Chapter Fifty-Six: Giving Away the Secret Recipe for Free?

Such is the way of the world—round and round we go, never knowing when we might return to where we started.

Wu Ning had never expected that, in poaching the cook from Emerald Fragrance Pavilion, he would end up causing trouble for the Qin family. He was even less aware of the depth of Qin Fu’s animosity toward Steward Wang; the feud between their families had reached a point where neither could tolerate the other’s existence. Wu Ning did not feel he had done anything wrong. As Wang had said, business is business: if you cannot match my price, you have only yourself to blame.

He calmly stepped aside, distancing himself from the dispute, and listened as the two men argued. Fortunately, the people of old cared about appearances. Qin Fu, incensed, barked out a few words, but as a crowd began to gather, he quickly reined himself in. Steward Wang, unwilling to waste words with a mere servant, shook his head, assumed an air of magnanimity, and walked away with his hands clasped behind his back.

...

“Steward Qin, about these vegetables... do you still want them?” Wu Ning felt a twinge of guilt. He could tell Qin Fu’s earlier comment about buying only radishes was spoken in anger. His question now was a gesture, offering Qin Fu a way out of embarrassment—after all, he had already lost his cook, and now half a cart of vegetables was being forced upon him.

Unexpectedly, Qin Fu was rather forthright, his brows knit in determination. “Young master, what kind of question is that? I said I’d buy them, and I won’t go back on my word.”

Well, Wu Ning thought, my question was unnecessary.

“Where’s your cart? Once the goods are weighed, I’ll help you load them.”

“I didn’t bring one,” Qin Fu replied. “I’ll trouble you, young master, to deliver them.”

“This...” Wu Ning was at a loss. He forced a smile. “Steward Qin, surely you’re jesting. The city gates will soon close. If I deliver them, we’ll both be stuck inside.”

“Ha.” To his surprise, Qin Fu laughed.

“Didn’t you see the notice when you entered the city?”

“What notice?”

“The prefecture, for the sake of security, has been closing the city gates half an hour earlier for the past five days. Even if you leave now, you won’t get out.”

“What?” Wu Ning and Wu Li exchanged glances. Was that really the case?

It seemed they truly wouldn’t make it home tonight and would have to stay at their fourth uncle’s house. Since this was so, helping Qin Fu deliver the goods was no trouble.

Leaving the West Market with Qin Fu, they headed for the Qin family restaurant in the East Market, crossing all of Fangzhou City. Wu Ning drove the ox cart straight ahead, but Qin Fu called him to turn north.

“This way.”

“Aren’t we going to the restaurant?”

“Not tonight—the restaurant is closed. Deliver to the residence.”

...

Wu Ning wondered if the cook had yet to be found. He ventured, “Is it because Emerald Fragrance Pavilion poached your chef?”

“Yes.” Qin Fu’s mood was gloomy, but Wu Ning, being the nephew of the commander, was someone he could speak freely with. “The famous chef from Xiangyang hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Oh...” The chef had already been at the mountain pass for quite some time, yet the Qin family had not hired anyone new. Their business must be suffering.

He tried to comfort him. “The Qin family has a vast operation—cloth shops and rice stores aplenty. Losing one restaurant is nothing to worry about. You’ll recover soon enough.”

This time, Qin Fu said nothing, only shook his head slightly.

...

——————————

They walked in silence. Qin Fu led Wu Ning and Wu Li to the Qin residence in Yongping Lane, at the northwest corner of the main street. He tied the ox cart at the door and called for his servants to unload the radishes.

Wu Ning had already weighed them—just over one hundred and thirty catties. He rounded down the price and charged Qin Fu five hundred coins.

Qin Fu didn’t argue; the radishes weren’t cheap, so a small discount was fair. He handed Wu Ning ten large coins. “North of here, there’s an inn. You two can stay there tonight.”

“No need,” Wu Ning declined. “I have relatives in Kangping Lane.”

“Oh.” Qin Fu remembered then—they were the nephews of the commander. Kangping Lane was the largest and finest in Fangzhou, reserved for officials and nobles. Even wealthy merchants like the Qin family had no right to settle there.

“I’ll have them hurry. The gates will close soon.”

Not wanting to waste time, he himself helped carry the radishes inside. In their dealings, he found Wu Ning, though sly, was pleasant enough.

Wu Ning considered helping, but recalled that, to Qin Miaoniang, he was a stranger. If he went in, who knew what trouble he might cause? So he stayed outside.

Soon, the radishes were all unloaded.

Night had fallen. In a quarter of an hour, the gates would close. Wu Ning reckoned he just had time to drive the cart to Kangping Lane.

He bade Qin Fu farewell and was about to leave when Qin Wenyuan returned, walking toward the gate. The old man looked weary. Seeing the commotion, he asked, “What’s going on?”

Qin Fu replied, “Master, we just bought some radishes.”

“Oh.” Qin Wenyuan barely noticed Wu Ning and was about to enter.

“Elder Qin, please wait.”

...

Wu Ning’s greeting finally caught Qin Wenyuan’s attention. He squinted and recognized him. “Isn’t this Ninth Young Master Wu? What are you doing here?”

Wu Ning sighed inwardly. I did not kill Boren, yet Boren died because of me.

He told Wu Li, “Take the cart to Fourth Uncle’s house. I have something to discuss with Elder Qin.”

Wu Li glanced at both men, nodded, and said, “Don’t take too long!”

Once Wu Li left, only Wu Ning, Qin Wenyuan, and Qin Fu remained at the gate.

“I heard your restaurant has run into trouble?”

Qin Wenyuan nodded. “Thank you for your concern, young master.”

“Do you have pen and paper?” Wu Ning saw Qin Wenyuan was distracted, so he got straight to the point. “I’d like to give you another secret recipe.”

Qin Wenyuan reacted instinctively. “Is that necessary?”

The last recipe had cost him a fortune, thanks to Wu Ning’s influential uncle. Now another?

But Wu Ning smiled calmly. “Don’t worry—I won’t charge you.”

At the mention of free, Qin Fu didn’t wait for instructions and hurried inside to fetch pen and ink.

“Wait,” Qin Wenyuan stopped him. “It’s inconvenient outside the gate. Young master, please, come in.”

“No need,” Wu Ning replied inwardly. He would like to enter, but circumstances forbade it. “It’s late. I’d rather not trouble you.”

Qin Wenyuan agreed. Apart from himself, only his daughter lived at home; inviting a young man in at night would be improper.

He sent Qin Fu for pen and ink. Wu Ning placed the paper on his knee and wrote under the lantern by the gate.

“It’s not much of a secret, really,” he explained as he wrote. “You’ve tasted my claypot rice—it’s quite popular lately, at least in Fangzhou. Most importantly, it’s simple to make and doesn’t require a famous chef. Until you hire a new one, this can fill the gap.”

He finished writing the recipe and handed it to Qin Wenyuan.

“The claypots aren’t the large ones used before, but small ones I had made specially. Tomorrow, you can send Steward Qin to my place for a sample, then have a pottery shop make more.”

“This...” Qin Wenyuan was bewildered.

Why was this young man so generous tonight? Giving away a secret recipe and helping the restaurant through its difficulties—could there be ulterior motives?

...

———

Only one chapter today due to illness. Will make up for it in a few days.