C24 The Opening of the Immortal Wine Tavern(2)

Many shrank back at first.

Yet, as a peculiar scent wafted through the air, necks craned and eyes turned toward the round plate the maid carried over.

"Fortune graces you with the Immortal Goose from the mountains and rivers—crafted through seventy-seven meticulous steps. Its aroma is captivating, its flavor lingers endlessly. One taste, and I assure you, the street vendors' fare will pale in comparison," the maid said in a gentle voice, slowly lifting the cover.

The porcelain dish revealed succulent, crisply fried goose meat arranged in concentric circles, with a goose head, split in two, at the center.

A patron at the table picked up a piece with his chopsticks, dipped it in a brown sauce, and savored it in his mouth.

Crunch!

At the first bite, his eyes bulged—the crunchy skin, tender meat, and tangy sauce combined into an unspeakably delicious experience. He nearly swallowed his tongue in delight.

His friend watched intently, awaiting his verdict.

His expression seemed underwhelmed—could it be?

"Hold on," he said, grabbing another piece and popping it into his mouth. He closed his eyes, chewing thoughtfully, then quickly hoarded several more pieces into his bowl.

"Holy smokes! Zhao, you sly dog!" his friend exclaimed.

The rest of the table couldn't stay put any longer, grabbing their chopsticks to join the fray.

"Damn, this is good!"

"Incredible!"

"Rich, yet not oily—crispy and utterly satisfying!"

The guests' eyes widened as they devoured the dish, their faces the picture of contentment.

In mere seconds, the plate was stripped clean.

A collective sense of loss washed over them as they glared at Zhao and gazed eagerly at the waitress.

Soon after, a procession of waitresses, hips swaying, emerged from the kitchen with more plates...

On the streets, passersby sniffed the air and turned towards the Immortal Wine Tavern.

What was this intoxicating aroma?

Why did it suddenly make them feel so ravenous?

By nightfall, the Immortal Wine Tavern's fame had swept through all of Yingchang City.

The mouthwatering scent of its cuisine and the allure of its Immortal Wine left everyone who passed by yearning for a taste.

What truly captivated people were the stunning waitresses in their qipaos, whose presence added an enchanting charm to the Immortal Wine Tavern. If Prefect Liang hadn't dispatched a number of constables to keep watch, there's no doubt that some brutes would have caused trouble.

That evening, after tallying the accounts, Xiao Qingsong and his son were left utterly astonished. They had made a profit of 5,000 taels! It's worth noting that this was merely a single day's revenue. Despite offering a half-price promotion, once they reverted to regular pricing, even if they only maintained half of that day's turnover, the annual profit could reach nearly 2 million taels.

The thought of opening a branch in every major city of the Great Song dynasty sent Xiao Qingsong's mind racing. Overcome with excitement, he rushed to Lee Cha and exclaimed, "Mr. Lee! Big Brother! Please allow me to express my deepest gratitude."

Lee Cha, however, remained unimpressed and coolly rebuked, "You come from a distinguished line of merchants, and yet you lack vision?"

"What's our next move?" Xiao Qingsong asked, his admiration evident.

"Send people to establish branches in major cities like Kaifeng, Luoyang, and Chang'an, using the Immortal Wine Tavern in Yingchang City as the model," instructed Lee Cha.

"Consider it done. I'll get on it immediately," Xiao Qingsong responded, taking a few steps before pausing and looking back, "But what about the shares in these new locations?"

"Don't skimp on the investment," Lee Cha advised. "Bring in local gentry and noble families as shareholders. Right now, our priority is to rapidly build our capital base."

"But what if we're copied?" Xiao Qingsong asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

Lee Cha chuckled. "Do you even know what the heart of the Immortal Wine Tavern is?"

"The Immortal Wine?" Xiao Qingsong guessed.

Lee Cha shook his head.

"The waitresses?"

With a mix of frustration and disappointment, Lee Cha chided, "You're not thinking clearly. Haven't you learned to see beyond the surface to the essence? The things you mentioned, others have them too. They may not match ours, but they're not far off."

Xiao Qingsong's expression hardened. After all, he was one of the renowned heirs of the Xiao family.

The Xiao family's business spans the globe.

Lee Cha stated, "Soy oil and seasonings."

Xiao Qingsong had an epiphany, "If we corner the market on exclusive soy oil and seasonings, no one else can replicate those delectable dishes. Is that what you're referring to as a monopoly?"

"Hmm..." Lee Cha responded, his tone indifferent, his demeanor inscrutable.

For a hotel, the essence lies in its food and ambiance. While ambiance can be replicated, the cuisine cannot.

The seasonings are Lee Cha's trade secret, enhancing flavor in ways no one could mimic, not even after a thousand years.

Even if someone else tried to replicate it, it would merely be a high-end brothel masquerading as the Immortal Wine Tavern.

...

At Xiao Mansion.

Xiao Mengde was in a rage, smashing movable objects in his study, his face twisted with fury. "Find out everything! By hook or by crook, I want those secrets in our hands!"

The butler scurried out, quaking with fear.

Beside him, Xiao Junjie suggested with a dark expression, "Father, perhaps we should stir up trouble in their tavern and hotel, like slipping in drugs or causing disturbances."

Xiao Mengde barked furiously, "Are you a fool? Every notable figure in Yingchang Prefecture has a stake in their establishments, including that scoundrel Zhang Ming. Crossing them is tantamount to crossing all the influential people of the prefecture! Has the Xiao family grown weary of existence?"

Splattered with his father's spittle, Xiao Junjie withdrew from the study, seething.

After his outburst, Xiao Mengde regained his composure. With a moment's hesitation, he proceeded to Old Master Xiao's chamber.

Gone was the robust demeanor Old Master Xiao had displayed at his eightieth birthday celebration.

Now, his eyes were red with bloodshot veins, his beard unkempt, his hair wild, and a foul odor enveloped him.

Upon seeing his eldest son, he cackled maniacally, "Xiao Mengde, this never crossed your mind, did it?"

Xiao Mengde demanded icily, "Was it you? Were you the one who handed over those secrets?"

Old Master Xiao chuckled, "Stop making excuses for your incompetence. I've always said the Xiao family would fall because of you. It seems I won't have to wait until my dying day to see you squander the family fortune and beg in the streets."

Xiao Mengde lunged forward abruptly, seizing Old Master Xiao by the throat and shaking him relentlessly. "Speak! Where did those items come from?"

Gasping for air, Old Master Xiao's mouth gaped as he coughed violently, tears streaming from his eyes. Yet, through the torment, he managed a defiant smile. "Go ahead, you monster, strangle me! I'll be waiting for you in hell!"

With a cold huff, Xiao Mengde shoved him to the floor, swept his sleeves with a dramatic flourish, and stalked away. Under his breath, he muttered, "You won't talk? Fine. I'll extract the truth from that wretch myself."