Whenever people heard the words “pig offal,” the first thing that came to mind was usually the foul-smelling scraps tossed carelessly into the corners of butcher stalls.
Just hearing the name alone made many people instinctively wrinkle their noses in disgust.
Could something so filthy really be edible?
However, the man standing before the stall seemed completely unable to resist the tempting aroma drifting from the basin.
The fragrance was so rich and enticing that it practically hooked his soul.
Ignoring the strange looks from the surrounding crowd, he opened his mouth and cautiously bit into the piece of braised large intestine Mu Yuqing handed him.
The moment the food touched his tongue, his eyes widened instantly.
Not only was there no unpleasant odor whatsoever, but the texture was soft, chewy, and pleasantly springy.
The more he chewed, the richer the savory flavor became.
It was unbelievably addictive.
After swallowing the bite, the man immediately pointed excitedly toward the basin.
“Little lady, how much is this braised intestine? Give me one jin! And pack another two jin of crawfish as well!”
Mu Yuqing smiled calmly.
As expected, once someone dared to take the first bite, all their prejudice immediately disappeared.
“Brother, the braised intestines are fifteen wen per jin,” she replied.
The man did not hesitate for even a moment.
“Then weigh it out!”
“Coming right up.”
As Mu Yuqing packed the order, she smiled and added kindly, “Brother, you can eat it directly when you get home, or stir-fry it with some chili peppers and garlic sprouts. It tastes even better that way.”
While speaking, she also ladled a bit of extra braising sauce into his package.
For the next hour, Mu Yuqing and Qingyun became so busy they practically spun in circles nonstop.
Customers came wave after wave without pause.
Only after the crowd gradually thinned did the two finally manage to stop and catch their breath.
At this point, the mountain of crawfish had already been reduced to less than half a basin.
As for the braised offal, it had sold out completely.
Not even a drop of sauce remained.
Mu Yuqing wiped the sweat from her forehead before turning toward Qingyun.
“Qingyun, why don’t you head to the livestock market and ask about the prices of horses and carriages? If the price is reasonable, let’s buy one. It’ll make traveling much more convenient in the future.”
As she spoke, Mu Yuqing pulled out a heavy money pouch and counted out fifty taels of silver.
Unexpectedly, Qingyun immediately shook her head firmly.
“Madam, you’ve already treated me too well. I still have some silver left on me. Let me buy the carriage myself as a small way of repaying you for saving my life.”
Seeing how determined she looked, Mu Yuqing did not continue insisting.
Instead, she simply reminded Qingyun to stay safe on the road.
After Qingyun left, Mu Yuqing remained behind to clean the stall.
Using a pair of tongs, she carefully picked up the scattered trash nearby.
At that moment, a middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue robe and black cloth shoes slowly approached her stall with a young servant following behind him.
Mu Yuqing quietly sized him up.
His clothing and demeanor looked professional and refined, though traces of weariness lingered on his face.
Judging by his bearing, he was likely some kind of manager or steward.
The man stopped in front of the stall and offered a polite smile.
“Little lady, my name is Fang Zhou. I’m the manager of Hongfu Restaurant.”
As he spoke, his gaze swept over the remaining crawfish and empty braised meat basin.
“I happened to pass by earlier and was immediately drawn over by the fragrance from your stall. Both your crawfish and braised dishes are truly extraordinary.”
Then he got straight to the point.
“I came today to ask whether you would be willing to sell your recipes to Hongfu Restaurant.”
Mu Yuqing’s eyes flickered slightly.
Direct and straightforward, she thought.
Although she indeed needed money right now, she was not foolish enough to casually hand over her livelihood.
Keeping her smile calm and pleasant, she replied gently:
“Manager Fang, instead of selling the recipes outright, why don’t we discuss a partnership instead?”
Fang Zhou froze briefly in surprise.
Originally, he had assumed the young woman would eagerly agree the moment she heard an offer involving silver.
Unexpectedly, she proposed cooperation instead.
“Oh?” Fang Zhou raised his brows with interest. “And what kind of partnership does the little lady have in mind?”
Mu Yuqing answered steadily:
“These recipes are what I rely on to survive, so I won’t sell them. However, if we work together, I can provide the recipes and seasoning blends, while your restaurant handles the location and manpower.”
She paused briefly before continuing.
“As for the profits, we divide them by thirty-seventy. I take thirty percent, and Hongfu Restaurant takes seventy. What does Manager Fang think?”
Fang Zhou’s expression immediately turned serious.
He quickly realized this matter was no longer something he could decide on his own authority.
“Little lady,” he said carefully, “if you have the time, would you be willing to visit Hongfu Restaurant with me? This matter is too important for me to decide personally. I’ll need to consult our master first.”
Mu Yuqing instinctively glanced toward her stall, then toward the direction Qingyun had left earlier.
Fang Zhou immediately understood her concern.
“I’ll leave my servant here to wait for your companion,” he said promptly. “Once she returns, he’ll guide her directly to the restaurant.”
Hearing this arrangement, Mu Yuqing finally relaxed.
With the servant’s help, the remaining crawfish were loaded back onto the donkey cart.
Then Mu Yuqing followed Manager Fang toward Hongfu Restaurant.