Chapter 37 Women Rise
"Tomorrow! I'll treat you all to another delicious meal! I promise it'll be even better than today's!"
Dongfang Yuning stood in the lingering fragrance of Fengyi Palace, raised his little chin, and dropped the depth bomb with a loud bang.
The attention of the crowd, who were originally arguing fiercely over the equity share of the snail noodle business, mainly because of the eye contact between the emperor and the eldest princess, was instantly diverted.
Dongfang Linyuan was so excited that he almost jumped up, his eyes shining like a hungry wolf seeing a fat sheep:
"Okay! Okay! Ning'er! Third brother will come early tomorrow morning! After we finish eating, let's go to Shang Daye! Shang Daye!"
He has already seen the brilliant future of hot pot and snail noodles combining to sweep across the catering industry of Yan State.
【Tongzi~】
Dongfang Yuning laughed wildly in his heart,
[Quick! Check out my points mall! How much hot pot base can I redeem? I'm going to conquer the world with delicious food! And by the way... hey, let's make some money!]
The voice of System 118 is filled with the numbness of the working class (general):
[Host, based on your current accumulated points for eating melons and spreading gourmet food, you can redeem them all at once——]
It deliberately dragged out the electronic sound to whet our appetite before suddenly announcing:
10,000 bags of spicy beef hot pot base! Plus 10,000 bags of mushroom, tomato, or bone broth base! Plenty of goodies! Keep up the good work and unlock even more goodies in the Points Mall!
【10,000 bags? ! 】
Dongfang Yuning almost couldn't help but cheer out loud.
[It’s posted! Tongzi! Well done!]
Her inner calculations were clattering.
[I will take my niece Yue'er, my dear sister the Queen, and my gentle, beautiful and secretive mother Zhen'er to create a bright road that belongs to us women!
Make the most money, see the most beautiful scenery! As for men... humph! Go wherever it's cool! Sisters, stand up!]
This voice was like thunder, instantly striking all the male creatures present!
Emperor Nangong Yu: “!!!”
He suddenly turned his head to look at Queen Dongfang Qiwu beside him, his eyes full of accusations and resentment:
[Wu'er! Listen! My sister-in-law...she's going to kidnap you! She's going to take Yue'er with her! And my mother-in-law too! She's...she's going to undermine my foundation!]
Queen Dongfang Qiwu looked straight ahead, picked up the teacup gracefully, and took a sip elegantly, as if she had not received any signal.
However, her heart was madly scrolling through the screen:
[Ning'er! Good sister! Well said! Hurry and get me out of this golden cage! Queen's phoenix crown, mother of the world, all that shit, go to hell! I'm going with you! Let's go sell snail noodles at the ends of the earth!]
Nangong Ye: “…”
He just felt that snowing in June was more unfair than Dou E!
[Ning'er! My dear little ancestor! You can't... you can't just fire this tactic like that! This is my brother's fault, it has nothing to do with me! I'm loyal to you, as the sun and the moon can attest! My gold! My palace! My people! They're all yours! Can you... can you take me with you? I'll be at your service, carry your bags, and settle your accounts! Don't leave me behind!]
The men of the Dongfang family (Dongfang Yanru, Dongfang Liezheng, Dongfang Qichen, Dongfang Linyuan) shuddered collectively, their inner alarm bells ringing:
[It's over! The women in the family are going to be led astray by my little ancestor/little sister!]
The Empress Dowager: “…”
The old man paused as he twirled the Buddhist beads, and a faint, amused light flashed across the depths of his eyes.
The next day, as soon as the bell for the end of court rang, a group of men in official robes of various colors and of distinguished status, as if drawn by an invisible thread, hurriedly and with a clear goal in mind, rushed to Fengyi Palace again.
The shadow of yesterday’s snail noodles is still there, but more of it is the uncontrollable curiosity aroused by the phrase “it will taste even better tomorrow”.
