Tang Dynasty: After living together with Chang Le, Li and his companion were dumbfounded.

Lu Chen closed all the files.

Leaning back in the chair.

Cross your arms behind your head.

Staring at the ceiling.

Salt cannot be sold.

At the very least, salt cannot be sold directly.

You can't sell it under the name of "salt".

You can't let anyone think you're taking away from the salt industry's profits.

But he had already mastered the process of refining salt.

Leaving it unused is a waste of resources.

What should I do?

……

The inspiration came suddenly.

The third night.

Lu Chen was cooking in the kitchen.

Today's menu is Kung Pao Chicken.

Although peanuts weren't available at Da Tang, he bought walnuts instead, and the taste wasn't too different.

Heat oil in a wok.

The diced chicken is stir-fried in oil until it separates and becomes fluffy.

Add dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns and stir-fry until fragrant.

Add minced garlic and ginger.

Pour in the prepared sauce—soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt, cooking wine, and starch.

stir fry.

Add the walnuts last, stir quickly a couple of times, and then remove from the pan.

The aroma is explosive.

Li Lizhi's feigned demure "clearing her throat" could be heard from across the dividing line.

Lu Chen served two bowls of rice and brought them into the bedroom.

He handed a bowl to Li Lizhi across the dividing line.

She ate Kung Pao Chicken with extra relish today.

Not a single piece of chicken was left.

They even ate all the sauce at the bottom of the bowl by mixing it with rice.

She said something as she put down the bowl.

"Did they add Sichuan peppercorns to this?"

Lu Chen nodded.

"I know about Sichuan peppercorns. But the Sichuan peppercorns you used taste different from ours." Li Lizhi smacked her lips. "Your Sichuan peppercorns are more... how should I put it, more fragrant? They don't have that astringent taste."

"The peppercorns are all the same," Lu Chen said. "The difference lies in the processing method and the ingredients."

He paused for a moment.

"And salt."

"Salt?"

"Your salt is bitter to begin with, and you rely entirely on increasing the amount to force it to taste. Once the bitterness is too strong, all the spices you add will be masked."

"My salt has no bitterness; just a little is enough. The aroma of Sichuan peppercorns, the spiciness of chili peppers, and the umami of the sauce—all come through."

Li Lizhi gave a thoughtful "Oh".

No further questions were asked.

Continue eating rice.

But her words—

It was like a thunderbolt in Lu Chen's mind.

He held his chopsticks, still in the position of picking up food, and froze.

"The taste of Sichuan peppercorns is different."

"It doesn't have that astringent taste."

"Even more fragrant".

花椒。

Sichuan peppercorns were one of the most common seasonings in the Tang Dynasty.

Fennel is also an example.

Cinnamon is also one of them.

Dried tangerine peel, ginger, and garlic were all readily available in the Tang Dynasty.

The only difference is that they are never paired with refined salt.

Because the Tang Dynasty did not have refined salt.

The bitterness of the coarse salt completely overwhelmed the original flavor of all the spices.

It's like someone with a beautiful voice singing next to a blacksmith's shop—

But you can't hear anything.

Only the tinkling of bells.

But if the blacksmith shop were moved—

Then the singing began.

Refined salt is the thing that "moved the blacksmith shop away".

Once the salt is no longer bitter, the numbing aroma of Sichuan peppercorns, the sweet aroma of fennel, the spicy aroma of cinnamon, and the refreshing aroma of dried tangerine peel will all be released.

Lu Chen's fingers began to tap on the table.

The faster they tapped, the faster they tapped.

An idea grew bigger and bigger like a snowball.

If he added spices that were native to the Tang Dynasty, such as Sichuan peppercorns, fennel seeds, cinnamon, and dried tangerine peel—

After processing—

Mix with refined salt in the correct proportions.

Prepared seasonings in individual packets —

Selling it out—

What is he selling?

Seasonings.

It's not salt.

It is a mixture of Sichuan peppercorns, fennel seeds, cinnamon, and dried tangerine peel.

As for the salt in it—

Which seasoning doesn't contain salt?

It's like you can't say that hot pot broth is selling oil.

Although half of the hot pot broth is oil.

But it's a hot pot base.

It's not oil.

Lu Chen abruptly put down his chopsticks.

"Chang Le" (meaning "long happiness").

"Hmm?" Li Lizhi still had a piece of chicken in her mouth.

"I have an idea."

His eyes lit up.

The brightness is abnormal.

Li Lizhi had seen this kind of look before.

The last time I saw that look in his eyes was the day he decided to sell white sugar.

She silently swallowed the diced chicken in her mouth.

Put down your chopsticks.

Sit upright.

Get ready to listen.

"You just mentioned that the Sichuan peppercorns taste different. The key reason isn't the peppercorns themselves, but the salt. Refined salt isn't bitter or astringent, and it won't overpower other flavors when added to dishes."

"So if I mix refined salt with Sichuan peppercorns, fennel seeds, cinnamon, and dried tangerine peel to make a seasoning and sell it in Chang'an—"

He looked at Li Lizhi.

