Chapter 1: Tang Ji Restaurant

In fact, the Song people did not know what this was, but in modern times, ninety-nine percent of people would recognize it; this is clearly the headstock of a guitar

Hehe... A dignified time traveler, returning a thousand years into the past, yet selling buns, truly no one can compare.

Aunt Liu, feeling quite anxious as she stood in line, leaned her head out of the queue and urged the person in charge of the stove.

Is chemistry thriving? It can be. However, right now, even eating is a problem for him, so how can he thrive in anything else

In his previous life, Tang Yi departed in a "grand and resounding" manner, with a tremendous sound accompanying his eternal rest in the universe.

Feeling truly bored, Tang Yi decided to take out his only hobby from the later years—playing the guitar.

However, one end of the carrying pole is still connected to a palm-sized flat wooden board, which is truly unrecognizable as anything.

Well, this can be considered a first-class cabin for traveling back to ancient times. If one were to return to the chaotic eras of the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms, or the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties, that would truly be unfortunate

Although Old Man Ma San was staring intently at the stove, he could not hide the look of satisfaction on his face, with the corners of his mouth stretching all the way to his ears

Returning to the counter, observing outside where Master Ma was tending to the stove, and inside where Aunt Ma was attending to matters back and forth, everything was in perfect order, leaving Tang Dalang with an indescribable sense of peace and tranquility in his heart

Old Man Ma has a son who is twenty-three years old, an age that is well-suited for starting a family and establishing a career. However, in Song Dynasty, marrying a wife requires considerable expenses for matchmaking and gifts.

After cursing, I felt it was pointless and turned back into the store. I thought to myself, "Indeed, they are not afraid of trouble. The line at Tang's shop stretches all the way to the street; how long will it take? I don't know what kind of sorcery this Tang Dalang has used to make people willingly stand in line, waiting foolishly."

Before leaving, he did not forget to throw out a mocking remark

Her business has not yet opened, while in front of Tang Ji, it is already bustling with voices.

"No wonder your business cannot compete with Tang Ji, you should learn from Tang Dalang and see how prosperous their business is!"

All things are of low quality, only reading is esteemed

While other shops have only just begun to receive customers, Tang Ji has already formed a long queue outside its door

At this time, the vegetable oil in the Song Dynasty was still only used for lighting, while frying was regarded as a unique secret technique kept hidden by the large restaurants in the capital. Even if Tang Yi sold pan-fried buns, he could still earn a substantial profit

Dengzhou City is not large, but it is quite prosperous

If Tang Guanyu, that wayward spirit, were to know this, he would be able to smile in the netherworld

Although the Song Dynasty was extremely prosperous, it is still too monotonous for a modern person. Moreover, those places in the Great Song Dynasty where one could "find amusement" are not accessible to a fourteen-year-old boy. He certainly cannot follow in the footsteps of that unscrupulous father at the age of fourteen, indulging in the pleasures of brothels and entertainment districts

After graduation, I returned to my hometown to take over the family business, not wanting any issues on the first day. A deafening explosion not only blew the Tang family's small private factory to smithereens, but also left him in such a state that not a single bone fragment remained.

Who can tell him how a master's student in "Polymer Chemistry" can navigate life in the Song Dynasty

Jia Pozi immediately wilted, pouting her lips, and cast a meaningful glance at Tang Ji not far away

... ...

Hahaha ... ... Everyone was once again amused to the point of laughter

Old shrew, relying solely on a sharp tongue

Aunt Liu, please stop flattering!

The honest and straightforward Ma Laosan gritted his teeth; not only did he refrain from taking advantage of the situation, but he also took on the responsibility of raising Tang Yi

The Ma family, consisting of father and son, barely managed to make ends meet by seeking odd jobs for merchants on the streets, while Aunt Ma also took on some laundry work to supplement the household income

Speaking, she flicked the handkerchief in her hand and gracefully walked towards the entrance of Tang Ji

... ...

In fact, it is not that Aunt Jia is throwing a tantrum; rather, it is that Tang Ji's business is so good that it evokes jealousy. Among all the food establishments in the West Market, there is not a single one that does not feel envious.

Finally, on a dark and windy night, the high official Tang met his demise on the belly of the courtesan, having received the decree of heaven

This gentleman, Tang Guanyu, is certainly not a good person, being well-versed in drinking, gambling, and debauchery. Within a few years, not only was he drained of his vitality by wine and lust, but he also squandered the vast family fortune of the Tang family. Seeing the family's fortunes decline day by day, Tang's wife, after futile attempts to persuade him, passed away in sorrow.

