Chapter 45: Reopening for Business

Seeing Zhou Donghuang looking silently at Fang Jishan and Ma Dongfeng for a long while, Lu Qinghu spoke up, “Young Master Donghuang, please accept these… they are doing this to thank you for the palm technique, Lesser Weighted Sand Palm.”

Evidently, Lu Qinghu had shared the technique that Zhou Donghuang had given him several days ago with the Fang and Ma Families.

“Fu.”

At Zhou Donghuang’s word, Fu, who was standing to the side, came forward to receive the gifts from Fang Jishan and Ma Dongfeng.

“Patriarch Fang, Patriarch Ma, go and organize the people we brought here… Young Master Donghuang and I will follow shortly,” Lu Qinghu told them both.

“Okay.”

They acknowledged and greeted Zhou Donghuang respectfully before leaving.

Seeing Lu Qinghu attain level-four of Qi-gathering after currying favor with Zhou Donghuang and leading the Lu family into the ranks of the preeminent families, both Fang Jishan and Ma Dongfeng were naturally envious.

Because of this, they now tried to curry favor with Zhou Donghuang. However, they both understood clearly that they occupied a lower position in Zhou Donghuang’s eyes compared to Lu Qinghu.

Now, whether as an indication of Lu Qinghu’s strength or out of concern for their image in Zhou Donghuang’s eyes, they did not dare linger even though they would have liked to stay and cultivate a relationship with Zhou Donghuang.

Soon, only Zhou Donghuang, Fu, and Lu Qinghu remained in the spacious front yard.

“Young Master Donghuang, I know ordinary objects are nothing to you… in the future, if you need any errands to be done, just say the word and I, Lu Qinghu and even the entire Lu family will not hesitate to be at your service!”

Lu Qinghu stated this respectfully to Zhou Donghuang and effectively put his family at Zhou Donghuang’s disposal.

“Just because I gave you a lesser-grade technique and a bottle of qi-gathering elixir that helped you attain level-four of Qi-gathering… you would put your family with its newly-attained status of a preeminent family at my disposal?” Zhou Donghuang asked searchingly as he looked over Lu Qinghu casually.

“Young Master Donghuang, it is thanks to you that the Lu family has become a preeminent family… I, Lu Qinghu, clearly acknowledge that without your qi-gathering elixir, I would never have attained level-four of Qi-gathering in this life,” Lu Qinghu said earnestly.

Practicing martial arts became more difficult as one progressed, and it was especially difficult to progress to the higher levels.

Lu Qinghu’s father, the grand patriarch of the Lu family, had attained level-three of Qi-gathering at about the same age as him, but he had never managed to attain level-four of Qi-gathering for the rest of his life.

His father’s greatest regret was not being able to obtain a bottle of qi-gathering elixir that could increase his sensitivity to qi by twenty percent. He was highly confident that he would have been able to attain level-four of Qi-gathering and lead the Lu family into the ranks of a preeminent family if he had that qi-gathering elixir.

Lu Qinghu knew well that without Zhou Donghuang’s gift of the qi-gathering elixir, he would probably go down the same road as his father.

“That lesser-grade technique was a gift to you… why did you share it with the Fang and Ma families?”

Zhou Donghuang raised the teacup on the table to his lips and questioned Lu Qinghu as he sipped tea.

“Young Master Donghuang, those herbs were from our three families… therefore I felt they should also have a share in the lesser-grade technique.”

Lu Qinghu bowed in apology as he spoke. “However, I did not have Young Master Donghuang’s permission to share it with them, which was presumptuous, and I beg Young Master Donghuang’s forgiveness.”

“And this was probably a show for me?”

Zhou Donghuang looked intently at Lu Qinghu, his piercing gaze seeming to bore into his mind and leaving him with an awkward expression on his face.

Indeed it was.

The main reason for doing so was indeed to put on a show for Zhou Donghuang.

He intended to use his actions to send the message that he was someone who did not forget those who had helped him.

“You are a clever man,” Zhou Donghuang said, “otherwise, I would not have given you that bottle of qi-gathering elixir that day before I left the prefecture capital. After all, if the effectiveness of that bottle of qi-gathering elixir became known, it would have been enough to shake the whole country of Yunyang. You probably have not told anyone else of the effectiveness of that bottle of qi-gathering elixir, have you?” Zhou Donghuang asked leisurely, staring at Lu Qinghu.

“Young Master Donghuang, it was precisely because I knew how valuable and special that bottle of qi-gathering elixir was that I did not dare tell anyone else of its effectiveness.” Lu Qinghu nodded hurriedly and continued, “Including my own brother Lu Bao, to whom I said that Young Master Donghuang had given me a bottle of qi-gathering elixir that increased the sensitivity to qi by twenty percent. A qi-gathering elixir that increase the sensitivity to qi by forty percent… if that became known, the entire country of Yunyang would be in upheaval.”

Lu Qinghu’s expression turned serious.

“Young Master Donghuang has given me a new lease on life; I could not possibly do anything to hurt you.”

“Hmm.”

Zhou Donghuang nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Fu and instructed him, “Fu, prepare ten bottles of the qi-gathering elixir that increase the sensitivity to qi by forty percent as a gift to the patriarch of the Lu family.”

“At once, Young Master.”

Fu left to carry out the instructions.

Ten bottles?

Lu Qinghu’s eyes lit up, and his breathing quickened. He had assumed that the supply of that qi-gathering elixir was limited.

He never imagined that Zhou Donghuang could give him ten bottles just like that.

