Chapter 185 - 184: Competition

Chapter 185: Chapter 184: Competition

After the agreement was signed and the abandoned restaurant officially changed owners, Luo’s attitude became even more enthusiastic.

He carefully placed the ownership documents into a storage pouch before handing them to Li Jain with both hands.

"Master Li, everything is here. I will contact the renovation teams today. By tomorrow morning at the latest, I can bring them over to inspect the building."

Li Jain accepted the pouch and nodded: "Thank you."

Sun Qiao smiled brightly: "It is my honor."

Li Yujian glanced at the salesperson quietly, he suspected that Sun Qiao was hiding something from them.

Sun Qiao broke into a cold sweat. Although the transaction had already been completed, he still felt that this young master of the Li family was not easy to face. Clearly, the child was so young, yet his eyes made people feel as if any small trick would be seen through immediately.

After leaving the building, Li Jain looked at the sky.

It was already past noon.

Liu Xiong walked beside him and asked: "Where are we going to eat?"

Li Jain thought for a moment, then shook his head: "I’m not sure, let’s ask around."

Sun Qiao immediately stepped forward: "If Master Li wants to eat spiritual food, I can recommend several places."

Li Jain asked: "Which one is considered the best?"

Sun Qiao thought briefly: "If we are speaking of reputation, price, and steady business, then it should be the Golden Spirit Pavilion. Their food is one of the best, the environment is comfortable, and their prices are fair. Many cultivators in District Seven like going there."

Li Yujian’s eyes moved slightly: "Is it close by?"

"Yes, only two streets away." Sun Qiao response

Li Jain nodded and said to the others: "Let’s go there, then."

Sun Qiao quickly offered to lead the way. After making such a big seal, he was willing to do anything at the moment.

Golden Spirit Pavilion was located on a lively street not far from the pill pavilion. Compared with the abandoned restaurant Li Jain had just bought, it was smaller, but the outside looked well maintained. The signboard was carved from golden spirit wood, and two rows of hanging lanterns swayed gently beneath the eaves.

At the entrance, attendants welcomed guests one after another.

"Welcome to Golden Spirit Pavilion." The moment Li Jain entered, he was welcome by a cheerful attendant.

The first floor tables were separated by carved wooden screens, giving each group enough privacy without making the space feel closed off. The second floor had private rooms, and the third floor seemed to be reserved for distinguished guests. The air carried the fragrance of rich spiritual energy and food. The flow of customers was steady, but not chaotic.

Li Jain looked around with interest: "Their arrangement is good."

Sun Qiao smiled: "Golden Spirit Pavilion has been operating in District Seven for many years. Although it is not as famous as the old restaurant from before, their business is very stable."

The attendant led them to a private room on the second floor.

After they sat down, a menu slip was brought over. The menu was written clearly, with the name, ingredients, spiritual effect, and price of each dish listed beside it.

Li Yujian read it carefully and his expression became more thoughtful. The prices were much lower than Spiritual Tavern’s previous dishes.

Several dishes only required medium-grade spirit stones, and even the more expensive meals did not reach an outrageous level. The effects were also written modestly. Some helped replenish spiritual energy, calmed the mind, strengthened the body and so on...

Li Jain ordered several dishes according to Sun Qiao’s recommendation. Soon, the food arrived.

There was steamed cloud rice with herb fragrance, three-color spirit vegetable soup, roasted silver-scale fish, honey-glazed spirit chicken slices, and a pot of clear spiritual tea. The presentation was beautiful, the portions were reasonable, and the fragrance was warm and pleasant.

Li Jain picked up his chopsticks and tasted the soup first. The spiritual energy was gentle.

It was not powerful, but it was stable and easy to absorb. For most cultivators, this type of food would be very suitable. It would not shock the meridians, or be too expensive to eat regularly.

Li Jain nodded: "It is good."

Sun Qiao visibly relaxed: "Master Li has good taste. Golden Spirit Pavilion’s dishes are famous for being gentle and affordable. Many cultivators who cannot spend too much like coming here."