Like many clichéd stories, the Tang family is wealthy, but it inevitably includes a prodigal son to complicate the protagonist's journey

As soon as the words were spoken, a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old emerged from the shop, dressed in a lively blue outfit, and holding a small woodworking knife in his hand

Although he can only play and cannot create, after such a long time of engagement, his understanding of this instrument is still quite profound. It does not matter that he has not created anything; he can take his time to explore. After all, what he has in abundance right now is time, and one day he will surely be able to create something.

The Song people certainly would not know of the guitar, and it is only the extraordinary figure of Tang Dalang who would bring it to the Song Dynasty

As soon as he opened his eyes, Tang Yi realized that this Tang Yi of the Northern Song Dynasty was indeed in a dire situation

Zhao Kuangyin, fearing to follow the old path of military chaos during the late Tang Dynasty, established the foundational principle of prioritizing civil governance over military power, which also led to one of the most tragic yet endearing eras in the 5,000-year history of China

... ...

The elderly woman, referred to as Aunt Liu, disdainfully glanced at the neatly arranged white flour pancakes, her expression quite smug, "What is there to eat in these pancakes? At home, we want to eat Tang Ji's. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten up so early."

Turning to Ma Laosan, he remarked: "That old man is truly fortunate to have encountered Tang Dalang, this child of fortune. If I were to meet such a master, I would willingly become a servant myself"

The catering industry of the Song Dynasty was highly developed. In this era when the Chinese culinary system was taking shape, some dishes from later generations were particularly suited to the tastes of the Song people

Upon arriving in the Great Song Dynasty, Tang Yi found himself devoid of luxurious clothing and sumptuous food, lacking beautiful maidens and delicate concubines. Looking around, apart from the empty Tang residence, all that remained was Ma Laosan, foolishly accompanied by his wife and children.

Perhaps even the heavens felt that nurturing a highly educated talent in the new era is not an easy task, and it would be a pity to let it end like this. Thus, Tang Yi, in a state of confusion, crossed a thousand years and arrived in the most prosperous yet tragic era of the Chinese nation—the mid Northern Song Dynasty

... ...

I said, Ma Laosan, how did Tang Jiadalang end up hiring such a sluggish old man like you? Hurry up and get it out of the pot, the family is still waiting to eat!

The crowd burst into laughter, joining Aunt Liu in teasing the slow-witted old man

Aunt Liu would never concede defeat like this; she leaned her head into the shop and shouted loudly

Not only have all my family members perished, but the family fortune has also been squandered by this wasteful father of this body. I myself have fallen ill, unable to rise, due to the fear of family ruin and the loss of my father, which has allowed Tang Yi from a thousand years later to take advantage of the situation

Oh, Aunt Liu, you certainly got up early! Come, come, we have just steamed some big white buns, why not take a basket home?

It is said that the one who hates Tang Guanyu the most should be Ma Laosan

Tang Jialang, are you not coming out to take care of the business? That old man Wu Na is handling things haphazardly, and the customers are all being scared away by him

However, although the streets are bustling with crowds, there are very few people attending to business inside the shops. I saw an elderly woman in a floral coat approaching, shaking a silk handkerchief, and I hurriedly called out loudly:

Tang Dalang stood at the door and said, "If you keep boasting, the boy might just take it seriously"

In this lifetime, Tang Yi arrived quietly and without a sound, even somewhat desolate and bleak

Hey. "Old Ma San's eyes widened. "Why are you so anxious? If you're in such a hurry, why don't you take care of someone else's business?"

The Ma family of three was extremely poor, initially hoping to work at the Tang residence to save some money for a wedding. However, after working there for four to five years, they did not receive a single coin, and then the master of the Tang family passed away.

However, there is always an exception to every rule

What is sold at Tang Ji Restaurant is Sheng Jian Bao

The corners of his mouth curved upward as he picked up a wooden strip over two feet long from under the cabinet and continued to carve it with a small knife

After a period of understanding the Song Dynasty, Tang Yi discovered that although he was a highly skilled talent, the knowledge he acquired in his previous life was of little use in the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago

"Hey, Duan is quite the smooth talker." Sixth Aunt shot a glance at the young man, but in her heart, she felt as sweet as honey.

In the end, there was nothing left to move, not even the large pot used for cooking in the kitchen was taken away

That Tang Ji is ridiculously expensive, and I don't know what is so good about it; it's not as substantial as our flatbreads.

