Chapter Twenty-One: Prosperity Restaurant

Master Liu noticed his daughter frowning, looking quite displeased, and asked with a cheerful smile, "Doesn't Qin like this play?"

Liu Qin shook her head. "I don't like it. Not like that, no."

It seemed he understood his daughter's words, and he laughed heartily, "How can one take a play seriously? Besides, such stories only fool the simple-minded."

Father was absolutely right. Liu Qin nodded vigorously, glancing sideways to see Jiang Li frowning as well. Perhaps he too disliked it. Maybe she should ask him secretly later and see what he really thought.

Chao and Hai, still young and clueless, simply found the silhouettes on stage fascinating, clapping their hands in excitement. Even when the show ended, they lingered, reluctant to leave.

The shopkeeper, very polite, invited the guests inside to have a look around. Since they had enjoyed the shadow puppet show for free, it would be rude to leave immediately. Most of the crowd entered the shop, the Liu family among them.

It turned out to be a shop of paintings and books, quite spacious, with screens dividing the space: one side displayed framed artworks, the other housed various books. Master Liu led Liu Qin, lingering before the paintings, stroking his beard and nodding approvingly at those he liked. Liu Qin was drawn to a scene of a clandestine meeting between lovers—their shy urgency was so vividly captured—but considering her father's sensibilities, she didn't dare mention it.

When they reached the books, Jiang Li and Hai finally made their selections, each picking several educational volumes. Liu Qin lost interest immediately.

This shop was quite creative, using their storybooks to craft shadow plays for promotion at the door. The shopkeeper explained that the recent play was based on a book called “A Fortunate Match.” Liu Qin grimaced inwardly—what fortune? After years of loneliness, in the end she’d have to share her husband, unsure if the mistress would tolerate her, perhaps dying young after all.

Though uninterested in “A Fortunate Match,” she was curious about other storybooks. After some thought, she chose only two travelogues on regional customs and one local gazetteer. Master Liu glanced at her silently, said nothing, and simply smiled and nodded.

The shopkeeper, delighted with the transaction, happily escorted the Liu family out. It was nearing noon, the summer heat of June at its peak. Everyone felt hungry and thirsty, so, at Master Liu’s suggestion, they returned to the main street to find a restaurant and rest.

On South Street, there was a prosperous restaurant called Changsheng, renowned for its tasty dishes. Master Liu had his attendant reserve a table ahead, then led the rest of the group leisurely onward.

They hadn’t walked far when they saw a three-story building ahead, lavishly decorated, bustling with people. Liu Qin assumed this was Changsheng, but upon approaching and reading the sign, she realized it was Hongxing Restaurant, owned by the Fang family—just as Cuiyu had mentioned. She glanced at her father, who merely smiled and said nothing, heading straight past, entering a shop across the street after only a few steps.

The attendant was already waiting at the door, with the restaurant’s manager by his side. Upon seeing Master Liu, the manager bowed deeply, "A humble citizen greets the prefect."

Master Liu waved his hand, smiling. "Manager Liu, we've known each other for years. No need for such formalities."

"Though you don’t mind, sir, I must not neglect proper etiquette," Manager Liu replied with a smile. "Are these young gentlemen from your household? Indeed, they carry themselves with a grace and bearing unmatched by ordinary children."

"Ha ha, you flatter us, Manager Liu." Anyone would feel pleased to hear their children praised.

"It’s only the truth. Please, sir." Manager Liu ushered them upstairs.

Liu Qin observed carefully. Though Changsheng was not as grand as the newly opened Hongxing Restaurant, its interior was refined and tasteful. The thoughtful placement of small objects revealed the owner’s care. Manager Liu himself was eloquent and cultured, no wonder he had established his place in Wu City.

He led them to the second floor, personally served tea, then withdrew to arrange the meal. Liu Qin, no longer cradled in her father's arms, had plenty of energy—she'd been carried the whole way, unlike the others, so she wandered around the room, examining everything. The layout was typical: the first floor was open seating, spacious; the second floor divided into private rooms. The Liu family was in the innermost eastern room—the VIP suite.

Changsheng had only two floors. It used to stand out on South Street, but now, overshadowed by Hongxing across the way, business had dropped. Even at lunchtime, the first floor wasn't full, and only a few rooms upstairs hummed with conversation. From Liu Qin’s perspective, although she’d never entered Hongxing, the exterior alone showed it was aiming for opulence—a style she’d seen often in her previous life. Comparing luxury, nothing in this life could match the high-end products of her former world; the difference was vast. Just the glass curtain walls of her old world, sparkling in sunlight, reflecting dazzling colors—such brilliance was beyond imagination here.

Changsheng, however, was a blend of the grand and the delicate, combining noble elegance with homely warmth. The furnishings, calligraphy, and paintings on the walls—some rustic, some lively—paired with well-chosen antique vases, curios, and potted flowers, made the atmosphere comfortable, as if one were relaxing in their own home.

Liu Qin nodded in satisfaction. Having finished her tour, she wondered what to do next. Spotting a wooden couch under the window, she cheered and rushed over. The food had not yet arrived; Master Liu, Jiang Li, and Hai were seated at the round table, drinking tea and resting. Master Liu, older now, had spent the morning walking and carrying a child most of the time, his fatigue evident. Jiang Li, ten, would not let himself be carried; Hai, always seeing himself as a little man, insisted on walking on his short legs until he finally relented and allowed Dongxiang to carry him for a short stretch. Both were exhausted.

But the most tired were the two attendants, Dongxiang and Changxing. Not only had they followed every step, but their nerves were taut, always fearful of losing or injuring the young masters. Their outing was more ordeal than leisure, so once in the room and with Master Liu's permission, they sat at a small table in the corner to rest. Though Master Liu had invited them to join at the main table, they dared not, so the manager had arranged a separate table for them.

Liu Qin, delighted, climbed onto the couch, joined by Chao, who was just as energetic and playful. The two attendants, seeing them on the couch, rose to follow, but Master Liu set his teacup down and smiled toward the window, "Those two children are full of energy; let them play on their own."

The attendants nodded and sat back down. The wooden couch was set against the window, facing South Street. It was midday, and the street, lined with restaurants and taverns, was bustling as people from the southern marketplace stopped for lunch. This was the busiest time. The two children, heads together, sprawled at the window, pointing outside and giggling.

The couch was not high, and given their height, they reached just to the window, so there was no danger of them falling.

"Hey, who’s that?"