"Aunties, something's wrong."

Lin Xiaojuan laughed and said, "Chunmei, it turns out you've been hiding your true abilities all along."

"What do you mean by 'hidden talent'? You're joking, Auntie."

In fact, Xia Chunmei had already guessed their purpose.

"Chunmei, this is Aunt Lin, who specializes in organizing banquets," Lin Xiaojuan introduced. "Chunmei, your aunt has come today to bring you good fortune."

"Please come in and have a seat."

Xia Chunmei invited them into the main room and poured them two glasses of water.

As soon as the water was put down, Xia Mingshi rushed over in a hurry: "Chunmei, Chunmei."

"Grandma Ming, why are you in such a hurry? Is something wrong?"

Xia Mingshi glanced at Lin Xiaojuan and Lin Qianhong sitting in the main room and said, "I need to talk to you about something. Come with me."

Xia Mingshi pulled Xia Chunmei out to a secluded corner and whispered, "Chunmei, Lin Xiaojuan and Lin Qianhong are cousins. They must have come today for your cooking skills."

"Chun, don't blame me for being a busybody, but your craft is very valuable. You mustn't sell it for a tael or two of silver."

"Grandma, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Back in the main room, Lin Xiaojuan asked with a smile, "Chunmei, what does Aunt Ming want with you? She's being so mysterious."

What appears to be casual conversation is actually a test.

But Xia Chunmei wasn't that stupid.

"Actually, it's nothing. Is there anything you two aunties need today?"

Lin Qianhong said, "Miss Chunmei, I won't beat around the bush. I'd really like to learn your skills in making the whole fish feast and longevity peach buns. I can offer one tael of silver. What do you think?"

Lin Xiaojuan, fearing that Xia Chunmei would not agree, quickly chimed in to persuade her: "Chunmei, one tael of silver can buy more than a bushel of sorghum rice, which is enough for the four of you sisters to get through this winter. This is also an acquaintance, otherwise I wouldn't be able to offer this price."

"Hehe." Xia Chunmei was amused by Lin Xiaojuan's words.

"What are you laughing at? I watched you grow up. Do you think your aunt would lie to you? We're family, aren't we?"

Xia Chunmei said, "I remember when Shitou was learning the craft from the carpenter, the tuition was six hundred coins. In addition, he had to give gifts to his master during festivals, which would cost at least a hundred coins a year. For the first two years, he did odd jobs. It wasn't until the third year that he seriously learned the craft. He studied for two years and then served his master for two years. In total, it was six years."

At this point, Lin Xiaojuan and Lin Qianhong both understood what Xia Chunmei meant.

“I can add up to three hundred coins,” Lin Qianhong said.

Lin Xiaojuan also said, "Chunmei, this is a lot of money. It's half the price of Shitou's tuition. With this money, you can buy meat, new clothes, and more than a bushel of sorghum."

“If Madam Liu really wants to learn, she has to show sincerity. You yourself are in this line of work, so you should know that I can earn back one tael of silver by hosting four or five banquets.”

Lin Qianhong has now realized that Xia Chunmei is not easily fooled; she is a shrewd woman.

"Then how much do you want?"

"The longevity peach buns are a unique recipe, not to be passed on to outsiders. If you want to learn how to make those dishes for the whole fish banquet, the price is fixed at fifteen taels!"

"What? Fifteen taels?" Before Lin Qianhong could say anything, Lin Xiaojuan stood up excitedly.

“Miss Chunmei, you’re asking for the moon! Fifteen taels, do you even know how much that is?” Lin Qianhong said. “Two taels would be more like it.”

"Madam Liu, there's no need to be so agitated. You can go back and think about it first. Actually, I don't necessarily want to sell."

"You don't really think everyone's coming to you to cook, do you?" Lin Qianhong snapped angrily.

She decided to lower the price as soon as she returned, determined not to let Xia Chunmei have any business.

"Even if people don't ask me to cook, they'll always ask me to make longevity peach buns. I won't starve."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qianhong stormed off in anger.

"Sister Hong." Lin Xiaojuan quickly caught up with her.

As soon as they left, Xia Mingshi rushed in: "Chunmei, you didn't agree, did you?"

"Look at their furious expressions, do they look like they've achieved their goal?"

"It's good that you didn't agree. You can live off this skill for the rest of your life. Just don't pass it on to anyone else, even when you go to your husband's family," Xia Mingshi instructed.

"Thank you, Grandma, I understand."

Sweet and sour sauce and longevity peach buns are difficult to develop and not easy to come up with, but dishes like sauerkraut fish, fish balls, and fish cakes are relatively easy to develop.

Liu Changgui, being in this line of work himself, is certainly more perceptive than the average person, which is why Xia Chunmei agreed to sell the method, provided the price was right.

Although the asking price was fifteen, the actual price they wanted was ten taels. It remains to be seen whether Lin Qianhong and her family will continue to haggle.

Seeing Lin Qianhong like this, the Liu family knew they had failed.

"That brat looks young, but she's incredibly shrewd. She's asking for fifteen taels of silver, not including the longevity peach bun."

Liu Songyuan exclaimed excitedly, "Why didn't she just rob me for fifteen taels?"

"Why don't we try starting with her sister? She always brings a few helpers when she cooks, so we can try working with other people too," suggested Liu Songyuan's wife, Liu Lishi.

Lin Qianhong suddenly understood.

After this incident, Lin Xiaojuan had a very strong opinion of Xia Chunmei.

People everywhere say that Xia Chunmei is arrogant and ignorant. They think highly of her and want to help her out, even offering to spend two taels of silver to buy fish from her, but she asks for an exorbitant amount.

After Lin Xiaojuan spread the word, everyone in the village knew that Xia Chunmei had amazing culinary skills, that she had hosted a banquet for the Wang family last time, and that her culinary skills had attracted the covetousness of the Liu Changgui family.

The whole village was shocked!

When the villagers saw Xia Chunmei, they inquired about this matter. Xia Chunmei shifted the blame to Xia Ping'an, who had already passed away. Since Xia Ping'an was dead, they had no way of verifying it.