Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 145 King Qin Buys Cakes
The food stalls are becoming increasingly popular because each flatbread is stamped with a red "Yanzhi" seal, and the ribbons are tied with eye-catching red "Yanzhi" ribbons. The reputation of "Yanzhi Hushi" is becoming more and more well-known in Andu.

There's always a long queue in front of the stall. The freshly baked mutton flatbreads are sold out in the blink of an eye, and you have to wait at least half an hour to get the next batch. Sometimes, when they run out of ingredients, customers who have waited so long but can't get any will complain.

To alleviate this situation, Tan Huaike could only limit each customer to no more than three flatbreads at a time. Even so, the supply still couldn't meet the demand, and there were even disputes where people fought over the flatbreads.

Later, people learned that reservations could be made at the courtyard, and more and more people started placing orders. Although this reduced the pressure of queuing at the suburban market, the amount of flatbread and mutton soup that needed to be prepared increased significantly. Tan Huaike and Pei'er were busy from morning till night every day, and were exhausted when they closed up shop. Moreover, this also made it easy for many diners to gather near the courtyard, which was really disturbing the peace and quiet.

Shen Tu Zhuo's exam preparation was also affected. He didn't say anything, but Tan Huai Ke felt very guilty. The neighbors were also quite dissatisfied. Madam Wang and Madam Ge couldn't help but talk to Tan Huai Ke, feeling that with all the noise outside, who knew what kind of thieves with ill intentions might sneak in, and they wouldn't be able to sleep soundly at night.

Some of her fellow food vendors were envious and tried to imitate her stall by making flatbreads and selling mutton soup. They even chose better locations and stamped their own red seals on the flatbreads, but they were always one step behind.

Actually, "Yanzhi Hushi" isn't famous solely for its delicious pancakes. Regular customers know that the female owner is beautiful, has an exotic charm, and is a widow with a troubled life, supporting her younger brother who has traveled a long way to take the imperial examinations... These rumors circulating in the neighborhood have inexplicably added a lot of hype to the stall.

Many people believe that the first thing to become popular is the most innovative, and the harder it is to buy, the better. Therefore, only when the stall selling the flatbread is not yet open or has sold out can other imitating stalls benefit. If the craftsmanship is not good enough, diners will criticize it as a poor imitation.

After finishing the accounts at night, Tan Huaike rubbed his aching shoulders and drifted off into thought.

This small business has already done quite well, and the "Yan Zhi Hu Shi" brand has been established. However, in terms of profit, it can only go so far. With just her and Pei'er and this simple stall, it's impossible to meet the needs of more customers. It seems it's time to expand.

However, finding a shop in Andu was truly difficult. Not to mention the cost, just choosing a location was a headache. Now, she was much more familiar with the area and knew that the rules in the capital were numerous, and some things couldn't be solved with money alone.

When you're a street vendor, no one really cares, but if you want to take over a shop and open a restaurant, the procedures become complicated. Andu isn't as lax as Zhangye Prefecture; all taxes must be thoroughly investigated according to the Calculation of Wealth and Reporting of Wealth Orders. Only by bribing everyone involved can you operate with peace of mind.

Tan Huaike still had concerns; she was afraid that if she were too flamboyant at this moment, it would cause trouble for others.

Hesitantly, the search for a shop was temporarily put on hold.

After finishing the book at hand, Shentu Zhuo looked up at the main room and saw that the single candle was about to go out. He couldn't help but frown and ponder deeply...
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Tan Huaike set up his stall as usual that day. At noon, it was Pei'er's turn to bake the flatbreads, and Tan Huaike came to collect the money and hand over the soup flatbreads. Another batch of hot flatbreads came out of the oven, and the queue that had been waiting for half a day finally started moving.

Tan Huaike efficiently served the diners. After processing five or six orders, she bent down to organize the ceramic plates and hemp ropes, and asked the diners at the front of the line, "How many pieces of cake? How many bowls of soup?"

The man said, "Two flatbreads, tied up and taken away, and two bamboo tubes of mutton soup."

Upon hearing his voice, Tan Huaike was startled and looked up to see Zhou Wenzong smiling at her.

Tan Huai Ke nearly dropped the ceramic plate, quickly tidied himself up, straightened his sleeves which were tied at the shoulders, and said in a low voice, "Why did Your Highness come in person? If you wanted to eat sesame cakes, you could have just sent someone to tell me..."

