Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Spice Secret Recipe Unveiled...
Xu Yuanheng picked up the jar, opened it, looked inside, and even sniffed it. It was powdery and had a spicy aroma that made him frown.
He opened another can, which smelled better, like mushrooms.
Xu Yuanheng: "You mean, if you add this to your food at home, it will taste better?"
Steward Xu nodded. "Yes, Second Young Master, this one is for cooking, and the other one is for stewing. Oh, and Madam Lin brought this when she came to cook that day. But we didn't dare let her use the stuff from outside, as it was too small. So she ground some more spices from the mansion. Madam Lin's cooking is so delicious, no one else can make it like this."
Lin Qiuran's cooking was novel and delicious. But the chefs at the mansion weren't idle either. Lin Qiuran never avoided them while he was cooking. They also helped with the ingredients and watched from the sidelines.
With three people, they could learn a little bit. The chef had tried to make Lin Qiuran's dishes over the past two days, and they looked about 70% similar, but the taste was only about 50% or 60% the same.
Seafood porridge, soup dumplings... none of them are as delicious as Lin Qiuran's.
This must be one of the reasons.
Xu Yuanheng resealed the jar and placed it on the table. "Are they all made of spices?"
Manager Xu said, "Yes, there are more than ten kinds of spices. The ones at the back are powdered dried mushrooms, so there should be many kinds of mushrooms."
Lin Qiuran didn't say it, but it's probably the same as the family secret recipe.
Xu Yuanheng asked Manager Xu, "If it were you, would you buy this if it were sold on the street?"
Manager Xu didn't even hesitate. He said, "Of course I will buy it, Second Young Master. This one will last a long time. After cooking several times, some of it will be used up. This jar will last for several months at least. The dishes made with it are delicious. Even if the spices are expensive, it's not expensive if you use it daily. Why not buy it?"
Xu Yuanheng put the jar down, a hint of interest in his eyes. He didn't know whether Madam Lin was truly grateful or just wanted to take the opportunity to put this thing in front of him.
But none of this mattered. Xu Yuanheng's eyes grew sharper, and he said, "After she leaves, give the food to the kitchen and let them see if they can make it."
Manager Xu was stunned. Then, combined with what Xu Yuanheng had just asked, he understood a little. Was he trying to find the recipe? What about Lin Qiuran?
His expression changed, "Second Young Master, this..."
Xu Yuanheng raised his eyelids lightly, "Anything else?"
Manager Xu shook his head and said, "It's okay."
After leaving the courtyard, Manager Xu returned to the kitchen. He first stuffed the reward money into the kitchen and said, "The things have been delivered. I will send Madam Lin back now."
Lin Qiuran could see that Manager Xu's face didn't look very good. She didn't know what had just happened, whether Second Young Master Xu had asked in detail or whether he was interested in doing this business. She thought Second Young Master Xu would meet her.
Lin Qiuran nodded. On the way out of the house, she asked, "When will the Second Young Master leave? If it's just a day or two, and I'm busy at home, maybe I can come over and cook for him."
Manager Xu sighed. The Second Young Master was already thinking about coming up with the recipe, and Lin Qiuran wanted to cook for him. He touched his nose and said, "The Second Young Master will be leaving in two days. If Madam Lin is free, just come directly."
Lin Qiuran hummed. Second Master Xu would be leaving Yu'an in two days, so there would be news at the latest. She just had to wait and see. If it didn't work out, it wouldn't be a big loss for her.
Manager Xu escorted Lin Qiuran out of the house. She took a carriage and left through the side door, but when she passed the front door, Lin Qiuran looked outside and saw Sun waiting at the door of Xu's house.
She stopped the carriage and beckoned Sun to get in, "Mother, didn't I say I would come back later to welcome you?"
She's not late today.
Sun had arrived a long time ago. She had been thinking about it for a long time in the afternoon and was still worried. Since there was nothing else to do, she did not wait for Lin Qiuran to come back at home, but went straight to the Xu family to wait.
Seeing that Lin Qiuran was fine, she immediately felt relieved. She gave the water she brought to Lin Qiuran to drink and said with a smile, "There's nothing to do at home. I've already bought the vegetables and meat. I should be able to open the stall tomorrow."
Lin Qiuran nodded. "It's been raining for the past few days, but it's finally going to clear up. Business should be good tomorrow."
