Chapter 6

"Eldest Brother."

Unrestrained laughter immediately rang out from the room.

Since the matter involved Jiang Weiping, Rong Xi no longer declined. The Hu Clan was generous, granting Rong Xi and Jiang Weiping three shares each of the coal stove profits while keeping four shares for themselves.

Rong Xi had merely provided the drawings, yet received three shares of the profits. Aside from Hu Yulin's friendship and the Hu Clan's foresight, Minister Rong's influence must also have factored into the Hu Clan's considerations.

The three finalized their agreement.

The Hu Clan hired men to make the implements, while Jiang Weiping served as chief craftsman, overseeing the other artisans. As for Rong Xi, he merely remained at home and waited for the profits to come in.

Yet faced with such a fine arrangement, Rong Xi felt ashamed and could not help reminding them.

"Brother Xuan Shi, do you know that honeycomb coal briquettes are easy to make? Once they appear on the market, any craftsman who sees them will know how to make them. The profit will only last for a time."

Hu Yulin understood what he meant, his smile as sly as a fox's.

"Eldest Brother needn't worry. My father once said: profit may be small, but reputation carries weight. Though charcoal is a lowly trade, one must not lose one's lofty ambitions." His lips curved into a smile. "The Hu Clan cannot rely on charcoal generation after generation."

Rong Xi smiled in praise. "Your father has great foresight."

The Hu Clan had risen through charcoal, yet they did not wish to be bound by charcoal. Since they possessed ambition, Rong Xi would naturally lend them a hand.

"Brother Shouyuan's craftsmanship is superb. I have a matter for which I would ask your help."

Ever since coming to the Wei Kingdom, he had sorely missed stir-fried dishes. Yet iron cauldrons were thick and heavy, making such cooking difficult. Therefore, he wished to ask Jiang Weiping to make an iron wok so he could satisfy his appetite.

Jiang Weiping had just opened his mouth to agree when Zishi's voice suddenly came from outside.

"Young master, the time has come!"

Rong Xi sprang to his feet at once. His meat!

Author's note:

Leave lots of comments, everyone~ That way the author will have motivation! Hahahaha

The courtyard was filled with the mouthwatering fragrance of meat. The young man stared intently at the earthenware pot, his gaze intoxicated.

Rong Xi walked over, lifted the lid to inspect it, and instructed the young man, "The meat is indeed eighty percent done. Put in the Taizhou Salted Fish."

Taizhou Salted Fish was a dried-fish specialty from Taizhou. Braised together with meat, sea and land joined forces, creating extraordinary savor.

The moment Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping caught its scent, their cravings surged and their mouths watered.

Jiang Weiping had always cared little for food, yet the aroma of this dish was simply enough to hook one's soul. He actually felt time crawling by and wished only for the golden wheel of the sun to plunge swiftly down, bringing the hour of Shen at once.

Seeing his expression, Hu Yulin immediately understood what he was thinking and could not help laughing.

Eldest Brother truly was a fascinating person!

"What was that implement Eldest Brother mentioned earlier?" Jiang Weiping intended to use the question to distract himself.

Rong Xi smiled frankly. "To be honest, I enjoy food. I felt that dishes were too monotonous, so I began pondering new ideas. I was once fortunate enough to see a strange book. It said that with a thin cauldron and a fierce flame, one could stir-fry."

"Stir-fry?"

"A thin cauldron?"

Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping spoke at the same time.

Hu Yulin cared about cooking techniques, while Jiang Weiping cared about iron cauldron craftsmanship. Facing their doubts, Rong Xi smiled. "That was what the strange book said. I have never seen it myself. But thinking of Brother Shouyuan's superb skills, I wanted to give it a try."

"Could it be that Eldest Brother also obtained the coal briquettes and coal stove from that strange book?" Hu Yulin asked with narrowed eyes and a smile, striking straight at the heart of the matter.

Rong Xi smiled and nodded.

