The next morning, Li Wei now fully embracing her role as Shen Xiu, the clever farmer's wife meticulously packaged a small amount of the Scent of the Daxia Hills spice blend into a clean, folded parchment.
"We go back to the market," she told Guo Fucheng, who was already waiting by the gate, looking ruggedly handsome and ready for her command. "But today, we are not selling. We are demonstrating."
They arrived just as the market was stirring to life. Li Wei bypassed the vegetable stalls and walked straight toward the section where prepared food was sold. She stopped at the stall of Madam Zhao, a large, stern woman famous for her perfectly cooked, but undeniably bland, steamed pork buns. Madam Zhao was known as the strictest buyer and the sharpest critic in the entire market.
"Madam Zhao," Li Wei said, adopting a polite, deferential posture that masked her internal confidence.
Madam Zhao barely glanced up, her hands busy folding dough. "I have no need for fancy silks or useless trinkets, scholarly wife. Move aside."
"I am not selling trinkets," Li Wei replied smoothly. "I am selling flavor. I am selling profit."
This got the woman's attention. Madam Zhao finally looked up, her expression skeptical. "Profit? Show me."
Li Wei did not produce the spice blend immediately. Instead, she pointed to Madam Zhao's large iron pot where a meager, unseasoned broth was simmering—the base for her popular pork bun filling.
"Madam," Li Wei said, "your pork buns are good. But they are merely filling. They lack soul. This broth tastes of boiled water and tired meat. I can transform your most common dish into a delicacy, and I require only a single steamed bun for the experiment."
Madam Zhao was amused by the audacity. She snatched a hot, plain bun from the steamer basket and thrust it at Li Wei. "Very well. If you ruin my bun, you buy a whole basket."
Guo Fucheng stood silently behind Li Wei, his presence a shield, his expression unreadable but steady.
Li Wei took the bun, sliced it open, and, with the utmost care, sprinkled a tiny pinch of the Scent of the Daxia Hills into the warm, steaming interior. She then lightly smeared the inside with a small amount of rich, unrefined oil she'd brought, ensuring the spices would bloom on the palate.
She handed the bun back to Madam Zhao. "Try it."
The stall owner looked at the seasoned bun with suspicion. But the scent, now released by the steam and oil, was already swirling around them—a complex, warm aroma of pepper, sweetness, and deep earth.
Madam Zhao hesitated, then took a cautious bite.
The transformation was immediate and profound. Her eyes, usually hard and assessing, widened. She took another, larger bite, chewing slowly, thoughtfully. The spice blend hit all the right notes: a familiar savory flavor followed by the surprise of citrus mountain pepper, then the lingering warmth of star anise and fennel. It turned a serviceable meal into something unforgettable.
"What sorcery is this?" Madam Zhao demanded, setting the half-eaten bun down. She looked at Li Wei with new respect. "This is not common pepper. Where did you find this?"
"This is a proprietary blend, Madam Zhao," Li Wei stated calmly. "Made with wild herbs from the deepest hills, ground by hand using an ancient method. It is the flavor of the Daxia wilds."
Li Wei then produced the parchment packet. "I propose this: I will sell you this spice blend enough for one full pot of your bun filling for four coppers. This is twice the cost of your common pepper, but your customers will pay three times the price for a bun that tastes like this."
Madam Zhao was a businesswoman first and foremost. She weighed the cost against the clear increase in quality. The aroma alone would draw customers.
"Three coppers," the Madam countered instantly, trying to maintain her reputation.
"Four," Li Wei held firm. "And I will only sell you this much each week. You must guard the recipe and the supply. It is exclusive."
After a fierce but short negotiation, Madam Zhao grudgingly slammed four coppers onto the table. "I will take it! If this sells, you are to come back exactly one week from today. Now, move aside. I have hungry customers!"
Li Wei had not only made her first successful sale but had established her product as high-quality, high-value, and exclusive. As she and Fucheng turned to leave, she caught a glimpse of Madam Zhao sneaking a second, larger taste of the spiced bun.
"We have done it, Fucheng," Li Wei whispered, her heart pounding with triumph.
Fucheng, who had stood like a sentinel throughout the entire negotiation, simply placed a large hand on her shoulder a silent gesture of deep pride and affirmation.
"You are more than clever, Xiu'er. You are brave."