I haven't been setting up the stall these past few days, so I guess the customers are waiting. The rain stopped in the afternoon, and there was a sunset glow in the sky. Tomorrow should be a sunny day. She asked Manager Xu, but she was just testing when the Second Master Xu would leave.
Lin Qiuran had originally thought that if Steward Xu had said a few kind words to Young Master Xu, he might have taken an interest in spices. But he hadn't asked her to ask in detail. Why was that?
If he was truly interested, yet he hadn't asked her anything, could he possibly be trying to come up with the recipe himself using these spices? A chef's tongue is indeed very sensitive; some are so skilled that they can tell what's in something just by taking a bite.
But there are more than a dozen spices in this, all ground into powder and mixed together. How can you taste them? Even if you can taste what spices are in it, how much of each spice is used can you really tell?
That's not a person, it's clearly a precise instrument. The recipe is in Lin Qiuran's mind.
Lin Qiuran had no idea what Second Young Master Xu was thinking, but he would know in two days at most.
Still in Xu's house, the cook who was supposed to be dismissed got a new job.
After seeing Lin Qiu off, Manager Xu distributed two plates of spices to each of the three cooks in the main kitchen. He said, "This is made with a few different spices. Whoever can make it exactly the same will be rewarded handsomely!"
When they heard there was a big reward, everyone stopped being tired and complaining, and started to get ready. They were willing to stay and do more work, and they couldn't wait to finish the product so that they could receive the reward.
But after half an hour, the three of them were still at a loss.
Time passed slowly. It was only three quarters to the hour of Hai and it was already the first watch. The night outside the window was as dark as ink. Only the light in the kitchen was still on. Manager Xu came in to see that none of the three had finished cooking yet.
I did grind some spices into fine powder and mixed them together, but there is a saying that goes "a slight error can lead to a huge difference." The taste of what I made was completely different from the one Lin Qiuran gave. If I put it in the dish, it would be even more different.
Maybe it will taste better, or maybe it will become unpalatable.
Manager Xu had also been here for an hour. Seeing several people scratching their heads, he sighed, "Alright, it's getting late today, let's do it tomorrow."
Not only did the three of them fail to make the Thirteen Spice Flavor, they couldn't even make the Mushroom Delicious. They could smell it and knew it was made from dried mushrooms. They also tried grinding a few different dried mushrooms into powder, but they didn't get the amount right, and they couldn't get it to work no matter how much they tried.
The former is a first impression, and when I make the latter, I always feel that the taste is different.
Hearing that Manager Xu would do it tomorrow, they breathed a sigh of relief. This wasn't just cooking; it was quite interesting. Doing this was just sitting at the table grinding spices, testing them over and over again, which was tedious. It was much better to just cook a few dishes.
I couldn't help but feel bored, and my neck hurt from having to keep my head down.
But since the boss had given the order, they had no choice but to continue cooking. The next morning, the three chefs worked in the kitchen for another two hours, but still couldn't make it. The three of them could only put it aside for the time being and had to cook for lunch because Xu Yuanheng was eating at his house.
It wasn't made by Lin Qiuran, so Xu Yuanheng didn't use it much. It wasn't that he was praising Lin Qiuran; honestly, her craftsmanship was considered pretty good even in the capital.
Some dishes were even better than those made by chefs in Beijing, like the braised pork at the Mid-Autumn Festival family dinner, but he only ate one piece. With a family like theirs, when dining with others, they'd only take two chopsticks at most. Besides, the dish had sixteen pieces, and with over a dozen people at the dinner, each person only ate one piece.
Not every dish could be finished, and when there was only one piece left, no one picked up the chopsticks.
Thinking about the taste of the braised pork, Xu Yuanheng still had some lingering thoughts. He put down his chopsticks and asked Manager Xu, "Have they finished making the food?"
Manager Xu smiled apologetically, "Give it a little more time, and maybe we'll see some results."
Xu Yuanheng said in a faint voice, "In other words, there is no clue at the moment."
Manager Xu's back tensed, and a few drops of sweat broke out on his forehead. He said in embarrassment, "Second Young Master, this is no easy task. We have to identify the spices and understand their ratios. It's difficult to tell them apart. We have to try every ratio; the slightest difference can make a huge difference. And there are probably more than a dozen, but we've only guessed at eight. Even if the mushroom-flavored jar is a little easier, it's still difficult to make it exactly the same."
If it was not something ordered by his master, Manager Xu would think that he was deliberately making things difficult for him.
