The meal was thoroughly enjoyed. Grand Marshal Luo’s party emerged from the private room and descended the stairs.

Only two or three tables of diners remained in the main hall, with one crimson figure being the most conspicuous.

From the corner of his eye, Grand Marshal Luo glanced in that direction and had a thought: Prince Kaiyang comes to eat every day—why doesn’t he gain weight?

Looking at Sheng Sanlang again, though his face was still handsome, it had become much rounder compared to when he first arrived in the capital.

Being rounder was better.

Unlike Prince Kaiyang, who not only ate for free but also ate without gaining anything.

Grumbling internally, Grand Marshal Luo walked over to greet him: “Prince, enjoying your wine?”

Wei Han set down his wine cup: “I’ve finished.”

Having said this, he stood up, nodded slightly at Luo Sheng, exchanged greetings with Grand Marshal Luo, and walked toward the wine shop entrance.

“Was that Prince Kaiyang?” Second Uncle Sheng asked.

As Grand Marshal Luo walked outside, he said: “Indeed it was.”

“So remarkably young.” Second Uncle Sheng sighed. “Sheng’er’s wine shop truly does serve high officials and nobles.”

Grand Marshal Luo felt honored: “Sheng’er has been thoughtful since childhood.”

Because this wine shop was opened by a young lady, even with the gathering of officials and nobles, it wouldn’t invite criticism.

If he wanted to curry favor with any particular official, going through the wine shop would be quite convenient.

Of course, he had no need to do such things at the moment.

But he had benefited considerably—people like Grand Libationer Lin and others who had been indifferent toward him now showed him some smiles when they met.

He figured these old fellows wanted him to give them discounts, right?

Discounts? Absolutely not—he wanted to spend money but couldn’t even get to eat, so how could he give those people discounts?

At this moment, he heard Second Uncle Sheng say quietly: “I don’t know if I saw incorrectly, but Prince Kaiyang seemed to leave without paying.”

He had actually wanted to hold back from asking, but since he managed all the family’s business ventures outside, with accounts and such needing to be kept crystal clear, he couldn’t stand seeing this sort of thing.

Grand Marshal Luo coughed but said nothing.

He had long wanted to ask about this, but considering that Sheng’er had once pulled at Prince Kaiyang’s belt, he had forcefully restrained himself from asking.

What if Sheng’er was trying to win Prince Kaiyang over with good food?

He couldn’t ruin his daughter’s prospects.

Though Grand Marshal Luo remained silent, Luo Sheng spoke up: “Prince Kaiyang prepaid ten thousand taels of silver. Each time he dines, the cost is deducted directly from the prepayment.”

Second Uncle Sheng stumbled and nearly fell: “How, how much?”

“Ten thousand taels of silver.”

Second Uncle Sheng’s eyes went vacant: “That should last several years, right?”

Sheng Sanlang interjected: “If he came to eat every day, calculating about three hundred taels per meal, it would barely last a month.”

Second Uncle Sheng’s body swayed, and he dared not speak anymore.

He might have some misconceptions about life in the capital—he should research things clearly before deciding whether to establish enterprises in the capital.

Grand Marshal Luo, however, said with an inexplicable tone: “So that’s how it is.”

All this time, he had misunderstood.

But Prince Kaiyang eating through ten thousand taels of silver in a month—that wouldn’t do either. He had no idea how to manage household finances.

That said, Prince Kaiyang did have quite substantial family assets.

Grand Marshal Luo felt quite conflicted—sometimes thinking Prince Kaiyang was quite good, other times finding faults everywhere.

In the end, he slapped his forehead.

Whether Prince Kaiyang was good or bad—what business was it of his? Why was he worrying so much about it? Tomorrow he should just bring his brother-in-law to the wine shop to openly dine together—that was what mattered.

The next day, everything proceeded as usual.

Luo Sheng saw the thoroughly satisfied Grand Marshal Luo and Second Uncle Sheng to the wine shop entrance: “Father and Uncle should go ahead. I’ll stay behind to manage the wine shop a bit.”

Grand Marshal Luo nodded and looked toward Luo Chen: “What about Chen’er?”

“I’ll return together with elder sister.”

Sheng Sanlang blinked.

After eating at the wine shop for two consecutive days, his cousin was calling her “elder sister” more and more smoothly.

