Transmigrated into an Ancient ABO Fantasy World: A Culinary Comeback - Chapter 15

Wang Xiaojin and Fan Xi selected a location for the branch in Nanyang County, hired staff, signed contracts with clauses ensuring the secret recipe would not be leaked, and just like that, the Wang’s Barbecue branch in Nanyang County opened for business.

With little variation in customer traffic across counties, Wang Xiaojin hired two employees and, after covering costs like rent, managed to earn a profit of seven to eight taels of silver in the very first month. Other county branches followed the same pattern.

Such is the food and beverage industry: once you nail the flavor, expansion becomes a breeze.

As the struggle for the crown prince’s position in the palace intensified, Wang Xiaojin maintained a calm exterior but grew increasingly anxious inside. She worried about Xie Yu’an’s safety and hoped to quickly earn enough to secure a stable life in the capital.

Meanwhile, Xie Lao had gathered more members of the Xie faction, the most outstanding of whom was a female Qian Yuan named Wang Qi, a practitioner of the Metal element.

Wang Qi was strikingly handsome and refined, like a gleaming golden hairpin. At first sight, Wang Xiaojin thought to herself, “This girl is probably a heartthrob. In modern times, she might have been a nightclub prince.”

Sure enough, Wang Qi was exceptionally talented in music, singing, and dance versatile and universally adored. The maids in the Xie residence would blush at the sight of her. Wang Qi also had a fondness for alcohol and, after training sessions, would often drag Xie Lao and Xiang Dazhuang out for drinks. She had a keen palate for wine and quickly became familiar with everyone.

By now, the team Xie Lao had assembled for the Xie faction was gradually expanding. Led by Wang Xiaojin and three others, they underwent comprehensive training in secret.

Wang Xiaojin’s business gradually expanded to various cities and even prefectures. Silver and copper coins poured in, with monthly earnings reaching eight hundred taels. She had slowly accumulated enough to purchase a medium-sized residence in the capital. Fan Xi and Deng Shu, as key players in her expansion, each earned an annual salary of one thousand taels, finally gaining the respect and confidence they deserved.

During this period, the black-clad, masked figures never appeared again or perhaps they did, but went unnoticed. Nevertheless, the group’s martial skills improved day by day. Inspired by the younger members, Xie Lao developed a new technique for her Water element practice, “Facial Mask.”

One day, Xie Lao demonstrated it to them. She raised her palm, and a shimmering, membrane-like layer of water appeared. She slowly pressed it onto Fan Xi’s face, who was standing before her. With a ripple of light, Fan Xi felt a refreshing coolness on her face. She groped around but found nothing. The onlookers, including Wang Xiaojin, were astonished Fan Xi seemed to have transformed into a completely different person, with no trace of alteration!

Seeing her students dumbfounded, Xie Lao burst into laughter and, with a wave of her hand, restored Fan Xi to her original appearance. The power of the Five Elements was unpredictable, and different techniques could produce wondrous effects. Xie Lao urged them to explore and research more, though it was unclear whether the students took her advice to heart.

At noon, the group gathered together, a rare occasion since Wang Xiaojin had just announced that she would be heading to the capital and wanted to share a meal before her departure. Unlike previous trips where she returned once the branches stabilized, this time she planned to stay for an extended period.

As soon as she finished speaking, Deng Shu understood, while Xiang Dazhuang looked confused, scratching his head in bewilderment. Feng Xian’s gaze remained firm and clear, free of doubt. Only Fan Xi, along with the newly arrived Wang Qi, exchanged knowing, mischievous smiles.

As for Wang Xiaojin’s move to the capital, Xie Lao approved. After all, every action and effort she made was for the safety of herself and the Xie family. With Wang Xiaojin in the capital, she could keep an eye on the two princes, protect the Xie family, and adapt to circumstances as needed.

With many people to feed today, Wang Xiaojin decided to make barbecue, it was simpler than stir-frying, and she could prepare a large quantity. She began by slicing pork belly and beef, then marinated several batches: garlic-infused pork belly, honey-spicy pork ribs, green peppercorn oil-marinated chicken, and more.

While having Dazhuang and the others cut fruits like watermelon and wash vegetables, Wang Xiaojin prepared an array of dipping sauces: five-spice dry rub, spicy dry rub, sweet chili sauce, chili paste, ssamjang, garlic slices, a wide variety for everyone to choose according to their taste.

