Zhao Hanzhang had the kitchen staff chop the lamb ribs into pieces and cut the ginger and scallion sections.

She looked around and asked, “Don’t we have cooking wine?”

The kitchen staff asked, “What is cooking wine?”

Zhao Hanzhang turned and ran, “I’ll go borrow a jar of wine from Uncle.”

Fu Tinghan kindly reminded her, “Better to ask Fifth Great-Uncle.”

Zhao Hanzhang thought that made sense, so she ran to Zhao Ming’s house, but went to find Fifth Great-Uncle.

Zhao Song hadn’t seen Zhao Hanzhang in a long time. When he saw her, he asked with a smile, “When did you get back?”

“I got back today. Fifth Great-Uncle, I got a new cooking utensil from Wushan and want to make you some new dishes to try.”

Fifth Great-Uncle had no obsession with food, but he was very pleased with Zhao Hanzhang’s attitude of thinking of him in everything. He smiled and agreed, “Wonderful. Then tonight I’ll taste the new dishes you make.”

“Everything is ready, we’re just missing one ingredient.”

Zhao Song suddenly understood how his son felt, but he still gave Zhao Hanzhang face, “What are we missing?”

“A jar of good wine.”

Zhao Song thought she wanted to drink and laughed heartily, “Before you’ve even given me the dish, you’re already asking me for wine to drink.”

“No, the dish needs wine to remove the gamey smell and add some freshness.”

Zhao Song became curious, “What kind of dish is made this way?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “When I make it, you’ll see. I just came to ask Great-Uncle for a jar of wine. You know our family is all women and children who don’t really drink, so we don’t have any in stock at home.”

Zhao Song said generously, “I’ll give you a jar.”

He had someone go to the storeroom and bring out a jar of wine—it was actually Zhao Ming’s collection of fine wine.

Zhao Hanzhang unsealed it and sniffed—it smelled wonderful.

Her eyes crinkled with delight as she said happily, “Great-Uncle, just wait. When I’m done, I’ll have someone send it over.”

Zhao Hanzhang hugged the wine jar and ran home.

Wang Shi couldn’t help nagging, “Just to make one dish, you go begging people for wine. This jar of wine costs more than this whole sheep…”

Zhao Hanzhang had the kitchen staff stir-fry the ginger, scallions, and wine until fragrant, then add the blanched lamb ribs to stir-fry together before adding water to stew.

The air filled with an aroma. Only then did Wang Shi and the kitchen staff notice the difference in the new cooking utensil—the stir-frying smelled so good…

When the lamb ribs were done stewing and the other dishes were almost ready, Zhao Hanzhang had the kitchen scoop out all the lamb ribs and divide them into two portions—one for braising, one for sweet and sour.

“Use soybean oil for stir-frying—it’s very fragrant.” Zhao Hanzhang stood to the side directing while the kitchen staff wielded the large ladle, tossing the ingredients.

Zhao Erlang followed the aroma and came running. Seeing Mother and Sister and brother-in-law were all there, he immediately pushed forward, “Sister, what smells so good?”

Zhao Hanzhang showed him.

Zhao Erlang looked at the sweet and sour lamb ribs in the wok and swallowed, “It smells so good. How is this made?”

“Stir-fried,” Zhao Hanzhang smiled, “There are many things you can stir-fry. Didn’t the family sprout bean sprouts? Get some to stir-fry—it tastes better than blanching them in water.”

The kitchen staff immediately went to pull bean sprouts.

Ever since Zhao Hanzhang had people grind soybean flour to mix with wheat flour to eat, various soy products had gradually spread from the county office’s rear courtyard. Actually, it spread from this old residence.

Wang Shi knew her daughter worked hard and knew she wanted the people under her rule to eat better. Seeing she was busy yet still worried about trivial matters like having no green vegetables in winter so they should sprout more bean sprouts, and that common people lacked meat so they should eat more tofu and such small things, she proactively took on the task of promotion. Every time the county office’s rear courtyard created a new dish, she would invite her sisters-in-law and clan members to dine. Over time, more and more people sprouted bean sprouts, and by now it had basically become a dish each household prepared for winter.

