Nowadays, Benyuanzhai has expanded throughout East China Province—the province with Yuzhou as its capital—and has even opened branches in the capital city, gaining considerable fame.
With the added gimmick of limited supply, the medicinal cuisine at every Benyuanzhai location sells out daily. At least in East China Province, dining at Benyuanzhai has become a status symbol.
It’s not just the medicinal cuisine—Benyuanzhai’s medicinal wines and fruit wines are also highly sought after. Each has its own unique flavor, tastes exceptionally good, and even offers significant health benefits. Of course, these wine recipes were also provided by Qin Chaoyu.
Lu Yaoqing is undoubtedly a highly successful businessman, well-versed in the art of commerce. Having once tasted the wine brewed by Qin Chaoyu, he found it far superior to that made by the master brewers he had hired. To whet customers’ appetites and further elevate Benyuanzhai’s reputation, he shamelessly asked Qin Chaoyu to brew a batch of wine for him. He would supply the materials, and Qin Chaoyu would only need to put in some effort. The profits from sales would be split 80-20 in Qin Chaoyu’s favor, essentially leaving Lu Yaoqing with little gain.
But it was worth it. The wine Qin Chaoyu brewed was truly premium—genuinely limited in supply, with only ten bottles of each type produced annually, no more. And they were sold at exorbitant prices.
Even the cheapest wine brewed by Lu Yaoqing’s master brewers cost over ten thousand yuan. Yet, these wines were still snapped up immediately, with customers constantly pestering the staff to buy more.
That price was already steep, but Qin Chaoyu’s wines were even more expensive, starting at a hundred thousand yuan. Despite the astronomical price, demand still outstripped supply. While the master brewers’ wines could sometimes be found on the black market if one was willing to pay extra, Qin Chaoyu’s wines were impossible to obtain there.
Wealthy people aren’t fools—they don’t make bad investments. Anyone who drank Qin Chaoyu’s wine could feel their health improving, confirming that the price was justified.
Qin Chaoyu was well aware of Benyuanzhai’s current success. As a shareholder, she naturally kept tabs on its operations. Though she doubted Lu Yaoqing would ever deceive her, it never hurt to be cautious.
The moment she arrived at Benyuanzhai, Qin Chaoyu sensed something was off. Observing the manager’s expression as he hurried out to greet her, she guessed something must have happened.
The manager wore a warm, welcoming smile, seemingly unfazed. “Miss Qin, welcome! Please let the staff know whatever you’d like to order. Unfortunately, President Lu isn’t here today, or he would have personally greeted you.”
They were at Benyuanzhai’s flagship location. The fact that this manager held his position spoke to his competence—and also indicated he was one of Lu Yaoqing’s most trusted subordinates, so it was no surprise he knew Qin Chaoyu’s status.
The manager wasn’t lying. If Lu Yaoqing had been present, he would have come to greet Qin Chaoyu in person.
Qin Chaoyu wasn’t the type to care about such formalities. “No need for trouble,” she said dismissively. “I’m just here for a meal with friends. You can go about your business.”
“Of course. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call for me.” The manager breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He had been worried this formidable figure might take offense. With President Lu currently under scrutiny by someone from the capital, the slightest misstep could create an opening for trouble.
Though Qin Chaoyu had said not to bother, the manager wasn’t about to let her feel slighted. With keen intuition, he arranged for them to be seated in Benyuanzhai’s finest private room—Misty Rain and Bamboo.
After ordering their medicinal dishes and waiting for the server to leave, Han Shuying sat inside Misty Rain and Bamboo, first taking in the bamboo-themed decor before turning to Qin Chaoyu with curiosity. “Chaoyu, what’s going on? Even with my status, I’ve never been able to book this room!”
Misty Rain and Bamboo was one of Benyuanzhai’s four most exclusive private rooms, alongside Plum Blossoms in Water Clouds, Orchids in Ink, and Dancing Chrysanthemums by the Fence. Named after the “Four Gentlemen” (plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum), each room was uniquely decorated in the style of its namesake plant, standing apart from the traditionally elegant but otherwise ordinary private rooms. These four rooms were exclusive to the flagship location.
Guests dining in these rooms never had to worry about their desired medicinal dishes being unavailable. Even Qin Chaoyu’s premium wines were accessible—though limited to one bottle per room. The same went for the master brewers’ wines. The latter was the most enticing perk, but with only four such rooms, not just anyone could reserve them. Han Shuying certainly didn’t have the clout—though her parents might.
Bo Pengpeng, meanwhile, sipped the room’s complimentary tea without surprise. She had long known that Chaoyu was the source of Benyuanzhai’s medicinal cuisine recipes—essentially the backbone of the establishment. Of course the manager would treat her with utmost care.
Qin Chaoyu explained, “I contributed when Benyuanzhai was first established, so the manager gives me some preferential treatment.”
Han Shuying’s eyes lit up with realization. “Then today I’m taking full advantage! Not only can I order any medicinal dish I want, but I can finally try that premium wine I’ve been craving!”
