After Liu Dalang arrived, a few more customers trickled in. Gu Tangjin informed each of them that the prices for today’s dishes had gone up.

For those who could read, Gu Tangjin simply had them look for themselves; for those who couldn’t, he smiled and read it out loud to them. This scared off quite a few customers!

A regular who often came for drinks asked in puzzlement, “Mr. Gu, haven’t you raised the prices on your dishes a bit too much?”

Gu Tangjin smiled and said, “We still have dishes that haven’t gone up in price. The ones that have gone up are the tastier ones—and even at this price, they’re still a bargain.”

He truly believed this. The ingredients provided by the young chef were top-notch, and Xia-ger had put extra care into the cooking today. At this price, it wasn’t expensive at all.

Seeing Gu Tangjin’s matter-of-fact demeanor, the man began to waver.

“Then give me a serving of ‘Koushui Chicken’—that’s such a strange name, I’d like to try it—plus a small pot of yellow wine and two steamed buns.” The regular customer, Mao Yongfu, said as he handed over a small piece of silver.

Gu Tangjin weighed the coin on the scale; it was a little over three liang. He retrieved some copper coins and handed them to Mao Yongfu.

“Right away, your dish will be out shortly.” Yao Tianlan quickly led him to a quiet corner and seated him, first bringing him a pot of yellow wine and a small wine cup.

She recognized the man; he was a well-known well-digger in the area, a true expert at finding water. Many people hired him to dig wells, and he made a decent living from it—though the work was grueling. He spent his days digging in the dirt and wading through water, and he was always on the move.

She heard his husband had passed away from an illness. He hasn’t remarried since, and he has no children. Every now and then, he comes by for some rice wine and a nice meal.

“Someone wants the Koushui Chicken!” Yao Tianlan called out as she jogged over to the kitchen.

“Mom, be careful—don’t rush,” Ji Rongxia said as he poured a small bowl of seasoned sauce over the sliced chicken.

The chicken was arranged neatly atop thickly sliced cucumber, and as the sauce was poured over, it trickled down through the gaps between the pieces, eventually soaking the cucumber slices.

Yao Tianlan picked up two steamed buns and placed them in a bowl, then took the Koushui chicken Ji Rongxia had prepared and hurried back to the restaurant. Yao Tianlan: “Here’s the Koushui Chicken, and some steamed buns.”

As soon as Mao Yongfu saw the bright red, spicy sauce glistening on the chicken, his appetite was instantly whetted. He picked up a piece of chicken and popped it into his mouth.

The chicken was tender and succulent; with every bite, the juices inside burst forth. The spicy, aromatic sauce was so mouth-watering that Mao Yongfu took a sip of rice wine and let out a satisfied sigh.

Delicious—absolutely delicious.

He never had chicken this good in his entire life!

No wonder such a small plate of chicken costs 160 wen!

It’s worth every penny!

For a moment, he forgot all about his steamed buns and even neglected his usual favorite rice wine; he quickly polished off the entire plate of Koushui chicken.

Only then did Mao Yongfu remember he still had steamed buns left. He simply tore the buns into small pieces, dipped them in the sauce, and ate them with slices of cucumber. The cucumber slices were crisp and refreshing with a hint of sweetness; once soaked in the sauce, they became spicy and aromatic. Taking a bite of this on a summer day was just as satisfying as eating meat.

He managed to clean the entire plate of Koushui chicken, leaving not a drop of the red oil behind!

Even after finishing, Mao Yongfu still felt unsatisfied. He poured himself a glass of rice wine, but after drinking it, he still felt a hollow emptiness inside. He wondered how many more times he could treat himself to a good meal like this.

“At worst, I’ll just have this one meal, then tighten my belt for the rest of the month and take on more work.” He gritted his teeth and waved, saying, “Bring me another plate of this koushui chicken.”

Yao Tianlan had been sighing as she watched her only customer, but upon hearing his call, she quickly replied, “Sure, sure, right away.” She immediately went to the kitchen and brought out another plate of mouth-watering chicken.

As soon as the Koushui chicken arrived, Mao Yongfu beamed with delight, his eyes brimming with joy as he looked at the dish. This time, he deliberately slowed down his eating, taking a bite of meat followed by a sip of wine—it was so delicious it made him feel like he was floating on air.

