Chapter 158

Chapter 158

The next morning, after hastily finishing breakfast, Lu Wei took Ning Suiyuan to the dock to inspect the goods on their ship. As the supervisor for this trip, Ning Suiyuan had to personally go through everything. Overnight, the large ship's silk and carpets had been emptied, while its hold was now filled with grains and iron tools.

The handover was swift. Standing at the dock, Ning Suiyuan received a small box containing letters from Lu Wei's hands. "Mistress Meng, I assure you that I will personally deliver these letters to Minister Meng and Lord Chang'an."

Meng Die replied, "Thank you for your trouble."

After bidding farewell to Ning Suiyuan, Hai Guanxing rested for two more days. Following her leave from Meng Die, she embarked on her seafaring journey with her crew.

Meng Die had just arrived home in her carriage when Mr. Zhao delivered the monthly account book for the hot pot restaurant. Gazing at his smiling expression, she asked, "The business hasn't declined?"

Ordinarily, people's interest wanes once the novelty fades. Many new establishments experience a corresponding drop in revenue.

Mr. Zhao's eyes crinkled into a smile. "Second Lady, just take a look."

Opening the ledger, Meng Die was astonished after flipping through only a few pages. "Revenue has increased tenfold? How is that possible?" The restaurant's seating capacity and operating hours were fixed; there was no way to achieve such a dramatic increase.

Mr. Zhao explained, "Miss Xing Huang prepared the base ingredients in individual packages. Many customers purchased them to cook at home, resulting in a sudden surge in revenue."

Meng Die had a sudden realization – this was how major enterprises were born from the production of hot pot base in her dream world. She knew that, but when she opened the restaurant, it was purely meant to be a stronghold, not a source of great wealth. Unexpectedly, her capable subordinates turned it into a thriving business!

Mr. Zhao rubbed his hands together. "Second Grandma, would you like to teach more people how to make the base?"

Meng Die shook her head decisively. "No need. This is perfect as it is. We are still outsiders on this land."

Mr. Zhao's expression turned serious. "I understand. From now on, we won't sell an unlimited amount of hot pot base. There will be a fixed daily quota, and once it's sold out, that's it."

Meng Die nodded in satisfaction. It was always easier to communicate with intelligent people. Then, she remembered the letter she had written, wondering how Changfeng planned to handle the situation.

The long-awaited Li Ai was also straining his neck, hoping for Ning Suiyuan's return.

It wasn't until mid-to-late February that the two large ships finally docked. The moment Ning Suiyuan stepped off the deck, he breathed a sigh of relief. After a brief rest, he promptly made his way back to the capital.

The emperor was in the Diligent Governance Hall, discussing state affairs with his ministers when he heard the eunuch's report. For a brief moment, he was speechless, even wondering if his age had caught up with him and he was beginning to lose his hearing. After composing himself, the emperor asked in disbelief, "You say Ning Suiyuan has returned with two pigs?"

Eunuch: "Your Majesty, General Ning did indeed bring back two pigs."

Emperor: "Summon Ning Suiyuan for an audience."

Ning Suiyuan entered with restrained excitement, step by step, "This minister pays his respects to Your Majesty."

The emperor replied, "Rise, Minister Ning. I've heard that you've brought back two pigs?"

Ning Suiyuan's voice was filled with enthusiasm, "In response to Your Majesty, County Master Meng personally selected six boars, but unfortunately, four of them perished during the rough sea voyage, leaving only two. Fortunately, they happen to be a male and a female."

The emperor fell silent.

Pei Ji Huan inquired, "Are these pigs extraordinary in any way? Are they of good breed?"

Ning Suiyuan remarked, "Lord Pei's insight is remarkable. When Princess Meng first asked me to bring back the pig, I was utterly bewildered. It wasn't until Princess Meng explained that I realized the true value of this extraordinary creature."

Ren Qinghua also perked up. "In what way is it good?"

