Late at night.
Guard Zhao Wu finished his day of tracking and returned to the Sixth Prince’s residence, immediately reporting everything Yu Zhizhi had done.
After leaving Fuju Restaurant, Zhao Yunjin had ordered Zhao Wu to continue following her until she went to bed.
He had always been suspicious by nature. Ever since Yu Zhizhi’s drunken incident, her behavior had completely changed from before.
He still couldn’t fully believe a person could change so drastically in such a short time. But what he refused to admit was that… the current Yu Zhizhi had become somewhat interesting.
And she had caught his attention.
After hearing Zhao Wu’s report, the corners of Zhao Yunjin’s lips lifted slightly.
She was indeed becoming more interesting—she even managed to trick Shopkeeper Luo out of more than a hundred wen, and she wasn’t foolish enough to be blinded by the one thousand taels offer to sell the hotpot recipe.
Set up a street stall?
Was she planning to run a proper business like her birth parents?
In this dynasty, women were allowed to do business, but across the entire Chu Yun Kingdom, very few women actually succeeded in it.
He wondered how long she could persist.
And he was starting to look forward to it.
There were two common types of stinky tofu: one black as ink, and the other golden in color.
Yu Zhizhi planned to make the black version.
To make stinky tofu, you needed fermented brine, and one of its key ingredients was wild vegetable stems. So she decided to personally go to the outskirts to dig wild amaranth stems.
Just as she was about to leave with a basket on her back, a familiar voice came from ahead.
“Miss!”
She looked up and saw Xiao Tao walking toward her with a bundle on her back.
“Miss, this servant has come to find you,” Xiao Tao said happily.
Yu Zhizhi quickly went forward and took the bundle from her. “Didn’t I tell you to stay with your family a few more days? Why are you back so soon?”
“I was worried Miss couldn’t handle everything alone, so I came back early,” Xiao Tao replied with a smile.
Yu Zhizhi patted her hand gently. “You’ve worked hard.”
Then she reminded her, “And don’t call yourself a servant anymore. You’re no longer a slave. Also, don’t call me ‘Miss’ anymore.”
But Xiao Tao only smiled sweetly. “I’m used to calling you Miss. I’ll try to change how I refer to myself.”
Her family was extremely grateful to Yu Zhizhi, especially her parents, who urged her to return quickly to help and stay by Yu Zhizhi’s side.
Seeing Yu Zhizhi’s outfit, Xiao Tao asked curiously, “Where are you going?”
“To the outskirts to dig wild amaranth stems.”
Without hesitation, Xiao Tao snatched the basket and put it on her back. “I know where they grow. Leave this to me!”
And just like that, she ran out the door in a hurry.
Yu Zhizhi couldn’t help but laugh.
Fine—having extra help wasn’t a bad thing.
As for setting up a stall, she had already told her parents the night before. They were very open-minded and even wanted to help her run it.
But she politely refused.
After all, they already had their own shops to manage. Her stall was small, and with Xiao Tao and He Yang helping, it should be manageable.
If it ever became too busy, she could always ask her parents for help later.
In the end, her parents still gave her ten taels of silver as startup funds.
Yu Zhizhi accepted it gratefully.
While Xiao Tao was out collecting stems, Yu Zhizhi also went to her family’s grocery shop and brought back ingredients for making the stinky brine.
Once everything was ready, they cut the amaranth stems into small sections and soaked them in water to ferment for two days.
After that, they would add ground sesame, soy milk, star anise, bay leaves, grass fruit, peppercorns, dried mushrooms, and bamboo shoots into the fermented liquid.
Then crack in a duck egg and let it “swim” inside.
Let it continue fermenting for several more days, and the stinky brine would be complete.
Yu Zhizhi was busy making garlic chili sauce for the stinky tofu when He Yang suddenly appeared at the Yu residence after three days of absence.
He ran up excitedly. “Boss! Great news! My grandfather and father finally agreed after eating hotpot! I can officially go stall-running with you now!”
Yu Zhizhi smiled in relief. “That is good news. But… why are your lips so swollen? And you look a bit fatter than three days ago.”
Is that even a polite thing to say?!
He Yang forced a smile and touched his lips. “It’s because I’ve been eating hotpot every day these past three days. I got heaty.”
After bringing back the hotpot set, copper pot, and instructions from Yu Zhizhi, his family had fallen in love with it.
Especially his grandfather and father.
And him too.
They couldn’t get enough of it.
After eating it for three consecutive days, they finally agreed.
“My grandfather loves the same heavy flavors as you—he especially likes pig brain. My father and I prefer meatballs, fatty beef, and beef slices,” He Yang said.
Yu Zhizhi understood instantly.
No wonder this guy was getting fat—he was eating too well.
She reminded him, “It’s hot now, so don’t eat too much spicy hotpot. Also, have someone bring the copper pot back tomorrow. My family hasn’t had a chance to try it yet.”
He Yang immediately said, “I’ll pay to make a new one for you.”
Yu Zhizhi shook her head. “It costs three taels of silver. Save your money.”
He grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ll have the family pay for it.”
His grandfather had already invited friends over tomorrow for hotpot. Charging it to the family account was no problem.
“And the hotpot base is running low. I’ll also have the steward buy more from you through official funds.”
Now both the pot and the ingredients were covered.
Yu Zhizhi slowed down her chopping and glanced at him. “Who taught you this trick?”
He Yang grinned proudly. “From you! Aren’t I smart?”