As soon as they stepped into Fengyi Palace, a strong fragrance that was more overbearing, richer, and more alluring than yesterday, like a huge wave, slapped everyone's face!
This aroma is very different from the recognizable stench of yesterday's snail noodles. It is a complex, three-dimensional, and aggressive aroma!
It is the rich, burnt aroma of fat that is stimulated by the high temperature of boiling butter!
It is the spicy and numbing flavor released by countless spices dancing wildly in the hot oil!
It is a variety of fresh ingredients rolling in the boiling soup, exuding the original meaty aroma and umami flavor!
And... the faint fragrance of mushrooms, the sweet and sour taste of tomatoes, and the mellowness of bones serve as the background, neutralizing the overbearing spiciness, forming an extremely complex yet harmonious olfactory storm!
This taste is not like the "killing at first sight" impact of snail noodles. It is more like a passionate exotic beauty who will completely capture you with the strongest, most direct and most exciting hug!
“Gudong…Gudong…”
The sound of swallowing saliva could be heard one after another among the people who stepped into the palace.
Inside the palace, the small kitchen of Fengyi Palace that had been so ravaged yesterday was requisitioned again, and now it had become the front-line command center of the food battlefield.
Dongfang Yuning was like a general planning and strategizing, commanding a group of palace maids and eunuchs who were busy all the time.
She even brought her biological mother, Li Zhen'er, into the palace. At this moment, Li was helping her daughter prepare the food with a gentle and helpless smile.
Dongfang Yuning had practically cleared out all the fresh vegetables, meat, poultry, and seafood in the imperial kitchen! Juicy greens, crisp lotus root slices, plump mushrooms, tender tofu, thin slices of meat, and oddly shaped tripe, duck intestines, and yellow throat...a dazzling array of goods filled several long tables.
In the center of the hall, there were more than a dozen pots of various shapes—round, square, large, small—filled with two completely different soup bases: on one side was the fiery-red, bubbling, and thickly coated with red oil, chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns;
On the other side is a pot of milky and rich mushroom soup garnished with mushrooms and wolfberries, as well as several clear soup pots with bubbling sweet and sour tomato soup base or rich bone broth.
Can't find a shabu-shabu hot pot? No problem! Let's just serve it in separate pots! Simple and straightforward, with plenty of filling!
"Come, come, come! Everyone, sit down! You're welcome! Do it yourself and you'll have enough food and clothing!"
Dongfang Yuning's face was flushed, and sweat was smearing on her forehead, but she was incredibly excited. She invited everyone to sit down, then expertly picked up a long chopstick and demonstrated how to pick up a thin slice of mutton roll. She tossed it up and down in the boiling red broth, then dipped it in her homemade sauce (sesame oil, minced garlic, cilantro, and oyster sauce), popped it into her mouth, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction.
"Mmm~ That's the taste! So good!"
With yesterday's fragrance as a foundation, although everyone was a little dizzy from the overbearing aroma, they were mentally prepared.
Emperor Nangong Yu was the first to pick up his chopsticks, imitating Dongfang Yuning's example and shoving a piece of tripe into the pot. Nangong Ye followed closely behind, aiming for the duck intestines in the red broth. Dongfang Linyuan was more pragmatic, scooping up a large piece of beef roll with his chopsticks and dropping it into the mushroom broth.
When the first bite of food filled with boiling hot soup and rich flavor is put into the mouth——
"hiss--!"
Nangong Yu gasped at the intense spiciness, but the fresh, mellow aroma and the crispy texture of the ingredients immediately conquered his taste buds! Sweat beads instantly appeared on his forehead, but he felt extremely refreshed!
Nangong Ye's eyes lit up. The crispness of the duck intestines and the spicy impact were a perfect combination, making him unable to help but pick up another piece with chopsticks.
Dongfang Linyuan tasted the beef in the mushroom soup pot. The delicious mushroom aroma permeated the tender meat slices. The taste was mellow and mild, which was also amazing!
