Duke of Zhenguan

On the fourth day after opening, at noon, Lin's Noodle Shop finally welcomed its third real customer.

An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a long hemp robe.

Lin Chuan specifically instructed Li Shi:

"Mother, cook the noodles a little longer, make them softer!"

"Old man, the noodles are ready, please enjoy!" Lin Chuan said softly as he placed the noodles in front of the old man.

The old man nodded, smelling the aroma emanating from the bowl. His somewhat cloudy eyes lit up slightly, and he couldn't wait to pick up his chopsticks, take a bite, and put it in his mouth.

After a moment, he nodded in satisfaction, then remembered something and suddenly waved to Lin Chuan.

"What are your instructions, sir? Is the noodle soup not to your liking?" Lin Chuan asked in confusion.

"Young man, the noodles taste very good, but I think it would taste even better if you sprinkled some chopped green onions on top!" the old man said softly.

Lin Chuan was pleasantly surprised that there were knowledgeable gourmets a thousand years ago, but then awkwardly explained:

"What you say is quite right, old man, but it's really hard to find fresh scallions at this time of year..."

The old man was stunned for a moment, then actually cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Lin Chuan:

"Young man, please don't be offended; it was just that this old man was confused!"

Lin Chuan was startled and quickly dodged:

"Sir, this won't do!"

"Haha, this is so delicious! It would be perfect with some fine wine. Do you have any wine here, young man?" the old man asked with a smile.

Eating noodles and drinking alcohol, could this old man be from Shanxi or Henan?

Lin Chuan paused for a moment, then remembered there was a small jar of wine under the counter. It was rare to encounter such a discerning connoisseur, so he wasn't too reluctant to part with just a jar of wine. He smiled and nodded.

"Yes, but it's not exactly fine wine! If you don't mind, sir..."

"Young man, why are you so slow? Take it out quickly!" The old man waved his hand.

Lin Chuan nodded, walked behind the counter, picked up a wine jar, and found a small bowl, then presented them to the old man:

"Please enjoy your meal, sir!"

The old man nodded, picked up the small jar, poured himself a cup, and the clear wine exuded a rich aroma. He swallowed, took a sip, and sighed softly.

"I never imagined I'd be able to drink such a fine wine in my lifetime!"

"..."

Lin Chuan, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but smile when he heard this. He hadn't expected that this old man was such a literary youth!

With a sip of wine and a bite of noodles, the old man moved with refined manners but was quite fast. In no time, he finished a full bowl of noodles and drank half a jar of wine.

The old man let out a contented burp, then took out a handkerchief from his sleeve to carefully wipe his mouth before taking out a purse from his bosom, counting out fifty coins, and handing it to Lin Chuan, saying apologetically:

"I'm short of money and can only afford the noodles; I'll bring the money for the wine tomorrow!"

After saying that, he took off the jade pendant hanging from his waist and handed it to Lin Chuan, saying with a smile:

"Please leave this jade pendant with the young master for now, and come back to collect it tomorrow!"

Lin Chuan reached out and took the fifty coins, but not the jade pendant, and said with a smile:

"Old man, the price is clearly marked here, so I'll accept it. However, this wine is for my own consumption; I didn't intend to sell it. I only brought it out today because we hit it off. How could I possibly accept payment for it from you!"

"Haha, what a perfect match! Then I won't stand on ceremony with you, young man! I'm also really craving the remaining half-jar, why don't you give it to me as well?"

The old man's straightforwardness surprised Lin Chuan, who smiled and nodded.

"It was originally a gift for my father-in-law!"

Perhaps the old man set a good precedent, because another customer came in at this time. After asking the price, he also felt it was expensive, but he still ordered a bowl.

Seeing that there were guests, the old man picked up his wine jar and bid farewell to Lin Chuan:

"Young master, please go ahead with your work. I'll come and bother you again another day!"

"Take care, sir!"

The diner who came in after the old man was very satisfied, paid his bill readily, and said he would come again next time.

After that, no more customers came in. He sold two bowls of noodles a day, earning 100 coins. If you include the jar of wine he gave away, he not only didn't make a profit, but actually lost a lot of money.

But Mrs. Li was very happy, finally she had guests.

Over the next two days, the number of customers gradually increased. On the sixth day of opening, they sold an unprecedented ten bowls of noodles. Li was so excited that she couldn't sleep for half the night.

On the seventh day, six bowls were sold in just one morning.

By noon, there weren't many customers in the shop, so Lin Chuan went to the backyard, and Li Shi sat behind the counter counting money.

Cheng Churou brought Cheng Chun to Lin's Noodle Shop again. As soon as they entered, she called out crisply to Lin Chuan behind the counter:

"Shopkeeper, two bowls of noodles, please!"

Seeing that it was a returning customer, Li's face immediately lit up with a smile, and she replied with a smile:

"Please have a seat, ladies!"

Upon hearing the words "young lady," Cheng Churou, dressed in men's clothing, was startled. Seeing that it was a woman who responded, she relaxed slightly and awkwardly said:

"I am a man..."

Li quickly changed her tune:

"...Young gentlemen, please have a seat. The noodles will be ready in a moment!"

At this moment, in the main hall of the Su Guogong Mansion in Huai De Fang.

Having just returned home from the palace, Cheng Yaojin, with the help of his wife Cui, removed his helmet, plopped down in a folding chair, glanced at his sons, and asked with a puzzled look:

"Rou'er isn't home?"

Cheng Chumo and his two older brothers quickly shook their heads.

Cui said softly:

"My lord, Rou'er has taken Cheng Chun out; she said she's going to the West Market!"

"Nonsense!"

Cheng Yaojin snorted coldly, but wasn't really angry. He said softly to Cui Shi:

"Rou'er is all grown up now, she can't continue to be so willful. Madam must discipline her properly!"

"You've spoiled your daughter so much that she's completely out of control. How am I, her stepmother, supposed to discipline her?"

Cui rolled her eyes at Cheng Yaojin, hesitated for a moment, and then said softly:

"My lord, Rou'er has been taking Cheng Chun out frequently lately, always saying she wants to go to the West Market, and she doesn't allow the guards from our household to come along..."

"Um?"

Cheng Yaojin jumped to his feet, his eyes wide open, and asked through gritted teeth:

"But whose beast is he mingling with?"

"My lord, please don't be anxious. Although Rou'er is a bit mischievous, how could she do such a thing? I sent someone to secretly follow her twice and found that Rou'er went to a food stall at the east entrance of the West Market every time."

"When I asked Rou'er, she wouldn't say anything. I was worried that she might be deceived..." Cui explained awkwardly.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin's anger flared up instantly, and he shouted loudly towards the door:

"Someone! Prepare the horses!"

A moment later, more than ten cavalrymen rushed out of Huaidefang and sped towards the West Market.

In Lin's Noodle Shop, Lin Chuan was dozing off behind the counter.

Cheng Chun had finished his noodles and was looking at Cheng Churou with a conflicted expression as she slowly ate.

After waiting for a while, he finally couldn't help but whisper a reminder:

"Madam, please eat quickly! If we get back late, the Duke will be off duty and going home!"

"What's there to be afraid of? Father is always busy until dark before he gets home. It's alright!" Cheng Churou said nonchalantly.

"Madam, what if..." Cheng Chun pleaded in a mournful voice.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Cheng Churou glared at Cheng Chun and said irritably.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a muffled thud of hooves sounded outside the door, followed by a roar as deep as thunder:

"You beast, get out here right now!"