The eighth day of the fifth month—auspicious for opening markets and traveling, inauspicious for installing doors and repairing tombs.

On Qingxing Street, the shop that originally sold cosmetics and powder finally put up its new sign, satisfying many people’s curiosity.

“There Is a Tavern—” A scholarly-dressed young man read out the four large characters on the sign one by one, shaking his head repeatedly.

An illiterate burly man curiously examined the tavern and casually asked the scholar: “Excuse me, what’s this tavern called?”

“There Is a Tavern.”

“I know it’s a tavern. I’m asking the tavern’s name.”

“It IS ‘There Is a Tavern’!” The scholar shook his head and sighed, clasping his hands behind his back as he walked away.

Such a vulgar, straightforward name—clearly it was opened for those crude, illiterate folk.

Forget it, forget it. Better to go drink tea at the teahouse across the street.

The burly man left behind had his curiosity piqued instead and strode inside to ask: “Shopkeeper, what’s your tavern called?”

The female shopkeeper, who had been calculating accounts with her head down, looked up. The burly man’s eyes immediately brightened.

Oh my, a mature woman with lingering charm!

What a treat for the eyes.

Before the female shopkeeper could speak, a clear, sweet voice rang out: “Can’t you read? It’s written on the sign.”

The burly man’s face immediately darkened at these words.

What rude little girl was speaking so harshly?

He looked toward the voice and couldn’t help but freeze.

This tavern was somewhat strange—having a beautiful female shopkeeper was one thing, but there was even a charming and cute female waiter!

Seeing things weren’t right, the female shopkeeper quickly smoothed things over: “Good sir, you should know our tavern is called ‘There Is a Tavern.'”

“This name…” The burly man thought for a long time and squeezed out three words: “Really straightforward.”

Hearing this evaluation, the female shopkeeper’s mouth twitched rapidly.

She also thought it was too perfunctory, but the shop name was chosen by the new owner, and everyone else praised it, making her doubt herself for a time.

Looking at this customer’s reaction, clearly she was the normal one.

The burly man surveyed the tavern. Seeing the main hall’s bright windows and clean tables, the brand-new tables and chairs, he couldn’t help but nod.

Though the shop name was odd, for the sake of its cleanliness, he could give it a try. As the first customer, maybe he’d even get half price.

The burly man sat down, assuming a bold and generous posture: “What wine and dishes do you have? Bring out your specialties.”

Though he couldn’t read, he had money!

The female shopkeeper’s mouth twitched rapidly again before she said: “Our tavern doesn’t open at midday. If you want wine and food, sir, you might come during dinner time.”

“What?” The burly man was stunned.

As a smooth operator who had managed the cosmetics shop prosperously with great capability, the female shopkeeper felt somewhat ashamed. With good temper she explained: “Our ‘There Is a Tavern’ only does evening service.”

Her temper wasn’t always this good, but the new owner’s rules were just too customer-repelling.

The burly man slammed the table forcefully and glared: “Shopkeeper, are you making fun of me?”

He’d never heard of a tavern that didn’t do lunch service.

They must be bullying him for being illiterate and refusing to serve him!

Getting angrier the more he thought about it, the burly man slammed the table again.

A whirlwind rushed over with a shout: “Who’s here to wreck the place?”

The burly man looked at the youth who’d rushed before him and was stunned again, even unable to resist rubbing his eyes.

Even the bouncer had delicate features—was this really a tavern?

Thinking of the odd rule of only opening for evening service, the burly man suddenly understood.

“I get it, I get it. I’ll come back in the evening.” The burly man cupped his hands toward the handsome youth and walked away with a grin.

Sheng Sanlang stroked his chin and asked the female shopkeeper: “Shopkeeper, don’t you feel that hoodlum’s smile was a bit off?”

The female shopkeeper’s face was expressionless: “No.”

The most off thing was clearly this tavern itself!

Seeing the female shopkeeper say this, Sheng Sanlang chuckled: “Then I’m going back to the kitchen.”

