Xiao Yunzhou's words directly stunned the Chancellor Fu Cha, the Ministry of Households, and the Imperial Cuisine Court.
"Imperial... milk tea shop?"
They understood each word separately.
But when put together, they couldn’t comprehend it at all.
"The emperor wants to do business? Even officials do not compete for profit with the public, let alone the Emperor!" Chancellor Fu Cha was the first to oppose.
Xiao Yunzhou waved his hand, he considered those ideas outdated.
Who said that the royal family couldn’t get into business?
"What do you mean by 'I’m competing with the public for profit?'"
"Is my Jing Country Bank competing for profit? Is my official salt trade competing for profit?"
Chancellor Fu Cha was stumped by these questions.
Xiao Yunzhou shrugged, "You haven't thought about it, but I have. I suppose I have to lead a part of the public to prosper first."
"!"
"…"
Xiao Yunzhou's audacious pronouncement fell upon a silent Imperial Study.
Jing Country has already changed from what it used to be - the emperor, Xiao Yunzhou, now understands the concept of commodity economics.
"Only by turning money into more money could the people of Jing Country become wealthy!"
"Those five hundred cattle and sheep, after I eat them, after you eat them, the people get not a single coin. That’s what you call competing with the public for profit!"
"I’m turning them into a source of income to help the public prosper. Understand?"
Now Xiao Yunzhou was expounding like a pro, not holding back even when instructing noble Chancellor Fu Cha.
"So, your Majesty, this milk tea..." Jiang Li from the Ministry of Households, whose eyes were flashing with greed, interjected.
Soon Xiao Yunzhou had Wei Zheng prepare meals for them to taste.
"This is a delicious tea snack discovered by the little princess while playing."
"Now that spring has just started, melons and fruits are scarce, and only the palace has a few tribute products." Xiao Yunzhou said as he looked towards Jiang Li, "But as soon as spring arrives, we should instruct all the fruit farmers around the country to increase high-quality production quickly. Local growers should deliver fresh fruits to the capital. Those far away should open fruit tea shops in their areas."
Jiang Li was salivating, "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"
The purpose for the cattle and sheep from Wu Yun Country was finally acknowledged, to yield milk for tea.
Then, Jing Country's tea merchants, tea farmers, fruit farmers, fruit merchants could all prosper together!
This was not just a simple snack shop!
"The milk tea shop idea that the young princess came up with directly invigorated the businesses of Jing Country tea merchants/tea farmers/fruit farmers/fruit merchants."
Possibly even the porters and merchants who transport the tea leaves and fruits into the capital stand to benefit. If it is well planned, just a cup of milk tea could support countless people.
"The young princess is really smart." Jiang Li was happy to flatter.
Chancellor Fu Cha was twitching at the corners of his mouth.
Xiao Yunzhou looked very pleased and agreed, "Isn't she? With just a stir of Consort Min's spoon, she came up with milk tea, haha."
Having said that, he turned his gaze to Manager Liao of the Imperial Cuisine Court.
Manager Liao of the Imperial Cuisine Court blushed, "I am incompetent ..."
"It may be so, but I know you're not satisfied." Xiao Yunzhou stood up and approached him, "Well, I have another task for you."
"On my way back to the palace from the outskirts of the capital, I heard a local mentioning pancake rolls and deep-fried dough sticks."
Xiao Yunzhou was thinking about what the little princess would like to eat.
The milk tea is ready.
Roast duck is available.
Both tastes pretty good, so the pancake rolls and deep-fried dough sticks would probably be no exception.
"The latter is akin to fried dough, and the former seems to be stuff wrapped in a pancake."
"There's also tofu pudding, they say it's somewhat scalding when scooped out, just like a piece of snow, available in sweet and savory varieties, perhaps you could study it as well."
As Xiao Yunzhou spoke, he let his imagination roam.
This tofu pudding, even the young princess could have it since it requires no teeth.
The country's old folks and children must surely love it.
Could even open a royal breakfast shop in the future...
"Imperial Kitchen, whip this up as soon as possible, let me see what you're capable of."
Manager Liao was drenched in sweat, his back rigid.
Fried dough stick?
Where did this food come from?
How come he had never heard of it before?
