In the ninth year of Wude, during the golden autumn of October, Chang'an City, though majestic, lacked the usual bustle and excitement.

On the street, pedestrians hurried by, even when greeting each other they spoke softly and briefly.

Just three months ago, Emperor Taizong of Tang, formerly known as Li Shimin, Prince of Qin, murdered his brothers and imprisoned his father at the Xuanwu Gate. A month later, he ascended to the throne.

For the common people living in Chang'an City, the Xuanjia Army, who frequently patrolled the streets, were akin to gods of death. Every few days, they would hear news that some powerful official or noble family had been imprisoned.

After all, with the emperor right there, who doesn't have a few relatives who eat from the government's rice bowl?

So for this period of time, nearly half of Chang'an City resembled a ghost realm. From high-ranking officials to commoners, everyone was on edge, fearing that one day the fearsome Xuanjia Army would break in and...

Zhang Nuo lay listlessly on the counter, staring at the deserted street outside and sighing incessantly.

Three months ago, he was still a young man living in the 21st century, accustomed to using free Wi-Fi to browse his phone and play games. He was the owner of a small hotel and a gamer at heart.

But it was only after a nap that he awoke to find himself in the ninth year of Wude, having become Zhang Nuo, the young owner of a small tavern near the eastern market of Chang'an.

As a hotel owner, Zhang Nuo had no trouble adjusting. After his parents passed away in his previous life, they left him a small inn, which he managed well, ensuring he never went hungry or thirsty.

What year is this? The Tang Dynasty!

According to the social hierarchy of scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant, merchants are considered lowly professions, the kind that even a low-ranking official could bully.

Even if you were the richest person in the country, a billionaire, in the eyes of those in high power, you would be nothing more than a sheep. Who knows when they might see you as fat and ripe for the killing, and then... chop you up.

So, Zhang Nuo's mind was occupied with just two things at the moment: making money and having a good time.

It's a pity, I don't know if it was because of the wrong posture when I traveled through time, but as soon as I arrived, there was the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Afterwards, the Turks raised an army of 200,000 and marched directly under Chang'an City. If it weren't for Li Shimin's brilliant strategies and courage, he made an alliance with Jieli at the Wei River, I'm afraid Chang'an City would have been besieged.

This external threat has left people in Chang'an City feeling uneasy and apprehensive. Naturally, business is not booming. Fortunately, the "golden finger" that he uses as his trump card for success has provided some relief, cushioning the blow by about 10%, but it remains unclear when it will truly arrive.

Zhang Nuo had no choice but to honestly run the small shop for now. He couldn't just kill himself, after all.

It was already past noon, as the sun was high in the sky. According to Tang Dynasty customs, it should have been lunchtime, but there wasn't a single person in sight. Zhang Nuo pondered that he was probably going to waste another day doing nothing.

I was just about to head into the kitchen to whip up something to eat when a middle-aged man in a black brocade waist-wrap and a jade qilin pendant walked in with an air of self-importance.

When Zhang Nuo saw this, his eyes lit up. He stood straight away and greeted,

"Welcome, how many are in your party? Are there any dietary restrictions?"

That middle-aged man seemed to have something on his mind, his brow furrowed with worry. He nodded curtly as if he had heard something, glanced around the room, and then chose a seat tucked away in the corner.

Chang Nuo hurried forward, taking the hemp cloth from the counter. The tabletop was already clean. Then he spoke,

"The guest seems to have something on their mind. Since this is your first visit, why don't you try some of our new small dishes? Pair them with a pot of wine, perhaps after eating and drinking, your worries will be lifted!"

The middle-aged man saw Zhang Nuo speak quite politely, and finally had a smile. He opened his mouth and said,

Then try the shopkeeper's craft, just as long as my skills don't bankrupt you!

Zhang Nuo smiled and nodded, then rushed into the kitchen to get busy.

From his clothing and demeanor, this man doesn't seem like he's poor at all. If we arrange things well, we might even gain a big client in the future.

Making money is good, but what about in the future? If big clients bring their friends over, wouldn't business be even better?

If a friend of yours is already working there and comes and goes regularly, wouldn't it be easy to get a recommendation letter from them? Wouldn't that just let you slip in?

Zhang Nuo, who had ulterior motives in mind, really pulled out all the stops in the kitchen. In less than twenty minutes, she served up four dishes and a soup.

