Chapter 44

Xu Qinyu accepted the 150 taels of silver, and she had some other plans in mind.

With the 150 taels added to what she had already earned, she had enough to open a restaurant but still couldn’t afford to buy a shop. She could only rent. On North Street, a small shop for minor businesses started at 150 taels. To open a restaurant, she needed at least two to three rooms, and a two-story building would be even more expensive. So, renting was the only option. However, with 210 taels, she could rent a shop on East or West Street. She would choose the location later, depending on where she wanted to open the restaurant.

So, she accepted the 150 taels. Once the restaurant started making money, she could send silver to her original parents.

When Ma Liu returned to the capital, he would also help her deliver a letter, asking her original mother to stop doing embroidery work, as it was very damaging to the eyes. Given Madam Xue’s saving speed, she was likely embroidering day and night, which would ruin her eyes in a year or two. She decided to write two letters, one to her original parents and one to her original uncle’s family. Her maternal uncle had been kind to her, and she would repay that kindness. If she became wealthy, she would ensure everyone prospered together!

She had been secretly practicing her handwriting for the past two or three months, and her handwriting now closely resembled the original owner’s.

Xu Qinyu put the silver in her sleeve and smiled, “Officer, we’ve just finished preparing dinner. Why don’t you join us?”

“Sure, sure,” Ma Liu grinned, then scratched his head, “Miss Xu, if you don’t mind, please don’t call me ‘Officer’ anymore. It sounds strange. Just call me ‘Brother Liu’.”

As for why he was called Ma Liu, his family was poor, and his parents were uneducated. He had five older siblings, and he was the sixth, so they named him Ma Liu. Only his second brother and fourth sister survived. His second brother was called Ma Er, and his fourth sister was called Ma Siya.

He wasn’t even a formal soldier; he was just someone who escorted exiled criminals with Deputy Officer Chen. His salary was low, relying on tips from the prisoners’ families, but he also had to spend a lot on the road.

“Alright, Brother Liu, come in and have some food.”

Madam Wen and Xu Qinyu led Ma Liu into the kitchen.

The kitchen table was already set with three dishes and a large bowl of soup. Just smelling the aroma made Ma Liu’s mouth water. He had only eaten a few meat buns in the morning and wasn’t full, so he had also gnawed on two large steamed buns. By now, he was quite hungry.

Xu Qinyu cooked a pot of rice and reheated some milk buns, knowing Ma Liu had a big appetite. The dishes weren’t enough, so she also took out about twenty pieces of fermented tofu from the wooden barrel. The fermented tofu she made was delicate and fragrant, just salty enough without being overly salty, making it very appetizing.

Ma Liu didn’t stand on ceremony and started eating.

The cured meat stir-fried with spring bamboo shoots was delicious. The cured meat released its fat without being greasy, and the bamboo shoots were crispy and absorbed the meat’s flavor and fat, making them fresh and tasty.

The chives stir-fried with small river shrimp had no fishy smell, the shrimp meat was firm, and the chives were fresh and crisp.

The Chinese toon stir-fried with eggs was fragrant, and the eggs were tender. The fermented tofu was also very appetizing, different from the overly salty and dry fermented tofu he had eaten before. Xu Qinyu’s fermented tofu was delicate and fragrant, not overly salty. He could eat half a piece in one bite, followed by a big bite of milk bun, a perfect combination.

The three-delicacy soup was also very fresh and thick, with a smooth texture. The food was so delicious that it made Ma Liu want to cry. How could Xu Qinyu’s cooking be so fragrant?

There wasn’t enough rice, but fortunately, there were milk buns. Ma Liu ate all the remaining milk buns with the fermented tofu. He ate about ten pieces of fermented tofu by himself, finding them incredibly delicious.

Seeing the clean plates and bowls on the table, Ma Liu felt a bit embarrassed and wanted to help Xu Qinyu wash the dishes. But then he heard Xu Qinyu ask, “Brother Liu, when are you returning to the capital?”

Ma Liu replied, “I have an appointment with my boss to meet at the docks for dinner tomorrow evening. We’ll take a merchant ship back then.”

Xu Qinyu thought for a moment and said, “Brother Liu, why don’t you find an inn to stay at tonight and come back for breakfast tomorrow? I want to write letters to my mother and uncle, and you can take them back for me.” Since there were many women in the house, it wasn’t appropriate for a male guest to stay over. She planned to help Ma Liu find an inn.

“Sure,” Ma Liu agreed readily.

He found an inn on North Street that night, which wasn’t expensive—only thirty wen for a shared room.

Xu Qinyu had offered to pay for his stay, but he declined. After such a delicious dinner, he couldn’t let her pay for him.