Liu Xiong tasted the roasted fish: "Their prices are really affordable but the taste is just ordinary."

Li Yujian also ate quietly. After trying several dishes, he placed his chopsticks down.

Li Jain noticed and asked: "What is wrong? Is the food not to your liking?"

Li Yujian hesitated for a moment before saying: "Father, although the food here can’t be compared to your dishes, they are not affordable. Their prices are affordable and they have good accommodations. Do you think it’s a good idea to be so close to them?"

Sun Qiao, who was drinking tea nearby, almost choked. He suddenly felt that this was not a conversation he should listen to. What if they decided to move somewhere else? How could he be willing to let go of such a huge sum of money?

No matter how he thought about it, it was unreasonable.

But Li Jain did not seem bothered. He only smiled gently at Li Yujian: "You do not need to worry."

He then continue: "Although both restaurants sell spiritual food, our goals are different, and our customers are also different."

Li Yujian thought about this: "How Different?"

Li Jain picked up a piece of spirit vegetable and placed it in Li Yujian’s bowl.

"Golden Spirit Pavilion’s food is suitable for regular cultivators. Their spiritual energy is gentle, the effect is stable, and the price is something many people can accept. Their goal is daily nourishment." Li Jain continued: "Spiritual Tavern on the other hand is different. Our dishes are mainly to help with breakthroughs. They are specific functions then just daily nourishment. Many dishes are expensive because the effects are stronger and the ingredients are rarer."

Liu Xiong added calmly: "Most people cannot afford to eat at Spiritual Tavern every day. But those who come would be able to afford to eat there."

Li Jain nodded. "Yes. Golden Spirit Pavilion will still have many customers. But people will come to us when they need special dishes. Don’t worry too much, let the customers be the judge of what they want."

Li Yujian slowly understood, right he was thinking too much into it. When they were in Qingyang, this restaurant was still here, yet people were coming from South River City to buy their food.

Li Jain continued seriously: "There are many cultivators in South River City. One tavern cannot serve everyone. Also, if too many people come every day, I will be too busy and have no time for you and your brothers."

Li Yujian’s expression softened immediately.

To Li Jain, this was the most important point. If the tavern became so busy that he had no time to eat with his children, or comfort them when they were upset, then there would be no meaning in earning so many spirit stones.

"I understand" Li Yujian lowered his eyes and picked up the vegetable Li Jain had placed in his bowl.

Li Jain smiled: "Good."

After that, Li Yujian no longer looked worried.

Instead, he began observing Golden Spirit Pavilion’s arrangement more calmly. Their serving process was smooth, their private rooms were comfortable, and their menu was well organized. Although Spiritual Tavern would not follow the same path, there were still things they could learn.

Li Jain also noticed this.

"Their private room layout is good," he said.

Li Yujian nodded. "The sound-blocking formation is decent. But it’s not strong enough."

Liu Xiong said, "It was done intentionally, they want to have control of whatever goes on here. The only way to make it stronger is to set up another formation within."

After the meal ended, Li Jain paid the bill.

The price was indeed affordable compared with Spiritual Tavern’s usual dishes. Even after ordering several good dishes, the total was not high. Li Jain bought several boxes of their spiritual pastries to take home for the children to taste.

Liu Xiong looked at the pastry boxes and joked: "Are you bringing competition home?"

Li Jain blinked. "The children may like them."

Liu Xiong stared at him for a moment, then laughed softly: "You really do not think like a normal business owner."

Li Jain replied seriously: "If their pastries are good, then they are good. Why should the children not eat them?"

Li Yujian nodded: "Father is right."

Liu Xiong looked at the father and son pair and decided not to argue.

When they left Golden Spirit Pavilion, the sun was already beginning to lean westward.

District Seven was still lively. More people had entered the streets, and the evening business had already begun. Lanterns were being lit at the entrances of shops. The auction branch across the street had a long line of cultivators entering.

They returned to the Li residence by their flying carriage. Because District Seven was an hour away and they had stayed longer than expected, by the time they arrived home, it was already late in the evening.

The sky had darkened.