Yu Zhizhi began stir-frying scallions, ginger, and garlic. Once they turned golden brown, she added a jar of fermented bean paste and kept stirring continuously.
Only after a quarter of an hour, when the paste had turned a rich reddish-brown color, did she add the chili paste.
Then she repeated the same process, stirring nonstop.
“Ah-choo!”
“Ah-choo!”
The kitchen was filled with an intense spicy aroma. Not only Yu Zhizhi, but even Aunt He kept sneezing.
Next came the Sichuan peppercorns, sugar cubes, and rice wine.
Finally, she added the ground spice powder and continued stir-frying.
It took Yu Zhizhi more than an hour to finish making the hotpot base.
That was already considered fast.
Even if she spent several more hours perfecting it, a first-time hotpot eater like the Sixth Prince probably wouldn’t notice the subtle differences anyway.
So she felt she had already shown plenty of sincerity.
The hotpot base had an incredibly rich and overpowering aroma.
While she was cooking it, the fragrance drifted through the cracks in the door and attracted Yun Haodong, Fang Lanzhu, and Yun Xiaochen.
However, they could only stay for a short while before covering their noses.
In the end, Yu Zhizhi chased them away.
After all, with two people already suffering inside the kitchen, there was no need for more victims.
As dawn broke, Yu Zhizhi unusually didn’t sleep in.
After waking up, she carefully dressed herself.
The day before, her mother had bought more than ten new outfits for her at once.
It was probably because she knew Yu Zhizhi had left the Prime Minister’s residence empty-handed.
Or perhaps she didn’t want her daughter continuing to wear clothes that had once belonged to Yun Yuqing.
In the end, Yu Zhizhi chose a light purple pleated dress.
Passing through the front courtyard, she ran into her father, Yun Haodong.
“Daughter, heading out?”
“Yes. I need to buy some ingredients.”
The previous evening, Yu Zhizhi had already told her family that she intended to host the Sixth Prince today to clear up the misunderstanding between them.
Naturally, they had no objections.
After all, the Sixth Prince’s status was far beyond that of ordinary merchants like them.
“Let Ping’an accompany you.”
He Ping’an was Uncle He’s and Aunt He’s son. He usually drove the carriage and handled errands.
After some thought, Yu Zhizhi agreed.
She had many ingredients to buy today.
Although none required a large quantity, there were so many different items that carrying everything alone would be difficult.
She also needed to make a trip to Fuju Restaurant beforehand.
Watching Yu Zhizhi purchase beef, fatty beef slices, beef tripe, omasum, and beef aorta, He Ping’an couldn’t help asking,
“Miss, are you really planning to cook all these organs?”
“Of course.”
“You absolutely shouldn’t. These organs have a very strong smell.”
If the Sixth Prince found out she was serving him smelly beef offal, their misunderstanding might worsen instead of being resolved.
“Don’t worry.”
Yu Zhizhi had her own methods for removing the odor.
As far as she was concerned, hotpot without offal wasn’t real hotpot.
In fact, she still planned to buy duck intestines and pig’s blood.
If the Sixth Prince refused to eat them, she would happily do so herself.
After all, she wasn’t planning to sit there as mere decoration.
She had prepared enough ingredients for three people.
Whenever she ate hotpot, she somehow gained a second stomach.
Half an hour later, all the ingredients had been purchased.
Yu Zhizhi instructed He Ping’an,
“Take these back and wash everything thoroughly. Ask Aunt He to prepare a pot of pork bone broth.”
“Yes, Miss.”
She carefully explained the cleaning methods for each type of organ.
However, she intended to prepare the beef and fatty beef herself.
The way hotpot beef was sliced was extremely important.
One careless cut could ruin the texture.
Afterward, Yu Zhizhi hurried to the blacksmith shop to collect her copper hotpot stove and then rushed straight to Fuju Restaurant.
Fuju Restaurant was the most famous restaurant in the entire Chu Yun Kingdom.
If it existed in modern times, it would undoubtedly be considered a five-star establishment.
Especially its main branch in Haidong District.
The diners there were either wealthy or influential.
Naturally, the prices reflected that status.
The original owner and He Yang had been frequent customers there.
But Yu Zhizhi wasn’t here to eat.
Carefully carrying the copper hotpot stove, she entered Fuju Restaurant.
To her surprise, two waiters immediately blocked her path.
What was that supposed to mean?
Did they think she couldn’t afford the bill now?
They weren’t even letting her enter.
Yu Zhizhi instantly became unhappy.
“I want to see your manager! Otherwise, I’ll go outside and tell everyone that Fuju Restaurant looks down on ordinary people and treats customers differently!”
“You—”
One of the waiters was so angry that he reached out as if to grab her.
At that moment, a voice stopped him.
“Hold it.”
Manager Luo waddled over with his round belly and smiling face.
Looking at Yu Zhizhi, he said pleasantly,
“Miss Yu—or should I say Miss Yun now. What can I do for you?”
This smiling old fox had cheated the original owner plenty of times before, always recommending the most expensive dishes and wines.
“Manager Luo, let’s talk somewhere private.”
The two moved to a private room on the second floor.
Not wanting to waste time, Yu Zhizhi got straight to the point.
“I’d like to rent one of your standard private rooms.”
Manager Luo’s eyes widened.
“Just rent a room? You’re not planning to dine here?”
Yu Zhizhi nodded.
Technically, he was only half right.
She was planning to eat here.
She just wasn’t planning to order any food.
She intended to bring her own hotpot stove and ingredients.
“No.”
Manager Luo rejected the idea immediately.
“What kind of customer comes to a restaurant just to rent a room without ordering anything? How are we supposed to make money?”
“I only need it for one day.”
A crafty smile flashed across Yu Zhizhi’s face.
“If you refuse, I’ll spread the story about how you sold me counterfeit wine.”
The original owner hadn’t cared much when He Yang mentioned it before.
But Yu Zhizhi cared.
A useful weakness should never be wasted.
Besides, the panic flashing through Manager Luo’s eyes confirmed that He Yang hadn’t lied.
Afraid she might cause trouble, Manager Luo reluctantly gave in.
Yu Zhizhi nodded in satisfaction.
“So what’s the rental fee?”
Manager Luo held up five fingers.
“Five hundred copper coins for one day.”
Oh?
The old fox was really trying to fleece her.
“You might as well rob me. One hundred copper coins.”
Manager Luo immediately objected.
“No way. Renting a room to you for a whole day could cost the restaurant over three taels of silver in lost business. Five hundred coins is already cheap.”
Yu Zhizhi laughed coldly.
“The Jade Spring Peach Blossom Wine you sold me before cost one tael of silver per bottle. Are you sure it actually came from Jade Spring Winery?”
“If I report this to the authorities, compensation for counterfeit goods is three times the original value. Why don’t you calculate how much you’d owe me?”
Manager Luo glared at her through gritted teeth.
“Fine! One hundred copper coins it is!”
Having achieved her goal, Yu Zhizhi looked around the room.
It wasn’t too large or too small.
Just right.
“I’ll take this room.”
Manager Luo clearly wanted to object again.
But after receiving a cold glance from her, he immediately backed down.
“Do you sell charcoal here?”
Why did she need charcoal?
Could she be planning suicide?
Renting a private room, closing the door, and then…
The more Manager Luo thought about it, the more terrified he became.
Cold sweat immediately broke out across his forehead.