Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

The front of the restaurant was instantly adorned with colorful banners, and the air buzzed with the clamor of voices.

Amid the deafening sound of firecrackers, Shen's Restaurant officially opened its doors.

With a creak, the grand entrance to Shen's Restaurant slowly opened, and a waft of enticing aromas of dishes immediately spread, stirring the appetite of everyone present.

Hidden in the crowd, an onlooker deliberately said, "I heard that the culinary skills at Shen's Restaurant are exceptional, and they offer many fresh dishes you can't find elsewhere."

"Is that so? How could I miss such an event! Especially since Shen Chasi is in charge of Xinyi Square, if a demon appears here, we'll be relying on him. I must go in to support the place and try some delicacies."

A gleam of anticipation flashed in the eyes of the speaker, who then slowly moved forward with the crowd.

In the blink of an eye, the restaurant was packed with distinguished guests, not a single seat remained unoccupied.

Seeing that the crowd at the door was dispersing, Shen Qing also turned and walked into the restaurant.

Spotting the prominent figure of Dong Jing amidst the crowd in the main hall, Shen Qing hesitated before stepping forward to exchange pleasantries, "I didn't expect Dong Chasi to honor us with his presence today, it truly flatters me."

With a smile, Dong Jing turned and said, "Ha, I came uninvited today, I hope I haven't disturbed Lord Shen."

"Not at all, Dong Chasi's visit brings glory to my humble establishments! Please, take a seat and try our restaurant's signature dishes," Shen Qing quickly greeted him and personally led him to a private room that had been reserved in advance.

"Then I shall accept the offer without reservation," Dong Jing, clad in fine garments, followed Shen Qing into the private room, with several subordinates trailing behind.

Inside the room, Dong Jing and his subordinates took their seats: "I've heard that Shen Chasi's restaurant offers some special new dishes?"

"There are a few. They are rustic dishes from the mountains of Taiping County, nothing suitable for high society," Shen Qing said with a modest smile. "I'm afraid they might amuse Dong Chasi."

Before the opening, Shen Qing had already spread the news about some new dishes, and clearly, Dong Jing was also aware of them.

Dong Jing said with a smile, "Today, we'll have the pleasure of tasting these 'not fit for the table' dishes. We have many people here, so Lord Shen, please serve us all of your specialties."

"I'll inform the kitchen immediately. I have other matters to attend to, so please enjoy your meal here," Shen Qing said.

"Lord Shen, please do as you need to," they responded.

Shen Qing clasped his hands in a bow and left the private room.

Once Shen Qing had departed, one of the officers voiced his confusion, "Boss, why do you hold this upstart Chasi in such regard? He's just a lucky foreigner, isn't he?"

Dong Jing slowly spoke as he poured a cup of tea, "My eyes do not deceive me, our Lord Shen is no ordinary man. His use of the Heavy Bow—others simply cannot achieve the same effect. In the future, I don't want to hear such derogatory terms again, especially not in front of Shen Chasi."

"Is his... archery truly worthy of such high praise from you?"

"It is," Dong Jing said decisively.

A man who could relocate his family from the war-ravaged Taiping County to the county town, secure a respectable position, and even managed to subdue the Eagle Demon that had troubled the region for long.

There must be something exceptional about this Shen Qing.

In Dong Jing's view, there was only benefit and no harm in maintaining good relations with him.

Dong Jing took a sip from his tea cup and savored it.

Hmm, the tea was mediocre.

After a while, dish after dish of signature cuisine was served by the waiter.

Gazing at the artfully arranged plates, Dong Jing and his companions were somewhat astonished.

Having been born into a high-ranking family, he had eaten or seen many lavish meals, but the dishes served in Shen Qing's restaurant were truly a first for him.

Contrary to what Shen Qing had said about the dishes being unworthy of praise, that didn't seem to be the case at all.

"Let's eat, and have a taste," he said.

Picking up his chopsticks, Dong Jing started by sampling the sweet and sour carp. As soon as it touched his palate, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "This dish is perfectly balanced between sweet and sour, and the meat is delicious. There really is something special about it."

The other subordinates followed suit, taking bites of their own, and echoed, "It is indeed delicious."

Dong Jing hurriedly picked up his chopsticks again and tasted the nine-turned intestines, and surprisingly, he discovered another delight.

By the time an hour passed, the table of dishes had been cleaned out, and Dong Jing and his subordinates were all stuffed to the brim.

He walked out of the private room and looked at the busy Shen Qing in the main hall with a serious expression.

He was finding this person a bit unfathomable.

Once lunchtime was over, Shen Qing had his people tally the day's earnings and they reached close to ten taels, with profits amounting to six or seven taels.

Looking at such a "fortune," Tian Xiaohu and the others were all thrilled.

"Our restaurant is still too small. If it were bigger, if we could fit more tables, we would likely earn even more."

Xiao Zhi, with a hint of happiness on his face, said, "Our business can be considered a success now."

"Don't be too happy too soon. This is just the beginning. If someone becomes jealous over time and steals our recipes, then we won't be able to make this much money anymore," Shen Qing said calmly.

"Ah?"

Xiao Zhi's eyes widened as he said, "Boss, you can rest assured. No one will manage to steal the recipes you've taught me. If anyone manages to learn even half, answer only to me."

Shen Qing smiled and replied, "Starting tomorrow, let's double the price of our signature dishes. Let's focus on making the money at hand first. After we've made enough, I'll think of ways to buy you all some useful items. Without some real skills in these times, it's impossible to protect this wealth. Mere talk won't do."

...

In Yongzhou City, inside a residence.

An ancient stone table with a tea kettle boiling atop it, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu sat across from each other at the table.

Guan Yunjian picked up the teapot and poured a cup for Uncle Shu, "This tea was a gift from a tea merchant, a rare good tea. Give it a try."

Uncle Shu took a sip of the tea and smacked his lips, "Indeed, it's quite good. Today, that Shen opened a restaurant, wouldn't it be too much if we didn't go?"

"When he first came, our offense was not considered excessive. What does it matter if we don't grace the place with our presence?" Guan Yunjian said indifferently, "On the day we killed the Eagle Demon, I realized that Mr. Shen was not one of us. If we continue under his command, we will not end well."

Uncle Shu sighed and said, "We really shouldn't have been so impulsive that day."

"It's useless to talk about the past since it has already happened. Let's think about what we should do next."

Uncle Shu asked, "You didn't call me here today just to have a simple cup of tea, did you? Do you already have some ideas?"

"I do have some thoughts."

"What are they?"

"Changing allegiance."

Uncle Shu said, "Elaborate."

Guan Yunjian said calmly, "Let's find a way to switch to another dispatch office or secretly get their protection first and lay low for a while. As the saying goes, men falter, horses stumble. Shen will make a mistake sooner or later. When the time is right, I'll kill him. Yongzhou has plenty of capable people. He's just a martial master in the Qi Cultivation Realm. What do you think?"

After some contemplation, Guan Yunjian nodded and said, "Makes sense."

"Uncle Shu, if we are to pledge allegiance to another dispatch office, do you have any preferences?" Guan Yunjian took a sip of his tea and said with a refreshing tone.

"What preference could there be? They are all about the same."

"Then, in your opinion, whom should we join?"

"Of course, the strongest one. Dong Jing's Dong Chasi group."

"Great minds think alike," Guan Yunjian said as he raised his tea cup.

Understanding the gesture, Uncle Shu also picked up his cup, and their cups lightly clinked together.

Together, they burst into hearty laughter.