Monosodium glutamate—commonly known as MSG—is essentially glutamic acid, which the Germans first extracted and isolated from wheat gluten. However, it was the Japanese who discovered its potential as a flavor enhancer. In 1908, Kikunae Ikeda found a crystalline substance while evaporating kelp broth. It had a remarkably savory taste. After six months of research, he identified MSG, patented it, and sold it. Thus, this seasoning made its debut in history.
MSG can be extracted from many types of food, including wheat gluten, starch, and beet molasses. It can also be synthesized chemically. Of course, the simplest method is to extract it from kelp, but ten kilograms of kelp only yields about 0.2 grams of MSG. So in later times, most MSG was either refined from other substances or synthetically produced. All of these production methods require specialized equipment, which is naturally out of reach under current conditions. Therefore, what Wei Wei was thinking of wasn't MSG in the strict sense.
Rather, it would be more accurate to say she was looking for foodstuffs with umami-enhancing properties.
As someone who had once been active on the internet, Wei Wei had absorbed all sorts of knowledge online. She'd long known that MSG was often considered harmful to human health. Many people avoided it, while others who enjoyed its flavor-enhancing properties attempted to make their versions, believing them to be safer and more nutritious. Whether or not they were safer was up for debate, since MSG's supposed harm largely stemmed from improper cooking methods producing trace toxicity.
So she flipped through her encyclopedias and, sure enough, found quite a few homemade "MSG" recipes. These methods were simple and required no tools—just raw ingredients and airtight glass jars.
As for the real thing, she figured she'd let a few alchemists give extraction a shot.
Once the idea struck her, she promptly sent the relevant information and a list of glutamate-rich raw materials to the research institute, asking any interested alchemists to look into it. Then she turned to her own materials, planning to start by making a few MSG substitutes.
She settled on three ingredients with excellent umami-enhancing effects: shiitake mushrooms, seaweed, and dried shrimp. Though none of these foods contain glutamic acid, their ability to enhance flavor rivaled that of MSG, and they were natural and harmless. Even when added directly to dishes, they made the food taste delicious, making them ideal substitutes.
These three ingredients were also easy to obtain.
Though the Mediterranean wasn't rich in fish resources, seaweed—an algae found in most marine environments—could be gathered there. Coastal communities already had a tradition of eating it, though under different local names. As long as Wei Wei described what it looked like, someone quickly brought her a sufficient quantity. The same applied to shrimp.
Shiitake mushrooms hadn't yet been artificially cultivated—Wei Wei made a note of that. Since she'd thought of it, she might as well try to start mushroom farming, which would add another industry to Sardinson. At the moment, all fungi were wild and usually only appeared after rainfall. Foraging in the forest was the only way to obtain them, and success depended entirely on luck.
Still, as the countess, all she had to do was spread the word, and someone was bound to go foraging on her behalf.
Sure enough, once the castle put out the call, locals quickly brought in freshly picked mushrooms from the forest. They weren't shiitake, but rather white button mushrooms—also known as champignons, dubbed the "universal mushroom." Still, they worked just as well.
Making MSG from seaweed was incredibly simple. There was virtually no process at all—just dry the seaweed and grind it into powder. The mushrooms required washing and drying, while the shrimp needed rinsing and soaking as additional steps. But in the end, everything was ground into a fine powder after being dried.
Aside from the fact that they lacked a flour mill and had to rely on a small hand-cranked stone grinder for manual powdering, the rest of the steps required minimal effort.
Of course, Wei Wei, as the lady of the house, didn't have to do the grinding herself. A word to the kitchen, and plenty of people rushed to serve her.
In the end, she obtained three small bottles of powder that resembled their original ingredients in color. Since these were test batches, only a small quantity was produced—each corked glass bottle contained about 50 grams. But for seasoning purposes, that was already a generous amount.
With these three subtly different flavor powders, Wei Wei made three batches of instant noodles.
