Chapter 54: Shopkeeper Lu’s Astonishment

Manager Lu gazed at the table outside the kitchen, where stir-fried lamb, Beggar’s Chicken, egg rolls, and other dishes, all appealing in color and aroma, had already been set out. He craned his neck and swallowed hard before asking, “Brother Chengfeng, you didn’t make all these dishes yourself, did you?”

It wasn’t just Manager Lu; at this moment, everyone outside the kitchen except for Du Chengfeng was swallowing their saliva uncontrollably.

There was simply no helping it—the dishes Du Chengfeng had made were just too fragrant. The aroma and appearance alone were enough to whet anyone’s appetite.

Du Chengfeng put down the tray, wiped the oil from his hands, and answered calmly, “Yes, I made them all. I’ve been struck by inspiration these past few days and decided to experiment a little. I wasn’t sure how they’d turn out, so I invited you to offer your opinion.”

“Inspiration struck, you say?” Manager Lu was clearly skeptical.

Judging by the look and aroma of these dishes, there was no way someone could achieve this without years of experience.

The maids and servants around them were equally dubious. They remembered that ever since Du Chengfeng became master of this residence, he’d never set foot in the kitchen. This talk of sudden inspiration was probably just an excuse.

Such a story might fool an outsider like Manager Lu, but since their young master had said so, he must have his reasons. Those who served him weren’t about to expose him.

Seeing no one believed him, Du Chengfeng could only shrug and point to a few maids and servants, instructing, “All right, stop standing around. You lot, take these dishes to the dining hall. Yang Wu, go to the back yard and call Captain Zhao. There’s lamb stewing in those big pots—let them serve themselves.”

“Yes, young master.” Everyone had been eagerly eyeing these extraordinary dishes for some time. As soon as Du Chengfeng finished speaking, they rushed to carry the plates to the dining hall with great anticipation.

“Manager Lu, let’s head to the dining room as well,” Du Chengfeng said to the still-dazed Manager Lu.

“Certainly, I would be honored,” Manager Lu replied, his face bright with smiles.

When Du Chengfeng and Manager Lu arrived at the dining hall, the maids and servants were already seated properly at their table, all swallowing hungrily as they waited for Du Chengfeng to give the word.

But everyone tacitly understood that, as there were guests today, a separate table had been specially prepared for Du Chengfeng and Manager Lu.

“All right, go ahead and eat,” Du Chengfeng said with a laugh, seeing how ravenous the maids and servants looked.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the maids and servants, who could no longer restrain themselves, reached for their chopsticks and dug in with gusto.

After only a few bites, they were practically devouring the food like starved ghosts, paying no mind to Du Chengfeng and Manager Lu sitting nearby, their mouths glistening with oil and cheeks bulging with food.

Occasionally, someone would mutter excitedly to themselves, “Mmm, this is unbelievably delicious. Young master is amazing!”

“Brother Chengfeng, this… they…” Manager Lu was dumbstruck by the sight of the maids and servants eating with such abandon, so much so that he was at a loss for words.

Seeing how unperturbed and unconcerned Du Chengfeng was, Manager Lu was even more puzzled.

The master hadn’t even taken his seat, and yet the servants were already eating like this. Did none of the staff in Du Chengfeng’s household understand propriety and hierarchy?

“No need to be surprised, Manager Lu. Things are rather informal here—there aren’t many restrictions,” Du Chengfeng said evenly.

“Come, let’s eat as well. Seeing how much they’re enjoying themselves has made me hungry,” he continued.

“Well then, let me first thank you for your generous hospitality,” Manager Lu replied awkwardly. Everything before his eyes had shattered his worldview—it was all too strange to comprehend.

“Please, help yourself.”

No longer standing on ceremony, Manager Lu picked up a piece of Beggar’s Chicken and tasted it.

The tender chicken melted in his mouth, leaving an endless aftertaste. The faint fragrance of lotus leaf mingled with a unique texture, filling his mouth and making him reluctant to swallow.

“Brother Chengfeng, what dish is this? In all my decades, I have never tasted anything so delicious!” Manager Lu asked excitedly as he ate.

“This is Lotus Leaf Chicken,” Du Chengfeng explained, having changed the original name to something more refined for easier promotion in the future.

“And this one?” Manager Lu pointed at a golden dish.

“This is stir-fried eggs,” Du Chengfeng replied.

“Stir-fried eggs?” Manager Lu was puzzled, but after tasting a bite, he found it delicious.

So eggs could be prepared like this too? He’d never seen it before, yet the taste was exceptional and completely different—why had his own chefs at Wangjiang Pavilion never thought of such a simple yet delicious method?

One by one, Manager Lu sampled every dish on the table, becoming thoroughly convinced of Du Chengfeng’s culinary mastery.

In his heart, his estimation of Du Chengfeng’s prodigious talent rose by another level.

Every dish Du Chengfeng had prepared was unique, boasting color, aroma, and flavor, and surely unparalleled anywhere in the Tang Empire.

As a shrewd businessman, Manager Lu seemed to smell a tremendous business opportunity—one that lay in these extraordinary dishes.

Enticed by the flavors, the two of them finished the entire table of food within a quarter of an hour.

Manager Lu was stuffed, his belly round and taut. Du Chengfeng, too, had eaten to his fill; after his time in Tang, today he was finally truly satisfied.

When the meal was over, Du Chengfeng belched contentedly, produced a small bamboo toothpick from somewhere, and began picking his teeth as he teased Manager Lu, “Manager Lu, was today’s meal to your satisfaction?”

“Satisfied, very satisfied! I couldn’t possibly be more satisfied!” Manager Lu laughed, patting his full belly.

“Good. Now, to business. To be frank, I have a proposal I’d like to discuss with you,” Du Chengfeng said seriously, tossing aside his toothpick.

“Please speak, Brother Chengfeng. I’m all ears,” Manager Lu replied, beaming, certain that whatever Du Chengfeng had in mind must be another major venture.

“I have a plan, Manager Lu—one that can double or even triple Wangjiang Pavilion’s revenue and make it the undisputed top establishment in Chang’an, perhaps even all of Tang.”

“However, there is one condition: I would like a thirty percent share of future profits—excluding the profits from the Immortal Wine. Please consider it,” Du Chengfeng said, rising from the table and pacing as he spoke. He had been mulling over this idea for days.

“What?” Manager Lu was stunned. His first reaction was disbelief, thinking Du Chengfeng must be exaggerating.

But seeing Du Chengfeng’s utter confidence, and recalling both his business instincts and the precedent of the Immortal Wine, Manager Lu began to think this was an offer worth considering.