Persimmons are poisonous.

Chapter 52 The Tavern Burns, Making a Fortune

You have provided great help to the military with this gunpowder. Since you have made such a great contribution, yet are unwilling to enter officialdom, what is it that you desire? Speak.

Li Er stared at Fang Er and asked.

Replying to Your Majesty, this humble subject’s family has enough to eat and wear. I have recently opened a restaurant, and I have no shortage of money. I truly don’t know what would be suitable to ask for.

Fang Er spread his hands in resignation.

An official position? How high an official position could they give?

A high-ranking position was impossible, as he was only in his teens!

Moreover, gunpowder alone wouldn’t be enough to command respect.

If given a minor official post, wouldn’t that just mean being bossed around and running in circles?

Wasn’t it more comfortable to stay at home, walking dogs, riding horses, and teasing maids?

Li Er rubbed his temples, truly unable to think of a good way to reward Fang Er.

Changsun Wuji watched Li Er’s expression from the side and knew what was happening. His eyes darted, and he stepped forward, saying, May I ask where young Fang’s home is, and who else resides there?

This official, this humble subject currently resides in Majiazhuang, Yunmen Township, Wannian County. My parents are no longer alive, and it is only this humble subject who lives with some servants. Fang Er, not knowing why he was being asked, answered directly without reservation.

Your Majesty, since young Fang is unwilling to be an official and has no shortage of wealth, why not grant him a nominal official title? With future contributions, there would be a basis for promotion, and this would be considered honoring one’s ancestors. What is Your Majesty’s opinion?

After hearing Fang Er’s words, Changsun Wuji offered his suggestion to Li Er.

Hm? Good! Let it be so. Fang Er, accept the decree.

Li Er stood up and pointed at Fang Er.

Fang Er truly did not wish to kneel, but with Li Er personally issuing a decree, he couldn’t just stand there defiantly. Thus, he simply knelt and sat on the ground, his buttocks resting on his calves. Well, kneeling in a sitting posture wasn’t truly kneeling, Fang Er told himself.

Li Er glanced at his posture and did not blame him. He placed his hands behind his back, thought for a moment, and then said, Fang Er has made a contribution by offering the formula. I hereby confer upon you the title of Ren Yong Xiaowei, reward you with a hundred taels of silver, and bestow upon you ten bolts of brocade. Furthermore, since your parents have passed away, I shall also grant you a courtesy name. From now on, you shall be known as Fang Anzhi. I hope you will live in peace and safety, and create more things like gunpowder.

Fang Er understood the latter part about the tangible rewards.

He could accept Li Er casually bestowing a courtesy name upon him.

But as for Ren Yong Xiaowei, Fang Er was completely bewildered.

After Li Er finished issuing the decree, seeing Fang Er’s dazed expression, he curiously asked, What, you are not satisfied?

Fang Er said with some awkwardness, Replying to Your Majesty, I don’t understand what this Ren Yong Xiaowei you mentioned is. Could you explain it?

Li Er felt defeated by Fang Er, no, by Fang Anzhi. He gave Cheng Yaojin, who was by his side, a look.

Cheng Yaojin, nicknamed Cheng the Goblin, was crude yet meticulous. He directly pulled Fang Er aside and explained it to him in a low voice.

After the explanation, Fang Er understood. It turned out to be a leisurely official position where one only received a salary and did no actual work. This was good.

So, he knelt and sat on the ground again and said to Li Er, This humble subject, Fang Anzhi, thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!

Alright, Fang Er admitted, he had been influenced by those Qing Dynasty dramas.

However, he truly didn’t know the etiquette in the Tang Dynasty court. Cheng Chumo hadn’t told him anything on the way, so he could only follow the etiquette he’d seen in television shows from his past life.

Li Er wanted to laugh, his mouth twitched, and he said, From now on, you must refer to yourself as 'this subject.' 'Humble subject' no longer applies to you. Alright, you may withdraw. Later, write down the specific preparation method for the gunpowder and the things to be mindful of into a document and hand it over to General Cheng.