The noodles for the instant ramen were made using a noodle machine. One had to admit—the power of the working class was formidable. This hand-cranked noodle machine wasn't invented by Wei Wei herself but rather by a few workers at the pasta factory. The machine was made of iron and had a structure quite similar to home-use noodle makers from the modern world. It consisted of a small slide-like slope, several rollers, and a cutting slot. A hand crank was attached to the side. Once the kneaded dough was placed on the slope, it would naturally roll into the rollers. With a few cranks, the dough was flattened into sheets, and after repeating the process a few times, one would get an evenly thin sheet of dough. Feed it through the cutter while continuing to crank, and neatly sized noodles would come out the other end.
At first, the workers only managed to make a basic wooden version, which had many flaws. But when Wei Wei saw it, she immediately rewarded the inventors with a bonus and sent the prototype to the blacksmith along with her own modified schematics. Not long after, a brand-new iron version of the noodle machine was forged. Though rust was inevitable without stainless steel, it was still serviceable with proper maintenance.
The first iron noodle machine wasn't very large—just about 30 centimeters wide—and Wei Wei brought it back to the castle for the kitchen's use. Later, the blacksmiths produced a batch of machines twice the original size and sent them to the pasta factory. Thanks to the noodle machines, productivity surged, and workers had a much easier time.
Of course, the noodles made by this machine were straight, quite different from the wavy instant noodles of later times. But curving the noodles would simply require modifying the cutting slot, not something urgent to solve for now.
Once the noodles were prepared, they were steamed for a period, then fried in oil. After being taken out and cooled, they became the base cakes of instant noodles.
Then came the test tasting. Wei Wei demonstrated the preparation right in front of Felix. She poured boiling water into a bowl with a noodle cake, then covered it with a larger plate as a lid. After waiting a few minutes, the golden noodles were ready. She added some salt and "MSG," stirred the soup to dissolve the seasoning, and pushed a bowl toward Felix.
"Try it. How does it taste?"
Felix had only seen Wei Wei prepare the noodles and wasn't aware of all the work that had gone into making the noodle cakes. Seeing the noodles soak for just a few minutes, he was skeptical about whether they were cooked. But out of trust for his wife, he picked up a fork and twirled some noodles from the bowl.
The noodles were distinct and didn't clump together into a sticky mess like he feared. Taking a bite, Felix's eyes immediately lit up. Though the flavor was mild—just a touch of salt and an unnameable umami—the noodles had a great texture. Unlike the usual pasta or noodle soup he was used to, these were soft yet springy, smooth yet pleasantly chewy. Even with minimal seasoning, they were by no means bland.
He quickly grasped the advantage of this kind of noodle.
Each bowl only held a small portion, just enough for two or three bites. After one scoop, Felix had practically emptied the bowl, leaving behind a bit of oily broth that gave off a tantalizing aroma. Without hesitation, he drank the remaining soup and detected a mushroomy taste.
Wiping his mouth, he said, "This kind of food is perfect for eating on the march—just a bit bland."
"It's ideal for travel or when cooking isn't convenient," Wei Wei replied, already used to Felix linking everything to military use. As a knight who had once earned many accolades and never stopped training even after inheriting his title, it was natural that he retained some martial instincts. "The key to instant noodles is the seasoning. I haven't started blending proper spices yet—this is just a prototype. But the broth tasted fresh, right?"
She herself had eaten the shrimp-flavored version. The highlight was, of course, the broth. She had only added a small amount of shrimp powder, but the umami effect was obvious.
"This is called instant noodles? The name fits perfectly," Felix praised. Just add a little hot water and it's ready, and the taste wasn't any worse than boiled noodles. He would happily eat it whenever he was on the road and couldn't cook.
He even finished the remaining seaweed-flavored portion and said, still unsatisfied, "Do we have more? Let's just eat this for dinner—make one with all the seasonings."
