Chapter 4

"Xuan Shi, I am deeply grateful for your kindness." Rong Xi shook his head in refusal. "Ten strings of cash will be enough. Too much is as bad as too little."

To keep Hu Yulin from continuing, Rong Xi changed the subject and asked about Jiang Weiping.

"If Craftsman Jiang has time, could you make another item for me?" He had always held technical workers in high regard.

If not for these master craftsmen with their exquisite skills, even if they understood the principles perfectly, they would still be unable to make tools, much less conduct research.

Jiang Weiping did not know what he wanted made and did not dare boast. He only asked, "Does the young master have a drawing?"

The diagrams and explanations had long been prepared. Rong Xi took them from his sleeve and handed them to the young man, explaining to Jiang and Hu, "Something made by mixing coalstone and yellow earth can be used together with this. It is very cheap."

The yellowed paper carried a faint scent of ink. Wherever the ink strokes ran, the drawing sprang vividly to life, while tiny characters beside it explained its principles and dissolved one's confusion.

Hu Yulin thought, Rumors truly do harm without measure! Since when was the Rong Clan's Eldest Brother an ignorant wastrel? The handwriting on the paper was stark and ancient, simple yet luxuriant; its spirit and charm soared beyond the mundane, making one's heart pound at the sight of it.

Such marvelous calligraphy could never have been achieved without ten years of effort.

Rong Xi excelled at calligraphy because, in his previous life, he had been clever and mischievous, with a restless temperament that did more harm than good to research. To temper his state of mind, he had begun practicing calligraphy in his youth and had persisted for more than a decade.

His writing was not among the very best, but it was presentable enough.

Compared to the handwriting, Jiang Weiping paid far more attention to the diagrams. He was naturally gifted and had studied for several years, giving him broader knowledge than an ordinary blacksmith and making him more receptive to novel things. The diagrams and text were detailed. After considering them for a moment, he solemnly nodded.

"I am willing to give it a try."

Seeing that Rong Xi did not wish to speak further of profit-sharing, Hu Yulin left Rong Residence together with Jiang Weiping.

Things had progressed more smoothly than expected. Rong Xi was in high spirits, merely waiting for the coalstone and yellow clay to be gathered so he could begin making honeycomb coal briquettes.

At exactly the hour of the Snake the next day, Hu Yulin visited Rong Residence again.

He had come to offer a formal apology. Humble in manner and smiling warmly at everyone, he even eased the resentment in Liu He's heart. Liu He called for young Liu Zishi to serve the guest tea and food.

The reason was that Hu Yulin had brought gifts.

Though the gifts were not many, they showed sincere intent. Great Wei had a custom of gifting whole pigs; Hu Yulin had brought an entire pig as an apology, an arrangement fitting in both etiquette and practicality.

Moreover, several wild birds had accompanied the pig—enough for them to eat for quite some time.

"Brother Xuan Shi's gift is weighty, and his feelings run deep. I have nothing with which to repay you." Rong Xi invited him to sit and smiled helplessly. "I have never borne any grievance. Brother Xuan Shi need not do this."

"Eldest Brother is broad-minded and open-hearted. I know that well. This act is only for Xuan Shi's peace of mind. Eldest Brother, please indulge my willfulness just this once and accept it with a smile."

Hu Yulin was not one to value lavish gifts. Though he had known Rong Xi only a short time, he felt that Rong Xi's temperament suited his own. Besides, he had been at fault first; this was only what he ought to do.

His smiling words with Rong Xi came from knowing Rong Xi's generous nature, knowing he would not blame him, and were also meant to draw them closer.

When making friends, one should be open and forthright, treating one another with genuine feeling.

Both men had broad interests and extensive knowledge. As they talked, they completely forgot the time. Only when the sun had begun sinking behind the western hills and the hour of the Monkey arrived, and young Liu Zishi came to ask them, did they come back to themselves, still wanting more.

"Young master, Elder Liu sent this servant to ask: when will you dine?"

Rong Xi kept his guest, and Hu Yulin could not refuse. He sat kneeling behind the table. When the lacquered tray was brought up, he was suddenly startled.

What in the world was this thing in the bowl?

Rong Xi inwardly pressed a hand to his forehead as well. Elder Liu was loyal and diligent, but he possessed not the slightest talent in the culinary arts. The delicious wild pheasant looked like charcoal and chewed like wax, making it hard to bring chopsticks to it.

What a waste of heaven's bounty!

Author's note:

Dear readers, please leave lots of comments~ muah muah muah~

Chapter 4

Food should never be too refined, nor meat too finely sliced.

Hu Yulin had sampled countless delicacies served on jade platters, yet he had never seen cooking skills so poor. Seeing Rong Xi's stunned and embarrassed expression, pity rose in his heart.

He had never expected the son of a Minister to live in such hardship.

There were no capable servants or beautiful maids surrounding him, no fine dishes and delicacies arrayed about him. Only a faltering old servant and an ignorant child attended him, and even his meals were tasteless to chew. It truly made one's heart ache.

He was just about to speak when Rong Xi rose with a smile. "If Brother Xuan Shi does not mind, please wait a moment. I will go cook myself."

Elder Liu's cooking truly could not be served to a guest. Rong Xi was deeply embarrassed and wished to prepare the meal himself.

After speaking with Hu Yulin all day, Rong Xi understood this world more deeply. Neither Elder Liu nor Zishi had ever left Linxi, and their horizons were not as broad as Hu Yulin's. They were not suitable companions for deep discussion.

To show his gratitude, he would personally prepare food for his guest, taking it as an exchange of peaches for plums.

Unexpectedly, Hu Yulin was immensely surprised upon hearing this and immediately asked, "Eldest Brother actually knows the art of cooking?"

His curiosity stirred. Wanting to see for himself how Rong Xi cooked, he followed him to the kitchen.

Inside the kitchen, the Liu Clan grandfather and grandson were holding bowls as they ate. When they saw the two young masters enter, they immediately set down their bowls and rose to greet them.

"Does the young master have any instructions?" Liu He asked uneasily.

Since Rong Xi disliked having people attend him while he ate, the Liu Clan grandfather and grandson were unlike other servants, who remained at their master's side during meals.

When Liu He saw Rong Xi and Hu Yulin arrive, fear filled his heart. He thought he had failed in his duties as a servant and angered the young master.

"Where is the pork hock? Elder Liu, go fetch it." Rong Xi instructed Liu He, then had Liu Zishi bring yellow wine, light soy sauce, dried tangerine peel, red dates, and other ingredients.

Seeing that the young master was about to display his skills in grand fashion, young Liu Zishi was wildly excited. He dashed off in a puff of smoke to seek out the ingredients, the patched hem of his brown clothes fluttering in the wind.

Hu Yulin clicked his tongue in wonder. Judging by the expressions of the Liu Clan grandfather and grandson, they seemed to be eagerly anticipating Eldest Brother's cooking.

He had tasted countless

delicacies

and did not particularly expect much from Rong Xi's culinary skill. Yet seeing the son of an official personally tend the stove—and doing so for a merchant like him—moved Hu Yulin deeply.

Even if the dish turned out poorly, the sincere feelings within it alone would surely give it an extraordinary flavor.

Once the pork hock was brought over, Liu He knowingly gathered firewood and stoked the flames, bringing the water in the cauldron to a boil.

Rong Xi placed the pork hock in the cauldron and boiled it until tender. Then he removed the hock and drained away the water, poured yellow wine and light soy sauce over it, added dried tangerine peel and red dates to the pot with it, and slowly braised it over a low flame.