Chapter 41: Opening Day and Dou Qianli, the Unexpected Guest - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 41: Opening Day and Dou Qianli, the Unexpected Guest You experimented with numerous wine recipes and, through a stroke of luck, developed a rather unusual concoction. You named this special recipe "Immortal's Drunkenness." The reason? No matter how much one drinks, they'll inevitably fall into a deep slumber for three days upon lying down. Guo Lin almost thought you'd never awaken when she found you in an unending sleep. When you finally did, she was so overjoyed she embraced you tightly for a long time. Your relationship grew ever stronger. With the continuous operation of the brewing room, you accumulated enough wine. Setting the opening date was on your agenda, and you decided to open on the winter solstice. First, you needed to hire some staff. In the end, you employed two bright young lads as waiters for 2 qian of silver per month, along with a woman in her thirties to handle cleaning and laundry. Additionally, you recruited two cooks to assist in the kitchen. Guo Lin took on the responsibility of bookkeeping herself. With all preparations complete and fireworks crackling, you opened on the winter solstice. However, on the opening day of Yue Lai House, business was dismal—not a single customer came. Privately investigating, you discovered that "Spring Guest" across the way was offering promotional discounts on the day of your opening, drawing all the customers. At this point, you have several choices: Option 1: Under the cover of night, set fire to "Spring Guest," locking its doors and attempting to eliminate everyone inside. Option 2: Emulate "Spring Guest" by running promotional discounts, accepting short-term losses to build up a reputation. Option 3: Offer a free first drink, showcasing your osmanthus wine, and introduce promotional meal packages to attract passersby. Staring at the first option of becoming a villainous arsonist, Su Mo immediately dismissed it as a joke. How could he possibly choose that? Previously, when unaware of rewards associated with "Qingyuan Life," he might have chosen it, but now with higher evaluations promising rewards, he wouldn't select such an option unless absolutely necessary. As for the second option, Su Mo was unwilling. After considering various operational expenses and the costs of brewing and sourcing ingredients, there were less than 50 taels of silver remaining. He couldn't afford losses. The only feasible plan now was to introduce promotional packages. Offering a free first drink was a manageable expense. The profit margin on wine was unrivaled—a single cup of osmanthus wine cost less than a bowl of porridge to make, yet sold for three to four times the price of porridge. You chose the third option. On the second day of opening, you launched a fanfare campaign offering the first cup of osmanthus wine for free, and introduced three tiered meal packages. The basic package consisted of mixed fish potstickers with a pot of osmanthus wine for 25 wen, aimed at attracting lower-tier consumers like porters and peddlers. The mid-tier package included roasted lamb, egg drop soup, and ale, priced at 110 wen, targeting the gentry and scholars. The premium package featured meticulously crafted crab roe soup dumplings, stir-fried venison, and wild mushroom soup with Immortal's Drunkenness, priced at 400 wen—a substantial sum equivalent to over half a tael of silver. Even Guo Lin felt your pricing was excessively steep, unlikely to entice even affluent merchants. You explained with a smile. "This package isn't intended to sell; it's a curiosity hook, which in turn boosts the sales of the other two packages." "Besides, we might get the occasional fool wanting to try it, and if they get drunk, we can charge them for three days of room expenses." Hearing your words, Guo Lin beamed and complimented your business acumen. Soon, the promotional packages debuted. With your exceptional culinary skills, you maintained confidence. Upon hearing of the free drink with meals, some booze enthusiasts streamed in. However, they all chose the lowest tier package: mixed fish potstickers and osmanthus wine. Despite limited seasoning, you took care to make the fish potstickers flavorful with a fresh broth, crispy outside and tender inside. Customers raved, claiming it was the best fish potstickers they’d ever tasted. The osmanthus wine was also a hit, with its sweet, pleasant flavor. For 25 wen, the meal seemed an incredible bargain to everyone. Yet, no one had yet ordered a higher-tier package. After a full day of sales, the inexpensive fish you procured sold out, signaling a successful opening despite modest profits. Just as you were about to close, an unexpected guest arrived. The customer was shrouded in a black cloak, his features obscured; his frame suggested an elderly stoop. Initially ordering the basic package, you informed him the fish potstickers were sold out, needing restocking from the fishmonger the next day. He didn't leave, instead choosing the mid-tier package. Overjoyed, you swiftly prepared roasted lamb, egg drop soup, and ale for him. Upon tasting ale for the first time, clearly astonished, the guest ordered much more. To preserve its freshness and fizz, you specially ordered a large wooden barrel capable of holding 500 jin of ale. The mysterious guest continually requested ale, neglecting the lamb and soup. Thrilled with the big client, you had the waiters help clean the kitchen while you personally attended him. Your ale mugs were large, bamboo-crafted; the guest stopped after a whopping thirty-four mugs, impressive by any measure. You saw a cascade of silver beckoning. As he swayed to leave following his final ale, his hood slipped enough for a glimpse of a face ashen yellow like aged paper soaked in wax, dark and unsettlingly glossy. The sight made your scalp tingle with dread—what kind of entity was this? Noting your reaction, the guest belched and clapped your shoulder. "Kid, your booze ain't bad." "Remember the name Dou Qianli. If you ever need help, seek me out at the Grey Smoke Pavilion." With that, Dou Qianli placed a tael of silver on the table, staggering away. Bewildered by such an eerie customer, your heart raced—what do you do? Option 1: Happily pocket Dou Qianli's silver, close up, and enjoy an evening with Guo Lin. Option 2: Deduct what he owes and promptly catch up to return the rest. Option 3: Pursue him to return the money, declaring the meal's on you. Dou Qianli? Su Mo was taken aback, not expecting to attract Dou Qianli, a known acquaintance of Xiao Qing. Previous experiences suggested Dou Qianli was a benevolent monster. He supervised the Grey Smoke Pavilion, the largest intel organization in Qinglin County's dual realms. With his protection, few demons would dare trouble you. With this in mind, Su Mo instantly chose the third option. Seeing Dou Qianli's swaying departure, you hurried after him. "Sir, it's an honor having you dine here; I could never accept your money, this meal's on me!" Hearing this, Dou Qianli halted, twisting his head without moving his body to peer at you. "Kid, you're alright, but ol' Dou never dines for free." "Take it back. There’ll be plenty of meals to come." After speaking, Dou Qianli vanished into a black mist. Witnessing such a bizarre event, you were truly startled. But with the solid weight of the silver ingot in your hand, you quickly brushed off any lingering fear. In a world so vast, money takes precedence! (End of Chapter)