Chapter 102

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Lin Wanrong's relationship with Xiao Qingxuan was amicable, not overly passionate, but still close enough to be considered good friends. He hadn't kept the matter of the tavern's opening a secret from her.

Xiao Qingxuan sighed with a profound air, "Treasures are easy to find, a man with genuine feelings, hard to come by. Miss Dong is so deeply attached to you, you mustn't disappoint her."

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "Do you really see me as that kind of person?"

Xiao Qingxuan chuckled, "You have quite a few women attracted to you. Even Qin Xian'er seems to have taken a liking to you. I wonder how you will handle this in the future?"

Lin Wanrong shook his head helplessly, "Being handsome can be a real nuisance."

Seeing his playful demeanor, Xiao Qingxuan couldn't help but laugh, finding that any worry seemed to disappear after a few words with him.

In the following two days, Lin Wanrong was spinning like a top, working tirelessly, to the point where he felt as if he were a dog chasing its tail.

He had chosen an old, disused mansion from the Xiao family for his perfume factory. The mansion was a family heirloom with ample space, conveniently located near the Xiao family's current residence.

After discussing with Changbo, they began the renovation, following the blueprint of the machinery.

The perfume's proprietary crafting process was not a problem. The real challenge was to mass-produce it. According to Lin Wanrong's plan, the essence was extracted separately using a pressing and drawing method. While this method wasted some raw material, it was the simplest. Further, purifying and filtering the crude juice was not a problem either.

The real issue was determining how to inject the essence, alcohol, and pure water in the correct proportions, and what kind of pipeline to use. In this era, without stainless steel, using common ironware would inevitably rust, and high-temperature glass was not available either. How to construct the pipeline was truly a headache.

In the end, it was Changbo, drawing from his experience, who suggested using mature bamboo. The hollowed-out nodes would be connected to form the pipeline. After testing, this idea proved feasible and solved this significant problem.

Busy for several consecutive days, Lin Wanrong had no time to see Qin Xian'er. Oddly, it seemed as though she was aware of this, and hadn't sought him out in days, which left Lin Wanrong quite amazed.

As the days of relentless work passed, the opening day of the tavern arrived. The day before, Lin Wanrong made a special trip to see Qiaoqiao and Dong Qingshan, ensuring all the preparations for the opening were in order. With this assurance, he could finally relax. Fortunately, he faced no complications in moving in and out of the Xiao residence, ensuring no delay on either end.

Early that morning, Lin Wanrong found an excuse to leave the Xiao residence and head to the tavern.

From a distance, the tavern was a sight to behold, adorned with festive red and green banners, brightly lit, and exuding an impressive air. Hanging high on the main building was a pair of golden plaques. Inscribed in gilded letters were the four characters "Food for Immortals," while four smaller characters underneath read "Luo Min of Jiangsu."

The plaque was personally written by Luo Min, the governor of Jiangsu, a gift from Luo Yuan to his big brother as a congratulatory present. Having these four words as the golden sign, one could say, endowed the tavern "Food for Immortals" with a natural air of nobility from its birth. Luo Yuan's gesture could be considered a grand gift.

However, it was said that the governor of Jiangsu, Luo Min, rarely inscribed words for others. This exception truly caught Lin Wanrong by surprise. Luo Min had never met Lin Wanrong, and even accounting for Luo Yuan's influence, would he be this generous? Lin Wanrong felt that the matter wasn't as simple as it appeared. Nevertheless, it was ultimately a good thing, and though he was confused, he didn't have the luxury of contemplating it further.

In front of the tavern, a large platform had been constructed and draped in red cloth. Many onlookers had already gathered, but no one knew its purpose.

From the fifth floor of "Food for Immortals" upward, four long red satin ribbons hung, each tied with large red embroidered balls, looking festive and celebratory.

In front of the main entrance stood more than a dozen workers hired by old Dong, eight men and eight women. At Lin Wanrong's request, all the workers at the tavern wore uniforms: the women in red jackets and lampwick trousers, the men in blue short outfits. The men and women, standing in neat rows on either side of the entrance, presented an imposing air.

Old Dong and his son had donned brand new clothes and stood in front of the tavern. Qiaoqiao, wearing a light red thin jacket, stood behind her father and brother with a smile. Due to identity issues, Lin Wanrong couldn't openly show his face, so the tavern was opened in the name of Old Dong.

Upon seeing Lin Wanrong's arrival, Dong Qiaoqiao rushed up and giggled, "Big brother, you're here?"

Lin Wanrong smiled faintly, taking out the rose perfume from his bosom, "Qiaoqiao, you look beautiful today. This perfume is a gift for you."

