Joining Forces with Uncle Arthur
Mrs. Charlotte Evans picked up another piece of "meat," smacked her lips as she tasted it, and frowned. "There's a hint of mushroom, but it's definitely meat!"
"It really is mushroom! Look, this one's made from winter bamboo shoots, that one's tofu... and this is mock chicken... The whole table is vegetarian!" Lily Evans giggled, linking arms with Mrs. Charlotte Evans.
Now it wasn’t just Mrs. Charlotte Evans who was skeptical—even Arthur Evans couldn’t believe it.
This couple were seasoned merchants—they’d tasted the best of everything. Never in their lives had they seen anyone make vegetarian dishes taste exactly like meat.
"Lily, stop teasing your aunt," Mrs. Charlotte Evans said with a laugh, pinching Lily Evans’s cheek.
Margaret Evans chuckled, "Charlotte, Lily’s telling the truth. I’ve been feeling queasy these days, and Doctor Wu said it’s from eating too much greasy food—told me to skip the meat and stick to vegetables. But my taste buds are spoiled now! Back in the day, we could barely afford meat, but now if I go a meal without it, I feel miserable. Lily said, 'Mom, if you can’t eat meat, no problem—I’ll make vegetarian dishes that taste just like it!' So this whole table of food is her doing, and not a scrap of meat in sight. If you don’t believe me, go check the kitchen!"
The whole fourth branch of the family suddenly got curious and trooped into the kitchen. Mrs. Charlotte Evans searched high and low, but didn’t find a single scrap of meat—just leftovers like winter bamboo shoots and mushrooms.
"Lily, you’re a genius!" Mrs. Charlotte Evans already knew Lily Evans was a talented cook, but she never imagined her skills could turn plain vegetables into something so convincingly meaty.
"Lily’s cooking is one of a kind!" Arthur Evans gave a heartfelt thumbs-up, clearly impressed.
"Hehe, Uncle Arthur, Aunt Charlotte, I’ve done my homework. In our dynasty, it’s fashionable for scholars to eat vegetarian, and the most famous vegetarian banquet is served at a temple in the capital. But according to Young Master Li, that food is bland and tasteless, even though it costs three times more than regular dishes! So, what if I open a vegetarian restaurant near Wutong Academy, where all the wealthy scholars gather? I could satisfy those meat-loving palates with all-veggie dishes, and still fit the scholarly trend. What do you think—would it work?" Lily Evans asked with a mischievous smile.
"Absolutely! It’s a sure thing!" Arthur Evans jumped up in excitement, even happier than Lily. He waved his arms, exclaiming, "Lily, you’re a business genius! Wutong Academy brings together the wealthiest and most talented scholars from several provinces. If you open your vegetarian restaurant there, it’ll be packed every day—you’ll be rolling in silver!"
Mrs. Charlotte Evans chimed in, "Lily, if you keep this up, you’ll be the richest woman in Green Seedling City before long!"
Lily Evans just grinned and scratched her head. Her ambitions weren’t limited to Green Seedling City—she wanted to be the richest in the province, maybe even the whole country!
"Uncle Arthur, interested in partnering up?" Lily Evans winked.
Arthur Evans was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up. He realized Lily’s vegetarian restaurant could be a goldmine.
"Lily, you’re clever—and practical!" Arthur Evans laughed. "You’re right, my contacts and experience could really help you. With me handling the business side, you’ll have more time to focus on cooking and inventing new dishes. We’ll make a fortune together!"
Lily Evans thought to herself, if this were modern times, she could do it all alone. But here, connections mattered more than anything. Partnering with Arthur Evans would save her effort, reduce risk, and open doors she couldn’t reach on her own.
It was a win-win. Lily might earn less at first, but she’d gain valuable opportunities, expand her network, and strengthen family ties. The future looked bright.