Ning Suiyuan remarked, "This pig is entirely white, in stark contrast to the black pigs of our Great Yi Dynasty, which are known for their dark coats. Our black pigs from the Great Yi Dynasty boast more lean meat and rarely exceed one hundred and fifty catties even at their largest. This pig, however, can grow up to three hundred catties or more, with a higher proportion of fat to lean meat. Xing Huang also mentioned that this pork lacks the strong gamy odor that our dynasty's black pork tends to have. But, I must admit, I couldn't discern any difference in taste."

Fu Yanxiu teased him, "What would a rough fellow like you know about taste? I'm well aware of Xing Huang's palate; her tongue is exceptionally keen. If she says the flavor is light, then it surely is."

The Minister of Works, Su Yuquan, promptly spoke up, "Your Majesty, this pig is exceptional. Shall I immediately arrange for it to be tended and raised in captivity?"

The Emperor nodded, "Very well, take great care in raising them."

Ren Qinghua's smile broadened until his eyes formed crescents, "Indeed, County Princess is always thinking of the people. Once these pigs multiply, it will be much easier for the common folk to enjoy meat."

News of Meng Die sending back two breeding boars swiftly spread throughout the capital. Despite not having seen the two large white pigs yet, the citizens' enthusiasm remained undiminished as they eagerly envisioned the days when they could enjoy meat more freely.

Within the palace, Ning Suiyuan first delivered the letter to Li Ai. After leaving the palace, he proceeded to visit Meng Tingyi.

Upon receiving the letter, Li Ai's eyes curved in amusement. This time, the letter was clearly thicker than previous ones. He unfolded it, reading each word meticulously. After finishing, he neatly refolded the pages containing mundane matters and returned them to their envelope, setting aside two separate sheets of paper.

Flipping through the two pages once more, Li Ai lowered his gaze. Later that afternoon, he seized an opportunity when the Emperor was unoccupied and requested an audience alone.

The Emperor took the letter in hand, "This is the recipe for fruit preserves?"

Li Ai replied, "Indeed. For extended voyages at sea, one needs to consume tea to maintain good health; otherwise, a certain illness may occur. Fruit preserves have a similar effect, and they taste delightful. If properly prepared, they could also be exported overseas."

The Emperor chuckled, "Meng Die must have learned about the abundant beetroot harvest."

Smiling, Li Ai chose not to comment.

Emperor: "She does have a point. Selling sugar isn't as profitable as purchasing fruit preserves in glass jars. How is the glass factory progressing?"

Li Ai: "Your Majesty, George was initially overwhelmed, but after a few meals with him, he's become highly motivated. The factory is now capable of producing large sheets of glass for windows, and it should pose no issue in manufacturing the glass bottles Meng Die mentioned for canning."

Emperor: "Excellent."

Li Ai: "Your Majesty, there's one more matter I wish to bring up."

Emperor: "What is it?"

Li Ai raised his hand, and Bai Shan entered the hall with the Paelling Pot in tow. "Your Majesty, when I led the troops to cross the Tian Mountains, we relied solely on dried rations. While it was indeed to avoid the risk of fire attracting the enemy's attention, it was also practically impossible to cook food properly at the mountain peaks."

The emperor nodded. "I've read about that in books, how food doesn't cook well at high altitudes."

Li Ai pointed at the Paelling Pot. "This contraption can cook food even at such heights. Moreover, normally it takes half to an hour to stew beef, but with this, it can be made tender in no more than a quarter of an hour."

The emperor showed some curiosity. "Order the imperial chefs to give it a try."

Li Ai replied, "Your Majesty, please hold off for a moment. This pot has the potential to explode, so it would be best to conduct the experiment in an open space."

The emperor approved.

Needless to say, the effect was remarkable. As the emperor gazed at the braised beef that Lin Chu had presented, he picked up a piece with his chopsticks and savored it, a hint of astonishment flickering in his eyes at its tenderness.

Lowering his gaze, the emperor asked, "What did Meng Die say?"

Li Ai replied, "Your Majesty, Meng Die mentioned that this was achieved through the use of atmospheric pressure."

The emperor took the letter, perused it, and then pondered for a moment. "Lin Chu, convey my edict to open the Baohe Hall."