Seeing how much he liked it, Wei Wei nodded. "I'll cook a pot for you—boiled ones taste even better. But first, let's talk business. What do you think about converting the Melk Town pasta factory into an instant noodle factory? We'll make these noodles and matching seasoning packets. The Melk coastline isn't suitable for sailing, but we could still section off some areas for seaweed farming. If we can produce this at scale, we'll have a whole new industry."
Seaweed had plenty of market potential, both as a seasoning and sold directly in dried form. And since artificial seaweed farming hadn't started yet, getting a head start could be another profitable technique.
"Of course! I guarantee that even without the seasoning, plenty of people will want to buy these instant noodles. They're perfect for traveling—much better than those rock-hard meat pies."
Felix didn't mind if the noodles came unseasoned. People on the road often carried their spices. Just soak the noodles in hot water, toss in a few condiments, and voilà—an easy meal. No one would turn down something this convenient.
But after tasting Wei Wei's upgraded version, he promptly dismissed that idea.
Wei Wei had adjusted the seasoning mix based on modern instant noodle packets. The main ingredients were oil, "MSG," salt, sugar (brown sugar), and a few spices. Since she lacked dehydrated vegetables and beef jerky, she simply added fresh vegetables and diced smoked meat. The resulting instant noodles tasted different from modern ones but were just as delicious.
Felix finished a full bowl of noodles and broth meant for soup, and the others enjoyed them too, eating more than they normally would.
With instant noodles receiving unanimous praise, Wei Wei moved forward with the factory conversion. Since she couldn't travel far herself, she sent for the new manager at Melk to bring a team of core staff to the castle to learn the production method. For now, the noodle cutters hadn't been modified, so the noodles were still straight. But Wei Wei instructed the workers to loosely coil the noodles into round cakes before frying—just a simple twist would do. Straight noodles were too prone to breaking during frying.
Making the noodles didn't require much training; one viewing was enough to understand. Wei Wei summoned the staff mainly to teach them how to make the seasoning. To reduce costs, she removed several expensive spices from the formula and replaced them with more affordable options. The current version—based on seaweed seasoning—was tasty and inexpensive. Still, although Felix vouched for these people, Wei Wei remained cautious after the recent issues with the pasta factory. She kept the spice blend portion of the recipe secret. In the future, those would be processed into powder at the meat sauce factory and delivered directly to the noodle plant.
The new Melk factory manager and staff had no objections. They had feared the factory would shut down permanently, costing them their livelihoods. Now, not only was it reopening, but they had been promoted as well. Overjoyed and grateful for the Count and Countess's trust, they only wanted to work hard in return.
After learning how to make instant noodles and receiving the streamlined seasoning recipe, the Melk staff rushed back and recalled their workers. In no time, the factory was back in full swing—only now, it was producing instant noodles instead of pasta.
Artificial seaweed farming was still just an idea, so for now, all seasonings except salt had to be purchased from merchants. The new factory manager handled negotiations himself. However, due to his predecessor's mismanagement, he was cautious at first and brought the contract back to the castle. Wei Wei and Felix reviewed and approved it before sending it back for him to sign.
Soon, the merchants in Sardinson County were abuzz with news: only one of the original three pasta factories remained. The other two had stopped making pasta. The Melk factory, in particular, had started producing a food called "instant noodles"—noodles that could be eaten just by soaking in hot water for a few minutes. The preparation was incredibly easy, and with the factory's custom seasoning, they tasted amazing.
The seasonings were sold in pre-mixed glass jars, with enough for many servings and a decent shelf life. They could even be added to other dishes to enhance their flavor. And since they weren't too expensive, anyone with a little extra money could afford them. Compared to costly spices that didn't always result in delicious meals, these were far more practical.
As a result, both the noodles and seasonings became hot sellers. The seasonings were even more popular—orders flooded in. Even commoners in the county came to buy bottles, clearly intending to use them as everyday kitchen staples.
The Melk factory had truly been reborn.
Its workers no longer feared losing their jobs.
