Some Gains

Oolong swoops down to catch butterflies in the bushes, while beavers diligently build their homes.

Liang Qu stood by the pond, gazing at the beaver, thinking of the Fat Catfish that Cannot Move.

The two Water Beast he first commanded were also the most crucial step in helping him break free from his previous life.

From the moment he took command of the first Water Beast, he was destined to no longer need to painstakingly sail out to fish every day.

The ability to command Water Beast was actually the biggest help Ze Cauldron gave him.

In some ways, it is even more important than fusing with Marsh Spirit.

Everyone is given 24 hours a day fairly. If you have to work twice as hard to keep up with others, it means you've already exhausted other opportunity costs to barely achieve the status quo, and you've also borrowed the possibility of further progress—because you don't have enough time and energy left.

When insufficient time and energy are exhausted from engaging in a new round of resource competition, the disadvantages will be exacerbated.

Your skill is not your ability, and my clumsiness Non-Self my choice.

Many people fail to make any progress in their lives, not because they lack talent, but because their disadvantages in their circumstances accumulate to an irreparable degree.

One step ahead leads to another step ahead; one step behind leads to another step behind.

That day, after returning from Feng Bu County, four Martial Master from River Conservancy Office wanted to come and seek refuge with him.

Even though Liang Qu could hardly remember their names now, he roughly understood the four people's intentions.

They wanted to make up for their disadvantaged situation by building a network of connections.

There are far too many people like this.

Some people succeed, and some people fail.

Liang Qu was fortunate to have opened up another path, making his journey much easier and more comfortable.

On the Painted Boat.

The windows were wide open, and seven or eight Ice Platform gushed out cool air, keeping out the heat waves from the river.

On the Machilus Nanmu Table, the boiling red oil emitted billowing steam, and everyone kept eating with their chopsticks, their faces turning red from the spiciness.

Today is June 30th, the day for a small meeting.

Liang Qu, having practiced a few times, boldly let everyone try his hot pot, and as always, a variety of flavors were gathered together.

While discussing the harvest in June and summarizing their experiences, everyone tasted such a novel "mixed stew" for the first time and ate with great enthusiasm.

Ke Wenbin shouted, "I hereby unilaterally declare that from now on, every monthly gathering must include hot pot. Who agrees? Who disagrees?"

"I vote in favor!" Xiang Fangsu took a sip of iced plum Sour Plum Drink and exhaled deeply. "That was awesome! Did A Shui come up with this 'hot pot' recipe all by herself?"

"If Brother Xiang hasn't tasted the same thing anywhere else, then it must be it," Liang Qu said with a smile.

Ran Zhongshi clicked his tongue in amazement. "The two days ago, Brother Liang captured two members of the Ghost Mother Sect, but that was nothing compared to the novelty of this pot of soup I've been enjoying today!"

"Speaking of which, I am truly envious. That day, Xiang Fangsu and I searched for so long in the Great Marsh, only to find a small stronghold of the Ghost Mother Sect. I never expected that Brother Liang would run into two of them on the way, gaining a Great Merit for nothing."

"It's nothing to be envious of; being ambushed is far more dangerous than ambushing someone else."

Ke Wenbin laughed heartily, "That's true. I prefer to ambush others rather than be ambushed myself."

Xu Yuelong picked up a slice of fish and savored it carefully, analyzing the flavor of the spices inside.

"I can taste a lot of spices, angelica, licorice... Did you add any tonics to the mushroom broth? Goji berries, red dates, codonopsis..."

Liang Qu gave a thumbs up.

"Brother Yue Long is amazing! He has such keen insight!"

Martial Artist have a much better sense of taste than ordinary people, and every young master from a prominent Aristocratic Clan present has been trained in this since childhood.

Liang Qu had studied medicine and pharmacology at the clinic, so it goes without saying that he could easily open his own clinic and support himself. He could analyze a lot of things just by tasting them.

"A pot of soup must be expensive, right?"

Ran Zhongshi silently made a calculation. As someone who managed logistics, he couldn't help but assess the value of anything he saw.

The Da Shun Dynasty had a wide variety of spices, but they were not cheap enough for later generations to buy at will.

