He turned and handed the bowl to Xiulan, who blinked at it in mild confusion.
"These 'noodles', are they for me?" she asked, tilting her head at the unfamiliar dish.
"Yes, and these are called rice noodles. There are more varieties of them depending on the ingredients you use," he replied, his tone casual as if the name of the dish wasn't strange at all. Seeing the bewilderment on her face, he simply added, "Go on, try it and tell me what you think."
Xiulan hesitated, the nerves evident in the way she handled the chopsticks. She took a small bite, half-expecting the dish to be as strange in taste as its name.
To her surprise, the noodles were chewy, with a satisfying texture that paired well with the boiled vegetables. It could use a bit more seasoning, but the initial taste wasn't bad at all. It was… pleasant.
"It tastes good," she admitted, her voice carrying a hint of surprise.
Chen Ren nodded and took the bowl from her, tasting the noodles himself. But unlike her, his expression shifted into a frown as soon as the noodles hit his tongue.
"It doesn't even taste half as good as ramen," he muttered and all Tang Xiulan could think of was one thing.
What is this thing called ramen now?
***
As Chen Ren set the bowl down, his mind churned with dissatisfaction.
The rice noodles had come out well enough for a first attempt, but they were far from perfect. The texture was decent, and the flavour was acceptable, but "acceptable" wouldn't be enough if he wanted to turn this into a product that could dominate the market.
The memory of Xiulan's reaction played in his mind— her initial surprise, the cautious bite, and the eventual approval. She enjoyed it, yes, but she hadn't been blown away. And that wasn't good enough for him. He couldn't afford to settle for mediocrity, not when the stakes were this high.
If he was going to make a name for himself, if he was going to sell this dish across the empire, then it needed to be more than just acceptable. It needed to be exceptional. Every bite had to leave an impression, something that would linger on the tongue and make people crave more.
Hence, from that day onward, he began experimenting in earnest.
Each day brought new variations, new attempts to refine the texture, balance the flavours, and elevate the simple ingredients into something that'd leave his mark behind. He knew he had a long way to go, but he was determined.
Because if he knew anything, it was that food could be something that would be etched into one's mind like a tattoo, whether it was good or bad. Foods were memories, and they could easily shock the taste buds, digging into the senses of one's very being.
Another important thing when it came to them was their scent.
He needed his noodles to be something that people crave daily— and for any dish to truly succeed, the details had to be perfect. For that, experimenting was the key.
If he didn't dive deep into each aspect of the process, his efforts would be wasted, and customers wouldn't return.
He must not give up, especially when his life was at stake.
Fortunately, the Tang Clan had an abundant supply of rice because one of their businesses was selling rice, and with the guest room courtyard currently unoccupied, he had the space and freedom to test his recipes.
So, each day, he set to work, creating rice noodles with a focus that bordered on obsession.
He experimented with everything: the exact amount of rice, how long he soaked it, the boiling time, the vegetables, the salt.
Every evening, he called Tang Xiulan to taste the newest batch, using her feedback to make incremental changes. She was candid with her opinions, sometimes too much so, but it was exactly what he needed. Each critique helped him refine the recipe further.
At the same time, Chen Ren kept a careful eye on the cost of ingredients.
He knew that while rice was relatively cheap, it alone wouldn't be enough to draw in a large customer base. The addition of salt and vegetables, though necessary for flavour, also increased the overall cost, which was something he had to keep in mind if he wanted the business to be profitable.
He realised that creating a sauce to accompany the noodles—especially a spicy one— could be a key factor in making his dish stand out.
But before he could even think about adding that extra layer of flavour, he needed to perfect the texture of the noodles themselves. They had to be more than just edible; they had to be something that left a lasting impression, something that people would come back for.
Fortunately, it seemed that Chen Ren's efforts were paying off.
Xiulan's once sceptical eyes now watched him with anticipation every day as he prepared the noodles. He could tell that she expected something different every time she brought the chopstick to her lips.
But it wasn't just her— word of his daily experiments had spread among the servants, and even a young maid, who was too enthusiastic to know about the dish and taste, began showing up regularly, eager to sample it and offer her thoughts.
Her name was Lihua and she had been supportive throughout, not just with trying the dish, but also with words of motivation. It seemed as if this young maid rooted for Chen Ren due to the flirting of his predecessor.
