The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 18: Picking Up a Beggar

Xu Zhizhi stood in front of Zuixiang Lou, the largest restaurant in Qingshan Town. The building was brightly decorated, with intricate carvings and paintings adorning its beams and pillars.

Zuixiang Lou was a place where only the wealthy and noble of the town dined. Ordinary villagers wouldn’t dare to step inside, afraid they wouldn’t know where to place their feet. But Xu Zhizhi wasn’t an ordinary person. She walked in confidently.

Perhaps it wasn’t yet mealtime, as the main hall was eerily quiet, with only one table occupied.

“Miss, are you here to sell something?” A waiter approached her. Judging by her attire and the basket she was carrying, it was clear she wasn’t there to dine. Farmers and hunters often came to sell their goods, but they usually hesitated at the entrance, too timid to enter directly. The waiter, therefore, asked politely.

“What are you selling? Mountain delicacies or something else? I’ll ask the manager if he’s interested.”

Xu Zhizhi was pleased with the waiter’s attitude. He didn’t look down on her for being a country girl, which immediately raised her opinion of Zuixiang Lou. “Yes, I’m here to sell bean sprouts. They’re a fresh vegetable. Could you please ask your manager to take a look?”

“Of course, miss. Please wait a moment.”

It didn’t take long for Manager Li to appear. “Young lady, what are you selling? Let me see.”

The neighboring restaurant, Xiangmanyuan, had recently introduced several new and exotic dishes, drawing away most of their customers. Only their regular patrons remained, and Manager Li was deeply troubled by this.

Xu Zhizhi stepped forward and lifted the cloth covering her basket, revealing plump, fresh, and appetizing bean sprouts. The sight alone made Manager Li’s mouth water. He couldn’t resist picking one up and popping it into his mouth. Instantly, a refreshing and unique flavor invigorated him. He reached for another.

“Manager Li, these aren’t meant to be eaten raw. They need to be cooked or stir-fried,” Xu Zhizhi quickly explained, seeing him treat them like cucumbers.

Manager Li’s face flushed with embarrassment. “These bean sprouts—I’ve never seen them in town before. Are they grown or wild?”

“They’re grown by my family,” Xu Zhizhi replied.

Manager Li’s mind raced. If these sold well, the owner wouldn’t punish him. In fact, they could even supply the other branches of the restaurant. He could become a hero…

“Young lady, come with me to the kitchen. Let’s try cooking them,” Manager Li said enthusiastically.

Xu Zhizhi hadn’t brought much, so they could only prepare one dish: boiled pork slices with bean sprouts. Soon, the aroma filled the kitchen, making everyone’s mouths water just by the smell.

“Manager Li, please try it.”

Manager Li took a bite, then another, and another. He ate half the dish in silence, savoring every mouthful.

The head chef, the kitchen helpers, and the waiter all watched him eagerly, their mouths watering at the tantalizing aroma.

Reluctantly, Manager Li put down his chopsticks. “Come, everyone, try it.”

“May I ask your name, miss?”

“I’m Xu Zhizhi. Do you think these bean sprouts are worthy of a place on your menu?”

“Absolutely!” Manager Li clapped his hands, delighted. With this dish, Zuixiang Lou could compete with Xiangmanyuan again.

Manager Li smiled broadly. “How much are you selling the bean sprouts for? And the recipe?”

Hearing his interest in the recipe, Xu Zhizhi knew this was the outcome she had hoped for. She directly quoted one hundred taels of silver for the recipe and two copper coins per pound for the bean sprouts.

Since bean sprouts weren’t available here yet, she set the price at two copper coins per pound.

“That… seems a bit expensive,” Manager Li frowned. Although the dish was novel, he wasn’t sure it was worth that much.

Xu Zhizhi wasn’t in a hurry. She leisurely sipped her tea.

“Manager Li, don’t be too quick to refuse. These bean sprouts aren’t just for boiled pork slices. They can be used in boiled fish, boiled beef, or simply stir-fried. One recipe can add multiple signature dishes to your menu. I don’t think I need to say more.”

The tea at Zuixiang Lou was excellent. Even the tea served in the main hall was of high quality.

“A restaurant as large as Zuixiang Lou, if packed with customers, could easily earn over a hundred taels in a single day. My recipe for a hundred taels isn’t expensive at all.”

Manager Li hesitated, thinking about the declining business and the potential punishment he might face. But if the dish became a hit, the owner’s rewards would be substantial. He gritted his teeth and agreed.

“Alright, it’s a deal. But since you’re selling the recipe to us, you can’t sell it to anyone else.”

“I understand the rules, Manager Li. Don’t worry. I’ll write down the recipe and sign an agreement. We can supply all our bean sprouts to you, but I can’t control what others do.”

“Others have bean sprouts too?”

“Not now, but it’s hard to say in the future.”

Manager Li was even more pleased to hear that no one else had bean sprouts yet. Even if others started growing them, they wouldn’t have the recipe. Zuixiang Lou would have a unique advantage.

After writing down the recipe, Manager Li, being a straightforward man, immediately withdrew one hundred taels from the accounts and handed it to Xu Zhizhi.

“To avoid any mistakes, I’ll come back in two days with more bean sprouts and demonstrate the recipe again for your chefs.”

Manager Li had no reason to refuse and was overjoyed by the offer.

Xu Zhizhi stood up to leave, and Manager Li personally escorted her out.

Once again, at a secluded corner, Xu Zhizhi stored the silver in her portable space and took out the medicine she had bought for Father Xu, placing it in her basket.

She had originally planned to go straight to the market, but remembering that Xu Honghua had gone to the embroidery shop, she decided to check if she was still there and pick her up on the way to the market. She also wondered if the wild boar meat and bean sprouts had sold out. If not, she could bring them to Zuixiang Lou.

With this in mind, Xu Zhizhi wasn’t in a hurry. She strolled leisurely to the embroidery shop, only to find out that Xu Honghua had just left.

As she walked, she observed her surroundings. The July weather was stifling, and the streets were nearly empty, with only a few leaves swirling in the wind. Suddenly, a grimy hand grabbed the hem of her pants.

Xu Zhizhi followed the hand upward. The person was dressed in tattered, filthy clothes, the fabric so worn it was impossible to tell its original color. The body bore many footprints, likely from being kicked by women. The face, though dirty, was pale, with black, worm-like lines marring the skin. At first glance, the person looked hideous, but upon closer inspection, the features were delicate, though the black lines distorted the appearance. To most, this was just an ugly beggar.

But Xu Zhizhi knew the black lines were a sign of poisoning. She also noticed the sharp, cruel glint in the beggar’s dark eyes, mixed with deep disgust.

Curious about what the beggar had endured and what he despised so much, Xu Zhizhi crouched down and asked, “Why are you grabbing me? Are you hungry?”

Seeing his cracked, peeling lips, she realized he must be severely dehydrated. She took out a water pouch from her basket—actually from her portable space—filled with spiritual spring water she kept for herself. She handed it to the beggar, letting him drink it all. He was lucky to get it.

(End of Chapter)