Chapter 37

Xinyang City is famed for its tea; every year countless merchants come to buy in bulk.
Officer Zeng and his party lodged at the courier station, and he still had people making soap, trying to ship as much product as possible.
By now he had the entire process down cold, he could handle it alone.
Mu Wanqing, meanwhile, wore men's clothing and a man's topknot; her undeveloped, slight frame made it impossible to tell her sex.
She kept a low profile with Shen Yong and his crew, as low-key as one could be.
She had also brought Mu Ziang and Mu Zicheng along, the more they saw of the world and the more they practiced, the sooner they'd be able to stand on their own.
She didn't have enough people yet and needed to assemble her own team.
Whether it was Officer Zeng's clerks or Shen Yong's guards, they were all just passing through.
Fate had them travel together for a while, but at the border they'd go their separate ways.
Entering Xinyang required a fee, two wen per person, and the party of eight paid and slipped into the city quietly.
Xinyang was more prosperous than the nearby towns: streets thronged with people, bustling and busy, carts and horses crisscrossing, shops standing shoulder to shoulder.
The street vendors calling out their wares were many, their cries and the tempting smells of food creating a lively scene that had children practically drooling.
Mu Wanqing was fascinated by it all and bought a little of everything: crisps, candied hawthorns, fu-ling cakes, sour plum soup, and so on.
When she had money she habitually stocked up on food, just in case.
From a distance Shen Yong watched her buy and buy, shopping as if swept off her feet, he could hardly bear it.
He couldn't help but urge, "Third Miss, where are we going now?"
Mu Wanqing shoved a packet of sesame cakes to her eldest brother, while Mu Zicheng's hands were overloaded with bags.
"The south city tea market opens in the late afternoon. Didn't you notice all the vendors? They're all merchants who've come to buy in bulk."
Shen Yong gaped. "How do you know that? Is that information reliable?"
"I asked the hawker selling candied hawthorns." Mu Wanqing chatted with each stall owner whenever she bought something. "Xinyang holds a tea market every five days, we got lucky."
Shen Yong suddenly understood. He had thought she was wasting time chattering, when in fact she had been gathering information the whole time.
Alright, as expected of Third Miss; she's always a step ahead of everyone.
"Then let's hurry over now."
Mu Wanqing shook her head slightly. "Do you think anyone can just walk into the tea market? You need an invitation from the Haiyang City authorities to enter; without one you're reduced to being a middleman, and the profits are cut in half."
Shen Yong couldn't help but panic, they didn't have one. "Have we come all this way for nothing?"
Mu Wanqing's eyes lit up with an idea. "It's about mealtime, let's go eat first."
Huiwei Restaurant was the finest establishment in Xinyang City; at this hour it was packed with diners and buzzing with activity.
Mu Wanqing and her party were stopped at the door. "Did you make a reservation?"
"No." Mu Wanqing said, supremely confident.
The waiter looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, we're full."
Mu Wanqing lifted an eyebrow. "We've heard Huiwei is the best restaurant in the city; we came specially to try your food. Please show us a little leniency, young man."
The waiter showed a hint of pride but still refused. "Really, it's impossible, we can't accommodate more."
Mu Wanqing gave Shen Yong a look. He quietly slipped a small piece of silver over.
"Then could you just seat us anywhere? Would that be possible?"
The waiter took the silver, half a tael. He didn't even earn that in a month's wages.
He bit his lip. "All right, that'll do. Please follow me."
He set them at a table in the corner, a bit cramped, but at least they were seated.
Huiwei's signature was their fish sashimi, famed for its flavor; many people came specifically to order this dish.
Mu Wanqing ordered it, along with garlic pork slices, astragalus lamb soup, and several small side dishes.
The dishes arrived quickly. The first was the astragalus lamb, lamb simmered with huangqi, which tasted all right.
After a while, the main attraction arrived: a large plate of fish sashimi was set on the table.
Fish sashimi is raw fish slices; later generations thought it a specialty of the island nation, but that's not true, it was introduced to the islands during the Tang Dynasty.
The sashimi was sliced as thin as snowflakes and arranged beautifully. Mu Wanqing pinched up a plump strip of belly, dipped it in the sauce, twirled it so every inch was coated, and then put it in her mouth.
The fish was fresh, silky with a hint of sweetness. Delicious.
"Fang fish is like jade, the yu-kui is unmatched. The head chef's filleting is masterful; this dish truly tests both knife skill and the freshness of the ingredients. Very nice indeed."
The waiter brought over the garlic pork and happened to hear that remark, surprised.
"Young master, you can tell it's fang fish? What a refined palate."
Their sashimi changed with the season; the owner picked the best fish available and didn't disclose its species, turning it into a little guessing game for customers, a selling point.
Guess right and there's a prize.
Mu Wanqing smiled lightly. "Not at all, I've just eaten a lot."
That display of bravado earned top marks; the waiter's look toward her was now laced with respect and admiration.
These days fish sashimi was the most elite of dishes, served only when entertaining guests or in the finest restaurants.
That meant whoever ate it regularly was either rich or noble.
"Young master, please try this dish as well; it's also our specialty."
Mu Wanqing ate only one piece and then put her chopsticks aside. The waiter lingered, curious. "Does it not suit your taste?"
"The ingredients are well chosen, the heat is perfect, and the knife work is good, but..." Mu Wanqing left him in suspense.
The waiter's curiosity was piqued. "What is it?"
