Chapter 578: Chili

Chapter 578 -579: Chili

“You’re actually quite smart to see things so clearly,” Bai Suihe said. “A husband and wife can be the closest of companions or the most distant of strangers. If you don’t want to end up like our father, you should refrain from taking concubines. Mother might seem indifferent about it now, but when you were all little, I often saw her hiding away, trembling as she wiped her tears.”

“I know all that,” Bai Jiannan replied. He wasn’t blind; he had seen it too. It was only as they grew older that their mother finally seemed to let it go.

“Besides, that old man doesn’t have much silver left anyway. To think that at his advanced age, he’s racking his brain for ways to make money just to pamper his new favorite—I don’t even know what he’s after anymore.

“Let’s not talk about him anymore. If he wants to cause a fuss right now, just let him. Once he’s too old and tired to cause any more trouble, I’ll step in and do my filial duty.” ℴ

Knowing her brother didn’t want to dwell on the subject, Bai Suihe curbed her curiosity. “He certainly works fast, though. He hasn’t even been in Lingnan for that long, and he already has another child on the way. Anyway, the reason I called you out here is to discuss something else. I have another recipe in my hands right now—”

“Suihe,” Bai Jiannan interrupted, speaking at a rapid-fire pace, “don’t even tell me. I’ve already taken huge advantage of you before. You can’t keep funneling resources to your maiden family. If your husband finds out, you’ll end up alienated from both sides.”

Bai Suihe shot him an exasperated glare. “Do you honestly think your husband doesn’t know? Relax. Right now, the only thing on his mind is maritime trade. And this time, I’m not just giving it to you—I want to form a partnership.”

“Then you could just do it yourself. I recall you having quite a few shops under your name.”

“But I lack the manpower,” Bai Suihe admitted. She had to acknowledge that their starting point was both too late and too low; they simply couldn’t compare to a behemoth like the Bai Family. “How long would it take to build it all up on my own? I have the recipes, and you have the people and the distribution channels. Why should we let good money slip through our fingers?”

Although the Bai Family had closed down most of their businesses in the capital, they still owned properties all across the Rong Dynasty. Bai Suihe knew her own limitations; realistically, it would take her many years to build a comparable empire, and even then, she might never reach that level. After all, the Bai Family’s wealth was the accumulation of multiple generations, and she was no business prodigy. When it was time to leverage outside strength, she had to do just that.

Seeing Bai Jiannan still hesitating, Bai Suihe went for the jugular. “Now that you’ve taken over the Bai Family, I imagine many people are merely paying you lip service while secretly harboring dissent, aren’t they?”

Bai Jiannan pursed his lips. If it weren’t for their mother helping to suppress them, he really wouldn’t be able to keep those people in line. “One day, I’ll make them submit to me completely.”

“Are you an idiot? You’re just going to stay locked in a stalemate with them?” Bai Suihe said, exasperated. “And to think Mother praised you before, saying that even though you pale in comparison to Father, you at least had the advantage of being steady.

“Don’t you know that a new leader always has to shake things up to establish their authority? When you brought out that cement earlier, I bet they just thought Mother was paving the way for you.

“Since that’s the case, why not take an even bolder step? This business I’m offering you is guaranteed to turn a profit. As long as you show them that the next generation of the Bai Family is no pushover and can guarantee them decades of stability, what do you think their reaction will be?”

Even though their mother held the indentured servitude contracts for the managers working under them, the family’s business spanned the entire country. A certain degree of power inevitably had to be delegated, which had led to the rise of several Grand Managers. To truly suppress the rank-and-file, Jiannan first needed to bring these Grand Managers to heel.

“But I can’t keep taking advantage of you,” Bai Jiannan said, still hesitant. He relied on his mother’s backing at home, and now he was making his sister rack her brains for him as well. He felt practically useless.

“We’re family—there’s no such thing as taking advantage. Besides, I just want to use the Bai Family’s network to earn a little extra pocket money for myself. Surely you wouldn’t have the heart to watch your little niece go hungry in the future, would you?”

