Chapter 10

Only a fool would pass up the chance to make money. Xu Qinyu smiled broadly and said, “Of course, I’ll make it. However, each dish is a bit expensive, costing three hundred wen. If the guests agree, they will need to pay a deposit. I’ll go to the market to buy fresh fish and prepare it on the spot, making it even more delicious.”

Most of the inn’s guests were not short of money, especially those staying in the premium rooms. The guests in the dormitory had a bit more difficulty.

Moreover, Pei Weixuan was still unconscious, and they might have to stay in Raozhou City for a few more days. Earning some extra money would be good.

Innkeeper Zhou stood nearby, smiling. He was a kind person and didn’t see any harm in lending the kitchen to the young lady to cook for others. More people meant better business.

The chubby Chef Zhou whispered a few words to his father, Innkeeper Zhou, who was momentarily stunned and then looked at Xu Qinyu with respect and gratitude.

Hearing that the dish cost three hundred wen, someone complained, “A fish costs only a few wen, at most two wen per jin, and tofu is just one wen per piece. Charging three hundred wen for a dish is too expensive.”

Liang Yi couldn’t help but snort when he heard this. “The signature dishes at Zuixian Tavern cost one tael of silver. The young lady’s two dishes are no less than any signature dish at Zuixian Tavern, if not better. Eating them is worth it. If you think it’s too expensive, you don’t have to buy it. No one is forcing you.”

If he didn’t say this, people around might think he was a fool for paying one tael of silver for two dishes. He thought it was worth it!

After saying this, he couldn’t help but tell Xu Qinyu, “Young lady, I’ll come back to eat tomorrow.”

Xu Qinyu smiled slightly. “Sir, tomorrow morning, I plan to make fresh meat wontons with clear and sour and spicy soup. The broth is delicious, the meat filling is delicate, and every bite is full of meat. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

Wontons are generally divided into southern and northern styles. The southern style has thin skin and little filling, focusing on the flavor. The northern style has thick broth and more filling, with a broth made from large bones. It can be clear soup or sour and spicy soup with oil and vinegar, each with its own unique taste. There are also large wontons with thick skin and more filling.

She planned to buy some pork bones to make the broth, so she could prepare it the next morning and also nourish the Pei family. Many merchants at her time found it troublesome to make broth from pork bones and used processed broth cubes instead. She never cut corners when making food.

Although Liang Yi still wanted to continue eating fish, the mention of the young lady’s wontons also piqued his appetite. He decided to come back early the next morning to try the fresh meat wontons she mentioned.

After Liang Yi left, Innkeeper Zhou came over to thank Xu Qinyu, grateful that she was willing to teach Chef Zhou. Not only that, but Innkeeper Zhou also waived the Pei family’s room fees and refused to accept the thirty wen Xu Qinyu paid daily for using the kitchen. He even instructed his son and the kitchen helper to accompany Xu Qinyu to buy fish and ingredients.

With help, Xu Qinyu was naturally willing. She planned to buy all the ingredients needed for the fresh meat wontons she would make the next day.

Pork bones were cheap because all the meat had been stripped off, leaving only the bones, costing two wen each. White flour and short-grain rice were similarly priced, both costing eleven wen per jin. Pork belly was thirty-five wen. The inn’s other seasonings were running low, so she bought some ginger, green onions, and Zanthoxylum. She originally wanted to buy pepper to enhance the flavor, but she found that one tael of pepper cost over four taels of silver—almost as expensive as gold!

Forget it, she couldn’t afford it. She couldn’t help but sigh at how expensive these non-local spices were in ancient times.

She priced her wontons at twenty wen per bowl. Adding pepper would leave no profit, and twenty wen was already quite expensive. If she set up a stall outside, meat wontons would cost six or seven wen per bowl. Vegetarian wontons would cost two or three wen per bowl.

Although she couldn’t afford pepper, she could afford Sichuan pepper, which was locally grown. Sichuan pepper was considered a medicinal herb, and no one used it for cooking. In this era, dishes could be spicy but not numbing, and Sichuan pepper was only used as a spice and medicinal herb.

Seeing Sichuan pepper, Xu Qinyu was quite happy. She asked about the price, and although it was a bit expensive, it was nothing compared to pepper. Freshly picked Sichuan pepper cost over three hundred wen per jin, and dried Sichuan pepper was about one tael of silver per jin. Xu Qinyu bought a jin of fresh Sichuan pepper and asked for some Sichuan pepper leaves.