With a million troops amassed yet weak and ineffective, the land is rich and prosperous yet poverty remains entrenched and difficult to eradicate

Through the pot lid, one can faintly hear the sizzling sounds coming from within, the enticing aroma of oil stirring a sense of impatience among those waiting in line

Dengzhou, located along the southwestern road of Beijing, is situated deep in the heart of the Central Plains, far from border conflicts. Several major rivers, including the Tuan River, Diao River, Zhao River, and Yanling River, flow through the area, converging in the southeast into the Bai River, which then flows into the Han River

At the hour of the rabbit, just past dawn, the morning sun rises, and the city is already bustling with voices from all directions, with the east and west markets particularly teeming with crowds. Various shops line the streets, and merchants and laborers weave in and out, presenting a scene of prosperous and flourishing times.

... ...

At that time, Tang Yi will hold a guitar and sing a song "How Painful the Realization Is" to the ancients. Let them also understand that I, Laozi, am living well a thousand years later, yet I have been thrown into the Northern Song Dynasty. How painful this realization is!

This is not a fourteen-year-old child; he is simply a little schemer

Aunt Jia spat quietly at the back of Aunt Liu

Aunt, which relative are you referring to this time? Have you already started sending unjust money to Tang Dalang

In a state of helplessness, Tang Yi had no choice but to start from the grassroots level and turned his attention to the catering industry

In the final days of Lord Tang, he could only rely on selling off his ancestral estate to make ends meet, while the wages for the household servants were delayed time and again. Upon his death, dozens of laborers and maids, realizing that the wages owed to them would never be recovered, in a moment of desperation, rolled up their belongings and nearly emptied the Tang household, with little regard for the underage young master of the Tang family.

... ...

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, Tang Dalang turned back into the shop

The young man stood at the store entrance without stepping forward, smiling brightly as he looked at the woman

As for the guitar, it is purely a product of Tang Yi being unable to hold back any longer

In front of Tang Ji Restaurant

Hehe, what a bizarre era

"I am not afraid of running away, as long as my aunt and the neighbors continue to look after my little shop, I will not starve."

Tang Yi could not afford to miss his parents and relatives from a thousand years later, nor could he complain. The first problem he had to solve was, surprisingly, how to fill his stomach

The wooden strip is shaped like a half arc, approximately three fingers wide and over two feet long. One side is smooth, while the other has a curvature, resulting in a rather peculiar shape. At first glance, it resembles a half of a flat carrying pole.

Among the many servants busy clearing out the Tang residence, only one elderly couple remained untouched, namely the Ma family, led by the old man Ma San

A tall stove was set up outside the shop, with two flat-bottomed three-foot-wide pots sitting side by side on the stove, emanating waves of heat.

The unique geographical conditions have given rise to the excellent topography of Dengzhou, characterized by its numerous hills and vast plains. As a result, agriculture thrives and the land is quite fertile

In the morning mist, amidst the bustling sounds of people, apart from a few Song citizens hurriedly rushing about for their livelihoods, the majority of the townsfolk appeared calm and at ease, meandering through the various breakfast shops filled with enticing aromas.

The Tang family was originally a prominent household in Dengzhou. By the time of Tang Dalang's father, Tang Guanyu, the family had amassed great wealth and owned extensive lands. At the height of their prosperity, the Tang residence employed over a dozen to twenty servants, enjoying an unparalleled period of glory.

Old Ma San had also considered selling some of the Tang family's possessions like other servants to secure a marriage for his son. However, seeing that Tang Yi was still a young child and had fallen seriously ill, Old Ma San truly could not bring himself to do it

Jia Pozi had just cooked a pot of pancakes and stood in front of her shop to attract customers, shouting out her sales pitch.

The woman, upon hearing this, pointed at Ma Laosan and scolded, "Everyone heard that, right? That Ma Laosan is becoming increasingly arrogant, even starting to drive away customers."

Tang Daliang was originally an ordinary graduate student from a millennium later, with the surname Tang and the given name Yi, sharing the same name as Tang Daliang from the Northern Song Dynasty

... ...

Jia Pozi's words were filled with jealousy, and Liu Shenshen naturally scoffed, "That is a famous delicacy from Dengzhou, how can your flatbread compare to it?"

Thus, Tang Yi gritted his teeth and sold the only house left by his deceased father, resolutely leasing a shop on West Market Street, and opened "Tang's Food Shop".