Chapter 576: Flies

For over two months, Lin’s Inn remained unchanged, and its business declined to a pitiful level. The owners of the top restaurants finally breathed a sigh of relief—if Lin’s Inn really had a solution, it wouldn’t sit idly by while its regular customers dwindled. With no solution in sight, they could only watch helplessly as business slowed down and their regulars disappeared one after another.

When they gathered, the owners of the top restaurants all wore bright smiles. Especially Liu Changman, the owner of Xingrong Restaurant, even suggested going to Lin’s Inn together. Visiting Lin’s Inn and seeing Manager Lin’s gloomy expression would undoubtedly make them feel happier and more relaxed. But the others shook their heads and opposed Liu Changman’s idea. Though it might be enjoyable, a cornered rabbit could bite—especially since Manager Lin had some connections with King Qingliu. If pushed to the limit, it was possible he might resort to underhanded tactics. Although the combined strength of everyone’s backers could withstand King Qingliu’s pressure, it would cost them a fortune in silver. The extra pleasure wasn’t worth it.

Except for Ling Weifeng, no one could have imagined that at that moment, Lin Dong was comfortably reading in Yunlan’s room. With a rocking chair, a pot of good tea, and a tray of snacks, along with reading about strange tales and occasionally glancing at Yunlan who was practicing cultivation, Lin Dong led a very carefree life.

No one expected that the busier the top restaurants became, the happier Lin Dong felt. The reason was simple: all this business came from luring customers by offering shares. Initially, Lin Dong only wanted to force these restaurants to disclose their accounts and the total amount of shares they held. Once a significant number of those shares were sold, he planned to make a big move, having Emperor Qianwei step in to turn the situation around. Then, he would spread rumors that the restaurants’ business was worsening and that the owners intended to donate money to flee the capital. With the actual decline in business as proof, customers holding shares in those restaurants would surely demand that the restaurants be sold, with all the cash distributed according to the share amounts. In this way, the restaurants would not only have to spend money to buy back their shares but at a high price too. Otherwise, buying them back at their original price would only confirm the rumors that the restaurants couldn’t continue operating.

A restaurant on the verge of closing, already losing customers due to Lin Ji Inn’s advertising featuring Emperor Qian Wei, naturally saw even fewer people visiting it. Who knew whether, just before closing, it would try to pass off inferior goods as good ones to make a quick profit, or even charge exorbitant prices after service and use guards to prevent customers from leaving without payment? With closure imminent, its reputation meant nothing anymore—anything that could be gained would be seized. At that point, the only option for the top restaurants would be to pretend to be solvent by buying back their share certificates at high prices, thereby countering rumors of financial insolvency and inability to survive until Lin Ji Inn’s success faded. This meant all the top restaurants would suffer heavy losses, exactly as Lin Dong had planned. What Lin Dong didn’t expect was that these top restaurants, in an effort to make their share offerings more attractive, announced that each share certificate would yield one or two taels of silver in dividends monthly for three years. This was nothing short of a huge gift to Lin Dong. According to his initial plan, the top restaurants, desperate to restore their reputation, would definitely pay at least a 10% profit for buying back the share certificates, and to counter rumors of poor management leading to closure, they would have to pay at least fifteen taels per certificate. That meant a loss of five taels per certificate. The more share certificates they gave away, the greater the loss. The top restaurants posted notices stating that each certificate would yield one or two taels of silver monthly for three years—36 taels in total just to buy them back. Coupled with various rumors, it would be foolish not to offer at least forty taels unless they truly wanted to stop operating. Even at forty taels, each certificate would result in a loss of thirty taels, six times what Lin Dong had expected. Originally, according to his plan, it was time to launch a counterattack. After all, if things continued like this, all their regular customers would leave. He didn’t expect to defeat all the top restaurants at once, but losing their regular customers would be extremely disadvantageous for future competition. As soon as those announcements came out, he changed his mind. Regular customers were the foundation of a restaurant, but if he could defeat all the top restaurants at once, the situation would be different. Although there were countless large restaurants in the capital, none could compete with Lin Ji Inn for the highest-end customers. Without those top restaurants as rivals, Lin Ji Inn would dominate the capital. With dominance, there was no need to worry that nobles and officials wouldn’t choose Lin Ji Inn.

Each share certificate results in a loss of thirty taels of silver. If this situation drags on, it could drain most of the cash reserves of the top restaurants. By highlighting the other advantages of the inn one by one, Lin Dong believed he could force these top restaurants to give up and withdraw from competing for the highest-class customers. For this reason, Lin Dong was still in a wait-and-see attitude. He was waiting for the top restaurants to reach their limit and voluntarily abandon the benefit of receiving one tael of silver per month from the share certificates.