While some diners had been scared off, others who loved a good spectacle stayed behind, standing right by the doorway—not coming in, just watching. Gu Tangjin kept his head down, drawing, pretending not to notice.

“Is it really that good?”

“It’s 160 wen a plate—how could it not be?”

“Why don’t we go in and try some? Let’s split a dish. That ‘koushui chicken’ doesn’t sound like much, but it looks surprisingly tasty.”

“We’re already here—what’s the point of just standing outside? Why don’t the three of us chip in and buy a plate?” 

“Sounds good!”

The three of them walked inside. The one in the lead said to Gu Tangjin, “Proprietor, one plate of Koushui chicken and six steamed buns.” The three pooled their coins and handed them to Gu Tangjin.

Gu Tangjin: “Take a seat inside. Please wait a moment.”

Yao Tianlan, seeing another customer, couldn’t help but feel a bit giddy. Such an expensive dish, and yet someone was actually buying it.

After all, their signature dish—braised pork—used to cost only thirty wen. It was cheap and served in generous portions. A dish costing one hundred and sixty wen was somewhat beyond Yao Tianlan’s imagination.

The Koushui chicken they ordered was served quickly.

The moment they took a bite, they forgot all about the steamed buns and started scrambling for the chicken. There were only about twenty pieces of chicken on the plate, and with the three of them sharing, it was gone in no time. In the end, the three of them used their steamed buns to mop up the sauce, cleaning the plate of Koushui chicken completely.

“You know what? It really is delicious.”

“It’s just too expensive; otherwise, we’d order another plate.”

“It’s a treat for special occasions—we can’t afford to eat this all the time.”

Guan Hongchi came to buy braised pork rinds. As soon as he reached the entrance, he noticed a crowd gathered outside the restaurant and assumed something had happened. He hurried over to ask, “What’s going on?”

“Guan Dalang, you don’t know—the prices at the restaurant have gone up! A bowl of eight-treasure porridge is thirty-two wen, a shrimp and pork patty is forty wen, a plate of mouth-watering chicken is one hundred and sixty wen, and half a catty of braised pork is one hundred and twenty wen!”

Guan Hongchi: “What?!

He distinctly remembered that the shrimp meat patties had only cost ten wen each yesterday, and the braised pork was thirty wen per half-jin. How could the prices have risen so much in just one day?

“Can you believe it? That Xia-ger and Scholar Gu must be out of their minds—how could they raise the prices so high?”

“I suppose you’re not aware of that? Even the county magistrate comes to eat at this place—how could the prices be low? Besides, aren’t half the dishes still at their original prices?”

“I think they’ve gotten too big for their boots.”

Upon hearing the prices, Guan Hongchi had originally planned to go through the back door to the Gu household to find out exactly what was going on.

But as soon as he heard these people’s comments, Guan Hongchi perked up instantly. He strode inside and said to Gu Tangjin, “Give me half a pound of braised pork and a generous portion of braised pork rind.”

Seeing this, Gu Tangjin could barely keep a smile from spreading across his face. Guan Hongchi was truly loyal to them.

“Alright.” Gu Tangjin served Guan Hongchi some braised pork, and he secretly added a little extra braised pork skin for him.

With so many people around, Guan Hongchi couldn’t very well say, “You gave me too much,” but he knew exactly what was going on. He figured there must be a reason why Tangjin and Xia-ger had raised their prices, and he planned to ask them about it properly after lunch.

With that in mind, he counted out 120 wen and left.

“People are actually buying this.”

“Those two tables are eating so heartily—is it really that good? They’ve even polished off all the steamed buns.” 

“Why don’t the two of us join one of those tables?”

“Do you really want to eat there? What if we get scammed?”

“Look at those three—do they look like they’ve been scammed?” 

“Alright, let’s join them.”

……

Two more people joined a table and ordered a plate of Koushui chicken.

Back and forth like this, several of the onlookers ended up going inside. Once the shop started to buzz with activity, more and more people came in.

Most of them pooled their money to order a plate of Koushui Chicken to try.

Partly because the name was so unusual, and partly because those who tried the Koushui chicken looked like they were really enjoying it! It just looked delicious!

Only a few regulars ordered braised pork or braised fish.

