The world of film and television begins from childhood

Song Yinzhang was confused and Sun Sanniang seemed to understand as well, but this did not prevent them from agreeing with Zhao Paner's decision.

"Pan'er, you decide."

With Zhao Pan'er in charge, the three girls quickly made the decision to open a teahouse.

Zhao Pan'er and Song Yinzhang paid the money, Sun Sanniang did the work, and the three of them had a clear division of labor, which was divided into three shares, while Yinping was a worker.

After making the decision, they started to take action, first renting a house, looking for purchases, then decorating the house, etc.

In a flash, more than half a month had passed. Due to their limited funds, many things in the teahouse were made by themselves, so the progress was relatively slow.

Zhou Chen naturally knew that Zhao Pan'er and others were going to open a teahouse, but he did not bother them.

…………

"Commander Gu, no, you should be called Deputy Envoy Gu now. You have been promoted to Deputy Envoy of the Imperial City Department and are wearing a scarlet robe. Why don't you hold a banquet to liven things up?"

In the private room of the restaurant, Zhou Chen and Gu Qianfan sat together, drinking tea and listening to music.

Gu Qianfan said self-deprecatingly: "Leisure? I am alone now, without any relatives, and I am also the 'living devil' of the Imperial City Department. If I hold a banquet, how many people will come? How can it be lively?"

He was very happy about being promoted to the fifth rank, but he was also happy that he could bring honor to his biological mother and have her included in the Gu family tree and ancestral hall so that she could enjoy the incense of the court in the future.

As for the rest, they are not that important to him.

Well, it has been quite a few days since he was promoted, but apart from his colleagues in the Imperial City Bureau, Zhou Chen was the only one who congratulated him sincerely.

"Deputy Envoy Gu, don't underestimate yourself. I know your abilities. To be honest, I think you are a bit under-appreciated in the Imperial City Division."

This is not a compliment from Zhou Chen, but the truth.

Gu Qianfan entered the Imperial City Division for Qi Mu's sake. Otherwise, with his status as a Jinshi and his own abilities, it would definitely be much smoother for him to take the path of a civil servant than it is now.

"My Lord, you think too highly of me."

Gu Qianfan is very humble. In the eyes of many people, his achievements are indeed great, but a few years ago, Zhou Chen was able to lead a large army alone, guard the border, and almost destroyed the Xiazhou Dingnan Army. In this regard alone, he is far from comparable.

"I wonder if the Marquis specially asked someone to call me here today. What's the important matter?"

Zhou Chen smiled and said, "It's nothing serious. I just want to find someone to chat with. But I've been staying at the border for the past few years, and I've been staying in the Marquis' Mansion for more than two years. I don't see many guests. Apart from some relatives, there's really no one I can talk to."

"Well, after thinking about it, I thought of Deputy Envoy Gu. Although we haven't met many times, we have been through hardships together. In the eyes of others, Deputy Envoy Gu is a 'living devil', but in my eyes, I think people like Deputy Envoy Gu are easier to get along with."

Zhou Chen's words made Gu Qianfan at a loss for words for a moment. Ever since he had been called the 'living devil', in all these years, Zhou Chen was the first person to say that he was easy to get along with, which gave him a very strange feeling.

"My Lord, I have the same idea."

"Haha, really? Then we will think alike. Does that count as sympathy? Haha."

Zhou Chen found Gu Qianfan's compliment with a serious look very interesting.

These words made the relationship between the two people closer, and they started chatting with each other in a familiar manner.

After a long while, Zhou Chen said, "Let's stop here for today. I'm relatively free, but Deputy Envoy Gu must be very busy recently, so I won't waste your time."

Gu Qianfan did not refute. What Zhou Chen said was right. After his recent promotion, he had indeed become much busier. Recently, he even slept in the company's office every day and did not even go home. He was a real workaholic.

Gu Qianfan stood up and was about to leave when Zhou Chen suddenly said, "Deputy Envoy Gu, we had a pleasant chat today. I also treat you as a good friend. I want to remind you that you must be careful with Qi Mu."

Gu Qianfan's expression suddenly changed and he looked at Zhou Chen in disbelief, but Zhou Chen just smiled slightly and walked out of the private room.

Gu Qianfan did not leave until Zhou Chen had left for a long time, but was thinking about what Zhou Chen had just said.

'Did he know about what happened between Qi Mu and me? Or did he know something?'

If it were someone else, with his suspicious character, he would definitely be suspicious again, but Zhou Chen was the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, their acquaintance was accidental, and the other party had saved his life, so there was no reason for him to harm him.

