Chapter 33

The second daughter-in-law, Zhang, nodded in agreement and said, “Yes, it’s really too delicious. Before, when Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao gave us the recipe for grilled fish, it turned out tasty, but compared to her actual cooking, we still fell far short.”

Old Master Zhou said, “My granddaughter is truly blessed. Her cooking was taught by an immortal—color, aroma, and taste all in perfect harmony. You couldn’t replicate it even if you tried.”

Everyone chuckled, knowing how much the old lady doted on her little granddaughter. But they all agreed—even as adults, they couldn’t match Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao’s cooking skills.

Song Tian’er said, “Tasty, right? This cooking skill is unmatched for miles around. After you all finish eating, I have something big to announce.”

Of course, anything about Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao was important, so everyone nodded and stopped talking, focusing instead on eating heartily.

As expected of the world’s best cooking skills, everyone ate until they were stuffed. Song Tian’er even brewed hawthorn tea to help with digestion.

They sipped the tea and didn’t move, waiting for Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao to announce her news.

Old Master Song kindly asked, “Little Sweet Bao, go ahead—what is it?”

Song Tian’er said, “You all ate the food I made today—did any of you feel it didn’t agree with your stomachs? If so, you must speak up. Tell me which dish you thought wasn’t so good.”

Everyone shook their heads. Truly, there was nothing like it—her food was the best-looking and best-tasting they’d ever had.

Old Lady Zhou said, “Little Sweet Bao, the food you made is the best I’ve ever had. Grandma is telling the truth.”

Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao nodded and said, “Since everyone thinks it’s good, what do you think about me opening a small tavern?”

Everyone looked at each other in surprise, unsure how to respond.

Finally, Old Lady Zhou spoke up: “Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao, your cooking is excellent, but running a tavern is exhausting. Grandma can’t bear for you to suffer. Our family has more money than we can spend. Let’s think of another way to earn money.”

The Song family couldn’t bear to let a five-year-old girl open a tavern and work the kitchen—it would be too hard on her.

Old Master Song agreed: “Yes, our family doesn’t lack money. All the money your grandparents have is yours. You’ve already earned so much for the family. You don’t need to do anything else—just grow up safe and happy.”

Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao knew her grandparents truly cared for her and feared she’d suffer. After all, it really was too much for a five-year-old to be cooking every day.

But Song Tian’er now had great strength—no matter how much effort it took, she didn’t feel tired at all.

More importantly, she needed to earn silver in this era—10,000 taels could be exchanged for a Wish Fruit, and she still had many skills she hadn’t learned yet.

“Grandpa, Grandma, I was born for a reason. Since I was taught by an immortal in a dream, I must make good use of those skills. Otherwise, wouldn’t it have been in vain? It might even bring misfortune if I don’t.”

“But don’t worry, I know you love me, and honestly, I don’t feel tired when I cook. I even enjoy it. If it ever becomes too much, you all can help me. I’ll hire helpers for the tavern too.”

Even though they were family, Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao didn’t intend to treat the business as a shared investment. Instead, she would hire them as employees.

This was different from sharing silver from collecting barnacles—this tavern would be hers alone.

When the elderly couple heard that not following through might bring misfortune, they went quiet. They couldn’t bear for her to suffer, but feared something worse could happen.

Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao used their belief in the supernatural to persuade them. Otherwise, no one would agree to let a five-year-old run a tavern, even if she thought like an adult—she still looked like a soft, chubby dumpling with a sweet little voice.

The fourth daughter-in-law, Liu, asked, “If that’s the case, should we try it? Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao, will it be in town or the prefectural city?”

With her cooking, the tavern would be the hottest place wherever it opened.

But Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao had more plans—running a tavern was just one part. She couldn’t leave the village.

However, villagers couldn’t afford tavern prices. Not far from the village, there was a main road where many people passed by—merchants, officials, wanderers—there was always a crowd.

She said, “Not in town or the city. I’ll build it by the forest near the main road by our village. Lots of people pass through there. My food will keep them coming back—good wine doesn’t fear a deep alley.”

The Song family had never run a business before. They had dealt with tavern owners, but running one themselves? They were stumped.

No one knew what to say—not even the usually talkative Zhou family daughter-in-law.

Fourth son Song Futian just scratched his head. His little girl wanted to open a tavern, but as her father, he had no advice to give. He felt useless.

Then Liu said, “Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao, are you sure this will work? I’ve never seen anyone open a tavern by the roadside. There are tea stands, but they close down quickly. All kinds of people travel that road—can we handle it?”

Old Master Song nodded, “Your mother is right. There are people we just can’t afford to offend. Your fifth uncle is an official, but we still can’t mess with the underworld.”

Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao thought to herself, The underworld? Who’s darker than me? If she ran into real troublemakers, she’d show them what the real underworld looked like.

Without strength, how could they call themselves the underworld?

She said, “Grandpa, Mom, don’t worry. I have a plan. Everything will be fine—trust me.”

Though she didn’t reveal her plan, when Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao said, trust me, everyone did. Unconditionally.

Now the question wasn’t whether to open the tavern, but how to do it.

Everyone started talking, offering ideas. Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao took all their suggestions and finally decided: the tavern would be built in the forest near the main road.

Breakfast would include porridge and buns, while lunch and dinner would feature stir-fried dishes. Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao would be the chef, and each household would send one person to help.

Other taverns paid kitchen staff only 3 to 5 silver coins a month, but Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao would pay 2 taels per person.

That rate was unheard of, but she didn’t want to force anyone—if they didn’t want to do it, she’d hire outsiders.

Even though the families had money, it was all thanks to Little Sweet Bao—they couldn’t rely on her forever.

So now, having a steady income and being close to her was something they were eager for.

Little Sweet Treasure Xiao Tianbao assigned shifts: the first and second households as one team, the third and her own household as another. Morning and afternoon shifts, alternating every day.

That way, everyone only worked half a day, and husbands and wives could take turns. It was easy for everyone.