The female shopkeeper nearly spat blood in the new owner’s face.

She finally understood—when the new owner had casually tossed out a ten-thousand-tael banknote to buy this shop, it wasn’t bold generosity at all, but complete ignorance of the world.

“Owner, do you… know how much a bowl of Yangchun noodles costs at a street stall?”

Luo Sheng thought for a moment and said: “Ten copper coins?”

The female shopkeeper’s tears streamed down her face.

Clearly she understood perfectly well—so why was she being so absurd when it came to her own tavern?

Feeling she could still salvage things before the tavern opened, the female shopkeeper said tactfully: “Owner, isn’t five taels of silver per bowl for our Yangchun noodles a bit expensive?”

Five taels of silver—one could eat a bowl of street Yangchun noodles every day for a year and still have money left over!

Luo Sheng raised her eyebrows.

So she thought the pricing was too high.

This pricing was something she’d calculated carefully.

For a tavern meant to operate long-term, charging Prince Kaiyang one hundred taels of silver for a bowl of minced meat noodles like on the road to the capital definitely wouldn’t work.

After all, there weren’t many people that foolish with that much money.

She was opening this tavern to lure certain people in—she couldn’t scare the fish away.

But precisely because the tavern was aimed at certain people and didn’t need crowds of customers, she also couldn’t set the prices too low.

Five taels of silver for a bowl of absolutely delicious Yangchun noodles—this price was just right.

“Our Yangchun noodles are worth this price.”

The female shopkeeper’s lips trembled as she wanted to argue further.

What noodles were worth this price? Did they contain golden quail eggs?

Hong Dou impatiently rolled her eyes: “Shopkeeper, can’t you be a bit more generous? Is five taels of silver for a bowl of Yangchun noodles expensive? Someone even paid one hundred taels of silver for a bowl of minced meat noodles our miss made.”

“One hundred taels?” Even the shrewd and steady female shopkeeper’s voice changed.

This had to be a joke, right?

The female shopkeeper instinctively looked at Luo Sheng.

The owner’s expression was calm.

The female shopkeeper looked again at Sheng Sanlang dressed as a waiter.

Sheng Sanlang held up one hand: “One hundred taels of silver per bowl of minced meat noodles, and someone ate five bowls in one go.”

The female shopkeeper’s eyes went vacant: “There are such fools?”

Sheng Sanlang laughed: “No one’s a fool. They’re willing to pay this price naturally because it’s worth it.”

Saying this, he turned to ask Shi Yan who’d come to help: “Right, Shi Yan?”

Shi Yan’s face was expressionless: “Right. I think the Yangchun noodles should also sell for one hundred taels of silver per bowl.”

So what if he ate three bowls of one-hundred-tael minced meat noodles?

The female shopkeeper once again fell into deep self-doubt.

They say every trade has its specialization—perhaps she, a cosmetics shop manager, simply wasn’t qualified to be a tavern manager.

The meat fragrance from behind grew increasingly strong. Amid a crackling of firecrackers, the tavern officially opened.

Passersby curiously stopped, and some entered the tavern with a try-it-and-see attitude.

At this time, the sun was setting but not yet fallen, hanging at the horizon. The main hall would normally be quite dim.

But this tavern was different—the main hall was exceptionally bright.

Tables and long benches were neatly arranged, clean and crisp.

Combined with the faint meat fragrance wafting over, those who’d curiously entered suddenly couldn’t move their feet.

If they couldn’t move, might as well sit down and try it.

Many people sat down with this thought.

“What would you like, sir?” Sheng Sanlang had a snow-white sweat towel draped over his shoulder, asking with a beaming smile.

Seeing the waiter was so handsome he didn’t quite look like a waiter anymore, the seated person hesitated before saying: “Bring a pot of wine and a plate of drinking snacks.”

This tavern wasn’t large, so the food prices would definitely be much cheaper than a restaurant. Spending a bit of money to try something new wasn’t bad.