This was because the humid climate in the southwest was suitable for growing Sichuan pepper. It would be more expensive in other places.

Chef Zhou couldn’t help but ask, “Young lady, why are you buying Sichuan pepper? It’s a medicinal spice and can also be used for preservation.”

Xu Qinyu smiled and said, “Chef Zhou, you’ll find out soon.”

She had been thinking about what to do with the leftover fish head and fish offal, and now that she had Sichuan pepper, she naturally decided to make pickled fish. Sichuan pepper is the soul seasoning of pickled fish. Pickled vegetables were also sold at the market, and the prices were very low.

After buying everything, they returned to the inn. Xu Qinyu had already collected deposits from the guests and knew how many portions to make. She wouldn’t make each portion individually but cook it in a large pot, ensuring the taste was just as good.

Guests who could afford to pay three hundred wen for a dish were not short of money. Those complaining about the price earlier were naturally unwilling to spend that much.

Xu Qinyu knew that she was selling the flavor, and it was only in Raozhou City that she could sell at this price. Once she returned to Yuanbao Town with the Pei family, unless she opened a restaurant, she wouldn’t be able to sell at this price from a stall. These few days were just for making quick money.

The extra fish meat was sliced thinly and made into pickled fish, which was tangy, appetizing, spicy, and fragrant.

Chef Zhou tasted the pickled fish and was instantly amazed. Besides the spiciness, there was also a numbing sensation, which was very refreshing and appetizing. After one bite, he wanted a second.

Chef Zhou and the kitchen helper had been busy all morning, so Xu Qinyu specially left a pot of pickled fish for them to eat.

Initially, the guests had ordered fish head stew with tofu and braised fish offal. With the addition of pickled fish, some guests were tempted by the aroma and bought a small portion to try. Once they tasted it, they couldn’t stop.

“How does the young lady cook the fish? Such a fishy fish is made so delicious by her.”

“Exactly, especially this pickled fish. It’s hard to describe, but it’s very satisfying. Eating it in this weather makes you feel warm and comfortable.”

“I prefer the fish head stew with tofu. It’s so fresh.”

The diners chatted while eating in the hall. The aroma attracted more and more diners, but only the pickled fish was left.

In the end, even the pickled fish was sold out, leaving only a large portion of pickled fish ingredients. Xu Qinyu didn’t continue selling, guessing that Commander Liang would likely return for dinner in the evening, so she saved it for him.

Xu Qinyu didn’t need to clean the kitchen. Chef Zhou had followed her all day, and she taught him many cooking tips, even passing on these dishes to him. Grateful, Chef Zhou let Xu Qinyu return to her room to rest and had someone bring her a basin of hot water to wash up.

Without needing to clean the kitchen, Xu Qinyu returned to her room with a box full of copper coins she had earned.

It was already noon, around twelve o’clock.

Pei Jianing saw her return and called out, “Fourth Sister-in-law.” She had looked for her earlier but didn’t disturb her when she saw her busy in the kitchen.

Madam Wen had also woken up and knew that her daughter-in-law was cooking in the inn’s kitchen. Seeing her return with a wooden box, she didn’t think much of it, assuming she was helping in the kitchen and earning a few dozen wen a day from the innkeeper.

Madam Wen’s mind was entirely on her son.

Pei Weixuan still hadn’t woken up.

Seeing that her husband hadn’t woken up, Xu Qinyu was also worried. She placed the box by her bedside and went to check on him.

Pei Weixuan lay on the bed with his eyes tightly closed. Although the flush on his face had faded, he was still motionless, even in the same position as the previous night.

Xu Qinyu couldn’t feel his chest rising and falling, and her heart was uneasy. She couldn’t help but touch his forehead. The temperature had dropped significantly and was no longer scorching, but he still hadn’t woken up. Her anxiety grew, and she carefully checked his breath.

Her slender, slightly swollen, and cracked fingers felt under his high nose bridge.

No breath in or out.

Xu Qinyu’s heart skipped a beat. It seemed she really couldn’t feel her husband’s breath!

Could he be dead?

She couldn’t help but feel a bit sad. Along the way, her husband had carried her for several days. Although he didn’t talk much, he was a good person. She had called him “Fourth Brother” all the way, and the original exile wasn’t his fault either. He was also a victim.

As she was lost in these chaotic thoughts, the next second, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.