Ever since the plot was laid out that day, a new family had moved into Quancheng. Originally a prominent family from the southern lands, the head of the household had reportedly fallen ill, and upon hearing that Quancheng possessed medicinal springs, they had relocated there to use the spring water for his treatment.
Upon their arrival, this family began throwing about vast sums of money in Quancheng—purchasing a sprawling estate and buying precious medicinal herbs at thousands of gold coins a piece, sparing no expense whatsoever. Yet within a single month, word spread that their fortune was running out, and they had begun selling off antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and agricultural land, showing clear signs of financial decline.
The matter had caused quite a stir. After all, in this era, no ordinary family acquired property so recklessly, let alone purchased high-end medicinal ingredients like ginseng continuously for a full month without interruption.
Following this, the two mistresses of the household personally visited medical clinics to invite physicians to their home.
"Hey, let me tell you, I, Black Third Brother, have never laid eyes on such stunning young ladies. And not just one, but two! The master of this Mu family sure knows how to enjoy life—with a pair of wives as flawless as jade, I doubt even the Emperor himself has such gorgeous women."
In the bustling market, a middle-aged butcher was talking incessantly.
As he warmed to his theme, he reached out with a greasy, oversized hand to stroke his beard.
This butcher was none other than Third Brother Bao. Ever since taking over Third Brother Bao's role, Murong Fu had assigned him this identity as a meat-selling butcher.
Backed by his martial arts foundation, though it was his first time selling meat on the streets, Third Brother Bao quickly made a name for himself in Quancheng as "Bao the Single-Cut."
The nickname came from the fact that whenever customers asked for a specific weight of meat, the butcher could hack off the exact amount with a single stroke of his blade.
Other butchers in the city frequently sought Bao the Single-Cut's help when slaughtering pigs; with one hand pinning the beast and the other wielding the cleaver, he could finish the job with a single cut. Within a mere month, he had secured the top spot in Quancheng's pork-buttering and meat-selling trade—a true model of someone loving whatever job they happened to do.
Meanwhile, inside the Mu residence, Murong Fu was busy in the kitchen.
On the cutting board sat cornelian cherries, star anise, bay leaves, scallions, ginger, and a jar of brown sugar.
He set a wok over the fire and added oil, followed by the brown sugar. As the sugar melted and slowly bubbled up into a jujube-red hue, the caramel coloring was complete.
He tossed in pork belly that had been soaked in scallions, ginger, and wine and then drained, stir-frying it further to let the meat absorb the rich color.
Pouring in hot water until it covered the pork, he added the cornelian cherries, star anise, bay leaves, scallions, and ginger, along with quail eggs that had been boiled and shelled by the two beauties. After simmering for less than three quarters of an hour, he lifted the lid, added salt, and let it simmer for another quarter of an hour.
Taking the wok off the heat, he sprinkled chopped scallions over the top, and a pot of braised pork belly was ready. Murong Fu had not been idle while the pork simmered; continuing to stir-fry other dishes, he soon filled the table with food.
There was stir-fried tofu with cornelian cherries, steamed river shrimp, stir-fried flat beans, baby bok choy with minced garlic, cold-dressed spinach, pickled sour radish, and a bowl of egg soup.
Seated around the table were five people: Qin Hongmian, Gan Baobao, Deng Baichuan, Gongsun Qian, and Feng Bo'e, eagerly waiting for the braised pork belly to be served.
The two beauties in particular wore expressions of excitement. Their diet in Hundred Flowers Valley had always been plain and light; when had they ever tasted food prepared with such rich and savory flavors?
Of course, this was the first time dishes like braised pork belly had ever appeared here. Back at Gusu Murong, how could Madame Wang ever have allowed her son to set foot in the kitchen?
Murong Fu's cravings had been acting up for a long time, but previously he'd had no chance to cook, and the chefs of this era didn't know how to make such dishes. If you wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself—after all, back in his past life on construction sites, he had always taken care of his own meals.
Deng Baichuan and the others had initially been reluctant to sit at the table, but a single sentence from Murong Fu cut them off: "I regard my brothers here as my own flesh and blood; do not speak to me of masters and servants ever again."
Though his tone carried a cold sternness, the warmth in Deng Baichuan and his companions' hearts surpassed all bounds, and they couldn't help sighing to themselves: "The Young Master treats us like brothers, how could we dare not repay him with our lives?"
As for the two beauties, the looks they cast at Murong Fu were filled with wonder and admiration. Where had they ever laid eyes on such an extraordinary man?
First, there was his mastery of tea art when they initially met, alongside the formidable reputation of the Gusu Murong, followed by their discovery of Young Master Murong's top-tier martial arts.
And now, today, Young Master Murong had personally stepped into the kitchen. Though they hadn't yet picked up their chopsticks, the aroma filling the room had already made everyone's mouth water. As the braised pork belly was brought out, even Qin Hongmian, who usually maintained the demeanor of an ice queen, couldn't help twitching her throat and quietly swallowing a mouthful of saliva.
What? You ask where Third Brother Bao is? That simpleton used to be called Third Brother Bao, but now that people outside praised him as Big Brother Bao and Bao the Single-Cut, how could he possibly bear to come back?