After all, it wasn’t difficult—even Wang Shi knew how to sprout them.

The kitchen staff stir-fried the bean sprout dish. Zhao Hanzhang had someone bring food boxes and divided half of each dish, filling two large food boxes completely, then handed them to Chengbo, “You deliver them personally.”

Chengbo agreed and took two guards to deliver them.

Zhao Ming was sitting at the dining table waiting to eat, but his father wouldn’t give the word, so the servants didn’t even dare serve the dishes.

He couldn’t help looking outside again—still not a single person in sight. He couldn’t help saying, “Father, Hanzhang probably just said it casually…” You should just listen and let it go.

Zhao Ming’s remaining half sentence was left unsaid under his father’s intense gaze.

“Sanniang isn’t that kind of person. It’s just delayed a bit. Can you starve to death?”

Zhao Ming sighed, “Time is precious. I was thinking that after eating I could still do other things.”

“Then go do them now. Come back and eat when you’re done.”

Zhao Ming fell silent. He could only sit there obediently. He was hungry—how could he possibly have the energy to work?

Just as Zhao Ming was about to empty his mind and enter a meditative state, the steward came in smiling, leading three people. “Master, Young Master, Sanniang has sent people to deliver dishes.”

Chengbo bowed and stepped forward to pay respects, “Fifth Great Master, our lady had us deliver new dishes.”

Zhao Song’s eyes crinkled with delight as he shot Zhao Ming a smug look, “Bring them up quickly.”

Chengbo had the two guards bring up the food boxes and personally stepped forward to arrange the dishes one by one.

The father and son immediately noticed the two new dishes, because they truly had never seen them before.

The two houses weren’t far apart, and they’d come by carriage, so everything was still steaming hot.

Zhao Song picked up a piece of braised lamb rib, “Did Sanniang make this?”

Chengbo bowed and said, “Yes.” Sanniang directed, the kitchen staff made it—that was approximately the same as Sanniang making it.

Zhao Song put it in his mouth to eat.

Zhao Ming waited quietly. Though the dish smelled good, the color was very dark, so he kept watching his father’s expression.

Seeing his eyes brighten slightly and his chewing speed increase, only then did he extend his chopsticks to pick up a piece of lamb rib and taste it gracefully.

Chengbo introduced the dishes from the side.

He’d been in the kitchen at the time and knew what to say to make the masters more appetizing.

Chengbo finally introduced the bean sprouts, “These bean sprouts were also stir-fried, different from the usual blanched and mixed vegetables or boiled vegetables. According to our lady, this vegetable is very crisp and tastes better.”

Zhao Song didn’t reach for them. He’d been eating bean sprout dishes to give Zhao Hanzhang face, and had eaten so much recently he was sick of them. Now just seeing them made him not want to eat.

Zhao Ming glanced at his father and proactively picked up a chopstick-full of bean sprouts to taste. After a moment, he raised his eyebrows and nodded, “The beany smell is gone.”

Zhao Song paused, then reached for some, “Really?”

After tasting them, Zhao Song was very pleased, “This is good. Explain the preparation method too. I’ll have my household’s cook try it later.”

Zhao Ming had already set down his chopsticks. After wiping his mouth, he said, “Father, the key isn’t the culinary skill, but Hanzhang’s new cooking utensil.”

He asked Chengbo, “What cooking utensil is so impressive?”

“It’s an iron wok,” Chengbo said, “Using an iron wok, things rarely burn, and it heats quickly—much easier to use than stone pots.”

An iron wok—how extravagant!

Zhao Ming frowned slightly. Zhao Song also felt it was too extravagant. He swallowed the words he was about to say and waved his hand, “You may return now. I’m very pleased today and appreciate her filial devotion.”

Chengbo agreed and took his leave.

While picking at the lamb ribs, Zhao Song said, “This matter shouldn’t be publicized. Right now Xiping County is rebuilding from ruins and should still practice frugality.”

Zhao Ming agreed.