During the Lunar New Year, when relatives came and went in the village, being able to arrive on a donkey was already considered impressive. Such a grand horse-drawn carriage, however, was something they had never seen before. Whose relative could it be?
Li Dashao and his wife stared in astonishment as the carriage stopped right in front of their house.
The driver lifted the curtain, and out stepped a young lady dressed in festive and bright attire suitable for the New Year.
In the barren, desolate winter landscape at the edge of the village, she was like a bold stroke of ink on a blank sheet of white rice paper, instantly bringing their view to life.
The maid glanced around, seemingly trying to confirm something.
Could they be asking for directions?
Li Dashao and his wife wondered, still dazed. Then, they saw the maid look their way, breaking into a warm smile.
“I almost thought I remembered the wrong place,” the maid said, walking toward them and bowing politely. “Do you still remember me?”
How could she not remember? This was the maid who had come with their benefactor and even brought a doctor for them. Such kindness—how could she ever forget?
Li Dashao and his wife hurriedly stood up.
“You… you’re the girl who came with that young gentleman before…” the wife stammered.
The maid nodded and handed over the gift box in her hands.
Li Dashao and his wife waved their hands, refusing to accept it.
“How could we, how could we dare?” they said nervously.
“It’s still the New Year season, and visiting during this time—how could I come empty-handed?” the maid said with a smile, placing the gift box down.
Li Dashao and his wife, flustered, didn’t know what to say. After a moment of hesitation, they hastily invited her to sit, only to realize there wasn’t a proper place to sit.
“No need to sit,” the maid said. “I’m here today because someone asked me to request a favor from you.”
“Of course, of course! Just say the word,” Li Dashao replied eagerly, nodding repeatedly.
Someone connected to that young gentleman could never be a bad person. Besides, in their current state, who would even want to harm them?
“A few friends of ours were looking for a place to settle in the capital,” the maid explained. “They happened to see that Immortal’s Abode was up for sale, so they bought it.”
Li Dashao and his wife were astonished.
“That was you who bought it?” they asked in unison.
The maid smiled.
“Not us,” she replied, “but some people I know. They’re from out of town—just returned from the northwest after earning a bit of money. A few brothers together, with no steady livelihood, decided to take over a shop to make a living.”
Li Dashao and his wife uttered an “oh” in response, but they still didn’t see what it had to do with them.
“They’re unfamiliar with everything here,” the maid continued, “so they asked me to find a chef for them. Naturally, I thought of you. I heard from Young Master Han that you used to be a chef. Would you be willing to take charge of the kitchen for them?”
Li Dashao and his wife froze in shock.
What was happening?
They had been sitting at home, worrying about how to make a living, and now someone had come to their door offering them work.
Young Master Han…
So this was still the doing of that young master, helping them yet again. Otherwise, where wouldn’t they have been able to find a chef?
“Thank you,” Li Dashao and his wife said in trembling voices, their eyes reddening slightly as they hurriedly bowed.
They truly had encountered a benefactor. But how could they ever repay such kindness?
As the maid rubbed her hands and stepped into the house, snow began to fall again.
Inside, the voice of a young girl could be heard.
“…It’s such a shame you were sick, and missed the lantern festival on the fifteenth. I went with Grandpa to see it—it was so lively…”
The maid standing outside saw the approaching maid and quickly and respectfully opened the door for her.
Inside, Chen Dan-niang was holding up a small, exquisitely crafted lantern.
“…Look, I bought this especially for you. Do you like it?” she said.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded and replied softly, “I like it.”
The maid stepped forward to take the lantern.
“It really is lovely,” she praised sincerely.
A maid standing nearby reminded Chen Dan-niang that it was time to leave. Chen Dan-niang seemed reluctant but still remembered her family’s instructions and stood up to take her leave.
“When you’re fully recovered, come visit my home,” she said.
“I’m already well, so there’s no need to worry,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
The maid personally escorted them out. Only after watching their carriage depart did she return inside.
“Miss, I’ve checked on everything—it’s all taken care of,” she said, sitting down with a smile. “Young masters have already moved in.”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but let out a scornful hiss.
“That Dou Qi is truly outrageous. He cleared out the shop completely, as if he wanted to take the pillars with him,” she said.
Cheng Jiao-niang’s lips curved slightly.
“That’s nothing to be surprised about,” she said.
“The craftsmen have already started the renovations according to your instructions,” the maid said. “Third Young Master mentioned that it should be finished around the fifteenth of the second month.”
