Xia Family.
Master Xia saw Brother Cheng holding a jar, wobbling as he ran into the study’s courtyard, and imdiately went over to take the jar from his hands. Upon realizing how heavy it was, he rebuked the following servant, "Are you dead? Seeing Brother Cheng carrying sothing so heavy and not helping."
What are they raised for, if not to help?
The servant did not dare to show any grievance and respectfully explained, "Replying to Old Master, I originally wanted to help carry it, but the young master from the Gu Family wouldn’t allow it, saying it was a gift for the teacher and that he wanted to deliver it personally."
Hearing this, Master Xia laughed, squatted down, and said to Brother Cheng, "Brother Cheng is thoughtful. What is this?"
Brother Cheng smiled proudly, "It’s soy sauce made by my Second Sister. It tastes very good, quite similar to Hai Xian Sauce."
Master Xia didn’t think much upon hearing the first part, but was shocked upon the latter part, "What did Brother Cheng say? The taste of this soy sauce is similar to Hai Xian Sauce? What is the soy sauce made from?"
Brother Cheng replied, "Soybeans."
Soybeans!
Master Xia felt a wave of dizziness wash over him... Why is Hai Xian Sauce expensive? Because it is made from at, but this soy sauce, which tastes almost like Hai Xian Sauce, is made from soybeans.
A cheap ingredient costing three copper coins per catty compared to at costing dozens of copper coins per catty, the cost difference is tenfold.
If soy sauce could be mass-produced and sold throughout Great Chu, Master Xia couldn’t imagine the profit margin.
He paced back and forth, his heart itching with many questions he wanted to ask, but not knowing where to start. Moreover, Brother Cheng only ntioned soybeans, and if asked further, he would not elaborate.
The little fellow covered his mouth and said, "This is Second Sister’s creation, I can’t tell the teacher too much, no more talking."
With no other choice, Master Xia could only carry the jar of soy sauce, took Brother Cheng into the study to let him review his lessons, and went to find Lady Xia with the soy sauce.
"Madam, please try this," he poured half a cup of soy sauce and handed it to Lady Xia.
After taking a sip, Lady Xia said, "It’s Hai Xian Sauce, but this batch of Hai Xian Sauce is not well made, the taste is slightly off."
Master Xia said, "It’s not Hai Xian Sauce, it’s soy sauce made from soybeans."
"Soy sauce? Made from soybeans!" Lady Xia was surprised, and eagerly questioned Master Xia, "What exactly is this soy sauce, Old Master, please tell all about it."
Master Xia shared all he knew, "That’s all Brother Cheng knows, I will ask Brother An more when he cos to pick him up."
He added, "This could be a great product. A thousand three hundred years ago, the Zong family created Hai Xian Sauce, which has been passed down to this day. Even though the recipe for Hai Xian Sauce is now known by most of the elite, whenever Hai Xian Sauce is ntioned, who doesn’t praise the Zong family, saying it is their specialty? If soy sauce could be passed down with the Lu Family’s na, the rise of the Lu Family would be no difficult task!"
Master Xia was very excited, yet...
"Temple Master Hu ntioned in his last letter that since our people disdain Mrs. Cui for having her body tainted by a peasant, and disapprove of the Gu Family’s rural lineage, and are unwilling to help the Gu Family too much, we should not covet what they produce," Lady Xia, sobered up after being admonished by Temple Master Hu, reminded Master Xia.
Having heard this, Master Xia beca even more eager. He pondered for a mont and ca up with an idea, "If the Gu Family Head offers the soy sauce to us of their own accord, it wouldn’t count as stealing, and Temple Master Hu and the others cannot bla us."
Lady Xia was a bit apprehensive, "Can we really do this?"
But Master Xia said, "Madam, please let handle this once. Whether it succeeds or fails, after trying, I will have no regrets."
"Okay." Lady Xia has always been Master Xia’s staunchest supporter, agreed to his approach, and personally took the soy sauce to the kitchen to prepare a table full of dishes, awaiting Brother An’s arrival to pick up Brother Cheng, when Master Xia hosted him for a al.
Gu Jin’an knew the intentions of his younger sister, Gu Jinli, when he delivered the soy sauce to the Xia Family. Hearing the invitation, he did not refuse and stayed for the al, even complinting, "The dishes at the teacher’s house with the addition of Hai Xian Sauce are indeed tastier than those at ho."
Master Xia had been waiting just for these words: "Today’s dish does not contain Hai Xian Sauce, but your family’s soy sauce."
He further asked: "What’s your plan for this soy sauce? Why not like this—our two families could partner up and open a soy sauce workshop."
Gu Jin’an refused with a smile: "We already have a partner for the soy sauce, so we can’t collaborate with Master Xia on this."
Master Xia beca anxious: "You have a partner already? Which family?"
Gu Jin’an replied: "It is the Zheng Family and the Shangguan Family from Jinling."
Upon hearing it was these two families, Master Xia’s heart skipped a beat. These families were noble, and close to the royal family, and at the mont, they were thriving. Partnering with these two families could ensure the prosperity of both the soy sauce and the Gu Family.
However...
"Good Brother An, my teacher’s family’s influence is no less than that of the Zheng or Shangguan families. Partnering with my teacher’s family for the soy sauce business could also protect both the soy sauce and your family. Plus, our two families’ relationship is different from that with the Zheng and Shangguan families."
The Gu Family was related by marriage to the Lu Family.
Nevertheless, Gu Jin’an shook his head and said: "The influence of your teacher’s family might have been second to none before, but now, does the teacher dare to reveal his true identity to Emperor Chu in the Capital?"
Without even daring to raise their head, what influence is there to speak of?
And there’s more...
"In our family’s eyes, there is no difference between the Zheng Family, the Shangguan Family, and the Xia Family."
Master Xia, upon hearing this, was choked up with frustration.
After delivering these lines, Gu Jin’an continued to eat his al leisurely yet attentively, even piling up Brother Cheng’s plate with plenty of good food, and reminded him: "Eat up, the dishes at Master Xia’s ho today are quite delicious."
Brother Cheng looked up at him and said: "But big brother ntioned at ho before, one shouldn’t overeat; being ninety percent full is just right."
Gu Jin’an said: "Today is different; you can eat more."
Because, watching soone sulk is quite the appetite stimulator.
Brother Cheng didn’t quite understand but, seeing the rare chance that his older brother allowed him to eat more, he didn’t hold back and enjoyed a satisfying al. After finishing, he rode the mule cart back ho with his older brother.
Master Xia felt quite disheartened and relayed the situation to Lady Xia.
Lady Xia consoled him: "My lord, let it be. Master Hu was right; since we decided not to help them and let them live off their own abilities to see what they are capable of, whether they can shoulder the responsibility of reviving the Lu Family or not, then we shouldn’t covet their things, let them be. My lord just needs to focus on doing his own tasks well, nurturing Brother Cheng and Brother An into capable n."
Master Xia remained silent for a long ti after hearing this, but still penned a letter that night to inform Master Hu of the Gu Family’s venture into soy sauce making.
This matter was too significant to keep silent.
Master Hu was already aware of it, for Gu Jinli had ntioned it before. She wasn’t surprised to receive Master Xia’s letter and replied instructing: "This is the Gu Family’s achievent; do not interfere."
Soy sauce is fine, but relying solely on soy sauce won’t be sufficient to revive the Lu Family. What’s most important now is to maintain a good relationship with the Gu Family; other matters can wait for the right mont.
Master Xia finally gave up after receiving Master Hu’s reply.
After Gu Jinli finished perfecting the soy sauce and writing the nu for the tavern, he let go of the matter and went to check on his third shop in town.
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