Just take the beef tallow, for example. Ordinary families wouldn't be willing to use such a large piece, let alone waste it after finishing a whole pot.

"Well, the ingredients alone for a pot of soup, all in all, add up to about one ounce and one mace."

Spices and medicinal herbs are inseparable; the only difference lies in their usage and processing methods. The more expensive the medicinal herbs, the more expensive the spices.

Liang Qu is generous with the ingredients he uses for his own meals, so the prices won't be cheap.

If hot pot were to be sold on the market today, it would actually be a "rich person's" food.

It's unlikely you can break even opening a restaurant in Yi Xing Town; you'd have to be in Ping Yang County.

Xiang Fangsu looked up from the kitchen. "Has A Shui ever thought about selling her son?"

"I've thought about it, but I haven't figured out how to sell it, and I don't have time to look for people right now."

Hot pot recipes are nothing special; Martial Artist with a keen palate can easily discern the general ingredients.

I'll try it myself later; who knows, I might be able to make it taste even better.

It's mainly about novelty.

Da Shun was in a period of significant growth, with social stability, outward expansion, a surge in the variety of spices, and a continuous stream of various delicacies.

However, no one dares to easily try hot pot, a "masterpiece of spices," for the time being.

It's less about selling products and more about selling ideas.

"Sell it to me!" Xiang Fangsu put down her chopsticks. "My dad has a big appetite. He has a ranch in the north and can't even finish eating all the beef and mutton every year. He owns seven restaurants in the Imperial Capital. Give me the recipe and let my dad try it. The business is sure to be great."

Ran Zhongshi and the others nodded in agreement.

The last gathering was mostly prepared by Xiang Fangsu, precisely because he was the best at cooking.

Liang Qu hesitated for a moment. "That's possible, but how does Brother Xiang want to buy it?"

"Brothers shouldn't do business together; it's easy to ruin the relationship. We won't do that profit-sharing thing. If things don't go smoothly, we'll both hate each other. You name a price, and I'll buy the formula without hesitation. If you open your own shop in the future, you can use it, but don't sell it to others."

Liang Qu thought for a moment, then tentatively gave a number. "Five hundred taels?"

Xiang Fangsu was taken aback, and he hesitated as well.

If you quote your own price and Liang Qu agrees, and business booms in the future, it's hard to guarantee that things won't turn out badly and you'll feel cheated.

There's no problem if the other party makes the offer themselves. We're not children; we can take responsibility for ourselves. Regret is one thing, but it won't create any resentment.

only...

Five hundred taels is too low.

Xiang Fangsu didn't speak, but simply raised his hand upwards.

"That... one thousand taels?"

Xiang Fangsu raised it again.

"Forehead..."

On the dock, Liang Qu stroked the thick paper Silver Note in his pocket with his fingertips, unable to believe it.

Five thousand taels! He sold a hot pot recipe for five thousand taels!

A single idea can make that much money? The entire intermediate-level martial arts manual Thunder Character Seal Technique, costs only three thousand four hundred taels of silver. A hot pot recipe can buy more than a whole intermediate-level martial arts manual! Liang Qu suspects he has pioneered a brand new path—the Little Da Shun of Da Shun!

Speaking of which, he also has a fried chicken recipe. I wonder if Xiang Fangsu would accept it?

Holding a huge sum of money, Liang Qu was overjoyed. After the auction, his wallet was completely empty, and he only had three hundred taels of silver on him.

Now we're richer than ever before!

That feels so good!

Liang Qu took the reins from the servant and rode home on Red Mountain.

Pushing open the door and going around the screen wall, the candlelight was still on in the West Wing.

The Old Monk now works late into the night every day, and seems to have even forgotten his original purpose in seeking out the Heretical Monk.

If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening.

The Great Dao is still more captivating!

Ma Sheng handed the rope to Fan Xinglai. Liang Qu was about to wash up and go to bed when the West Wing suddenly opened wide.

The Old Monk, with his prayer beads twirled around him, stepped over the threshold and clasped his hands together in prayer.

"Benefactor, after studying for many days, this old monk has gained some insights."