Chapter 46: Tenfold Compensation for Fakes

In the following days, under Gu Ci's adamant insistence on accompanying her, Tang Zhao went to pay respects at the Song family ancestral graves.

Tang Zhao had originally intended to stay for a few more days to visit the newly acquired ten thousand acres of fertile land, but Mother Song sent word that a fortune teller had calculated the opening date to be in nine days.

If they missed this day, they would have to wait until next year.

Tang Zhao had always been unconventional in business and never believed in feng shui or auspicious dates, but the State Preceptor of the Great Yu Kingdom truly possessed some extraordinary abilities. Having used divination several times to help Great Yu avoid natural disasters, his practitioners were highly renowned among both the imperial family and the common folk.

Whether it was opening a business, building a road, or celebrating weddings and funerals, everyone sought out practitioners to divine an auspicious day.

Mother Song was a prime example of those affected by such superstitions; after she had successfully used "joyous ritual" to save Gu Ci, her belief became absolute.

Tang Zhao, who preferred to keep her achievements and fame hidden, had to swallow her frustration and pack her luggage to return.

Using the excuse that a Princess's longing for her family was profound and required her husband's constant companionship to soothe her, Gu Ci forcibly boarded the carriage and sent Chunfeng and Dongmei away.

Tang Zhao felt a flicker of emotion, even though she had no family to miss and certainly didn't need Gu Ci's comfort.

Especially since this man hadn't said a single word to her since they got into the carriage.

That night, Gu Ci quietly slipped away from the convoy.

Tang Zhao: *In the end, I was merely projecting my own feelings.*

The night before entering Lanzhou City, Gu Ci reappeared in the carriage. Tang Zhao silently locked eyes with Dongmei outside the carriage, but Dongmei looked utterly bewildered.

*Why is the lady looking at me?*

Seeing that the silly girl Dongmei hadn't noticed the sneaking out at all, Tang Zhao sighed inwardly: *Gu Ci really is a natural-born thief.*

***

September 16th, the 38th year of Great Yu. It was an auspicious day for opening businesses, breaking ground, weddings, and funerals—suitable for all matters.

In front of a newly opened shop on Qingyu Road, men, women, old, and young gathered in a crowd, cheering boisterously.

Two lion dancers stood on either side of a majestic stone lion, personally lighting the firecrackers.

Standing at the entrance, Song Sheng watched the crowd drawn by the explosions and said with a flushed, joyful face, "Fellow villagers, elders and neighbors, I, Song, offer my greetings to you all!"

He turned and raised his hand, causing the red silk blocking the door to fall away, revealing a golden plaque that shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.

"Today is the grand opening of our Tofu Workshop! For the next seven days, all tofu sold in this shop will be at half price. Buy five, get one free; buy ten, get three free. We ask all our neighbors to show us your support!"

People were certainly willing to support, but "What on earth is tofu? I've never heard of it."

"Please, everyone, look. This is tofu."

The commoners looked up at the white porcelain plate held by a shop assistant. A large, snow-white, rectangular block sat upon it—truly something they had never seen before.

*Can it really be delicious?*

"This is a brand-new creation developed by the proprietor, and it is the only place in the world where you can find it," Song Sheng said with a smile. "During the seven days of our opening, the Tofu Workshop will provide tasting services for everyone."

"What do you mean by tasting?"

"Free samples! Taste it first, then buy. Of course, if the tofu does not suit your palate, you are under no obligation to purchase it."

*Is there such a good deal?* The commoners hesitated; no one wanted to be the first to "taste the crab."

"Hahaha! The Tofu Workshop is finally open! I've been waiting so long!"

Several burly men pushed through the layers of the crowd, making a path for a middle-aged man in his forties who strode forward.

"Who is that?" a displaced commoner complained.

"It's Boss Sun from the Zuixian Restaurant," an acquaintance introduced.

The complaining commoner immediately shut his mouth. Zuixian Restaurant was the largest tavern in Lanzhou City, and its owner was a branch member of the Sun family, one of the five great families of Lanzhou.