"Delicious! This tripe is crispy!"
"Oh my god! This beef is so tender! This red soup...so delicious!"
"The mushroom soup pot is so delicious!"
"Aunt! These meatballs are soaked up so much broth! Absolutely amazing!"
The twin princes ate with their mouths full of oil.
"Ning'er, this tomato hotpot is sweet and sour and appetizing. Very good."
The Empress Dowager also gave high praise.
The massive "Zhen Xiang" live event 2.0 is back! Fengyi Palace instantly transforms into a bustling hot pot battlefield, with clinking glasses (drinks include sour plum soup and milk tea), flying chopsticks, and laughter (interspersed with inhalations from the spicy food).
After three rounds of wine (drinks) and five dishes, Dongfang Yuning saw that the atmosphere was almost ready, put down his chopsticks, cleared his throat, and looked at his third brother Dongfang Linyuan, whose face was flushed with joy from eating.
"Third brother, have you almost finished eating? It's time to talk about business!"
Dongfang Linyuan immediately put down his chopsticks, sat upright, and looked at him intently:
"Ning'er, you say!"
"What do you think of this hot pot?"
Dongfang Yuning asked.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
Dongfang Linyuan gave a thumbs up.
"Compared to yesterday's snail noodles, this has a wider audience, a more lively atmosphere, and can bring in more money! If we open a restaurant, it's bound to be a hit!"
“The restaurant needs to open, but it’s not just about that.”
Dongfang Yuning's eyes sparkled with shrewdness as she began to outline her business plans.
“My idea is that we should create an oriental hot pot brand!”
"First, open a top-notch hotpot restaurant in the capital or the wealthy areas of Jiangnan. It features an elegant environment, excellent service, and top-quality ingredients, catering exclusively to dignitaries and wealthy merchants. The prices... naturally have to be commensurate with their status."
She gave me a look that said you understand.
Dongfang Linyuan nodded vigorously:
"I understand! The high-end route has the highest profits!"
"Second,"
Dongfang Yuning changed the subject.
"Hot pot, especially spicy hot pot, is good for dispelling dampness and cold. Where is the best place to go?"
Dongfang Linyuan's eyes lit up:
"A bitterly cold place on the frontier!"
“That’s right!”
Dongfang Yuning slammed the table, and scared Nangong Lintian so much that he almost dropped the meatballs into the pot.
"Open affordable hot pot restaurants in important military garrisons and border trade hubs in the northwest, northeast, and southwest! Use large pots, generous portions, and authentic flavors!
Let soldiers guarding the border and merchants traveling by, for a relatively low price, enjoy a hot, satisfying, and warming hot pot meal! This is called... the close relationship between the military and the people, and it also earns reputation!
Nangong Yu's eyes widened when he heard this, and he gave a thumbs up in his heart:
[Sister-in-law! That's brilliant! This idea is fantastic! It appeases the troops, promotes border trade, and makes money! Kill three birds with one stone! My lucky star!]
"Third,"
Dongfang Yuning's voice had a hint of the cunning of a "profiteer".
“It’s also the most important part – joining!”
"Join us?"
Dongfang Linyuan and everyone else were a little confused.
"right!"
Dongfang Yuning explained,
"For example, what if the royal families, nobles, or wealthy merchants of the Dirong Kingdom in the north or the Yuezhi Kingdom in the west really like our hot pot and want to open an Oriental Hot Pot restaurant in their country?"
"Sell them the formula?"
Dongfang Linyuan frowned,
"Not appropriate, core secret."
“Of course I’m not selling the recipe!”
Dongfang Yuning waved her hand.
"Let them join! Pay a huge franchise fee! Get the qualification to open a store under our Oriental Hot Pot name and the right to use the signboard.
Then, the core base ingredients, special dipping sauces, and even some special ingredients used in their store must all be purchased from our Oriental Hot Pot headquarters!