Bai Jiannan looked at her as if to say he’d have to be crazy to believe that. With his sister and brother-in-law’s capabilities, their daughter would be the last person on earth to ever go hungry.

“Look at maritime trade. You know it yields high returns, but it also carries massive risks. I can’t put all my eggs in one basket.” Bai Suihe was gradually losing her patience. She wondered if he was just plain stupid for turning down a lucrative deal handed to him on a silver platter. “Just tell me—can you do it or not? If you can’t, I’ll find another family. But when the time comes, don’t blame your big sister for not thinking of you when good opportunities arise.”

Bai Jiannan immediately begged for mercy. “Suihe, you’re my own flesh and blood. I was merely considering it. It’s not like I said no.”

As the current Family Head of the Bai Family, he naturally knew his sister wasn’t one to speak without cause. Although he was curious about where she got so many secret recipes, he knew better than to pry into things he shouldn’t ask about.

“This isn’t the best place to talk,” he said. “Let’s head back and discuss it.” Even though the surrounding area was open and empty, the glaring sunlight was starting to sting. Their ensuing conversation would likely be lengthy. He didn’t mind the heat himself, but he couldn’t let his sister get a sunburn.

“You should have just said that earlier,” Bai Suihe said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. The lingering autumn heat was truly brutal.

Bai Jiannan followed her, brimming with anticipation. He was just wondering what new, earth-shattering innovation his sister was about to unveil, when to his surprise, she led him to a freshly cleared vegetable patch on the back mountain.

“Suihe, you grow your own vegetables?” Bai Jiannan’s expression shifted slightly. How could the legitimate daughter of the Bai Family stoop to doing such menial labor?

“What I’m growing aren’t your ordinary vegetables,” Bai Suihe said, leading him to a corner of the plot. These particular plants had been specially transplanted earlier.

Staring at the vibrant green foliage, Bai Jiannan was utterly clueless. He didn’t recognize them at all.

“How do you think these plants look?” she asked.

“They have a certain… unique charm,” Bai Jiannan said, speaking entirely contrary to his true thoughts. “They look a bit like red lanterns, which is rather festive. If you grew them to display in a garden, they’d have some ornamental value.”

But as vegetables? Bai Jiannan didn’t think so. Even though he didn’t work the fields himself, the family owned several farming estates, and he could easily distinguish between what was edible and what wasn’t. The things before him were bizarrely shaped, unlike anything he had ever seen. He couldn’t help but wonder, “Could this be the secret recipe she mentioned?”

“These are called chili peppers,” Bai Suihe said, reaching out to pluck a red pepper and pressing it directly into his hand. “They’re somewhat similar to the ginger or cornelian cherries that we use for seasoning.

“However, these are incredibly easy to grow and serve as excellent items for warding off the cold. You have so many inns and restaurants under your name. If you were to introduce an entirely new type of dish right now, what do you think the reaction would be?”

Bai Jiannan was a little disappointed, though he maintained a polite smile as he accepted the suggestion. “That could work. Those chefs are so stuck in their ways, cooking the same handful of dishes day in and day out.”

Bai Suihe saw right through him. “Save the empty pleasantries. I’ll personally cook lunch today, and then we’ll discuss the details!”

She pulled a vegetable basket from a corner and shoved it into his hands. “Now, let’s prep the ingredients.”

Not daring to complain, Bai Jiannan silently followed her instructions. By the time they were done, he carried half a basket of these so-called ‘magic weapons’ back to the house.

Bai Suihe retrieved the various items she had stored in the cupboards earlier: dried chilies, chili powder, pickled chilies, white chilies, bird’s eye chilies…

She then called in a few maids to act as her kitchen assistants. Once everything was prepped and organized, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

However, Bai Suihe completely forgot that range hoods didn’t exist in this era. Within moments, the pungent, choking fumes of frying chilies wafted through the air. The courtyard erupted into a chorus of sneezing as everyone stared toward the kitchen in absolute horror.