That night, as they slept, Lin Yu shared the shop’s affairs with Wei Qingshan.

“Now that our shop has a proper name and more staff, I want to hire an accountant. This year, we’ll also bring in a chef to expand our menu. As for Ding Xiaohe, I plan to train him in the kitchen. Our signature dishes—chive bud egg soup, braised pork offal, and claypot pork offal stew—will be his responsibility.”

Wei Qingshan hummed in acknowledgment. “My fulang is becoming quite the businessman.”

Lin Yu blushed at the praise. “Not at all. It’s just about organizing things properly. Those wealthy families come specifically for the soup dumplings. They won’t touch the offal dishes. We should add some pricier stir-fried dishes instead. Business will only get better.”

Lin Yu had noticed their soup dumplings were selling well, but some wealthy patrons complained they could only order those—the offal dishes were too lowbrow for their taste. That’s why he’d considered hiring a chef.

“Alright. Tomorrow I’ll have the broker look for a suitable chef.”

Lin Yu nuzzled against Wei Qingshan’s chest. “Thank goodness you’re here with me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare try this.”

“My little fulang is amazing. I told you I’d be relying on my little fulang to support me from now on. As my little fulang earns more silver, don’t you dare look down on your husband.”

Lin Yu gave him a light yet firm pinch. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Wei Qingshan held his fulang’s hand and kissed it. “How is that nonsense? Our entire household relies on my fulang for support now. Your husband here depends on you to support me, too.”

Lin Yu’s heart swelled instantly at Wei Qingshan’s flattery. “I’ll support you.”

As Wei Qingshan spoke, he began kissing Lin Yu. The weather had turned milder since their return, so Wei Qingshan had moved Tuan-ger to the east wing for Xu Nainai to watch. Finally, he could freely indulge in intimacy with his fulang.

“Call me ‘husband’.”

“Hus… husband.”

“Shall we leave the lamp burning tonight?”

Lin Yu, still light-headed from Wei Qingshan’s coaxing, nodded dazedly. Wei Qingshan’s eyes flashed with excitement. “Good boy.”

He placed the candlestick on the bedside cabinet and drew the canopy curtains. Only then did Lin Yu register what Wei Qingshan had just said. “No, don’t.”

“It’s fine. Just the two of us.”

Beneath the candlelight, Lin Yu’s long hair fell obediently behind him. His inner robe was slightly disheveled, revealing a shoulder that glowed like jade in the light. The fulang was shy and tense, kneeling on the bed with a flushed face, head bowed, unable to meet his gaze.

The last thread of restraint snapped in Wei Qingshan’s mind. Seeing his fulang sitting there half-exposed, he could no longer hold back.

Lin Yu regretted it terribly. He knew Wei Qingshan’s flattery meant nothing good—he was utterly wicked!

Wei Qingshan rode off to duty that morning, riding high on his success. Lin Yu hadn’t woken yet; it was Tuan-ger who roused him.

Tuan-ger could now walk on his own when led. After eating his porridge that morning, he went looking for Lin Yu, calling out, “Little Daddy~ Daddy~”

Xu Nainai brought him into the room. He steadied himself against the bedside and lifted the canopy with his little hands, calling, “Daddy~”

Lin Yu was roused by Tuan-ger’s clamor. Opening his eyes, he saw Tuan-ger perched at his bedside. Lin Yu smiled at him. “Tuan-ger’s awake. Little Daddy’s up too.”

After breakfast, Lin Yu took Tuan-ger out into the courtyard. The weather had warmed considerably since the New Year celebrations, making indoor charcoal fires unnecessary. The sun felt wonderfully warm.

Lin Yu took Tuan-ger out to practice walking in the courtyard. The little fellow was still bundled up thickly, and his wobbly steps made him resemble a tottering little chick.

Today marked the shop’s grand opening. Shi Xiaoliu and the others had gone to the shop early to prepare, leaving only Lin Yu, Tuan-ger, and Xu Nainai at home.

Wei Qingshan moved swiftly, quickly securing a skilled chef through a broker. Lin Yu sampled the cooking and approved, hiring him for two taels of silver per month. After discussion, the shop expanded its menu to include roasted chicken, braised pork belly, steamed perch, wine-braised pork ribs, lotus root with fresh vegetables, winter melon with fresh vegetables, and snacks like bean paste balls and sesame balls.

