Spring went and autumn came, and the Capital remained largely unchanged. Its bustling streetscapes were as lively as ever, filled with countless peddlers calling out their wares. Gu's Eatery was packed to capacity every single day. By now, the eatery operated on two fronts: dine-in and takeout. Many people, having discovered the convenience of enjoying fine food without stepping outside, quickly became regulars of the delivery service, which charged fees based on distance. The Capital was never short of wealthy households, and a single order from them usually required two large food boxes just to hold everything. The chefs in the back kitchen swung their clevers so fast they seemed to blur, wielding special iron woks and ladles to rapidly whip up one culinary masterpiece after another, which were then rushed out hot by dedicated delivery staff. To improve delivery efficiency, Gu Muling had even gone out of her way to purchase five carriages specifically for the task.
The practice of delivering food by carriage sparked a trend across the Capital, and many people grew fond of this novel method of food delivery. While the eatery's business was booming, the wine shops were not far behind. Many matrons fell instantly in love with the flavor after trying the grape wine, and nowadays batches of the wine sold out the moment they hit the shelves. Gu Muling's net worth could now be measured in tens of thousands of taels.
Over the past three years, Zhao Yan had devoted himself almost …
Chapter 614