Yao Tianlan didn’t care how many people shared a dish—as long as the food sold, that was all that mattered. By the time Zhu Pengyi and Wu Baoquan arrived, six of the restaurant’s eight tables were already occupied.

“We’re a bit late today—why are there still people waiting outside?” Wu Baoquan entered the restaurant and greeted Gu Tangjin with a familiar smile. To anyone unaware, they’d look like old friends.

Gu Tangjin chuckled, “We raised our prices today, so quite a few neighbors have come to check out the commotion.”

Gu Tangjin glanced around and spotted Old Lady Liang mingling among the crowd. But the moment she met his gaze, the old woman quickly shrank back, as if afraid he’d recognize her.

“It’s just a price hike. Why would anyone come to gawk?” Wu Baoquan thought to himself that perhaps his identity as the county magistrate had been exposed, and everyone was there to see him. It seemed he had been overthinking things.

With that thought, he glanced at the menu. A shrimp and pork patty for forty wen! A plate of koushui chicken for one hundred and sixty wen!

A plate of fish-flavored shredded pork for 140 wen! Half a catty of braised pork for 120 wen!

Half a catty of braised vegetables: forty wen! A plate of scrambled eggs: sixty-four wen! A bowl of rice porridge: thirty-two wen! 

Wu Baoquan: “???!!!”

He didn’t think the dishes were particularly expensive—many high-end restaurants charged far more—but the problem was that when he’d come yesterday, the original prices had been no more than a quarter of what they were now.

“Xia-ger put his heart into making these dishes; his craftsmanship is worth every penny,” Gu Tangjin said, setting down his paintbrush.

“Bring me six servings of each of these price-hiked dishes. Wrap up whatever we can’t finish—I’ll take it home.” Wu Baoquan’s curiosity was piqued. According to Scholar Gu’s explanation, didn’t the dishes he’d eaten before represent Ji Rongxia’s best work?

If the ones he’d eaten before—which weren’t even his best—tasted that good, just how delicious would the ones he’d actually put his heart into be? Just thinking about it made Wu Baoquan’s mouth water.

“Right away!” Yao Tianlan had almost forgotten her reverence for the county magistrate and hurriedly reminded him, “Tangjin, quickly record the bill.”

Gu Tangjin replied quickly, “The total comes to three taels, five liang, and seventy-six wen.”

“Excellent! That was quick.” Wu Baoquan didn’t suspect a thing and had Zhu Pengyi pull out a five-tael silver ingot. “Scholar Gu, don’t forget to write that letter. I don’t ask for much—if I could have a clerk as quick with numbers as you, I’d be satisfied.”

Gu Tangjin replied helplessly, “Your Honor, you flatter me.”

He handed the change—silver ingots and copper coins—to Zhu Pengyi.

“By the way, you needn’t worry about Deputy Magistrate Zhong. I’ve already taken care of things today. For the sake of his own grandchildren, he’ll keep his head down and behave himself,” Wu Baoquan boasted. He wasn’t worried that Deputy Magistrate Zhong would take desperate measures or do anything reckless. The man’s entire estate was in Qingchi County, and he had a whole brood of children and grandchildren. If Wu Baoquan truly wanted to control him, it would be all too easy.

Gu Tangjin merely smiled at this and said nothing.

Yao Tianlan beamed as she led the two men to a large table, then went to serve the dishes. Finally, someone had ordered the side dishes.

The Koushui chicken, rice porridge, braised pork, and braised vegetables had been prepared earlier and could be served first. The shrimp meat patties, fish-flavored shredded pork, and scrambled eggs all had to be made to order.

Ji Rongxia first wrapped the shrimp patties and pan-fried them, then lit the stove, heated a wok, added oil, cracked some eggs, and scrambled them. Finally, he stir-fried shredded pork with fish-flavored sauce.

One dish after another was quickly served.

Wu Baoquan picked up a piece of braised pork; he had to taste it to see how today’s version differed from the usual. The moment he took a bite, he froze in surprise—how could the texture of this pork be so incredible?!

The marinade was also richer and more aromatic.

It was so delicious that even the ordinary walls and tables in the restaurant seemed particularly pleasing to the eye; even Old Zhu’s face looked much more handsome.