Lin Chu was taken aback for a moment before responding elegantly, "I obey the command."

The Baohe Hall, where grand court sessions were normally held, was being mentioned. To "open" the Baohe Hall referred to an impromptu grand assembly, a rare occurrence akin to the urgency of an eight-hundred-mile-expedited military dispatch in border regions during previous times.

In the capital, officials ranked fourth grade and above, regardless of their duties, hastily put aside their tasks and donned their official robes to rush into the palace. Before the emperor's arrival, they gathered in twos and threes, exchanging inquiries and speculations about what could have possibly transpired.

The Emperor arrived promptly, without any preamble, and directly addressed the subject of the Paeping Pot: "It's about atmospheric pressure, utilizing it — an entirely new domain. Someone out there has already created this Paeping Pot, while we remain ignorant of its existence."

Some, slower to react, still didn't comprehend why the emperor was making such a great fuss. However, several of his most trusted and influential ministers instantly understood: this was a brand new domain—a domain that might remain obscure, eventually fading away without leaving a ripple. But then, there were those domains that had the potential to spark monumental changes.

For instance, cotton. In the previous dynasty, people relied on paper furs for warmth, no matter how well they were made, the fact remained that they were still paper, with limited insulation. Hence, the northern population never flourished. It wasn't until the discovery of cotton's warmth-retaining properties and the emergence of cotton clothing and quilts that the northern population began to increase.

One could not even say that cotton usage opened an entirely new field, as fur and silk garments had already served the purpose of keeping warm. Nevertheless, the impact it brought was immense.

Ren Qinghua inquired, "Your Majesty, the term 'atmospheric pressure'—is that a translation from overseas by County Master Meng?"

The emperor nodded in affirmation.

Ren Qinghua inquired, "What exactly do these two characters imply?"

The emperor turned to Li Ai, who recollected the contents of the letter. "The air we breathe is a gas, and this gas has weight – that weight is called air pressure."

Ren Qinghua fell silent, somewhat doubting his own literacy.

A perplexed official spoke up, "Gas has weight? That can't be right. If it does, wouldn't we have been crushed by the gas surrounding us long ago?"

Li Ai looked at the man, inwardly nodding vigorously. Indeed, there was someone else who shared his confusion. He still couldn't wrap his head around how gas could have weight – it seemed preposterous.

Miao Yuan Dao spoke up, "That's not necessarily true. Consider this: if a person were entirely wrapped in cotton, they wouldn't be crushed to death. This gas should be as light as cotton, no, lighter than it."

This perspective resonated with the assembly.

The Emperor remarked, "This is uncharted territory, and Meng Die has already established a firm footing overseas. Many scholars specializing in this field are even conducting research under her guidance."

"I plan to select a hundred youths aged twelve and above to journey abroad for studies in this subject. The task of selecting these candidates shall be entrusted to Minister Meng Yuan."

Meng Yuan replied, "Your servant, Meng Yuan, shall abide by your command."

As the courtiers emerged from the Baohe Hall, they gathered in twos and threes. Li Ai walked alongside Meng Yuan, his voice lowered. "Why did His Majesty immediately mention selecting someone?"

Study abroad in disciplines held in high esteem, and with numerous Beijing officials, competition for such opportunities would undoubtedly be fierce. Given the emperor's usual approach, he would likely directly appoint certain families, who would then select their own children for the privilege, rather than leaving it open for the Beijing officials to vie for.

Meng Yuan remarked, "In our Great Yi Dynasty, with the multitude of ports we now possess and the ever-increasing number of ships traversing them each year, setting sail is not an arduous task anymore. For those families whose children were not selected, it is quite facile for them to send their offspring overseas."

Li Ai was taken aback, "Do you mean His Majesty intends for the capital officials to arrange for their own kin to pursue studies abroad?"

Meng Yuan nodded, "Each one has their own path to tread and their own master to honor. Only then can true diversity flourish."

Li Ai understood, he truly understood now. No wonder they went through such great lengths to open the Baohe Palace today.