Chapter Forty-Four: The Hotpot Restaurant Opens

The crowd also revealed a similar smile. Then Emperor Yongchang glanced at Consort De and said, “The third prince has suffered enough hardship on the frontier. Now that the situation at the border is tense, I won’t bestow any further rewards.” Consort De stepped forward to express her gratitude. Noble Consort Xianrou, Yuan Chuxia, upon hearing the emperor’s words, heaved a heavy sigh. Suddenly, she lost all interest in the banquet.

“His Majesty is truly partial. The third prince has only been at the border for a short while, yet my own son hasn’t returned from the frontier for a full six years.” Emperor Yongchang seemed to notice that the noble consort sitting beside him was not in good spirits. He looked at Yuan Chuxia and inquired with a gentle smile, “What’s the matter, Noble Consort?” Yuan Chuxia offered a polite smile, shook her head, and replied, “Your Majesty, I am weary. My health has been poor these last years—I do not know if I can hold on until my son returns.”

Hearing this, Emperor Yongchang frowned. He was, of course, well aware of her health. He had never expected Yuan Chuxia to say such words, nor had he anticipated that she would dampen his spirits on a day meant for celebration across the land.

His brow furrowed, his expression darkening, while Yuan Chuxia gazed at the mingling guests below. “Are you not tired, Your Majesty? Look at those below—how many are truly sincere? It’s New Year’s Eve; every household should be enjoying a sumptuous family feast, yet among all these people, who can eat at ease?” The emperor said nothing, nor did he rebuke the noble consort.

The meal ended in discord. That night, Emperor Yongchang retreated to his study. Though it was the New Year, documents still piled up on his desk. He looked at the memorials before him, feeling suddenly irritable, and complained to the chief eunuch Bai Qiu, “It’s the New Year, yet they still send in these endless memorials. Why do we keep idle officials if not for this?”

Bai Qiu, ever attentive, understood well why the emperor was upset but could only stand silently by, being his trusted servant. Emperor Yongchang was no longer young; though he was discontented, he soon reined himself in and began reviewing the documents.

That night, many women waited for the emperor until dawn, but he did not summon any of them.

When Lin Miaomiao rose early the next morning, she saw Li Yianhe preparing to leave before daybreak. Surprised, she asked, “You’re up so early—where are you going?”

Li Yianhe glanced at her and replied, “The barbarians will surely harass the border towns. I must go observe whether the tunnel warfare strategy will succeed.” Lin Miaomiao nodded at his words. Soon, Li Yianhe rode off on horseback. Watching his departing figure, already dusted with frost, Lin Miaomiao suddenly recalled a television drama she had seen once.

She realized then that perhaps the generals stationed at the frontier wished for nothing more than the end of war, so they could finally return home.

The two children, Lin Langluan and Lin Langze, now spoke fluently. They spent their days studying with Dan and practicing martial arts with Anqi. With the children at her side, Lin Miaomiao felt less lonely and was often grateful to fate for bringing them into her life.

One day, while Lin Miaomiao sat in the courtyard balancing her account books, she noticed the two children squatting in horse stances with Anqi and couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Why are you working so hard at martial arts?” The boys turned up their noses, feigning indifference. Pretending disappointment, Lin Miaomiao sighed and teased, “If you won’t tell your sister, then I suppose the delicious food I’m about to make isn’t for you two little rascals.”

Their cheeks flushed with embarrassment, the boys finally confessed, “We want to practice hard so you won’t be bullied, sister.” Lin Miaomiao’s face blossomed into a lovely smile, her heart touched by their words.

Winter passed swiftly, and soon spring arrived. Over the harsh winter, Li Yianhe’s tunnel warfare tactics played a crucial role, giving the border soldiers hope. The improved defenses at the fifteen border towns greatly reduced barbarian incursions, granting the local people and women a rare respite. They had never imagined that with just wooden sticks in hand, they could drive the invaders away.

Through his communication with the soldiers, Li Yianhe encouraged many older or infirm men to bring their families to the nearby villages. But one day, as Lin Miaomiao worked in the courtyard, she could hear Li Yianhe sighing repeatedly in the study. She entered to find him staring at something, sighing deeply.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. Li Yianhe replied, “The people are unwilling to settle here. Life is too hard—there’s little food, and the crops grow poorly. No one wants to come here and suffer.”

Lin Miaomiao nodded. “Why not submit a suggestion to the emperor to reduce taxes for the local people? For poor settlers coming from elsewhere, perhaps exempt them from taxes for three or five years.” She continued, “It doesn’t have to be just tax relief; other incentives could be offered too, anything to encourage people to come.”

After that, she switched topics. “My second food processing factory is about to open. This time, I’ll be making hot pot base.”

Li Yianhe’s eyes lit up. “The same kind you made last time?” Lin Miaomiao nodded. Li Yianhe offered, “That’s an excellent idea. Why haven’t you started work at the factory? Are you short of silver? If so, I have some to lend.”

Lin Miaomiao shot him a disdainful look. “No need. Last year, Li Zheng and I earned a full one thousand taels.” She remembered how, in the modern era, someone had idly calculated the exchange rate between ancient silver and today’s currency.

Now she had a fortune of fifty million in her hands—she was practically a wealthy woman. Li Yianhe, knowing how much she had earned, was secretly astonished; she made far more than he did with his modest annual salary. He couldn’t help but think that if Lin Miaomiao had been born a man, she would surely have achieved even greater things.

Lost in her thoughts, Lin Miaomiao didn’t notice Li Yianhe’s sudden urge to tease her. “What are you thinking about?” he asked. Without looking up, she replied, “I’m wondering how I might open my own hot pot restaurant in the capital.”

Li Yianhe considered it. “If you want a shop, I happen to have a few. If you need one, just take it.”

She was about to refuse, but then she smiled slyly. “How about this: I open the hot pot restaurant, you manage it with your people, we use your premises, and we split the profits sixty-forty. Is that fair?”

Li Yianhe thought it over. “Sixty-forty won’t do—it should at least be fifty-fifty.” Lin Miaomiao shook her head. “No, no, it must be sixty-forty. Brother Li, don’t be so stingy!”

He couldn’t help but laugh at her calculating expression. “Very well, sixty-forty it is.” Overjoyed, Lin Miaomiao leapt up. While Li Yianhe returned to reviewing military affairs, she began sketching designs.

The shop was a two-story building. Lin Miaomiao based her designs on creative hot pot restaurants from modern times. When Li Yianhe saw the plans, he was reminded of the examination cubicles used in the national exams.

“It looks just like those exam stalls,” he remarked. Lin Miaomiao nodded. “That’s the point—it’s creative! It lets people who’ve never taken the exams experience the fun, eating with friends as if they were candidates.”

She pointed out, “This little window opens so two people can talk. Isn’t it interesting?” Her blueprints were modeled after famous modern hot pot chains she’d once visited.

The first floor was designed in this trendy style; the second was more straightforward, with large private rooms for group gatherings, much like modern banquets. Lin Miaomiao wondered if such a trendy hot pot restaurant would catch on in this era, but she could only try. If it succeeded, she could open a second location—after all, hot pot restaurants were easily imitated.