Transmigrated as the Villain: Punching the Protagonist Group and Stepping on the Domestic Abuser - Chapter 6

Rong Se skimmed through the original owner’s property records. One particular account book noted that various rare treasures and massive amounts of silver had been brought into the treasury, with the source being none other than the imperial mausoleum.

The imperial mausoleums of the first few generations of the Jin Dynasty had all been tracked down by skilled geomancers under Lan Ying’s command. Even Rong Xu’s mausoleum had not been spared and had been completely emptied out. That was how the original owner came to own such a magnificent residence; even a major portion of the Imperial Guard’s salaries was paid out of his Prince Regent’s manor.

The so-called corruption charges were completely groundless. Rong Se had no need for those officials’ money; instead, quite a few people relied on him for funding to get things done.

Moreover, the original owner’s businesses were spread across every province. Most of them were unassuming and were all managed by Yun Chu.

In short, the original owner was truly not short of money.

However, the restaurant in the capital caught Rong Se’s eye. The Jin Dynasty’s culinary standards were far too careless, whereas his greatest skill was cooking. If he could make Fusheng Restaurant a success, it was bound to create a massive sensation!

It could be considered leaving himself a backup plan, as well as providing a legitimate and public path for the wealth in his hands.

Yun Chu was well-acquainted with the commercial shops in Jinjing and quickly sorted out several moderately famous restaurants. Among them was one named Qifeng Residence, which was also the most prosperous restaurant in Jinjing.

Furthermore, the backer behind this restaurant had the strongest connections, and it was the current Minister of Works, Zhu Lanshan.

Rong Se pondered for a long time.

There was still some time before nightfall, and Rong Se decided to go and inspect Fusheng Restaurant in person. Saying and doing as he pleased, he changed into a black outfit embroidered with red patterns, put on a mask that only exposed his mouth and the lower-left half of his face, and boarded the carriage.

Fusheng Restaurant was located on Xinglong Street in the West Market. The West Market was the most bustling area in Jinjing, with streams of people coming and going along every street and alley, and Fusheng Restaurant was built right there.

Listening to the noises of the bustling market, Rong Se looked around with curiosity all the way there. He rarely went out and disliked socializing, but this was his first time seeing an ancient street, so he lingered a few extra glances.

“Your Highness, we are approaching Fusheng Restaurant ahead,” Yun Chu said from outside.

Rong Se raised his gaze and indeed saw a towering restaurant. It featured a vermillion lacquer plaque with golden ink calligraphy, bearing the three characters “Fusheng Restaurant,” while the side couplets read: “A single jar opened intoxicates a thousand lords; placed on the table, the aroma spreads ten miles.”

Rong Se appraised it for a moment.

To put it simply, those inscriptions were quite arrogant.

It was visually estimated to be three stories tall, and not a standalone building, but connected to several pavilions and terraces with carved balustrades and flying eaves, built right by the lake. It certainly looked grand and occupied an excellent location. Rong Se stepped down from the carriage, and led by Yun Chu, entered the doors. Only then did he realize that business was truly desolate: a waiter was sound asleep sprawled across a table, and aside from him, there was not a single other person in the entire first-floor lobby.

Yun Chu stepped forward and woke the man up. The waiter opened his eyes, startled to the point of scrambling under the table, before climbing back up in a clumsy scramble. With an exclamation, he repeatedly forced a flattering smile: “Why has the master come at this hour? Are you here to collect accounts? I will go call the manager!”

“We aren’t collecting accounts. Let you all meet the new master,” Yun Chu said, slightly tilting his chin backward.

Only then did the waiter notice the man dressed in luxurious black robes, with a tall, straight, and dashing posture. However, his features were mostly obscured by a mask, making it impossible to see his face clearly.

“This is unexpected.” The waiter was bewildered and blurted out, “Master, did you sell off the shop?”

Yun Chu sighed and said, “No, this person is the true master. He has always been away doing business and has only just returned to the capital, which is why he asked me to manage the shop on his behalf. I am merely the manager.”

The waiter suddenly understood, immediately bowed in salute to Rong Se, and scurried off like a wisp of smoke to find the manager.