Hong Dou threw her sweat towel onto the table: “I’m going to look too.”

In the blink of an eye, only the female shopkeeper remained in the main hall. After pondering for a long time, she silently closed the tavern’s main door.

No, she needed to have a good talk with the new owner.

Sheng Sanlang didn’t run into the kitchen but stopped outside it, longingly staring at three large pots arranged in a row.

The three large pots were half a person’s height, their lids pressed on tightly, with bubbling sounds audible from inside.

After staring at the first large pot for quite a while, Sheng Sanlang raised his voice to ask: “Cousin, when will the braised beef be ready?”

Luo Sheng walked out from the kitchen, wiping her hands with a handkerchief: “This is prepared for tomorrow. The beef needs to soak for sufficient time to absorb the flavor.”

Sheng Sanlang sighed regretfully.

He’d personally watched Cousin crack open a beef shank bone, blanch it, and place it at the bottom of the pot, then add dozens of pounds of beef with secret seasonings to cook together.

Just thinking about slowly stewing on low heat to extract the bone marrow, then having large chunks of beef gradually absorb the delicious broth—he knew how fragrant it would be.

Sheng Sanlang pounced toward the second large pot: “Cousin, what about this pot of roasted pig’s head?”

He’d also watched when Cousin led Xiu Gu in making the roasted pig’s heads.

This pot of five-spice sauce had been prepared early yesterday morning and left sitting until today, then several pig heads fried to a bright red were added to continue simmering on low heat.

In such hot weather, he’d been worried this pot of sauce might spoil.

Though the fragrance made his legs unable to move, his conscience compelled him to ask clearly.

Just then Xiu Yue came out. Hearing this, she said seriously: “The sauce is supposed to be left to turn slightly sour. The roasted pig’s head will be more fragrant, tender, and soft—this is the secret of this dish.”

Saying this, she couldn’t help glancing at Luo Sheng.

Early yesterday morning when Miss Luo instructed her to prepare a pot of five-spice sauce to save for the opening, she’d had a premonition. Sure enough, today’s work was processing several pig’s heads.

More than anyone, she wanted to know where Miss Luo had learned this secret technique.

The secret method for braising pig’s head was learned by one of the Prince’s Manor cooks from an ancient text—it supposedly hadn’t spread at all…

Xiu Yue realized she was overthinking again.

“It’s not spoiled?” Sheng Sanlang couldn’t bear to hear the words “fragrant, tender, and soft” and immediately swallowed.

So fragrant—even if it had spoiled, he’d eat it. At worst, he’d call for a physician!

“Young Master Cousin, stop causing trouble. This pot of roasted pig’s head is a drinking snack the tavern will sell. How could it be spoiled?” Hong Dou gave Sheng Sanlang an eye roll.

“I was just asking.” Sheng Sanlang silently swallowed and looked regretfully at the third pot.

This pot pained his heart even more.

He’d watched unblinkingly as Cousin put two old hens, two fat ducks, several pork knuckles, over ten pork bones into the pot…

But in the end, she actually fished all of these out and discarded them, keeping only the broth.

Cousin said this broth was for pouring over Yangchun noodles.

Yangchun noodles clearly weren’t made like this!

Sheng Sanlang’s gaze became vacant, with only one thought: hungry.

Just then the female shopkeeper walked over. After steadying herself, she bravely resisted the corruption of the meat fragrance and said righteously: “Owner, regarding the prices of the wine and food, I’d like to discuss them with you.”

“Go ahead.” Luo Sheng walked toward the main hall.

The female shopkeeper hurriedly followed.

“One hundred taels of silver for one roasted pig’s head?”

“Mm.”

“Ten taels of silver for a small bowl of wine?”

“Mm.”

The female shopkeeper took a deep breath: “That’s all well and good, but five taels of silver for one bowl of Yangchun noodles?”

Luo Sheng furrowed her brows: “Set too low?”