Chapter 324: The First Guest

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

“Have you heard? A new restaurant has opened in our prefecture!”

“It’s diagonally opposite the Yinchuan Inn!”

“That’s right, that’s right. It’s the Spring Breeze Pavilion!”

“The owner of Spring Breeze Pavilion has gone crazy. During the first two days of opening, she has been giving everyone free food!”

“Lie to you? Why would I lie to you? I brought my mother to drink a big bowl of pork ribs soup this morning. My mother was lucky enough to taste two pork ribs!”

“Isn’t it just pork rib soup? Is it that exaggerated?”

“It’s not just pork ribs soup! Yesterday’s mutton buns were especially delicious! By the way, I heard that we can get cake tomorrow!”

…..

Peach Blossom Cottage.

Zhao Lanhua looked at Ji Zhao, who was excitedly making cakes, and wanted to say something but hesitated.

Ji Zhao also understood that her heart ached for the money she had spent, but she did not know how to explain it for a while. In fact, although it sounded like a lot of things had been given out in the past two days, they were all within her control.

She took advantage of consumers’ weakness for free things and successfully lit up the signboard of Spring Breeze Pavilion!

This was the advertising effect.

It had been open for three days and only gave out delicacies for free, but did not open for business. It had already piqued everyone’s curiosity.

Right on the heels of that, she wanted to make use of the consumers’ curiosity to let the delicacies of Spring Breeze Pavilion become deeply ingrained in people’s hearts.

“Ah Tao, your father and I are going back the day after tomorrow.” After the fire in the furnace stabilized, Zhao Lanhua said softly, “Now that we see that you and Third Brother are doing well, we’re relieved.”

“Mother, don’t you plan to stay in the prefecture city for a few more days?” Ji Zhao hurriedly raised her head and asked, her eyes filled with reluctance.

“We still have a plot of land at home,” Zhao Lanhua explained with a smile. “Ah Tao, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. I don’t quite understand why you didn’t welcome guests for the first three days of the Spring Breeze Pavilion’s opening and kept sending things out.”

“Mother, I…” Just as Ji Zhao was about to explain, Zhao Lanhua shook her head at her. “Don’t be anxious. Mother knows that you must have your reasons for doing this. Mother also knows that even if you explain it to me, I might not understand, so Mother endured it and didn’t ask.”

“Mother…” Ji Zhao couldn’t help but smile, but the corners of her eyes were clearly red.

A reasonable mother-in-law like Zhao Lanhua was the real deal!

“Besides, didn’t you say that Innkeeper Qian had already hired two waiters? Mother can’t help much if I stay here, so your father and I will return to Dingyuan County the day after tomorrow morning.”

“Then I’ll accompany you out for a walk tomorrow at noon? No matter what, you’ve already come to the prefecture capital. You have to bring some gifts for Grandfather and Second Sister-in-law, right?” Ji Zhao suggested with a bright smile.

“That’s true.” Zhao Lanhua quickly nodded. “Then I’ll listen to your arrangements!”

September 10th, the third day of the Spring Breeze Pavilion’s opening.

After giving out 66 portions of cake, someone finally came to inquire.

When Ji Zhao showed the menu and prices that she had specially designed, the customers who came to inquire were stunned.

So Spring Breeze Pavilion was not an ordinary restaurant?

No open dining? Only private rooms?

It was really rare to see someone open a tavern like this!

After learning that the Spring Breeze Pavilion had failed to complete a single transaction three days before its opening and had even spent tens of taels of silver, Qin Minghong could no longer sit still. He hurriedly ran over to the Peach Blossom Restaurant and looked at Ji Zhao with a blank expression.

“Ahem.” Ji Zhao could not help but cough lightly. “Brother Qin, if you continue to stare at me like this, when Shen Yao comes back, he will definitely beat you up~”

“The fire is about to burn your brows, and you’re still in the mood to tease me?” Qin Minghong really couldn’t understand. “Ah Tao, if you encounter any difficulties, just tell me!”

“Brother Qin, are you worried about Spring Breeze Pavilion?”

“What else could it be?”

“Brother Qin, you don’t have to worry.” Ji Zhao calmly drank the red bean sweet soup and said with a smile, “Business will come.”

Qin Minghong looked at her with an even more complicated gaze.

“Brother Qin, why don’t you think about it? Ever since you met me, have I ever made a loss?” Ji Zhao looked at his worried expression and felt touched.

Qin Minghong sincerely regarded her as a friend, which was why he was so worried about the business of Spring Breeze Pavilion.

However, Ji Zhao really knew what she was doing.

Mid-afternoon, Spring Breeze Pavilion welcomed its first guest.

“Madam Shen, this is Shopkeeper Lu of the Qing’an Rice Shop.” Innkeeper Qian of Yinchuan Inn helped introduce her. “Shopkeeper Lu, this is Madam Shen, whom I mentioned to you before. The shredded beef you tasted in my humble abode were personally made by Madam Shen.”

“Hello, Shopkeeper Lu.” Ji Zhao smiled generously and said in a hearty tone, “I wonder what kind of banquet Shopkeeper Lu wants to book?”

“I didn’t expect Madam Shen to be able to make such delicious beef shreds at such a young age.” Shopkeeper Lu had a simple and honest square face. He had thick eyebrows and big eyes. There was a small goatee on his chin. The most noticeable thing was the black nail-sized mole on his left cheek.

However, Shopkeeper Lu’s eyes were still clear and square.

“It’s like this. It’s my wife’s birthday in two days.” Shopkeeper Lu frankly explained his intentions. “I want to book a banquet to celebrate my wife’s birthday. I’m neighbors with Innkeeper Qian. A few days ago, Innkeeper Qian sent me a serving of the shredded beef. My wife likes it very much. In addition, I heard that Madam Shen opened a tavern, so I wanted Innkeeper Qian to bring me here to take a look.”

Understanding his intentions, Ji Zhao smiled and praised sincerely, “Shopkeeper Lu and Madam Lu have such a good relationship!”

“We’ve been husband and wife for thirty years,” Shopkeeper Lu said with a smile. “My wife likes to eat beef. Madam Shen, can you help me arrange it?”

“No problem.” Ji Zhao agreed with a smile and asked, “Shopkeeper Lu, will you and Madam Lu the only ones dining tomorrow?”

“Yes.” Shopkeeper Lu nodded hurriedly. “I want to make her happy.”

“Then I suggest you reserve a tempting romantic meal combo.” Ji Zhao smiled and suggested, “This combo is 30 taels, but you’re a guest introduced by Innkeeper Qian, so I can give you a 10% discount. What do you think?”

30 taels. After a 10% discount, it would be 27 taels?

It was not that Shopkeeper Lu could not afford this silver, but he was a little curious about what kind of dishes were worth so much silver.

“Shopkeeper Lu, I guarantee that the dishes and services of Spring Breeze Pavilion will satisfy you and your Madam,” Ji Zhao promised firmly. “If you still think this price is not worth it after tasting this romantic set meal, I can refund half of it.”

The hesitation in Shopkeeper Lu’s heart was completely dispelled after hearing these words.

“Okay!”