Chapter Eighty: The First Day of Nectar

Inviting the two teachers served both as a celebration for the opening and as an expression of gratitude. After all, for the sake of this tavern, Lin Qing had enlisted not only her own father but also Master Zhou, her teacher, to work without pay. The signboard at the entrance and the calligraphy on the wine flags were all her father’s handiwork. If word spread that the tavern had been named personally by His Excellency, the Prefect, it would be a tremendous honor, even if it didn’t bring direct economic benefits.

As for Master Zhou, all the calligraphies and paintings inside the tavern were his creations. Master Zhou was truly a man of great talent; his mastery of calligraphy and painting had often been praised by even Lin’s father. Such high-quality works, acquired without spending any money, were too good a bargain for Lin Qing to pass up. Moreover, although Master Zhou had fallen on hard times, who could say he wouldn’t soar to greatness in the future? Should that day come, his original works might become worth hundreds of times more, treasures beyond price.

Lin Qing had seen enough of such things in her past life—hadn’t Van Gogh lived in utter poverty, only for his paintings to become national treasures after his death? Of course, not everyone could become a Van Gogh, but such stories served as a warning: works of calligraphy and painting were hidden assets worth collecting whenever possible. Given her limited means, her teacher’s unpaid works became her first step in collecting art.

Her calculations were precise, while her two teachers remained blissfully unaware that they were being so cleverly taken advantage of. Seated on the couch, Master Mu and Master Zhou were already tipsy, wholly captivated by the wine and food.

Despite their calm exteriors, their hearts were far from tranquil. They had never expected that a handful of children could pull off such an impressive feat and do so with such style. Their already high opinion of the young proprietress rose even further. Master Mu, in particular, glanced at Lin Qing, standing close to Xiaowu and his newly accepted apprentice Jiang Li. He felt a deep satisfaction with his decision to come to the Lin household, his happiness inexpressible except in a hearty, “Brother Zhou, cheers!”

By the window, Lin Qing finally grew tired. She was so short that she had to stand on tiptoe to peer through the window and catch a blurry glimpse of the figures across the courtyard. Having already heard from Changsheng that the atmosphere was lively and everything under control, she lost interest in playing the observer.

She turned around, took each of her companions by the hand, and led them to the couch. “Brother Li, Brother Xiaowu, let’s have something to eat too. The food smells so good—I’m getting hungry just from the aroma.”

Naturally, the two didn’t object. When they reached the couch, Lin Qing quickly slipped off her shoes and climbed up, sitting cross-legged. She knew she should sit formally, as her teachers did, but she had no desire to torment her chubby little legs. In any case, she had always been unruly in front of her teachers, and no one expected otherwise.

Jiang Li and Xiaowu, however, knelt properly at the low table. Both were about the same height, and their upright posture—cultivated since childhood—made them look every bit the gentlemen. In Lin Qing’s eyes, they were two strikingly different yet equally handsome scenes.

With wine in his belly and his spirits high, Master Mu’s usually stern demeanor softened. Smiling, he looked at Lin Qing and said, “Qing’er, I recall you once promised to honor your teachers, didn’t you?”

“Of course! You’re both my teachers—of course I must honor you.”

“And this wine…?”

Was Master Mu hinting for more to drink? For a martial arts master like him, wine held far greater appeal than for a scholar such as Master Zhou. He was never without his wine gourd, often taking a sip or two. Now that his apprentice brewed such excellent wine, how could he resist?

“Don’t worry, Master. I’ll make sure you and Teacher have all the wine you want,” Lin Qing declared, thumping her chest with bravado.

Master Mu burst out laughing, while Master Zhou’s laughter was more refined. Their cheerful voices drifted from the room, mingling with the merriment next door and in the main hall, transforming the little tavern into a sea of joy and laughter.

The first day of Celestial Nectar passed in a whirlwind of bustle and noise.

Lord Lin left with his colleagues after noon. The other three idle gentlemen lingered until nearly closing time, finally being helped home by their servants.

The main hall was packed at both lunch and dinner. Some who couldn’t get seats made reservations for the next day. It could be said that Celestial Nectar earned a fine reputation from the outset, thanks to its excellent wine, food, and service. At this rate, everyone could imagine its future: even if it wouldn’t become the most famous establishment in town, it would certainly secure a firm foothold in Wu City.

The day was exhausting. Once the guests had all departed, everyone felt ready to collapse—there was barely enough energy left to celebrate.

Fang Nuo tallied the day’s earnings and was surprised to find the gross income reached seventy taels of silver, not counting Lord Lin’s table. After deducting all expenses—wages, ingredients, and gifts for guests—actual profit was less than thirty taels. But Lin Qing was more than satisfied. With such a start, she didn’t mind if she made no money at all; the name was established, the reputation secure, and there would be no shortage of patrons in the future.

She also drew on some marketing techniques from her previous life. For example, the gifts given to guests today were like the cash vouchers of the modern era, redeemable on their next visit. This not only saved money but also encouraged repeat business. She planned, once business improved further, to introduce membership cards and turn wealthy, idle patrons into a loyal customer base. As her business grew, these regulars would become even more valuable.

That night, Lin Qing slept soundly, dreaming of silver coins cascading from the sky and piling up around her. She laughed and laughed, hugging the endless silver, so much so that her cheeks were stiff with smiling when she woke the next morning.

Meanwhile, Lord Lin returned to the yamen in high spirits, but he didn’t find a chance to tell his father about the tavern right away. Only after dinner, when he accompanied Master Lin to the study, did he finally get his chance. As soon as Master Lin had settled into his seat, Lin Cheng, beaming with pride, began to recount every detail of the tavern’s grand opening.

Master Lin listened in silence, but his eyes brimmed with joy, and a broad smile spread across his face. After a long while, he nodded and said, “Your little sister is truly capable. To achieve so much at her age—she is a talent rarely seen in a hundred years.”

He couldn’t help but recall that the year his daughter was born, his junior sister had written to him, saying that a great sage had once prophesied that the Lin family’s daughter was heaven’s gift and destined for great things. Whether or not she fulfilled this destiny didn’t matter much to him; he would prefer his daughter to grow up safely and live a simple, happy life. Yet as she grew more intelligent and sensible each day, his pride was tinged with a trace of worry. Was this a blessing or a curse?

What Master Lin did not know was that the sage who made the prophecy had kept one final sentence to himself, never sharing it with anyone: “Whoever gains the Lin family’s daughter, shall gain the world.”