Chapter 62: Following in the Wake of Power

The waiters at the Drunken Immortal Tavern had never dared to imagine their business would become so astonishingly prosperous.

Before dawn, even before the doors opened for business, both old regulars and new patrons had already lined up in a long, winding queue outside the tavern, waiting patiently.

All of this was thanks to the Orleans Set Meal that Li Yi had introduced!

Without the "Orleans Set Meal," they would hardly have had the chance to witness such a breathtaking scene with their own eyes.

One must remember—it was the biting cold of winter, with winds as sharp as knives! Not spring, summer, or autumn!

Looking at the queue outside, even though everyone was shivering from the cold, none showed any sign of leaving, nor did they disrupt the order. The waiters, frightened and bewildered, swallowed hard.

One stammered in awe, “This must be… surely the most extraordinary scene in the entire history of the Tang Dynasty, right?”

“Yes… yes indeed…” another waiter, stupefied, nodded dully.

The rest gathered at the entrance, nodding in agreement, utterly convinced by their colleague’s words.

For a taste of the Orleans Set Meal, these patrons' determination was truly terrifying!

At that moment, Manager Xu emerged from the back room, yawning.

But when he saw the waiters, who were supposed to be opening the doors, all crowded at the entrance, stunned as if turned to stone, muttering to themselves, his face darkened as he strode over.

“You all—”

He was about to scold them when, in a sudden glance, he caught sight of the orderly queue outside and was immediately startled, his whole body rigid.

“This… this…”

Manager Xu was so shaken by the scene outside that he could not utter a word, as if he were a clay statue.

He was utterly astounded!

So early in the morning, such a long queue outside the tavern—was this not exaggeration beyond belief?

Meanwhile, those in line outside, seeing Manager Xu and the others dumbstruck at the door, grew impatient.

At the front of the queue, a man hunched against the cold, exhaled white breath, and loudly reminded, “Manager Xu, hurry up and open the doors, we’ve been waiting here all night just to taste the Orleans Set Meal!”

“Yes, Manager Xu, please open up for business, it’s freezing out here!” another chimed in quickly, sneezing unexpectedly, “Achoo—!”

“Exactly, hurry up and open the doors, Manager Xu… you see, someone’s already sneezing from the cold…”

Countless voices, each with its own tone, urged them on, like waves crashing, echoing in everyone’s ears.

Only then did Manager Xu and the others snap out of their shock.

“Hurry, you lot, open the main doors right away!”

Manager Xu hastily ordered the waiters.

Then, pointing to one of them behind him, his cheeks flushed with excitement and his shoulders trembling, he urgently instructed, “Go to the kitchen at once and tell the chefs to prepare breakfast!”

“Yes, sir, I’ll go right now,” the waiter replied, dashing off toward the kitchen.

The doors of the Drunken Immortal Tavern were swiftly opened.

Just like when they queued outside, the patrons entered in order, without causing disturbance or disorder.

Those who didn’t secure a spot dared not try to cut in line.

Everyone knew clearly that they had queued all night for this rare chance to indulge, and none dared provoke the crowd’s wrath.

If anyone insisted on doing so, they might well drown under a flood of curses…

Witnessing this harmonious scene, the waiters, who had planned to greet guests, breathed a collective sigh of relief and nodded in admiration. “If only business could be like this every day!”

“Indeed, it would make our work much easier…”

“Honestly, all of this is thanks to Young Master Li and the charm of the Orleans Set Meal!”

“Yes, Young Master Li—he truly is remarkable!”

The waiters exchanged smiles and quiet remarks before getting busy.

At the counter, Manager Xu wore a cheerful smile, watching the tavern packed to capacity. Never before had he felt that partnering with Li Yi was such a wise and fortunate choice.

“From now on, I must cling tightly to Young Master Li’s coattails,” Manager Xu exclaimed inwardly, biting his lip with resolve.

He had made up his mind: from now on, whatever business Young Master Li proposed, whatever requests he made, he would agree to everything without haggling.

As long as he followed the right person, untold benefits would surely follow!

...

...

The winter sky gradually brightened, and more passersby appeared on the streets.

Many early-rising vendors, seeing the packed Drunken Immortal Tavern, were filled with envy.

But as soon as they recalled the identity of the tavern’s major proprietor—someone so powerful that even the imperial merchants of the capital dared not challenge him—their ambitions faded, and none dared oppose the tavern.

They simply couldn’t afford to.

“The Drunken Immortal Tavern is so busy early in the morning—us breakfast vendors might soon be out of business…”

“What can you do? The big boss of the Drunken Immortal Tavern is not someone we can mess with!”

“To think, I, Old Wang, have sold breakfast on West Market Street for over twenty years, and today… I might have to pack it in…”

“Ah…”

Many breakfast vendors sighed and shook their heads as they watched the tavern’s booming business.

All they could do was grumble quietly, eyes red with frustration.

Just then, not far from the tavern, several tall men dressed in black stood in the street, looking at the grand sign of the Drunken Immortal Tavern. After exchanging confirming nods, one stepped forward and entered the tavern.

“Waiter, give me an Orleans Set Meal to go,” the black-clad man called out boldly.

Immediately, the patrons inside glanced at him, their faces full of sympathy. They smiled and shook their heads before returning to their meals.

The scene left the man baffled.

The waiter hurried over and apologized, “I’m truly sorry, sir, but today’s allotment has already sold out.”

“Sold out???” the man stared in disbelief.

Thank you all for your votes. Here is the first update. Time to rest, good night.

(End of chapter)