Whenever she was done with tasting a meal, she'd say things like, "Young master, I will come by tomorrow too. It was better than yesterday and I feel less boiling time would do wonders. Firmer noodles like two days ago would be great, or it could be my personal preference. Either way, eating a dish from your own hands seems like a dream."
Xiulan squinted her eyes at Lihua before turning to the noodles. "I prefer softer noodles. Maybe young master, you should try adding oil to the boiling water to prevent sticking and to add a subtle flavour."
Chen Ren nodded. He had thought of it considering there were so many ways that noodles could be made.
"How's the broth?" He asked.
"The salt ratio is perfect, I feel," the younger maid replied with excitement. Xiulan on the other hand, simply nodded along.
"Thanks," Chen Ren collected the dishes and went back, knowing the other maids would come rushing in soon. It was quite… exciting.
At first, Chen Ren thought they were merely being helpful, giving him feedback to refine his recipe. But the stars in their eyes and the way they eagerly awaited each new serving told a different story— they genuinely liked the noodles.
A small part of him was tempted to start charging them, but since he wasn't paying for the ingredients, he decided against it. Besides, he didn't want to risk discouraging them from coming back; their enthusiasm was valuable in its own right. These taste testers were the key to refining his dish.
As he continued to make noodles for them every day, he found an unexpected joy in the process. A type of joy that couldn't be put into words but warmed the heart from the inside when he thought about it.
Creating something that others enjoyed was fulfilling in a way he hadn't anticipated.
While his ultimate goal was to make money, the satisfaction he felt when he saw the pleasure on their faces made the effort worthwhile— at least for now.
I always thought being a full-time cook was nothing but stress, but was this how Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre felt? Maybe I should've tried working at my uncle's restaurant, I may have had a hidden talent for cooking.
He started piling the bowls so that he could be ready to serve when the maids came rushing in.
It was during these moments of focus, that he noticed something strange.
His qi would occasionally flare up in his core, a sudden surge of energy that caught him off guard. He felt it everywhere to the tip of his fingers. A sensation, a tingle— a rush of something.
It happened a few times as he worked on the noodles, but since there were no other effects, he didn't dwell on it too much.
Like all those times, he chalked it up to his lack of training since arriving in this world, dismissing it as a minor side effect of his current lifestyle.
For now, his focus was entirely on perfecting his noodles.
With each new batch of noodles, he refined his process, and more and more servants began lining up in the guest room courtyard.
Their eager faces waited for their turn to taste his creation. It almost felt like he was already running a stall, and the idea of taking the next step— moving outside and starting a real business— began to take root in his mind.
***
Tang Yuqiu, the young miss of the Tang family, returned from overseeing one of the family's businesses. There was no work, but just checking if everything was going right was also a part of running a business.
As she entered the main courtyard that evening, she was struck by the unusual stillness. The place was eerily quiet, with not a single servant in sight.
Normally, they would at least be picking up water from the well and there would be the sound of footsteps or chatter, but today it was as if the place was abandoned.
Frowning, she turned to her maid, who always accompanied her.
"Where is everyone?" Tang Yuqiu asked, her voice laced with irritation.
Her maid hesitated for a moment before replying, "There's been a rumour, miss… about Young master Chen Ren. They say he's been making a dish for the servants every evening in the guest kitchen. They could be there."
Tang Yuqiu scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Chen Ren? That idiot? He can't do anything right. What could he possibly be making that's worth their time?"
Despite her dismissive words, curiosity got the better of her, and she motioned for her maid to lead the way. As they made their way through the corridors towards the guest courtyard that was adjacent to the main one, the distant sound of chatter and laughter grew louder, guiding them toward the source of the commotion.
Finally, they turned a corner and came upon a long line of servants stretching out from the guest room courtyard. Even some of the older servants had joined the queue, waiting patiently with eager expressions.
At the front, Tang Yuqiu spotted Chen Ren and Tang Xiulan working together, preparing something and handling the bowls with utmost care.
The moment the servants noticed Tang Yuqiu's arrival, the lively atmosphere froze.
All eyes turned toward her, the air thick with tension as everyone stepped back, unsure of what to expect.
Tang Yuqiu marched forward, her gaze narrowing as she approached Chen Ren.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked loudly, unable to hold what she was witnessing.
Without looking up, Chen Ren responded with slight irritation from being disturbed, "Who the hell are you?"