Chapter 57: Gao Yang: I'm hungry, I want to eat, is that okay?

"Not really?"

Qin Huaidao couldn't help but speak, "Even if we aren't rich, we certainly aren't reduced to beggars in others' eyes, right?"

He knew there were many wealthy people in Chang'an City, for example, those merchants, those aristocratic families.

But they are, after all, the sons of a Duke; calling them beggars is a bit excessive.

Yu Chi Bao Lin said, "Exactly, Lao Qin is right; how could we be considered beggars?"

On the contrary, Cheng Chumo suddenly recalled a sentence Cheng Yaojin had told him, and fell silent.

"Fine, you don't believe me, right?" Chen Yan turned his head to look at Xiao Shunzi. "Come, Xiao Shunzi, tell them how much liquor we sold in total this morning?"

Xiao Shunzi immediately replied, "From the tavern's opening until I came up, we've sold roughly over two hundred jars of liquor; many customers, after drinking, end up ordering several jars, even a dozen or more."

Upon hearing that number, Yu Chi Bao Lin and Qin Huaidao's mouths twitched.

After just over an hour since opening, you've already sold over two hundred jars of liquor priced at one string of cash each?

If we wait until closing tonight, wouldn't we be able to reach a thousand jars?

Does Chang'an really have that many wealthy people?

Could it be that the impoverished folk in the slums who can't eat enough or stay warm are fake?

The two couldn't help but start doubting.

Unlike the two, Li Lizhi's focus is different.

She furrowed her brows slightly and raised a question, "Didn't we just say the tavern's income is already seven or eight hundred strings of cash?"

"One jar of liquor costs one string of cash; over two hundred jars should be over two hundred strings, right?"

"Could it be......" Li Lizhi shifted her gaze to Chen Yan, "Is the Marquis of Weinan's hot pot similarly expensive?"

Chen Yan shrugged, "Our hot pot is indeed a bit pricey; for four people, a meal would cost roughly three or four hundred cash coins."

Li Lizhi blinked, her doubts deepening.

Three or four hundred cash, although similarly expensive, isn't that costly.

Compared to the price of liquor at one string per jar, the hot pot could even be considered a conscience price.

However, there is a problem here.

The liquor sold over two hundred jars, which is over two hundred strings, while the hot pot for four people costs only three or four hundred cash; surely the profit from hot pot is less than that from liquor.

How then could the income be seven or eight hundred strings?

The more Chen Yan spoke, the more Li Lizhi became confused.

Xiao Shunzi chuckled, "Your Highness the Princess, you may not know, Lord Bo has had the tavern set up a membership system; as long as you deposit one hundred strings of cash in the tavern, you can become a silver member of the tavern."

"From now on, when you come to the tavern for a meal, regardless of the amount spent, we will charge ninety-five percent of the fee; at the same time, we will offer silver members services such as liquor storage and withdrawal, dish delivery, priority seating, etc."

"Apart from the revenue from selling liquor and hot pot, four customers have activated the silver membership service at the tavern."

"That's why I said the tavern has collected a total of seven or eight hundred strings since its opening until now."

That's how it is.

Li Lizhi suddenly understood.

How could she say that liquor and hot pot haven't sold much, yet the money collected is so much?

It's all because of the membership system.

Li Lizhi pondered for two seconds, recalling something, "Marquis of Weinan, when I just came up, I saw a sign placed at the door that read, 'Anyone who finishes a jar of liquor without getting drunk can eat and drink for free at the tavern for a year.' Is that true?"

"Of course it's true." Chen Yan had a faint smile on his lips, "As long as someone can down a jar of liquor without getting drunk, what's wrong with giving them free food and drink for a year?"

Cheng Chumo couldn't help but say, "Zi Anxiong, how could anyone possibly down a jar of strong liquor like Jade Dew Golden Cup without getting drunk?"

"Can't the four of us finish a jar together?"

Chen Yan said matter-of-factly, "We definitely need to make sure they can't finish it; if they could finish it, wouldn't we be losing money?"

"Of course, you have to pay first before drinking."

Everyone: "......"

Qin Huaidao sighed, "Chen Yan, I'm convinced; how did you come up with so many tricky ideas? First the lottery event, plus free food and drink for a year with liquor, and then there's some kind of membership service."

"No wonder you're confident the tavern's business will stay booming."

Obviously, he has already figured out why Chen Yan did that.

The Tang Dynasty already had a prevalent drinking culture, with many people claiming to have a huge capacity, able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.

Chen Yan pulled out this tactic; surely many people will be unconvinced and want to challenge it.

The result is naturally predictable.

"This is just the beginning," Chen Yan waved his hand, "the tavern's real money-making avenues haven't even appeared yet."

"After today ends, we'll keep part of the money, and immediately invest the rest into wineries and tea shops, slowly spreading our industry, only then can we earn more money."

"You all just wait to strike it rich."

The three brothers burst into mischievous laughter upon hearing that.

Initially, the three felt that half the profit was a bit low.

But out of trust in Chen Yan, trust in the hot pot and liquor, the three didn't say anything.

We originally thought that once the tavern opened, at the very least it would take a month to break even.

But we didn't expect Chen Yan to be so fierce; after a series of maneuvers, just over an hour since opening, he earned that much money.

Is breaking even still needing a month?

Cheng Chumo excitedly said, "Zi Anxiong, I have to say, after all those bets we've made, this time I'm happiest to have lost."

"From now on, I finally don't have to scrape by on that miserable monthly stipend."

Chen Yan said, "Since you're happy, you mustn't forget about the cow; the brothers are still waiting for you to bring the cow over to celebrate."

"Pfft!" Cheng Chumo waved his hand grandly, "It's just a single cow, after all."

"You wait for me to return at noon; I'll bring you over in the afternoon."

Yu Chi Bao Lin interjected, "Cheng, did the ox die by hanging itself, by a love sacrifice, or just fall to its death by accident?"

Cheng Chumo curled his lip and said, "That's none of your business; I have a way to get it done."

The others exchanged glances and burst into hearty laughter.

"......"

"Princess, let's go back; please stop looking for the Marquis of Weinan, okay? Consider this a plea from your servant."

On Zhuque Dajie, a carriage drifted by slowly, and from within a faint pleading voice could be heard.

Xiang Lan truly couldn't understand—just two days ago she was beaten, yet why is the Princess so obsessed with finding the Marquis of Weinan?

Are you hurrying to beat someone up?

Princess Gao Yang, with a white veil over her face, replied calmly, "This morning I heard Father Emperor say that Chen Yan's restaurant has opened; Changle went early to the Marquis of Weinan's residence."

"They're a lone man and a lone woman; of course I must keep an eye on them."

Xiang Lan felt exhausted, but managed to speak, "Princess, the Marquis of Weinan's restaurant isn't funded only by Princess Changle; His Majesty said the Duke of Su's eldest son and others have also invested, didn't He?"

"Since the restaurant opened, they'll definitely go; how can they be considered a lone man and a lone woman?"

Princess Gao Yang was momentarily at a loss for words; after a long silence she said, "Since Chen Yan is my fiancé, his restaurant's opening—what's wrong with me going to see it?"

Xiang Lan tried to persuade further, "Perhaps the Marquis of Weinan is very busy? May I, your servant, take you to another place for a stroll?"

Princess Gao Yang glared at Xiang Lan, her tone tinged with irritation.

"I'm hungry; may I have a meal?"

"Princess, you only ate when you arrived."

Princess Gao Yang: "......"

"Princess......"

"Shut up!"

"......"