Chapter 120: Why Is He the Only One Being Isolated? It's So Annoying

Wen Yao hesitated, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Qiu Rongrong quickly understood and asked directly, “Sister, name your price.”

Wen Yao smiled, “You’re so straightforward, Sister. I like people like you.”

Qiu Rongrong gave her a playful glare and laughed. “You little fox! You must have planned this all along.” Otherwise, why would she carry this tenderizing powder with her?

Wen Yao neither admitted nor denied it, simply smiling. “Since we’ll be working together from now on, how about I sell it to you for thirty coins a jin?”

At first glance, the price seemed steep, but Qiu Rongrong had watched Wen Yao handle the meat herself. Without much effort, she could make a generous serving of boiled sliced pork. Besides, Wen Yao had said the tenderizing powder could be used in other dishes as well. Calculating it this way, it didn’t seem expensive after all.

She glanced at Chef Chen and asked him directly in Wen Yao’s presence, “Chef Chen, if you were in charge, could you make the meat this tender and smooth?”

Chef Chen shook his head, answering honestly, “To be frank, miss, I couldn’t.”

His words sealed Qiu Rongrong’s decision.

“Forty coins per jin, but it’s exclusive to Drunken Immortal Restaurant.”

Wen Yao raised her brows; this was an offer to buy her out at a higher price.

She didn’t mind at all—for she didn’t know any other restaurant owners in this town anyway.

“It’s a deal,” Wen Yao said, raising her hand.

Qiu Rongrong raised hers as well. In that small kitchen, the two of them sealed their pact with a clap—about to embark on a venture together, not into mischief, but into making money.

“Sister, could you send someone to call my brother down? I brought some more tenderizing powder for him to fetch. Today’s the fifteenth, and the Drunken Immortal Restaurant is bustling with guests. It’s the perfect time to launch a new dish. We must seize this chance and use the novelty of monthly specials as a new selling point. Here’s my idea: today, we send a small portion of this boiled sliced pork to every table.”

Qiu Rongrong frowned, “Give it away?”

Wen Yao nodded. “Yes, it’s called a tasting sample. The portion shouldn’t be too big or too small—just enough for them to savor the flavor and crave more, but not enough to satisfy. Not just today; we can do this every time we introduce a new dish.”

Qiu Rongrong had never done anything like this before and hesitated. “Will this really work?”

Wen Yao grinned mischievously. “Trust me.”

Wen Jun was summoned, and Wen Yao pretended to send him to the pharmacy to fetch the tenderizing powder, when in fact she secretly gave him five bags of it and had him walk around outside, switch bags, and bring them back. Wen Jun didn’t know what his sister was up to but played along, taking a stroll.

As soon as he returned, Wen Yao began teaching Chef Chen, guiding him step by step from meat preparation to seasoning the broth—leaving nothing out. Chef Chen proved himself a master, learning everything in one go; the dish he made tasted exactly like Wen Yao’s.

As the mealtime rush approached, Chef Chen took the bag of tenderizing powder and went to the kitchen.

Qiu Rongrong instructed Manager Lu, who was still sneaking bites here and there, “Uncle Lu, pay Yao Yao, please.”

Manager Lu’s lips were burning from the spice, but even as he longed for more, he reluctantly set down his chopsticks and went to fetch the money.

Five jin, forty coins per jin—two hundred coins in total.

Wen Yao was delighted by the payment. With a cost of just twelve coins, this was a handsome profit. No wonder the original novel’s heroine was so thrilled to make money with her spatial cheat—this was pure windfall.

On the way back to their private room, Wen Yao gave Qiu Rongrong a little heads-up.

“Big Sister Qiu, there’s actually something else, even tastier, more fragrant, and spicier than zanthoxylum. I’m still researching how to grow it. Once I succeed, it’ll be even more popular than zanthoxylum, and there’ll be even more dishes we can make.”

Qiu Rongrong perked up immediately. “What is it? When will it be ready?”

Wen Yao put on a troubled look. “I’m not sure yet. But I promise, Sister, as soon as I manage to grow it, you’ll be the first to get it.”

Qiu Rongrong was a little disappointed, but since Wen Yao said she could grow it, she was willing to wait.

“All right then. I’ll be waiting for your good news. Don’t worry, you’ll get your share of the profits, you little money-grubber,” Qiu Rongrong teased.

—

That day, the Drunken Immortal Restaurant was more lively than the lantern festival outside. A new dish had suddenly appeared on the menu, and every table received a small complimentary portion.

At first, many guests found the taste unfamiliar and nearly complained, but as they ate, the flavor grew on them. The more they tasted, the more they wanted, until they found themselves craving more. But when they asked for another serving, Manager Lu simply spread his hands, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m so sorry. This dish is a new creation by our chefs, and for now, we only have these few portions. We just wanted you all to have a taste. If you like it, come back tomorrow. It’s called Boiled Sliced Pork, and because it’s complicated to make, we’ll only be serving twenty portions a day by reservation.”

“Oh, and from now on, Drunken Immortal Restaurant will launch two new dishes every month. On the first and fifteenth, everyone can sample the new dishes for free. Please, give us your suggestions then.”

Manager Lu’s words left the guests, newly addicted, salivating for more. No matter how much they pleaded, or how much extra they offered to pay, Manager Lu stood firm: no more today—come back tomorrow.

Several people immediately made reservations for the next day, leaving deposits on the spot.

Manager Lu could barely contain his glee as he collected the money.

In the private room, the Wen family and Doctor Jin’s party had large bowls of Boiled Sliced Pork on their table.

“Yao Yao, you made this, didn’t you?” Doctor Jin and Manager Qiu recognized the flavor immediately—they’d tasted it from Wen Yao before.

Wen Yao glanced at Qiu Rongrong with a smile. “From now on, this dish will be available at Drunken Immortal Restaurant.”

The two exchanged a look—they understood perfectly.

After the meal, Xie Yushan could barely stand being ignored, while Qiu Rongrong seemed perfectly at ease with the Wen family. Even Xie Anyi had forgotten his earlier humiliation and was playing along, leaving only Xie Yushan awkwardly seated.

Looking at Qiu Rongrong’s radiant smile, Xie Yushan felt a pang of irritation. He had never seen that expression on her face before, and it didn’t sit well with him.

His irritation made him want to spoil Qiu Rongrong’s good mood.

“Madam, it’s getting late. We shouldn’t take up any more of Manager Qiu and Doctor Jin’s time,” he said.

Qiu Rongrong had been about to discuss the details of the partnership with Wen Yao, but Xie Yushan’s words—and the impatience and displeasure in his eyes—made her lower her head, hiding her feelings. She whispered to Wen Yao, “I’ll send someone to fetch you tomorrow. We’ll talk more then.”

“All right,” Wen Yao nodded. Only then did Qiu Rongrong rise to bid farewell to Manager Qiu, Doctor Jin, and the Wen family, leaving with Xie Yushan.

Xie Yushan himself didn’t know why he still bothered to be polite to a bunch of country bumpkins.

No one tried to make them stay; after all, the Wen family was large, and three extra guests were still a bit out of place.

Not long after the three left, the dimming evening was brightened once more. Opening the street-facing window, one could see the brightly lit avenue, all manner of lanterns, and crowds twice as large as during the day.