Duke of Zhenguan

For ordinary people in the Tang Dynasty who struggled to make a living every day, the period from New Year's Day to the Lantern Festival was a rare time of leisure.

During this time, everyone puts their hardships behind them for the time being, taking their families out for a walk, or visiting relatives and friends to catch up.

Every time Li went to visit someone, she would bring Lin Chuan along and make Lin Chuan wear the new clothes and shoes she had made.

Besides chatting about everyday matters, Li would also casually mention that when asking relatives and friends to help find a suitable wife, she should slightly raise her requirements.

Ultimately, it's all about showing off.

The discovery made in just one month subtly changed Li's mindset; she now saw her son as someone to rely on, rather than herself.

Even for such a major event as marriage, she agreed to let Lin Chuan make his own decisions, so Lin Chuan didn't stop her and stayed by her side with a smile, playing the role of a successful and obedient son.

After a few leisurely days, Lin Chuan once again threw himself into the preparations for the noodle shop.

Nowadays, everyone in Tiechi Lane knows that Lin Dalang sold the brewing recipe left by his father, Lin San, for a good price. He not only paid off his debts but also bought a shop in the West Market to open a noodle shop.

Some people are jealous of this, but most people are more envious.

Those who were close to Lin Jiu, Lin Shier, and others were simply happy.

Lin Chuan did not forget his poor relatives. After New Year's Day, he went to their home and brought them not only meat, but also salt, grain and cloth.

On the ninth day of the first lunar month, the renovation was officially completed because no painting was done.

After spending half a day carefully cleaning and setting up the tables and chairs, we were ready to open for business.

The signboard has been hung up and covered with red cloth.

The renovated storefront looked out of place with the shops next to it, but it was actually the best signboard, so Lin Chuan didn't put much effort into it. He wrote the lettering himself, and Lin Jiu carved the lettering.

The tenth day of the first lunar month was an auspicious day that Li had consulted a fortune teller to determine.

Just after 3 a.m., the Lin family of three, along with Lin Jiu, Lin Shier, and everyone from the Wang family, had gathered in the small courtyard behind the noodle shop.

The adults were working, while a group of children stared longingly at the stove.

On the stove, a pot of water filled with chicken and mushrooms was bubbling and steaming, its aroma spreading far and wide with the rising heat.

Everything was ready, and it was already broad daylight.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered outside the shop, mostly vendors and shop assistants from the neighborhood.

The renovation was quite a big undertaking, and everyone in the neighborhood knew that a noodle shop was going to open there.

The auspicious time was 3:45 AM, just as the fiery red sun was rising. Madam Li gently nudged her son and said:

"Brother, hurry and remove the cloth!"

Lin Chuan nodded, pulled hard on the red cloth on the signboard, and the brand-new signboard appeared in front of everyone, revealing the four big characters "Lin Ji Noodle Shop" painted black with lacquer.

After the excitement subsided, the crowd dispersed, and the area in front of the noodle shop suddenly became deserted.

Lin Chuan, who was in charge of serving, stood at the door, while Li Shi and Er Ya, who were in charge of cooking noodles, stood in front of the stove, waiting for the first customer to arrive.

As the sun rose, the West Market gradually became lively. A candy vendor carrying a load of maltose passed by Lin's Noodle Shop and, smelling the aroma wafting from inside, went into the shop.

Setting down his load, the vendor sat on a bench, looking around the noodle shop with surprise, and asked with a smile:

"Young man, how much are the noodles?"

There were price tags hanging on the wall, but the vendor was clearly illiterate, so Lin Chuan smiled and replied:

"Sir, fifty coins a bowl!"

The vendor's smile vanished instantly, replaced by an incredulous look as he asked:

"How many?"

"Fifty coins a bowl, sir. Our noodles are made with the finest white flour..." Lin Chuan explained.

"I'm not that hungry..."

As if he were sitting on a sharp knife instead of a stool, the vendor hurriedly stood up before Lin Chuan could finish explaining, picked up his load, and fled the noodle shop as if running away.

The first customer was scared away.

Lin Chuan had no choice. Although he hadn't planned to sell it cheaply from the beginning, he hadn't intended to sell it at such a high price either. It was just that the price of wheat was too high now, about 200 wen per dou, which was about 15 or 16 wen per jin.

He used thin noodles, which resulted in a lot of wastage. One pound of noodles could only make two bowls of noodles at most. Add to that the chicken, salt, pepper, mushrooms, and other ingredients for the soup, and not counting rent and labor, the cost would be more than ten coins.

If the goal is to achieve high sales volume with low profit margins, then fifty coins a bowl is indeed expensive, but that's not the approach he's taking.

Li walked up to Lin Chuan and asked her son nervously:

"Brother, isn't this too expensive?"

"Mother, haven't I explained this to you so many times? You've eaten noodles before, but have you ever eaten noodles this delicious? Fifty coins is really not expensive..."

Lin Chuan smiled and comforted her, saying that Li was too honest and not suited for business, especially not the catering business.

"I still think it's a bit expensive!" Mrs. Li said with a wry smile.

"It's really not expensive. Anyway, there aren't many customers right now. Mother, you should tell Aunt Jiu and the others to eat first!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Alright!" Mrs. Li nodded.

Since the Lin family had been invited to help, they naturally had to be treated well. In addition to noodles, Li also took two chickens that had been stewed until tender and distributed them to everyone.

The chicken wings and drumsticks all ended up in the children's bowls, making them very happy.

Lin Chuan also sat behind the counter, eating heartily with a large bowl of noodles in his hand.

Chicken and mushroom stew, seasoned with salt and pepper, is a rare delicacy.

The sun gradually rose higher and soon hung high in the sky.

Lin's Noodle Shop still hasn't made a single sale.

Lin's Noodle Shop has a good location, and customers kept coming in, but as soon as they asked about the prices, they turned around and left.

To be polite, you could say, "It's too expensive!" or "A bowl of noodles costs so much!"

Without any politeness, they directly and sarcastically retorted, "Why don't you just rob someone!"

Li Shi and Li Jiu and others in the backyard were extremely anxious, but Lin Chuan remained calm as usual.

At this moment, in front of a food stall in the West Market, a young maid dressed in men's clothing grabbed a pretty girl also dressed in men's clothing, who was holding a horizontal sword, and pleaded:

"Madam, there are so many people inside. If the master finds out, he'll beat me to death. Let's find a less crowded place!"

"How many times have I told you, don't call me 'Madam,' call me 'Brother'!"

Dressed in men's clothing, Cheng Churou glared at the maid, then helplessly shook off her hand:

"Alright, let's go to another one!"

After walking for a while, the two stopped in front of a food stall again. Cheng Churou pointed to the stall, which was mostly occupied by customers, and asked:

"How's it here?"

"No, there are too many people!" The maid shook her head again.

"And here?"

"Madam, young master, this is so dirty..."

"And here?"

"There are too many people, Da Lang, why don't we go home and eat?"

"I finally managed to get Father to agree to let me out, I'm not going back! If you want to go back, Cheng Chun, go back yourself!" Cheng Churou glared at the maid with annoyance.

Cheng Chun, with a bitter face, looked around, his gaze lingering on a nearly empty Lin's Noodle Shop not far away for a moment, before turning to ask his young mistress:

"Brother, how about we go check out that place?"