He felt a bit sorry for Lin Qiuran, who had kindly sent the spices, but the Second Young Master ignored his feelings and simply wanted to recreate them himself. But if it could be made, would it still be called a secret recipe? Whose secret recipe could be figured out in an entire night and morning?
However, Xu Yuanheng is a businessman, and he has used more sinister means in his business in the past.
Manager Xu only had a little sympathy for Lin Qiuran, and he was even greedy for her reward money. He naturally had no face to blame Xu Yuanheng for doing something wrong.
I'm just glad that I can't do it.
Xu Yuanheng pressed his eyebrows and asked, "Where does Madam Lin live?"
Since I can’t make it myself, I can only find someone to buy the house.
What Xu Yuanheng wanted now was to buy it. He didn't come back often, so he didn't think of taking a few bottles to Beijing to test the waters first.
For businessmen, it's better to hold onto useful things, even if you can't make back the money later. Xu Yuanheng thought that even if he couldn't sell it now, maybe it would be useful in a few years.
The thing is good, it would be a pity to leave it in Lin Qiuran's hands. Buying the recipe can solve the problem once and for all.
Let Manager Xu go and tell him that he was a little worried that he might mess things up, so it would be better for him to go himself.
Manager Xu said, "Mrs. Lin lives in the third alley southeast of Yulin Street. It's the second house inside. If you can't find her, just ask around and you'll find her."
Xu Yuanheng nodded, "Come with me this afternoon."
Manager Xu: “…Yes.”
Xu Yuanheng will set off the day after tomorrow morning, so this matter needs to be settled as soon as possible.
He planned to pay eighty taels for the two prescriptions. Xu Yuanheng also asked Manager Xu about the Lin family. Lin Qiuran's parents-in-law were from Xiaojia Village, and Lin Qiuran had children after her husband's death. If Lin Qiuran didn't agree, he could offer some other benefits, such as cheaper rent for the Xu family's shop when doing business. Or, he could add twenty taels to the prescriptions. Holding silver in hand would be more useful to them than a piece of paper.
If Lin Qiuran was a smart person, he would naturally know what to choose.
*
The vegetables were selling very quickly today, and Sun's Xiao Dashi went home early. She said to Lin Qiuran, "There are still some people who came over but didn't buy anything. On the way back, some people asked about it."
But Lin Qiuran didn't plan to add more dishes tomorrow. "Mom, if anyone doesn't buy anything in the future, tell them that our vegetables are changed every three days, so just come early."
Lin Qiuran calls this hunger marketing. If you always make more, it will be available whenever people come to buy it. Then it won't feel precious anymore. If people are fighting over it and many people buy it, then you will think it tastes good. If others buy it, you will want to buy it too.
Besides, Lin Qiuran wouldn't be able to handle any more work, and right now it's just right, earning a few hundred coins a day, so he can save it slowly. If business is too good, it will easily attract envy.
At lunch, the three of them ate the leftover green peppers stuffed with meat, and Lin Qiuran also scrambled eggs with pumpkin. The former went well with rice, and the soup was also delicious with rice, while the latter was light and refreshing. Eating these for lunch was much better than what the Xiao family had eaten before.
Sun and Xiao Dashi now eat more vegetables. The meat is given to Lin Qiuran, and the two of them eat eggs. The rice is now made by Lin Qiuran. He is afraid that the rice will go bad, so he will eat more.
Lin Qiuran also felt that they were a little fatter.
There are a lot of vegetables at home, so eating more is good for your health. That day, Sun and Xiao Dashi came back and brought back a lot of vegetables from their hometown. Some were from their garden, and some were given by Aunt Yu.
Aunt Yu felt bad about charging so much money, so she picked a lot of vegetables for the two to take back.
Sun didn't want it, because this thing had to be bought with money in the county.
But Aunt Yu said, "This is not worth much. The garden grows more every day. You can take it and eat it. There is enough at home. There is also the meat you took. It will last for a few days. Come back quickly. Leave it to me at home!"
Lin Qiuran estimated that after the weather cleared up, he would be able to harvest the Xiao family's three acres of land. The Xiao family would not have to pay taxes, so they could just bring the grain over. By pounding the rice into rice, they would save money on buying it.
After dinner, Lin Qiuran went back to her room to sleep. Half asleep, she heard Sun calling her, "Qiuran, wake up! Someone from the Xu family is here. It's not just the steward who came that day, there are several more, and one of them looks like a young master!"
