Chapter 39: Experience Preferred

"To celebrate the successful completion of the system—er, no—to celebrate the selection of the distillery site, today, the Grandson-Heir will show you all what true fine liquor is!"

Zhu Xiongying pulled a small flask of liquor from his robes as if performing a magic trick. This was the remaining half-flask left over from what Shunzi had served the officials the night before, which he had tucked away into his system's inventory. He then had Fang Wan'er fetch hot water and produced instant noodles from the same inventory.

A dozen or so people stared in disbelief as the little boy, not even as tall as a table, pulled a stack of strange items from his robes one by one. Everyone was dumbfounded. When he arrived, the Grandson-Heir hadn't been carrying anything. How could he possibly produce so much all at once? They dared not ask, only gulping hard to suppress their shock.

Fang Wan'er was quick; she returned in no time with a pot of boiling water. Seeing the items that had suddenly appeared on the table, she too froze for a moment.

Zhu Xiongying, unhurried, took a cup of instant noodles with his chubby little hands, tore open the packaging, and poured the various flavor packets onto the noodle block. He poured the boiling water evenly over them, and a tempting aroma instantly filled the entire restaurant.

"My goodness! Your Highness, what is this? The fragrance is so rich!" As the scent wafted out, Xu Huizu’s face immediately turned one of pure enjoyment, and he leaned toward the noodles involuntarily.

"Your Highness, I’ve been in the restaurant business my whole life, yet I’ve never smelled such a seductive aroma. May I ask what this is?" Fang De inquired with curiosity.

"This is called instant noodles! It is easy to carry and store, and it tastes quite good," Zhu Xiongying explained simply.

Although they didn't understand the term, the men nodded along. Imitating him, they placed the seasoning packets on the noodle blocks and poured in the boiling water. The fragrance in the room grew even more intense. While they waited, Zhu Xiongying poured a cup of liquor for everyone.

"Your Highness, is this... liquor?" Xu Huizu asked, skeptical.

"Try it!" Zhu Xiongying offered no further explanation.

"Try it I shall!" Xu Huizu tilted his head back and downed the cup of potent spirit in one go. "Pfft—"

In the next second, just like Zhu Di, he sprayed it right out.

"Tsk, tsk! What a waste!" The little boy shook his head in pity. He opened his own prepared noodles, sipped his liquor, and ate a mouthful of noodles, looking completely at ease.

The others followed his lead and took a small sip. Suddenly, a new world opened up to them.

"Your Highness! This liquor is unparalleled!"

"I guarantee, this is the strongest, purest liquor I have tasted in twenty years!"

"No wonder Your Highness said we should open a distillery! A liquor like this is absolutely incomparable to the Lin Family Distillery!"

After tasting it, everyone gave a thumbs-up. Only then did they realize why the Grandson-Heir wanted to open a distillery and challenge the Lin family.

"This instant noodle taste is also extraordinary!"

"Indeed! I dare say, even if one opened a restaurant selling only these noodles, it would be a sensation in Yingtian Prefecture!"

"Your Highness, we were blind before! We brothers are convinced!" The Xu brothers gave him a thumbs-up while eating their noodles.

"You two go and post a notice later. We are hiring for the distillery at one tael of silver per month," Zhu Xiongying ordered.

"Understood!"

"Wait—what? One tael of silver?" The brothers were eating so happily they almost didn't react.

"Your Highness, workers in the market only get three hundred wen per month. Why pay a whole tael?" Xu Yingxu, thinking the Grandson-Heir was unfamiliar with market rates, cautioned him.

"Those who work at the distillery must sign a confidentiality agreement. The brewing methods must not be leaked! If they are leaked, they must pay a heavy penalty."

The process of making distilled liquor wasn't actually difficult; anyone with intent could learn it after a while. However, Zhu Xiongying planned to implement a factory assembly line. Whoever was responsible for a specific part would only work on that part. The most critical tasks would be reserved for the most trusted people. This way, the method for making the strong liquor would not be leaked for a long time.

"It is their duty not to leak the workshop's secrets; there is no need to pay such high wages," Xu Huizu said. A cup of instant noodles and a hundred taels of silver had completely bought his loyalty, and he had already begun to save money for the little boy.

"Do as I say!" Zhu Xiongying didn't want to explain too much, and he added one last rule, "For those with experience, the salary is doubled!"

...

With matters arranged, Zhu Xiongying returned to the palace in high spirits. The Xu brothers wrote a recruitment notice and returned to their estate. Their father, in a great mood, was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea and basking in the sun. Seeing them return, he quickly asked, "How did it go today?"

"It was alright!" Xu Huizu feigned indifference, slapping the banknotes in his pocket onto the stone table in the courtyard.

"The Grandson-Heir isn't much! Just a flask of liquor and a bowl of instant noodles, that's all!" Xu Yingxu also began to brag about their lunch. He figured his father had likely never seen either of these things before.

Xu Da glanced at the amount on the banknotes and immediately snatched them up. "One hundred taels? Did the Grandson-Heir give you this?"

"That's right! His Highness said this was our salary for two months. If we do well, he'll give us a raise!"

Hearing his son's words, Xu Da’s eyes lit up. "He can give raises?"

"Yes! His Highness said if we don't want to do it, we can go home in two months and join you on the battlefield!"

"Forget that!" Xu Da immediately vetoed the idea. "Going to the battlefield to risk one's life is only to get promoted! And promotion is only to get rich! Now that your salaries are higher than your father's, why go to the battlefield? As long as you follow the Grandson-Heir, you will never lack money in the future!"

"Is that so?" Xu Huizu curled his lip.

"You two brats know nothing! I don't even need to mention the benefits after the Grandson-Heir ascends to the throne; his business acumen alone is beyond that of ordinary men!" Xu Da lowered his voice and told his two sons, "A few days ago, the Grandson-Heir advised me, Lan Yu, and others to buy up inland salt mines. In just a few days, the imperial court issued an order prohibiting private trade of inland salt mines! The price has already doubled! If I'm not mistaken, it will only continue to climb!"

"Oh?" The brothers looked at each other.

"So, that means besides our salary, staying by the Grandson-Heir's side gives us opportunities to discover ways to make money?"

"That goes without saying! Otherwise, do you think your father is a fool, sending you to the Grandson-Heir's side for no reason? This is to ensure your lifelong prosperity!" Xu Da gave them a knowing look.