On the day of the grand opening, Liang Zhi and Cheng Chili invited a large group of young nobles to reserve tables, with Pei Zhan and Liang Chen among them. Since it was Du Mingqian who organized the event, it was unclear how Liang Chen and the others managed to persuade Brother Qian to make an appearance.
With their presence, many noble and official households took notice. Not only were all the private rooms on two floors booked for lunch, but the evening slots were also fully reserved.
Thus, almost the entire capital city beca aware of the grand new restaurant, attracting even the most prestigious noble youths from the court.
Several imperial censors from the Imperial Censorate, known for their refined tastes, heard that Wanbin Building had hired a descendant of the last dynasty’s imperial chef family to cook, piquing their curiosity to try it. However, when they sent soone to reserve a table, they found it was already full.
So sharp-eyed individuals saw Xie Zhang leaving the office and imdiately stepped forward with a bow, saying, "Mr. Xie has so connections with the Ning Family, and he previously spoke out in their defense. If we ask Mr. Xie to book a table, it might just work!"
Several people stopped Xie Zhang, showering him with complints.
Xie Zhang recalled how Mrs. Ning had sent Fu Zhen in person to express her gratitude that day. Helping boost their new business wasn’t a bad thing, so he thought of trying his luck.
He laid out the ugly truth first: if he couldn’t book a table, they would find another place and should not persist. Everyone agreed, and so the plan was set.
Mrs. Ning was upstairs in the accounts room and, upon hearing from the shopkeeper that Xie Zhang had co to inquire about a private room, she imdiately put down her pen and ca out to greet him: "Mr. Xie, your esteed presence adds luster to Wanbin Building; how could we let you co in vain? Manager Su, please open the banquet hall in our backyard to welco Mr. Xie and these distinguished gentlen!"
She concluded with a smile: "I will personally guide the esteed gentlen."
The group was puzzled as to why rooms were available but weren’t offered earlier.
Their doubts were dispelled when they passed through the front two floors of the restaurant into the inner hall and then into the inner courtyard, where they realized the stark difference from the outside space.
The inner courtyard was not only spacious and quiet but also tasteful and refined, with landscapes reminiscent of Jiangnan gardens, complete with flowing streams, small bridges, and surrounding rockeries and bamboo groves.
Crossing the small bridge led to another building. Upstairs, a guard was stationed at the post, with the doors and windows tightly sealed, suggesting it was a crucial area, perhaps for storage or office accounts.
Upon entering a room on the western side of the building, they discovered it was a bright banquet hall!
Inside, the screens, curtains, and furnishings were all complete and carefully arranged. Only then did everyone realize that it wasn’t that Mrs. Ning was deliberately withholding a room, but that this was the rchant firm’s internal banquet hall!
Xie Zhang secretly marveled in his heart, thinking that Mrs. Ning, a woman alone, could manage such a large restaurant so brilliantly. Indeed, the only daughter of an imperial rchant was extraordinary.
Xie Zhang only knew Mrs. Ning to be a frank woman. Their previous encounters had only been coincidental monts where he had happened to speak up fairly, but he hadn’t expected her to rember it so well.
At this mont, due to the honored reception, his colleagues showered him with endless complints, which made him feel both proud and uncomfortable.
He had been away from his family for many years and t nurous people. Although many knew how to be grateful, not many kept it in mind like Mrs. Ning.
After a few drinks during the banquet, he specifically went out to the courtyard, passed by so staff, and they reported to Mrs. Ning.
Mrs. Ning only assud there had been a lapse in hospitality and hurried over to greet him.
Xie Zhang imdiately waved his hands: "You’ve been too concerned, Madam, everything is perfect. I’ve caused you trouble, and I ca out specifically to thank you."
He then added, "How have you been lately?"
"Very well. It’s fortunate to et you today, and I must thank you here and now." Mrs. Ning curtsied slightly.
Then she shot a glance at him and continued in a soft voice, "Having received your kindness, I initially planned for the accounts to waive today’s bill. But considering your upstanding integrity, I refrained from potentially tarnishing your good na, so..."