Sun didn't recognize them, but they said they had something to ask, so they invited them in.
Lin Qiuran became a little more sober, and the second young master Xu arrived.
Second Master Xu probably came here for the recipe, so Lin Qiuran didn't think of anything else. She breathed a sigh of relief, "Mom, I'll pack up first and leave right away."
She changed her clothes and fixed her hair.
Sun and Xiao Dashi had just invited Xu Yuanheng into the room, which was behind the kitchen where the dining area was, with tables and chairs. They asked several people to sit down, but only Xu Yuanheng sat down; the others stood.
Sun had never seen such a scene before. She poured water for Xu Yuanheng and said nothing else. The wealthy people behaved differently from others. Looking at him, Sun felt a little intimidated. She didn't know what he was doing here.
But the food is not cooked well, so what.
Lin Qiuran came out, and Xu Yuanheng nodded at him.
Lin Qiuran sat down opposite Xu Yuanheng and asked, "I wonder what Second Young Master Xu is here for?"
Xu Yuanheng glanced at Lin Qiuran, then at Sun and Xiao Dashi. He said, "I came here today for the Xiao family's ancestral secret recipe. I'm willing to pay eighty taels for it. What do you think?"
With elders in the family and a secret recipe passed down through the generations, it was natural for them to make the final decision. Xiao Dashi and Sun Shi were both from the countryside, looking somewhat bewildered. Eighty taels seemed more than enough for them.
As expected, after Xu Yuanheng finished speaking, Xiao Dashi and Sun showed shocked expressions on their faces.
Spices? Return the eighty taels. That's worth more than the gold you found.
Sun and Xiao Dashi naturally had no objections, as the recipe belonged to Lin Qiuran. It wasn't just that they had no objections, but it had nothing to do with them. Lin Qiuran was the master of all family matters, so even if the recipe belonged to the Xiao family, it still depended on Lin Qiuran's decision.
Xu Yuanheng looked at Sun, and Sun looked at Lin Qiuran. Xu Yuanheng's heart tightened and he looked away, unsure of what this meant.
Lin Qiuran said, "I'm grateful that Second Young Master Xu is interested in this recipe, but I don't intend to sell it to you. Please go back."
Xu Yuanheng remained calm and composed. He asked, "But the price isn't enough. I can add another twenty taels. What do you think?"
Lin Qiuran said, "It has nothing to do with the price. It's just that our family recipes are hard-earned, passed down from our ancestors, and are extremely precious. If I sell them, I'll be an unfilial descendant, so I want to try selling the spices myself so I can pass them down to my children. Don't worry about the Second Young Master laughing at me. Although it's not easy to sell, I have sold some. I sold two jars to the chef at the post station, and the price was quite reasonable."
A flicker of admiration flashed across Xu Yuanheng's eyes. Lin Qiuran was quite clever. Manager Xu had said yesterday that if it were him, he would buy it, but Xu Yuanheng felt that others might not. Manager Xu received a monthly stipend of two taels, and occasionally received bonuses, so he certainly had plenty of money.
For him, buying this was no different from going out for drinks. It made the food at home taste better, so he was happy to spend a little more. But spices were expensive, and if it were on sale in a grocery store, most people wouldn't buy it even if they saw it.
But selling to chefs is perfect. No matter who the chef is, even if he is a master chef who prepares banquets for others, he needs to consider the taste of his food, which is what he needs most. The richer the people, the faster the products will sell.
A jar of spices is used up slowly, but it will eventually run out. If you don’t know how to make it yourself, you will definitely buy more spices again for work, and over time you will become a repeat customer.
The chef at the post station will probably buy more when they run out.
In a short moment, Xu Yuanheng thought of many ways to get this recipe, whether it was coercion, bribery, or intimidation. It might not work, but the Xiao family was more like a barefoot.
Those who are barefoot are never afraid of those who wear shoes.
Xu Yuanheng asked again, "How did Madam Lin know the chef at the post station? Did she cook there?"
The post station was a place for adults who came to Yu'an to do business. Lin Qiuran had worked at the post station, so he naturally knew the county magistrate and perhaps had met other officials.
Lin Qiuran said, "Well, a few days ago, Lord Zhao came to Yu'an for an inspection, and I went over to cook for a few days."
Lord Zhao, Zhao Jinshan.
