Chapter 57: Teahouse, Money-Making Opportunity!

"Dad, why are we here?"

Big Dog stood in front of a teahouse, looking somewhat awkward.

What a magnificent place.

Were they really going inside?

Erniu also looked at Li Feng.

"Hmm!" Li Feng nodded. "Since we've just arrived in Huaiyang County and want to sell our goods, we first need to find out where in Huaiyang County our goods are needed!"

"Teahouses and flow... *cough cough!*" Li Feng stopped himself before saying the word "flower-houses" because there were two young boys with him; he didn't want to corrupt their minds.

Originally, he had wanted to visit a pleasure house. The people who frequented those places had some status and background; anyone who could afford to drink wine and carouse with courtesans would naturally have some spare silver in their pockets. Sharing a drink with them would surely yield some interesting gossip!

It was just unfortunate that the timing wasn't right today!

Big Dog and Erniu didn't suspect anything and followed Li Feng into the teahouse.

Li Feng was dressed in a linen robe with a belt at his waist. Although it wasn't made of precious materials, wearing it instantly elevated his appearance a notch above ordinary commoners.

Even though Li Feng had an honest, rustic face and tanned skin, no one dared to look down on him in the slightest!

Add to that the way Big Dog and Erniu kept a protective posture, making them look just like servants guarding their master.

Invisibly, this added an air of status and mystery to Li Feng!

"How many of you, sir?" A waiter hurried over, asking politely.

"Has the good show started yet?" Li Feng asked.

Hearing this, the waiter immediately recognized a connoisseur. He answered at once, "It's about to begin! Would the esteemed guest prefer a seat in the main hall or a private booth on the second floor?"

"A private booth on the second floor!" Li Feng said as he lifted his foot and headed towards the stairs.

Big Dog and Erniu both kept their heads lowered.

They didn't dare to speak.

They didn't really know what they were afraid of, but they felt utterly out of place!

Seeing the two boys acting this way, the waiter became even more convinced that they were attendants running errands. Consequently, his attitude toward Li Feng grew exceptionally deferential.

"Right away, please go on up, sir!"

The waiter led the way, finding an empty table for Li Feng.

"Have a seat, both of you." Once seated, Li Feng told Big Dog and Erniu.

The two boys nodded and sat down one by one.

Watching this, the waiter's favorable impression of Li Feng rose another notch. What a kind and gentle master!

"What would you like to drink, sir?" The waiter asked, his face wreathed in smiles as he introduced their tea selections.

"Regular teas are thirty to forty cash per pot, and they come with a few small snacks."

"If you prefer pre-rains tea, the price is slightly higher, fifty to sixty cash a pot."

As he spoke, the waiter observed Li Feng's expression. Seeing that Li Feng remained silent, he continued, "Of course, our shop has recently introduced a new beverage called osmanthus brew. The guests might want to give it a try!"

"Then bring us a pot of osmanthus brew along with some melon seeds and fruit!"

"Right away, please wait just a moment!"

The waiter beamed with warmth. After noting down the order, he turned and headed downstairs.

Big Dog and Erniu were still recovering from the shock.

They hadn't yet gotten over the idea of tea costing dozens of cash a pot.

A county town truly lived up to its name; everything was so expensive.

Their father was certainly generous, spending so much money just on tea!

He had already bought new clothes, there was still rice and flour at home, and they had meat from time to time—was there any silver left?

In their minds, the money earned from a single wild boar couldn't possibly withstand this kind of spending!

Looking worried, Erniu asked in a hushed voice, "Dad, do we still have enough money?"

Li Feng paused for a moment before replying, "Why are you borrowing trouble? Your father has his own ways!"

"Oh!"

With those words from Li Feng, Erniu let out a sigh of relief, while Big Dog clutched the bundle in his hands even more tightly and vigilantly.

That bundle contained all their silver; absolutely nothing could go wrong with it!

"Here is your tea!"