"Boss Sun's presence truly brings honor to our humble shop," Song Sheng stepped forward to greet him.

Sun Bowen said, "The tofu Manager Song sent over a few days ago truly whetted my appetite. I've been thinking about it constantly, and now, finally, the clouds have parted to reveal the moon."

He immediately picked up a piece of sliced tofu and popped it into his mouth. The soft, smooth texture filled his mouth. "Quickly, pack up two hundred catties for me—no, three hundred catties of tofu!"

Song Sheng beamed like a trumpet flower and suggested, "Our shop offers delivery services. For single orders exceeding one hundred catties, we deliver right to your door."

"That's wonderful! That way, I won't have to send someone to collect it every day," Boss Sun said, very satisfied.

After providing ample support, Boss Sun rushed back to Zuixian Restaurant.

The manager of Zuixian Restaurant sat to the side pouring tea. "Master, why give such great face to a small shop? Even if this tofu is a new style, it should be something the ladies and lords of the manor enjoy. Sending a steward or a servant to offer congratulations would have been enough."

"No wonder Zuixian Restaurant has been slightly overshadowed by Baiyun Residence these past two years," Sun Bowen took a sip of tea. "You have eyes, yet you are profoundly blind."

The manager was indignant. "Please, Master, enlighten me."

"Do you know who the proprietor behind that Tofu Workshop is?"

"It is Princess Zhaoshan, but a mere Princess..."

"A mere Princess? A first-rank Princess bestowed by the late Emperor, a member of the imperial clan with a status equal to a Prince, and in your mouth, she is a 'mere Princess'?"

Sun Bowen was laughed into anger by his arrogance. "Never mind me—even the head of my Sun clan, or even the Earl of Ning'an, must bow respectfully and show submission before her!"

"Even His Highness Prince Xuan refers to her as Princess. You, the mere brother of a favored concubine, have an ego larger than a Prince's!"

This manager was the brother of the Earl of Ning'an's most favored concubine, having attained his position by whispering in the ear of his beautiful sister.

Setting aside his embezzlement, he lacked even a shred of business acumen. Sun Bowen had long wanted to deal with him but had been hesitant out of respect for that favored concubine.

Now that he had finally made a massive blunder, how could Sun Bowen let him off?

"Drag him out! We shall deal with him after reporting to the Earl!"

The guards stationed outside dragged him away like a dead pig.

Sun Bowen called for his personal servant. "Go to the manor and send word to the Countess of Ning'an."

The Countess had long hated that favored concubine to the bone; with this leverage in hand, she would surely teach the concubine a lesson.

The servant took his orders and left.

"Master, a worker from the Tofu Workshop has arrived to deliver the tofu," a servant reported from outside.

Sun Bowen: "Just accept it."

"However," the servant said, looking somewhat troubled, "the worker from the Tofu Workshop says they require someone in charge to confirm the tofu is intact, and they require a signature and a thumbprint."

"?" Sun Bowen stepped out. "Come, let's go see."

The worker waiting at the back door immediately greeted Sun Bowen upon seeing him. "I am here by order of the manager to deliver the three hundred catties of tofu ordered by Zuixian Restaurant. Please, Master, inspect the goods."

Sun Bowen grew interested. "How shall I inspect them?"

"To answer your question, the Tofu Workshop has sent a total of three hundred and five catties. The extra five catties are specifically for inspection. Please, Master, appoint someone to pick the tofu at random—either to taste it or to call a physician to examine it to ensure there are no issues."

"If there are no issues, please sign and seal the ledger to indicate the transaction is complete. If there are any issues with the tofu in the future, the Tofu Workshop shall bear no responsibility. But if there *is* a problem..."

"If there is a problem, what happens?" Sun Bowen asked impatiently.

The worker straightened his back and smiled. "Tenfold compensation for any fraud. The Tofu Workshop will not only refund the full deposit but will also pay ten times the amount as compensation."

Gu Ci: *On the surface, I am here to accompany you, but in reality, I am performing a 'golden cicada shedding its skin' [a strategic escape].*

Zhao Zhao: *In the end, my feelings were misplaced!*

(End of Chapter)