This way, when customers with some silver came for soup dumplings, they could also order a few dishes to accompany their drinks. Increasingly, well-off families began driving their carriages over to dine here.

Lin Yu’s business flourished. Everyone grew busier, and Lin Yu himself would occasionally drop by the shop. Now, steamed buns were sold in the mornings, while in the afternoons, the shop offered soup dumplings and various side dishes. Customers came and went constantly, and business was booming.

Lin Yu was delighted to see his shop thriving. He estimated he could now earn two or three hundred taels of silver a month.

Ding Xiaohé, whom he’d brought from the countryside, had become quite efficient at his work. Only Ding Xiaosui hadn’t quite adjusted yet, always seeming flustered when working.

Xiaosui was simply too timid by nature. When Lin Yu called her over, she stood before him, tugging at her clothes and keeping her head bowed. “Mr. Lin…”

That’s what Shi Xiaoliu told them to call him. He thought calling him “Cousin” all the time sounded unprofessional, so he had them address him as “Mr. Lin.” Shi Xiaoliu did the same while at the shop; only after closing would he call him “Lin Fulang.”

“It’s okay, don’t be afraid. Still not quite used to it, are you?”

Ding Xiaosui shook her head. “I… I’ll work hard. Boss Lin, please don’t abandon me.”

“I wouldn’t abandon you.” Ding Xiaosui was simply too shy; her face flushed even when speaking to him. Lin Yu thought for a moment. “Go to the back kitchen to wrap buns and prepare vegetables. They need an extra pair of hands over there.”

Ding Xiaosui nodded. “Yes, I will.”

With an extra cook now in the shop, Ding Xiaosui would make buns in the morning and help sort and wash vegetables in the afternoon. For rough tasks like dishwashing, Lin Yu hired an older woman. With so many ger and women in the shop, Lin Yu didn’t want them doing such manual labor.

Ding Xiaosui was still young; she’d get the hang of things after working in the shop for a while longer.

Ding Xiaohé had been watching nearby, worried Lin Yu wouldn’t keep his sister. Hearing Lin Yu say she was sending Ding Xiaosui to work in the kitchen, he finally relaxed.

That evening, Lin Yu told Wei Qingshan that business at the shop was booming.

“Let’s commission a signboard,” Wei Qingshan suggested.

“Will we still call it Lin’s Dumpling Shop?”

The banner hanging above their shop entrance was embroidered by Lin Yu himself and had always been displayed as such. Wei Qingshan pondered, “Our place doesn’t quite feel like a dumpling shop anymore—it’s more like a restaurant. Why not give it a proper name?”

“What should we call it? You think of something.”

“How about First Pavilion?”

Lin Yu sat up straight. “Ah, isn’t that a bit too grand?”

The restaurants in the county seat were named things like Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Calling their shop First Pavilion right off the bat seemed a bit excessive.

Wei Qingshan didn’t see the issue. “It’s memorable and resonant. We’ll add ‘Lin’s’ before the signboard. That way, it won’t seem so grandiose.”

“Lin’s First Pavilion.” Lin Yu repeated it and liked the sound. “Perfect. We’ll ask Master Lou to inscribe it for us.”

“Right. I’ll take care of it during my day off in a couple of days.”

With the shop’s signboard change underway, Lin Yu was in high spirits these days. Even he hadn’t imagined turning a humble bun shop into a full-fledged restaurant.

In his spare time, Lin Yu taught Ding Xiaohé how to prepare pork offal and braised pig’s head—inexpensive, savory dishes that many customers enjoyed. He planned to have Ding Xiaohé handle these once he mastered them.

Both children worked diligently without slacking off, which pleased Lin Yu greatly. Ding Xiaosui was now doing well as a kitchen helper in the back; with gradual training, she’d improve. Ding Xiaohé currently served as a waiter in the front; after some time, he’d be moved to the kitchen to prepare food.

Lin Yu had everyone’s roles neatly arranged. Wei Qingshan had also had the plaque carved. He hadn’t shown it to Lin Yu yet; it hung covered in red silk, waiting for them to come early tomorrow to unveil it together.