We control the source, ensuring a consistent taste, while earning a steady profit from the raw materials! This is called 'commercial diplomacy'!"
She paused and emphasized:
"But there's a prerequisite! They must be friendly nations! Only those with good relations with our Yan Nation can join! Want to join?
Build good relationships first! This is called using food to promote diplomatic relations and using business to bind interests! Brother-in-law, "
She smiled and looked at Nangong Yu who was stunned.
"Do you think this idea could contribute to Yan Nation's diplomacy and, by the way... replenish the national treasury and internal finances?"
Nangong Yu: “!!!”
He was so excited that he almost stood up!
[Amazing! My sister-in-law is amazing! How can this be called business? This is expanding territory without a single soldier! Using hot pot for diplomacy?]
Using franchise fees to earn military funds? Using raw materials to control allies' stomachs? Great! Really great! Why didn't I think of that!
The way he looked at Dongfang Yuning was as if he was looking at a walking mythical beast that could lay golden eggs and conduct diplomacy!
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Ning'er! This is a great plan! It's exactly what I want!"
Nangong Yu clapped his hands and laughed, the emperor was very pleased.
"That's it! Third brother! You will take full charge of this matter! The Ministry of Revenue and the Honglu Temple will fully cooperate! I want to see this hot pot diplomacy bear fruit!"
Dongfang Linyuan was also shaking with excitement:
[I've made it! This time I'm really rich! A chain empire! A multinational business! Following this little ancestor, I can really reach the sky!]
He immediately patted his chest and promised:
"Don't worry, Your Majesty! Don't worry, Ning'er! Leave it to me!"
【Tongzi! 】
Dongfang Yuning was spinning in circles in his heart.
[Did you see that? My sister's business acumen! Are you impressed?]
System 118:
[…The host is wise and powerful, and I, Tongzi, admire him. But…did you forget something? For example…when did your brother-in-law let you leave the palace to expand the territory?]
[Yes!]
Dongfang Yuning's face instantly fell, and he wailed in his heart:
My brother-in-law! He only wants me to make money for him and do diplomacy. When will he let me go free?! My business empire is waiting for me to inspect it!
My bright future as a woman is waiting for me to pave! He always keeps me confined in this deep palace. Ahhhhh~ It's so annoying! Does he treat me like a hen that lays golden eggs only for the palace?!
Once this thought came out, it was like throwing a huge rock into a calm lake!
Swish!
All the men in the Dongfang family—Dongfang Yanru, Dongfang Liezheng, Dongfang Qichen, and Dongfang Linyuan—focused their eyes like searchlights on Emperor Nangong Yu with silent condemnation and pressure!
The look in his eyes clearly said:
[Your Majesty! Do you hear me? My little sister wants freedom! It's up to you!]
Nangong Yu: “…”
The smile on his face froze instantly and he felt a chill on his back.
[Here she comes again! This little sister-in-law! She's always thinking about stealing my queen away! She even wants to abduct Yue'er, my mother-in-law, and even my mother! I...Is it easy for me?!]
In this awkward (for the emperor) and delicate (for Dongfang Yuning) atmosphere, Dongfang Yuning did not stop her inner declaration of "rise up." While chewing on the crisp tribute vegetables, she passionately planned the future with System 118:
[Tong! What do you think? Should we set up a Yan Country Women's Chamber of Commerce? How about calling it Fengming Jiuxiao?]
[Pull my sister off the Queen's throne and make her the Honorary President! She's so good at managing the harem, so managing the Chamber of Commerce is a piece of cake!]
Let my mother be the chief financial officer. She's meticulous and knows how to manage money.
[Yuer! Let her be in charge of external development and publicity! This little girl has a sharp tongue and an imposing presence, she can hold her own!]
[And the Empress Dowager! She is so highly respected, who would dare not give her face as an advisor?]
