Chapter 189

Li Qingluo previously knew nothing about Pei Nan Jia's affairs; grandmother didn't mention it, and she hadn't heard any rumors either.

But Pei Lao Furen, knowing that Qingyangzi had been locked up in the Jinling yamen prison, would naturally go inquire.

After Pei Nan Jia was poisoned, his father went to great lengths—seeking imperial physicians, scouring all the famous doctors in Jinling—how could grandmother not know?

Today Li Qingluo went herself to see Pei Nan Jia's current state, and she was greatly shocked.

She very much wanted to do everything she could to save Nan Jia's life.

Back when Li Kechuan broke his leg, didn't grandmother summon the Luo Shen doctor?

Pei Lao Furen shook her head and said, "What a coincidence—Luo Shen doctor left a month ago to wander the state of Chu. Although grandmother has already sent a fast horse with a letter to him, we don't know when he'll return, nor whether he'll be able to save that twelfth lady when he does. Everything remains unknown."

Li Qingluo thought to herself: Could it be that this hope can only be placed on Prince Su?

I don't know if Nanping can persuade Prince Su to lend us those famous physicians from his mansion.

Li Qingluo awaited news from Nanping Junzhu and Pei Lao Furen, and meanwhile her tavern finally reached its opening day.

The twenty-fifth of the twelfth lunar month, an auspicious day.

The Delicacy Soup Hotpot Tavern, amid the gazes of countless curious onlookers in Jinling City, finally opened grandly.

Early that morning, Li Qingluo had invited a lion and dragon dance troupe to liven up the entrance.

Amid the sound of firecrackers, she and Pei Lao Furen stood on the steps, covering each other's ears, watching something she herself had never seen before.

Li Qingluo's attire today remained that of a young man.

This was also for the sake of convenience when going out, so everyone only saw the young proprietor of the soup hotpot tavern, who turned out to be a youthful and extraordinarily handsome young gentleman.

Moreover, this is the very first soup hotpot tavern in Jinling City!

Everyone was intensely curious, waiting for the proprietor to strike the gong heavily and shout loudly: "Opening—"

In an instant, dozens of people surged forward all at once.

Inside and outside the hall, everywhere was packed with people.

Li Qingluo had made preparations beforehand, but even she hadn't expected so many people to come for the fun and to try something new.

During the several months of preparation, she also listened to many opinions, humbly learned from grandmother, and secretly observed how other taverns operate.

So although today there are many and varied people, fortunately everything had been prepared in advance, making things orderly.

Everyone in line must first take a number tag, then be seated in order.

Inside the hall there are not only large tables, but also small ones, and even outside under the porch there are a few tables facing the street.

In winter, watching the snow while eating hotpot, although it's a bit cold, it also offers a different flavor.

Going further inside, on the terrace leading to the Qinhuai River bank, there are still a few riverside outdoor seats, from which one can also view the river scenery and pleasure boats.

Besides the first floor, the second floor consists entirely of private rooms.

Each private room is not only spacious but also faces the window for ventilation.

Indoors are placed greenery; inside, a square table with a repaired stove, and the largest private room also has two tables.

However, not everyone can simply request a private room, as the number is limited and in demand, so one must pay in advance to reserve a room, regardless of whether one is an official or noble.

Besides that, Pei Lao Furen noticed that each room has a chimney, built from the stove of the pot and leading directly outside the window.

Moreover, the first-floor hall also has them; the individual small chimneys gather together into a large chimney, which rises outside the tavern.

Although Li Qingluo decorated them with vines and greenery, it's hard not to notice them.

Because they are really ugly!

Pei Lao Furen couldn't help but wonder: "Do we really have to keep these ugly things? Grandmother finds everything lovely, but this mars the beauty."

Li Qingluo laughed and explained: "Grandmother, without them, my tavern wouldn't have been delayed until today to open. Although they took time, they are indispensable to this tavern."

"I asked Nanping Junzhu; in the northwest, when they eat hotpot, they each have a charcoal brazier. Since mining there is already well-developed, burning charcoal is more convenient than burning firewood."

"But here in Jinling, if granddaughter were to supply the whole shop with the best smokeless coal, avoiding smoke would be truly difficult. Moreover, even if it were charcoal, even with all doors and windows open, granddaughter worries it would knock everyone out on the first day."

"So let's just burn firewood."

"The staff assigned to add firewood and tend the fire saves more money than using smokeless coal."

"Although the stove is a bit ugly, it's warm in winter, and for the people of Jinling City, gathering around the stove to eat is also quite novel. This is currently the most feasible method."

However, Li Qingluo's hotpot fees are not low, so it's still quite profitable.

Pei Lao Furen then nodded: "If the hotpot tastes good, these are naturally secondary. Running a tavern, besides being novel, the most important thing is good taste, and good taste is paramount."

Li Qingluo herself studied at Hongfenguan for several months.

She thoroughly researched the hotpot broth recipes she had previously conceived.

