Chapter 49: Unification of the World

  January's time slipped away in the blink of an eye, and the explosive scene at Kaiyuan Wine House for a month gradually came to an end. However, it brought about a series of butterfly effects.

  First, the officials had already gotten into the habit of going back and forth to Kaiyuan Restaurant every day. So on ordinary days, as long as there was an invitation, they would say: "You're treating today!" "Okay, where are we going?" "Kaiyuan, of course!" And then the two of them would head straight for Kaiyuan Restaurant. There were many examples like this. In short, going to Kaiyuan Restaurant for a meal had become a habitual phrase on their lips, and these officials had become old regulars at Kaiyuan Restaurant.

  Secondly, the news of all officials gathering at Kaiyuan Wine House spread throughout the city, so some ordinary people or merchants would come specifically to occupy a noble atmosphere. Some people even compared with each other: "Today I saw Guo Jia, the first strategist of the General's Mansion, and he sat next to me!" As soon as he finished speaking, someone on the other side sneered: "What's that? I also saw Yang Bian, the Grand Commandant, today. The wine house was full of guests, and there were no seats left, so he shared a table with us!" This remark brought about a chorus of admiring sighs. At this moment, someone asked: "Did you talk to him?" "Of course I did!" This again triggered a wave of envious murmurs.

  Merchants also come here with a purpose, wanting to use their connections to get ahead by waiting at the Kaiyuan Wine House every day. There will always be opportunities for you to catch up with the officials you want to meet. At that time, put out a table of wine and invite them over, saying it's better to bump into each other than to make an appointment. This can ease the atmosphere greatly. Then have the waiter bring out the strongest wine, and after a few cups, your business will likely be halfway done. Therefore, many merchants spend their days hanging out in the wine house, waiting for opportunities.

  Liu Xie leaned back in his dragon chair, listening to the news from Kaiyuan Hotel over the past few days, feeling relieved. These results were all within his expectations, just like how some celebrity or official would visit a hotel and they would take photos with them to attract customers. Song Jiu stood beside Liu Xie, also carefully listening to the intelligence brought back by Li Chen.

  Li Chen said with a smile, unable to conceal the excitement on his face: "If things go on like this, Open Source Wine House will be able to make up for last month's losses in just one month!"

  Liu Xie nodded, but what he was thinking about now was not the issue of cost and loss. He had to cultivate the Liu family into the first big business family in Xu Chang, so that when he started his own business, he would have funds as a backing. The conspiracy of the four families would be crushed, and then they would either give up or continue to be enemies with the Liu family. This was what Liu Xie was most concerned about, so he turned to ask Song Jiu: "What do you think the four families will do next?"