Chopping the lamb into pieces, I decided to make my favorite braised meat.
I carried the chunks to the basin, letting the cold water wash away the blood until the meat was clean and fresh. Then, I set my wok on the fire, pouring in just enough oil to coat the bottom.
Once the oil shimmered, I tossed in slices of ginger and crushed garlic, the sizzling sound making my heart light. The fragrant aroma began to dance in the air, drawing curious glances from the others.
Yan Mei and the children were seated nearby, but I could feel their eyes glued to me. Mo Yuen's chin was propped on his hands, Yiling leaning so far forward I thought she might fall.
I worked like I had been doing this my whole life, measuring by instinct, moving the wok with ease. The lamb went in with a satisfying hiss, and I stirred it quickly, making sure every piece soaked up the golden oil. Then came the seasonings: soy sauce for depth, a spoon of sugar to balance the salt, a dash of cooking wine, and a sprinkle of my secret spice blend.
The smell grew richer with every turn of my spatula. Once the lamb was browned, I added water just enough to cover it, dropped in star anise, and let the simmering magic begin. The bubbling sound was like a gentle hum, promising something delicious.
Yan Mei sniffed the air and sighed dreamily. "Lin Xu… I didn't know you cooked like this."
By the time the sauce thickened and clung perfectly to the meat, the glossy pieces looked like they belonged in a restaurant. I lifted the pot off the fire and brought it to the table.
I filled a small bowl, handing it to Yan Mei first. "Taste it."
She blew on it and took a bite her eyes widened instantly. "Oh my goodness! This… this is too good!"
Mo Yuen snatched a piece next, chewing with exaggerated happiness. "Mama, this is the best thing I've ever eaten!"
Even Yiling nodded so fast her hair swayed. "We can sell this for a lot in the market!"
Satisfied with the praises I received, Without wasting time, I packed the braised meat into a large pot, arranging clean plates and glass bowls beside it. Mo Yuen helped me carry them to the basket.
"Let's go," I said with a grin. "It's time to make some money."
-
Yan Mei stayed with Yiling and Bao Bao while Mo Yuen accompanied me to the market.
It was bright and the market was buzzling with so many people.
Finding a corner, I was able to set a small stall as I arranged my things with the help of Mo Yuen.
As soon as I opened my pot, the strong aroma immediately lingered in the air, as a group of people started making their way towards my stall.
"Braised meat, come and get your Braised meat.. fresh and tasty, 100 percent satisfaction!" I thought Mo Yuen to resite as his words brought more and more people.
"Hmmm... Smells so delicuous, young girl.. what do you have here?" A woman asked, her eyes not leaving my pot.
"It looks so tasty, how much is it.. I want one.." Soon said another person.
"Me too."
"I as well!"
They all rushed me as I smiled happily, "This is my own, home cooked braised meat.. for just 50 wen, get yourself a bowl!" I responded.
But before I could say more, I was interrupted by someone absolutely annoying.
Just as the crowd was getting bigger and the smell of my braised meat filled the air, an all-too-familiar voice came from behind.
"Oh, please!" Lu Fei pushed her way to the front, looking at my pot with disgust. "Braised meat? What a joke. Only Yun Restaurant and Bai Restaurant can make real braised pork."
Some people turned to look at her.
She crossed her arms and raised her chin. "Don't let the smell fool you. I bet it tastes terrible. Probably half-cooked or full of salt. This is just some trick to make you waste your money."
I looked straight at her, my smile fading. "That's funny… I don't remember you being a cooking expert in this village."
Her smirk twitched. "What are you-"
I didn't let her finish. "I'm saying, since you've never cooked anything without burning it, maybe you should stop talking and let people who actually know how to cook speak."
Some customers laughed, and I could see her face getting red.
I leaned forward just a little. "You know, Lu Fei… being jealous is like wearing cheap perfume. No matter how much you put on, everyone can still smell it."
This time, the laughter was louder, and her mouth opened and closed like a fish. I stood up straight and turned to the crowd.
"Everyone! Because so many people love my braised meat today, I'm giving a special price. Usually it's 50 wen per bowl-"
People began to murmur in excitement.
"-but today, you'll get it for 41 wen. That's a 19% discount. Fresh, tasty, and worth every coin. Come and try for yourself!"
The customers came rushing forward again, and the sound of coins hitting my hand made me smile even more. Lu Fei just stood there, looking like she swallowed a bitter melon.
In less than half an hour, the entire oot was empty as even more people came but unfortunately, all the meat were gone.
"Aya! Don't you have more?" Some asked as I shaked my head.
"If you want more the do make sure to be here early tomorrow as I'll be making a even bigger batch but do be aware that the 19% discount promised has ended already so it would be sold for the original prices starting from tomorrow!"
I informed as they all nodded and left. Smiling I turned to Mo Yuen who was busy counting the money we had earned today.
"Wow.. Mama! We made up to 12 teals in just one day." He said, his eyes glowing in joy as I smiled too.
12 teals was indeed a lot of money. Now I could get more ingredients and medicine for Bao Bao.
---
Soon we packed our things and started heading back home, but midway I stopped and called softly, "Susu."
In an instant, she appeared before me, glowing faintly as usual.
[ Host, what do you require? ]
"I want to check the prices of things in the supermarket."
[ Accessing Supermarket… Please wait… ]
A panel appeared in front of me, rows of neat items with their prices clearly written. My eyes widened.
Oil… so much cheaper than the ones in the village.
Grain… almost half the price.
Rice… ridiculously low.
Potatoes… cheaper and in better condition.
Seasonings… more variety, all fresh.
I scrolled further, my eyes shining.
[ Host, special discount in progress. Selected items 15% off for the next 2 hours. ]
Without wasting time, I tapped on the seasonings, star anise, pepper, dried chili, cinnamon sticks, and soy sauce.
[ Purchase confirmed. Deducting 3 silver from account. Items will be delivered to Storage Space. ]
My lips curled into a smile. "Perfect."
As I kept browsing, another section caught my eye - Lighting and Home Needs.
[ Lamps for sale. Oil lamps, glass lamps, and lanterns available. Prices range from 20 copper to 2 silver depending on type. ]
I selected three sturdy glass lamps for the house.
[ Purchase confirmed. Deducting 1 silver 50 copper. Items will be delivered to Storage Space. ]
"Good… this will make the house brighter at night."
I swiped again and almost laughed. There was even a section for livestock.
[ Chickens, Roosters, Goats currently on sale. Chickens—30 copper each. Roosters—50 copper each. Goats—3 silver each. ]
I rubbed my chin. "Susu, I'll wait until I fix the pen at home. But once it's ready, I'll buy a few."
[ Noted. Host's preference saved. ]
Closing the panel, I felt lighter than ever. With prices this cheap, I could save so much money and still get better quality.
"Alright," I said to Mo Yuen, who was still holding the heavy pouch of coins, "let's go home. We've got work to do."