Let's open a hot pot restaurant and a river snail noodle shop to build up some initial capital, then expand into clothing, jewelry, and cosmetics! We'll specialize in women's business! We'll make money from women!
We also need to establish a girls' school! Instead of learning those rules and regulations for women, we need to teach them accounting, management, and crafts! Let girls have the skills to make a living!
[We want to enable the women of Yan Country to not only take care of their husbands and children in the backyard, but also to make a name for themselves in the business world and in the world with their own abilities!
Let those stinky men see what it means to be as brave as a man! Humph!]
Dongfang Yuning became more and more excited as she spoke. The villain in her heart had already waved the banner of "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" and was completely immersed in her passionate speech about her own grand ambitions and women's awakening.
What she didn't know was that her thoughts, like an invisible broadcast, were clearly heard by all the women present.
Queen Dongfang Qiwu: [!!!]
Her hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly, not because of the spiciness, but because of excitement!
[Ning'er... my dear sister! I support you! Whoever wants to be the queen can take it! I want to open a chamber of commerce with you! Be the president! Be a wife and mother? Screw it! I want to go into business!]
Princess Nangong Yue: [!!!]
Little Phoenix's eyes were incredibly bright, and the little universe in his heart was burning wildly:
[Outward expansion! Promotion! I love it! My aunt understands me! From now on, if anyone dares to say women are inferior to men, I'll throw hot pot broth on them! Fengming Jiuxiao? What a great name! So powerful!]
Li Zhener: [!!!]
The gentle Madam Taifu remained calm on the surface, but a storm was brewing inside her:
[Manage… manage finances? Logistics? Can I… really do that? No longer just deal with those trivial matters in the inner chambers? Can I… can I do big things like the Master and the others?]
An unprecedented sense of value began to sprout in her heart.
The Queen Mother: [!!!]
The old man twisted his beads a little faster, his eyes gleaming:
[Advisor? Highly respected? Hmm... sounds good. I've been trapped in the palace for decades, so it's time to... venture out and explore. Opening a hot pot restaurant... seems... much more interesting than listening to the concubines' complaints every day...]
A seed of yearning for freedom (and hot pot) was quietly planted.
The four women, who had very different identities and status but were all trapped in some kind of invisible shackles, were all in turmoil at this moment because of Dongfang Yuning's unorthodox yet extremely attractive voice!
A long-suppressed passion was quietly boiling! They exchanged glances, and although they were silent, they both saw the ignited light and tacit understanding in each other's eyes.
The men sitting opposite them - Emperor Nangong Yu, Prince Yong Nangong Ye, Grand Tutor Dongfang Yanru, Marquis Zhenhun Dongfang Liezheng, Minister of Rites Dongfang Qichen, Imperial Merchant Dongfang Linyuan, and even the ignorant but intuitive Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian and the twin princes, all felt a chill running from the soles of their feet straight up to the top of their heads!
They looked at the seemingly calm, yet turbulent, expressions of their female relatives (empress/daughter/sister/wife/mother/grandmother), and the silently flowing, increasingly intense aura of shared hatred and eagerness among them. Then they thought of the rebellious thoughts of their little ancestor Dongfang Yuning...
All the men, without any prior agreement, felt a chill run down their spines and broke out in a cold sweat! Deep down in their hearts, there was only one common, huge, trembling cry:
[It's over!!! The women in this family...they're going to run away together!!!]
They are abandoning us!!!
[This life... is unbearable!!!]
Inside Fengyi Palace, the hot pot still simmered, its aroma still overwhelming. On one side, the women's hearts blazed with passion and boundless longing for freedom, while on the other, the men were collectively enveloped in a gloomy cloud of impending abandonment. The atmosphere was a mixture of ice and fire, eerie and hilarious.
System 118 silently recorded this historic moment:
Host, this bowl of hot pot you've cooked isn't just about the ingredients... You're actually trying to poke a hole in the sky. But... Tongzi likes it! Make trouble! Make big trouble!]
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