Jiang Zhou drafted the contract, specifying that each of them would contribute 150 taels to buy the tea house, and the costs of opening and operating the tea house would be shared equally. Jiang Zhou would focus on innovating the hot pot restaurant, while Lu Dalang would handle daily operations.

During the process, Jiang Zhou explained, “There are several kinds of soup bases in this hot pot restaurant: chicken soup base, big bone soup base, river shrimp soup base, clear soup pot base, and there’s also a spicy pot. However, the pepper production is not enough, and the varieties are not complete. It will have to be delayed before we can produce a pure spicy pot base.”

Lu Dalang nodded and reassured, “Actually, there is no need to worry; our decoration will still take time. It will be almost ready once the decoration is completed.”

Jiang Zhou estimated, and it seemed it was indeed true.

Lu Dalang added, “I can provide raw materials for most meats. I also have merchants who are familiar with river shrimps. I just need to contact those vegetable suppliers.”

Jiang Zhou thought for a while and realized that his father-in-law Wen Yuanxing also had some contacts. Wen Yuanxing, being a businessman, would have acquaintances in the vegetable trade, so he mentioned it to Lu Dalang.

Previously, when Jiang Zhou ran the shop alone, he didn’t need to explain so much. However, now that he was collaborating with Lu Dalang, these details were essential.

Lu Dalang, understanding the situation, asked, “What about your small shop? If you open a hot pot restaurant, can you manage both?”

Jiang Zhou acknowledged the challenge, “I can’t do both. If I have to take care of the hot pot restaurant, I won’t be able to manage the small shop. I’ll need to hire two new cooks.”

He explained further, “The dishes in my small restaurant change daily, relying on novelty, but that’s not the case in hot pot restaurants. There are fixed pot bases, and the taste remains the same. It only needs two cooks to handle it. I’ll be in the restaurants for the next few days, and the new cooks will take over after learning from me.”

Jiang Zhou took a sip of water and continued, “Additionally, we’ll need cooks or chefs with good knife skills, a dishwasher, and a butcher – You should have butchers there, mainly those who handle chickens. We’ll also need waiters and a shopkeeper.”

He documented all these requirements on a large piece of paper filled with black ink.

Lu Dalang suggested, “Then let’s head to the slave market later?”

“Yes, I have to check my restaurant first.”

.

After sharing a meal, Jiang Zhou checked the situation at the restaurant, seeing that business was still booming, and left it in capable hands.

The slave market was located on West Street, with hired workers under contracts to live and work there. Lu Dalang asked the shopkeeper to gather people for selection, and soon the entire yard was filled with potential candidates.

Jiang Zhou observed the group of potential candidates and halted Lu Dalang’s consideration of purchasing those who had signed the death contract.

Though he was a pure ancient man and was accustomed to such practices, the memories from the time traveler had influenced him. In that era, equality prevailed, and buying and selling people was deemed illegal.

While he was not entirely swayed by these modern sentiments, Jiang Zhou felt a slight discomfort with the idea of buying individuals.

“Anyone among you skilled in cooking, step forward.”

The crowd remained silent, exchanging glances.

Jiang Zhou repeated, “No?”

After a pause, a middle-aged man with a foreign accent stepped forward, admitting, “I know a little bit.”

Jiang Zhou glanced at him—a man with a square face, notably more robust than the others.

The shopkeeper approached and explained, “This guy is from outside. He lives by the west gate. He used to work as a cook at Sihe Restaurant, but he quit when his mother fell ill and needed care. Although his mother recovered, Sihe Restaurant had already found a new cook, so they didn’t want him.”

Jiang Zhou recognized Sihe Restaurant as a prominent establishment in town. He had encountered the young boss there during his visit with Liu Buping.

He nodded, “Okay, I want him.”

The cook, named Xuchang, was hired for two taels a month—originally one tael, but he offered to work two shifts, eliminating the need for additional recruits, hence the increase of salary.

Xuchang also had a proposal, “My son has been learning to cook from me since childhood. He may not great at cooking, but his knife skills have been good since he was a child. Would you accept him?”

Considering the need for precise knife work, especially for mutton slices, Jiang Zhou agreed, “Bring him to my place. We’ll test his knife skills, and if it’s good, he can join.”

Three more cooks were hired, with Lu Dalang recommending a couple. The wife would handle dishwashing and cleaning, while the husband would take charge of killing chickens. Several women were also selected for plate and pot carrying duties.

They agreed to start working two months later.

.

Jiang Zhou and Lu Dalang, accompanied by Xuchang, headed to Yanghe Village. Along the way, they encountered Uncle Yu. Jiang Zhou asked Uncle Yu to inform Wen Yan about him going to Yanghe Village, in case Wen Yan wanted to follow.

In Yanghe Village, each household was engaged in farming, some raising chickens, ducks, and pigs. Poultry was abundant.

