After leaving the capital, Lin Dan and Madam Qi temporarily settled in a nearby small town. During this period, the old marquis sent several people to find them, but she politely declined each time.

That day, after sending away another person, Madam Qi could no longer hold back and hesitantly said, “Dan’er, actually, returning to the marquis’s residence might not be a bad idea. We’re alone and need someone to protect us. Plus we can’t abandon your father’s house and restaurant. With the old marquis backing us, we could go to the authorities and make your second and third uncles return everything.”

Lin Dan waved her hand, her tone serious, “Mother, you’re oversimplifying things. What do we have left now besides one hundred and twenty taels of silver? We have no property deeds and no land titles. What could we use to take to court? The old marquis is kind, calling us guests of the marquis’s residence, but don’t you see our real status? We’re just slightly better than indentured servants. Now, with the young lady on the verge of becoming an imperial concubine, you know how strict the Yongding Marquis residence will be. Even the old marquis’s brother-in-law is still in prison for injuring someone with a horse, and despite the madam pleading incessantly, the old marquis hasn’t lifted a finger. How could he possibly support us in a lawsuit we are bound to lose? The old marquis is willing to let us return because of his kindness and old sentiments. We can’t be ungrateful and push our luck, squandering what little goodwill we have.”

Lin Dan sighed and added, “Furthermore, as long as we remain in the same place as the Yan family, they will undoubtedly try to tarnish Father’s reputation to legitimize their own position. To eliminate any chance of us reclaiming our family assets, Second Uncle and Third Uncle will surely act against us in secret. Besides a little silver, what do we have? The old marquis can protect us for a while, but can he protect us for a lifetime? Staying in the capital would only bring endless trouble. It’s better to leave and start anew. Mother, don’t you think it makes sense?”

Madam Qi’s heart full of reluctance dissipated under her daughter’s persuasion and could only nod tearfully.

Lin Dan rented a small courtyard for temporary residence. Whenever she had free time, she would go out for a walk, her young face always showing a serious expression. One day, she wandered farther than usual and unknowingly ended up on the main road, arriving at a post station. The station was bustling with the sounds of people and the neighing of horses, creating a lively atmosphere. Outside the station was a thatched shack, where an old woman was busily serving bowls of food.

Whatever was on those bowls emitted such a rich aroma that it could be smelled from afar. Drawn by the scent, Lin Dan quickly walked over, as did many merchants from the station, all eager to find out what smelled so good.

“Auntie, your tofu balls smell amazing! How much for a bowl?” A traveling merchant loudly inquired.

“Two copper coins.” The old woman replied with a beaming smile.

“Great, give me a bowl!” The merchant immediately sat down in the thatched shack, his eyes fixed intently on the frying pan.

By the time Lin Dan approached, the tofu balls had already been fried. The old woman was scooping them out to drain the oil, and once the excess oil was gone, she poured them into another pot, ladling in a scoop of bone broth to continue cooking. The rich aroma of the soup mixed in with the crispy fragrance of the fried tofu, and as it boiled, she sprinkled in some chopped scallions. The dish was complete. Golden and crispy tofu balls rolled in the creamy, thick broth, garnished with vibrant green scallions— a feast for the eyes. The scent of soybeans, bones, scallions, and a hint of pepper blended together, creating an incredibly enticing flavor.

Lin Dan took a few quick steps into the thatched shack and saw the traveling merchant impatiently pick up a piping hot tofu ball and pop it into his mouth. He chewed while blowing on it to cool it down, and then gave a thumbs-up, exclaiming, “Auntie, your cooking is simply superb! I’ve traveled far and wide, but I’ve never tasted tofu balls as delicious as these.”

Lin Dan immediately ordered a bowl for herself. After blowing on it to cool it down, she took a small bite, and her face lit up with amazement. Beneath the crispy fried exterior, the tofu was incredibly soft and tender, mixed with minced meat and yam paste. It melted in her mouth, bursting with flavor. Even more delightful, there was a small hollow in the center of the ball filled with rich, thick broth, likely from bone soup seeping in or from the heated minced meat and yam paste releasing juices. As the broth rolled over her tongue, it revealed layers of flavor— the savory marrow, the salty minced meat, and the sweet yam paste— that perfectly blended into a taste that was impossible to resist.

Lin Dan ate with great care, savoring every bite, and finished the bowl by drinking the last drop of broth. Only then did she let out a deeply satisfied sigh. The traveling merchant, who had already consumed three bowls, was now ordering his fourth, while his companions, also drawn by the aroma, filled the small thatched shack to capacity.

After finishing her tofu balls, Lin Dan didn’t leave. Seeing that more and more customers were arriving, she voluntarily helped the old woman by fetching firewood, carrying water, serving, and washing dishes. The old woman, unable to refuse her kindness, allowed her to help. By the time they closed up for the night, the old woman took out twenty copper coins and offered them to Lin Dan as payment.

“Auntie, I don’t want your wages.” Lin Dan said earnestly as she returned the copper coins. “I can come and help you every day. I only ask that you teach me how to make this tofu balls dish.”

