Chapter 119: The Collapse of the Tavern (First Update—Please Vote)

The next morning at dawn.

After practicing several sets of Tai Chi, just as his front foot stepped past the entrance of the mansion, the household servant hurriedly approached Li Yi with a report: “Young Master, Master Zheng’s eldest son has been waiting in the main hall for quite some time.”

Li Yi was momentarily taken aback.

But in the next instant, he guessed Zheng An’s intention and couldn’t help but nod with a smile, waving his hand. “Understood. You may go about your duties.”

“Yes, Young Master,” the servant replied cheerfully before retreating.

Li Yi first went to bathe and change, then slowly made his way to the main hall accompanied by Yue’er.

Inside the hall, besides Zheng An, a package wrapped in yellow paper containing a gift was placed to the side. Zheng An’s expression was a mixture of joy and worry, which immediately piqued Li Yi’s interest and made him want to tease his friend.

“Brother Zheng, with that look on your face, did Old Wang next door sneak into your back room last night?” Li Yi joked as he stepped into the hall and took a seat.

“...” Zheng An, upon seeing Li Yi, involuntarily twitched in embarrassment.

Of course, he understood the playful jab.

“Young Master, please don’t tease me. I’ve brought you some fresh tea leaves as a small token of appreciation,” Zheng An said with a smile, quickly changing the subject as he pushed the tea forward.

Li Yi smiled and glanced at the tea leaves. Bowing slightly, he said, “Then I will respectfully accept. Thank you for your kindness, Brother Zheng.”

“Not at all, Young Master,” Zheng An waved his hand, a faint gleam of happiness in his eyes. He raised his eyebrows and said plainly, “Young Master, I have some good news to share.”

Hearing this, Li Yi raised an eyebrow and looked at Zheng An. “May I ask what good news is so important that you came in person?”

Zheng An didn’t answer immediately. He first glanced at the household servants on both sides, then leaned in close to Li Yi’s ear.

Lowering his voice, he cautiously whispered, “Young Master, the 1.2 million bars of soap I had rushed to produce these past two days sold out immediately upon release.”

As he spoke, Zheng An made a “six” gesture with his right hand.

“...” Seeing that hand sign, Li Yi was speechless.

At first, he hadn’t paid much attention, but when he heard “1.2 million,” he was genuinely shocked.

“1.2 million?” Li Yi frowned slightly, unable to hide his disbelief.

After all, 1.2 million was no small number. Even at fifty cash per bar, the total silver would be around 600,000 taels.

This was an astonishingly large sum!

“That’s right, Young Master, a full 1.2 million!” Zheng An’s face betrayed his joy and even a hint of pride as he exclaimed, “I’ve done the math—after subtracting costs, the net profit alone is 500,000 taels of silver!”

Li Yi looked at Zheng An, admiring the formidable strength and execution of the Zheng family’s grand merchant status.

In just two days, they had effortlessly earned half a million taels of silver.

Indeed, Li Yi’s choice was correct.

Partnering with a grand merchant like Zheng An was the most reliable and profitable path.

“Well then, congratulations on your flourishing business, Brother Zheng!” Li Yi smiled and cupped his hands.

“No, no, no,” Zheng An hastily shook his head, his smile stretching wide, “It’s all thanks to your secret formula and the cheap materials that such great profits were possible.”

“There’s a saying: share blessings and wealth together. I’ll be relying on you more and more in the future,” Zheng An said with a beaming face and a respectful bow.

Li Yi smiled and raised an eyebrow. “In that case, here’s to us both enjoying abundant prosperity.”

“Your wealth naturally benefits me as well!” Zheng An replied with a humble bow.

“Ha ha!” The two exchanged looks, nodded in agreement, and burst into hearty laughter.

With joy in his heart, Zheng An sipped tea as he chatted casually with Li Yi about ideas for expanding the business. Li Yi approved of his plans and barely intervened, only offering a few targeted suggestions regarding some overlooked details.

Then Zheng An stood to take his leave.

Just then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he stopped abruptly, turned back, and looked at Li Yi.

“Young Master, may I ask something boldly? That royal plaque at the Drunken Immortal Tavern—was it really you who obtained it from the Sage and brought it there?”

“Indeed,” Li Yi nodded casually. “Why do you ask?”

“...”

Having heard the answer directly from Li Yi, Zheng An’s face twitched repeatedly.

Sighing helplessly, shaking his head, he said with a grimace, “Young Master, if I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have been so greedy and wasted silver opening my own tavern.”

Just thinking about it made Zheng An feel it wasn’t worth it.

Li Yi was stunned by this and looked at the sulking Zheng An in puzzlement. “Brother Zheng, what does your tavern going under have to do with me?”

This statement confused Li Yi greatly.

After all, with Zheng An’s status as a grand merchant, how could opening a tavern in Chang’an lead to losses?

“Cough, cough...” Seeing Li Yi’s bewildered expression, Zheng An shook his head in mock exasperation and said plaintively, “Young Master, by giving all the fine food and wine to the Drunken Immortal Tavern, the business at my tavern has been completely squeezed out...”

“...” Li Yi’s face twitched awkwardly. Then, adopting a serious expression, he said, “Brother Zheng, you can’t pin this on me. I refuse to take that blame.”

Zheng An: “...”

He had no words to respond.

If it weren’t for the Drunken Immortal Tavern’s booming business, nearly all his old customers would never have left for it and ruined his own tavern.

Thinking about it, Zheng An felt inexplicably wronged.

“Young Master, I shall take my leave then.” Zheng An smiled awkwardly and left the mansion.

Only after Zheng An’s figure disappeared did Li Yi turn to Yue’er and ask, “Yue’er, tell me, whose fault is it that Zheng An’s tavern went under?”

Without hesitation, Yue’er blinked her big eyes and nodded matter-of-factly. “Young Master, it’s obviously his own fault!”

“Hmm, I think so too!” Li Yi nodded seriously.

------

Time flew by quickly. Over the past few days, Li Yi had not left the house, but he heard that Zheng An had expanded the soap business throughout the prosperous regions of the entire nation.

Except for the borderlands, nearly all the common folk of the Tang Empire now enjoyed the convenience.

At the same time, the soap’s fame had reached the palace, where even the imperial procurement now chose to buy from the Zheng family’s shops.

The status of the traditional soap makers had begun to waver…

Coincidentally, at the end of this month, the Japanese envoy delegation arrived in the Tang Empire.

In Chang’an, the presence of Japanese people could be seen everywhere.

(End of chapter)