The retired emperor's villa is located in the western mountains of Kyoto, and was bestowed upon him by his father decades ago when he was still a prince.
The Xishan Villa is only a two-hour carriage ride from Li Xi's Tingfeng Courtyard.
"Second Master, I'll go home first and come back early tomorrow morning." Li Xi planned to go back to Tingfeng Courtyard. Lan'er had gone to Jingcheng, and she still needed to take care of the business matters.
Master Jingxin nodded without saying anything.
Li Xi mounted his horse and rode away with a flick of his whip.
Her horseback riding skills improved day by day, and an hour later, she appeared at 'Spicy Hot Pot'.
Lan'er wasn't there, and the stewards were busy with accounts. She asked about their recent situation and then went to the study.
"Brother Li, it's been quite a while since I've seen you. Where have you been doing big business?" Shen Xu rushed over as soon as he saw Li Xi arrive.
When Li Xi saw that it was Shen Xu, a look of helplessness appeared on his face: "Brother Shen, please don't tease me. Where would I get the money to do business?"
Shen Xu looked knowing: "I understand. The matter is already settled. Remember to take me with you when you have a clue. We're good brothers, and we're even in the same business association."
“Of course, we can’t do without Brother Shen. You’ll have to take good care of the hot pot restaurant these days. Lan’er has gone to Jingcheng to treat patients and save lives. I also have some important things to do. If you need anything, you can discuss it with the president and Ling’er.” Li Xi tried hard to think of any other things he needed to tell them.
Upon hearing Li Xi's words, Shen Xu's expression relaxed even more. He patted Li Xi's shoulder and smiled, "In that case, I'll wait for your good news. Don't worry about handling things; I'll take good care of the shop. If I need any help, I'll contact you promptly."
Li Xi nodded gratefully; she knew Shen Xu was a trustworthy person.
In the kitchen
Ling'er is adjusting the flavors of various hot pot bases, striving to make them the best they can be.
"Ling'er, Ling'er, I'm here! What delicious food are you making?" Li Xi skipped over to Ling'er and affectionately took her arm.
When Ling'er saw Li Xi arrive, all her secrets were exposed.
"What brings you here?" She smiled indulgently, patting Li Xi's hand. "I'm busy adjusting the broth. There's a new flavor today, would you like to try it?"
"Of course I want it!" Li Xi rubbed her hands excitedly. "I'm starving, waiting for your new dishes."
Ling'er smiled and scooped a spoonful of steaming hot broth from the pot, gently blew on it, and brought it to Li Xi's lips.
Li Xi couldn't wait to take a bite, and her eyes widened immediately. "Wow, what's this taste like? It's amazing!"
"This is my secret broth recipe, made with over a dozen spices," Ling'er said proudly. "It has red dates, goji berries, angelica root, sand ginseng, and..."
"Wait, wait," Li Xi interrupted her, "Why does this smell so familiar?"
"Really?" Ling'er was taken aback. "You tasted it? This is my latest idea."
"Creativity?" Li Xi suddenly burst out laughing. "This is basically a secret recipe for stewing meat!"
Ling'er was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Haha, you actually figured it out. Actually, I added some extra herbs when I was making the soup to make it more flavorful."
"Your idea is really great." Li Xi gave a thumbs up and praised, "This hot pot base will definitely become a hit, and this kind of health-preserving hot pot base will definitely be very popular."
When Ling'er heard Li Xi's affirmation, a bright light flashed in her eyes, revealing a deep sense of happiness and satisfaction.
Seeing Ling'er so happy, Li Xi felt very gratified.
She knew that Ling'er had found her stage in the food industry, and found a way of life that truly suited her. All the effort and dedication had been worthwhile.
Li Xi suddenly remembered the congee hot pot that her friend had treated her to in her past life.
The congee in the clay pot was milky white and translucent, but when you carefully scooped it up, you couldn't see any rice.
The specially made fragrant rice is carefully pounded into two or three pieces, then rinsed, mixed with oil and salt, and briefly marinated before being slowly cooked in a large earthenware pot.
When the porridge boils and takes on a chrysanthemum-like shape, the porridge scooped from the center of the flower is the essence of the porridge.
Savoring this sweet, soft, and smooth porridge is like tasting a delicious soup.
The congee base, nourished by various delicious essences, has a thick, snow-white color and emits an enticing aroma.
Once the congee is boiling hot, add your favorite meats and vegetables; the taste is absolutely amazing.
She shared her thoughts with Ling'er.
Ling'er's eyes lit up after hearing this, and she said, "That's a great idea! Let's do it your way. I'll go prepare the ingredients tomorrow. Are you still going out?"
Li Xi understood what Ling'er meant. "I'll be here at this time tomorrow too. I can't wait."
The two ate a little something and returned to Tingfeng Courtyard before dark.
When they arrived home, only Meng Zhong was having his meal.
"Godfather, how about I make you two more dishes?" Ling'er was a little surprised to see that he only had two dishes for himself.
Meng Zhong waved his hand, "I'm getting old, so I should eat less for dinner. By the way, have you all eaten?"
"I've already eaten," Li Xi replied.
"That's good. Get some rest after you finish eating," Meng Zhong said.
Seeing that she had nothing to do, Li Xi decided to pack her bags, as she would soon be going on a long trip.
Song Yuan had left some time ago on business and told her to write a letter and deliver it to the Hidden Gate if she needed anything.
In order to support their people, the Hidden Sect had to deliver superstitious items for others.
As long as you pay enough money, they can deliver it anywhere. They have a powerful intelligence network, making them perfect for delivering superstitious items.
With Li Xi's help, the Hidden Sect is growing stronger and its treasury is getting fuller. However, they still insist on delivering messages for others. They can do other things too, but it's just a matter of money.
Li Xi had too many secrets. She found Xiao Ge a nuisance and had given him the antidote long ago; now he had vanished without a trace. She couldn't be bothered with him anymore.
A clattering sound came from outside the window. Li Xi opened the window and saw that it was a brother from the Hidden Gate.
"Young Master, you have some superstitious beliefs," the man said respectfully.
Li Xi was surprised. Someone was sending her a message so late at night? She gave the man a ten-tael tip and let him leave.
She leaned closer to the candlestick and opened the letter to read it.
"Brother Li, let's meet up at our old pleasure boat sometime. Qin Xiaolin"
She was pleasantly surprised; she hadn't expected Brother Qin to return to the capital. She wondered what important matter he had to discuss with her so late at night.
Li Xi recognized that it was indeed his handwriting, tidied herself up, and went out.
It was late when I went out. The streets were deserted, with only the distant barking of dogs.
She felt a little uneasy, but mostly excited. It had been so long since they'd last met; she wondered...
She arrived at the riverbank and saw the flower boat in the distance.
The ship was brightly lit, as if waiting for her arrival.
As he boarded the ship, a maidservant greeted him warmly: "Young Master Li, you've arrived. Young Master Qin has been waiting on board for quite some time."
Li Xi nodded and went into the cabin, where Qin Xiaolin was sitting at the table enjoying tea.
He saw Li Xi and smiled, "Brother Li, how have you been?"
After Li Xi sat down, Qin Xiaolin poured her a cup of tea: "This tea is this year's new tea, and it has a very fragrant and mellow taste."
Li Xi picked up the teacup and took a small sip: "It is indeed good tea, thank you, Brother Qin."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Qin Xiaolin suddenly put down his teacup.
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