He took several bites of the braised pork in a row: “Delicious, absolutely delicious. We really should raise the price.” This dish was far better than anything he’d ever had in those fancy restaurants.

Zhu Pengyi didn’t even acknowledge his master; he was too busy tucking in to eat!

Wu Baoquan took another bite of the Koushui chicken. The aroma of the chicken wafted straight up his nose. He took a bite, and the spicy, savory flavor made him eager to grab a second piece of chicken.

He never cared about table manners when eating, and now was no exception.

Seeing Wu Baoquan eating so heartily, the crowd that had gathered at the door to watch the spectacle gradually dispersed.

If even the county magistrate found it delicious, it seemed the food in this restaurant was indeed top-notch—though a bit pricey. Watching others eat and drink here had made them all hungry.

By then, Gu Tangjin had finished his drawing. He stood up, grabbed some paste, and walked to the door to hang it up. The crowd that had been about to disperse instantly gathered around again.

“That’s Old Man You and Old Master Pei’s stall, isn’t it? Why is there a cross on it, and some writing above it?”

“What does that writing mean?”

“It says, ‘Those who go to the tea stall will not be served.’”

“Oh, I get it. That’s about what happened this morning. I thought Xia-ger was just speaking out of anger, but I never expected Scholar Gu to put this up today. That You fellow has taken so many advantages at his tea stall, and now he wants to slander Brother Xia? He really deserves it!”

Listening to the chatter outside, Wu Baoquan was torn between his desperate desire to hear more and his unwillingness to give up the delicious food right in front of him. Truly, it was a struggle between the two greatest desires of a mortal.

Should he listen to the play or eat his meal?

If this were an ordinary meal, Wu Baoquan would have rushed out long ago, but today’s food was no ordinary fare. It was so delicious it brought tears to his eyes.

He simply grabbed a bowl, scooped some food into it, and walked out while eating.

Zhu Pengyi: “???”

Gu Tangjin: “???”

Not only were the two of them baffled, but the people outside were baffled too.

Several people even recognized him—this was clearly the man who’d come to buy food that morning and had his identity exposed by Xia-ger. This was their county magistrate!

“What’s going on? What’s this sign saying? ‘No visitors’? Why?” 

Wu Baoquan didn’t pause to eat or to ask. “Well…”

Everyone stammered in response. Those who hadn’t recognized Wu Baoquan tried to speak up but were quietly pulled back by those beside them. Who would dare mention in front of the county magistrate that someone had slandered him and Xia-ger earlier?

Weren’t they afraid the magistrate would hold a grudge?

Seeing this, Wu Baoquan grew even more curious. He pointed to a random person and said, “You speak.”

The man cringed and muttered under his breath, “Yesterday, after Your Honor left, someone said the magistrate wouldn’t be interested in this shabby little eatery—that he must have had other intentions for coming here.”

“Other intentions”? What could that mean?

He just wanted to eat.

Wu Baoquan was chewing on a bite of fish-flavored shredded pork; the deliciousness was making his brain work a bit slowly. But he was, after all, a smart man, and he figured it out quickly.

“Bullshit!”

If the food in his hands hadn’t been so delicious, he would have smashed his bowl! Rumors are a terrible thing!

It was only because Xiucai Gu was such a magnanimous man—one who trusted his husband—that he could remain calm upon seeing him again today. If it had been anyone else, a few vague and ambiguous remarks could have even cost someone their life!

“Where did this come from? Accusing someone out of the blue for no reason?! Let me make this clear: I’m here today precisely because Xia-ger’s cooking is excellent and the food is a real treat.”

Wu Baoquan waved his hand grandly and said, “Scholar Gu, bring me fifty fresh shrimp patties. I’ll share them with everyone so they can sample Xia-ger’s cooking. From now on, anyone who dares to spread rumors had better not blame this official for showing no mercy.”

Seeing this, those who had previously feared Wu Baoquan immediately broke into smiles. Compliments flowed freely, as if they were free.

“Your Honor is wise!”

“The Magistrate is wise! I knew that Lady You was just spouting nonsense.”

“Rest assured, Your Honor. If anyone else dares to spread such nonsense, we’ll be the first to object!”

Finding the whole affair tedious, Wu Baoquan returned to the restaurant to eat. Food is still the best!

