Sixty-six Wealth Alliance (Part 1)

  "Brother Li Zhen, Brother Bo Yao, you're here too! It seems we all have a kindred spirit! Haha! Sanming, your actions today have truly won our hearts over! Our revered teacher in heaven must be smiling with joy to see his disciple turn out so well. I requested an audience with the Emperor and came out of the palace to visit you, only to run into this rascal on the way." Li Chengqian has great potential as a host, whether it's being the master of the house or the ruler of the country. His every move and word is always able to make himself the center of attention, which is a quality of a superior leader. It's clear that Emperor Li has put in effort to cultivate him.

  Would the Tang Empire have fallen into Wu Zetian's hands if it weren't for her desire for quick success and gain? Would the Li-Tang imperial family still be brutally purged? Perhaps the history of the Tang Empire would also change...

  "Sanming, you see I didn't even respond to Chang Le's invitation tonight, just to come out and see you. This brother of mine is really something!?" Zhangsun plopped down on the bed, wrapped his arms around Suning, and picked up Suning's braised pork shoulder to take a look. With a sly smile, he said: "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking, you little scamp. Is it because I've got Chang Le now, so you're jealous and want to find a wife too? Li Ruihan is pretty, but her temper isn't great. Brother, do you like that kind of woman? That's a shrew! Be careful she doesn't control you to death!"

  Su Ning's face was expressionless as he kicked Long Sun off the bed with one foot: "My hand is swollen from being hit, but my foot isn't. You're still not a match for me even if you have only one hand! I look down on that kind of violent woman, she has a bad temper and a foul mouth. Whoever marries her will be miserable! Don't talk nonsense, Mr. Kong said today that rumors are more terrifying than harsh laws! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tell Princess Chang Le about your trip to the Qing Lou! See how she deals with you!"

  Chang Sun's face suddenly turned purple, and Li Chengqian burst out laughing. He said to Li Zhen and Li Bo Yu, who were staring blankly: "Don't mind, you two gentlemen. We three are good friends in private, so naturally we have more constraints in formal settings. But since it's just us here, with no one else around, we can be less restrained."

  Li Zhen and Li Bo-yao looked at the scene in front of them with some envy, children from large families actually didn't have many good friends since childhood, while brotherly friendship was what they yearned for...

  "Right, today Li Zhen and Bo Yao came over, I was preparing to set up a banquet for them. You guys arrived just in time, let's eat first before leaving! Aren't you always craving my family's delicious food? Er Huo, isn't that right? Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time that day, otherwise, there would have been a share for you too. But I thought you'd definitely come to my place, so I didn't count you in." Su Ning said with a smile.

  Li Chengqian was overjoyed: "Exactly, today I'll also get to taste the delicious food of your mansion."

  Chang Sun Chong was overjoyed: "Right, let's make some more. I want to bring some back for Chang Le to try, she'll definitely love it." After finishing speaking, he had a lovesick expression, which made the four people uncomfortable. Who would have thought that among the five people, four were bachelors, and only one was married, with a lovesick expression? Su Ning nodded towards Li Cheng Qian, then looked at Li Zhen and Li Bo Yao with some envy: "Let's all go together!"

  And so, five young men unfolded a fierce battle in the room...

  At first, Li Boyao and Li Zhen were a bit restrained and didn't dare to come forward. After all, they weren't familiar with Zhang Sun Chong at all. They just watched as Su Ning and Li Chengqian pressed Zhang Sun Chong down on the bed, hitting him and tickling him while having a great time. Su Ning even kept calling out to them to join in. The inherent nature of children eventually broke out, so two junior high school students brought two elementary school students to bully one junior high school student...

  The fierce battle lasted for about half an hour, Zhangsun Chong laughed until he was exhausted and lay motionless on the bed like a dead dog. Su Ning panted heavily on top of Zhangsun Chong, Li Chengqian still had some elegance, leaning against the edge of the bed to recover his energy. Li Zhen and Li Baoyu were lying on the ground, not moving at all, both exhausted...

  As the saying goes, "no fight, no acquaintance", men's friendship often arises in the process of fighting and drinking. Nowadays, it starts with a fight, followed by a table of fried and roasted food and several jars of wine, so all the conditions for good friendship between men are met, and then toasting and drinking is natural.

  "Come on, everyone, eat and drink to your heart's content! As long as you're happy, that's my greatest responsibility. Eat as much as you want, if it's not enough, I'll get the chef to make more! Hurry up and eat!" Suning shouted loudly, holding up his wine cup. This feeling made him feel like he was back in college, eating with his roommates, carefree and uninhibited, eating and drinking whenever they wanted, even if they threw up afterwards, they'd all leave together, supporting each other... except for the inconvenience of dragging a braised pork knuckle along...

  Although Sūnīng was only fourteen years old, and some were even twelve years old, in this era, they basically all already knew how to drink alcohol, so drinking came with no pressure. Moreover, the liquor at that time wasn't high-proof liquor, but rather a low-alcohol content beverage. When Sūnīng drank it, he felt like there was no difference from drinking water...

