Chapter Twenty: Arrogance?

She took a few steps forward and looked down at the girl dressed in coarse, rustic clothing.

"I am willing to cooperate, but not by selling the recipe—rather, by providing the seasoning itself."

Liang Yunqing withdrew her gaze. This was no time for infatuation; earning money was the priority. Seeing the tall girl standing before her, frowning and silent, Liang Yunqing decided to take the initiative to warm up the atmosphere.

"I haven't caught your name, Proprietor?"

The woman in front of her lowered her eyes, her voice remaining low and steady. "My surname is Xia, my given name is Shi'an. Just call me Proprietor Xia."

"Then, Proprietor Xia, do you feel my proposal is unsuitable?"

Xia Shi'an possessed a heavy air of commerce. She looked Liang Yunqing up and down, a flicker of amusement passing through her eyes. "A farm girl like you wants to set her sights on my Xike Restaurant? 'Providing'? Making long-term money isn't easy. What makes you think my Xike Restaurant won't figure out the method for that seasoning eventually?"

"Oh, well, bye then."

Liang Yunqing waved her hand decisively, turned around, and walked straight out the door. Manager Yang, still waiting at the entrance, asked with a look of surprise, "Miss Liang, why are you out so soon?"

Liang Yunqing rolled her eyes at him and retorted, "Your proprietor at Xike Restaurant is impossible to talk to. I just happened to notice there's another restaurant across the street; I’ll go there instead."

As she spoke, she marched forward with long strides. Manager Yang hurriedly rushed after her, trying to smooth things over. "Miss Liang, Miss Liang, we can still negotiate! Hey, hey, don't walk so fast, Miss Liang!"

As he continued to block her path, Xia Shi'an slowly emerged from the room behind them and said with displeasure, "Let her go. Do you really think our Xike Restaurant can be held hostage by a single seasoning?"

Hearing this, Liang Yunqing smiled. She stopped in her tracks, turned back, and said, "A single seasoning is indeed not enough to qualify me to negotiate terms with you. But what if I also have dishes that pair with this seasoning? Or even other seasonings entirely?"

Xia Shi'an paused for a moment, though her years of business experience had trained her not to reveal her emotions.

Manager Yang felt like slapping his own thigh in frustration. He knew Liang Yunqing surely had more than just this one seasoning; the novel method of making those *shaomai* alone would be enough for Xike Restaurant to make a fortune. He carefully glanced at Proprietor Xia, and seeing her skeptical expression, he immediately stepped forward to help. "Miss Liang, our Xike Restaurant welcomes talented people most of all. There must have been a misunderstanding just now. Why don't we talk it over?"

Liang Yunqing looked at Xia Shi'an with a smile, her tone light and airy. "Proprietor Xia, you really should thank your lucky stars that you have a face I happen to like. Otherwise, I would never give someone like you, who enjoys suppressing others in business, a second chance."

These words were heavy. The people around them changed expressions; Manager Yang broke into a cold sweat, and the maid who had been standing at the door holding an incense burner glared at her.

Xia Shi'an raised her hand slightly, and the maid behind her immediately looked away. Her expression remained unchanged as she spoke, "Miss Liang, too much arrogance is not a good thing. You should also be thankful that I am not a violent person, or you would already be dead."

"Arrogance?" Liang Yunqing chuckled. She wasn't just arrogant; she was a madwoman. If not for the system urging her to stay on track with the plot, she would have already lunged forward to take liberties with Xia Shi'an. Of course, that was just a simple appreciation for that face; her orientation remained relatively traditional. "Proprietor Xia, arguing with you is useless. Why don't you let me borrow your kitchen?"

Xia Shi'an was silent for a moment. Looking at the expectant Manager Yang beside her, she finally nodded in agreement. "Take Miss Liang to the back kitchen."

"Yes, yes, right away!"

Manager Yang hurriedly led Liang Yunqing downstairs, muttering as they walked, "Miss Liang, your words were a bit too harsh. It's a good thing our proprietor isn't one to hold a grudge."

Liang Yunqing, resting her hand on the banister and wondering if she could swipe the exquisite candle holder nearby, dismissed him with a vague reply, "That's just my personality."

"Oh, well, that's fine. But what dish are you planning to make, Miss Liang?"

Liang Yunqing placed her hand on the cloth bag at her waist. Thankfully, she had brought some ground Sichuan peppercorn powder today. She teased him, "You'll know once I'm done."

This vague answer piqued Manager Yang's curiosity, and he quickened his pace. A few minutes later, he brought Liang Yunqing to the back kitchen. The room was filled with chefs in dark clothing, each at their own station, working in a flurry of heat and noise.

"Miss Liang, you can cook at that empty station. Just call me if you need anything."

Liang Yunqing walked over, examined the exquisitely maintained stove, and immediately turned back to Manager Yang. "Actually, I do have a request."

"Please, go ahead."

"I don't know how to start a fire."

"Ah?"

This question didn't come from Manager Yang, but from the group of chefs behind him. Each of them looked at her with varying degrees of mockery. One even sneered, "You don't know how to start a fire, yet you dare to step into a professional kitchen?"

Liang Yunqing paid no mind to these remarks. She nimbly went to the prep area to gather ingredients. She took a plate of beef, some vegetables, and as Manager Yang began to light the fire for her, the idle chefs gathered around to watch.

Once the fire was roaring, Liang Yunqing used lard to coat the pan. She stir-fried the vegetables and beef until just cooked, then set them aside. After heating fresh oil in the pan, she didn't hide her actions as she reached into the cloth bag at her waist. She took a pinch of granular Sichuan peppercorns—pre-toasted and ready—and tossed about a dozen into the pan. The hot oil and peppercorns blended thoroughly, and the air was instantly filled with a fragrant, numbing aroma. She added the pre-cooked ingredients back into the pan, tossed them with seasoning, and drizzled them with hot oil.

A fragrant, mouth-watering plate of boiled beef was ready in less time than it takes for a stick of incense to burn. Manager Yang watched the dish, his mouth already beginning to water. The surrounding chefs also gathered to admire it. The technique wasn't difficult, but they were baffled by the exotic, fragrant aroma. Even the older master chefs frowned and shook their heads in confusion.

Manager Yang took a silver bowl and chopsticks from a nearby cabinet, scooped a portion out, and hurried off to let the proprietor taste it. The remaining chefs knew this was for the proprietor to sample.

One of the older masters asked, "Miss, may we also try the dish?"

Liang Yunqing nodded with a snort. Why not? It was just a bowl of boiled beef. Since she could cook it right in front of them, she certainly wasn't afraid of them stealing her craft.

Seeing her agreement, the entire kitchen staff crowded around. Some looked on with disdain, others with intense scrutiny. They took turns with chopsticks and spoons to taste the dish.

After the first bite, the kitchen went silent for a long time. Everyone wore a look of confusion, followed by the sensation of the numbing spice hitting their tongues and striking straight to their brains.