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“Li Dashao has also agreed. I didn’t go with him, but I’m sure he’s already gone to meet young masters by now,” the maid added.
“Have you explained everything clearly to Third Young Master about what needs to be done?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
The maid responded affirmatively.
“Yes, I’ve relayed everything just as you instructed,” she said with a smile.
As evening approached, a team of riders galloped swiftly down the main road. The lead pair of horses pulled to a stop, their riders looking to the roadside with some surprise.
“That’s odd. Isn’t Druken Phoenix Pavilion supposed to be here?” one of them asked, gazing at the empty, desolate eatery with its lone open door.
No cooking smoke, no bustling crowd—it stood isolated and eerily quiet.
“It’s closed!” an old man passing by with a cow heard them and called out loudly.
“Closed?” The riders were even more surprised.
“They’ve moved to the capital—struck it rich,” the old man said, eyeing the group. “With wealthy customers like you lot, it’d be hard not to!”
He muttered under his breath, his tone filled with both envy and jealousy, as he shook his head and led his cow away.
“I see,” one of the riders murmured, and the two turned their horses around.
“Your Highness,” they reported as they rode back and stopped in front of a carriage. “Druken Phoenix Pavilion has already closed down.”
“Then don’t stop. Head straight into the city,” a clear, youthful voice replied from within the carriage.
The procession galloped down the official road, kicking up a flurry of snow in their wake.
Xu Bangchui stepped out from the doorway, scanning the surroundings as he watched the distant procession ride away.
“I must say, this location isn’t bad—there’s a decent amount of traffic passing by,” he remarked.
Li Dashao followed him out, quickly nodding at his words.
“Yes, yes, although it’s quite close to the capital and might seem inconvenient for both locals and travelers, the potential customer base looks promising,” he replied. Though still recovering from illness, his energy had clearly improved.
“What’s even more important is the quality of the food,” Xu Maoxiu said with a smile, glancing at Li Dashao. “With that, we’ll be counting on you, Chef Li. None of us brothers have any expertise in this area.”
Overwhelmed with a mix of humility and nervousness, Li Dashao hurriedly bowed.
“Rest assured, sir, I will give it my all,” he said earnestly.
Xu Maoxiu nodded, but then added, “There’s one more thing—a bit embarrassing, to be honest.”
Something else? Today had already been full of unexpected events.
“Please don’t hesitate to say it, sir,” Li Dashao said respectfully.
Xu Maoxiu didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he gestured toward the nearby hall.
“Come, let’s sit down and discuss,” he said.
By the time Li Dashao returned home, it was already dark. His wife, holding their child, had been waiting anxiously, her neck long from anticipation.
“How was it? Is it true?” she asked urgently.
“It’s as the benefactor said, how could it be fake?” Li Dashao replied, reaching out to take the child from her. “You should go prepare dinner. We’ll talk after we eat.”
His wife didn’t say more and hurried to the kitchen. The Li family had once been well-off in the village, but after a serious illness and losing work, life had become truly difficult. The meal she brought to the table consisted of nothing more than two bowls of thin porridge.
Like in most households, the wife had no right to sit at the table. She waited until her husband and mother-in-law had finished eating, then fed the child. Afterward, she hastily ate a bite in the kitchen.
“What exactly happened? Who are they? Are they really going to open a restaurant?” She asked eagerly after finishing her chores and entering the room.
Li Dashao sat under the oil lamp, looking at a piece of paper in his hand.
“Is this… a document?” his wife asked.
Li Dashao nodded.
“It has the seal of the guild,” he said.
His wife was overjoyed and clasped her hands in prayer.
“However, I don’t think those people look like they are cut out for running a restaurant,” Li Dashao said, shaking his head. “They seem more like soldiers.”
“Maybe, but didn’t that lady say they’re from the northwest?” his wife replied, picking up her needle and thread to sew. “They bought the restaurant and are serious about running it. As long as you cook the food well, everything will be fine.”
Li Dashao nodded in agreement.
“When will it open?” His wife, relieved, felt that the days now had a sense of hope, and her stitching seemed much lighter.
“They’re still making adjustments. It will be ready in half a month,” Li Dashao said. “I saw it; they’ve put in a lot of effort. Everything’s been replaced, and the rooms are all decorated with patterns—each room has its own unique design, and they’re really beautiful.”
His wife felt even more at ease.
There was a moment of silence in the room. The wife looked up and saw her husband still staring at the contract in his hand.
“What are you still looking at? You can’t even read,” she said with a smile. “Did you memorize the document?”
“It’s not for me,” Li Dashao replied.