Bo Pengpeng was equally excited. “Benyuanzhai’s wines sell out incredibly fast, especially the premium ones—they’re gone the moment they appear. So far, I’ve only had a single tiny glass. The taste was unforgettable. Now, I can finally have a proper serving!”
Bo Pengpeng wasn’t exaggerating. As the eldest daughter of the Bo family, she could easily obtain any of Benyuanzhai’s ordinary wines—many people were eager to gift them to her. But the premium wines were another matter. Only her brother had access to them, and he was notoriously stingy, barely sharing a sip before refusing her outright. It infuriated her.
Had Bo Pengpeng known the wine recipes also came from Qin Chaoyu, she would have begged her to sell her some directly—sparing her the agony of longing.
Qin Chaoyu lowered her gaze, masking her discomfort. Hearing others praise her own creations—even unknowingly—was oddly embarrassing.
Under Han Shuying and Bo Pengpeng’s eager anticipation, the server soon brought their ordered dishes and wine.
While the server was present, the two maintained their refined, aristocratic demeanors, patiently waiting for the dishes to be arranged. But the moment the door closed, they immediately dropped all pretense, lunging for the bottle of premium wine.
Bo Pengpeng was quicker, snatching it up first and shooting Han Shuying a triumphant smirk.
Han Shuying seethed inwardly, barely resisting the urge to curse. But with the wine still in Bo Pengpeng’s hands, offending her might mean losing her share. This was the famed “Jade Beauty Wine”—its name alone hinted at its skin-enhancing effects. Missing out would be a tragedy.
Forcing a sweet smile, Han Shuying said gently, “No need to be so hasty. Go ahead and open it—let’s savor it properly.”
Bo Pengpeng snorted but didn’t tease her further, uncorking the bottle without delay. She poured a glass first for Qin Chaoyu, then herself, and finally Han Shuying.
As soon as the wine was poured, its rich, mellow aroma filled the air, intoxicatingly fragrant. The liquid was a clear, translucent amber, utterly pure—”Lanling wine’s golden fragrance, jade bowls brimming with amber light.” Though no jade bowls were present, the sentiment was the same.
“This wine is gorgeous!” Han Shuying couldn’t help but exclaim.
This was another reason for Benyuanzhai’s wines’ popularity. Each variety had its own distinct color, flavor, and aroma, delighting both the palate and the eyes. Many considered them treasures worth collecting even if never consumed. Yet few could resist the temptation, often drinking them quickly and regretting it later.
After the meal, Qin Chaoyu turned to Han Shuying. “What did you want to discuss? You seemed so serious earlier—I thought it was urgent. But seeing how content you are now, I’m guessing it wasn’t that important.”
“No, it—well, it is important! Very important!” Han Shuying suddenly remembered her original purpose, having gotten distracted by the feast. She swallowed her last bite, dabbed her lips with a napkin, and declared, “Remember how I said I didn’t know what to do with myself? Well, I’ve decided—I’m starting a company!”
“How can I help?” Qin Chaoyu asked, knowing Han Shuying wouldn’t have sought her out otherwise.
Han Shuying hesitated, slightly embarrassed. “Well, Chaoyu, I want to start a cosmetics company… and I might need your help.”
“Cosmetics?”
“Yeah. You gave me that scar-removing ointment, right? I used it, and it worked better than anything on the market. So I thought, if I started a cosmetics company with products like that, it’d be a surefire success.”
“Sounds shaky to me,” Bo Pengpeng interjected skeptically. “First, are you serious about this, or is it just another passing interest like your college major? Second, a cosmetics company can’t survive on one product. Where will the others come from? Without something truly unique, how will you compete?”
When it came to business, the Bo family was the authority. In China, no family rivaled their wealth or corporate empire. Though Bo Pengpeng had never worked at the Bo Group, the family owned numerous smaller companies as well.
Bo Jixi had even transferred several companies to her as part of her dowry. While professional managers handled daily operations, Bo Pengpeng wasn’t completely hands-off—she reviewed the accounts annually to avoid being swindled.
Thus, she understood business far better than Han Shuying. In her eyes, Han Shuying’s plan was riddled with holes.
Han Shuying had to admit Bo Pengpeng had a point. Glancing at Qin Chaoyu, she asked tentatively, “Chaoyu, do you have any other… cosmetic-related formulas?”
Qin Chaoyu smiled faintly and nodded. “I do. If you’re serious about this, I have plenty of skincare and makeup formulas. Without exaggeration, their effects are unparalleled. But if I provide them, can you guarantee the company will succeed? I don’t want my efforts to go to waste.”
“Uh…” Han Shuying faltered. She couldn’t confidently promise that. Then, noticing Bo Pengpeng’s thoughtful expression, she had an idea. “Pengpeng could partner with me!”
Bo Pengpeng scoffed, crossing her arms. “Why would I? If you’re just playing around, I’d be doing all the work for nothing. Besides, as a Bo, I’ve got more than enough to live lavishly forever.”
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