Chapter 373 Instant Noodle Workshop

When Shen Yi saw Huo Lin's patriarchal demeanor, he knew that Huo Lin was about to start lecturing again, so he stopped pretending and pointed at the wine jar in Mingzhu's arms with an annoyance.

"How can she be dignified and proper? That's my treasured wine, very strong. If she steals it and something bad happens to her, how am I supposed to explain it to you?"

Mingzhu immediately exclaimed, "Stop scaring me! I've tried it. It's a bit spicy, but it tastes great!"

Jiang Huan smiled and fanned the flames: "Hmm, it smells quite fragrant. If I weren't pregnant, I'd like to have a couple of sips too."

Huo Lin looked at the two of them, then at Shen Yi, and decided to side with his own family.

"Alright, it's just a jar of wine. Look at how pathetic you all are."

He waved his hand, appearing magnanimous: "Well then, since this jar of wine has already arrived at Weiyang Palace, Mingzhu has successfully 'borrowed' it. However, those who see it should share it; half should be given to me, and the rest you two can decide for yourselves. No more chasing or fighting; you've made a complete mess of the palace."

This verdict assigns equal blame to both sides, but it clearly favors Mingzhu, who "borrowed" the item, and Jiang Huan, who was just watching the show, while also allowing the verdict to benefit themselves.

Shen Yi: ...

Well, he's totally biased! He's definitely a good brother!

Mingzhu: "Yes, Imperial Uncle is wise!"

Jiang Huan smiled secretly and gently squeezed Huo Lin's palm.

Huo Lin maintained a serious expression, but couldn't hide his smugness inside.

[Hmph, with me involved, is there anything I can't handle?]

[I both pleased her and calmed the situation; I truly served her the best I could.]

[Let Shen Yi suffer a little loss; he has plenty of wine, and he hides it well. I'll send him a few more jars of better wine later.]

That evening, the three of them actually shared the jar of wine with some side dishes.

The liquor was indeed strong, but it was mellow and fragrant. Jiang Huan, who was pregnant, didn't drink a drop, and most of it went into the stomachs of Shen Yi and Mingzhu.

The next day, the weather was fine.

Jiang Huan woke up naturally, feeling refreshed, while Huo Lin had already gone to court to handle state affairs.

She ate a light breakfast, took a walk in the yard, and looked at the lush and thriving crops in He Ling's experimental field. Suddenly, she remembered that she hadn't visited the instant noodle factory outside the palace for a while.

She was the one who first set up that instant noodle workshop. Although Huo Lin later handed it over to a reliable person to manage, she still put a lot of effort into it.

You can't let pregnancy ruin your career!

"Xiao Zhao, prepare the carriage. Let's leave the palace and visit the workshops," Jiang Huan instructed enthusiastically.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Xiao Zhao quickly went to make the arrangements.

The carriage smoothly drove out of the palace and arrived at a noodle shop located on the outskirts of the capital.

The workshop has expanded considerably since its initial size, and the workers are busy in an orderly manner, with the unique aroma of flour and fried food filling the air.

When the workshop manager saw Jiang Huan arrive, he quickly came forward to greet her and respectfully reported on the recent production situation and accounts.

As Jiang Huan listened, she strolled around the workshop at her leisure and unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure.

"Big brother?" Jiang Huan asked in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

Xu Xiuyuan turned around, saw his sister, and a gentle smile appeared on his cold face.

He now holds a sinecure and sometimes comes over to help Huo Lin check the workshop's accounts and operations.

"I came to check on recent production and inventory. What brings you here today?"

"It was stuffy inside, so I came out for some fresh air," Jiang Huan said with a smile, glancing around the workshop. "Looks like it's running well?"

Xu Xiuyuan nodded: "Everything went smoothly, except..."

He paused, his tone somewhat subtle, "Young Master Huo Yuan has been coming quite frequently lately."

"Huo Yuan?" Jiang Huan raised an eyebrow. Was that rigid and easily angered prince craving something again?

Or is it that he doesn't like her lately and wants to cause her some trouble?

Xu Xiuyuan seemed to see his sister's confusion and explained, "The young master didn't come to cause trouble. He was just very curious about the production process of instant noodles and asked a lot of questions, such as how the noodles can be preserved for a long time and how the seasonings should be combined. The way he was taking notes so seriously was like he was studying in a school."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan found it even more amusing.

What, even the aroma of instant noodles has won over that old-fashioned Huo Yuan?

Didn't he say something about "a gentleman keeping away from the kitchen"? How come he himself is "close to the kitchen"?

Could it be that he pretended to dislike it but secretly found it delicious?

She imagined Huo Yuan standing solemnly by the oil pan, frowning and muttering that it violated the way of the sages, while secretly swallowing his saliva, and almost burst out laughing.

"How many times did he come?" Jiang Huan asked.

“He’s come three or four times in the last two weeks,” Xu Xiuyuan replied. “Each time he comes quietly, asks his questions, and leaves without lingering.”

Jiang Huan stroked her chin, her mind starting to wander.

Huo Yuan may be awkward, but he's serious about his work. Since he's so interested in instant noodles, there must be some practical value to it besides his craving.

Jiang Huan smiled at Xu Xiuyuan and said, "Since the young master is so concerned, brother, next time you see him, you might as well chat with him more and listen to his thoughts on instant noodles. Maybe he can offer some suggestions for improvement from the perspective of military campaigns that we haven't thought of."

Xu Xiuyuan nodded in agreement: "I understand."

Xu Xiuyuan had other things to do, so he chatted with Jiang Huan for a few words and then left.

Jiang Huan strolled around the instant noodle workshop, and the more she looked, the more she felt that although the workshop was operating smoothly, its product line was indeed a bit monotonous.

Aside from the basic version with only a salt seasoning packet, there's also the deluxe version with some dehydrated diced meat and dried vegetables, but it's still essentially just plain water.

Having grown accustomed to all sorts of modern instant noodles, she found it rather unappealing.

"We need to come up with something new," she muttered to herself. "Eating the same flavor all the time, no matter how delicious, will get boring."

As she paced around the workshop, she frantically searched her mind for the flavors of instant noodles from her past life.

Seafood flavor? It's not easy to get seafood inland; the cost is too high.

Chicken stew with shiitake mushrooms? Forget it, it's always the dish I end up with the most leftovers after a shopping spree at the supermarket...

As she was thinking, her gaze inadvertently swept over some ingredients piled up in the corner of the workshop, including dried mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and some common spices such as Sichuan peppercorns and star anise.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind like lightning.

Chili peppers! Those bright red chili peppers in He Ling's experimental field!

Yeah, how could we forget such a good thing?

It seems that people don't widely consume chili peppers in this era, so this is a good opportunity to create a new flavor and promote it.

Chili peppers have a strong, pungent flavor that whets the appetite and warms the body. They are also easy to dry, grind into powder, and preserve, making them an excellent ingredient for spice packets.

Imagine how comforting it would be for soldiers to enjoy a steaming bowl of spicy and delicious instant noodles during a cold and tiring march.