Chapter 62: The Welcoming Ceremony for the Second Master

That’s more like it, Du Chengfeng muttered, feeling that the system was, for the most part, quite considerate.

“Go ahead and refresh it, then. Let’s see if anything good comes up,” Du Chengfeng said. With reputation points soaring into the millions, he saw a host of valuable technologies still locked, leaving him with an odd feeling.

It was as if he had a fortune stashed in a safe, yet unable to use a single coin—just left there to gather dust.

“Refreshing the system store for the host. Please wait.”

After several minutes of anxious waiting, the system store finally updated. Du Chengfeng immediately began scanning through the store’s interface, slot by slot.

Sure enough, in the second row under livelihood technologies, he spotted glassmaking. The price was only five thousand reputation points—far too cheap—so he quickly bought it.

Wait! There was also a basic enhancement serum. His eyes lit up, heart pounding with excitement.

He had used the system’s gifted advanced enhancement serum before, so he knew firsthand how powerful it was. The basic version should offer similar benefits, though presumably much weaker.

Du Chengfeng hurriedly opened the description: Basic Enhancement Serum—can double a normal person’s physical attributes and constitution, and simultaneously eliminate all illnesses and disorders within the body. Price: one hundred thousand reputation points.

Not bad. Though it only doubles physique, the ability to eradicate all bodily ailments is quite formidable.

Even if not for strengthening, it was a household remedy worth having—just a bit pricey.

But with several million reputation points to his name, a mere hundred thousand was nothing to fret over.

Such an excellent item deserved to be kept for emergencies or for recruiting talent. Without hesitation, Du Chengfeng bought a few and stored them in the system warehouse.

With the glassmaking technology acquired and the bonus of a basic enhancement serum, Du Chengfeng was thoroughly satisfied. Humming a popular modern tune, he headed toward the study.

Li Xiaogong had entrusted him with the complete renovation plan for Wangjiang Pavilion, so he needed to implement it swiftly.

Though renovation couldn’t begin yet, he could design some of the added entertainment facilities now—billiards, chess, military chess, mahjong, playing cards, and so forth. Since Li Xiaogong was likely to send craftsmen over the next day, these could be put to use.

Du Chengfeng worked away in the study for several hours, finally drafting all the design blueprints for the entertainment facilities. The rest would wait for the craftsmen from the prince’s residence to arrive so production could begin.

The next morning, Du Chengfeng rose early. He had arranged with Shopkeeper Lu to train a team of cooks in Wangjiang Pavilion to master modern dishes and needed to send someone to handle the accounts.

The issue was, he had no one in his own household who was both trustworthy and capable of bookkeeping. This troubled Du Chengfeng.

His maids and servants certainly wouldn’t do. Even aside from their unfamiliarity with modern numerals and bookkeeping methods, none of them were up to the task.

If worst came to worst, he’d have to deploy one of his clone soldiers. Though it felt like overkill, at least their loyalty was absolute, and since they were cloned after modern soldiers, their grasp of basic arithmetic and accounting was excellent.

After breakfast, he chose a seasoned-looking clone soldier and walked to Wangjiang Pavilion together.

Having spent some time in the Tang dynasty, Du Chengfeng was still unimpressed with the era’s two-wheeled carriages—too jarring and uncomfortable. If not for the constraints of Tang manufacturing, he would have made a four-wheeled carriage with suspension himself.

Knowing Du Chengfeng would arrive that morning to train the cooks, Shopkeeper Lu had gathered all the waiters at the pavilion entrance, awaiting his arrival.

Seeing the grand welcome, Du Chengfeng couldn’t help but chuckle wryly. “Shopkeeper Lu, this isn’t my first time at Wangjiang Pavilion. You’re making such a fuss, I almost feel embarrassed.”

Shopkeeper Lu paid little heed, instead pointing at Du Chengfeng and loudly announcing to the assembled waiters, “Let me introduce you formally—from today onward, this young master Du will be our second largest proprietor.”

“From now on, all matters concerning Wangjiang Pavilion will be handled by Young Master Du. Whatever instructions he gives, you must carry them out to the best of your ability. Understood?”

“Yes, understood!” the waiters replied in unison. They all bowed deeply to Du Chengfeng and called out, “Greetings, proprietor!”

Du Chengfeng calmly accepted the gesture and replied, “Good.” Then he said, “Thank you for your hard work. Except for the kitchen staff, the rest of you may return to your duties.”

Fortunately, Du Chengfeng had arrived early, and at this hour, Wangjiang Pavilion was nearly devoid of guests. The street outside was sparsely populated, so there was no crowd of onlookers—otherwise, it might have become the talk of the town.

Once the waiters dispersed, Shopkeeper Lu approached with eager politeness and asked, “Second proprietor, would you like to have a bite to eat inside before beginning the training?”

Ever since Du Chengfeng became Wangjiang Pavilion’s second largest proprietor, Shopkeeper Lu no longer addressed him as ‘young brother’—after all, Du Chengfeng was now his boss, and the title ‘second proprietor’ was fitting.

The future development of Wangjiang Pavilion depended on Du Chengfeng’s guidance.

As for the soldier by Du Chengfeng’s side, Shopkeeper Lu instinctively refrained from inquiring. As a subordinate, he knew which questions were best left unasked.

Not long ago, Shopkeeper Lu had secretly congratulated himself on his foresight in befriending the extraordinary genius Du Chengfeng, which had elevated Wangjiang Pavilion’s business and earned him the prince’s favor.

He hadn’t expected that, in just a few days, Du Chengfeng would become the prince’s trusted confidant and Wangjiang Pavilion’s second proprietor.

Shopkeeper Lu couldn’t help but marvel: The world is truly fickle—one’s status can change in the blink of an eye.

Hearing himself called ‘second proprietor,’ Du Chengfeng felt a bit awkward.

He understood that, given his position, Shopkeeper Lu couldn’t address him as before, but the title still made him uneasy—especially since the word ‘second’ had a peculiar meaning in modern slang.

Du Chengfeng forced a smile and said, “Shopkeeper Lu, just call me ‘young master’ from now on. I’ve already eaten breakfast at home. By the way, the man beside me will be Wangjiang Pavilion’s new accountant.”

“His name is Zhao Yang. He’s well-versed in the bookkeeping and calculation methods I taught you yesterday. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask him.”