Chapter Forty-Five: Developing the Breeding Industry

Lin Miaomiao was well aware that in modern times there were countless hot pot restaurants, but those without a reputation rarely attracted her patronage. From a consumer’s perspective, one could open many hot pot restaurants, even copy their interior designs. Yet people always recognized and preferred the very first old hot pot restaurant—there was simply something about it.

She had checked into many hot pot places before, but those lacking fame received only a single visit from her; unless their broth base was truly unique, she would always return to her usual spot. Lin Miaomiao knew that if she wished to run a successful hot pot establishment, she must adapt to the market's demands.

She handed a thick stack of papers to Li Yanhe, saying, “I've written the recipes on these sheets as well.” Li Yanhe nodded with a smile, then hurriedly dispatched the envelope to the capital. Before long, a restaurant with a distinctly unique style appeared in the city.

People discovered its name was “Reminiscence.” Lin Miaomiao had chosen a literary title; she’d considered naming it something like “Lin’s Hot Pot,” but after reflecting on the peculiarities of this era, she abandoned the idea.

When the hot pot restaurant opened, curiosity drew crowds inside. Upon introduction by the waiters, they learned the place was modeled after the imperial examination system. Eating hot pot at Reminiscence soon became the most fashionable activity in the capital. Li Zheng, upon hearing Li Yanhe had opened a hot pot restaurant, was furious.

Li Zheng rode swiftly across the long distance to Da’ankou, where Lin Miaomiao was busy constructing her second factory—a hot pot broth base factory. Having learned lessons from before and lacking experience in selecting personnel, Li Yanhe entrusted the task to his own manager, Mr. Li Yanhe.

Li Yanhe was only too glad to help Lin Miaomiao. The land was purchased, and it would bring additional income to the area. Lin Miaomiao employed impoverished villagers, alleviating their hardships, which in turn lessened Li Yanhe’s pressures in Da’ankou.

Li Yanhe opened a second shop in the capital, selling the Reminiscence hot pot broth bases. Lin Miaomiao ensured a steady stream of customers by keeping the broth bases in the shops identical to those in the restaurant, but every so often, she would invent a new broth base.

Having tasted every kind of hot pot base in the modern world—clear broth, mushroom soup, tomato soup, spicy beef tallow—Lin Miaomiao timed the release of new broth bases for sale, always a step behind the restaurant’s offerings, maximizing customer flow.

Li Yanhe, shrewd as ever, was quick to open a second hot pot restaurant after witnessing the first one’s explosive success. Being a person of status in the capital, none dared trouble his restaurants, and there were no incidents of food poisoning.

When Li Yanhe opened the second hot pot restaurant, Lin Miaomiao felt a pang of conscience and decided to split profits with him fifty-fifty. She would regularly receive accounts sent by the manager from that side, and found herself awkwardly calling “Dan” every day.

So Lin Miaomiao asked for Dan’s full name. Dan had once lived in a wealthy household, but following family misfortune, he could no longer claim a surname—Dan was the lowest slave in the Dayong Dynasty.

Lin Miaomiao waved her hand dismissively and said, “Everyone should have a surname and a name. Though names are just symbols, a person needs to be called something in this world, don’t you think?”

She glanced at Dan and said, “Think up a name for yourself. I’m not very good at naming people; once you’ve decided, I’ll call you by your new name.” Dan, overwhelmed with emotion, knelt before Lin Miaomiao in gratitude, startling her.

Li Yanhe, witnessing Lin Miaomiao’s surprise, gave a mischievous smile and grandly declared, “From today, your name is Lin Jiwan.” Upon hearing this, Dan knelt and knocked his head heavily on the ground. Lin Miaomiao looked at Li Yanhe in puzzlement.

“Why did you name him? Didn’t I say he could name himself?” she asked, perplexed.

Li Yanhe patted her head and replied, “Because my status is high, naming him isn’t merely naming—it's bestowing a name.”

