Chapter 150: A Failed Secret Signal

As dusk settled over the town, the streets gradually came alive with activity.

Shiwei Restaurant hadn’t always been this busy at night, but ever since Bai Tian joined and Jiang Dai began his storytelling sessions, the place had been drawing quite a crowd in the evenings.

Most people came just to listen to the stories, spending only a few coins. But thanks to Bai Tian’s clever planning and arrangements, the restaurant had managed to turn even that into a profitable venture.

Front-row seats were the hardest to get. Some were reserved for Shiwei Restaurant members, while others were distributed through a ticket-drawing system. For every hundred coins spent, customers could draw once, with a high chance of winning a storytelling ticket.

After setting aside the front-row seats for members and ticket winners, the remaining few were sold directly. They weren’t expensive either—just five coins more than the middle seats, and they came with exclusive tea service.

The only issue was that there were very few front-row seats left each day.

Mu Hu was seeing this kind of setup for the first time and found it fascinating.

He couldn’t believe that even a place like Taoyuan County could attract so many people with such a system. If this were in a city like Jingcheng, wouldn’t they be making a fortune?

He wasn’t a businessman, but he knew that the nobles and officials in Jingcheng were generous spenders, especially when it came to things that showcased their status.

“Sir, please take a look at our house’s special—”

Mu Hu pulled out a drawing and gave the waiter a meaningful glance, signaling him to take a look and hoping he’d recognize the code and respond accordingly.

The waiter glanced down at the paper, then looked up, confused.

Waiter: Huh?

Why’s this guy staring at me like that?

And what’s with the sneaky behavior, trying to show me a completely ordinary piece of paper?

Is he crazy or something? Trying to act like a lunatic to get a free meal?

Fortunately, the waiter was sharp and quickly asked, “Sir, what’s this supposed to be?”

Mu Hu: What?

You don’t get it?

That can’t be right!

“Where’s your shopkeeper? I need to speak with him.”

Mu Hu decided to go straight to someone in charge. Maybe this waiter was new and didn’t know about the code on the drawing, but surely the shopkeeper would.

Though still confused, the waiter followed the principle of good service and went to fetch the shopkeeper.

Shopkeeper Liang arrived soon after. He looked at the drawing and was just as puzzled at first.

But then something clicked.

He turned to the waiter beside him and asked, “Didn’t Old Yang mention that Yunxing lost a drawing? Said it had a little knife on it, with some kind of flower?”

“Yeah, yeah, I remember that!”

Mu Hu glanced down at the drawing in his hand and listened to their conversation, growing increasingly skeptical.

Still, this was the only lead he had.

Mu Hu asked, “Where is the person who lost the drawing? I don’t want to give it to the wrong person.”

Someone else called out to Shopkeeper Liang from not far away. He turned and said, “Xiao Mu, tell him where the Bai Family is. Let him take it to Yunxing.”

“Got it.”

The staff at Shiwei Restaurant had nothing but goodwill toward the Bai Family.

Especially Yunxing, that likable little boy who sometimes lent a hand around the place. If they could help, they would.

Mu Hu thanked the waiter after getting the directions and left immediately.

Not far from the restaurant, two figures exchanged a glance, then quietly followed him, one after the other.

Bei Lanfeng’s eyes landed on the Shiwei Restaurant signboard.

“Shiwei Restaurant again. Took down Zhenxiu Restaurant, and now they’re tangled up with the Mu Family Army. This place really is…”

He trailed off, shaking his folding fan as he stepped inside Shiwei Restaurant.

He was determined to see for himself what was so special about this place.