Chapter 73: The Western European Deal Proposal

“I heard the princess has opened a tavern named Journey to the West, specializing in a kind of barley beer that's incredibly refreshing. And that’s not all—the name Journey to the West comes from the story told at the tavern, where all the storytellers narrate tales from that classic. Every child in the street now knows about a monkey called Sun Wukong…”

“I know, I know! That monkey is amazing. They say he sprang out from a stone, sought out immortals, mastered seventy-two transformations. Isn’t that incredible? He can even summon the Cloud Somersault, crossing thirty-six thousand miles in a single leap!”

“Then you haven’t heard the whole story. According to the storyteller, that monkey caused chaos in the Underworld, rewrote the Book of Life and Death, went to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace and took the Ruyi Jingu Bang, and later smashed the Jade Emperor’s Hall of Miraculous Mist. In the end, it was the Buddha who suppressed him beneath Five Elements Mountain!”

“And there’s more! He broke the Supreme Lord Lao’s alchemy furnace and gained fiery golden eyes!”

“Heh, I just wish I knew what happened next. They say the storyteller mentioned that Monk Tang had just removed Buddha’s seal. Right now, the Journey to the West tavern’s storyteller is telling the latest episode. Let’s go listen—it’s surely better than standing around here!”

The one inciting them was none other than a troublemaker. In this way, he openly poached customers from the proprietor at Maimaiti’s tavern. With such encouragement, it didn’t take long for most of the patrons to leave.

As the tavern owner, Maimaiti understood perfectly well that even if he tried to stop this agitator, it wouldn’t be long before all his customers vanished anyway.

The princess—Protector of the Nation, whose reputation lately had been battered by rumors and slander—how could things have come to this? What will happen to my tavern, now that business is being snatched away?

Now, with someone blatantly stealing his clientele, Maimaiti found himself helpless.

Stir-fried dishes, barley beer, stories—these novel ideas had never been heard of in the Tang capital in his two decades there. Though disheartened, he realized the princess who had visited his tavern previously was no ordinary woman. These three things could only be found at the Princess’s tavern.

Thinking it over, Maimaiti sighed.

A sudden inspiration struck him, sending a chill down his spine. He drew a deep breath. She’d planned this all along—her visit to his tavern was likely just reconnaissance for opening her own. Shrewd, truly shrewd—unlike someone who merely sought empty fame.

Maimaiti removed his turban, put on the Tang-style headgear, and made a few adjustments to his attire, transforming himself into a native-born Tang merchant.

He made his way toward the Journey to the West tavern in the West Market. From afar, he could see crowds of adults, children, and elders gathered around the storyteller. But the man on stage was unfamiliar—a new face, not the skilled performer he’d seen before.

He hadn’t even reached the tavern’s entrance when he spotted the long queue; the line of customers formed a veritable dragon. They listened to stories as they waited, cheering excitedly at the best moments. Maimaiti realized he’d underestimated this business model—at this rate, the entire food and drink trade of Chang’an could be monopolized by the Princess’s establishment.

If the customers were monopolized, it meant no income for the other taverns. Without income, staff would quit, the taverns would close, and there’d be no travel fare to return home—unemployment was sure to follow, with who knows what further misfortune.

Halfway through his bleak thoughts, Maimaiti felt a weight on his shoulder and a voice behind him; his disguise hadn’t escaped sharp eyes.

Soon, he found himself in a carriage. Half an hour later, they arrived at the Journey to the West tavern in the East Market, where he finally met the princess, whose reputation was less than stellar.

“Maimaiti Zhang Gui, we meet again,” Wu Yueling teased, mimicking his accent from their last encounter as she shuffled her script and smiled.

“Maimaiti greets Your Highness. I never imagined it was a troublemaker behind this. Did Your Highness know I’d come?” Though Maimaiti had been prepared, he was still surprised.

Wu Yueling hadn’t expected this foreign merchant to be the first to act. “I didn’t know it would be you, but it just proves your shrewdness, Maimaiti Zhang Gui.”

“Actually, I think Your Highness’s strategy of drawing customers en masse and causing their loss from other taverns and markets is really meant to invite us merchants to share in the profits. Am I right?” Maimaiti didn’t hide his thoughts, getting straight to the point.

Wu Yueling smiled. No wonder this man had kept a tavern running in the West Market for over a decade. “I haven’t even sent out an explicit signal, and you already sense the wind’s direction. Truly, you are sharp, Maimaiti.”

“Thank you for your praise, Princess. But I wonder, if I obtain these novelties from Your Highness, how would the profits be divided? Your new inventions aren’t simple—take stir-fried dishes, for example. My cooks are completely baffled. And as for barley beer, we’d never even heard of it before. I even sent my staff to try it; it’s incredibly smooth, completely different from the usual rice wine or grape wine. How is it made? Is it just barley?”

“Ha, you’re quite the conversationalist, Maimaiti.” Wu Yueling was amused by his tactful compliments, but she had no intention of revealing her secrets. Instead, she piqued his curiosity further. “Besides barley beer, there’s also a strong spirit. Drink three bowls and a man will drop to the floor—no blood, but no one can handle more. Do you believe it?”

“What kind of wine is that?” Maimaiti’s eyes gleamed with interest, his resolve to cooperate only strengthening.

Wu Yueling wagged a finger, indicating it was a secret.

Thwarted at his weak spot, Maimaiti could only change the subject. “I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to let me collaborate with you on stir-fried dishes and barley beer in my tavern?”

“Of course—you’ll invest, and then we’ll form a company!” Wu Yueling nodded to Wan’er, who brought out a contract for Maimaiti to review.

Moments later, Maimaiti’s astonished voice rang out.

“Xi Yi Ou? I’m to be Xi Yi Ou? Journey to the West Company? A merger? The Princess’s household provides technology, my tavern provides assets?” His blue eyes widened as he looked at the princess, utterly bewildered. He understood the final term, however—a fifty-fifty split of operating profits was required to gain the right to sell barley beer and stir-fried dishes.

Seeing his confusion, Wu Yueling spent over an hour explaining everything: she would be the company’s majority shareholder, all business would be tied to the Princess’s household, and as a technology partner, she would own the company; his tavern would belong both to the Princess and himself.

Maimaiti hesitated at first, but this sense of both owning his tavern and not owning it didn’t seem so bad. The Princess’s reputation notwithstanding, with her as a backer and these innovative products in hand, his tavern would soon become the West Market’s second Journey to the West tavern.

He agreed, signed the contract, and the Journey to the West Company was born. Now aligned with the Princess’s household, Maimaiti’s worries vanished, replaced by a broad smile. Back at his tavern, he summoned Po Po Ti and Ajia Ti to share news of the Princess’s latest inventions: white cane sugar, milk candy, toothpaste, and toothbrushes—all of which could be included in the company.

Yet he did not know that Wu Yueling harbored little goodwill toward Po Po Ti, who was involved in the trafficking business. Since they were now partners, eventual annexation was likely.

As the heavy snow melted, Sun Ruowen continued to practice medicine in the West Market, though fewer patients came these days, likely due to the cold.

Just as the famed physician was about to close up, Yu Chao’en from the Princess’s household arrived. After a respectful greeting, Sun Ruowen, his son Sun Yimin, and a burly companion followed Yu Chao’en to a carriage heading for the East Market.

On the way, Yu Chao’en explained the Princess’s wish for Sun Ruowen to teach medicine—hoping more people could inherit his skills and help save those suffering in dire straits.

Deeply moved by these words, Sun Ruowen pledged to heed the Princess’s wishes.