh, after I bought the coffin, the neighbors nearby heard I needed help carrying it. I figured, since others would have to do it anyway, I might as well ask those uncles to help; it saved some money," Lin Gui said, handing the remaining silver notes back to Shen Xuan.

Shen Xuan took them and noticed there was still a five-tael note left. "Keep these for now. It will save you from coming to me every time you need to buy something." He pushed the money back to him warmly.

"Thank you for your trust, Young Master." Lin Gui bowed solemnly and tucked the money back into his robes.

"Since you’re here, come with me." Shen Xuan walked off, and Lin Gui followed closely. Walking behind Shen Xuan, he looked every bit the bodyguard, making Shen Xuan feel as if he had returned to his days as a wealthy playboy.

After winding through several streets, the two arrived at the vegetable market outside the Wu Gate. Shen Xuan led Lin Gui to a large stall and asked the busy woman behind it, "Ma'am, do you handle business for restaurants?"

The woman, who was busy giving change to a customer, paused and looked up. She wore simple hemp clothing, and her face, once decent, was tanned and weathered from years of labor, with wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. She wore a rustic headscarf, and though her exact age was hard to determine, she was clearly under fifty.

"What was that, Young Master? I didn't quite catch it," the woman asked uncertainly.

"I asked, do you handle business for restaurants?" Shen Xuan repeated.

"Restaurants? But this is just a small stall. How could I ever supply a place like the Baijia Hall?" The old woman subconsciously thought of the Baijia Hall at the mention of a restaurant and, assuming Shen Xuan was joking, hurriedly declined with a smile.

"Ma'am, you misunderstand. I’m not from the Baijia Hall. My restaurant has just opened, and your stall is more than capable of supplying it," Shen Xuan explained quickly.

"Oh, oh, I see. Not the Baijia Hall, then." The woman let out a quiet sigh of relief, though she remained confused. Even as a commoner, she knew there were only two major, well-known restaurants in the entire capital. "Then, may I ask how much you need daily?" she asked.

"Three hundred catties of assorted vegetables each day. That shouldn't be a problem for you, should it?" Shen Xuan thought that a few hundred catties would be enough for a new opening.

"I can do that. But the price?" the woman asked hesitantly.

"I’ll give you five taels now. Just deliver the vegetables to the Jun You Lai Inn every morning. When the money runs out, let me know." Shen Xuan took five taels from his robes and held them out.

The old woman stared at the money, stunned that this young man would trust her so readily. She reached out with calloused hands to take the notes and was just about to agree when a rather arrogant voice rang out.

"Hold it!"

Shen Xuan and the others turned to see a fierce-looking man with a defiant gaze striding toward them.