  Of course, the main problem is not with the wine itself. Since the first piece of fried chicken approached Zhangsun Chong's mouth, he has been shoving pieces into his mouth like a madman. Firstly, this delicacy is really too delicious, and secondly, he laughed so hard earlier that his stomach growled loudly, urgently needing to replenish energy. After Li Chengqian ate one piece, he also abandoned his dignity and started competing with Zhangsun Chong.

  Li Zhen and Li Bo-yao were initially a bit restrained, but as they watched the fried chicken and barbecue constantly decreasing, they couldn't help themselves after deeply savoring the flavor. The four of them started grabbing at each other, almost biting into each other's mouths, and the food was snatched away to be devoured. The battle was extremely intense. It was only then that Su Ning discovered that his swollen hand was a terrible disadvantage. Facing four beasts who had lost their rationality, a pair of chopsticks were really too weak...

  Always eating with adults, having to follow etiquette and morals, the dishes that adults don't touch, children are not allowed to touch, only with the permission of adults can children eat, otherwise it's unfilial, even a little bit of behavior that oversteps etiquette is not allowed, the child's nature is perfectly suppressed, becoming a qualified abnormality... but in this room, there are no adults, only children, so four real kids and one pseudo-adult thoroughly tore off their disguises...

  In the end, the four large plates of fried chicken and three large plates of roasted meat were completely unable to withstand the attack of the four beasts. Suning looked at their faces that still had a lingering desire to eat and their gleaming green eyes, fearing that these four beasts would devour him whole, so he ordered the chef to bring another serving as quickly as possible. The middle section was just a brief interlude for a short rest, drinking some wine, digesting food, resting, in preparation for the next big battle.

  Taking this opportunity, Su Ning decided to formally start the first plan: "How about it? Doesn't it taste good? The delicacies in my house are famous for a reason!"

  Li Chengqian let out a satisfied burp: "You're right, when it comes to food, the palace can't compare to your estate. What's the point of that chef sending me something? After finishing this meal, will I still be able to eat anything else?" Changsun Wu's eyes turned green with envy: "Cousin, you're being unfair! The Eastern Palace eats the same imperial cuisine as the Emperor! Imperial cuisine is the most delicious in the world, what more could you want from a chef? Sanming, give me one! I'll send it to Changle, and then she can eat it too!"

  Li Chengqian was furious and kicked Changsun Chong to the ground, pouncing on him and beating him. "You bastard who has a wife but no brothers!" On the other side, the battle was intense, and Li Zhen also spoke up: "Ah, Sanming, I'll have Father send the kitchen staff over tomorrow, it's all up to you! Father said that he would settle this matter today."

  Li Baiyao also hastily said: "Yes, yes, I'm the same, this fried chicken is too delicious to eat, outside is crispy, inside is tender and juicy, and that what chicken, last time grandfather and grandmother both liked to eat very much, grandma even quarreled to want to eat every day!"

  Grandma? Li Jing's wife? Hong Fu Nu? Hehe...

  "Don't be impatient! Alright, Cheng Qian, stop fighting, and you, Second Goods, don't pretend to be dead! I'm telling you, if such delicious food were sold in a restaurant, would that restaurant become extremely popular and profitable?" Su Ning said with an enigmatic smile.

  Changsun Long, who was getting up from the ground, hastily interjected: "Needless to say, if that wine house has it, I'll spend all my family's property to eat it... Three Ming, what do you mean?"

  Chang Sun Chong is not stupid, very clever, and Li Cheng Qian doesn't need to be said. Li Bo Yao and Li Zhen are also among the most accomplished in the Tang Dynasty's spoiled rich kids, all of them are smart people who understand things clearly. As soon as they heard Su Ning's meaning, they had some epiphany.

  Su Ning smiled and said: "My intention is that we can form a joint venture, open a restaurant, provide these delicious foods inside. I have many more recipes for good food that I haven't been able to do yet, but will be able to in the future. But just with these fried chicken and barbecue alone, you'll already be making a fortune! If I put them on sale in the restaurant, how much money would I make? A whole chicken is only 30 cents, while one piece of my fried chicken can also sell for 30 cents. What kind of profit margin is that?"

  "And if more people eat it, the reputation will be louder, and we can also raise the price. Of course, I won't cheat ordinary people. This kind of thing is only affordable for high-end food that officials and nobles can afford. How can ordinary people afford it? So we'll make money from those rich people, wealthy merchants, and high-ranking officials. It's a fortune! What do you think?"

  The four of them stared blankly at Su Ning. After a long while, Li Chengqian reacted: "Sanming, you mean we five are pooling our money to open a wine shop?"

  Su Ning nodded: "Yes! Such a good opportunity to make money, how can I monopolize it alone? The benefits are shared by everyone! I'm the most generous person, there's nothing to hide between brothers! We'll open a wine house, and within a month, we'll be famous throughout Chang'an, and within a year, we'll be famous throughout the Tang Dynasty. And what I've eaten is absolutely not just this little bit, this little bit is just one hair from nine cows. Think about it, with this wine house, do we still need to worry about money?"