Lin Wanrong had recently told Qiaoqiao about his perfume production. Hearing her brother's compliment, a blush crept onto her face. She took the perfume and held it tightly in her hand, "Big brother, thank you."

She noticed Lin Wanrong was still dressed casually in his blue shirt and small hat, typical of a servant. She grabbed his hand and laughed, "Big brother, you're the host today, how could you dress so casually?"

Lin Wanrong simply smiled, "Why should I dress up if I'm not showing my face?"

However, Qiaoqiao wouldn't listen. She pulled him upstairs to the unoccupied fifth floor, "Wealth and Talent". She took out a brand-new suit from the cupboard and handed it to Lin Wanrong, "Big brother, I made this for you. Try it on and see if it fits."

Lin Wanrong responded with a noncommittal hum. Seeing that Qiaoqiao was about to leave, he quickly caught her hand, "Qiaoqiao, where are you going?"

Her face flushed, Qiaoqiao replied, "Big brother, you change here. I'll wait for you downstairs."

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Why don't you stay and watch me change? You can help me adjust it if needed." Dong Qiaoqiao glanced at him, bit her lip, lowered her head, and softly responded with a hum.

By then, the weather had turned cold. Lin Wanrong was wearing his underclothes inside, so although Qiaoqiao was a bit shy, she didn't lose her composure. Her heart was entirely focused on Lin Wanrong as she helped him dress, meticulously smoothing out the garment. After inspecting it countless times, she finally reassured herself and said, "Big brother, it's done."

Lin Wanrong, already a good-looking man, appeared even more dashing in his new clothes. Dong Qiaoqiao stared at him, saying, "Big brother, Qiaoqiao feels so happy."

"Silly girl." Lin Wanrong gently took her hand, pinching her cheek lightly, "This is just the beginning. I'm going to make you the happiest woman in the world."

As a pure and innocent young woman, Qiaoqiao was unable to withstand such sweet talk. Her heart filled with warmth, but before she could respond, she felt a warmth on her lips. Her big brother had already pulled her into an embrace and started kissing her.

Only when Qiaoqiao was left panting did Lin Wanrong release her and laugh, "Tomorrow, I'll talk to your father about us. I promise to fulfill my Qiaoqiao's wishes."

With her face flushed, Qiaoqiao softly agreed, "Big brother, your business matters more. As long as I'm in your heart, I'm satisfied. I have to manage this tavern well for you. I must become someone like Eldest Miss Xiao, so I could share your worries and problems."

Although Qiaoqiao was petite and delicate, her expression was resolute when she said these words, holding Lin Wanrong's hand tightly. Lin Wanrong was deeply moved and was about to speak when he heard the master of ceremonies below announcing loudly, "A guest has arrived—"

A deafening blast of firecrackers echoed, and the master of ceremonies announced, "Young Master Luo Yuan of Jinling has arrived with a golden gift to congratulate on the grand opening!" Luo Yuan, dressed in festive attire, greeted Dong Rende and Dong Qingshan, "Uncle, Qingshan, congratulations."

Knowing that the man standing before him was the governor's son—a person who in the past he could not even dream of inviting—Dong Rende respectfully greeted him, "Thanks to Young Master Luo's kindness, please, come upstairs for some tea."

Luo Yuan went upstairs just in time to see Lin Wanrong in his new clothes coming downstairs with Qiaoqiao. He cheerfully greeted them, "Big brother, sister-in-law, congratulations!"

Qiaoqiao's face turned red with embarrassment, but Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "Congratulations to you too, Little Luo, I didn't expect you to arrive so early."

"Of course, how could I be late for big brother's event?" Luo Yuan chuckled, "I came early today just to catch the first round."

"Miss Qin Xian'er from Miaoyu Pavilion has arrived with a golden gift to congratulate on the grand opening!" Another round of firecrackers sounded.

Before the announcement from the master of ceremonies ended, Lin Wanrong frowned, "Why is she here?"

Luo Yuan glanced at Dong Qiaoqiao and chuckled, "Brother, you do have quite a network!"

Dong Qiaoqiao was well aware of the fame of Qin Xian'er, the enchantress of the Qinhuai River. Seeing her brother's awkward expression, she wondered if he had a past with Qin Xian'er. Being a young woman in the bloom of her first love, she couldn't help but care. Her heart ached, but she forced a smile and said, "Big brother, since you're acquainted with Miss Qin, why not invite her in quickly?"

Seeing Qiaoqiao's understanding, Lin Wanrong was touched and whispered in her ear, "Qiaoqiao, don't worry, you'll always be my favorite." Flushed with both shyness and joy, Qiaoqiao quickly lowered her head to hide her blushing face.

