The noble knights crowding the street-facing windows on the third floor were immediately captivated by the noodles.
They had never seen noodles so refined.
Not only had they never seen such noodles, they had never even heard of them.
The moment the Westerling-style noodles were served, the room erupted in chatter.
These were wealthy men, familiar with fine foods. They had eaten noodles before and could certainly afford them.
But noodles like these, uniform in size, beautifully delicate, were utterly foreign to them.
The noodles they were used to were crude and inconsistent in shape and length. Some were as thick as a palm, others blocky and uneven, primitive and coarse, without exception.
And regardless of their rank, nobles always ate noodles soaked in soup.
Rarity breeds value.
And this unfamiliar, unseen, untasted noodle instantly erased all pretense. What began as a polite show of support for the Lord quickly became genuine curiosity and awe.
No one could take their eyes off the noodles. The elegance and precision alone were enough to fascinate.
As the noodles were served, a pair of finely polished chopsticks was also handed to each guest.
Their attention soon shifted from the noodles to these unfamiliar eating utensils.
Each pair of chopsticks bore an inscription, elegant lettering dyed with vivid pigment, explaining why they were round at the bottom and square at the top.
The square upper end of the chopsticks, it read, was designed to prevent them from rolling on the table or bowl. When hosting guests, they could be set down firmly and gracefully, as steady as a stone.
The guests nodded in approval at this thoughtful design.
Of course, the meaning embedded in these chopsticks, symbols of Eastern civilization, ran far deeper than practicality.
Though their shape was simple, there was profound significance in the design.
Even the form, round at one end, square at the other, was the product of centuries of cultural refinement.
The square shape evolved from earlier round or hexagonal designs. It provided a better grip for picking up food, especially slippery items like noodles.
Moreover, this four-sided structure offered ample surface for artisans to carve poetry or engravings, sometimes on one side, sometimes on two, sometimes all four, laying the foundation for chopsticks to become artistic creations as well.
The contrast of round and square also symbolized a classic concept in culture: Heaven is round, Earth is square.
To hold these chopsticks in your hand was to symbolically hold Heaven and Earth, to express the Eastern belief that humanity, as the highest of all beings, should strive to master the world and change its destiny.
Then came the question: why were these universal eating tools named "chopsticks" at all?
In the ancient language, the word for chopsticks, kuài zi, carries dual meaning. Kuài means "happy" or "fast," while zi is a respectful suffix used for people in traditional culture.
Thus, the name itself suggests both joy and civility: to eat happily, and with grace.
Naturally, this was only the tip of the iceberg in terms of chopstick culture.
But Lord Auren's noodle house didn't attempt to lecture these half-agricultural, half-pastoral Western nobles on the deeper layers of Eastern thought. It would've been pointless. Compared to the refinement embedded in both the noodles and chopsticks, these nobles, shaped by their limited era, simply couldn't grasp it.
All they needed to understand was this: the square-tipped chopsticks are stable, easy to place, and perfect for eating fine noodles.
That alone was enough.
After all, as a university-educated engineer from a world of electronic civilization, facing this crowd of so-called Western nobles from a half-farming, half-herding society, the cultural gap was overwhelming.
Just one advantage out of many was sufficient.
True craftsmanship appears effortless. A mighty sword needs no edge.
As noodles were served on the first and second floors, the third-floor guests had already finished theirs. When they asked for second servings, they were politely declined.
The answer? These finely milled noodles were labor-intensive to produce. Precision grinding of the wheat took time and care. Supply was limited.
One bowl per person today, no exceptions.
Even for knights, there would be no seconds. If they wanted more, they'd have to come back tomorrow.
This was the true mark of high-end dining culture.
Just having the honor of sitting in the Auren's noodle house and eating a bowl of these rare noodles was a status symbol in itself.
If you weren't a knight, noble, or renowned wealthy figure, you simply weren't qualified to enter.
There were many who could afford the silver stag required per bowl.
But to enter the restaurant? That required more than money, it required rank, wealth, or fame.
Everyone else, no matter how much silver they waved, would not be served.
At any other establishment, if these knights stumbled upon such a unique delicacy, they would've gorged themselves without restraint.
But here, at the Auren's noodle house, not a single one dared misbehave.
If they wanted more of these exquisite noodles, they'd have no choice but to return tomorrow.
As for buying some to take home and cook themselves? Sorry, not for sale.
Even if Clegane's Keep could mass-produce them, none would be sold to outsiders.
An hour later, all guests had left. Lord Auren saw them out, then returned to watch his staff tally the day's income.
It was a very good day.
Besides the standard silver stag each customer paid for their meal, many had brought lavish gifts.
A few extremely wealthy nobles had even gifted a hundred gold dragons apiece.
Half an hour later, once everything was tallied, Lord Auren and Ser Gregor had each earned several hundred gold dragons.
Auren's eyes were nearly squinting with joy. Little Rosamund Lannister was skipping cheerfully around the restaurant.
The chefs, apprentices, helpers, and even the former innkeeper from Clegane's Keep, all wore beaming smiles.
The numbers were in.
They packed up, cleaned up, and closed shop for the day.
It was only noon.
High price per bowl, elite clientele, and a touch of culinary philosophy that gave the whole experience a sense of superiority, this combination was far more profitable than any tavern.
The staff were delighted by the shorter work hours.
Lord Auren was even more pleased, he was sure tomorrow the nobles would return with their families.
This unique culinary experience wasn't just a gourmet treat, it had become a social flex, something to brag about.
Anyone who hadn't eaten here would be looked down upon.
With just one bowl per person, tomorrow's sales were bound to double.
Before long, the Auren's Noodle House in Lannisport would earn a shining reputation.
Word would spread along the trade routes to the islands across the sea, even across the Narrow Sea to the Free Cities.
In just a month, they could begin exporting small quantities of noodles at high prices.
Step by step, the noodle's fame would grow.
In two months, they'd open a second location in King's Landing.
A gold mine in the form of noodles was taking shape.
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"Alik!" Lord Auren called cheerfully.
"Yes, milord!"
Alik was the wife of Blackstone, the standard-bearer of the Mountain's cavalry, and the master chef sent by the Mountain to run the noodle house.
"I'm sending Ser Garen Lannister to escort you back to New Clegane's Keep. You'll have plenty of time to return by nightfall without rushing. It won't affect tomorrow's operations."
"Yes, milord."
"Please tell Ser Gregor, or better, Lady Jeyne, that we've had a successful day. The several hundred gold dragons owed to Ser Gregor, I'm afraid I'll delay delivery for now. Once Lord Tywin leaves Clegane's Keep, I'll send it to him immediately."
"Yes, milord!"
"And tell Lady Jeyne this privately:
If Lord Tywin finds out how much we're making, he'll likely raise our taxes. That's exactly the sort of thing he does.
We're doing very well, but it's just the beginning. Let's keep it low-key for now."
"Yes, milord!"
Lord Auren wanted to stay quiet and get rich in silence.
But his careful scheming echoed something Lord Tywin once said while scolding Ser Kevan:
"Both Kevan and Auren are smart and loyal, but they lack vision, and their ambitions are too small."
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