The young man looked a little embarrassed. "It's strange, I know, but I just love this smell. I enjoy thinking about it in my spare time.
"Occasionally, a well-traveled merchant passing through would chat with me.
"I've also met people who used to work at Sauce and Vinegar Workshops in other towns, and I'd ask them about their methods and write everything down...
"I was going to tell the Shopkeeper, but I was fired before I got the chance.
"After they kicked me out, I was so frustrated. I wanted to prove to the Shopkeeper that it wasn't just some crazy dream of mine..."
Ji Huan was amazed by the man's intelligence and determination, but even more so by his ability to research something and actually act on it.
"Not getting the chance to tell him was a stroke of luck for you. If you had told that Shopkeeper, you'd still just be an employee. Now you can brew your own and sell your own. You don't have to put up with him anymore."
