Chapter 23: The Lame Little Fatty

  Before the words had fallen, the cotton curtain was lifted and two people walked in. They seemed to be father and son, but also looked like grandfather and grandson. The older one wore a brown robe with a golden money pattern, looking rich but having a goat-like beard that made him look quite awkward. He glanced around a few times before a small fat boy appeared from behind him.

  At a glance, it's obvious that this kid is from a wealthy family. In these times, a chubby kid like him isn't something an ordinary family can afford to raise. Wang Tong observed for a bit and realized that this chubby kid was probably around the same age as himself now - thirteen or fourteen years old. It's just that he had gotten used to observing things with the mindset of an adult.

  "It smells so good, it smells so good, much better than those lousy cooks."

  When the little fatty came out, Wang Tong found that his body shook violently when he walked. Wang Tong leaned over and saw the way the little fatty walked, his legs were disabled.

  It was unclear whose family the old couple belonged to, but they were having a good day at home. On this winter solstice day, they came out to eat braised pork belly, and Wang Tong buried his head again, thinking about his own affairs, but didn't notice that the older official glared fiercely in their direction.

  The shop assistant naturally entertained them enthusiastically. The official looked at the dishes in the store and showed a very dissatisfied expression on his face. In the end, he ordered a dish of salted vegetables and two bowls of braised pork, served with white rice.

  The braised pork is ordinary, but it's the signature dish of Meizhai Restaurant, so the ingredients are carefully selected and cooked to perfection. The five-layered meat is bright red and shiny, with a fragrance that hits your nose.

  He put it on the table, and that little fatty took a bite. His eyes lit up instantly, and he started eating big mouthfuls, occasionally muttering to himself:

  "Delicious, delicious."

  Looking at the child eating so deliciously, the staff outside couldn't help but want a bowl too. After taking a bite, they also nodded in approval and opened their mouth to say:

  "There is indeed some truth to it."

  The voice was very gentle, and at this time there were only these two guests in the store. Wang Tong's attention was also drawn to them, and when he heard the official praising him, he couldn't help but smile and join in, saying:

  "You two don't look like the type to come to a place like this. What brings you here today? Have you finished buying your New Year's goods?"

  That official's eyebrows furrowed and his face turned solemn as he said:

  "What is this gentleman doing sitting in this shop today instead of going on duty?"

  As soon as he heard this, Wang Tong had a number in his mind and said that the official might be an official from somewhere else, otherwise how could he speak with such style.

  In a good mood, and not bothered by the other's stiff tone, Wang Tong smiled and said:

  "This store is just below..."

  That official stared at Wang Tong in surprise, then turned around and ignored him. What a big attitude, what kind of guest is this? Wang Tong smiled and didn't bother with him.

  "Sixty cents in total, thank you for your service."

  The fellow on the other side greeted him warmly, and this kind of single dish was settled after eating. The official stretched out his hand to search his body, and his hand flipped in his pocket, but he was stunned there.

  The shop assistant's smile remained unchanged, still stretching out his hand, but the officer searched him a few times, and that surprise turned into embarrassment. The little fat man sitting over there had already finished two large bowls of braised pork, and was still shouting:

  "It's really delicious, have another bowl!"

  "...altogether sixty wen..."

  The money collector also sensed that something was off, and couldn't help but speak up again. The official's face turned even redder with embarrassment, he coughed and spoke slowly:

  "This... this... I didn't bring any silver money out today, can you record the debt and I'll definitely repay it tomorrow?"

  As soon as he heard that there was no money, the face of the cashier suddenly looked a bit ugly, and he said with difficulty:

  "The Mei Wei restaurant has always been a small business with thin profits, and it's never been in the habit of extending credit. The eunuchs from the palace, the generals from the imperial guard, even they have never gotten special treatment here."

  The little fatty behind had not yet heard what was being said here, poured the braised pork's gravy into his rice, ate a few mouthfuls, and again shouted there:

  "Not full yet, have another bowl..."

  A middle-aged man with a dignified appearance turned his head to look back, the expression of difficulty on his face deepened, and after some hesitation, Wang Tong, who was lost in thought on the other side, was finally startled.

  Listening to the conversation between the two, I couldn't help but want to laugh. Looking at their attire, it's likely that they really did forget to bring money and not just here to freeload. Seeing the employee's embarrassed expression, Wang shouted out a greeting:

  "Never mind, Xiao Zhang. I thought about it and I really forgot to bring it. I'll send it over tomorrow."

  Wang Tong opened his mouth, and the shop assistant smiled and bowed, continuing to busy himself. However, the official didn't show any gratitude towards Wang Tong's kindness, instead he looked at him with a cold expression.

  Perhaps he was offended by his own words just now, and such a wealthy person values face.

  For just sixty cents, why the need for so much vigilance and caution in his eyes? Wang Tong felt a bit displeased, but he didn't bother to dwell on it. He lowered his head and continued writing and drawing on the rice paper. The current storefront was too small, and there were too few varieties of flowers. To maintain customer flow, they had to expand the storefront and increase the number of dishes.

  The customer base that Meiwiguang faces is actually very limited, mainly the middle and upper classes of Nancheng and the eunuchs and military generals of Gongcheng. Now it's just about meeting actual needs and trying something new, taking advantage of this momentum to keep it going.

  From modern times, Wang Tong was fully focused on doing this market planning and the like. When he next raised his head in surprise, he found that there were already many eunuchs and imperial guards sitting in the store, it seemed that just now was indeed an empty hall.

  It was getting dark when Zhang Shijiang and several purchasing partners returned. Today is cold, so meat and vegetables can be purchased in large quantities without worrying about spoilage.

  As usual, after purchasing, they need to go to Wang Tong's side to verify the silver money. One report of the amount, and Wang Tong found that it was not quite right. Before he could ask, Zhang Shiqiang spoke up:

  "Today, I bought an extra sheep, twenty catties of wine, and several hundred wen worth of dried fruit to send to Li Wen yuan's small flag house in our hundred households. Brother Wang, aren't you going to learn martial arts? It's just looking for him as a master."

  At this point, Wang Tong became interested and Zhang Shiqiang continued:

  "Do you still remember that day, the one who scolded Zhao Guodong was this person. Li Wen yuan has a good fist and footwork, and is skilled with guns and sticks. In our hundred households, or even in our thousand households, no one can surpass him."

  "Are there still such heroes in our Jin Yi Wei?"

  Wang Tong was quite perplexed. Apart from a few special positions, the rest of the Brocade Guards were all sons of families residing in the capital, and their titles had been passed down through generations without any assessment or training. Each person, apart from wearing official robes and carrying steel knives at their waist, was not much different from ordinary citizens. How could someone so capable emerge from among them?

  "Has Commander Qi heard of him? He is the General of Ji Town, and the Commander-in-Chief of the three towns' military affairs, Qi Jiguang?"

  Zhang Shiqiang was excited, and the name "Qi Jiguang" was truly like thunder in Wang Tong's ears. A famous anti-Japanese general, a great military talent, he quickly nodded, and continued to say:

  "That Li Wen yuan was a personal soldier of Qi Da Shuai, had fought to the death with Japanese pirates in the south and been shot in the arm by Tartars in the north, unable to take the field again. Qi Da Shuai and the higher-ups made arrangements for him to be settled in our hundred households... After several days, Li said that he was very impressed with your behavior, Wang brothers, and on the seventh day of the first month, you will go to his place to pay respects as a disciple."