Lin Miaomiao gaped at his words, her expression suggesting Li Yanhe was truly remarkable, letting out an unsophisticated “ah.” She nodded, and Li Yanhe, noticing that the usually knowledgeable Lin Miaomiao now looked as though she’d witnessed something extraordinary, found it amusing.

He patted her head again. “It’s not such a big deal. Why do you look so shocked?”

Lin Miaomiao replied, “This expression perfectly illustrates my lack of worldly experience.”

Li Yanhe laughed, patting her head once more. Lin Miaomiao suspected he did it on purpose and complained, “Could you stop patting my head all the time? People might think you’re dribbling a ball.”

Li Yanhe asked curiously, “What’s a ball?”

Lin Miaomiao dropped her gaze and thought for a moment. “Do you know cuju?” she asked.

Li Yanhe nodded, “Of course I know cuju, but it’s too hard—can’t be slapped or tossed easily.”

Lin Miaomiao realized the ancient cuju ball was nothing like the modern football—heavy and somewhat dangerous. She stroked her chin, lost in thought, and after a long while asked, “Do many people play it?”

Li Yanhe nodded. “Quite a few. Mostly nobles; commoners can’t afford it. It’s complicated to make, too.”

Lin Miaomiao suddenly smiled. The next day, she gathered some feathers and cloth, sought out the local butcher for a pig’s bladder, had someone inflate it, and tied it up to make a simple ball.

She shredded animal feathers and wrapped them in cloth, copying modern weaving techniques to craft a rudimentary cover for the ball.

That evening, when Li Yanhe returned, Lin Miaomiao presented the colorful football. Li Yanhe gazed at it and immediately recalled the cuju they’d discussed.

Li Yanhe actually loved playing cuju. As a child, he’d often kick it for fun, but at fourteen, after receiving an imperial edict, he never played again.

Clearly interested, that night Li Yanhe, together with Anqi, Lin Jiwan, Lin Langluan, and Lin Langze, played with the ball in the courtyard.

He enjoyed himself thoroughly, and Lin Miaomiao even glimpsed a smile on his face. Seeing Li Yanhe happy, she was happy too.

After tiring from play, Li Yanhe returned to his room to find Lin Miaomiao carding wool—the lamb she’d brought from a farmer’s house.

She’d bought dozens of lambs and hired local farmers to care for them; the woman in charge was diligent and took excellent care of the sheep.

This woman was also unfortunate; her husband died young, leaving her with three children and a blind mother-in-law.

At first, she helped in Lin Miaomiao’s factory, working quickly and keeping things clean. Lin Miaomiao found her responsible and treated her well, always giving her extra when distributing goods.

As New Year approached, Li Zheng’s shop was closing, and Lin Miaomiao decided to shut down the factory. But in that vast household, only this woman struggled alone.

She had three children—two boys and a girl. The sons were at that age where they ate a lot; what mother would let her children go hungry?

Her name was Madam Zhao. She knelt and pleaded with Lin Miaomiao, promising to do any work, willing to labor in Lin Miaomiao’s home.

Lin Miaomiao already had four workers, sometimes helping alongside Li Yanhe, needing no extra hands.

But she recalled she’d purchased an empty plot nearby. With nothing on it, she considered raising animals.

Before the New Year, she promised Madam Zhao that after the holiday, she would start raising poultry and could hire Madam Zhao to care for them, paying fifty copper coins a month.

In this impoverished rural area, fifty copper coins a month would drive women to compete fiercely, striving to prove themselves.

The poverty here was overwhelming, with few people and much wasteland; most land was unsuitable for crops, so the wealthy preferred to leave.

Lin Miaomiao’s factory was large, supporting many people. By partnering with Li Zheng and Li Yanhe, business was smooth and swiftly grew.

She had no worries about trouble coming her way, and every month she joyfully received her share.

Looking at the barren land, Lin Miaomiao realized that although crops could not be grown, animal husbandry could flourish. She shared her plans with Li Yanhe.

He agreed, so Lin Miaomiao fenced off an area, dug up wild grass from the mountains, and planted it specifically for the animals.