Chapter 36: Cooperation

Qin Jian narrowed his eyes, his expression suddenly darkening.

He had actually held a favorable impression of Zhao Mu—finding him clever, yet refreshingly honest and dependable, a man of his word. However, Zhao Mu’s recent remarks sounded to his ears like someone intoxicated by favor, trying to manipulate him.

In truth, securing official residency registration and a wooden identification tally was not difficult; it was merely a matter of spending some silver. The only reason he had declined to arrange these for Zhao Mu previously was his observation that Zhao Mu had no intention of remaining at the Tianxiang Pavilion. Seeing that, he had not pressed the matter further.

But with Zhao Mu speaking so bluntly now, Qin Jian assumed he was using the exclusive recipe for boiled fish with pickled cabbage to hold him hostage and force his hand. While he acknowledged that since the dish’s introduction, the business at Tianxiang Pavilion had reached a new level—to the point where rival establishments were nearly being squeezed out of existence—he was not the type to be pushed around. If Zhao Mu had simply asked for help, he might have obliged, but he would not tolerate being coerced.

"Young Master Zhao, since those other establishments offered such generous terms, why did you not accept them?" Qin Jian asked, his eyes narrowing as he stared intently at Zhao Mu.

Hearing the tone in Qin Jian’s voice, Zhao Mu immediately realized the misunderstanding. He smiled and replied, "As I have said before, since I gave the recipe to Shopkeeper Qin, I will not give it to anyone else. I am not a man who breaks his word."

Qin Jian did not take his words to heart and asked dismissively, "Then what is your purpose in coming here today, Young Master Zhao?"

Zhao Mu explained, "It is quite simple. I have come to seek a partnership with you, Shopkeeper Qin."

"A partnership?" Qin Jian paused, confused. "What do you mean by that?"

Zhao Mu smiled. "Shopkeeper Qin, since the boiled fish became a hit, how has business been?"

Qin Jian frowned. "Naturally, demand far exceeds supply."

"Why is that?" Zhao Mu continued.

"There are two reasons," Qin Jian replied. "First, there is only one chef who knows how to prepare the dish. Second, the daily supply of live fish is limited. Consequently, we cannot meet the demand."

Zhao Mu smiled. "I am here today to help you solve these two problems."

"Oh?" Qin Jian’s interest was immediately piqued. "And what solution do you have, Young Master Zhao?"

Zhao Mu did not answer immediately, instead glancing at the teacup on the table. Qin Jian understood, picked up the teapot, and poured a cup for him. Zhao Mu downed the tea in one gulp before speaking slowly. While the misunderstanding wasn’t a major issue, he was still somewhat displeased by Qin Jian’s earlier attitude. Qin Jian, sensing this, had poured the tea as a gesture of conciliation.

Zhao Mu cleared his throat. "To solve the problem of having only one chef who knows the recipe, the solution is quite simple. Have you ever heard of 'pre-prepared dishes'?"

Qin Jian shook his head. The term belonged to Zhao Mu’s past life; where would he have heard it?

Zhao Mu continued, "To 'pre-prepare' means to cook the dish in advance, so that it only needs to be heated before being served."

Qin Jian hesitated, frowning. "If that is the case, wouldn’t it just be reheated leftovers? How could it possibly taste good?"

Zhao Mu explained, "It is the same principle as preparing ingredients ahead of time before stir-frying. The true secret of the boiled fish lies in only a few key steps. As long as those are kept confidential, the remaining processes can be handled by other chefs."

Qin Jian began to grasp the concept, though the details remained fuzzy. Zhao Mu offered, "I can write down the specific procedures later, detailing which parts can be delegated to other chefs and which must remain secret. This will significantly increase efficiency."

Qin Jian’s face lit up with joy. Such a simple method, yet he had never thought of it himself. He looked at Zhao Mu with newfound respect and cupped his hands. "In that case, I am deeply grateful, Young Master Zhao!"

Zhao Mu picked up the teapot and poured tea for himself, Qin Jian, and Wang Wu. He then said with a smile, "Now, let us move to the second problem I intend to solve for you."

Qin Jian was elated. After the previous success, he no longer doubted Zhao Mu’s intentions. If Zhao Mu could solve the fish supply issue, Tianxiang Pavilion would soon dominate Taiping County. He had already scouted several other restaurants; once they failed, he intended to take over their locations and open branches.

"Young Master Zhao, do you know why so few fish are being brought into the city these days?" Qin Jian masked his excitement, speaking with a touch of worry. "Ever since the refugees arrived outside the city walls, it has become difficult to transport grain or anything else into the city."

Zhao Mu nodded, sighing. "If it were possible, I too would hope for a world of Great Harmony, where everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, and even children can attend school. Where there is a social safety net in times of illness, and no more fear of war or chaos..."

Qin Jian and Wang Wu were both moved by his words. Who would want to live in a chaotic age? It is better to be a dog in times of peace than a human in times of war. Yet, the "Great Harmony" Zhao Mu spoke of felt far beyond their reach. Even in prosperous times, not everyone was fed and clothed, and not every child could study. The world was filled with tragedies—the young left uncared for, the old left with no support.

Qin Jian’s shop was in Taiping County; though he lacked for nothing and feared no war, the villages outside the county had long been emptied. Those nine out of ten homes were either slaughtered by barbarians or taken as slaves. Only the lucky few managed to flee to other regions, avoiding the turmoil of Taiping County. Wang Wu, a former soldier, had once seen protecting the nation as his duty. When he realized he could not even protect his own small home, the sorrow and indignation in his heart were beyond words.

"Shopkeeper Qin, Brother Wang, there is no need for such sadness," Zhao Mu said, lifting his teacup. "I believe that one day, the whole world will truly achieve that Great Harmony."

Qin Jian and Wang Wu offered faint, strained smiles. But Qin Jian, being a businessman, immediately echoed, "Young Master Zhao is right; I hope that day comes soon!"

He then steered the conversation back. "You mentioned you had a way to solve the second problem. What is it?"

Seeing Qin Jian return to business, Zhao Mu said, "It is simple. I intend to take up fishing as my trade, and I will sell my catch directly to Tianxiang Pavilion."

Qin Jian paused, looking slightly taken aback. "Fishing is not difficult, but how do you plan to transport the fish into the city?"

Though he did not say it outright, his tone made it clear that he would not be helping Zhao Mu bypass the city’s restrictions.