As September neared its end, the onset of winter was just around the corner.
In recent days, Yang Ge had introduced copper pot lamb at Yuelai Inn, a novel way of eating that attracted many well-to-do customers.
The business was so good that they were busy from noon until the curfew every day, leaving Shopkeeper Liu so happy he could barely close his mouth, his voice bouncing up and down with excitement...
In Wei, lamb was expensive while pork was cheap, the price of one sheep equivalent to several fatty pigs.
With the cost increased, the price of copper pot lamb was naturally not cheap, a dish of two ounces costing thirty copper coins, almost covering Yang Ge’s monthly rent.
Even so, the inn only broke even on the lamb, earning profit entirely from drinks and side dishes...
Naturally, such expensive lamb couldn’t be given to the chef, Lu, for practicing his knife skills.
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Yang Ge personally handled the knife, taking a stance as though practicing swordplay, slicing each piece of meat as thin as paper, translucent against the fire. With such skill, two ounces of meat perfectly filled a large plate.
Although the quantity was the same, spending thirty copper coins to see such a large plate of lamb, didn’t it put one’s mind at ease?
That day, as Yang Ge was busy in the kitchen until evening and was about to close up, Shopkeeper Liu suddenly rushed into the kitchen: "Trouble, trouble, little brother, that dark-skinned man is here again!"
As Yang Ge was tidying up his knives and chopping board, he turned his head upon hearing this and saw the old man’s panicked face pacing in front of the stove.
"Don’t panic, which dark-skinned man has come?"
He stopped what he was doing and asked in confusion.
Shopkeeper Liu: "The same one who gave you the martial arts book... Ah, the one who last time caused our inn to close up!"
The old man slapped his thigh, his face filled with worry.
"Oh, it’s him..."
Yang Ge realized, wiped his hands after putting down his sharp knife and picked it up again, saying: "Don’t worry, we open our doors to do business, and a guest is a guest... Hmm, call Zhang over, have him bring out a copper pot, and I’ll slice two more plates of lamb, I’ll be right there to welcome them!"
The Zhang he mentioned was the new waiter who had replaced Wang Dali.
Seeing Yang Ge’s calm demeanor, Shopkeeper Liu also calmed down a bit, nodding repeatedly and saying: "Yes, yes, you’re right, let’s go greet them first... Or shall we call over your brother Fuyu later, and maybe slice another pot of lamb?"
Yang Ge teased with a smile: "If you’re hosting to treat us, I certainly have no objections, let the rest go, I can handle it!"
Shopkeeper Liu hesitated and took a couple of turns in front of the stove, whispering: "It won’t cause any trouble, will it?"
Yang Ge: "Don’t you trust me to handle things?"
Shopkeeper Liu let out a long sigh, saying seriously: "Alright, then we stay outside, nowhere else!"
Yang Ge nodded with a smile: "Really, there’s nothing to it, he’s just here to eat, don’t be so scared..."
Shopkeeper Liu sighed, then quickly walked out of the kitchen.
Yang Ge lowered his head, his knife flying, slicing sheet after sheet of lamb.
...
Fifteen minutes later, Yang Ge walked into the main hall carrying two plates piled high with slices of lamb.
Shopkeeper Liu pointed to a private room on the second floor.
Yang Ge nodded and walked steadily up to the second floor with the two plates of lamb.
Again, the empty second floor.
Again, the central seat.
Jiang Kui was still wearing the same tiger fur coat as last time, sitting alone at the dining table, gazing entranced at the steaming copper pot in front of him... the only thing missing was his long, wide black knife.
"You’ve never seen this way of eating before, have you?"
Yang Ge initiated the conversation with a smile, his tone familiar as if chatting with an old friend.
Jiang Kui turned his face emotionlessly to look at him, staring for a couple of seconds before his expression gradually softened: "Indeed, it’s my first time seeing it, just don’t know how it tastes."
Yang Ge walked up with the two plates of lamb: "I assure you, you won’t be disappointed."
Jiang Kui looked up at him: "At this time, there shouldn’t be any more guests coming, right?"
Yang Ge smiled back: "Normally at this time, even if guests come, the inn doesn’t serve them."
Jiang Kui laughed: "How about a couple of drinks?"
Yang Ge: "How’s your drinking ability?"
Jiang Kui: "Drinking you under the table by ten times is definitely not a problem!"
Yang Ge: "Then you’d better pay for the meal first, I’m fine with having a couple of drinks with you, but we can’t have our shopkeeper waiting for you until midnight, right?"
Jiang Kui nodded: "That’s only right!"
He reached into his chest and pulled out a fist-sized silver ingot, gently placing it on the table: "Is this enough?"
Yang Ge shook his head: "That’s too much, this amount of money could keep you eating at the inn for a month!"
Jiang Kui waved it off with a smile: "Just credit it to my account here, having some money on the books might even bring me back for another meal..."
Yang Ge, observing him, felt he was much more approachable than the last time he came.
He replied: "Indeed, our inn has been a longstanding name in Luting County, definitely not closing down for the next thirty to fifty years!"
Jiang Kui just smiled.
Yang Ge took the silver ingot and went downstairs.
After a while, having dealt with the old shopkeeper, Yang Ge came back upstairs holding two jars of wine.
Just then, the copper pot had started boiling vigorously, bubbles steaming away.
"The water’s boiling, we can add the meat now!"
Yang Ge put down the two jars of wine, picked up the bowl in front of Jiang Kui, and started preparing the dipping sauce.
Jiang Kui leaned back in his chair, his gaze unfocused as he watched Yang Ge busying himself, then suddenly said: "Thanks!"
Yang Ge paused in his movements, then quickly smiled: "Where did you hear that from?"
He knew what Jiang Kui was referring to.
But the source of Jiang Kui’s information would dictate what he could say in response.
Jiang Kui quietly uttered two words from his mouth: "Shen Fa."
Yang Ge silently sneered, placing the bowl with the prepared sauce back in front of Jiang Kui, sighing: "I knew it, definitely that loudmouth!"