Chapter 87

Manager Yu suddenly left, and Wang Yuan’er was left waiting. Fortunately, Manager Yu had taken the jar of fermented tofu.

Thinking about this, Wang Yuan’er decided not to stay any longer. She informed the waiter and left. As she exited Huifeng Yuan, she wondered if she should send a sample of her second batch of fermented tofu to other restaurants as well.

“Hey, miss, miss, wait!”

Just as she was about to turn the corner, Wang Yuan’er was called back by the waiter from Huifeng Yuan.

The panting waiter said, “Miss, our manager requests to see you.”

“Me?” Wang Yuan’er pointed to herself, feeling puzzled.

Soon, Wang Yuan’er found herself standing in Huifeng Yuan’s kitchen, feeling a bit bewildered.

It turned out that Manager Yu had been called away because a guest in one of the VIP rooms was throwing a tantrum, demanding to try something new and unique.

Manager Yu was at a loss. This particular guest had visited many times and knew the menu well. However, offending him was not an option, as it would cause serious trouble for Huifeng Yuan.

Seeing the waiter holding the jar of fermented tofu, Manager Yu had an idea. Since Wang Yuan’er had praised her product, why not use it to prepare a dish?

This was how Wang Yuan’er ended up in Huifeng Yuan’s kitchen.

Looking around the large, orderly kitchen, with its neatly dressed chefs and clean cutting boards, Wang Yuan’er felt a sense of determination.

“Miss, please hurry. My guests are waiting,” Manager Yu urged.

Snapping back to reality, Wang Yuan’er rolled up her sleeves, ready to seize this great opportunity to promote her fermented tofu. But what dish could she make quickly and well?

The distinct smell of mutton filled the air, sparking an idea in Wang Yuaner’s mind.

“Is this stewed mutton?” she asked Manager Yu.

Manager Yu sniffed the air and then looked at the chef, who nodded in confirmation.

Though Wang Yuan’er had never been to Huifeng Yuan, she knew that their stewed mutton was famous.

Without hesitation, she asked for a pot, used radish as a base, and added some stewed mutton on top. She then added clear soup and placed it on the stove to cook.

The staff watched, puzzled by her actions. Without explaining, Wang Yuan’er opened the jar of fermented tofu, took out a few pieces, and placed them in a bowl. She added a bit of oil and mashed the bean curd with chopsticks, creating a creamy sauce.

Scanning the kitchen, her eyes lit up when she spotted some water spinach. Fermented tofu pairs perfectly with water spinach. She instructed the kitchen staff to wash the water spinach, then took a green pepper and sliced it. She heated a pan, added oil, and stir-fried the vegetables.

When the dish of stir-fried water spinach with fermented tofu and the mutton hotpot was finally served, Wang Yuan’er began explaining to the chefs.

Mutton can be delicious on its own, but when paired with fermented bean curd sauce, the flavor becomes even better. Sometimes, the sauce makes all the difference in a dish.

She thought that no one had ever tried mutton with fermented tofu sauce before.

The chef tasted the stir-fried water spinach with fermented tofu sauce and nodded repeatedly. “This fermented tofu is fresh and excellent.”

Wang Yuan’er smiled, still feeling nervous. She wondered how the important guest would react. Just as she was lost in thought, the waiter returned happily to inform her that the guest had given a tip. Wang Yuan’er finally felt relieved.

Chapter 88

Huifeng Yuan placed an order with Wang Yuan’er for five large jars and ten small jars of fermented tofu, making her overjoyed.

Huifeng Yuan was the top restaurant in Changle Town and was said to have its main branch in the capital. Its business was always booming, and a few jars of fermented bean curd were nothing. It wouldn’t be long before they placed another order, ensuring long-term business.

Manager Yu was a shrewd businessman. After learning that Wang Yuan’er only supplied his restaurant with fermented tofu, he became excited and requested that she exclusively supply Huifeng Yuan.

However, Wang Yuan’er had lived two lives and was no longer the naive girl she once was. She knew that her business needed to be sustainable. Although her fermented tofu wasn’t widely known yet, it wouldn’t be long before it became popular, and then it would be beyond her control.

In the business world, competition was inevitable. Even her fermented bean curd recipe would likely be discovered by others eventually. But considering that Manager Yu had ordered several jars, Wang Yuan’er agreed not to promote her product elsewhere for now. However, if other businesses came knocking, she wouldn’t turn them away.

Her response impressed Manager Yu, who saw her as a resourceful businesswoman despite her unassuming appearance.

With a significant deal completed, Wang Yuan’er was overjoyed. Manager Yu, in a good mood after receiving a tip, had the chefs prepare a few dishes for her to taste, making their collaboration even more pleasant.

Since it was almost noon, Wang Yuan’er decided to have lunch at Huifeng Yuan. She didn’t forget her family, packing most of the food to take home.

Huifeng Yuan indeed lived up to its reputation as the top restaurant. The food was excellent, and as Wang Yuan’er ate, she overheard a conversation at a nearby table.

“I heard the new county magistrate, Li Xian, comes from a humble background. He became a jinshi in the eleventh year of Jianhe but offended his superiors because of his straightforward nature. That’s why he was transferred to Shanxi and now to our county as the magistrate.”

“It’s strange. Why was he transferred here from Shanxi? What’s the story behind Li Xian?”

“Who knows? It’s none of our business. Let’s just live our lives. New officials always make changes when they take office, so we’ll see.”

Wang Yuan’er bit her chopsticks, thinking about the name Li Xian. While others didn’t know his background, she did.

In her previous life, after the Fifth Prince became emperor, he appointed Li Xian, the Shanxi county magistrate, as the Guanghe county magistrate. During Li Xian’s tenure, he established a canal transport system in Changle Town and set up a maritime customs office, raising the town’s status and driving up land prices.

The maritime customs office managed canal trade, making Changle Town a crucial canal port. It became a highly coveted position, with fierce competition for a spot due to the lucrative opportunities.

However, Li Xian’s appointment should have occurred after the Fifth Prince became emperor. It was only March, and the new emperor hadn’t ascended the throne yet. Why had Li Xian been transferred here already? Could there have been some changes? Was Li Xian aligned with the Fifth Prince?

Unable to figure it out, Wang Yuan’er decided not to dwell on it. It had nothing to do with her anyway. Her family consisted of a few girls and a nursing baby brother. Planning ahead wasn’t feasible. As the people at the nearby table said, she just needed to live her life well.