But what puzzled him most was how Zhou Chen knew about his relationship with Qi Mu. You know, every time they met, it was very secretive and they rarely contacted each other privately.

He couldn't figure out what was going on.

"Deputy Envoy Gu! Qian Fan?"

"Ok?"

Gu Qianfan quickly returned to his cold expression: "Master Si, why are you here?"

The person who appeared in front of him was none other than Si Gong of the Imperial City Division, his superior, an official who lacked ability but had first-rate flattery skills.

Lei Jing smiled like a Maitreya Buddha: "What a coincidence, I had an appointment with someone to have tea today, and just when I was about to leave, I suddenly saw you, so I came over to say hello."

"That's right."

Gu Qianfan showed a look of relief, but he sneered in his heart. He knew exactly who Lei Jing was.

"By the way, Qianfan, who was the person who was drinking tea with you just now? He looked familiar to me." Lei Jing suddenly asked casually.

Gu Qianfan knew that he couldn't hide this from Lei Jing, so he told the truth: "Si Gong has good eyesight, the one just now was the loyal and brave Marquis Zhou Houye."

Lei Jing's face shuddered. "Loyal and Brave Marquis? Could it be the Loyal and Brave Marquis of that young general of the Great Song Dynasty?"

"Exactly."

"Oh, Qianfan, you actually know Lord Zhou. Why haven't I heard you mention him before?"

Lei Jing's attitude suddenly became very good. Although Zhou Chen held no official position now, the fact that he was a hereditary marquis of loyalty and bravery was enough to make people pay attention to him, not to mention that Zhou Chen was only in his twenties and was destined to have a bright future.

If he could make friends with such a person, he would be more than happy.

Gu Qianfan said, "Sir, you may not know that Lord Zhou and I passed the imperial examination in the same year."

"Really? Is there still such a thing?"

Lei Jing was surprised. He had never investigated this matter.

"Qian Fan, you are in the Imperial City Division, and I have treated you well. If you have a chance to meet Lord Zhou again, please introduce him to me, how about that?"

Although Lei Jing was able to wear the scarlet robe and his power was enhanced thanks to Gu Qianfan, he was more aware that there was still a big gap between him and Zhou Chen, the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery.

Because he was in charge of the Imperial City Department, which was mainly composed of military officials, it was destined that it would be difficult for him to be of the same mind as the civil officials in the court. On the contrary, if he had the opportunity to make friends with the Loyal and Brave Marquis Mansion, which was a family of military generals, he would definitely not hesitate.

"Your Majesty, I will remember it."

Gu Qianfan replied casually, but he didn't actually take it to heart. He had always looked down on his superior who was corrupt and bent on climbing up the social ladder.

After Zhou Chen and Gu Qianfan parted ways at the restaurant, they did not go directly back to the Marquis' Mansion, but came to Ma Xing Street.

The newly opened Zhao’s Teahouse by Zhao Pan’er and her friends opened yesterday. He couldn’t come yesterday, but he can still come and support it today.

Arriving at the door of Zhao's Teahouse, Zhou Chen looked at the not-so-large two-story building and couldn't help but think of the Zhao's Teahouse in Qiantang.

In fact, if you really compare them, Zhao's Teahouse in Qiantang is larger, has a better environment and a wider view.

But Tokyo is Tokyo after all, and is far from comparable to Qiantang. The cost of this teahouse is much higher than that of the teahouse in Qiantang.

"Sir, please come in..."

Yin Ping, who was in charge of welcoming guests, suddenly widened his eyes and shouted, "Zhou, Zhou, Sir..."

Fortunately, she reacted in time, covered her mouth, and did not call out the word "Marquis".

Zhou Chen glanced inside and said with a smile: "Not bad, there are quite a lot of people."

As soon as I entered the teahouse, I heard the pleasant sound of a pipa coming from upstairs.

After serving the fruit, Sun Sanniang was also very surprised to see Zhou Chen suddenly.

"Mr. Zhou, why are you here?"

"Pan'er, Pan'er."

"What's wrong, Sanniang?"

"Look who's here?"

Zhao Pan'er came over and was surprised to see that it was Zhou Chen. She then said directly, "Mr. Zhou, you are here. Come upstairs."

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 980 Teahouse 'bankruptcy', Ouyang Xu's end

Led by Zhao Paner, Zhou Chen came to the second floor of the teahouse and sat down in a private seat facing the street.

Zhao Paner did not leave, but sat down next to Zhou Chen.

"My Lord, what do you think of our layout here?"

Zhou Chen looked around and said, "It's much more magnificent than the teahouse in Qiantang. The environment is good and the location is okay, but success cannot be achieved by just relying on these."

