The Tofu Queen: A Modern Woman's Ancient Kingdom Journey

Although Jin Chong's health was frail, he had traveled far and wide in recent years, sampling countless delicacies. Even the roasted meats of the Northern Plains had crossed his palate, yet they were nothing like the skewers before him. Those from the north relied on simple salt or crushed herbs for flavor, which, while delightful, lacked the complexity emanating from this street-side grill.

"Honored guest, if you keep staring and don't eat, the meat will get cold," Xiaocao reminded him nonchalantly. She wasn't impatient, but the skewer was taking up precious space. Either he ate or moved aside so the next customer could step up—it was only fair.

Jin Chong snapped out of his thoughts and instinctively took a bite. The fat of the pork belly melted into the tender meat, and the spices burst across his tongue, overwhelming his senses. His grip on the skewer tightened.

"…Delicious," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible. Jin Chong's eyes lit up, and within moments, he had devoured the entire skewer. He slapped the empty stick down on the counter, his tone suddenly fierce. "Another one!"

Xiaocao remained unfazed. She'd seen this behavior too many times before—people falling victim to the irresistible allure of her mistress's creations. Quietly, she prepared another skewer, sprinkling the seasoning expertly before placing it over the glowing coals. The heat brought out the fat, which dripped onto the embers, sizzling as it mingled with the spices to create an intoxicating aroma.

Despite his sickly frame, Jin Chong devoured skewer after skewer with surprising speed. Only when he felt his stomach uncomfortably full did he finally stop, letting out an unintentional burp. His pale cheeks flushed, and embarrassed, he tossed the skewer aside and strode into the shop. Spotting Jiang Huaiyu catching her breath after the unexpected rush, he gestured for her attention.

"Let's find somewhere quiet to sit and talk business," he said. His earlier fiery demeanor was gone, replaced by a cool, unreadable expression.

Surprised, Jiang Huaiyu hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Very well." Turning to Qi Jue, she instructed, "Take care of the shop while I'm away. Handle any issues as you see fit."

With that, she followed Jin Chong across the street to a nearby restaurant. They settled into a private booth, and after the server delivered a pot of tea brewed with fruit and herbs, accompanied by a few simple snacks, the two were left alone.

The atmosphere turned heavy. Outside, the sounds of the bustling street seeped in faintly, but within the booth, silence reigned. For anyone unaccustomed to such pressure, it would've been unbearable. Yet Jiang Huaiyu was no ordinary woman.

She calmly sipped the oddly sour tea, finding its flavor unpleasant at first but surprisingly complementary to the sweets. Without a word, she nibbled on a snack and appeared utterly at ease.

Jin Chong, clearly waiting for her to break the silence, grew increasingly impatient. When Jiang Huaiyu finally rose from her seat, it wasn't to speak. She walked to the corner of the room, picked up a brush, and began painting a lotus flower with slow, deliberate strokes.

Watching her, Jin Chong wrestled with his impulse to speak first. After all, wasn't that what she wanted? However, as the sky outside darkened, his patience wore thin.

"What do I call you?" he asked abruptly, surprising even himself. He'd intended to call her "madam," but the youthful charm in her appearance had instinctively led him to "miss."

Jiang Huaiyu paused mid-stroke, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "My surname is Jiang, given name Huaiyu."

"Miss Jiang," he acknowledged with a curt nod before introducing himself, his tone tinged with pride. "I am Jin Chong."

The name was simple, yet its implications were not. The Jin family was legendary in the business world, their influence stretching across the entire empire. The mention of his name was enough to silence most opponents, their resolve crumbling under the weight of his lineage.

However, Jiang Huaiyu's reaction was calm, her expression unchanged except for a slight tilt of her head. "And your connection to the illustrious Jin family?"

With a faint smirk, Jin Chong removed an ornate token from his waist. Neither gold nor jade, the carved piece bore the unmistakable crest of the Jin family, a symbol displayed at the entrance of every one of their enterprises.

"I am the Jin family's sole heir," he declared, waiting for her awe—or fear—to show.

To his surprise, Jiang Huaiyu's only response was a faint frown. Before he could gloat, she reached into her sleeve and retrieved a slip of paper, slapping it onto the table between them.

"Refund my money," she demanded, her tone sharp.

Blinking in confusion, Jin Chong leaned forward to examine the paper. It was a receipt from one of the Jin family's carriage services. Scrawled at the bottom was a note detailing how the driver had abandoned her midway through a journey to the capital.

"You owe me for this," she said firmly, crossing her arms.

Speechless, Jin Chong dug into his coin pouch and handed her two silver notes, each worth ten taels. "Let's not dwell on minor matters," he said through gritted teeth. "I came here to discuss a serious business proposition."

"I'm not selling."

She pocketed the silver notes with a serene smile before delivering her blunt refusal.

"You don't even know what I'm offering!" Jin Chong's calm façade cracked, his voice rising in frustration. "How can you reject it outright?"

Jiang Huaiyu met his gaze squarely. "Because no matter what you offer, I will not sell the recipe. Unless…" She paused, a playful glint in her eye. "You're offering me every single one of the Jin family's enterprises in exchange."

Jin Chong stared at her, momentarily speechless. Was she serious, or merely mocking him? Either way, he couldn't deny her audacity.

"Then what do you want?" he finally asked, his voice low.

She leaned back in her seat, her tone calm but resolute. "I want a partnership. Together, we'll take these spice blends beyond the capital, spreading them across the entire empire. East to the Yi tribes, west to the Xiongnu, south to the barbarians, and north to the nomads."

The sheer scale of her ambition made even Jin Chong's breath catch. He masked his surprise, maintaining an air of indifference, but her words lingered in his mind.

After a moment, he tapped his fingers against the table. "And why would I need you? My people can reverse-engineer those recipes within weeks."

Jiang Huaiyu chuckled softly. "You could try. But even if you succeeded, it would take you years to perfect what I already know. Besides, the blends you've seen are just the beginning. I have dozens more, each unique."

Jin Chong's composure faltered for the briefest moment. "Dozens?"

"Dozens," she confirmed, her smile unwavering. "And not a single one overlaps in flavor."

The room fell silent. Jin Chong's mind raced. He could use underhanded tactics to acquire her secrets, but such methods were beneath him—and risky.

"Fine," he said at last. "I'll give you a 10% cut of the profits if we partner."

"Forty," she countered without hesitation. "Anything less, and there's no deal."

This sentence is a threat from Jiang Huaiyu.

Jin Chong could refuse to agree and suppress her, but Jiang Huaiyu has been in control of the negotiation from the beginning. So no matter what Jin Chong thinks, unless he can calmly watch Jiang Huaiyu make money on her own, or he has the ability to get Jiang Huaiyu's recipe, he can only consider with great difficulty how to fight for more benefits for himself.

Thinking this, Jin Chong can't help but look at Jiang Huaiyu a few more times.

He even wondered if Jiang Huaiyu had been released after being trained by a wealthy merchant.

How could an ordinary family raise a woman with such poise and resourcefulness?