Indeed, Lord Zhao came to Yu'an at the beginning of the month. Xu Yuanheng didn't expect that Lin Qiuran had just arrived in the county, but he had cooked so many dishes and even visited the post station.
The recipe is with Lin Qiuran, and Zhao Jinshan, the governor of Xuzhou, is an honest official. If anything happens to the Xiao family, it will be difficult to resolve.
Besides, he came here to do business, not a robber who only knows how to burn, kill and loot. There are thousands of ways to do business, so why choose the most difficult one?
Xu Yuanheng said, "Since Madam Lin has sold it before, she certainly doesn't want to keep the recipe to herself. If it can be promoted and everyone can enjoy it, it will also be a good thing for the ancestors of the family. Since Madam Lin doesn't want to sell it, we can do it together. You have only sold it once in recent days, so I think you understand that few people in Yu'an will buy it. This thing should not be kept in Yu'an."
Lin Qiuran lowered his head, clasped his hands together, and nervously squeezed them. "But, I've never done this with anyone before, so I don't know how to do it."
Lin Qiuran didn't want to bother, nor did she want to suffer any loss. She exuded a sense of pity, but she didn't know if Second Master Xu would fall for it.
If Xu Yuanheng offered less, she could still bargain, or at worst, refuse to sell. She also mentioned that she had cooked at the post station and mentioned Lord Zhao. The Xu family had a large business, so they had to have some taboos.
Xu Yuanheng said, "Of course, you come up with the recipe and I come up with something else, and then we'll share the profits."
Lin Qiuran asked, "But if I provide the recipe, will it become yours in the future?"
Xu Yuanheng smiled and patiently explained, "Don't worry. Before the prescription is given to me, the document will be signed and the government will also keep it. Madam Lin, don't worry. The Xu family is an honest and upright business family."
Manager Xu scratched his nose in the back. This wasn't necessarily true. However, there were definitely benefits to partnering with the Xu family.
Lin Qiuran asked, "But how should the profits be calculated?"
Xu Yuanheng felt that Lin Qiuran had asked enough questions. "If you nod, someone will naturally tell you these things."
Seeing that Lin Qiuran wanted to negotiate, he said, "I've done deals like this before where someone else provides the prescription and I provide the manpower and resources. Usually it's 40/60, you get 40/60, but Madam Lin can give you 45/50 or 50/50."
Lin Qiuran has good craftsmanship, and maybe she has something else in her hands. If this one really sells well, with her craftsmanship, she can definitely make something else.
With a long-term perspective, Xu Yuanheng was willing to give her more benefits now. Originally, it was Lin Qiuran's recipe, and it seemed she was the only one who had the final say in the Xiao family.
Lin Qiuran frowned imperceptibly. This sounded familiar; she'd said it before. First, she'd explain how the other person was doing, setting her bottom line, and then explaining her own concessions. Even if she wanted to negotiate the price, it would be difficult. If it was truly 40%, then 40% or 50% wouldn't be a small amount, but she feared there might be a trap.
She asked, "Why?"
Xu Yuanheng smiled and said, "Madam Lin's cooking skills are good. I will give her a small profit margin so that she won't have to struggle for a living. It will also be easier for her to eat the dishes she cooks in the future."
If it were an ordinary person, having lost her husband, and hearing Xu Yuanheng say this, she would probably be panicked. Xu Yuanheng is good-looking, and the Xu family is rich. If such a person said that he didn't want you to struggle for a living, and her husband just happened to be gone, she would definitely have all sorts of thoughts.
But Lin Qiuran didn't believe it, but she nodded and smiled at Xu Yuanheng, "Second Master Xu, could you please allow me to think about it before making a decision?"
Xu Yuanheng said, "Looking forward to hearing from you. By the way, is Madam Lin free this afternoon?"
He didn't eat much at lunch, so he wanted to eat more at night. However, since Lin Qiuran was pregnant, he asked in person and it was okay not to go.
Lin Qiuran said embarrassedly, "I'm too tired today to go over."
Xu Yuanheng nodded slightly, stood up and said, "Okay, Madam Lin, please take your time to think about it. It's getting late, so I'll go back first."
Sun and Xiao Dashi saw Xu Yuanheng off. After that, they returned to their room. They were a little surprised. Someone was willing to partner with them to sell the spices they made, and the commission was quite high.
Sun asked Lin Qiuran, "Qiuran, what are your plans? Do you want to do business with them?"
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