Though Lin Yu knew the new name for his shop, he hadn’t seen what it looked like. He was quite eager to see it.

On the day of the plaque unveiling, Lin Yu donned a festive crimson satin spring robe—a rare choice for him. Wei Qingshan’s silver fish hairpin adorned his hair, and silver bracelets graced his wrists, accentuating his delicate charm.

Lin Yu seldom wore such vibrant colors, and Wei Qingshan stared at him for a moment, leaving him feeling embarrassed. “Let’s go.”

Wei Qingshan led his fulang out. Today, Tuan-ger also wore a little red outfit, his head tied with a red ribbon. Held by Wei Qingshan, the family of three walked toward the shop.

Everyone in the shop was in high spirits today. With the signboard replacement, Shi Xiaoliu had specially brought people yesterday to thoroughly clean the shop inside and out.

Lou Qingfeng, Zhou Bao, and others had all arrived. Brothers from Wei Qingshan’s former Fifth Company who were free today had come over, making the shop entrance bustling with activity.

Zhou Bao slapped Wei Qingshan on the shoulder. “Not bad, brother. Business is getting better and better.”

“That’s all thanks to my capable husband,” Wei Qingshan said, a smile playing on his lips.

The shop had sold buns in the morning, and now they’d closed temporarily to unveil the signboard. Zhou Bao even bought firecrackers and hung them by the entrance. “Come on, come on! Kids, cover your ears! I’m about to light these!”

Wei Qingshan covered Tuan-ger’s ears with his large hands. The little ger grumbled and squirmed, trying to shake Wei Qingshan’s hands off. But Wei Qingshan wouldn’t let him escape—he didn’t want to have to comfort him if he cried from the noise. Both hands firmly covered the child’s ears.

The firecrackers crackled and popped. Lin Yu’s face lit up with a smile. After the fireworks, Lin Yu and Wei Qingshan together unveiled the plaque. Painted in black lacquer with gold characters, the words “Lin’s” were written vertically, while “First Pavilion” was inscribed horizontally. Lin Yu looked up, her eyes sparkling. “It’s so beautiful.”

“Congratulations!”

Everyone offered their congratulations. Lin Yu invited them inside for a feast, reserving seats on the second floor especially for guests. He had given red envelopes to all the shop assistants today, and everyone was beaming with joy.

Zhou Bao adored Tuan-ger. Seeing him dressed so festively today, he took him up and held him high. “Oh my, our Tuan-ger looks absolutely splendid today!”

Tuan-ger giggled at his teasing. Business at the shop remained brisk today, and Lin Yu had Shi Xiaoliu send extra dishes to every table of customers.

Even on the walk home, Lin Yu was still buzzing with excitement. “Our business keeps getting better and better. The accountant we hired will be arriving soon, too.”

The accountant for the shop was introduced by Lou Qingfeng, a young man with a few years of schooling. Since Lou Qingfeng recommended him, Lin Yu felt confident employing him. Now, his shop had everything it needed.

With more free time on his hands, Lin Yu asked Wei Qingshan to teach him reading and bookkeeping, so he could better manage the shop’s affairs in the future.

Wei Qingshan could only teach Lin Yu during his off-duty hours and days off. Feeling the pace too slow, Lin Yu decided to spend half a day at Lou Qingfeng’s academy instead.

Tuan-ger was left in the care of Xu Nainai. When Wei Qingshan headed to the city guard post in the morning, he dropped off his fulang at the academy. He teased with a smile, “Our Xiao Yu is off to the academy. Soon he won’t just run a shop—he’ll earn an official title too.”

Lin Yu glared at him. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Lin Yu had never attended an academy before. When he was young, he lived with Zhao Jiazhu, who wouldn’t spare the silver to let him learn to read. Now that the family was prosperous, he too wanted to learn to read.

Wei Qingshan saw Lin Yu off at the academy. Watching his fulang enter with his satchel, Wei Qingshan’s gaze softened. This was his little fulang.

Visiting the academy for the first time, Lin Yu felt both awe and curiosity. Lou Qingfeng’s academy mostly enrolled children around seven or eight years old, all beginners. Lin Yu sat at the back, listening intently.