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"Brother Xuan Shi, please wait a moment. If you feel hungry, have some Cold Pastry first," Rong Xi said with an apologetic smile.

Hu Yulin was not hungry. He was merely curious about Rong Xi's cooking skills. Even if he had to wait several hours, he would not grow impatient.

Besides, Rong Dalang was learned and well-read. Were it not inappropriate, he would have liked to stay the night, share a bed with him, and talk late into the night.

The two discussed the ways of commerce in the study. Hu Yulin was astonished by Rong Xi's ingenious ideas; whenever he listened, he felt enlightened and filled with admiration.

In his previous life, Rong Xi had been born into a wealthy family. His father was a renowned research scholar, while his mother was a leading figure in the business world. He had inherited both their intelligence and surpassed them.

"Eldest Brother possesses great vision. Xuan Shi is far inferior," Hu Yulin said sincerely, praising him again and again.

The people of the capital were blind fools, mistaking pearls for fish eyes. Regardless of Rong Dalang's learning, his open-hearted bearing and broad vision alone far surpassed those of his contemporaries.

"You flatter me. They are merely shallow notions, nothing compared to Brother Xuan Shi's genuine skill and practical ability," Rong Xi said modestly.

That was true enough. He knew plenty of theory, but if it came to putting it into practice, he would surely be left dizzy and clueless.

The time had come, and the pork knuckle was tender and fully cooked.

Watching from the side, Hu Yulin saw Rong Xi sprinkle in chopped scallions, chili peppers, and clear wine. The dish immediately became perfect in color and aroma, making his mouth water.

The pork knuckle had been braised until tender, its flavors thoroughly melded. Young Liu stood at the doorway, staring at it longingly.

Servants had never had any share of such fine dishes. Liu Zishi had often been lectured by Liu He and understood the rules, yet he could not resist the temptation, saliva nearly spilling from his mouth.

Then he suddenly heard his master call him over.

The young man kept glancing at the clay pot as he listened distractedly to Rong Xi's instructions.

"You and Old Liu may share what remains in the pot."

Liu Zishi's eyes shone like stars. Seeing that his master had taken only two portions of pork knuckle and given the remaining two to him and his grandfather, he was deeply moved and bowed repeatedly.

"Master is kind! Master is kind!"

Hu Yulin could no longer wait. He sat behind the dining table, picked up his chopsticks, and took a bite. The pork knuckle melted in his mouth, soft without being greasy, tender as rich paste. Its deep fragrance burst across his tongue, seeping into his heart and soul and intoxicating his senses.

For such a delicacy, any amount of waiting would have been worthwhile.

Rong Dalang was surprising in every way. For such a man to remain in Linxi was truly a waste of heaven-sent talent.

Hu Yulin was overcome with emotion. After finishing an entire pork knuckle, he felt only half full. In truth, his stomach was already full; it was merely his mind that still felt empty.

"Eldest Brother's culinary skill surpasses even the royal chefs," Hu Yulin praised lavishly, leaving Rong Xi caught between laughter and tears.

Rong Xi was good at cooking because of his previous life. After reaching adulthood, he had lived alone and loved fine food, studying cooking diligently for several years. Though his dishes looked decent, he was still far inferior to a true master chef.

"It is my good fortune if Brother Xuan Shi enjoyed himself."

After the two had eaten and drunk their fill, the moon had climbed to the treetops. Hu Yulin made an appointment with Rong Xi before finally taking his reluctant leave.

Over the following days, Hu Yulin visited the Rong Residence many times. He and Rong Xi conversed happily, and he also gathered coalstone and yellow earth and had them transported to the Rong Residence.

In the open space of the courtyard, the coalstone was ground into powder and piled opposite the yellow earth.

Liu Zishi came carrying a bucket. The wooden bucket swayed slightly, spilling some clear water and wetting the tops of his shoes. The young man did not care in the least. He set the bucket beside the coal pile and asked excitedly, "Master, what is the water for?"

He had spent more than a decade drifting through dull days without purpose, accomplishing nothing. Since his master had arrived, his sturdy body had finally found a use, and there was no end to the strength in his limbs.

Rong Xi was about to mix the coal and earth himself when Hu Yulin, quick-eyed, stopped him with a smile. "Why should Dalang do it personally? Simply call the servants."

As soon as he spoke, he summoned two robust servants, both broad-armed and powerfully built.

Rong Xi accepted his goodwill without refusing. Calmly, he instructed the two men to mix the coal and earth evenly according to the proper proportions, then dig an opening at the top of the pile and work downward.

When it came time to add water, he did it himself to avoid mistakes, slowly pouring it in with a ladle.

Once the coal and earth had been soaked and turned somewhat sticky, Rong Xi took out a brand-new coal mold and pressed it deep into the mixture. Its mold chamber filled with the coal paste. Once it had taken shape, he moved it to a clean patch of ground and lightly twisted the mechanism. A smooth cylindrical coal briquette dropped to the ground, twelve holes evenly arranged across its surface.

Everyone in the courtyard exclaimed in surprise.

"What a peculiar shape!" Hu Yulin said, crouching to inspect it closely. He paid no heed to his robe dragging across the ground as he reached out to touch it.

His mind was quick, and the moment he saw it, he vaguely understood Rong Xi's intention.

With such a shape, it would certainly burn more easily, preventing solid coal balls from being packed too tightly and causing the flames to burn weakly.

"Eldest Brother's ingenuity earns Xuan Shi's admiration!" Hu Yulin rose and praised him loudly.

Rong Xi personally demonstrated how to use the coal mold, and everyone understood at once. Liu Zishi found it interesting and did not want Rong Xi to tire himself, so he said, "Master, let me do it."

Rong Xi was physically weak. Though he had been exercising recently, he still could not compare with young Liu or the two strong servants. He handed them the coal mold and moved beneath the corridor to drink water and rest.

Hu Yulin, too, was unexpectedly seized by the urge to play. He personally used the mold to make briquettes. At first, he was full of enthusiasm, but after only a few attempts, his arms ached and his waist felt sore, so he stopped forcing himself.

He set aside the coal mold, washed his hands, and went beneath the corridor. Standing opposite Rong Xi, he watched the cheerful scene in the courtyard, and a rush of satisfaction welled up in his heart.

The coal briquettes were delicate and charming, lined neatly across the ground like armored soldiers awaiting orders to charge onto the battlefield and die for their country.

"Fortunately, there has been no rain lately. Let the briquettes dry in the sun for several days to remove the moisture," Rong Xi said slowly, holding his cup.

They only needed to wait until Craftsman Jiang's new device was completed to see the results.

Liu Zishi and the two strong servants took turns working. By the time the golden sun resembled an orange, they had finally finished. The coal briquettes were smooth and flawless, arranged in orderly rows on both sides of the courtyard like officials attending court, standing silently in the golden palace.

They had a certain adorable charm.

Hu Yulin had always harbored great ambitions. He had previously considered expanding the coalstone business many times but had never found a way. Only after meeting Rong Xi had his difficulties been resolved. It was truly heaven's blessing and the fortune of the Hu Clan.

What excited him most was becoming friends with Rong Dalang—not because of status or family standing, but because Dalang possessed a jade-like character that made people yearn to draw close to him.

While the coal briquettes dried in the sun, Hu Yulin traveled back and forth between the city and town without pause, increasing the number of coal fields and strong servants and mining coalstone. The amount of coalstone was double that of previous years.