Chapter 38: Striking Gold

"A new dish?"

Qin Jian was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with pleasant surprise. Although he knew Zhao Mu must have many more recipes hidden away, he had not expected Zhao Mu to offer him a new one so readily. Of course, he was well aware that Zhao Mu was simply reciprocating the goodwill he had shown earlier. If he had been cold and dismissive toward Zhao Mu from the start, even if they had reached a partnership, Zhao Mu would never have provided him with this new recipe.

Zhao Mu nodded and said, "The partnership I seek with Manager Qin is a long-term one. As long as the Tianxiang Pavilion prospers, our cooperation can continue. Giving you another new dish is both a gesture to put your mind at ease and a way for me to secure my own path to prosperity."

Qin Jian nodded, delighted, and said, "What ingredients do you need, Brother Zhao? I will have someone prepare them immediately!"

Zhao Mu thought for a moment and asked, "Has Manager Qin managed to acquire any chili peppers lately?"

Chili peppers, or *fanjiao*, were what he had used previously to create chili oil, and he had also taught the chefs at Tianxiang Pavilion how to make red oil white-cut chicken. However, although chili peppers had begun to appear in the Great Qi Dynasty, everyone treated them as ornamental potted plants and had no idea they were edible. As a result, the supply of chili peppers was extremely scarce. This was why Tianxiang Pavilion only featured "Pickled Fish" while the "Red Oil White-Cut Chicken" had not become a massive hit—it wasn't that the diners in Taiping County disliked the chicken, but rather that Manager Qin simply did not have enough peppers to put the dish on the menu.

Qin Jian sighed. "I have entrusted people to look for them, but the quantity found is very small, not nearly enough to cook with."

Zhao Mu nodded. "No matter. Since there are plenty of seeds, Manager Qin can cultivate them yourself when the time comes. By then, this will be a unique, exclusive business."

Qin Jian’s eyes brightened. Zhao Mu was right. If it weren't for the fact that the season was wrong, he would have started planting them immediately.

Observing Qin Jian's expression, Zhao Mu continued, "Although the season is unfavorable, if you could construct a greenhouse, perhaps you could harvest them early."

Qin Jian’s eyes lit up again, a sudden feeling as if his mind had been opened.

"I am enlightened!" Qin Jian bowed solemnly. "Young Master Zhao has helped me so much, and yet I cannot think of how to repay you. I am truly ashamed."

He had previously tried to give Zhao Mu more silver, but Zhao Mu had declined, only accepting two taels after being forced to. Just moments ago, he had offered to help Zhao Mu and Wang Wu secure their household registration and identity tallies, but Zhao Mu insisted on handling it himself in the future. Aside from these, he could not think of any other way to assist. He secretly made up his mind that once Zhao Mu left, he would immediately hire someone to handle the registration and tallies for Zhao Mu and Wang Wu. Once he shoved the documents into Zhao Mu's hands, he didn't believe Zhao Mu would still refuse.

Zhao Mu took a sip of tea and said, "Manager Qin, simply taking care of my business is already a great favor. If you feel uneasy, why not arrange another meal for me to take with me?"

Recalling how Zhao Mu had packed up food to take away last time, Qin Jian immediately gestured for someone to prepare another table of dishes.

"Young Master Zhao, you have helped me so much; how can a mere table of food repay you?" Qin Jian hesitated for a moment before saying, "How about this—if I may be so bold, let us address each other as brothers from now on. You need not call me 'Manager Qin' anymore; just call me 'Brother'."

Zhao Mu smiled. "Very well. Since Brother Qin has asked, it would be rude of me to refuse."

Qin Jian was overjoyed. "Good brother! I will go have them prepare some fine wine. Today, we shall drink to our hearts' content!"

Zhao Mu hurriedly waved his hand. "Brother Qin, I must leave the city today, so I will forgo the wine. Please just have them prepare a chicken, along with some chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns."

Qin Jian was puzzled. "Didn't you teach me the red oil white-cut chicken last time? Are we making chicken again?"

Zhao Mu explained, "I thought about it on the way back. The red oil white-cut chicken might suit the tastes of Southerners better, but a different preparation would be more suited to our Northern palates."

Qin Jian nodded like a bird pecking at grain and immediately ordered the preparations.

Before long, after a hearty meal, Zhao Mu had Wang Wu take the packed food back to the tea stall while he slipped into the kitchen of Tianxiang Pavilion to instruct the chef again. At this time, customers were beginning to arrive, and many caught the scent emanating from the kitchen.

"What is this smell? It's so fragrant!"
"We had this smell last time, too. Could the Tianxiang Pavilion be launching another new dish?"
"This smells different from last time. Could that person be back?"

Many diners had seen Zhao Mu before; although they didn't know his name, they remembered him. Soon, the entrance to the back kitchen was crowded. If not for the servants and chefs desperately blocking the way, the diners would have squeezed right in.

In the kitchen, Qin Jian regretted his choice. Although Zhao Mu hadn't drunk with him, Qin Jian had indulged in a few cups himself, causing him to forget to take Zhao Mu to the private kitchen and instead leading him to the main one. Had he known, he wouldn't have been so greedy for wine, nor so carried away as to choose the main kitchen. But since Zhao Mu was nearly finished, he couldn't ask him to stop. Fortunately, Zhao Mu worked quickly, and the dish was ready in no time.

"Brother Qin, taste this 'Spicy Chicken' and see if you like it." Zhao Mu served the dish and placed it before him.

Catching the enticing aroma, Qin Jian swallowed hard and immediately picked up a piece.

"So... so hot! So spicy!" The chicken was piping hot and fiery, but Qin Jian couldn't bear to spit it out. After a long moment, he swallowed it with reluctance and asked, "Brother, this dish is called Spicy Chicken?"

Zhao Mu nodded. "Yes. But it is just a name. If you wanted to call it 'The Supreme Chicken Under Heaven,' that would be fine too. After all, this dish is unique to Tianxiang Pavilion; no one else can make it."

Hearing this, Qin Jian burst into loud laughter. "Hahaha! That's a funny way of putting it, brother!" He laughed until tears almost came to his eyes. "If the name weren't so long, I might actually use it!"

Zhao Mu blinked, feeling that Qin Jian’s sense of humor was a bit low. He had only spoken in jest, yet Qin Jian was laughing so hard. In truth, Qin Jian was laughing not just because of the name, but because he knew he had truly struck gold this time.