Twenty-three

Chapter 23: A Peerless Enchantress

The Huibin Restaurant was, as the name implied, a dining establishment, though its star rating remained a matter of speculation. Duan Mingyu only knew that it was the premier destination in all of Bianliang for gathering friends and acquaintances—there was no second place.

Arriving at the foot of the Huibin Restaurant, Duan Mingyu realized its reputation was well-deserved. As it was nearly dinnertime, the flow of people was constant. Aside from his own Great China Specialty Store, this was undoubtedly the liveliest spot in all of Bianliang.

Three men and one girl approached. Sun Er, the attendant greeting guests at the entrance, was preparing to welcome a new group when he saw the proprietress, Ji Yunyi, already stepping out to greet them.

Ji Yunyi was the owner of the Huibin Restaurant. Though a woman, she managed this massive establishment with remarkable flair. Note that she was the owner, not merely a "proprietress" in the sense of a spouse; her husband had passed away many years ago, and she remained a widow.

Ji Yunyi was wrapped in a pale pink, flowing gown, layered with an outer robe of white gauze that revealed her gracefully sculpted neck and clearly defined collarbones. Her skirts cascaded like moonlight on snow, trailing more than three feet behind her and lending her gait an air of graceful, regal elegance. Her dark, silken hair was secured with a ribbon and adorned with a butterfly hairpin, with a single lock draping over her chest. She wore only the lightest touch of makeup, which served only to enhance her natural beauty, enough to make any man’s mouth water for miles.

"Brother Cheng, an enchantress! This is a peerless enchantress!" The three men nodded in unison, keeping their legs pressed tightly together to avoid any embarrassment.

Sun Er was even worse off, staring in a trance. However, being infatuated carried severe consequences.

Ji Yunyi feigned anger and tapped Sun Er on the forehead. "You brat, have you lost your mind?"

Sun Er blinked, finally coming to his senses, and scratched his head. Ji Yunyi commanded, "Stay sharp!"

Sun Er hurriedly bowed and scraped, responding, "Yes, yes, yes, this little one understands."

With that, Ji Yunyi turned to the trio with a smile. "Prefect Cheng, Scholar Duan, and this gentleman, please, come inside."

Duan Mingyu’s face flushed; she knew him, yet he had no memory of her in his mind. He asked, "Does this young lady know me?"

*Young lady!* She was old enough to be a mother, and this kid needed to be careful—lust was a blade hanging over one’s head! Cheng Zhiyuan and Xu Zuye exchanged knowing, lecherous grins as they looked at Duan Mingyu.

Ji Yunyi covered her mouth and chuckled. "The name of Scholar Duan is like thunder to the ears; how could this humble one not know you? Please, come inside."

The four of them filed in, and Ji Yunyi instructed her staff to attend to them well before departing.

As the four entered the building, they were stunned by the grandeur of the Huibin Restaurant. Only one thought crossed their minds: *What a lavish display—a truly magnificent, god-damned lavish display.*

The restaurant spanned nine stories. Aside from the ninth floor, which was reserved for guests staying overnight, the other eight were packed to the rafters with diners, bustling and noisy. Each floor covered hundreds of square meters and was neatly divided into three main sections. Patrons could choose to dine in the main hall, in smaller areas partitioned by screens, or in the highest-tier private rooms.

Duan Mingyu couldn’t help but sigh in admiration, "A master of management. She is truly a remarkable figure."

Xu Zuye chuckled, "More than just a remarkable figure. This proprietress is truly extraordinary. Before she was married, she was a talented woman renowned throughout Bianliang; the men who came to propose could have circled the city walls."

He paused, then mimicked Duan Mingyu’s usual tone, "Would you say she’s a badass or what?"

Duan Mingyu nodded, "Indeed, a total badass!"

Duan Mingyu continued, "Then who was the lucky man who won her heart?"

Cheng Zhiyuan rolled his eyes. "You don’t even know this? I really wonder if you’re actually from Bianliang. The Ji family’s selection of a son-in-law was the talk of the city. Virtually every official and nobleman in town showed up to display their influence. In the end, the wealthiest man in Bianliang, Wan Yongchang, barely edged out the competition with a coral branch over a yard tall."

*Damn it,* he thought, *loose lips sink ships.* He had almost revealed his identity as a transmigrator.

Yang Zhaoniang seized the moment to interject, "How do you know all this so clearly, old man?"

Cheng Zhiyuan’s face turned red. "Ahem, everyone in Bianliang knew about this back then."

*Pfft,* Duan Mingyu thought, *you’re trying to fool a ghost. Does hearsay really get that detailed?*

Cheng Zhiyuan, thick-skinned, continued, "Alas, it is a pity for a flower like Ji Yunyi. Not three or four years after marrying into the Wan family, the wealthy Master Wan died of a sudden illness, leaving behind only Li Meiniang and a daughter not yet three years old."

Duan Mingyu remarked, "Oh? Died of a sudden illness? That sounds rather suspicious."

Xu Zuye signaled to Duan Mingyu, "My lord, hush. This place is a mix of dragons and snakes; it is not the place to speak of such things."

Old Xu glanced around vigilantly, and only after confirming no one had overheard did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Seeing Old Xu’s nervous demeanor, a thought occurred to Duan Mingyu: *Could there really be a hidden secret here?*

He didn’t press the matter, instead scooping up Yang Zhaoniang. "Come, gentlemen, let’s discuss this upstairs."

Duan Mingyu called over a waiter in green, who hurried over, "Sir, are you looking to dine?"

Duan Mingyu nodded, "Three of us, plus this little girl."

Upon hearing the words "little girl," Yang Zhaoniang pouted and glared at Duan Mingyu indignantly.

The waiter added, "Which floor would you like, sir? The higher the floor, the higher the price."

Duan Mingyu waved a hand, "Whatever you suggest! Also, find me a private room. I prefer quiet."

Hearing this, the waiter became even more obsequious. "Right away, sir, follow me."

He led them to the fourth floor. "Here we are, sir, a private room. What would you like to eat? Just name it!"

Duan Mingyu set Yang Zhaoniang down and patted her head, "Zhaoniang, order whatever you’d like to eat."

Yang Zhaoniang nodded happily and grabbed the menu, her little finger pointing excitedly at dish after dish. The waiter nodded along, agreeing to everything—money was the ultimate master, after all, and this little girl was a walking god of wealth.

The waiter seemed to see stacks of silver raining down on him. It took a long while before the girl’s enthusiasm finally waned. "Alright, that’s all." The waiter accepted the order, still eager for more.

Duan Mingyu sighed internally at the wastefulness, only to hear Yang Zhaoniang ask with a strange expression, "By the way, how come every time I ask you if the food is good, you say it is?"

The waiter smiled craftily, "Little miss, would we ever serve food that didn't taste good?"

Yang Zhaoniang had a sudden epiphany, "That’s right, if it weren't good, they wouldn't serve it."

Duan Mingyu was speechless: *You little brat, you’re being sold and you’re still counting the money for them!* Forget it, she was just a child; it was only right to humor her.

The unscrupulous nature of merchants was a fundamental truth that could not be changed. As the saying went: a toad that doesn't want to eat swan meat isn't a good toad, but even if it eats the swan meat, it’s still just a toad. Business was about having a sharp mind; Duan Mingyu had suffered enough at the hands of merchants in his previous life.