Just as he turned to the next page, Lin Dong suddenly sensed something. Extending his mind, he noticed Ma Chun walking quickly into the back yard. Lin Dong got up and opened the door. “Owner, Jiang Qianchi is here. He says there are flies in the food and drinks at our inn and demands an explanation from you,” Ma Chun called out from afar. Lin Dong replied calmly, “I’ll go take a look!”

This Jiang Qianchi was precisely the prefect of Lihuang Prefecture whom Emperor Qianwei had secretly summoned, as mentioned by Yang Shun. “Owner, he’s on the second floor. Should I get ready?” Ma Chun asked. “Go ahead,” Lin Dong nodded. After Ma Chun climbed over the wall and left, Lin Dong went to the main hall alone.

Upon reaching the second floor, Lin Dong took in the scene—there were eight tables occupied by customers. At noon, having only eight tables was extremely rare before, and it remained rare even now, though for different reasons. Previously, having only eight tables at noon on the second floor was indeed too few. But ever since the top restaurants posted their notices, Lin Ji Inn’s second floor had never had more than five tables at any time. Eight tables was surprisingly many.

Extending his mind to check each table, Lin Dong was secretly pleased. Emperor Qianwei had planned everything very meticulously. Among all the customers, there was only one warrior, with the rest being ordinary people. And that single warrior possessed the strength of the Second Stage of the Heart Reversal Phase. Clearly, Emperor Qianwei sent so many people to put pressure on Lin Ji Inn, forcing it to use force against Jiang Qianchi to protect its reputation. Sending a strong warrior was to ensure that Lin Ji Inn wouldn’t kill them to silence them. Although killing someone in a dispute was unlikely, Emperor Qianwei had clearly considered that possibility.

Unfortunately, Emperor Qianwei hadn’t anticipated that Lin Dong had Yang Shun as an informant.

Glancing around again, Lin Dong’s gaze settled on a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes, with a dignified appearance. As Lin Dong approached, the man tapped the table lightly a few times and said coldly, “Are you the owner of Lin Ji Inn?” “I am,” Lin Dong nodded and stepped to the table.

“What’s this half-fly?” The middle-aged man, Jiang Qianchi, the magistrate of Lihuang Prefecture, picked up his chopsticks and tapped on a plate of braised beef.
“What fly?” Lin Dong asked deliberately.
“Look closely!” Jiang Qianchi pointed his chopsticks at a black spot on a piece of beef. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a fly—half of one, at that.
“Sir, are you trying to extort me?” Lin Dong said coldly.
“Extort you? You say I’m trying to extort you?” Jiang Qianchi suddenly stood up, furious as thunder, and reached out to grab Lin Dong.
Lin Dong dodged quietly, leaving Jiang Qianchi stunned.
“Don’t touch me. Otherwise, you might accuse me of tripping you and demand I pay for your medical expenses,” Lin Dong snapped.
“How bold! Everyone, listen! I came here to eat and accidentally swallowed half a fly. When I complained, they claimed I was trying to extort them.” Jiang Qianchi shouted, “Everyone, judge fairly! Is this even a proper inn? This is a swindling place!”
“Yes! Manager Lin, judging by his appearance, he doesn’t seem like he’s here to cause trouble.”
“Hmm, I saw it too. There really is a fly. It’s a minor issue. Which kitchen doesn’t have a few flies? Even in imperial kitchens, mistakes happen. Manager Lin, it’s better to resolve this quietly.”
The other guests agreed, though they were advising Lin Dong, their intent was to force him to admit fault.
Lin’s Inn wasn’t a small establishment. If news of flies in the food spread, it would greatly harm its reputation. Any top restaurant owner would never admit such a thing; at most, they would secretly compensate with some silver.
That’s exactly what Lin Dong did. He took out a pair of chopsticks from a bamboo tube, picked out the half-fly, and said to Jiang Qianchi, “Lin’s Inn always emphasizes cleanliness. It’s impossible we wouldn’t notice flies in the food. If you don’t believe me, I can take you to the kitchen. If we find another fly like this, Lin’s Inn is willing to accept punishment.”
“The kitchen?” Jiang Qianchi was taken aback before shaking his head and shouting, “What? Are you trying to force me to give in?”
“I said if we find a fly like this in the kitchen, I guarantee Lin’s Inn will accept punishment. If you refuse to go, are you perhaps guilty?” Lin Dong waved his hand lightly, and several servants gathered around.
“Guilty? I’m just afraid you’ll use some underhanded tactics in the kitchen.” Jiang Qianchi bowed to the crowd, “I wonder if anyone kind would be willing to accompany me. I would be extremely grateful.”

“True gold fears no fire test. Manager Lin, I trust you. I’ll go with him to show him just how clean Lin’s Inn’s kitchen is.” One diner stood up.
“I’ll go too!”
“I’ll go too!”
Many diners joined in.
“Since that’s the case, let’s go!”
Lin Dong looked at Jiang Qianchi.