Chapter Twenty-Two: A Dull Life

  In the next few days, apart from having a large number of customers from Nanjie and surrounding areas coming to eat at noon, there were also many low-ranking officials who came to dine here after lunch.

  What surprised Wang Tong was that he didn't know what kind of propaganda the six eunuchs did when they went back, and many eunuchs came, even some officers from the Imperial Guard.

  Low-ranking officials, officers of the Imperial Guard, their shifts were complicated and didn't necessarily coincide with lunchtime. The restaurant that originally only served lunch had to increase its procurement of ingredients and add more staff to prepare for these people.

  Wang Tong's Jin Yiwei identity, although these people may not be afraid, can prevent eunuchs and imperial guards from bullying others, as long as they are given food and money, everything will be fine.

  At first, those six eunuchs got a lot of benefits here. One guest cost one piece of money, but they couldn't stand the fact that many people came and it was really cost-effective.

  I earn much more than before every month, and after calculation, the annual net income is around 300 taels. Looking at this trend, it will continue to increase. However, economic benefits are not the only advantages.

  That day, the eunuch scolded Sun Dahai, and then the eunuchs and guards in the palace came to this restaurant to eat. All of this fell under the eyes of the people, and rumors began to spread that Wang Li was familiar with a certain high-ranking eunuch in the palace, and had discovered Wang Tong by chance some days ago, which is why he opened a store nearby, so as to take care of him conveniently.

  This news is naturally absurd, but those who heard it had to weigh their hearts and dare not act rashly. At least, after Sun Dahai came to the door, Meiweiguan's side has been very peaceful.

  Every day at the stroke of four, except for Tian Baihu's old home Ding who was still laughing and scolding, the rest of his colleagues were much more polite to Wang Tong. Zhao Guotong was no longer seen on this south street, and Liu Xinyong, the chief flag, acted as if Wang Tong did not exist, with a look of seeing but not seeing every day.

  Watching the business grow beyond his expectations, Wang Tong took out more silver and bought up the neighboring houses to the left and right. With time being urgent, there was no time to do any renovations or rebuilding, so he directly used the opponent's hall and house as a dining hall. Through Ma Guafu and Zhang Shiqiang, he also recruited twenty helpers.

  Everything is done in a rush, the staff of a fast food restaurant are not well trained, which can easily lead to shortcomings in food and service, and customers have no loyalty.

  But stewed dishes are easy to grasp the fire, and the actual requirements of the eunuchs and guards for food are not high, as long as they can eat without being difficult to eat, and hot meals are already enough. The business of Meishan Hall has not been affected, and it will slowly increase like this.

  On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, Wang Tong delivered the monthly silver to Tian Baiguan's mansion as usual. This time, however, Tian Ronghao had a slightly more affable expression on his face.

  He is also unclear about Wang Tong's background, in the capital city there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers, ordinary people may have connections with high-ranking officials, maybe Wang Tong really knows some big shots.

  But it's also reasonable to some extent, because this big shot has not shown up yet, and the bigger possibility is that it's just a rumor. Wang Tong took out the silver for that month, and Tian Ronghao also drew out the share that Wang Tong should have received according to the previous rules.

  King Tong took out another small package and placed it on the table, smiling as he said:

  "That small shop opened by the little man is also on South Street, and naturally it has to follow the rules. The recent business has been quite brisk, with the little man himself in charge, earning three or four silver coins a month. What do you think, sir?"

  At this time, Tian Baiwu's face finally had a smile on it, and he nodded and said:

  "I recently heard that someone went to your restaurant to cause trouble? It's all your own family business, and if there are any more rascals like this, I'll take care of it for you!"

  Wang Tong hastily expressed his gratitude, and in his heart, he understood that from now on, his restaurant would truly be worry-free. He had unexpectedly gained a lucrative business opportunity, and everyone would definitely be envious. If he didn't show his appreciation in time, he feared that apart from Liu Xinyong, who held a grudge against him, others might also start gossiping.

  After paying the monthly silver, it became a formally recognized storefront within the jurisdiction of Tian Baihu's district. According to the rules, if anyone else came to Meiwu Hall to cause trouble, they would face this Jin Yiwei Baihu. Whatever Liu Xinyong wanted to do, he had to consider this unspoken rule.

  On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, most shops on South Street had already started their New Year's holiday, and South Street became quiet and deserted. However, Wang Tong's Delicious Restaurant was an exception.

  The low-ranking eunuchs in the palace, the officers of the Imperial Guard, they still have to be on duty and guard the palace, this festival has no significance for them. Similarly, the food in the imperial city will not improve either.

  The imperial kitchen is preparing for the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival and other celebrations, and even the meals for the miscellaneous soldiers of the Forbidden City are much better than usual.

  For eunuchs and guards on duty south of the Imperial City, Mei Zhai was their good fortune; for those on duty elsewhere, they would rather walk a few more steps to come and eat.

  Wang Tong's side is less crowded during lunchtime, but from after lunch until evening, the flow of people continues non-stop, and there are still people coming until the palace gates close.

  It turns out that the business they're doing now is even more prosperous than before the Lunar New Year. The male and female employees of Meishuiguan are all in high spirits, because their boss has already promised that by the Spring Festival, each person will at least take home three hundred coins and ten kilograms of pork, which is a truly bountiful year.

  As for Ma Widow and Zhang Shijiang, they are considered small bosses of this store, that is, they take dividends, and they must get more.

  On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Tian Baihu ordered everyone at the hour of Wu that they didn't need to come on duty for the next few days, but instead gather again on the thirteenth day of the first lunar month and busy themselves with celebrating the new year.

  Others have families and mouths to feed, but Wang Tong is an orphan, Zhang Shijiang has no one to rely on, the two of them have nowhere to go, so they still stay in the store as usual.

  According to Zhang Shiqiang, he has already found a master who can teach him boxing and kicking skills, and after the Chinese New Year, he will go to learn from him.

  In the afternoon, eunuchs and imperial guards came to eat one after another. Zhang Shijiang went out to buy materials, while Wang Tong sat in a corner of the dining hall, lost in thought.

  At this rate of earning money, by next April or May, adding a bit more from the old capital, I can go into the business of selling southern goods.

  The Suzhang warehouse on South Street was one of the shops that didn't pay monthly silver, but the shopkeeper Zhao had asked Wang Tong and Zhang Shiqiang to help with a few small tasks before, so he could give them some pointers.

  Among all the businesses I can think of, this Southern goods business is the most profitable and has the lowest risk. It just depends on whether Manager Zhao is willing to help with this matter.

  After a moment of daze, Wang Tong suddenly found that the store was empty, which was really strange. Although the store had not been full in the afternoon, there should have been a constant flow of people. However, Wang Tong didn't mind much, thinking it was just an empty shift.

  "It smells so good over here, what's being eaten?"

  Just as I was lost in thought, a child's voice came from outside the store, followed by someone responding:

  "It must be the braised pork that everyone's been talking about..."

  Ok, everything is back to normal now, Lao Bai needs to work hard from now on.