The waiter walked over carrying a tray holding a pot of tea, three cups, a plate of melon seeds, and some sliced sweet melon.

Just this little bit of food and drink cost dozens of cash!

Big Dog felt a pang of heartache.

Erniu glanced at Li Feng, then deliberately tried to mimic Li Feng's steady and composed demeanor.

"This is freshly brewed osmanthus brew, seventy-eight cash in total, sir. How does that sound?" The waiter placed the tray on the table and looked at Li Feng.

It was a rule of their establishment.

Pay upon serving the tea.

Since foot traffic was high, the owner feared people trying to take advantage and slip away without paying.

Li Feng took out a piece of silver and tossed it onto the table.

One tenth of a tael of silver was worth a hundred cash. After deducting the tea money, there were still dozens of cash left.

Instead of asking for change, Li Feng asked, "Are there any interesting stories going around Huaiyang County lately?"

"Well..." The waiter was momentarily stunned, unsure of where to begin.

"The rest of the money is yours if you tell us what interesting things have been happening in Huaiyang County."

Li Feng proactively steered the conversation. "Isn't the prefectural examination coming up soon? Surely there's some fresh news about that?"

Hearing that money was up for grabs, the waiter's mind started turning.

The pot of tea cost seventy-eight cash.

The melon seeds were a complimentary gift from the shop.

The sweet melon wasn't expensive either; their teahouse sold it for three to four cash a plate.

Altogether, it came to eighty-two cash.

Leaving eighteen cash.

Telling a story for eighteen cash—that was a good deal!

The waiter's brain worked at high speed. A moment later, his eyes lit up as he said to Li Feng, "If you're talking about fresh news, there certainly is some!"

"With the prefectural examination just around the corner, and both the prefectural and county examinations being held this year—though at different times—"

"In preparation for the August examinations, the provincial inspectors have all made their preparations. And since our Huaiyang County is the seat of Qinghe Commandery, the Prefect himself has been quite stressed over the matter!"

"I hear they've been searching everywhere for a skilled chef recently, though nobody knows what it's for!"

"This is no secret in Huaiyang County. The storyteller at our teahouse has already woven it into a tale, which is apparently on today's program. You can listen to it later; he'll definitely explain it much clearer than I can!"

"Aside from that..."

The waiter pondered deeply for a moment before continuing, "Aside from the Prefect's affairs, there is another very curious matter!"

"I wonder if you've heard of the wealthy Estate-holder Wang's family?"

Li Feng shook his head. "Not really familiar with them."

The waiter glanced at Li Feng with a hint of surprise. How could someone not have heard of Estate-holder Wang?

Never mind, though.

It was even better if he didn't know. Once he finished telling this story, the eighteen cash would be safely in his pocket, and after his shift, he could buy his wife some nice treats!

"Then let me tell you all about it," the waiter said, lowering his voice. "Estate-holder Wang's youngest son—the apple of his eye—has gone missing!"

"And they still haven't found him!"

"The prefectural yamen has deployed all their men, but there's simply no trace yet. Rumor has it that the child was abducted, and he likely won't make it out alive!"

"Tell me, what is the use of having all that wealth if you can't even protect your own son?"

With that, the waiter picked up his tray and said to Li Feng, "That's all the freshest news in Huaiyang County. As you know, our teahouse makes its living by this; our information is always a step ahead of ordinary folks."

"I guarantee it's all true!"

"You might as well stay and listen to the storytelling. If you need anything else, just ring the bell whenever you please."

He pointed to a small bronze bell sitting beside Li Feng.

Understanding, Li Feng nodded.

As soon as the waiter walked away, Big Dog's face turned pale.

"Dad, is this prefectural city really this unsafe? Even a wealthy estate-holder's son can just be snatched away?"

Li Feng raised an eyebrow without answering.

He poured a cup of tea for each of the boys. "Stop worrying about that. Have a taste?"

He had already obtained the information he wanted. Once they finished their tea, it would be time to get down to business.