Chapter 102: Focusing on Scholars

When Liu Chuanxiang chased after them, Lin Dong could already see from afar the banners fluttering outside the inn.
“Master Lin!”
Just as he was about to enter, a voice called out from behind. Lin Dong turned to see Lord Huang, the person he was supposed to help with his upgrade task. Behind him, the servant kept his head lowered, seemingly too afraid to look up.
“It’s Lord Huang.” Lin Dong smiled and bowed slightly. Glancing at the sky, he realized it wasn’t even noon yet. He couldn’t understand why the master and servant had returned so early. Normally, they should have been scouting the area nearby to choose a location for a restaurant.
“Master Lin, last night you said Lin’s Inn could generate a monthly profit of a thousand taels. I thought you were exaggerating. But now…” Huang Wanren said with a wry smile, “After seeing how busy Lin’s Inn is and hearing what others have said, I realize you’re truly modest.”
Behind him, the servant’s face was red with embarrassment. The idea of doubling—or even tripling or quadrupling—the income at Lin’s Inn had sounded great last night, but now it made him feel utterly ashamed.
“Nonsense, it’s just good luck,” Lin Dong said, shaking his head. “Lord Huang, how’s the search for a location for the restaurant going?”
“What location for a restaurant?” After hesitating for a moment, Huang Wanren thought to himself that since this Master Lin knew he was coming to Xilan City to open a restaurant and still treated him politely, he probably wasn’t the kind to tolerate competitors. So he decided to tell the truth: “I came back so early because, without lying to you, Master Lin, I wanted to see if the turtle stew made with maple leaves at Lin’s Inn really is that amazing.”
Originally, Huang Wanren and his servant had set out to find a suitable location for a restaurant, but they ended up at Maple Forest Restaurant. The fact that Maple Forest Restaurant was opening a branch in a county town like Xilan City shocked Huang Wanren greatly, and his enthusiasm plummeted.
Competing with Maple Forest Restaurant to become the best restaurant in Xilan City would be nearly impossible without the support of local officials. But that wasn’t all—what shocked the master and servant even more was that Maple Forest Restaurant wasn’t even the best-performing restaurant!
Even provincial or county-level Maple Forest Restaurants sometimes suffered losses, and it wasn’t entirely unacceptable for a county-level one to face difficulties. But what they found unacceptable was that it was an inn that had managed to defeat Maple Forest Restaurant—a restaurant, no less.

With two heavy burdens pressing down on him, although Huang Wanren wanted to return to his hometown, he couldn’t afford to lose money in business. He immediately lost the desire to choose a new location for his restaurant. He could only hold onto a glimmer of hope and go to Lin Ji Inn to see if their signature dish was truly as amazing as rumored. If not, he could still plan something else; but if it really could strengthen one’s health as claimed, it would be better to change careers sooner.

Lin Dong was troubled. After tasting the turtle stewed with maple leaves, he believed that as long as Huang Wanren wasn’t stupid, he would definitely give up the idea of opening a restaurant. How then could he complete the upgrade task?

If he prepared a version of the turtle stew without any enhancements, it might fool people for a while, but how could it be concealed for three to five months?

An idea struck Lin Dong, and he suddenly said loudly, “Since Lord Huang wants to try the turtle stewed with maple leaves, it’s an honor for Lin Ji Inn. I’m just worried that after tasting it, Lord Huang might not dare to open a restaurant in Xilan City!”

Huang Wanren smiled bitterly. At this moment, he no longer thought Lin Dong was bluffing.

After sorting out his thoughts, Lin Dong asked, “Lord Huang, I was wondering if you’d be interested in us joining forces to drive Fenglin Restaurant out of Xilan City?”

“Join forces?” Huang Wanren was stunned, then said with a mix of laughter and sorrow, “When I passed by Fenglin Restaurant today, although it had a steady stream of customers, I heard it was only because the new county magistrate sent out invitations to the wealthy families in Xilan City to discuss matters there. If what I heard is true, Fenglin Restaurant has already been forced by Lin Ji Inn to sell spirit beast meat as if it were common cabbage. There’s no need for me to get involved.”