“You want to learn cooking from me? That’s no big deal—” The elderly woman hadn’t finished speaking when a young woman walked into the thatched shack, her tone sharp, “Where did this wild girl come from, thinking she could take advantage of our family? If you learn this, how will my mother-in-law make a living? Get out of here, or I’ll beat you with a broom!” As she spoke, she opened the cabinet and pocketed all the copper coins the elderly woman had painstakingly earned, her eyes full of greed.

“Aren’t you also learning how to cook from me? I never said I wouldn’t teach others.” The elderly woman said with a furrowed brow.

“I’m your daughter-in-law, a family member. What is she to you?” The young woman angrily pointed at Lin Dan, hands on her hips.

Lin Dan quickly explained, “Auntie, please don’t be angry. I’ll work for your family every day without taking any money. Once I learn how to make this dish, I’ll leave and never open a shop around here. It’s just me and my mother, and we’re both powerless. If you ever see me opening a shop nearby, you can do whatever you want— destroy it if you like.”

The young woman, hearing Lin Dan’s accent, realized that she was free labor since she didn’t want any wages. Considering her own large and deeply rooted family, she wasn’t afraid of being tricked by a girl from another place, so she agreed, though her expression remained hostile, as if she was the one doing Lin Dan a favor.

Only then did the elderly woman pull Lin Dan aside. After seeing her out of the thatched shack, she quietly slipped a purse into Lin Dan’s hand and whispered, “Good child, this is today’s wage. Take it secretly and don’t let anyone know.”

Just as Lin Dan was about to return the purse, the elderly woman hurried back inside. Soon, the young woman’s scolding could be heard. She seemed to be complaining that the elderly woman had earned fewer copper coins today than yesterday. It was clear that she wasn’t there to learn how to cook. She acted more like a tyrant.

Lin Dan shook her head, feeling unpleasant.

———pr


That night, Lin Dan continued to practice her knife skills in the backyard. Her fingertips, covered in cuts, stung whenever they touched the food or the blade, causing her to frown frequently. After cutting a cucumber, she picked up the uneven, irregularly sized slices, and could only helplessly sigh.

“Dan’er.” Madam Qi, who had been observing from the corner for a long time, slowly walked out and spoke gently, “Cooking should be something joyful. Don’t turn it into a burden for yourself. Let’s stop cutting for now and take a break, alright? It’s not your fault for losing to Yan Langqing. Everyone has an off day.”

Lin Dan was slightly taken aback but quickly understood that Madam Qi had misunderstood, thinking that losing to Yan Langqing had left Lin Dan with a psychological shadow, making it difficult for her to pick up the kitchen knife again. But Lin Dan knew that wasn’t the case. She could regain her knife skills; it just required time.

“Mother, I’m fine, don’t worry.” She reassured firmly without offering further explanation. “One day, I will regain everything we’ve lost. If we can’t cook the Yan family’s dishes anymore, I’ll learn to cook something else. The world is vast. There will always be a place for us.”

“Sigh. Alright, alright, as long as you’ve figured it out. Don’t cut anymore, go get some rest.” Madam Qi patted her daughter’s head, feeling relieved. Her daughter had recently become quieter but also stronger and more determined as if nothing could shake her.

“Okay, you should rest early too.” Lin Dan escorted Madam Qi back to her room but remained standing under the corridor for a long time. In the cold and quiet night, she involuntarily fell into memories— memories that did not belong to her but to the other Lin Dan who had gone elsewhere.

The other Lin Dan had left behind a deep sense of regret and unwillingness, but also a buried emotion. She had originally been a playful and lively girl who loved fun but despised the smoke and fire of the kitchen. Lin Baotian had tried several times to teach her to cook but she always cried and protested. However, one day, she accidentally offended the young lady of the household and almost got severely punished. It was only thanks to the passing young marquis that she had gotten out unscathed. His gentle smile became her obsession from then on.

She once asked the young marquis what he liked and he jokingly replied, “I love to eat.” And so, the next day, the other Lin Dan took off her beautiful clothes, put on a plain apron, and entered the kitchen. She spent seven years learning to cook. She never loved cooking. She just wanted the young marquis to look at her a little longer.

Lin Dan couldn’t agree with her approach. To pin one’s life on another person was the saddest thing. If that person left or grew tired of you, all that remained was an abyss at your feet.

What Lin Dan wanted now was to forge her own path. Even if she stumbled and fell, she would crawl to the end. The other Lin Dan had been a cook, so she would continue to cook. The world was full of delicious food, and there would always be a place to learn and a teacher to guide her.

———pr


From that day on, Lin Dan began learning how to make tofu balls from the elderly woman. The other party had three sons. Her eldest son was lazy, her second son had died of illness in childhood, and her third son, born in her old age, was now only seven years old and still dependent on her. To support her two sons, the elderly woman worked tirelessly, making and selling tofu balls from dawn till dusk. Life was hard for her, but her excellent skills meant she never worried about making a living.

The eldest daughter-in-law claimed to be learning cooking from the elderly woman, but she was always slacking off. As a result, all the dirty and tiring work in the shop fell to Lin Dan. She had to wake up early to cook the beans, peel the skins, make tofu, and carry over a hundred pounds of water back and forth, nearly bending her waist under the weight. But she never complained. As long as she could learn, no hardship was too great.

Robbin: Advance chapters will start here and the unlocking schedule will be the same as before, which is every Monday and Thursday. Thank you for reading.