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What he did not know was that those bottles of qi-gathering elixir were merely the rejects of what Zhou Donghuang had, and even Fu did not use them.

“Many thanks to Young Master Donghuang,” Lu Qinghu said respectfully.

“There’s one thing more I need you to do.”

Zhou Donghuang took a piece of paper from his pocket and passed it to Lu Qinghu.

“This is a formula for the qi-gathering elixir with the same effectiveness of those on the market… with this qi-gathering elixir, the Lu family can monopolize the whole market for qi-gathering elixirs in Yunfeng prefecture.

Monopolize the market for qi-gathering elixirs in Yunfeng prefecture?

Lu Qinghu took the formula, only half-believing it. But just one glance and a shocked expression came over his face.

“Even such cheap herbs can be used to formulate a qi-gathering elixir that increases the sensitivity to qi by twenty percent?”

The formula for the same qi-gathering elixir on the market was no secret, and any family above the status of a lesser family could petition the regent for it.

However, several of the key ingredients for that qi-gathering elixir were relatively rare and valuable and therefore expensive.

The cost of these herbs… the qi-gathering elixirs made with them are equally effective as those commonly available qi-gathering elixirs sold on the market, but the cost is not even one-tenth of what it was.

Lu Qinghu stared in stupefaction at Zhou Donghuang, not daring to believe that it was possible to formulate the qi-gathering elixir on the market with such cheap herbs.

“I have provided the formula, and I won’t ask for too large a share. You’ll bear the costs of the herbs and manpower, but I want half of the profits,” Zhou Donghuang said.

Although Zhou Donghuang knew Lu Qinghu would not have objected if he had asked for seven or eight-tenths of the profits; that was not his style of doing things.

“Young Master Donghuang, two-tenths of the profit is enough for the Lu family… this business is a gold mine, and we will definitely make a fortune from it,” Lu Qinghu replied.

Even with two-tenths of the profit, the Lu family would still make a significant amount, far exceeding what they could earn from selling the commonly available qi-gathering elixirs. This was because they could monopolize the market for qi-gathering elixirs in all of Yunfeng prefecture.

“When I say half, I mean half. If you don’t agree, I’ll get someone else,” Zhou Donghuang said casually.

“Qinghu thanks Young Master Donghuang on behalf of the Lu family.”

Lu Qinghu bowed once again in thanks, with respect and gratitude in his eyes.

“Have you brought all the servant girls and waiters like I requested?” Zhou Donghuang asked Lu Qinghu.

The main purpose of the last trip to the prefecture capital had been to make it possible for Yunxuan Restaurant to reopen so that Lin Lan would not worry continuously about it.

“They’re here, they’re here, just outside.” Lu Qinghu nodded eagerly.

Very soon, with the servant girls and waiters that the Lu, Fang, and Ma families had brought, Yunxuan Restaurant was ready to reopen. Announcements were made that Yunxuan Restaurant would reopen the next day.

When the people of Qingshan town found out that the new servant girls and waiters were from the Lu, Fang, and Ma families of the prefecture capital, they all assumed that Yunxuan Restaurant had a new owner.

It was only when they saw Zhou Donghuang in person, and the patriarchs of the Lu, Fang, and Ma families standing respectfully behind him that they realized Yunxuan Restaurant had actually not changed hands.

No one suspected that the patriarchs of the three families could be impostors.

In Yunfeng prefecture, the families and individuals with more power than these three families would not bother impersonating them, and those families and individuals who were weaker did not dare impersonate them.

The chefs from Yunxuan Restaurant returned the same day, and many of the servant girls and waiters who heard the news returned as well.

Yunxuan Restaurant reopened for business smoothly on the second day, and because everything was sold at half price, the threshold of Yunxuan Restaurant seemed as though it would be broken as it was trampled underfoot by the unceasing stream of customers.

“Farewell, Young Master Donghuang.”

Lu Qinghu, Fang Jishan and Ma Dongfeng bid Zhou Donghuang farewell on the evening of the first day of Yunxuan Restaurant’s reopening.

Lu Qinghu was holding a brocaded box, and his face was flushed with energy as he rode his ferghana horse. In the brocaded box were the ten bottles of qi-gathering elixir that Zhou Donghuang had given him.

With this qi-gathering elixir, his level of practice would increase rapidly.

The smooth reopening of Yunxuan Restaurant had surprised many residents of Qingshan town, especially the three lesser families of Qingshan town, who were completely dumbfounded.

“That youth is obviously a dragon, but you all treated him like a worm… now you’re regretting it, aren’t you?”

In the Qin family mansion, the grand patriarch of the Qin family, Qin Yi, sighed heavily as he looked at the patriarch of the Qin family, Qin Long, and the first young master of the Qin family, Qin Fei, kneeling before him.

The Qin family had good relations with that youth at first and was hopeful of climbing to a higher level. Now, that opportunity had been ruined by the Qin family themselves.

Meanwhile, in the Wang family mansion, Patriarch Red Crane Wang of the Wang family was full of resentment.

“That swine, how did he make the patriarchs of the three elite lesser families bow and scrape before him?”

“Big Brother.”

Just then, the second elder of the Wang family, Bamboo Crane Wang, smiled bitterly and said, “I just received news… the Lu family of the prefecture capital is no longer a lesser family. The patriarch of the Lu family, Lu Qinghu, has attained level-four of Qi-gathering, and the Lu family has now advanced to the status of a preeminent family. That is to say… Patriarch Lu Qinghu of the Lu family, who came to Qingshan town these last two days to support the reopening of Yunxuan Restaurant is already a level-four adept.”