Chapter 34: The Switch

After nearly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Han Yu walked out of the teahouse with a smile on his face, his heart racing with excitement. Returning to the Jun You Lai restaurant, he composed himself before heading back to the kitchen as if nothing had happened.

"Where have you been, Xiao Yu? You were gone for a whole hour!" Tang Wu frowned, his tone stern.

Business at Jun You Lai was booming; customers poured in like a flowing stream, one group after another. He and his master were so busy they barely had a moment to catch their breath, yet Han Yu had been so leisurely. Even the usually composed Tang Wu was starting to feel annoyed.

"Alright, alright, stop nagging! Didn't I just get back? Besides, do I need to report to you every time I go somewhere? Who do you think you are?" Han Yu retorted, his face full of impatience and his voice dripping with irritation.

"You!" Tang Wu started to speak, but Han Yu, unwilling to engage any further, let out a cold snort and went about his tasks.

"This kid, he’s getting more and more out of line," Tang Wu muttered, shaking his head in frustration.

"Twenty more servings of lamb skewers!" Lin Gui’s booming voice suddenly echoed from the front.

"Coming right up!" Tang Wu responded quickly, setting aside his frustration with Han Yu to dive back into the frantic pace of work.

Time flew by, and soon it was evening. The golden glow of the setting sun spilled across the streets, casting a sense of twilight over the ancient city. Diners arrived in groups of two or three, entering Jun You Lai to drink strong spirits, feast on skewers, and discuss the political situation at court—perhaps this was the true essence of life among the common folk.

Shen Xuan stepped out of his room. Seeing the thriving scene at Jun You Lai, he smiled with genuine satisfaction. With Master Chen having joined the staff, Shen Xuan no longer needed to spend his entire day in the kitchen, allowing him time to focus on his own affairs.

In his hand, Shen Xuan held a porcelain bowl from which steam rose—it was a bowl of vegetable porridge. This was something he had been perfecting over the past two days, his "secret weapon" to help him leave the capital sooner.

"Han Yu? What is that kid sneaking around for?"

As Shen Xuan reached the lower floor, intending to find Master Chen, he spotted Han Yu skulking about, clearly up to something. Shen Xuan’s brows furrowed, and driven by curiosity, he followed silently.

***

"Heh, perfect opportunity," Han Yu thought. Slipping into the kitchen, he saw that his master and Tang Wu were too busy to pay him any mind. His eyes lit up, and a cold smirk played on his lips.

Approaching a bowl of freshly prepared rice porridge, he glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then carefully took a packet of powder from his robes and quickly emptied it into the bowl.

"Once this is done, five hundred taels of silver will be mine!" He grabbed a pair of chopsticks, stirred the porridge a few times, and whispered with a thrill of excitement.

"Oh? Five hundred taels? That is quite a generous sum, isn't it?"

Shen Xuan, hidden in a blind spot, had heard every word clearly with the aid of his Tianyan Technique. His eyes turned cold, and he was about to step out and stop him, but his gaze fell upon the porcelain bowl in his own hand. A thought crossed his mind, and a faint smile touched his lips.

Inside the kitchen, Han Yu looked at the porridge, which appeared unchanged, and smirked with satisfaction. Ensuring he hadn't been noticed, he slipped out of the kitchen and began acting as if he were busy serving customers in the front hall.

Watching Han Yu’s retreating back, Shen Xuan emerged from the shadows. He walked over to the tampered bowl, picked it up without hesitation, and swapped it with the bowl of vegetable porridge he had been carrying. With that done, he vanished just as quietly.

"Xiao Yu!" Master Chen, wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve, glanced back and noticed a bowl of porridge left on the counter. He shook his head and called out.

"Master, did you call me?" Han Yu trotted over, eager to please.

"Take this porridge to the customers. Remember, it’s for table five. Don't mix it up," Master Chen instructed, pointing to the bowl.

"Got it! I’m on it," Han Yu said with a cheerful smile, a flicker of mockery hidden in his eyes.

Without a second glance, he picked up the bowl and headed out. Just as he was about to deliver it, a gentle voice sounded from behind him.

"Working hard, Xiao Yu?"

Han Yu froze. He turned around stiffly to find Shen Xuan standing there. Feeling a sudden pang of nervousness, he stuttered, "Proprietor, greetings, Proprietor!"

"No need for formalities. Which table is this porridge for?" Shen Xuan asked casually, his expression perfectly calm.

"It’s for table five," Han Yu said, keeping his head down, afraid to meet Shen Xuan’s eyes.

"Very well, I’ll deliver this bowl myself. It’s busy right now; you should go back and assist your master." Shen Xuan nodded and reached out to take the bowl.

"No, that won't do! Let me handle it, Proprietor," Han Yu said, his body trembling slightly, his voice stuttering.

"It’s a small matter! It’s just a bowl of porridge. Listen to me and go back," Shen Xuan said dismissively.

"But..." Han Yu hesitated, fearing that Shen Xuan had somehow realized the truth.

"What? You won't even listen to me? Who is the boss here, you or me?" Shen Xuan’s face hardened, his tone becoming severe.

"Yes! I understand," Han Yu replied, a bead of cold sweat running down his forehead. He had no choice but to comply.

"Go on back." Shen Xuan patted Han Yu’s shoulder and walked away with the bowl.

Watching Shen Xuan walk off, Han Yu felt his heart hammering against his ribs. When he saw Shen Xuan arrive at the table and deliver the bowl without any further action, he finally let out a long breath.

"Good thing I wasn't caught," he thought, feeling relieved. It seemed Shen Xuan hadn't noticed anything; he had been overthinking it. Wiping the sweat from his brow, a mocking sneer returned to his face. "Hmph! This Shen Xuan is nothing special. Even without me, this restaurant would go bankrupt sooner or later. It’s better that it falls into my hands."

"Xiao Yu! What are you doing staring at the door? Come and help!" Master Chen’s roar suddenly erupted from behind him.

"Coming! I'm coming!" Han Yu’s expression stiffened, and he hurried back into the kitchen.