Chapter Forty-One: Unbearable

“Do I really have to tear up an imperial edict?”
A chill ran down Li Zhi’s spine!
Such an act—he could hardly bear to imagine the consequences…
“No wonder it’s called the Brat System, it’s certainly living up to its name!” After much deliberation, Li Zhi still couldn’t resist the temptation; he was ready to go all in.
“Luo Tong!”
“Present!”
“Starting tomorrow, we’ll stay at the First Tavern. Go pack our things. Don’t tell Father or Mother, nor the Princess—this is a private matter!”
“Is this really wise?” Luo Tong asked, worried. “The Emperor doesn’t object to you leaving the palace, but you’re not attending school, and living outside the palace for long—that can’t be allowed!”
“Enough with the chatter!”
“I have my reasons…!” Li Zhi’s gaze was resolute. “This is something I must do! If you won’t come, I’ll go alone!”
“I’ll go, I’ll go…” Luo Tong hastily replied. “I never said I wouldn’t!”
The next day.
The two of them slipped out of the palace in secret, without letting Li Lizhi know.
Their destination remained the tavern where Cheng Chubi worked.
Luo Tong asked in confusion, “Your Highness, the tavern isn’t far from the palace. If we return in the evening, it would still be in time. Why don’t you want to go back?”
“I just don’t want to!”
Li Zhi had his own plans.
Even though it was close by, he would not return to the palace.
His intentions were clear.
He wanted to force Li Shimin to issue an edict summoning him back. Then, by tearing up the edict, he would complete his mission. As for the consequences, he couldn’t be bothered to think about them for now—he would deal with that after he’d done the deed.
Outside the First Tavern.
There was a clear increase in foot traffic.
Inside, the main hall was packed with patrons.
Luo Tong exclaimed in surprise, “All it took was one night, and the First Tavern is already overflowing? That’s unbelievable! Does Cheng Chubi’s cooking really attract this many people?”
“It is indeed unexpected!”
Li Zhi was shocked as well.
At this rate,
the First Tavern had a bright future ahead.
“Master, you’ve come! Please, come inside!” Cheng Chubi came out personally to greet them.
“After just one night, the tavern is already taking shape… It seems you truly have a knack for business!”
“You flatter me, Master. It’s mainly because the Tianyi Tavern is closed today, and the aroma of our food carries for miles, attracting customers. Normally, we wouldn’t have so many!”
“Hahaha…”

“At least it’s a good start!”
They entered the tavern.
There wasn’t a single empty table inside; every seat was taken. Outside, people were lined up, clamoring to get in. Anyone who hadn’t seen it with their own eyes would hardly believe it.
“Master, there are private rooms upstairs!”
“Good!”
Upstairs, the situation was much the same.
Everywhere were guests wolfing down their food, praising the dishes of the First Tavern without end.
“Master, I’ve learned all the dishes you taught me: the fish-fragrant greens, the garlic-dressed bloodleaf, and the appetizing pickled beans. The customers are very satisfied. However, there just aren’t enough dishes. If we had a dozen or so more, business would be even better!”
“That’s why I’m here today—to teach you more recipes. Go fetch brush, ink, paper, and inkstone!”
“Yes, Master! Thank you!” Cheng Chubi sent someone to fetch them.
Once everything was set up,
Li Zhi picked up the brush and wrote out detailed recipes for more than a dozen dishes, including ingredients and methods. Frankly speaking, anyone with this cookbook could manage to cook.
Cheng Chubi treasured the recipes as if they were priceless.
“What’s the situation at the Tianyi Tavern?”
“I heard Changsun Chong is now in charge?” Li Zhi asked.
“Yes, he arrived last night. But that fellow is unreliable—by midnight, he was off to the West Market, probably enjoying himself at a brothel by now!”
“Heh heh…” Cheng Chubi grinned. “All the better! While he’s off having fun, I’ll seize the chance to expand our business. Once I’ve lured his customers away, let’s see what he’ll do!”
…
Suddenly, Li Zhi had an idea!
For the tavern to thrive in the long term, it needed a membership system.
Distribute vouchers and gifts.
Maybe even launch a delivery service.
That’s how you build a loyal customer base.
“Chubi, come over here. Let’s discuss the future development of the tavern!” Li Zhi outlined his plan, deciding it would proceed in two phases.
First, implement a membership system, with vouchers and gifts.
Lock in the current customers!
“The membership card must be unique, impossible for customers to counterfeit… but that’s quite tricky,” Li Zhi said.
“Indeed. Whether bamboo slips, silk, or paper—if the card is worth enough, someone will try to forge it. If others use this to eat and drink for free, we’ll be ruined…”
Li Zhi realized,
compared with modern technology,
his ideas, though good, weren’t practical. Many anti-counterfeiting measures simply couldn’t be done.
“You get on with your work. I’ll think some more.”

“Yes!”
Cheng Chubi withdrew.
Luo Tong said, “There is a way. The Ministry of Works’ special paper, printed into books—few in the world could copy it. Why not give it a try?”
“It isn’t safe!”
“No matter how good the paper, it’s not unique. Many officials use it. Unless we coat the surface with a layer of tree resin!” After a long consideration, Li Zhi came up with a half-formed idea.
By coating white paper with resin, others wouldn’t be able to imitate it.
“Tree resin?”
“What’s that?”
Li Zhi didn’t explain. “But just resin isn’t enough… It needs a printed design as well, with a special mark inside. I refuse to believe anyone can forge all that!”
“Oh, and… every membership card must be numbered!”
“Each number should be linked to a member’s information. When a guest uses their card, we check the unique number, not the name, and look up the details to settle the bill!”
…
Muttering to himself, Li Zhi quickly worked out a solution.
Resin, high-quality white paper, printed designs, numbered marks—all very hard to mimic. Even if someone tried, if the numbers didn’t match, it would be clearly fake.
“Luo Tong!”
“Come with me out of the city—I need to find resin!”
“What?” Luo Tong was startled and quickly caught Li Zhi by the arm. “Your Highness, absolutely not! Without soldiers to protect us outside the city, what if something happens? Besides, you can’t get out—the city guards won’t let you pass without an official token!”
“Without a token, it is difficult…”
Li Zhi scratched his head.
Such was the sorrow of princes in ancient times!
Noble in status, but utterly deprived of freedom!
“Never mind… Let’s look around the city. Perhaps we’ll find a cypress tree with resin.” Li Zhi took a sip of tea and hurried from the room.
“Cypress tree?”
“Tree resin?”
“What’s that?” Luo Tong didn’t understand a word.
“You don’t need to know. Just follow my instructions, and soon the membership cards will be ready. The First Tavern will win over a huge clientele and utterly crush the Tianyi Tavern!”
Luo Tong followed after Li Zhi.
The two quickly left the tavern.
But to find a resinous cypress tree in the vast city of Chang’an would be no easy feat. Such trees mostly grew in the north; in the western region of Chang’an, they were rare indeed.