"That’s just as well!" Xie Zhang responded earnestly.
Mrs. Ning then smiled and said, "I recall you ntioning last ti you were looking for a female tutor for your daughter. May I ask if you are satisfied with the current one?"
Hearing this, Xie Zhang frowned inadvertently: "As a man, it’s inappropriate for to have much contact with won. Therefore, I’ve tried finding several, but without deep understanding, none have been satisfactory."
"I see." Mrs. Ning hesitated slightly.
Xie Zhang, being perceptive, asked: "Could it be that Madam has an esteed tutor to recomnd?"
"Not at all." Mrs. Ning lowered her head, "In fact, I was presumptuous, thinking that if Miss Xie is interested in learning about household managent and finances, perhaps I could teach her a thing or two."
Xie Zhang was greatly surprised at these words: "Do you truly an this, Madam?"
Mrs. Ning nodded: "If you don’t mind."
Xie Zhang’s spirit lifted: "For my daughter to learn from you in managing household affairs and finances would be her great honor!"
Mrs. Ning’s skills in household and financial managent were clearly apparent; how many won were as capable as her in the entire capital?
Xie Zhang did not expect his daughter to acquire enough skills to run a large restaurant, but if she could learn even a fraction of those skills, he would be more than satisfied!
With a smile, Mrs. Ning said, "It would ease my heart to help relieve your burdens. In a few days, you can send Miss Xie to the Ning Family to see .
"For now, I won’t keep you longer, and I shall take my leave."
With that, she turned and crossed the small wooden bridge.
Xie Zhang watched her decisive figure for a mont before cheerfully returning to his room!
...
Mrs. Ning remained at Wanbin Building for several consecutive days.
Fu Zhen, with nothing else to do, tagged along and enjoyed the als there for several days.
On the thirteenth of April, Cheng Chili and Liang Zhi ca to find her. It turned out that this afternoon at Prince Rong’s Mansion, preparations were underway for traveling by palanquin, and the prince’s carriage had been brought out, indicating that, as in previous years, Prince Rong would not be absent.
Cheng Chili had already made arrangents with Zhang Shicheng via He Family’s third son to et at that ti; Cheng Chili would accompany Zhang Shicheng to enter the temple.
Pei Zhan and Liang Chen had already discussed and sent the two of them to connect with Fu Zhen.
Fu Zhen imdiately returned to the mansion to prepare.
The crown prince’s coming-of-age ceremony was on the third of May; Xu Yin returned ho late for several nights, leaving Yongping restless, looking out the window.
When the moon hung high, footsteps were finally heard at the courtyard gate, and Yongping hurried out to greet him, taking Xu Yin’s cloak: "You’re back."
Xu Yin didn’t pause: "Why haven’t you gone to bed yet?"
"I was waiting for you." Yongping followed behind him, "My consort asked to find out if you would accompany us to Baihe Temple tomorrow?"
Xu Yin turned at the doorstep, the moonlight casting his official robe into a deep purple, accentuating his picturesque features: "What’s this? Is your respected mother so concerned about ?"
Yongping bit her lower lip, her voice faltering: "Please, don’t talk like that, she was just worried about . Besides, she wasn’t wrong. Couldn’t you, for once, consider my feelings? Couldn’t you bear a little for ?"
"Bear with you?" Xu Yin chuckled in the moonlight, "You constantly complain to your family, and your mother repeatedly cos to pressure , yet you want to endure you?"
He cast a sidelong glance at Yongping and stepped across the threshold into the house.
Yongping bit her lower lip hard and spoke, "But I’m your wife! Liang Ning is dead!
"Keeping her helt, retaining her hairpin, visiting the Liang Family more won’t make you their brother-in-law!
"Even if she were alive, you wouldn’t marry her!
"Because only Prince Rong’s Manor can help you rise to power, isn’t that right?"
Xu Yin paused at the door, his eyes narrowed: "Repeat that?"
(Ah, ah, ah, only one Chapter today)
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