Recipe drafts were spread across the entire table.
Feng Zeyuan tapped her fingertip on the final sheet.
“Do it exactly like this.”
She slapped the table lightly, and the teacup bounced three times.
Qiao Da and Qiao Er exchanged a glance, their eyes burning with excitement.
On the cover of the booklet were written four bold words:
“One Hundred and Eight Ways to Eat Potatoes.”
“Shredded spicy-sour potatoes, wolf-teeth potatoes, French fries…”
Feng Zeyuan rattled off more than ten dish names in one breath.
【System, if these dishes actually come out, this Potato Pavilion won’t fail to explode in popularity.】
【Host, are you promoting potatoes—or just wanting to eat them?】
【…Those two goals aren’t mutually exclusive.】
Qiao Da flipped open the booklet, eyes widening.
“Your Highness… t-this… all of these can be eaten?”
Qiao Er leaned in too, his throat bobbing.
“One hundred and eight kinds? You can really make so many dishes from potatoes?”
Feng Zeyuan pulled out a stack of silver notes from her sleeve and pushed them forward.
“This is the startup capital.”
“For renovation, supplies, and hiring people—you handle it all.”
“The shop will be called Potato Pavilion. Simple, memorable, and you instantly know what it sells.”
Qiao Da’s hand shook as he took the silver notes.
“Your Highness… j-just how much is this?!”
“Take it.”
Feng Zeyuan’s tone left no room for refusal.
“This is a business, not a reward.”
“I provide the money and recipes, you provide labor and manpower. We split the profits as agreed.”
“Clear accounts between even brothers—only then can it last.”
The Qiao brothers exchanged a look and bowed together.
“Thank you for your trust, Your Highness!”
Qiao Er’s eyes were slightly red.
“We will not fail your expectations!”
Feng Zeyuan waved her hand.
“Cut the sentimental talk. Just do your job properly.”
“Oh right, go to Yanmen Pass and bring a few experienced people over.”
“If we want this to scale up, the two of you alone won’t be enough.”
Qiao Da nodded immediately.
“Rest assured, Your Highness. I’ll send a letter back at once.”
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
【System, how’s the renovation going?】
【Host, the Qiao brothers did well. The shop can open today!】
【Perfect—my French fries are finally about to debut!】
Zhuque Street
Outside the Potato Pavilion, several large oil pots had been set up.
Hot oil boiled and roared, making a constant “sizzle—sizzle—” sound.
A completely unfamiliar aroma drifted into the air.
Rich, savory, and fatty.
People passing by couldn’t help but stop, sniffing hard.
Several burly men used long ladles to scoop things out of the oil.
Golden. Long. Glowing with oil.
The crowd stretched their necks.
“What is that thing?”
“Don’t know… but it smells amazing!”
On a temporary stage nearby—
Qiao Da sat cross-legged, plucking the strings of a zither.
As soon as the music began, pedestrians stopped involuntarily.
“Beautiful sound!”
“Who is that young man?”
“He looks incredibly handsome!”
Qiao Er drew his sword, forming a brilliant arc of light.
His movements were like a soaring dragon.
Applause broke out everywhere.
One played the zither, one performed sword dance.
No shouting was needed—the entire street was already drawn in.
Across the street, on the second floor of a teahouse—
Feng Zeyuan pushed open the window and leaned out to look down.
【System, look at this setup! The Qiao brothers are born for marketing!】
【My renovation money wasn’t wasted!】
The system chuckled.
【Host, are you admiring the shop—or admiring their faces?】
【Look at all those young girls downstairs, their eyes are glued to them.】
Feng Zeyuan rolled her eyes.
【I call that appreciating beauty. Got a problem?】
The aroma grew stronger and stronger.
People’s stomachs began to rumble.
Someone finally stepped forward.
“What are you selling?”
“Potatoes.” The shop assistant smiled.
“Potatoes?”
The man scratched his head.
“Never heard of it.”
Another pointed at the raw potatoes on the counter, full of doubt.
Round. Mud-covered.
“Aren’t these just dirt balls?”
“Can they even be eaten?”
The clerk smiled.
“You may not know this, but potatoes are amazing.”
“Three thousand jin per mu. Filling and satisfying!”
“What?! Three thousand jin?”
The crowd erupted.
“You’re lying!”
“There’s no crop that produces that much!”
The clerk wasn’t annoyed.
“Believe it or not—why not try it first?”
“I’ll buy one portion!”
A young man tossed down copper coins.
“It’s only five wen anyway. Can’t lose much.”
“I want one too!”
“Me too!”
Soon, a queue began to form.
Just then—
Two carriages stopped at the entrance.
Luxurious carvings. Gold accents.
Clearly not ordinary people.
The curtain lifted, and a young woman in fine robes stepped out.
Princess Xiao Mingyue stepped down first, lifting her skirt.
Her maidservants hurried after her.
Her voice rang out loudly enough to shake the street:
“Shopkeeper!”
“Bring me one of everything on the menu!”
“Hurry up! I can’t wait!”
“It-it’s the princess!”
“The Third Princess is here!”
The crowd quickly stepped back to bow, though their eyes still stole glances.
Then came the Grand Princess Xiao Mingxi.
She held a folding fan, walking with calm elegance.
The crowd automatically parted.
“Both princesses are here!”
“This Potato Pavilion is definitely going to blow up!”
Feng Zeyuan watched them and curled her lips.
【My hired ‘plants’ finally arrived.】
【System, princess endorsement really hits different.】
【Host, your marketing is insane.】
Princess Xiao Mingyue sat down at the most eye-catching table.
The maids quickly arranged chairs and cleaned the space for Xiao Mingxi.
She sat gracefully, scanning the shop.
Simple, clean, and well-organized.
Paintings on the walls showed different potato dishes.
She nodded slightly, satisfied.
Soon, the first dish arrived.
Golden sticks placed in a woven basket.
Beside it was a small dish of bright red sauce.
Under everyone’s gaze, Xiao Mingyue picked up a fry.
Dipped it in the sauce.
And put it into her mouth.
“Crunch—”
A crisp sound.
The crowd swallowed hard.
Xiao Mingyue narrowed her eyes, cheeks moving.
“Mmm—!”
“Delicious! So delicious!”
Her voice rose, echoing down the entire street.
“It’s crispy on the outside, soft on the inside!”
“And this red sauce—it’s sweet and tangy, amazing!”
Xiao Mingxi also picked up a fry and ate it.
Her hand paused slightly.
Her eyes lit up.
Then she continued eating elegantly.
Though she said nothing, her expression said everything.
The crowd exchanged looks.
“The princess is eating it?”
“Looks like it’s really good!”
“Five wen… no loss even if it’s a scam, I’m trying it!”
Feng Zeyuan’s mouth twitched.
【This doesn’t look like happiness… it looks like starving ghosts reincarnated.】
【Host, the two princesses came here on an empty stomach just to support you.】
【So loyal!】
【We should thank them properly later.】
More dishes arrived one after another.
Spicy-sour shredded potatoes—bright, tangy, refreshing.
Wolf-teeth potatoes—crispy outside, tender inside, sprinkled with chili and cumin, irresistibly fragrant.
Mashed potato salad—smooth and creamy, mixed with cucumber and minced meat, fresh and light.
Xiao Mingyue ate so fast her royal dignity completely disappeared.
Fry after fry. Spoon after spoon.
Even roasted potatoes—gone in seconds.
Xiao Mingxi maintained her elegance, but her pace was not slow either.
Plate after plate emptied quickly.
Discussion
Comments
0 comments so far.
Sign in to join the conversation and keep your activity tied to this account.
No comments yet. Start the conversation.