These days, not only are resources scarce, but cooking skills are limited to stewing and grilling. Therefore, when Zhang Nuo presented a dish seasoned with a flavorful broth and skillfully stir-fried, it was immediately impressive in terms of appearance and aroma, even before the taste was considered.

The middle-aged man looked at the dish in front of him. Although it was served in an ordinary porcelain bowl, the aroma wafting from it made his mouth water, thoroughly awakening his appetite.

He didn't say a word, picked up his chopsticks and tasted one by one. The more he ate, the brighter his eyes became. After taking a sip of the small wine that Zhang Nuo poured him with a smile, he was completely delighted.

"Shopkeeper, your craft is exceptional! I may not have eaten at every tavern in Chang'an City, but I've certainly been to most of them. This is the first time I've tasted something like this. Looks like you deserve a generous reward today!"

Zhang Nuo laughed when he heard this, joking that anyone who could run a restaurant for years in their past life must have some skills.

But seeing the guest finish speaking, he only busied himself with eating, and Zhang Nuo didn't feel comfortable interrupting.

Just happened to have some myself, I'm going to the kitchen to cook myself something.

Before he could even step into the kitchen, the guest called out to him.

"Shopkeeper, I see that you haven't had your lunch yet. Why don't you join me for a meal? It's rather dull to eat and drink alone. Let's chat while we eat and pass the time."

Zhang Nuo didn't have the slightest bit of embarrassment. She had accompanied guests to meals countless times in her past life. She took a pair of clean chopsticks and sat across from the guest, nonchalantly grabbing a few mouthfuls of food before opening her mouth to ask:

What is your name?

The middle-aged guest was pouring wine, but upon hearing this, his hand paused momentarily before he naturally picked up the wine jug again and continued pouring. He smoothly replied,

"Just the shopkeeper, Lao Li is fine. I'm also a businessman, and business has been bad these past few months. I was feeling quite down, so I went for a walk to clear my head. Unexpectedly, I discovered this dish that I've never had before. In the future, I must come here more often to try it!"

Zhang Nuo smiled and nodded, pouring himself a cup of wine as well. He raised his glass to signal Lao Li and then downed it in one gulp, smacking his lips before replying.

"Sigh, business hasn't been good these past few months. But seeing as the Tang Emperor has abdicated and the sage ascends the throne, Lao Li, you still need to keep your heart at ease. It seems like better days are just around the corner!"

Old Li's eyes flashed, then he smiled and said,

“It seems the shopkeeper is optimistic about the current emperor. We hope so too. After all these years of turmoil, it's time for peace and prosperity!”

Zhang nodded naturally, even though he wasn't particularly strong in history from his past life, he still knew about the prosperous reign of Zhenguan. Even a millennium later, the splendor of the Tang Dynasty was praised by posterity, so it couldn't be a joke, could it?

Old Li saw that Zhang Nuo didn't say much, and he also knew that it was his first meeting and talking about the royal family was a bit presumptuous. So he changed the subject and talked about the customs of Chang'an City and his own experiences traveling all over the place.

Although Zhang Nuo is not yet twenty years old, she has seen all kinds of jokes and unheard-of trivia from her past life. She chats with Lao Li, and their conversation is lively and engaging.

The two of them exchanged cups and drank, eating and drinking as they went. It wasn't until half a hour later that the meal finally came to an end.

Old Li reluctantly took out two coins from his money pouch and placed them on the table. He clasped his hands together and bid farewell, saying that he would definitely come back soon to try Zhang Nuo's culinary skills again.

Zhang Nuo naturally nodded in agreement, but inwardly she sighed, "After all, they are a wealthy family. This casual toss is worth what an ordinary household might spend in a couple of months."

Old Li stepped out the door, and right after that, he got into an unmarked carriage.

Lao Li, who was leaning against his seat, no longer had the easygoing smile he had in the tavern just moments ago. His face was as dark as water, and his eyes held a spark of electricity as he spoke in a low, heavy voice,

"Return to the palace!"

The driver up front, even through the curtain, answered earnestly and respectfully,

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Old Li, or Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, was leaning in the swaying carriage, pondering Zhang Nuo's assessment of him today. As he reminisced about the wine and food, he suddenly felt that perhaps this unassuming tavern was worth visiting several more times!

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