Yes, this subject takes his leave.

Fang Er stood up, retreated three steps, and then turned to leave the palace.

Damn it, upon reaching the entrance, Fang Er remembered, this was also from a Qing Dynasty drama!

Cheng Chumo had been waiting at the palace gate. With their official ranks, they were not qualified to participate in such important matters, but he had heard everything inside.

Seeing Fang Er emerge, he quickly stepped forward, saying, Congratulations, Commander Fang!

Yuchi Baolin also stepped forward and said, Congratulations, Commander Fang!

Fang Er’s drunkenness had completely sobered up when the porcelain bottle exploded.

He punched both of them in the chest and said, Let’s go back and keep drinking!

The three of them returned to Zuixian Lou, chatting and laughing all the way, only to be blocked by the crowd in front of the Zuixian Lou.

What in the world is going on?

Excuse me, please let me pass, thank you.

Fang Er tugged at the outermost person in the crowd and said.

Get lost, go away! I’ve been waiting here for a long time, and we’ve only moved this little. You want me to move just like that!

The person shook off Fang Er’s hand and rebuked him angrily.

Fang Er was dejected.

He couldn’t even get into his own establishment?

Fang Er asked someone else for clarification and learned that the restaurant was doing too much business. Everyone outside Zuixian Lou was a servant of wealthy merchants lining up to buy wine and dishes.

He looked at Cheng Chumo and Yuchi Baolin with disbelief and said, Is our restaurant really that popular? It’s only been less than a day, right?

It seems so. Come on, Brother Fang, let’s go in through the back door and take a look.

Cheng Chumo looked at the impassable main entrance of the restaurant and then suggested.

The three of them circled around to the back door and entered the courtyard.

Hurry up, all of you! If you delay the young master’s business, I’ll make you look bad! I’m talking to you! What are you looking at, I’m talking to you, you little rascal! Hurry up and fetch the water. The pot is almost dry! What are you dawdling for!

As soon as they entered, they heard Hua Niang’s loud voice standing at the entrance of the kitchen, shouting at the servants carrying water in the courtyard.

Upon entering the kitchen and looking inside, my goodness! Several kitchen helpers were all bare-chested! The cooks, while busy, were also scolding, This damn business, I’ve lived for decades and never seen such a booming restaurant. I’m exhausted. Everyone, put in more effort. Once we get this wave served, we can also catch our breath!

Let’s go! Let’s go see the front!

Fang Er said to Cheng Chumo and Yuchi Baolin and then walked forward.

Entering the restaurant through the door where meals were served, with a bang, Fang Er felt as if his eardrums were being deafened.

The noisy voices, the crowded people.

Zhu Zi had just delivered a few dishes when they were snatched away by the waiting customers. They were packed into the food containers, a silver ingot was thrown down, and they left.

Brother Fang, could this be considered earning a fortune every day?

Cheng Chumo said, putting his arm around Fang Er’s shoulder.

A fortune? Looking at the situation, is it more than that?

Yuchi Baolin also said.

The private rooms on the second floor were all sold out. There wasn’t even a place to stand in the entire restaurant.

If there was a seat, they sat there to eat, and a group of people were waiting around the table.

I say, Old Master Wang, can you eat any faster? You’re the only one left at this table. Hurry up and finish and get out. I’ve been waiting for nearly half an hour!

Are you a hungry ghost! You won’t die if you wait a little longer. I waited a full hour to get a seat! I have to try all these dishes before I leave. You can just drool there!

Old Master Wang, please, hurry up. My brothers and I are all waiting.

Alright, I’m scared of you all. Damn it, this is the first time I’ve been surrounded by so many people while eating. I’m in no mood anymore. I’m leaving!

As soon as Old Master Wang stood up, the people waiting beside him quickly pulled out chairs and sat down.

Waiter, hurry up and clear the table. It’s empty here!