Lu Jincheng had traveled across countless regions of the empire. Although he often sampled famous local dishes during his journeys, he rarely developed a true appetite for any of them. Yet today, the seemingly ordinary White-Cut Chicken placed before him stirred a genuine craving to indulge.
At first glance, the dish looked simple, but hidden beneath that simplicity was remarkable craftsmanship. Mu Yuqing had specifically chosen a six-month-old hen that had never laid eggs. Using her unique cooking and poaching techniques, she preserved the chicken’s purest freshness and silky tenderness. Paired with the specially prepared dipping sauce, the flavor reached an entirely different level.
Lu Jincheng picked up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks and lightly dipped it into the fragrant sauce before placing it into his mouth.
The moment it touched his tongue, a rich savory aroma spread through his senses. The meat was tender and juicy, almost melting apart with every bite. Each chew released layers of flavor, delicate in texture yet overflowing with natural sweetness. The seasonings in the sauce perfectly enhanced the chicken’s original taste, creating a lingering richness that stayed behind long after he swallowed.
He slowly closed his eyes, immersing himself in the indescribable delight of the dish. For that brief moment, it felt as though all the burdens and pressures weighing on him had vanished, leaving behind only the pure joy of good food.
After finishing the White-Cut Chicken, his attention shifted toward the vibrant plate of Mala Chicken nearby.
Unlike the first dish, this one was bold, fiery, and intensely seasoned.
Lu Jincheng placed a crispy golden piece into his mouth. Instantly, a wave of numbing spice exploded across his tongue. The sensation was addictive, his lips tingled, his mouth burned pleasantly, yet he found himself unable to stop eating.
But just as he became immersed in the thrilling heat, a sudden sharp pain stabbed through his throat.
His expression changed immediately.
This is bad.
The spicy food had likely triggered his old illness again.
Lu Jincheng quickly set down his chopsticks and pulled a small medicine bottle from his waist before swallowing a pill.
Unfortunately, the pain did not ease.
Instead, it seemed even more severe than usual.
Mu Yuqing noticed the change in his complexion at once. Without hesitation, she reached out and checked his pulse. Using the cover of her sleeve, she secretly retrieved a pill from her Space, one specifically meant to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort, then handed it to him.
“Take this with warm water,” she said calmly.
Surprisingly, not long after swallowing the medicine, the tightness and pain in Lu Jincheng’s throat gradually disappeared.
He stared at Mu Yuqing in astonishment.
With a faint smile, she explained, “You ate too much rich food all at once, then immediately followed it with heavily spiced dishes. Your stomach couldn’t adjust in time, causing your qi and blood circulation to become disrupted. My medicine simply helps regulate the body and soothe the digestive system.”
Lu Jincheng could not help feeling amazed.
There truly were hidden talents among ordinary people.
This meal had exceeded all his expectations.
Once they finished eating, Manager Fang brought over the prepared contract.
The agreement followed the terms they had discussed earlier, a thirty-seventy profit split. In return, Mu Yuqing would provide one new recipe each month.
To her, this requirement was almost effortless.
As someone from the modern world, she could think of countless chicken dishes alone, Salt-Baked Chicken, Mushroom Chicken Stew, Steamed Chicken, Yellow Braised Chicken, Three-Cup Chicken, and many more.
Before signing, however, she clearly stated that crayfish were not included in the long-term agreement.
After all, the current supply would only last for a limited time. The true crayfish harvesting season would not begin until next spring. Still, she promised to deliver some to the restaurant every day for as long as they remained available.
Satisfied with the terms, Mu Yuqing happily signed the contract.
As for her braised meat recipe, she originally had no intention of selling it.
However, considering that it was inconvenient for a woman to constantly appear in public during this era, she eventually decided to sell the exclusive rights instead.
After several rounds of negotiation, both parties agreed on a final price of ten thousand taels.
Although the amount was enormous, Lu Jincheng did not hesitate in the slightest.
His restaurants operated throughout the empire. Recovering the investment would only take time. More importantly, once he obtained the exclusive recipe, imitators would never be able to reproduce the same flavor easily.
Lu Jincheng instructed Fang Zhou to retrieve the ten thousand taels in banknotes.
Mu Yuqing suddenly asked, “Could you help me exchange part of it into a hundred taels of loose silver?”
Lu Jincheng nodded, and Fang Zhou immediately went to make the arrangements.
Now that she finally had money in hand, the very first thing Mu Yuqing thought about was purchasing the mountain with the hot spring.
Once it belonged to her, she could fence off the entire area and enjoy it privately whenever she wished.
Turning toward Lu Jincheng, she asked, “Master Lu, may I ask how one purchases a hillside around here?”
Lu Jincheng looked somewhat surprised.
“You wish to buy a mountain, Miss Mu?”
Mu Yuqing briefly explained her plans.
A confident smile appeared on Lu Jincheng’s face.
“Several of my close friends work within the local government office. In a few days, I can speak to one of them. They’ll send people to measure the land, and once the deed is completed, the matter will be settled.”
Mu Yuqing’s eyes instantly lit up with delight.
A bright smile bloomed across her face like flowers in spring.
“That would be wonderful! Thank you so much, Master Lu!”
Lu Jincheng laughed heartily.
“Tsk tsk, only a verbal thank you? Shouldn’t such a favor earn me a proper feast prepared by Miss Mu herself?”
As he spoke, he gave her a playful wink.
Mu Yuqing laughed as well.
“That’s easy enough. We can arrange it anytime.”
In the end, Mu Yuqing left the restaurant in excellent spirits, carrying ten thousand taels with her.
Not long after she departed, a man dressed in sturdy travel clothing quietly entered the restaurant.
“Master,” he reported in a low voice, “Miss Mu is a widow. She currently lives on a small estate with her late husband’s two children. Her life has not been easy, but the villagers speak very highly of her. I also heard that she possesses medical skills and has even helped women deliver babies in the village.”
Lu Jincheng raised an eyebrow slightly as he listened.
His curiosity toward Mu Yuqing deepened even further.
He had never expected a woman with such extraordinary culinary and medical talent to possess such a background.
Outside the restaurant, Qingyun had already been waiting beside the carriage for quite some time.
The moment she saw Mu Yuqing emerge, she hurried over anxiously.
“Madam, you’re finally out! I was starting to worry.”
Mu Yuqing smiled warmly.
“Come on, let’s go buy rice. Tonight, we’re finally having a proper meal with white rice.”
“Madam, I bought a carriage! Come take a look!”
Qingyun excitedly pulled her toward the vehicle.
Mu Yuqing examined the carriage carefully.
The exterior looked simple and modest, though still fairly new and well maintained. She found it acceptable, but she couldn’t help wondering why Qingyun had not simply purchased a completely new carriage instead.
Sensing her thoughts immediately, Qingyun hurriedly said, “Madam, don’t judge it by the outside. Go inside and take a look first.”
Mu Yuqing lifted the curtain and stepped into the carriage.
The moment she entered, her eyes widened in shock.
The outside appeared plain and ordinary, yet the interior was astonishingly luxurious.
“Qingyun, where did you find such an incredible carriage?” Mu Yuqing asked happily. “And this horse looks exceptional too. We truly struck gold today.”
Naturally, Qingyun would never admit that the horse was actually her prized Ferghana stallion, one she had won from a fellow disciple through gambling, nor would she reveal that the carriage itself had originally been custom-made for their master and left unused.
“Madam, the carriage and horse were simply a lucky bargain. We really were fortunate today!”
Immediately afterward, Qingyun began spinning a long, detailed, and completely fabricated story to satisfy Mu Yuqing’s curiosity.