CHAPTER 60: START THE FEAST

Lin Xuan Qi has been brought up to learn and experiment, see the results and try different things if it doesn’t work out.

It had worked out well for him so far, especially with the soap.

He thought about the things to be done the next day as he chopped the meat into smaller pieces.

Checking out the locations for the factory and the shop.

Getting the equipment that would be required.

And when these were in place, he would also have to employ the workers and figure out the logistics that would be required.

His goal was to make sure that things would move smoothly, and if the soap sells well, he would prefer it to be handled by someone he could trust.

Lin Xuan Qi was aware that he can’t be doing everything and be everywhere all the time.

He would need to hand down responsibilities to other capable people.

It would be a bonus if he could relax and enjoy the rewards for the clan.

After the meat was chopped into smaller pieces, he wanted to marinate it with some seasoning.

Lin Xuan Qi looked around in his surroundings, trying to see where the seasonings were kept.

When she saw him doing so, Mei Jiao stepped forward and asked, "Master Lin, what do you need?"

"I need some salt, soy sauce and chili powder." He replied without thinking much.

"Chili powder?" Mei Jiao lowered her head and asked.

She didn’t know what it was and it might have been something that the rich people enjoyed.

It was out of her depth, and her heart pounded as she was anxious that Lin Xuan Qi might be angry with her.

To her surprise, Lin Xuan Qi slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "How can I forget..."

He glanced over at her, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Never mind, I must have misspoken."

"Then, the salt and soy sauce are right over there." Mei Jiao pointed at two jars not too far away from him.

He nodded and opened the jars.

There were some things he had missed from where he came from, and chili was one of them.

It reminded him that he might be able to figure something out for the seasonings.

Salt was expensive and essential, which made it a lucrative trade, the emperor monopolized and handled the salt trade.

He wasn’t about to try and go against the emperor.

Maybe something like a crude form of MSG would suffice.

But that would be for another day after he had settled in the soap business.

Better not to bite off more than you can chew.

After he marinated the meat, he put it through the skewers that he had made earlier.

And when it was time, he asked Mei Jiao to bring the skewers out to the open area where they had built the barbeque pit with bricks and mud.

"Zhi Yong, go and grab some firewood and start a fire." Lin Xuan Qi said when he saw Zhi Yong standing by the side of the barbeque pit.

"Me go now." Zhi Yong obliged and went on his way.

Lin Xuan Qi was glad to have someone like Zhi Yong helping him.

Always ready and no questions asked.

As he waited for Zhi Yong, he glanced around the scenery in the surroundings.

The traditional looking buildings looked great with a sense of history and heritage in them.

It still felt surreal to him that he owned such a huge real estate.

Something which he would have never dared to dream of previously.

The evening breeze blew, and he felt a sense of comfort as the heat from the day was being blown away.

Rhythmic chirping from the insects filled the air.

Lin Xuan Qi was glad that he could enjoy this moment.

"Master Lin." His thoughts were disrupted by Zhi Yong.

He carried some firewood on his back and pushed a cart with firewood in it.

Lin Xuan Qi couldn’t help but think that Zhi Yong might be able to do very well if he learned martial art fighting or cultivation.

He could ask Lee He Song to teach him the former, but the latter was out of reach for most and even him.

You had to have Spirit Root for that.

A talent that most would not have.

Even Lee He Song didn’t have it.

It spelt the end for you in the path of cultivation.

He didn’t understand why Lee He Song was so keen to be able to achieve immortality so far.

Lin Xuan Qi always thought that living a fulfilling life was enough.

He wouldn’t want to be stuck in the cycle of endless struggles.

History doesn’t repeat but it certainly rhymes.

"Put the firewood onto the metal tray and start the fire." Lin Xuan Qi said.

Zhi Yong nodded his head and got to work.

"Xue Cong, ask the others to come and join in." Lin Xuan Qi shouted to Xue Cong in the main hall.

Xue Cong who was cleaning the furniture inside, stopped what she was doing and proceeded to gather the others.

"So, what are we looking at?" Liu Shi Shi stepped forward and got close to the barbeque pit to try and figure out what it was about.

It looked like something interesting.

Lin Xuan Qi never ceased to amaze her with weird and new ideas.

"From where I came from, we would have what we call a barbeque when we feel like it.

"And today is one of those days."

He said and placed the skewers with the meat onto the barbeque pit.

When the meat came into contact with the fire, the air was immediately filled with the aroma of the meat.

The fire sizzled as the oil from the meat dripped onto the firewood.

That made everyone look at the meat sizzling, and swallow a mouthful of saliva.

Lin Xuan Qi grinned when he saw Liu Shi Shi’s expression of anticipation.

He picked up one of the skewers that was ready and handed it over to Xue Cong, "Here have a try."

Xue Cong was surprised that she got to have it even before him.

"Master Lin, it’s best you have it first."

Being a servant and having a bite before the master wouldn’t bode well in other households.