However, Qin Xian'er had already come in accompanied by Dong Qingshan and Little Lian, and Little Cui. Upon seeing Lin Wanrong, she approached and bowed, saying, "Young Master, congratulations on your grand opening."

"You knew?" Lin Wanrong asked with a bitter smile. He hadn't told Qin Xian'er that he owned this tavern and wondered where she had learned this.

Qin Xian'er gave him a glance and coyly responded, "Judging by the layout and decor of this tavern, who else but you could have such talent?" Being a bewitching woman capable of captivating all, her seemingly shy and annoyed demeanor held an irresistible charm, causing the men present to be enthralled.

Looking at Qin Xian'er's charm, Qiaoqiao admitted to herself that she was no match for her in terms of appearance or demeanor. A sense of self-deprecation rose within her, and her eyes dimmed.

Observant as always, Lin Wanrong noticed Qiaoqiao's melancholy expression and hurriedly squeezed her hand, giving her a comforting smile. Qiaoqiao read her big brother's eyes and knew he was comforting and encouraging her. Her heart warmed, and she stepped forward, saying, "Are you Sister Qin? Big brother often mentions you. You're very beautiful, Sister."

After giving Lin Wanrong a deep look, Qin Xian'er took Qiaoqiao's hand and said, "Little sister, you're also very beautiful."

Hearing the two women speak, Lin Wanrong felt a bit uneasy. Just as he was about to find an excuse to slip away, he heard the master of ceremonies outside announce, "Miss Luo Ning of Jinling is here with a golden gift, wishing a great success on the grand opening."

Luo Ning? Lin Wanrong didn't recall hearing this name. As he wondered, he noticed that neither Dong Qiaoqiao, Qingshan, nor Luo Yuan seemed surprised. Could she be a friend of theirs?

Just as he was puzzling over this, a woman entered from outside, smiling and appearing at ease. Upon closer inspection, Lin Wanrong realized it was the 'Sister Ning' he had met before. He had not had a deep conversation with her that day, nor had he asked her name. Only now did he learn her name was Luo Ning.

Luo Ning? Her surname was Luo? Lin Wanrong was startled, looking at Luo Yuan and asked, "This Miss Luo Ning is..."

Luo Yuan gave a bitter smile and said, "Big brother, she's my older sister."

On the side, Dong Qiaoqiao saw her brother looking foolish and covered her mouth with laughter, "Big brother, you're the only one who didn't know. Sister Ning is Jinling's top talented woman, Luo Ning."

Lin Wanrong smacked his forehead in realization. Qiaoqiao had mentioned that Miss Luo from the Governor's Mansion treated her very well. It was Miss Luo who had arranged for Qiaoqiao's studies in literature. He had never imagined that it was the same 'Sister Ning' he had met that day.

If Luo Ning was Luo Yuan's sister, then wasn't she the daughter of the Governor, known as both the most talented and most beautiful woman in Jinling? The 'Phoenix seeking its mate' scene performed by Jinling's top talent, Hou Yuebai, on Xuanwu Lake that day – wasn't Luo Ning the object of it?

‘Good heavens,’ he mused, ‘So that's why this girl has such an aura. It turns out she is the 'top talent of Jinling'.’ He had underestimated her before.

Luo Ning approached them, looking at everyone with a smile, "What are you all chatting about so happily?"

Dong Qiaoqiao, being her closest friend, stepped forward, took her hand, and laughed, "Sister Ning, Big brother only just realized your identity and he's still in shock."

Lin Wanrong gave a bitter smile, "So Miss Luo is the top talent of Jinling. I was kept in the dark for so long."

Luo Ning laughed, "That's because big brother didn't ask. Should I have recommended myself?"

Qin Xian'er had long heard of this Jinling talent's reputation, and upon seeing Luo Ning as such a beautiful and serene woman, she was somewhat surprised. She stepped forward, saying with a smile, "So this is Miss Luo, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."

Luo Ning, having long heard of Qin Xian'er, was surprised, "You're Miss Xian'er? Your talents far surpass mine. I'm truly in awe. I'll have to learn from you in the future."

Listening to their ceaseless discussion about teaching and learning, Lin Wanrong started to get a headache. Couldn't they just stand there, chat about perfume or fashion? Why did they have to talk about poetry, song, chess, calligraphy, and painting?

Seeing the three women gathered together, each stunning and radiant in their own way, he dared not linger any longer. He walked outside with Qingshan and Luo Yuan.

"Governor of Jiangsu, Luo Min, presents a golden gift..." The announcer's trembling shout brought Lin Wanrong to a halt.

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