“Right away!” Sheng Sanlang agreed with a smile.

Though he felt heartache for the roasted pig’s head about to be sold, an excellent waiter couldn’t just hope nothing sold so he could eat it himself.

Seeing Sheng Sanlang about to serve the food, the female shopkeeper couldn’t sit still.

“Sheng… Sheng San, tell the customer the prices first.”

“Uh, one pot of wine is thirty taels, one plate of roasted pig’s head meat is fifteen taels. I suggest you buy a whole roasted pig’s head, sir—only one hundred taels of silver is enough.” Sheng Sanlang said very thoughtfully.

After he finished speaking, the main hall instantly became so quiet a pin drop could be heard. Then those who’d ordered and those who hadn’t all slammed their tables and stood up.

“Is this a bandit shop or what?”

Shi Yan appeared expressionlessly: “Clearly marked prices, honest to young and old alike.”

Seeing Shi Yan’s tall build and sharp gaze, those wanting to cause trouble gave up the thought.

Fortunately, they’d learned about this shop’s outrageous prices before settling the bill—no need to start a fight.

The group who’d entered out of curiosity left cursing and grumbling.

Soon after, several more people entered, heard the prices, and left cursing and grumbling.

Coming and going, watching as the sun set and the moon rose, not a single wine guest remained.

Hong Dou propped her chin, very puzzled: “Why won’t anyone try it?”

The female shopkeeper just wanted to roll her eyes.

Whose money was blown in by the wind?

Forget it. As a mere shopkeeper, she couldn’t control the owner. Might as well enjoy the leisure.

At the Grand Marshal’s Manor, Grand Marshal Luo asked his subordinate: “The tavern still has no customers?”

“None.”

Grand Marshal Luo sighed.

Sheng’er didn’t understand the hardships of common life and had set the wine and food prices too high.

Speaking of which, the hired shopkeeper also didn’t know better. If Sheng’er didn’t understand, surely the shopkeeper should?

Thinking of his daughter eagerly waiting until closing on the tavern’s first day without a single customer was truly pitiful, Grand Marshal Luo had an idea.

Minister Zhao seemed to still be busy at his office.

“Go tell Minister Zhao at the Ministry of Justice that a new tavern opened on Qingxing Street. If he has free time today, he can go try it—consider it my treat.”

The subordinate left with the order. Grand Marshal Luo sighed again.

Afraid of hurting his daughter’s pride, he couldn’t appear himself, nor could he order the Brocade-Scaled Guard to go.

As for common folk going to eat and drink heavily—that would be even more fake.

Minister Zhao was just right. Sheng’er definitely wouldn’t guess he’d arranged this shill.

Minister Zhao was indeed still at his office.

Recently a case had been causing headaches, and things had suddenly multiplied.

Hearing Grand Marshal Luo was treating, Minister Zhao was happy to give him face.

After all, no matter how busy, he still had to eat, and Qingxing Street was close by.

Rubbing his brow, Minister Zhao called his capable subordinate: “Lin Teng, let’s go drink.”

Lin Teng silently followed.

In the tavern, there was still not a single customer.

Sheng Sanlang rubbed his stomach and said with a smile: “Cousin, how about… we eat it ourselves?”

Luo Sheng was very calm: “Wait until closing.”

The female shopkeeper brought up the old topic: “Owner, let’s lower the wine and food prices.”

“No need.” Luo Sheng’s gaze lightly turned toward the entrance.

Based on her understanding of Grand Marshal Luo these past days, with the tavern opening today but having no customers, Grand Marshal Luo would at least find a shill to support his daughter’s business.

Who the shill was didn’t matter—after eating, the shill would also become a real customer anyway.

With one real customer, naturally there would be a second, a third…

Footsteps came from the entrance. The light shifted, and a male figure entered.

Luo Sheng saw clearly who it was and hesitated for a moment.

This one probably wasn’t a shill arranged by Grand Marshal Luo—he was a real wine guest.