As soon as Yao Tianlan heard that Wu Baoquan wanted so many shrimp cakes, she hurried inside to tell Xia-ger. Zhu Pengyi stepped forward silently and paid the bill.

“Scholar Gu, please forgive us. Please convey our apologies to Brother Xia on our behalf,” Zhu Pengyi said sheepishly. He hadn’t expected their master to nearly ruin Brother Xia’s reputation. They’d thought that once they’d subdued Deputy Magistrate Zhong, everything would be settled. Just moments ago, their own master had even come before Scholar Gu to show off his treasures—it was all rather embarrassing to think about.

“No problem. It wasn’t the magistrate’s fault to begin with. Just don’t stop coming—you two are our best customers,” Gu Tangjin said with a smile. Hearing this, Zhu Pengyi felt a weight lift from his heart. He bowed and returned to continue his meal.

In the kitchen, with Gu Chuncai’s help, Ji Rongxia finally managed to finish frying the shrimp and pork patties.

Zhu Pengyi handed them out to the crowd outside. In just a short while, quite a few people had gathered upon hearing the news. Fifty patties weren’t enough to go around, but it was first come, first served.

Those who received a patty were naturally delighted.

With all the commotion outside, Ge Fulang came out to see what was happening and ended up getting a shrimp and pork patty himself. He still didn’t know what was going on.

Only after overhearing the surrounding chatter did he understand what had happened. He thought to himself that the county magistrate really knew how to handle people, and that Qingchi County would likely be in good hands from now on.

With that thought in mind, he carried the shrimp and pork patty back home. He cut it into small pieces, so everyone in the family could have one.

The two children got the largest pieces. Although they had just had lunch, they managed to squeeze down a small piece of the patty. The shrimp meat was springy and delicious, with a fresh, savory flavor.

After taking a bite, Old Man Liu sighed, “Ah, no wonder Xia-ger dared to set the price for this dish so high—it really is delicious.” The Liu family all nodded in agreement.

Guan Hongchi and his little sister each got one as well, and they happily ate their fill with the braised pork.

Those who received the fresh shrimp patties were overjoyed, but the situation was quite different at the You family’s tea stall, where Old Mr. Pei was stationed just a few steps away. There was hardly anyone at the stall now.

Old You was sweating bullets. Thankfully, the county magistrate had been magnanimous enough not to pursue the matter of who had spoken those words, and Scholar Gu didn’t seem inclined to inform Magistrate Wu either; otherwise, they truly would have been finished.

“Just because I called you ‘Uncle’ once, you’ve gone and gotten a big head? Now what are we supposed to do with our business from here on out!” Old Man You was so furious he kept slamming his fist on the table. He and Old Master Pei had become a couple later in life.

Neither Old Master Pei nor Old Man You had any children of their own, so they relied on the younger generation of the You family to take care of them in their old age, and they were extremely indulgent toward the You family. In the past, Old Man You had thought that his husband’s kindness toward the You family was a good thing, but now it seemed that was his mistake as well.

It was all because they had no children of their own. He’d always been kind to the You family himself, so he couldn’t really blame his husband alone.

He’d caught a cold and hadn’t come to the tea stall this morning. Only the hired help and his husband were working; otherwise, he might have been able to intervene.

“Well, well, how was I supposed to know? It was just a passing remark—who would take it seriously?” Old Master Pei retorted stubbornly.

“Just a passing remark? You make it sound so easy.” Old Man You was furious; his chest heaved several times before he calmed down. “Forget it. I can’t make you see reason. I’ve seen through it now: as long as our family isn’t occupying this spot, anyone can run a business here. With a restaurant like that right there, drawing crowds of people, business is bound to be good. Ah, in a few days, the Gu family’s restaurant will surely be even more bustling. Let’s sell our shop while there are still buyers interested in this spot.”

Old Man Pei was taken aback: “Sell the shop?!”

“Sell the shop. We’ll buy another one somewhere else, take on a couple of apprentices—choose them carefully—and have the apprentices break the pot for us.” Old Man You had made up his mind and said no more, turning to pack up the tea stall in silence.

Seeing this, Old Mr. Pei dared not say another word.

Meanwhile, inside the restaurant, the place was nearly full—only the table where Wu Baoquan and Zhu Pengyi were seated remained occupied by just the two of them.

