Xiao Jingnan believed that what he said was absolutely right!
The goose breast should be marinated in plum water to acquire a sweet and fresh flavor. Then, when smoked over fruit - wood, it would carry a faint hint of fruit aroma.
Gluten naturally absorbs oil, so it should be stir - fried in plenty of oil. Only then would it not turn hard!
As for tea, mountain spring water was the best!
What was the problem?
Every step was correct!
Yet Li Wanming actually thought he was being long - winded... It was clearly him who had improved the dining standard of the Tingxue Pavilion to a whole new level after he entered it!
While complaining indignantly in his heart, he pricked up his ears and continued to listen.
Li Wanming and Liu Yiyi chatted about daily matters for a while. Then Li Wanming asked, "Did you bring what I asked you to?"
"I did."
Liu Yiyi took out a box from behind her. When opened, it was filled with various bottles and jars, as well as several small stone pestles and mortars.
"I also brought the dried lychees you wanted. I dried them as you instructed and brought them here."
Liu Yiyi picked up a cloth bundle from the side, which contained several packs of dried lychees.
"However, are you really going to sell lychee wine in the capital? Will Aunt Yuan agree? Your father is now a fourth - rank general. It's different from when we were in Fujian."
Li Wanming corrected, "A junior fourth - rank general."
While lovingly rummaging through the bottles, jars, and the bright red dried lychees, she said, "My mother definitely won't agree. So we have to do this secretly."
"I've thought about it. To save my elder sister, we must have money first, no matter what."
"Even if she can get a divorce, having money in hand is the key to having a means of livelihood."
"In case it really comes to the last resort and she has to flee from her husband's family and live on the run... then she'll need even more money."
Hearing the grim situation she described, Liu Yiyi was a bit worried. "Wanming, does it really have to come to this?"
Li Wanming replied, "I don't want it to either, but I can't just watch my sister suffer in her husband's family."
"However, your father is no longer the simple soldier he used to be. How could Aunt Yuan allow you to sell wine? Moreover, selling wine in the capital is different from in Fujian. You need a license."
Liu Yiyi thought for a while and said, "If you really want to make money, why don't you do the silk business with me?"
"Did your father agree to let you manage the Liu family's business?"
"No, but I can figure it out. It's better than you going out to sell wine alone..."
Li Wanming said, "Forget it. I know your family's situation... Your life isn't any easier than mine."
Liu Yiyi had two elder brothers, born of the same mother, and they had a good sibling relationship. Unfortunately, neither of these two brothers was good at business.
The eldest brother was solely focused on studying. He was pedantic and dull. Although he hadn't even passed the imperial examination to become a scholar, he was full of Confucian sayings. He often said that his father smelled of money and flatly refused to take over the family business, almost driving Mr. Liu crazy.
The second brother was flexible, but too flexible.
He spent most of his time traveling around, neither getting married nor having children, not establishing a family nor returning home. He didn't even send a single letter throughout the year. This made Mrs. Liu often wonder if she had really given birth to a second son...
Finally, there was Liu Yiyi. She was open - minded and intelligent, very suitable for business.
It was a pity that she was a girl.
Although Mr. Liu was a good friend of Li Rushi, he was far less open - minded.
In his eyes, the family business must be inherited by a son. No matter how capable a daughter was, she could only stay in the inner courtyard, waiting obediently to get married, serve her husband, and raise children.
Liu Yiyi had quarreled with him countless times, but it was all in vain. She was so angry that she called her father a stubborn old zombie!
She was only supposed to be well - behaved and wait for marriage.
Seeing that neither of his sons was up to the task, Mr. Liu, at the age of fifty, took in three concubines and resolutely decided to try for another son!
Now, he was cooped up at home all day trying to have a son, making the Liu family a chaotic mess.
Li Wanming knew her best friend's family situation. How could she make things difficult for her and ask her to help her make money?
Moreover, Mr. Liu only allowed Liu Yiyi to watch from the side in the store business. He didn't let her actually get involved.
The silk business Liu Yiyi mentioned was just secretly investing a portion of her pocket money into the store. The amount was limited and far from meeting Li Wanming's needs.
Li Wanming asked, "You came to the capital with the merchant caravan this time. How is your mother at home?"
"How could she be well?" Liu Yiyi held up three fingers. "With three concubines entering the house all at once, my mother is almost dying of anger!"
"Uncle Liu has only had her as his wife for so many years, with no one else in the house. Aunt Liu must be heart - broken for a while..."
"Why should she be heart - broken?"
Liu Yiyi's eyebrows shot up. "I've told my mother that if she can't stand it anymore, she should just get a divorce! After all, it was she who helped my father manage the business in the first place. She can live without him! But my mother always refuses."
Li Wanming said, "After all, they've been together for so many years. It's not that easy to give up. Take my eldest sister for example. I really don't understand her. The Chen family treats her so badly, but when I advised her to get a divorce, she refused."
"Does Sister Wanxin still not want to leave the Chen family?"
"She said that a woman should be gentle, kind, considerate, and magnanimous."
"What do you think? If she really doesn't want to leave, what will you do?"
Li Wanming was packing up the things in her hands. "I don't care. I'll save enough money first. If she still doesn't want to leave by then, I'll find someone to tie her up!"
After all, she had experience in tying people up.
"You'd better think this through. Your two brothers - in - law are not from ordinary families. If it really comes to the point of tying someone up, this will turn into a big deal."
Li Wanming said worriedly, "I know. The best way is for them to get a peaceful divorce. But my mother has tried. Both the Chen family and the Earl's Mansion refused."
There was a deep, inescapable sadness in her voice, like plum blossoms falling on a freezing winter day.
Xiao Jingnan's heart skipped a beat.
He remembered the night of their wedding. Under the cold moonlight, the girl's lowered profile, her long and thick eyelashes trembling slightly, like a butterfly that could be blown away by the wind at any moment.
He always knew that Li Wanming had something on her mind, but he didn't know it was this heavy.
He took a gentle sip of his tea and then heard Li Wanming say, "Actually, I've also thought about it. Maybe I should just marry the Prince of Ning's heir. If I manage to survive and don't die, then I'll become the heir's consort."
"A person of higher rank can easily overpower those below. Once I become a member of the royal family and the mistress of the palace, it'll be a piece of cake to save my sister."
"No way!"
Liu Yiyi flatly refused. "I heard that the Prince of Ning's heir has been sickly since childhood. His health is extremely poor... He might not even be capable of a normal marital relationship. If you marry him, won't you just be a widow?"
Not... capable of a normal marital relationship?
Xiao Jingnan's teacup suddenly hit his teeth.
"What are you thinking about all day?"
Li Wanming said disdainfully, "Does that even matter?"
"If he's not capable, can't I keep a lover?"
"Besides, he's so weak. Maybe he'll die as soon as I marry him."
There was a look of longing in Li Wanming's voice. "Then I'll be a pretty widow with money and power but no husband. Oh, just thinking about it makes me happy!"