"What am I selling?"

Li Lizhi thought for two seconds.

"seasoning."

"Yes. Not salt."

"...Not salt."

Li Lizhi's eyes gradually brightened.

"It contains salt, but it's not called salt. It's called—"

"Five-spice powder," Lu Chen said, "or whatever you call it. The key is not to mention salt. Just say it's a secret seasoning."

"The formula and manufacturing method are kept secret."

"People who buy it only know that dishes made with this stuff taste better than anything else."

"As for why it's good, they wouldn't know it's because of the salt."

"They would assume it's because the peppercorns are well-matched, the proportions are perfect, or the preparation method has a unique secret."

"No one would open a packet of seasoning and analyze the quality of the salt inside."

Li Lizhi's breathing rate increased.

She understood completely.

"You mean hiding refined salt in the seasoning?"

"right."

"The salt merchants couldn't see the salt."

"right."

"The five surnames and seven prominent families see no threat."

"right."

"But those who bought the five-spice powder only tasted the salt."

"right."

"Once they get used to it, they can never go back to coarse salt."

"right."

"By then—"

Li Lizhi stood up.

"By then, the market will speak for us."

Everyone asks the same question: "Why do dishes made without five-spice powder taste so bad?"

"It's not that the food is bad. It's that the salt is bad."

"But they don't know."

"They only know that five spices are good."

"By then, we will have sugar workshops, spice distribution channels, and connections with the imperial harem and the Wei and Yang families—"

"The chassis is thick enough."

"To formally promote refined salt again would be like throwing an egg against a rock."

"It was a natural progression."

Lu Chen looked at her.

This girl's mind works even faster than his.

He only mentioned the concept of "hidden salt".

She deduced the next three moves herself.

"You've thought further ahead than I have," Lu Chen said sincerely.

Li Lizhi was not smug.

Her expression became even more serious.

"Because I know how difficult it is to deal with the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families."

"Sugar comes out of nowhere, and they are caught off guard. But salt, even if it's just a minor issue, requires extreme caution."

"No matter how well the packaging of the five-spice powder is made, as long as the sales volume increases, there will definitely be smart people who will investigate it further."

"By then, it won't be a business war anymore."

"It's a power struggle within the imperial court."

She looked at Lu Chen.

"Therefore, we can't rush the matter of the five spices."

"Let's start with small-scale trials. Begin with the imperial harem, begin with the imperial kitchen."

"Let the people in the palace taste it first."

"We'll start promoting this flavor outside the palace once everyone there is completely addicted to it."

"At that time, with Father Emperor's support and Mother Empress's management—"

"If you want to stop Qiwang from the fifth surname, you have to think carefully."

Lu Chen gave her a deep look.

Then he nodded.

"Okay. We'll do it your way."

"I'll write down the recipe and manufacturing method tonight. I'll also write down the purification process for refined salt."

"Two documents, one for you, and one for the Queen."

"Make an extra copy as a backup, and lock it with your mother."

"In case something goes wrong on my end—the process won't be interrupted."

This was said very softly.

But Li Lizhi sensed something else.

"What kind of situation could arise on your end?"

"I don't know either." Lu Chen glanced at the invisible dividing line. "This thing didn't come with an instruction manual. Who knows if it might change someday."

"Just to be on the safe side, we'll entrust you with a share of all the core processes."

"That way, even if the dividing line closes one day, you can still walk down on your own."

The bedchamber was quiet for a few seconds.

Li Lizhi remained silent.

She lowered her head.

Both hands were tucked into the sleeves of the sweatshirt, fingertips clutching the inner fleece.

It was gripped a little too tightly.

"The dividing line will not be closed."

Her voice was very soft.

How did you know?

"If I say it won't be closed, it won't be closed."

His tone suddenly hardened.

It carries an unreasonable and domineering air.

Lu Chen looked at her.

The dark gray hoodie almost covered her knees.

Both hands were tucked into their sleeves and could not be seen.

But he knew what she was clutching.

"it is good."

He smiled.

"It won't be shut down."

Li Lizhi hummed in agreement.

He didn't look up.

There was a moment of silence.

"When writing—"

Her voice returned to normal, even regaining that subtle princess-like air.

"Heat up a glass of milk for me too."

"OK."

"Add some of that white sweet powder today."

"White sugar?"

"Call me whatever you want. Just add a little something."

"How much?"

"A little more than yesterday."

"Didn't you say it was too sweet yesterday?"

"..."

silence.

I want something sweet today.

She spoke even softer when she said this.

It was so soft, it was as if she were talking to herself.

Lu Chen did not press further.

I got up and went to the kitchen.

Hot milk.

I added two spoonfuls of sugar.

One more spoonful than yesterday.

When it was served, Li Lizhi was still in the same position.

Huddled inside a hoodie.

Head down.

I took the cup.

Holding it in both hands.

It's warm.

Sweet.

She took a sip.

I took another sip.

…………