Xu Di felt that this time he could have a good talk with the Crown Prince about opening a shop. When he saw the chili peppers, Xu Rao mentioned opening a hot pot restaurant, and Xu Di had kept it in mind ever since. However, without a strong backer, opening a shop would not be easy. Xu Di knew how delicious hot pot was and how addictive it was. He was sure the business would be booming. Once he made money, people would be envious, and the Xu family's impoverished manor would probably be in serious trouble.

Xu Di went to the butcher shop and bought several kilograms of various meats, as well as some beef tripe and beef brisket. Luckily, he was in Hexi, and the beef came from the grasslands. If this were within the territory, who would dare to slaughter a cow?

And then there was the tender mutton. He imagined slicing it up, scalding it in a soup pot, and then dipping it in sesame sauce. Xu Di felt he couldn't think about it anymore and quickly had someone send the things he bought home.

The heir of the Marquis of Jingbei knew about pots, but he never imagined that pots could be eaten in this way.

As evening fell, the young master arrived at the Xu family residence with several guards. A pot was set up in the front courtyard for the guards to eat with the young master and his entourage. In the back courtyard, a room was set up as a dining room, where a small copper charcoal stove was burning brightly. On the stove was a small copper pot, and the soup inside had a wonderful aroma that made one feel compelled to try it. It would be a shame not to.

Xu Rao and Xu Di brought the heir over. Zhang Zhaoci, being a female member of the family, ate inside with Xu Zhi and Granny Lu. After Zhang Zhaoci and Xu Zhi greeted the heir, they went to the inner room, where Xu Rao and Xu Di accompanied them.

The beef and mutton that Xu Di bought had been slightly frozen and then sliced ​​into thin pieces. The tender meat was arranged on a plate and placed on a small table next to the main dining table. On the small table were some washed vegetables: tender spinach and cabbage, with the tenderest parts chopped into small pieces and placed on the plate; sliced ​​potatoes; shredded beef tripe and beef omasum; and thinly sliced ​​tofu. Xu Di had also sliced ​​the tofu thinly and fried it in oil, which was now also placed on a plate.

Xu Rao said, "It's rather simple, I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

Prince Wei Lang looked at the bubbling soup in the pot and smelled the enticing aroma. He no longer cared about what Xu Rao had said to him and asked, "Lord Xu, how are we supposed to eat this?"

Xu Rao dipped the sliced ​​meat in the pot, then placed it into the bowl of sauce that had been prepared in front of him, saying, "Your Highness, please have some."

The dipping sauce was made by Xu Di himself when he came back in the afternoon. He roasted the sesame seeds, ground them into sesame paste with a small mill, and then added minced garlic and fermented bean curd. Xu Di also picked a few sprigs of coriander, chopped them up, and put them on top of the dipping sauce.

The prince imitated Xu Rao, swishing the slices of meat in the soup, then dipping them in the sauce, and eagerly putting them in his mouth. He was somewhat incredulous that there was such a delicious thing.

The seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy had a really big appetite. Xu Rao watched as the prince and Xu Di devoured everything on the table in no time.

In the evening, Sister He and several helpers from the yard went home, so Xu Rao had to go to the kitchen by herself, take out the meat that had frozen solid, and take the cutting board and knife to the dining room to slice the meat for the two people who were still engrossed in eating.

The prince didn't bother to be polite with Xu Rao anymore and ate two more plates of meat before he finally felt a little full. After Xu Rao cut the meat for him and added some broth to the pot, he let out a satisfied burp and said, "Lord Xu, how can there be such delicious food? It's fresh, fragrant, and spicy. Eating it makes me feel warm all over."

Xu Rao said, "Xu Di did all of this. Ask him."

Xu Di put down his chopsticks and said, "I picked a few ripe peppers and stir-fried them into hot pot base. I didn't put in too many, but next year when we grow more peppers, we can eat as much as we want. We can make some spicier ones then, that will be more satisfying."

The prince said, "It's absolutely delicious."

Xu Di said, "Your Highness, do you think we can make money if we open a shop like this?"

Wei Lang was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and Xu Di quickly said, "You see, not everyone can make hot pot base as delicious as me. I was thinking, don't you have a lot of people like Uncle Li and the others over there? When opening a shop like this, the most important thing is the base, and then the soup. I've already made it. The other people in the shop just run errands and wash vegetables. It's really simple."

Xu Rao looked at Xu Di with some disapproval after hearing his words. He didn't expect Xu Di to say these things to Wei Lang. Although he had also thought about opening a hot pot restaurant, he still didn't agree with bringing it up directly to Wei Lang at the dinner table.

Wei Lang said, "Your idea is good, but my family doesn't allow us to do business outside."

Xu Di smiled and said, "I plan to take the imperial examination in the future. I will not do business outside. The reason I want to open a shop is to increase the income of my family. When my sister gets married in the future, I can give her more dowry."

Upon hearing this, Wei Lang thought of his sisters in the mansion. The Wei family rose to prominence through military achievements. Among the old aristocratic families who fought alongside Emperor Taizu, the Wei family was still serving in the army and doing very well. A few years ago, the Wei family had also accumulated a great fortune.

No matter how much wealth one has, if the income is low, it will eventually run out. Moreover, the Wei family has many members, and their annual expenses are substantial. Wei Lang knows that the current income of the household comes mainly from the produce of the several estates that the royal family has bestowed upon them in recent years. Wei Lang also has several sisters who are about to get married, and their dowries will be a major expense for the family.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!