Mu Wanqing shook her head with a sigh. "The dipping sauce is a bit lacking, it would be better with a dash of chili oil."
"What's that?"
Mu Wanqing said casually, "It's a condiment that's just become fashionable in the capital. You don't have it here yet?"
Her tone was nonchalant, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
But heaven knew she was making it up, there were no chili peppers in these parts yet.
The waiter believed her and answered weakly, "No, we don't."
Mu Wanqing looked disappointed and sighed softly. "Do you have pickled cabbage fish? I'd like to eat that."
The waiter shook his head again, feeling their menu didn't keep up with trends; that small pride they'd shown had been thoroughly deflated.
Mu Wanqing made a timely request. "Then, could we borrow your kitchen for a moment?"
If she'd asked that straight away, the waiter would have chased them off, it's a disturbance, there's no such custom.
But now he wasn't sure of their status and didn't dare offend them. "I'll have to ask the owner," he stammered.
The owner arrived soon and bowed to them. "I heard the guest wishes to borrow the kitchen to cook?"
Mu Wanqing nodded gracefully. "Yes. My stomach is delicate; I can't eat too much cold, raw fish."
The proprietor's composed face cracked; a young master who could cook? Surely not, must be a whim!
But his gaze fell on Shen Yong and his companions, each broad-shouldered and robust.
He readily agreed, no harm done; he'd treat it like indulging a child.
Mu Wanqing carried out her plan smoothly. "Brother, hand me the pickled cabbage jar."
No chili, but there was Sichuan peppercorn, enough to make a pickled cabbage pepper fish.
Shen Yong and the others exchanged looks. Who brings pickled cabbage when going out?
Huh, what's pickled cabbage?
No way, she had foreseen all of this?!
Third Miss Mu is someone you'll never be able to figure out!
The owner personally led Mu Wanqing and her small party of three into the kitchen. Mu Wanqing glanced around; the fang fish had already been sold out and couldn't be used.
However, there were grass carp, so she picked three of them.
When Mu Wanqing started cooking she kept everyone at a distance; everyone understood, chefs were like that unless you were a direct, legally recognized disciple.
No one took it seriously; the kid looked like a pampered child who'd never done an honest day's work. How could she cook?
They assumed it was just a passing fancy, something she'd whipped up on a whim.
But before long, an enticing aroma began to waft out.
The cooks exchanged glances, the scent was so overpowering it seemed to crawl up their noses and stir every hungry impulse.
When Second Master Mu appeared in the hall carrying a basin of pickled-cabbage and Sichuan-pepper fish, the entire room was struck by the smell.
The diners couldn't sit still. “Innkeeper, what is that dish? Why does it smell so good? Hurry and bring us a portion too.”
The innkeeper wanted some as well; he'd lived half his life and seen all kinds of people, yet this time he'd completely misjudged things.
This young master didn't just know how to cook, he was exceptionally skilled.
“My apologies, this was prepared by a customer in the kitchen.”
“A customer? What sort of person? Could we ask him to make another portion?”
“Well…” The innkeeper instinctively glanced at the person behind Second Master Mu. Mu Wanqing seemed to notice his look; she lifted her head, offered him a faint smile, then decisively turned and walked to her seat.
A young attendant in green stood on the second floor and called down, “Innkeeper, my master invites you up.”
The second floor was all private rooms; the innkeeper dared not delay. He replied briskly and trotted up the stairs.
Mu Wanqing's gaze swept over him, a faint smile lifting her lips, the bait had been taken.
She only wondered whether this was the big prize she wanted. She was eager to find out.
Shen Yong looked at the smile on her face and couldn't help but shiver.
What was she scheming with such indirectness?
In the suite, a man in brocade waved an ink-and-ivory fan, all swagger and gentlemanly charm.
“Who are they?”
The innkeeper did not dare be remiss; his tone was excessively respectful. “They're young masters from the capital, sir, with a retinue of guards. They look quite capable.”
The brocade-clad man tapped the ivory fan against his palm, thoughtful. “Go and negotiate, tell them I'm willing to pay handsomely.”
“Yes.”
The innkeeper hurried downstairs and soon returned, carefully reporting, “They said they won't sell, the young man isn't a cook. However, as the saying goes, all within the four seas are brothers; they don't mind inviting you to taste the dish together.”
The brocade-clad man raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Then invite them up.”
Shen Yong led the way, carrying the basin of pickled-cabbage and Sichuan-pepper fish. After setting it on the table, he quietly stepped back.
Behind him, Mu Wanqing was escorted in by a cluster of attendants, making a dazzling entrance, full of pomp, commanding attention.
Once she entered, Shen Yong stood rigidly behind her, hands at his sides in a pose of close protection, very professional.
The brocade-clad man appraised the party without a flicker; the innkeeper had spoken true, they were indeed from the capital. Don't be deceived by the inconspicuous youth at the front; his guards wore the finest attire, even official boots!
It was clear this group was of extraordinary origin.
He introduced himself proactively, “My surname is Guo. I'm the second in my family, you may call me Second Brother Guo. May I ask your name, young lord?”
It wasn't that everyone had collectively lost their sight; Mu Wanqing carried herself with such ease and confidence, free of any delicate, girlish airs, every move assertive, that who would suspect she was a girl?
Mu Wanqing sized him up as well: dressed in fine brocade, a smooth Hetian jade at his waist of considerable worth, several Lantian jade rings on his fingers.
Yes, after a look, she was certain: this was the fat prize she'd been eyeing!