“That’s different. The business I’m targeting is the one on the second floor of Fenglin Restaurant. The first floor’s business isn’t really affected at all,” Lin Dong shook his head. “Although the first floor doesn’t earn much silver, I’m worried that Fenglin Restaurant will keep delaying things like this. If Changlin Restaurant opens and focuses on attracting the scholars from Xilan County, and if we combine our efforts to completely drain Fenglin Restaurant of customers, I believe it won’t take long before they close down.”

Huang Wanren nodded, but then shook his head again.

With the restaurant completely empty, over time, Fenglin Restaurant surely couldn’t afford to lose face and would have to close. But the problem was, what would happen to Changlin Restaurant after that?

Compete with Lin Ji Inn? With Fenglin Restaurant already defeated, there was no way his financial resources could match theirs.

Besides, by targeting the scholars from Xilan County, how much silver could be earned in a year?

Lin Dong clearly understood Huang Wanren’s concerns and reminded him, “Under the same condition of full occupancy, Fenglin Restaurant’s monthly profit—perhaps only half that of the second floor—still amounts to two or three hundred taels of silver. There are quite a few scholars in Xilan City. If we use both floors of the restaurant to entertain them regularly, not only will business be booming, but over time, the monthly profit should exceed five hundred taels of silver.”

“That’s right, sir. Though these scholars aren’t as wealthy as the wealthy families, they all care a lot about face. Compared to ordinary customers, they dine more frequently and spend generously.” Behind him, the servant said excitedly, “If we can really get all the scholars to dine at our restaurant, business will definitely be better than when we were in Lingnan County.”

Huang Wanren was indeed tempted by Lin Dong’s quick-thinking suggestion. Frowning slightly, he pondered for a moment before looking up at Lin Dong. “Manager Lin, dealing with scholars is indeed easier than dealing with ordinary customers. Lin’s Inn also has a first floor—why not use it to compete with Fenglin Restaurant?”

Lin Dong smiled. The fact that he had reservations meant he was also tempted. Clearing his throat, he gestured toward the main hall. “This is Lin’s Inn, not Lin’s Restaurant. Although dealing with scholars is easier, I still have fifty or sixty guests in the guest rooms. Among them, there are wealthy families, but most are small merchants. Where would they go to eat?”

“Why doesn’t Manager Lin build his own Lin’s Restaurant? Or convert Lin’s Inn into one?” Huang Wanren still had doubts. “I believe the money earned from lodging and the first floor of the hall can’t compare to what can be made by entertaining scholars alone, right?”

“Why doesn’t Lord Huang open a casino or a money house?” Lin Dong replied calmly. “Lord Huang probably hasn’t thought about the possibility that Changlin Restaurant could monopolize all the business of the wealthy families in Xilan City. In that case, the most profitable industries in Xilan City should be casinos and money houses.”

“In Lingnan County, aside from some farmland, my main business was Changlin Restaurant, so I’m more familiar with running a restaurant.”

“I started running an inn by myself at the age of fourteen. The inn is my home. Converting it into a restaurant… where would I find another one?” Lin Dong laughed. “As for not opening another restaurant, it’s mainly because I’m busy cultivating all day long. I simply don’t have the energy, nor enough trustworthy people to manage it.”

Huang Wanren realized this made sense. With Lin’s Inn doing so well, why would he risk ruining its reputation? After hesitating for a moment, he asked, “Manager Lin, could you give me a few days to consider?”

“Of course, Lord Huang. Please come in first.”

Lin Dong hurriedly gestured to invite them in. If there was no other choice, he could wait three to five months; he wasn’t in a hurry over just a few days. After all, it was impossible to fully win Huang Wanren’s trust based on his own one-sided words. He needed to wait for Huang to learn more about his character and the number of scholars in Xilan City. Only after all these concerns were resolved could he decide to build a restaurant.