Actually, if he could eat the meals his cousin made for a lifetime, he’d be willing to call her “elder sister” too.

Thinking about how he would eventually have to return to Jinsha, Sheng Sanlang felt utterly melancholic.

Luo Chen returned to the main hall. After thinking for a moment, he picked up a white hand towel, draped it over his shoulder, and headed toward the back kitchen.

Sheng Sanlang couldn’t help but laugh: “Cousin Chen, you don’t look like a shop assistant at all like that.”

Luo Chen coolly countered: “Which one does?”

Sheng Sanlang touched his nose, at a loss for words.

Luo Chen entered the back courtyard and saw a dark-faced young man carrying a book bag entering through the back door.

“Auntie, I’m back.”

An ugly-faced woman emerged from the back kitchen, holding a plate of steamed buns in her hands, saying gently: “Xiao Qi, you must be hungry. Wash your hands first and eat some buns to tide you over. We’ll have a proper meal after closing.”

The dark-faced young man hurriedly wiped his hands and grabbed a steamed bun to stuff into his mouth.

The bun had thin skin and generous filling, with fresh and fragrant juice that made the young man gasp from the heat.

Luo Sheng came out and, seeing Xiao Qi wolfing down the food, chided: “Eat slowly, no one’s competing with you.”

Xiao Qi swallowed the bun and smiled, showing white teeth: “It’s too delicious.”

Xiu Yue took a handkerchief and wiped the corner of Xiao Qi’s mouth, smiling: “Of course it’s delicious. The young lady heard you like shrimp filling, so today she specially selected fresh large prawns to make buns. The filling was personally prepared by the young lady herself.”

Xiao Qi scratched his head embarrassedly: “The proprietress is too good to me.”

Just for letting the proprietress look at his bottom once, not only was he provided with education in both letters and martial arts, but he also got such delicious food every day—thinking about it, it was truly too fortunate.

As for whether she’d raise him a bit bigger before sending him to “raise geese,” thinking about it seriously, he could actually accept that…

Luo Sheng looked at Xiao Qi, her gaze gentle: “Xiu Gu and I get along well. You’re Xiu Gu’s nephew, so you’re almost like my younger brother.”

In the night, a breeze stirred.

The young man’s brows were like ink paintings, his eyes like dots of lacquer, and his jade-white face gradually grew cold and rigid.

Almost like a younger brother?

Luo Chen walked over, tilting his head slightly upward to ask Luo Sheng: “Who is he?”

During these years he wasn’t in the capital, had Luo Sheng acknowledged another younger brother?

“He’s Xiu Gu’s nephew.” Seeing Luo Chen’s gaze sweep toward Xiu Gu, Luo Sheng added: “Xiu Gu is the wine shop’s head chef. The wine and dishes you’ve eaten these past two days were all made by Xiu Gu.”

The young man wasn’t deflected at all and said coolly: “The bun filling was prepared by you.”

“I occasionally lend a hand in the kitchen.” Luo Sheng picked up a plump white bun from the plate and offered it over. “Would you like to try one?”

Luo Chen looked away and said coldly: “Not hungry.”

Luo Sheng turned instead to offer it to Xiao Qi: “Xiao Qi, will you have another?”

Xiao Qi quickly nodded and reached out to take it.

A hand reached across and took the bun away.

Xiao Qi looked at Luo Chen in bewilderment.

Luo Chen looked at him calmly.

If this dark little brat dared to act arrogant relying on Luo Sheng’s special regard, he wouldn’t be polite.

Xiao Qi displayed a big smile: “The buns are good—you should eat it while it’s hot.”

There were still several buns left on the plate—why was the proprietress’s younger brother looking like he wanted to kill him?

Luo Chen glanced at him askance, clutched the bun, and walked away.

“If you squeeze it too hard it’ll leak and burn you,” Xiao Qi called out from behind.

Luo Chen’s steps paused, then he quickened his pace.

After Xiao Qi finished eating the buns and went to do miscellaneous tasks, Xiu Yue said uneasily: “Miss, Young Master Luo and Xiao Qi don’t seem to get along.”

Luo Sheng smiled: “It’s fine. Luo Chen is hard-mouthed but soft-hearted—he won’t bully Xiao Qi.”

Having more younger brothers also brought some troubles.