Although Wu Baoquan was angry and felt a bit guilty, he still had to eat—and he’d certainly come back for meals in the future! With so many dishes, Wu Baoquan and Zhu Pengyi couldn’t finish everything in the end, so Gu Tangjin helped them pack up the leftovers.

After Wu Baoquan left, business at the restaurant remained steady.

Since the news had only just spread, many people wanted to taste the dish the county magistrate loved. Once they tried it, everyone devoured it with gusto.

The ingredients for today’s lunch sold out quickly. Since Ji Rongxia couldn’t secretly take more from the crate, Gu Tangjin had no choice but to politely ask the latecomers to come back another time—if he kept selling, there wouldn’t be enough left for dinner.

While their parents were taking an afternoon nap, Gu Tangjin and Ji Rongxia took out the ingredients the little chef had prepared for them from the trunk. They were so busy all day that they barely had a moment to rest.

Come evening, Ji Rongxia snuggled up next to Gu Tangjin and asked him to massage his shoulders. Gu Tangjin dutifully massaged his shoulders without complaint.

Ji Rongxia grumbled, “There were way too many people today. The little chef will definitely give us more ingredients tomorrow, so we’ll have to get up early and secretly get everything ready—we won’t have time to set up the stall later.”

“Then we won’t set up the breakfast stall. Let’s see how business goes tomorrow, and we’ll decide how many dishes to sell each day. If we exceed that number, we won’t sell any more—we’ll just rest properly,” Gu Tangjin said.

Ji Rongxia was taken aback. “Huh? Is that really necessary?”

Gu Tangjin nodded. “Of course. Have you ever seen a master chef so busy they don’t even have time to practice their craft?”

Ji Rongxia thought Tangjin had a point. Although he was reluctant to part with the money, he nodded: “Alright. We’re so tired today—do we still have to practice calligraphy?” Ji Rongxia changed the subject and looked at Gu Tangjin with hopeful eyes.

Gu Tangjin: “……”

Gu Tangjin: “We can cut it short a bit.”

Ji Rongxia reached out and pinched Gu Tangjin’s cheek. “Scholar Gu is still as strict as ever.”

With his cheek still being pinched, Gu Tangjin said in a deliberately serious tone, “Only a strict teacher can produce a talented student.”

“Hahaha, Tangjin is right. I’ll write for a little while then.” Ji Rongxia withdrew his hand and obediently followed Gu Tangjin’s lead to learn to read and write. Gu Tangjin felt sorry for Ji Rongxia, so after teaching him for only a short while, he urged him to go to sleep.

Ji Rongxia lay down comfortably and soon entered the system space.

“I’m back!” Ji Rongxia stretched his arms wide. Just as he finished, he slapped his forehead and said, “Oh no, I forgot to count the money today. How could Tangjin have forgotten about this too?”

What a scatterbrain I am!

The Culinary God System said, “Don’t worry, Host. Your partner is currently reconciling the accounts and counting the money.”

Ji Rongxia paused for a moment, then smiled sweetly: “Oh, so Tangjin didn’t forget after all.”

He just didn’t want me to tire myself out counting the money. 

Culinary God System: “……”

Why does it feel like I’m being fed a dose of romance?

The Culinary God System said coldly and ruthlessly, “Host, it’s time to study.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll get started right away.” Ji Rongxia was in a good mood, which made watching the little chef even more enjoyable. He rolled up his sleeves and began preparing sweet and sour carp.

Whenever Ji Rongxia was in a good mood, he would go above and beyond. Barely an incense stick’s worth of time had passed when Ji Rongxia had already completed the task.

[Ding. Detection shows the Sweet and Sour Carp seasoning completion rate is 96%. Exceeding 95% triggers a special reward.]

[Ding! Special Reward: The detailed recipes for “Host’s Personal Sweet-and-Sour Carp” and “Perfect Sweet-and-Sour Carp.”] 

Ji Rongxia pumped his fist excitedly: “Way to go! I’m going to try making this sweet-and-sour carp tomorrow!” 

Ahem, ahem, ahem… And while I’m at it, I’ll go ahead and post the menus for fried dough sticks and pot-roasted pork too—might as well milk the system for a little extra profit!