But if the emperor said it existed, then he must make it!
"Your servant will research and produce it as soon as possible, not to disappoint your majesty."
Xiao Yunzhou hummed in agreement, finally turning his gaze to the cabinet and the Ministry of Household.
"This milk tea shop was the little princess's idea. You bunch of adults surely can't compete with a child for credit. So, how much of the milk tea shop's profits should be given to the little princess?"
"???"
"!"
...
Milk tea shop's establishment was much easier compared to Jing Country Bank, without too many complicated technologies.
Imperial Kitchen sent a master good at making tea snacks to consult about the milk tea flavor of that day from Concubine Liu and Consort Min, and soon had a rough idea, fine-tuned the ratio of milk to various kinds of tea, and sugar, and finalized more than a dozen possible auxiliaries.
The names of several kinds of milk tea were granted by Shen Mian, the top scholar of the year.
Soon enough, the capital of Jing Country quietly opened for business overnight.
Simultaneously, next to the milk tea shop, another imperial breakfast shop was inaugurated.
For the moment, the citizens of Jing Country were flabbergasted.
"An imperial milk tea shop?"
"A shop for imperial breakfast?"
What is this?
Is the emperor also starting a business?
But the smiles quickly returned on the faces of the commonfolk.
Tacked on the exterior of the milk tea shop was a red notice board, and as before, a person was sent by the Ministry of Household for explanations.
"Good uncles and aunties, young talents..."
"The milk tea shop uses the latest batch of cow's milk and goat's milk sent to Jing Country by Khan Wu Yun."
On hearing this, everyone understood. These were tribute gifts, and the emperor had decided to share them!
The emperor is so kind!
Their faces lit up with smiles.
Yet, the official at the door was not finished, "Furthermore, the tea used in this milk tea comes from poor tea farmers from the regions of Liang City and Ming Mountain whose tea did not sell well last year. The emperor has taken their suffering to heart. In order to improve their lives, the government has purchased large quantities of tea and is setting up this milk tea shop to provide a safeguard for the tea farmers in the future."
Upon hearing this, the city dwellers froze.
Those farmers from the surrounding areas who came to the city were rooted to the spot.
"What? The emperor bought the tea that the tea farmers couldn't sell? The emperor has covered it all?"
"There are such good deeds?"
"What about when we can't sell our vegetables?"
"We have a lot of cabbage!"
The official from the Ministry of Household at the entrance of the milk tea shop chuckled at the remark from the old brother carrying two baskets of cabbages, "Rest assured, brother."
"Now it's tea farmers, and before long, it'll be others."
"The emperor is certain to devise methods to ensure that everyone has food to eat and money to earn!"
"Ah, Uncle Jiang Li is really efficient. The man he placed to handle affairs at the entrance to the milk tea shop is so eloquent," thought Xiao Chuchu.
Again, Xiao Yunzhou took her out for a covert visit.
Indeed, just as she thought this, the townsfolk and farmers who initially found it hard to accept the emperor selling drinks seemed invigorated.
"We'll just wait here then!"
"Do remember to arrange for us cabbages after the tea plant, your Majesty."
"Oh, wow! We should at least support a cup of this milk tea."
The relatively well-off denizens of the capital were ready to part with their money and try it out.
The gentle-smiled official at the door of the milk tea shop, pointed to the red board at the entrance and announced,
"From this day forth, the court will donate a coin for each milk tea sold here, as a subsidy to the local tea farmers to cultivate tea leaves with better color, aroma, and taste."
"Every month in the future, we will announce the amount of donation and its utilization."
"!"
"!!"
All the townsfolk and farmers were stunned.
So were the passing 'beauteous talent' and his maidservant who paused in their tracks upon hearing the news, their eyes filled with astonishment.
In the drama of life, officials were generally avaricious, coveting the silver coins and grains of the townsfolk.
When did the court start to allocate their funds and let ordinary people know where the money went?!
"Heh heh, this is modern philanthropy~"
Xiao Chuchu couldn't help but nod in agreement.
"Hmm? The system says the collection progress of Chu State's 'Pair of Sisters' went up by 4%?"
Xiao Yunzhou suddenly raised his head, glancing left and right.
