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As dusk settled, the hotpot ingredients were ready. Chen Feng had also prepared two types of dipping sauces: one with sesame oil and the other with a soy-based sauce. For the red broth, sesame oil was used, and for the white broth, the soy-based sauce was preferred, especially with lamb.
The tantalizing aroma, combined with the cold weather, made the kitchen a place of warmth and comfort. The men, already eager, sat down in the kitchen, enjoying the hotpot—some preferred the red broth, while others favored the white. They ate and drank, thoroughly enjoying the experience. Mama Song and Old lady Huang helped the children by fishing out the meat and vegetables from the white broth, adding to the cheerful atmosphere.
After a while, Yang Mingyuan couldn’t contain his excitement and called Chen Feng over to seek her advice. Chen Feng explained the best type of stove and pot to use for hotpot, and also mentioned that their range of seasonings and ingredients was not yet complete. She shared some culinary tips and suggestions for the business, as well as thoughts on the decoration and layout of the restaurant.
Yang Mingyuan was thrilled and ready to take action. He suggested that this idea should be taken to the capital, but then thought better of it. Without a strong backing, it might not be wise to draw the attention of the powerful. It might be better to start in Dingzhou Prefecture, considering Chen Feng’s relationship with the young miss of Tangyuan, who would likely support the restaurant…
Once everyone had finished, Mrs. Wei and old lady Huang, along with Mrs. Wang, cleaned up the kitchen. Steward Luo and the others were ready to leave, but their enthusiasm for conversation was still strong.
Steward Luo didn’t want to linger so late at someone else’s home for “business talks.” Chen Feng, being the teacher of the young miss, couldn’t let her reputation be tarnished. So he suggested, “It’s late. Mr. Yang, you shouldn’t go looking for an inn now. Come and stay at my place.”
Yang Mingyuan realized it was already very late and didn’t feel right to keep bothering the girl. He agreed to go to Steward Luo’s house, thinking that he could talk to Chen Feng over lunch the next day.
He suggested sending Yang Chao and Yang Qian to Steward Luo’s house to sleep, but the two youngsters refused to leave and insisted on staying.
As the night grew colder, with the wind whistling outside, Mama Song wrapped up the exhausted Chu Hanyan in a quilt and carried her to the carriage. After everyone from Tangyuan, Yang Mingyuan, and Chef Kang had left, the house finally became quiet.
After the guests had departed, Mrs. Wang and Chen Feng prepared the remaining meat, salting and seasoning the pork and ribs. After marinating for three days, they would hang the meat under the eaves to dry, turning it into seasoned meat and ribs.
After tending to the children, Lu took Dabao and Yang Chao to sleep. Originally, Yang Qian was supposed to sleep in the west wing with Old lady Huang, but she insisted on sleeping with Chen Feng. Uncomfortable sleeping next to an unfamiliar adult, Chen Feng had no choice but to take Yang Qian to the east wing, leaving Old lady Huang to sleep in the west wing. Zhui Feng, Qiqi, and Gray, not wanting to be left out, also ended up in Chen Lu’s room.
In her bed, Yang Qian was extremely excited, squirming and giggling softly in Chen Feng’s embrace. Girls were different from boys, which tugged at Chen Feng’s heartstrings.
Fearing that she might get too excited to sleep, Chen Feng began telling her a story, which eventually calmed her down. Before falling asleep, the little girl murmured, “Auntie, Qian really likes you.”
Chen Feng smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
The next morning after breakfast, the family eagerly accompanied Lu, dressed in a small robe, to the village entrance. As he joined the children waiting there, they all walked together towards Shangshui Village.
A few days earlier, Chen Ming and Lu had visited Mr. Jiang in Shangshui Village, carrying two pieces of meat and two packs of pastries. Mr. Jiang had tested and assessed Lu, finding him to be quite capable and intelligent. With a recommendation from Steward Luo, he not only accepted Lu but also charged the standard tuition for children from Shangshui Village.
Seeing the envy in Dabao’s eyes, Chen Feng smiled and said, “Next spring, Dabao will go to school with his little uncle.”
After seeing off hen Lu, Chen Feng tidied up the house, Dabao fed the chickens and birds, and then released the chickens to forage. Finally, she woke up Yang Chao and Yang Qian from their sleep.
After their meal, the group, including the children, two dogs, and two birds, headed to Tangyuan. Normally, Mrs. Wang’s dog, Wangcai, wouldn’t stray far from home when Lu was there. However, with Lu leaving and Dabao and Zhui Feng also departing, little Wangcai was upset and refused to move, almost crying.
Finally, Mrs. Wang said, “Alright, let it come along.”
Chen Feng spent the morning playing with the children, and their novel games brought immense joy to Yang Chao and Yang Qian. With the addition of these two lively children, the nursery was livelier than usual.
After lunch, Chen Feng and Old lady Huang prepared to take Yang Chao and Yang Qian back home. The siblings were very clever, seeing that Dabao wasn’t going with them, they insisted on leaving, knowing they’d be taken back to the county to their own home. Refusing to budge, they cried uncontrollably. Chen Feng held Yang Chao, and Old lady Huang held Yang Qian, carrying them out of Tangyuan.
As they stepped out of the gate, they saw Yang Mingyuan and the carriage waiting outside, with Luo Xiao unexpectedly present.
Chen Feng, Old lady Huang, and the two children entered the carriage, while Yang Mingyuan and Luo Xiao sat outside, heading to the Chen residence in Xiangluo Village.
Yang Mingyuan wanted to continue their discussion, so he asked Old lady Huang to lull the two children to sleep.
The previous night, Yang Mingyuan had talked with Steward Luo for half the night, and Steward Luo was also swayed by his proposals. Intuitively, Steward Luo believed that this innovative culinary venture and its unique approach would surely thrive. Coupled with his positive impression of Yang Mingyuan, he accepted the offered shares. Steward Luo also mentioned that they shouldn’t just take the shares without contributing, and that Tangyuan would also provide some funds. Yang Mingyuan wasn’t foolish enough to actually take their money, but it was just a token gesture to accept a little less.
Even though Chu Lingxuan came to Dingzhou to establish an official residence, he hadn’t separated from the main family in the capital. Tangyuan was the dowry of Chu Lingxuan’s mother and thus his personal property, so it was equivalent to Chu Lingxuan having a share.
With the addition of the Chu family, Yang Mingyuan no longer feared the attention of the powerful. The group decided to open the restaurant in the capital, as it was more prosperous and had a larger market.
The restaurant was to be named “Hongyun Hotpot Restaurant,” specializing in hotpot. Yang Mingyuan would hold a 60% share, while Chen Feng and Tangyuan would each hold a 20% share.
Chen Feng glanced at Yang Mingyuan. He certainly had the ability. To have brought Chu Lingxuan into the venture also meant having the protection of the Chu family. Coupled with the unique nature of the hotpot, it was destined for success.
As a technical partner, Chen Feng was determined to provide valuable suggestions. Before the discussion was over, it was time to return to work at Tangyuan.
Yang Mingyuan, not ready to head home, took the two children to Tangyuan, where they joyfully played around. After dinner at Steward Luo’s house, the discussions continued.
They discussed how to integrate Chen Feng’s suggestions with the current operation of the restaurant, how to source the best ingredients, and how to promote the business, among other topics.
Due to the presence of Steward Luo’s wife and daughter-in-law, the discussion went on late. It was probably close to midnight when Chen Feng took Dabao and the Yang siblings in a carriage back home. Initially, it was planned for the siblings to rest at Tangyuan, but they insisted on going to Chen’s home.