Now she only gives the formula to a trusted person, who brings the ingredients each day according to the formula, so she no longer has to worry.

"Mei Shuang!"

Que'er saw Mei Shuang busy and called her over.

Mei Shuang wore a veil on her face; hearing the call, she immediately turned and hurried over.

"Mei Shuang has greeted the old lady, the miss…… and the young master."

Li Qingluo smiled slightly: "From now on, you'll have to work hard. I've appointed you as the manager of this shop; you must show your managerial abilities, understand?"

Mei Shuang has been thoroughly trained by Deng Mama's people and seems completely transformed.

Not only has she become steadier and more capable, she also has some martial skill.

Li Qingluo's formula has been entrusted to her.

Li Qingluo also asked Mei Shuang if she wanted to change her name; Mei Shuang said a name is just a title and she doesn't care what she's called.

So she is still called Mei Shuang.

"Young master, rest assured, Mei Shuang will guard this tavern with her life."

Mei Shuang's attitude pleased Pei Lao Furen greatly.

Seeing her act calmly and orderly, Pei Lao Furen nodded repeatedly.

After Mei Shuang went away again, Li Qingluo brought Pei Lao Furen to the prepared side room and sat down.

Pei Lao Furen: "I had earlier heard from Old Deng and the others that you wanted to train a little maid to become a steward, but I didn't really believe that a maid from the Li family could be taught to amount to anything."

But looking at it now, she has experienced the Mei Xue incident, and she even dared to slash her own face to save her life, showing that she is someone who dares to sacrifice herself and is also decisive in mind.

Luo'er, your judgment is good.

Train up more of your own confidants well; in the future they will naturally be of great use to you.

Li Qingluo listened attentively: "Yes, grandmother."

In the midst of speaking, the Princess of Nanping had already been brought over by Deng Mama.

Luo'er elder sister, we have come.

Today your place is really lively. In the future I could become a regular here—won't you entertain me well today?

The Princess of Nanping, on her way here, upon seeing the bustling atmosphere, instantly felt as if she had returned to the northwest, and she became excited like a little twittering bird.

Li Qingluo rose to greet her, saying, "Whatever you want to eat or drink today, I'll be the host."

Li Qingluo saw that, following behind the Princess of Nanping, there were also several ladies dressed splendidly with veils on their heads; she didn't know which family's daughters they were, also coming to show support.

Inside the elegant room, because charcoal was burned, it was warm and toasty.

As soon as they entered, the young women removed their veils and took off their cloaks.

Only then did Li Qingluo clearly see that those who had come along were the few young women who had hidden together in the camp tent that day.

Besides Liu Qinzhu and her servant, has everyone else come?

And moreover, there were Cui Jiuniang and Cui Shiyi Niang, whom she least expected!

You……

Li Qingluo looked at them and suddenly didn't know what to say.

Cui Jiuniang: "Are you not welcoming us few? That day, Miss Li had courage and strategy, saving everyone. We came today without notice; aside from wanting to give you a personal show of support, we also wanted to send you some gifts to express our gratitude for that day."

Another Lin Qiniang followed and said, "Yes, yes. You are indeed a handsome young gentleman today; you must not neglect us few."

As she spoke, the servants behind her hurriedly piled up the gifts.

Li Qingluo instead froze.

She never imagined that her own deeds would one day be remembered.

Moreover, Cui Jiuniang originally held contempt and hostility toward her, but after experiencing that day's events, her attitude now seems somewhat different.

"Then thank you all. Please, everyone, have a seat!"

Li Qingluo then openly accepted them all.

The young ladies stepped forward to pay respects to Pei Lao Furen, and each introduced her surname.

Cui Jiuniang and Cui Shiyiang also did not conceal their identities, so Pei Lao Furen naturally glanced at Cui Jiuniang a few more times.

Moreover, they deliberately avoided mentioning the marriage between the two families, so everyone simply ate the hot pot together in harmony.

Li Qingluo had prepared in advance for everyone a hot pot base of old duck soup with pickled radish.

In winter, a sip of old duck soup instantly warms the whole body.

Paired with Jinling City's specialty pressed duck and a few small dishes, the appetite instantly opens.

Fresh mutton just dropped into the pot, cooked with various golden-fried meatballs and vegetables.

Que'er and the maidservants beside them kept adding ingredients and cooking, then ladled the dishes into the plates before each master.

Seeing that these maidservants wanted to push her seated companions aside, Li Qingluo told them to go downstairs and get a table for themselves in the hall, so they need not serve her here.

After all, the fun of hot pot lies in cooking and eating it yourself, which makes it more fragrant.

Que'er knew the young lady was speaking the truth, and cheerfully called the remaining maidservants to follow her away.

The remaining Cui Jiuniang and her companions stared at each other, momentarily unsure how to reach out.

Only Nanping, with her mouth still bulging with food, reached out with her chopsticks anxiously to grab vegetables from the pot: "Hurry, if you don't eat now, this fresh tripe will become too tough to chew!"