These clever ideas had not originally been his. He had merely borrowed from them a little and did not dare claim them for himself, so he spoke of the strange book. Whether others believed it or not, his own heart was at peace.

Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping clearly did not believe him.

If such a strange book truly existed, how could Eldest Brother alone know of it? Eldest Brother must simply have been unwilling to stand out like a tree in the forest, hiding his abilities from others.

No wonder everyone in the capital spoke ill of him.

Thinking of Rong Xi's background—his birth mother had died early, and his stepmother ran the household—if his reputation became too prominent, he might well suffer secret plots. To ruin his own reputation like this was truly something no ordinary person could endure.

Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping admired him deeply and felt even more pity for Rong Xi.

Rong Xi was only sixteen, while both of them had already reached adulthood and were several years older. They ought to protect him with all their hearts.

With this in mind, neither asked any further questions. Jiang Weiping replied, "I will return and carefully consider the thin cauldron Eldest Brother spoke of. If I produce one, I will be the first to tell you."

Rong Xi knew that spreading thin iron woks was closely tied to iron-smelting techniques.

Great Wei produced little iron. One portion went to farming tools, another to weapons and armor. As a result, common folk had no iron to use.

If iron-smelting methods improved and iron became more widely used among the people, iron woks would naturally arise in response.

Those who held the core techniques of iron smelting were the state-run workshops. Though Jiang Weiping's craftsmanship was excellent, his smelting skills were still somewhat lacking.

Rong Xi understood the principles of iron smelting. He went to the study, retrieved some paper, and handed it to Jiang Weiping. What was written on it was a step above the current methods of iron smelting.

Jiang Weiping excelled in this field. Upon seeing it, he was deeply moved and immersed himself in it, still as a clay statue.

At the hour of Shen, the Taizhou Salted Fish braised meat had become tender and fully cooked. Rong Xi lifted the lid to look. Rich fragrance burst forth in all directions, awakening Master Jiang from his intoxication with the marvelous method.

Liu He promptly brought over the serving table and placed lacquered trays atop it. The trays held sesame flatbreads and soup.

Rong Xi sat in the seat of honor, with Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping seated opposite each other.

The three shared sixty percent of the meat in the pot, leaving all the rest for the Liu Clan grandparents and grandson.

The grandparents and grandson were overwhelmed with gratitude, then withdrew to the kitchen. That went without saying.

Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping picked up their chopsticks and tasted the food, their minds instantly lost in intoxication. The meat was tender, soft, and glutinous, melting the moment it entered their mouths. The salty freshness of the Taizhou Salted Fish and the rich smoothness of the pork blended together, leaving fragrance between their teeth and cheeks.

Scallions, pepper, and fragrant mushrooms adorned it, cutting its fishiness, balancing its flavor, and enhancing its color. It was simply a stroke from the gods.

With this fine dish, the two devoured several sesame flatbreads. Only when their bellies were so full they could barely walk did they reluctantly lay down their chopsticks and struggle to their feet.

"Why did Eldest Brother not eat much just now?" Hu Yulin asked curiously, clutching his stomach as he stood beneath the corridor.

When the meat had been divided, Rong Xi had eaten only two or three pieces, while Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping had divided up all the rest. Rong Xi had eaten only one flatbread as well; his appetite was quite small.

Hearing this, Rong Xi replied helplessly, pointing at his own face, "I am fat and large, and it is inconvenient to move about, so I wish to eat less and lose weight."

His skin was white as congealed fat, faintly gleaming beneath the rosy dusk light. Though plump, he was pure in quality and beautiful in bearing, with an extraordinary presence that made one forget all vulgarity upon seeing him.

"Compared to when we first met, Eldest Brother has already grown a little thinner. You must take good care of your health," Hu Yulin said with sincere concern.

Jiang Weiping nodded repeatedly as well.

"I know my own limits. You two brothers needn't worry." Seeing that they wished to leave, Rong Xi escorted them to the gates of Rong Residence.

Had he not retained a shred of reason, Hu Yulin truly would have wanted to eat at Rong Residence every day.