Long Xuanling sat in thought; tomorrow, he would leave.
That girl—would he find her?
If not, this trip would be wasted…
Right, that girl had a plum blossom mark on her right shoulder. But guards couldn’t strip every woman’s clothes to check!
Sigh! This king left her a Jade Linglong Pendant.
If she needs money, she could pawn it for a lot; live comfortably for life…
In the palace, other brothers were executed on various pretexts, leaving only him—not because the emperor was merciful, but because he did many things for him.
At ten, he trained on the battlefield; at eleven, led troops. After returning, handed over command.
The emperor wouldn’t take it back, said it was safe with him.
Now, Canglong Kingdom’s ruler Dugucheng is ambitious, wants to dominate all.
Two months ago, he sent Grand Marshal Xiahou Jing with 50,000 troops to invade Liangshui City.
Enemies strong; took four cities, generals beheaded.
800-li urgent dispatch to capital; emperor ordered Left General to go.
Still couldn’t hold; Left General died in battle.
Then sent Second Prince; also defeated repeatedly.
Helpless, emperor sent for wandering Long Xuanling, ordered him to Fengdu City quickly.
Long Xuanling had to go, but gathered troops, headed to Fengdu City.
Next day, Long Xuanling called the manager.
Manager Li bowed: “Master!”
Long Xuanling set down his tea, “Manager Li, this afternoon, this king departs for Fengdu City. Prepare dry rations and water.
For Feng Yiyi, if she has troubles, help her; continue cooperation.”
“Yes, Your Highness! Subordinate retires!”
In the afternoon, Long Xuanling rode off in a carriage toward Fengdu City…
Feng Yiyi hadn’t gone to town these two days; waited for bean sprouts to grow, then partner with restaurants.
She experimented before; beans soaked in spirit spring water don’t grow roots.
Weighing the sprouts: over five jin, almost six.
Feng Yiyi calculated: 1 jin soybeans yields 5 jin sprouts.
1 jin soybeans 15 wen; sprouts 25 wen/jin; net profit 110 wen per jin. 10 jin sprouts earn over 1 tael.
Good profit.
Mung bean sprouts: over ten jin.
Higher profit: 1 jin mung 20 wen; sprouts 25 wen/jin; net 230 wen.
Feng Yiyi delighted; started second batch with spirit water.
Next morning, Xiang Qiao came for Feng Yiyi.
“Yiyi, going to town today? I’m selling eggs.”
“I’m selling bean sprouts; wait a bit.”
Feng Yiyi packed 25 jin sprouts in backpack and bags; went with Xiang Qiao.
“Xiang Qiao, I’m going to Fumanlou to sell sprouts; after, find you at market.” Feng Yiyi said.
“Okay, go.”
Feng Yiyi carried backpack, bag; arrived at Fumanlou.
Manager saw her, greeted smilingly.
“Feng girl here; what good stuff today?”
“Manager, brought two types of bean sprouts.”
“Bean sprouts? Like you mentioned last time?”
“Yes.”
“Go to kitchen!”
In kitchen, Feng Yiyi set down backpack.
She took out a plate of yellow bean sprouts, “Manager, I’ll teach a few dishes; recipes free; tell chefs.
Stir-fried yellow bean sprouts, cold mixed, bone soup, stir-fried with vermicelli.
Manager, see, rootless sprouts, no roots.
First, cold mixed yellow bean sprouts.
Feng Yiyi blanched sprouts, rinsed cold, drained. Mixed sauce: 1 spoon sesame oil, vinegar; half spoon chili oil, garlic; 2 spoons soy sauce; little sugar.
Chopped scallions; poured sauce.
No green/red peppers here; color would be better otherwise.
Mixed; manager tasted.
“Good, yellow bean sprouts crisp, tender, juicy.” Feng Yiyi taught stir-fry to head chef.
“How much per jin?” manager asked.
“Yellow 25 wen/jin; green 25 wen/jin.”
“Leave all today; see daily sales; tell you amount.”
“Good, but manager, these take 6-7 days to grow; wait for second. Later, no wait.”
“Okay, try selling.”
Calculated: sprouts total 345 wen. Manager gave 350 wen.
“Yiyi, supply only us; no contract.”
“Good, but if you can’t take, sell elsewhere.”
“Fine.” manager replied.
Left Fumanlou; found Xiang Qiao.
Feng Yiyi knew: sell sprouts a few times, villagers see, not secret. Theirs have roots; hers don’t.
Sell rootless water; teach technique. 20 wen per basin; fill vat daily; Grandma sells, earns money.
Grandma old; better than picking sprouts.
Bought 20 jin each bean; Liu Er carted with Xiang Qiao home.
“Xiang Qiao, learn sprouting; when grown, sell with mine.”
“Yiyi, no; your business; can’t take.”
Feng Yiyi weighed 1 jin each, gave Xiang Qiao.
From kitchen, took a bucket water: “Xiang Qiao, soak in this; no roots.
Mung needs hot water blanch; use this rootless water.”
Daily soak sprouts in water, drain, cover with cloth in basin until grown.”
“Thanks, Yiyi; thinking of me earning.”
“No need; when I was down, you paid my fare.”
“That’s past.” Xiang Qiao said.
Simple; Xiang Qiao learned, took basin, bucket, left.
Seven days later, Fumanlou cart came for sprouts; villagers returning from fields gathered.
Seeing manager give Feng Yiyi 4 taels silver, shocked.
Cart gone; villagers surrounded: “Yiyi, what you selling? So profitable!”