Zhou Wenzong said meaningfully, "It's alright, I want to buy it myself and bring it to my beloved concubine who died young to try it."

Hearing him mention "beloved concubine" again, Tan Huaike was somewhat at a loss: "Ah, I..."

But she couldn't find the words to say, so she lowered her head again, served Zhou Wenzong two bamboo tubes of mutton soup, tied some flatbread and red silk with hemp rope, and handed them to him.

Zhou Wenzong took it, stroking the red silk with his fingertips on the words "How could I know" twice, and said in a low voice, "She was a Mohe person, and her favorite food in life was mutton flatbread. If she had known that she could eat this kind of food in Andu, she would definitely have bought more to try. But I heard that your stall is doing good business, and each customer can only buy two flatbreads at a time. I don't want to break the rules."

Tan Huai Ke said, "Your Highness is too kind. After we close up shop at 7 PM, I'll make some more for you... and have my uncle deliver them to your residence." Zhou Wen Cong waved his hand and said, "There's no need for such trouble. I heard about it while I was queuing earlier. I can place an order in advance at your courtyard next time. There's no rush for the flatbread. I have a business I'd like to discuss with you. Would you like to come to Xian Ting Ju for a chat after we close up shop?"

Because the two chatted for a while, the diners behind them urged, "Why are you taking so long? Have you bought your food yet?"

After waiting in line for so long, everyone was getting a little impatient: "Yeah, we agreed to buy a maximum of two pancakes. The owner won't give us more, will he? Does that mean we have to wait for another batch?"

"No way! If he can buy more, I want to buy more too!"

"Exactly! There are rules to follow when doing business!"

Seeing that an argument was about to break out behind them, Zhou Wenzong turned around and said humbly, "Wait a moment, it will be ready soon."

Given his high status, Tan Huaike didn't want to cause any trouble. He had been thinking that meeting the two of them might arouse suspicion from others, and wondered if he should refuse. But seeing this, he could only nod hastily and say, "Okay, I will go."

Zhou Wenzong then left satisfied, carrying the flatbread and mutton soup.

At this moment, a diner came to their senses and exclaimed, "Wait a minute, was that the King of Qin just now?"

"Impossible, right? The King of Qin personally queued up to buy flatbread? How greedy must he be..."

"He looks just like the King of Qin to me," the diner asked Tan Huai Ke. "Boss, didn't you chat with him for a bit? You be the judge, am I mistaken? Isn't he the King of Qin?"

"Oh dear, I don't know any King Qin," Tan Huai Ke laughed it off. "He just wanted to buy a few more cakes, and I explained to him that I couldn't buy more... Alright, alright, how many cakes do you want?"

"Two flatbreads, no mutton soup." Hearing someone behind him argue that it definitely wasn't the King of Qin, the diner persisted, "Why couldn't it be the King of Qin? Wasn't that beautiful but ill-fated Queen Qin a Hu woman? Perhaps the Queen loved to eat it, and the King of Qin, missing his deceased wife, bought it to place on his altar?"

Upon hearing the poignant story of the King of Qin and his queen, the crowd changed their tune: "That's possible..." "Yes, yes, I've heard that the King of Qin was deeply in love with that foreign queen."

Tan Huaike, who was focused on handing out the pancakes: "..."

After closing up shop at 7 PM, Tan Huai Ke first went back to the small courtyard with Pei Er to freshen up, change his clothes, and put on a white veil hat before heading to Xian Ting Ju for their appointment.

Xiantingju is located in the most bustling street in Andu, but it is a quiet and elegant place.

The servant led Tan Huai Ke through the corridor and deeper into the courtyard. There was a winding stream in the courtyard, and the back room was isolated from the outside world, rarely disturbed by anyone. Carved screens were arranged in a staggered pattern, and exquisite lacquerware and wine sets were placed on the tables. Calligraphy and paintings by famous artists hung on the walls. The tranquility and extravagance of this place broadened her horizons.

Three months later, the two sat alone facing each other, each with a different state of mind.

Zhou Wenzong recalled the night of their wedding, when they, as "husband and wife," talked late into the night in the bridal chamber, treating each other with utmost respect. He felt a pang of nostalgia, but when the words of greeting came to his lips, he felt it would be abrupt, so he said nothing.

Tan Huaike spoke first: "Your Highness, the business you mentioned is..."

Zhou Wenzong barely managed to pull himself back to reality: "I heard you've been looking for a shop in Andu lately?"
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Next chapter: Are you willing to be a good person?