Shen Weiwan did not move. She took a few copper coins from her cloth pouch and handed them to the waiter at the door.
“Brother, could you please help me pass on a message? This is just a small token of appreciation. I’m counting on you.”
As she spoke, she placed the coins into his hand and bowed in thanks.
The waiter looked at the coins, then at the plainly dressed girl before him. After a moment’s thought, he said, “All right, but let me make this clear—I can only report your request. Whether the manager agrees to see you or not is out of my hands.”
“Thank you, brother. Just tell him that I have some recipes to sell.”
“Fine. Wait here for a bit.”
With that, the waiter turned and went to find the manager.
Shen Weiwan waited at the entrance for quite some time before the waiter finally returned.
“Come in. The manager said he’ll take a look first.”
The waiter led her to the innermost room on the second floor. Upon entering, she saw a middle-aged man wearing a long robe and sporting a goatee. He sat behind a writing desk, holding a bowl of tea. This man was Zhou Decai, the manager of Drunken Wind Pavilion.
He sized Shen Weiwan up from head to toe. Although she was plainly dressed, her eyes were bright and calm, making her seem quite unlike an ordinary peasant girl.
“You say you have recipes to sell?” Zhou Decai asked, his tone scrutinizing as he held his teacup.
Without servility or arrogance, Shen Weiwan unfolded the recipes she had prepared in advance.
“Manager Zhou, please have a look. This roasted lamb recipe uses local seasonings but produces meat that is fragrant and charred without any unpleasant gamey taste. As for this medicinal stew, it is nourishing without being greasy, perfect for the autumn and winter seasons. If you trust me, you can try making them first and we can discuss the price afterward if you’re satisfied.”
Zhou Decai took the recipes and narrowed his eyes as he read them for a long while. Then he asked several questions about cooking times and seasoning proportions.
Shen Weiwan answered clearly and methodically, even explaining which spices needed to be soaked in wine beforehand.
“Young lady, these recipes of yours…” Zhou Decai pondered for a moment. “They are quite interesting. But my Drunken Wind Pavilion is only a small establishment. I can’t afford an exorbitant price.”
“I’m not asking for a fortune,” Shen Weiwan said, meeting his gaze directly. “Fifty taels of silver for these two recipes. They’ll belong to you entirely. I only have one condition: if anyone asks where the dishes came from in the future, simply say they’re your family’s secret recipes. There’s no need to mention me.”
Zhou Decai was stunned. He had intended to haggle the price down to thirty taels, but he hadn’t expected this young girl to be so straightforward.
“Fine. But first, go to the kitchen and make the dishes. I need to taste them myself.”
Shen Weiwan bowed and followed the waiter to the kitchen.
The smell of oil smoke and burning firewood hit her the moment she entered.
She carefully washed the lamb in clean water. As her fingers traced the grain of the meat, she could feel how fresh it was.
The head chef, surnamed Wang, had worked at Drunken Wind Pavilion for ten years. He was leaning against the stove with his arms crossed, too lazy even to lift his eyelids.
“A little girl whose hair hasn’t even fully grown dares to come into the kitchen and give orders? This lamb reeks of gamey odor. Forget roasting it—even ten pounds of spices couldn’t cover the smell. I’d like to see what tricks you have.”
An old woman sorting vegetables nearby chimed in.
“Exactly! Manager Zhou is too kind, letting a little girl fool around like this. If she ruins good meat, that’s no joke.”
Shen Weiwan ignored them completely.
She cut the cleaned lamb into palm-sized pieces and took some cumin seeds from a nearby jar, grinding them into powder.
The cumin seeds were plump and fragrant; the moment she opened the jar, a spicy and distinctive aroma drifted out.
She took some Sichuan peppercorns and soaked them in warm water, then sliced some ginger and chopped a few scallions. Her movements were so skillful that she hardly seemed like a village girl.
Chef Wang curled his lips.
“What’s the use of spices alone? The stink of lamb comes from its very bones. You have to soak it in running water for three hours to remove it. You’re in such a hurry—nobody’s going to eat what you make.”
Only then did Shen Weiwan raise her eyes.
“Chef Wang, that’s the usual method. But soaking it in running water also washes away the meat’s natural flavor.
“My method only requires marinating it with peppercorn water and ginger slices for half an hour. It removes the odor while preserving the lamb’s fragrance.”
As she spoke, she placed the lamb into a clay basin, poured in the peppercorn water, sprinkled in some salt and ginger slices, and carefully kneaded the meat with her hands.
Her fingers were not delicate. The pads of her fingers bore the thin calluses of someone accustomed to farm work. Yet every movement was even and precise, as though she were performing some intricate craft.
“Hmph. Big words without a draft,” Chef Wang scoffed, though he couldn’t help edging a little closer.
Half an hour later, Shen Weiwan removed the marinated lamb, dried it with a clean cloth, and brushed it evenly with her specially prepared sauce.
At that moment, Manager Zhou also strolled into the kitchen and stood to one side with his arms crossed.
The kitchen fell completely silent. Even the sounds of vegetable chopping ceased as everyone’s eyes settled on Shen Weiwan and the basin of lamb.
She placed a clean iron pan over the fire and heated it until it was red-hot. Then she poured in a little rapeseed oil. Once the oil began to smoke, she laid the pieces of lamb into the pan one by one.
Sizzle!
Golden droplets of oil splashed up instantly.
A rich aroma of meat mixed with the scent of cumin burst forth, overpowering even the kitchen’s usual smell of smoke and grease.
Chef Wang’s eyes widened abruptly. He sniffed unconsciously.
“This… this smell… how can it…”
Shen Weiwan calmly turned the lamb, controlling the heat perfectly. She only flipped the meat once one side had turned lightly golden.
Then she sprinkled on some freshly ground cumin powder and sesame seeds. Finally, she drizzled a little wine over it.
At once, the fragrance became even richer—charred and savory, with a subtle warmth that seemed nourishing to the body. Even the sparks dancing in the stove appeared to leap more merrily, as if drawn by the aroma.
On the other side, the medicinal stew simmered in a clay pot. The sweetness of Chinese yam and goji berries blended with the richness of the bone broth, slowly escaping through the gaps in the lid.
The fragrance mingled with the roasted meat perfectly, without clashing in the slightest. Instead, it made one feel warm and comforted all over.
“It’s done.”
Shen Weiwan placed the roasted lamb onto a white porcelain plate and ladled the medicinal stew into a celadon bowl before carrying both dishes to Manager Zhou.
The roasted meat gleamed with a golden color, sesame seeds and cumin evenly coating the surface. At the slightest bite, the exterior was crisp while the meat inside remained so tender that it seemed to burst with juices.
That irritating gamey flavor had truly vanished without a trace, leaving behind only rich meatiness and just the right amount of spice.
As for the medicinal stew, the yam was soft and creamy, the goji berries gently sweet, and the broth rich without being greasy. Drinking it sent warmth spreading from the stomach straight to the heart.
Manager Zhou closed his eyes and savored the dishes for a long while.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked at Shen Weiwan differently. The scrutiny in his gaze had transformed into amazement.
“Excellent! Truly excellent! Even the finest restaurants in the city might not be able to make dishes like these!”
Chef Wang also could not resist stepping forward. He picked up a piece of roasted lamb and stuffed it into his mouth.
After chewing twice, his face turned bright red.
All of his earlier disdain had vanished into thin air, replaced by nothing but shame and admiration.
“This… this method of removing the odor… it’s simply incredible…”
Manager Zhou burst into laughter and patted Shen Weiwan on the shoulder.
“Young lady, your recipes are worth every bit of those fifty taels! I’ll fetch the silver for you right now!”