Late at night.
Guard Zhao Wu finished his day of surveillance and immediately returned to the Sixth Prince’s residence to report everything Yu Zhizhi had done.
After leaving Fuju Restaurant, Zhao Yunjin had instructed Zhao Wu to continue tailing her until she went to sleep.
He was naturally suspicious by nature. Ever since the drunken incident, Yu Zhizhi’s behavior had changed drastically—so much so that he found it hard to fully believe it was the same person.
What he didn’t want to admit was that… the current Yu Zhizhi was becoming interesting. She had already caught his attention.
After hearing Zhao Wu’s report, a faint smile appeared on Zhao Yunjin’s lips.
She really had become intriguing—she had managed to trick Shopkeeper Luo out of more than a hundred wen, and she hadn’t been blinded by the thousand-tael offer for the hot pot recipe. She refused it outright.
Setting up a stall?
Was she planning to do business properly like her biological parents?
In this dynasty, women were allowed to run businesses, but across the entire Chu Yun Kingdom, very few managed to truly persist.
He wondered how long she could last.
He was already looking forward to it.
There were two common types of stinky tofu: one pitch-black like ink, and one golden in color.
Yu Zhizhi planned to make the black version.
Stinky tofu required brine, and the brine depended on wild vegetable stems. So she decided to go to the outskirts of the city to dig wild amaranth stems herself.
Just as she was about to leave with a basket on her back, a familiar voice came from ahead.
“Miss!”
She looked up.
It was Xiao Tao, carrying a bundle, walking quickly toward her.
“Miss, this servant has come back to you.”
Yu Zhizhi immediately stepped forward and took the bundle from her.
“I told you to stay home with your family a few more days. Why are you back so soon?”
Xiao Tao smiled brightly.
“I was worried Miss couldn’t manage alone, so I hurried back.”
Yu Zhizhi gently patted her hand.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Then she reminded her.
“You’re no longer a slave. Don’t call yourself ‘servant’ anymore, and don’t call me Miss either.”
But Xiao Tao only smiled shyly.
“I’m used to calling you Miss already… I’ll try to change how I refer to myself.”
Her family was deeply grateful to Yu Zhizhi for saving her. Especially her parents, who urged her to return quickly to help.
Seeing Yu Zhizhi’s outfit, Xiao Tao asked curiously,
“Miss, where are you going?”
“To the outskirts to dig wild amaranth stems.”
Without hesitation, Xiao Tao snatched the basket.
“I know where to find them. Leave it to me!”
And just like that, she rushed out the door—coming and going in a flash.
Yu Zhizhi couldn’t help laughing.
Fine. Having an extra helper wasn’t bad.
She had already told her parents about the stall last night. They were very supportive and even wanted to help her set it up.
But she refused.
They had their own shops to manage, and her stall wasn’t large. With Xiao Tao and He Yang, it should be enough.
If it got too busy later, she could always ask her parents.
In the end, her parents still gave her ten taels of silver as startup funds.
She accepted it warmly.
While Xiao Tao went to gather the stems, Yu Zhizhi also went to her family’s grocery shop to collect ingredients for the stinky brine.
Everything was prepared, and the stems were cut and soaked in water.
Two days of fermentation.
Then she would add ground sesame, soy milk, star anise, bay leaves, tsaoko, peppercorns, dried mushrooms, and bamboo shoots into the fermented water.
Finally, add a duck egg and let it “swim” inside.
After a few more days of fermentation, the stinky brine would be ready.
Yu Zhizhi was busy preparing garlic chili sauce when He Yang suddenly appeared in the Yu residence after three days of absence.
He rushed over excitedly.
“Boss! I did it! My grandfather and father finally agreed! I can openly set up stalls with you now!”
Yu Zhizhi smiled in satisfaction.
“That’s good news. But why are your lips so swollen? And why do you look fatter than three days ago?”
He Yang forced a smile.
“Isn’t it obvious? I’ve been eating hot pot every day for three days. I got ‘heatiness’.”
Ever since he brought the hot pot ingredients back home, his family had become obsessed with it.
Especially his grandfather and father.
And him.
They ate it every single meal.
After three days, they finally agreed.
“My grandfather likes pig brain. My father and I prefer meatballs, fatty beef, and beef slices.”
Yu Zhizhi immediately understood.
No wonder he was getting fat.
She reminded him:
“It’s getting hot. Eat less spicy food. Also, send someone to take the copper pot back tomorrow—my family hasn’t tried it yet.”
He Yang nodded.
“I’ll pay for a new one.”
She shook her head.
“No need. It costs three taels of silver. Save your money.”
He smiled slyly.
“Don’t worry. I’ll use my family’s funds.”
His grandfather was hosting guests tomorrow for hot pot anyway—so the pot could be charged to him.
“And the broth ingredients… I’ll have the steward buy them from you through public funds.”
Now both the pot and the ingredients were covered.
Yu Zhizhi slowed her chopping slightly and glanced at him.
“Who did you learn this from?”
He Yang grinned.
“From you! Aren’t I smart?”