Meanwhile, the factory in Uke Town couldn't sit still. Seeing the other two restart production while they remained idle, the workers grew anxious. With no new manager appointed—a major cause for concern—they began pestering the town mayor's home for updates.
But the mayor had no idea. His son and daughter-in-law had both worked at the factory and held low-ranking managerial roles. Due to the old manager's scandal, they were dismissed too. The mayor was just as worried. If he had news, he wouldn't have kept it to himself.
Finally, worn down by the crowd, the Uke mayor bit the bullet and rode to Sardinson Castle to request an audience with the Count.
Felix was busy, and upon learning that the visitor had come to ask about the pasta factory, he told the butler to send the mayor to Wei Wei.
"The Countess is handling the factory now," Butler Barton said sternly as he led the mayor through the castle. "When you meet her, mind your manners. Don't speak carelessly and frighten the lady or the young master."
To Barton, no one in the castle was more precious than little Anthony, not even the Count. So anyone who came to see Wei Wei was always warned to avoid startling the child who was always by her side.
To him, the chubby, balding, and anxious-looking Uke mayor seemed like someone who might indeed frighten the young master. So he gave several warnings along the way.
The mayor was an important figure in Uke Town, always respected. But here at the castle, he received no such deference. Though Barton's cold attitude didn't anger him, it made him increasingly uneasy. He began to wonder if the butler's demeanor reflected the Count's views—and if so, they might not be very friendly.
Could the Count be blaming him for the pasta factory scandal?
After all, the former factory manager had been his relative, whom he'd recommended for the job, not just because of the bribe he'd accepted, but also because the manager had promised to promote his son and eventually pass the position on to him.
Could it be that the Count found out and was now expressing his disapproval through the butler's treatment?
The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. By the time he saw Wei Wei, his legs nearly gave out.
Wei Wei, unaware of his guilt, simply thought he was tired from the walk and politely invited him to sit.
"What brings you here?" she asked.
The butler had only said that the mayor had come, and with Felix entertaining other guests, he'd sent the man to her. He hadn't mentioned the reason.
The mayor had scared himself silly along the way. Now, even Wei Wei's gentle smile looked like a sneer to him. Wiping his sweat, he stammered out his request.
"You're asking about the pasta factory?" Wei Wei blinked. The factory was in Uke Town, but technically unrelated to the mayor, wasn't it?
Seeing his excessive sweating, she asked a maid to bring him a glass of herbal tea—something always available during the summer at the castle to keep people cool and hydrated.
After a sip of the warm tea, the mayor finally calmed down and spoke more clearly. "The townspeople can't find anyone in charge, so they've all come to me. Plus, my son and daughter-in-law both worked at the factory…"
So he was also concerned about their employment.
Wei Wei nodded in understanding. "We're already preparing to reopen the factory. But it won't be producing pasta anymore. We'll be replacing the equipment. Also, the raw materials aren't ready yet. We were planning to inform your town in due time, but since you're here now, help us spread the word: there's no need to worry about jobs. Once the new equipment is in place, the workers will be called back."
The mayor didn't think that would satisfy the townspeople, so he asked nervously, "Countess, are you saying Uke Town's factory will also switch to making that instant noodles?"
All three factories had shut down for the same reason, so he'd kept an eye on the others. Melk's factory had resumed operations, which was why Uke's townsfolk were so anxious. He had even bought and tasted the instant noodles himself.
He had to admit, they tasted better than the noodles his wife usually made. Even her terrible soups improved dramatically with a bit of seasoning added.
But Wei Wei shook her head. "Not instant noodles. We're planning something else."
The mayor had a knack for reading the room. Now that he realized Wei Wei was easy to talk to, he dared to ask, "Madam, could you share a little detail? Otherwise, I won't know what to tell the townsfolk."
Thinking of the disgruntled workers constantly visiting his house, he shrank a little.
Wei Wei, seeing his pitiful and anxious face, relented. "It's related to the tomatoes we planted near Uke Town. We plan to convert the pasta factory into a tomato sauce factory."