Chapter 37: Turmoil in the Imperial City

Just one month later, in the most bustling district of the capital, a grand restaurant named Fan Lou suddenly appeared in the "Flowers Blooming in Prosperity" quarter. What earned it the most acclaim was that the food served at Fan Lou was unlike anything offered at other establishments.

Lin Qian, a man from a later era, had simply imparted some culinary techniques to Jin Jun a month prior. Whether in an alternate dynasty or an age steeped in history, the culinary arts are the most direct reflection of an era. When Jin Jun first saw the technique of heating a wok with cold oil and stir-frying small dishes over a raging fire, he was stunned.

"M-Master, what is this?"

Lin Qian, while wielding a spatula, said calmly, "This is called stir-frying."

"Stir-frying?"

Jin Jun had never seen such a novel way of cooking. The flavor was incredibly unique, yet the seasonings used were all common ingredients accessible to the average folk. And yet, the resulting dishes were exquisite and refreshing. At that moment, a look of absolute confidence surfaced on Jin Jun's face.

"With this cooking method, even in the capital, we will reign supreme. Our restaurant is bound to be a hit!"

Watching Jin Jun rapidly master these culinary skills in the following days, his technique becoming increasingly refined until even Lin Qian could find no fault, Lin Qian finally gave him a large sum of silver and sent him to the capital. The purpose of opening Fan Lou was not merely to accumulate wealth, but to gather intelligence and build an information network. Each of these endeavors required vast amounts of money, and Lin Qian desperately needed an industry to support them.

Within the month that Jin Jun spent in the capital, a massive amount of silver was transported back to Chunping City. Lin Qian looked at the tens of thousands of taels of silver piled before him and was stunned. "Is it really this profitable? No wonder the world says the capital is a place of prosperity and grandeur, a bottomless pit of gold. I didn't believe it before, but now..."

Ye Huang also stared at the silver in a daze. She was a princess of the realm, and her annual income was roughly fifty to sixty thousand taels of silver. After accounting for all the expenses of the Princess's Mansion, the various rewards from the imperial court during festivals and year-end, and the social obligations within the capital's circles, saving ten thousand taels a year was considered a very good year. She never imagined that Jin Jun would earn the entire annual income of the Princess's Mansion in just one month in the capital.

"Brother Lin Qian, this Jin Jun seems remarkably reliable. I never expected him to truly understand the 'Art of the Chef' you wrote!"

The *Art of the Chef* was a compilation Lin Qian had created based on the eight great culinary traditions of the future. He had meticulously integrated various techniques, stripping away any spices that only existed in later times and keeping only those that could be obtained in this era without the Silk Road, incorporating them into modern dishes. After careful revision, he had handed it to Jin Jun.

Lin Qian had originally expected Fan Lou to operate at a loss for at least six months before breaking even in the capital, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. He hadn't expected that this boy, Jin Jun, was not only a talent for intelligence gathering but also a gifted businessman.

Lin Qian smiled slightly. "See? What did I tell you? This boy was never meant for the life of a soldier. Sending him to the capital was the right choice!"

At this very moment, a long line had already formed at the entrance of Fan Lou in the capital. The carriages of high-ranking officials and nobles appeared mundane here. As each dignitary entered, the doorman shouted loudly, "The heir to the Duke of Zhen's mansion has arrived! Please, enter at once!"

The heir to the Duke of Zhen walked in with his head held high and chest puffed out, strutting like a proud rooster. Immediately, a voice of protest rose from the crowd.

"The manager of Fan Lou has quite the ego to make us wait! Does the mansion of the Duke of Zheng not deserve to enter with the heir of the Duke of Zhen?"

The doorman, clearly well-trained, immediately wore a smile and bowed as he stepped forward. "Young Master of the Duke of Zheng, the heir to the Duke of Zhen had a reservation, which is why he has a seat upon arrival. Fan Lou survives in this prosperous capital, and we dare not offend any young lord or noble; we treat everyone equally and would never show favoritism!"

"If you wish to host a banquet next time, you may send your servants ahead to give us word. We will certainly reserve the best seat for you, guaranteed to be no less impressive than the private room of the Duke of Zhen's heir. How does that sound?"

Hearing these gentle, honeyed words, even with his temper flared, the young master of the Duke of Zheng could only narrow his eyes and nod. These people were the top-tier "second-generation" elites of the capital—sons or eldest heirs of noble families, all of high status. Since they were all people of standing, and the doorman had protected his dignity, the young master could only flick his sleeve.

"Fine. If it weren't for my mother's birthday, I wouldn't have come all this way just to demand a fine banquet at your Fan Lou!"

"Since my mother likes it, I shall wait a while longer. But be quick; notify me the moment a private room becomes available. I am going to rest in my carriage now!"

Who could have predicted that a restaurant would explode in popularity in the capital, seizing half of the city's food and beverage industry with lightning speed? It had risen so quickly, with such a mysterious background, that even the identity of the owner remained impossible to uncover.

As for Jin Jun, many speculated about his identity, as he seemed like the capital's newly born God of Wealth. It was said that all those peerless delicacies came from his hands. For a time, Jin Jun himself became a hot commodity, sought after by many dignitaries. Who wouldn't want such a master chef in their own kitchen to prepare delicious meals for them?

It seemed Jin Jun knew their intentions, but in the face of all these overtures, he refused every single one, even shutting them out. For a time, rumors of Jin Jun’s arrogance and aloofness spread throughout the capital. But only Jin Jun knew what he was truly there for. His master was Lin Qian, and it was the *Art of the Chef* taught to him by Lin Qian that gave him the secret to absolute fortune.

"I say, Manager Jin, could you please reconsider? Our Prince is a very generous man!"