The manager was a man in his forties named Xu Xing. He had a plump physique and a benign appearance, always smiling. He seemed steady as he emerged holding an abacus, and with a face full of smiles, he said to Rong Se: “You must be the master! Please excuse my lack of etiquette; I didn’t know it was you before. Manager Yun was always coming by to check the accounts, so I assumed he was the master.”

His attitude balanced humility with deference, showing him to be shrewd and smooth. Rong Se appraised him for a moment before speaking: “Where is the cook? Tell him to make a few dishes for me to taste.”

Xu Xing and the waiter’s expressions changed simultaneously.

With Yun Chu’s level of discernment, his face immediately darkened: “What? Preparing a meal for the master is out of the question?”

Xu Xing furrowed his brow in a tangled knot and, after a long pause, let out a deep sigh. He bowed to Rong Se and said, “This humble servant Xu Xing begs the master’s forgiveness. A few days ago, our head chef complained that business was poor, collected his wages, and left. The newly recruited one is named Song He, and he works two days out of three. Today, he hasn’t even shown up yet. There are only two assistant workers in the kitchen, so I am afraid they won’t be able to whip up anything.”

Yun Chu had many matters to handle under his purview, otherwise he wouldn’t have stationed a manager here. Upon hearing this, his expression changed as well.

Seeing that Yun Chu was about to drop to his knees in confession, Rong Se furrowed his brow slightly, reached out to support him up, and then said to the manager: “If he doesn’t want to come, he doesn’t come. What a lofty attitude! Since he doesn’t want to work here, we will just find someone else.”

Xu Xing said helplessly, “It is not that simple, Master. You also know how our business fares.”

“Business will naturally improve,” Rong Se gave him a sidelong glance. “Just find someone. As for the customers, leave that to me.”

Xu Xing looked at Yun Chu.

Recalling his master’s exceptional culinary skills, Yun Chu hesitated, unable to make up his mind.

Feeling exasperated by their lack of resolve, Rong Se pointed at the two of them and said, “Listen to me! I am the one losing money anyway. What are you two hesitating for?”

The waiter blurted out once more, “The master is right!”

Rong Se said gloomily, “Though we won’t actually be losing money.”

The waiter replied awkwardly, “Ah, very well.”

Waving his hand, Rong Se instructed, “Just do as I say. I will go back and put together a few recipes. Over the next few days, put the word out that Fusheng Restaurant has a new owner and a renewed menu. Build up as much momentum as possible and pick a date to grandly reopen. Don’t worry too much about the cook; if we really can’t find one, I can step in just as well. Aren’t there still two assistants in the back? I will train them over the next few days.”

Though Xu Xing did not understand the master’s intentions, seeing his lavish attire and hearing his grand tone, he deduced that this was clearly a young master from a wealthy family who truly wasn’t short of money. Since the shop belonged to him anyway, Xu Xing nodded and said, “Then we shall defer to the master’s wishes. This humble servant will go look for an auspicious date and reopen under the banner of a change in ownership. May I ask how the master wishes to be addressed?”

Rong Se fell silent for a brief moment. He couldn’t use his real name, so he opened his mouth and said, “Fusheng. Just call me Fusheng.”

On the way back from Fusheng Restaurant to the manor, Yun Chu couldn’t help asking, “Your Highness, since you want the restaurant’s business to thrive, why not directly announce to the outside world that this is your shop? Officials in the court wouldn’t dare refuse to give you that much face.”

Sitting inside the carriage, Rong Se smiled silently, his tone profound and meaningful: “They will naturally know in the future that this Regent is behind Fusheng Restaurant, but now is not the time.”

Looking bewildered, Yun Chu let out an exclamation.

Rong Se smiled and said, “With my culinary skills and recipes, Fusheng Restaurant will certainly not remain as obscure as it is now. Keeping a few cards up one’s sleeve is never a mistake. There is simply no need to invoke this Prince Regent identity just yet.”

Understanding dawned slightly on Yun Chu, and after acknowledging the command, he did not press the matter further.