After some thought, she also sliced lamb rolls and set up a separate pot for hot pot, so the two cooking methods wouldn’t interfere with each other. She prepared sesame sauce and served it with the sweet pickled garlic she had made a few days earlier. Since it was late spring, having hot pot wouldn’t feel too warm.

The kitchen courtyard of the Xie residence buzzed with lively activity. Once everything was ready, everyone eagerly sat down to eat. Over charcoal grills, they started by grilling the fattier cuts, placing slices of marinated pork belly on the hot plate. The meat sizzled, releasing its oils and crisping at the edges. They picked up a long slice, dipped it generously in red sauce, and wrapped it with lettuce and garlic slices each bite was fragrant and satisfying without being greasy.

If the grilling couldn’t keep up, they could quickly cook some lamb rolls in the hot pot, dipping them in sesame sauce with sweet pickled garlic, a perfect pairing. If they felt too full, they snacked on cubed watermelon or honeydew. Wang Xiaojin also prepared fried skewers and cold noodles, and at the end, they could wash it all down with the sweet and tangy broth from the cold noodles.

After the hearty meal, the next day, Wang Xiaojin, Deng Shu, Fan Xi, Xiang Dazhuang, and his wife bid farewell to the crowd in Dongyang County and set off for the capital, a thousand miles to the north.

After a long and arduous journey, enduring wind and dew, they finally arrived at the renowned capital of the Jade Dragon Kingdom.

The city walls of the capital were awe-inspiring towering and vast, stretching beyond sight, easily over ten times the size of Dongyang County.

Leading their horse-drawn cart, they walked through the city gates. Inside, the streets were bustling with crowds of well-dressed, elegant-looking people. The buildings were no longer simple single-story houses; instead, they featured carved beams and painted rafters, with ornate pavilions and towers. Servants stood at doorways inviting guests, and the constant clatter of horse hooves echoed nearby and faded into the distance, creating a vibrant and prosperous atmosphere befitting the capital.

They first found an inn to stay in, then sought out a real estate agent to help them purchase a house. After several days of viewing properties, Wang Xiaojin settled on a two-courtyard residence, spending six thousand taels of silver half of her wealth from the past year. But she felt no regret; having carefully considered it, she proceeded without hesitation.

With the house secured, opening a branch store was a familiar task for the group. Soon, “Wang’s Clay Pot Potato Noodles (Capital Branch)” opened its doors. Some people in the capital were already familiar with Wang’s brand, as many had hometowns in the provinces where the name was well-known.

The remaining wealthy residents might not have heard of it, as trends often trickled down from the capital and major cities especially in food and drink. People in the provinces would rush to buy anything labeled as “from the capital” to keep up with fashion.

It was rare for someone like Wang Xiaojin, a “country bumpkin,” to bring her business to the capital and have both young and old competing to buy her offerings.

Word spread among the capital’s wealthy circles, catching the interest of a usually unrestrained rich second-generation heir named Shen Kai. A female Qianyuan, Shen Kai was as notorious as Xie Yu’an everyone in the capital knew her name.

Back in the day, to win the favor of the courtesan Chen Niangzi, Shen Kai had famously declared at the Hongqing Pavilion, “Tonight’s drinks are on me, Young Master Shen!” With that single gesture, she made a name for herself and successfully became Chen Niangzi’s favored guest.

Shen Kai, a man well-versed in the pleasures of eating, drinking, and merrymaking, naturally couldn’t resist checking out the much-talked-about Wang’s Eatery. One afternoon, still nursing a hangover, he made his way to the modest storefront and randomly ordered a variety of dishes from the menu.

The Kyoto branch was managed directly by their own team, with several members taking turns overseeing the shop. Deng Shu brought out the food: a bowl of plain potato noodles, a plate of spicy cucumber salad, and a braised pork bun.

Shen Kai started with a sip of the broth rich, fragrant, and warming to the stomach. He then slurped up a mouthful of noodles soft, chewy, and delightfully novel in texture, yet undeniably delicious. As for the braised pork bun, the bread was fragrant, the meat tender, and though not overly greasy, it was wonderfully savory. The flavors were well-balanced and satisfying.

This place truly had something special. Pleased with his meal, Shen Kai left a generous tip before heading out.

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