Zhao Paner smiled and said, "That must be different. This is Tokyo. If we do it as simply as Qiantang Teahouse, we won't be able to attract high-quality customers. Tokyo is rich and dazzling, but if you want to make money, you have to go with the flow."

"Not bad, you have made progress. It seems that these days in Tokyo have not been in vain."

Zhou Chen knew that Zhao Pan'er would soon encounter setbacks, but he did not rush to remind her. There are some things that if you don't let her experience them, she will never realize the problems.

"I still say the same thing. If you encounter any troubles or problems in the future, you can come to the Marquis' Mansion to find me. If I'm not here, you can go to Uncle Yan and tell him that I asked you to go."

"Thank you, Lord Marquis."

"We are so familiar with each other, and you are still so polite. I don't believe you can't see my feelings at all?"

"Cough cough."

Zhou Chen's sudden words scared Zhao Pan'er. She quickly avoided Zhou Chen's eyes and didn't dare to look at Zhou Chen at all.

"My Lord, please stop making fun of me."

"Tease? I don't have time to tease you. I'm still in mourning, so I haven't taken any action against you. Wait until my mourning period of more than a month is over, and then I won't have to avoid you anymore. I hope you can be ready so that you can continue to avoid me when that time comes."

"what?"

Zhao Paner was so scared that her voice changed. What do you mean by no action taken? What action will be taken after the mourning period is over?

Zhou Chen continued, "I am sometimes very tolerant, but sometimes I am also very overbearing, especially when it comes to people I like and recognize. Even if I have to snatch them away, I will get them to be by my side."

"Ah?" Zhao Pan'er was shocked again. What kind of vicious words were these?

"Haha, just a joke, look how scared you are."

Zhou Chen laughed and said, "I just want you to be prepared in advance, Pan'er, I want to be more than just a friend to you."

Zhao Pan'er felt Zhou Chen's burning gaze and became even more panicked. She secretly regretted whether she had made a mistake in staying in Tokyo. Should she go back to Qiantang?

Just when Zhao Pan'er was flustered and didn't know what to say.

"Mr. Zhou, you are here."

Song Yinzhang walked over happily, holding the pipa, his face full of joy.

"Ms. Song, you played really well just now. I heard it outside the teahouse. It sounded really good."

Song Yinzhang smiled even more brightly. She was good-looking and had worked in the Jiaofang Bureau for many years. She had a maid named Yinping to help her and she was also good at dressing herself up.

But before, she rarely smiled, and always looked gloomy and depressed.

But she has been smiling more often recently, and she looks much more energetic and youthful and beautiful.

"Really? If you like, I'll play another one for you."

"Okay."

Zhou Chen did not refuse. He was a man who knew how to enjoy life. Drinking tea alone in boredom was no match for having a beautiful woman playing the piano with him.

Song Yinzhang sat down not far from Zhou Chen, preparing to play a song. Zhao Paner stood up, said "pour some tea", and then ran away.

The pleasant sound echoed in his ears, and Zhou Chen leaned back in his chair, listening leisurely.

A few days later, when Zhou Chen came to Zhao's Teahouse again, he found that there was not a single customer inside. Zhao Pan'er and the other girls were just sitting there, looking around and talking boredly.

When Zhao Pan'er and her daughters heard the sound, they thought that guests had arrived, but when they saw that the visitors were actually Zhou Chen and Zhou Huai, the master and servant, they all looked disappointed.

Only Song Yinzhang greeted him happily: "Lord Zhou, you are here."

Although she was also worried about the poor business of the teahouse, it was not a big deal compared to meeting Zhou Chen.

Zhao Pan'er and the others also greeted them. Zhou Chen looked around and said, "It seems that the business of the store has not been very good these days, right?"

Zhao Pan'er asked doubtfully: "How do you know?"

"Do you even need to ask this? I can see that if you usually drink tea, this is when there are the most customers. But here, there is not a single customer."

This made Zhao Pan'er and the other girls even more distressed. Zhao Pan'er asked with a worried look on her face, "We don't know what's going on. Lord, don't you Tokyo people like drinking tea? We have very few customers these days. Even if there are customers who come in, they just order loose tea and leave after drinking. There is no profit at all."

Zhou Chen said: "This is why you didn't investigate carefully. It's not that people in Tokyo don't like drinking tea. On the contrary, there are many people who like drinking tea, especially those literati and scholars. Many times they can drink tea for half a day."

"Then why is there no one here? And I just recently discovered that there are no restaurants or eateries on this street. This is really strange."