Jiang Zhou told Lu Dalang to make the chicken soup base first to try. Together, they selected a fat rooster weighing fifteen kilograms, which, after feather and organ removal, weighed thirteen kilograms. The entire chicken was then chopped into pieces.

He originally sent chili peppers and spices to Lu Dalang’s family. Lu Dalang enjoyed spicy food but ate sparingly, and he was unsure how to cook with it. The chili peppers were being consumed slowly, and there was still a considerable amount left.

Jiang Zhou took Xuchang into the kitchen, providing step-by-step guidance.

“Firstly, you have to use high heat,” Jiang Zhou said, adding a piece of firewood. “Chicken fried over slow heat can age quickly. It’s better to fry the chicken quickly over high heat.”

“The crucial thing with chicken hot pot is the meat needs to be flavorful. Stir-fry it quickly over high heat, add special soup, and then heat it slightly with a charcoal stove to absorb the aroma. After that, blanch the vegetables for the richest flavor.”

As he spoke, he picked up the whole pot and began to stir-fry.

Xuchang’s eyes widened in surprise. “You can still stir the pot?” he exclaimed, looking at Jiang Zhou’s seemingly weak appearance.

Despite initial doubts, Jiang Zhou managed to handle the heavy iron pot.

Jiang Zhou smiled, acknowledging his weakness in strength. Inspired by seeing Lu Xiangxi effortlessly lift the Oden pot, he had been exercising his arm strength and learning skills from his own student.

Flames licked the pot’s bottom as the originally pure white chicken turned yellow, then red. The spicy aroma filled the house, tempting everyone’s appetite.

Once the chicken was cooked, Jiang Zhou arranged bean sprouts and yuba in another pot, poured the chicken on top, and added a ladle of soup.

Xuchang took the pot and left.

.

Wen Yan, who followed them to Yanghe Village, took off a layer of Jiang Zhou’s clothes that he usually wore while cooking, “You seem to know a lot of things that I don’t.”

Since opening the restaurant, the daily updated menus contained items Wen Yan had never heard of or seen. Jiang Zhou was becoming increasingly unfathomable in his eyes.

He suddenly felt a little panicked.

Although Jiang Zhou had explained that he wasn’t himself in that year and had learned from the memory of a time traveler, Wen Yan had no specific concept.

However, looking at Jiang Zhou now, he inevitably felt a sense of panic.

The current Jiang Zhou was the one he is familiar with, but his skilled abilities and innovative ideas made Wen Yan felt a bit strange.

This feeling wasn’t apparent at first, but as time passed, it accumulated, filling Wen Yan’s heart with strange emotions.

They grew up together, knowing each other’s every move and look. Suddenly, one day, he couldn’t fathom Jiang Zhou’s thoughts. He didn’t know what Jiang Zhou was going to do next.

He didn’t feel safe not knowing his husband’s mind.

Jiang Zhou clearly felt Wen Yan’s anxiety.

He held Wen Yan’s face and asked him to look up at him: “Why do you think so much?”

Wen Yan’s eyes were already a little wet.

Jiang Zhou stared into his eyes: “Tell me, what are you thinking about, hm?”

Wen Yan wanted to turn his head away, but Jiang Zhou held it again and forced him to face him: “Tell me, what are you thinking about?”

He didn’t put much strength, and Wen Yan could easily break away, but he didn’t move. He pressed himself closer to Jiang Zhou, saying, “I feel we are more like strangers than before. How could it be like this? What do you think?”

Jiang Zhou touched his head and kissed his forehead, “I have always been your Zhou-ge.”

Wen Yan said nothing.

Jiang Zhou looked directly into his eyes, trying to see himself clearly. “Is it because I have been too busy recently, and we haven’t spent much time together?”

Reflecting on himself, it seemed that he was indeed spending less time with Wen Yan now. More than a year ago, no matter how busy Jiang Zhou was, he would have dropped everything to be with Wen Yan every night after dark. Even if they didn’t speak, he would always be by Wen Yan’s side.

But now, he was busy with business, either in the restaurant or collecting materials during the day. He only goes back when it was dark at night, preparing things for the next day.

Most of the time, the moon was no longer visible in the sky and it was only in the darkness, he found time to say a few words to Wen Yan.

Wen Yan didn’t bother him, staying quietly, finding something to do, and when tired, lying down to rest.

But it was true; they hadn’t talked much in a long time.

No wonder Wen Yan thought so much.

Jiang Zhou touched his face and held him in his arms: “Ah Yan, don’t think so much, okay? I will always be with you, and you will always be my favorite person.”

He thought again and said, “When the hot pot restaurant is on the right track, I will find a young apprentice and teach him how to cook. I will stay with you from now on, okay?”

Wen Yan, held in his arms, smelled the familiar scent and closed his eyes: “Okay.”