That night, Xu Qinyu wrote two letters, one to her mother, Madam Xue, and one for Madam Xue to give to her brother. Since she had inherited the original owner’s memories, her handwriting was quite similar. After practicing for two or three months, it was almost indistinguishable.

In the letter to Madam Xue, she mentioned receiving the 150 taels of silver and her plan to open a restaurant. She reassured Madam Xue not to worry about her, saying her food was delicious and that the restaurant would make a lot of money. She also asked Madam Xue to stop doing embroidery work, as it was harmful to her eyes, and not to send any more money. If Madam Xue insisted on sending money, she would be upset. She also mentioned that the other letter contained recipes for her uncle to use to improve his tea stall.

Xu Qinyu knew that Madam Xue might still worry and continue doing embroidery, but once her uncle made money from the recipes, Madam Xue would believe her and stop.

After sealing the two letters, Xu Qinyu wrote down the recipe for the wooden barrel fermented tofu on another sheet of paper.

This recipe was for Ma Liu. She remembered that his family wasn’t wealthy, and she would rely on him to communicate with her original parents. The recipe was a gift for him. If Ma Liu’s family could make the fermented tofu, they could earn a good income. Fermented tofu was not only a great side dish but also useful for cooking and seasoning.

The next morning, Xu Qinyu made glutinous rice intestines for Ma Liu. She used three sets of intestines, making plenty, and gave the rest to Ma Liu to take to Deputy Officer Chen and the other soldiers.

The previous night, she had bought three more sets of offal from Butcher Tian, so she made glutinous rice intestines with three sets and braised the other three sets for Cheng Ge’er to deliver to Butcher Tian’s house early in the morning.

She handed the two letters to Ma Liu, along with the recipe for the wooden barrel fermented tofu, saying it was a gift for his family to start a small business.

Ma Liu stammered, “Miss Xu, this recipe must be very valuable. Why give it to me?” He knew that this fermented tofu was unique.

Previously, Miss Xu had taught him a few dishes on the way to exile, and he had remembered them. Occasionally, when he returned home, his mother would make them to improve their meals, but the taste couldn’t compare to Miss Xu’s cooking.

As for the advanced dish of winter bamboo shoots stewed with cured meat, his mother couldn’t figure it out. The process and ingredients were too complicated. His family didn’t have anyone with a talent for cooking.

Xu Qinyu smiled and said, “I’ll still need your help to deliver letters and items to my parents in the future. Don’t worry, Brother Liu. This wooden barrel-fermented tofu doesn’t require any special cooking skills. Just follow the recipe I wrote down, and you can make it. This business can be successful.”

The business’s success would depend on how much effort Ma Liu’s family put into it.

Ma Liu finally accepted the recipe and even bowed to Xu Qinyu, calling her “Little Master.”

Xu Qinyu laughed, “I’m no master.”

Ma Liu took the glutinous rice intestines, the two letters and the recipe for the wooden barrel fermented tofu to the docks.

Miss Xu called it wooden barrel fermented tofu. When he returned home, he would have his mother make it and sell it under that name, different from the usual fermented tofu.

All his colleagues praised the glutinous rice intestines. They said they had never tasted such delicious intestines and didn’t know they could be so tasty. Each person got two pieces, and they were gone in no time, leaving everyone wanting more.

Ma Liu and Deputy Officer Chen, along with the other officials, boarded the merchant ship and returned to the capital in just five or six days.

Ma Liu wasted no time and immediately went to the Marquis of Dechang’s residence to deliver the letters to the second branch. This time, although the gatekeeper still didn’t show much friendliness, he went in to announce his arrival. The old lady of the Marquis of Dechang’s household, having been mocked by Ma Liu last time, didn’t want to see him and had the gatekeeper lead him to the second branch.

Xue Shi couldn’t hide her concern for her daughter when she saw Ma Liu. She led him to the guest hall and had the maids serve tea and fruit.

Ma Liu hadn’t even had a chance to drink water since returning to the capital. Madam Xue had the maids serve a refreshing drink, which he drank in one gulp. He then said, “Madam, don’t worry. Miss Xu is doing well at the border. She has received the 150 taels of silver and plans to open a restaurant. She wrote two letters for you, but one is for your brothers. You can decide after reading them.”

He handed the two letters to Madam Xue.

Madam Xue took them and saw that one was addressed to “Mother” and the other to “Uncle.” She quickly opened the letter from her daughter. It was in her daughter’s familiar handwriting. Just seeing the familiar handwriting made Madam Xue tear up. She read the letter with red eyes.

Yuniang was very concerned about her, asking her not to do embroidery work and saying that she could earn more than twenty taels a month just by selling food. She said that once the restaurant was open, she would earn even more, so Madam Xue shouldn’t do embroidery work. She also said not to send her any more money, as she wouldn’t accept it. Once the restaurant made a lot of money, she would have Ma Liu deliver silver to support her, her father, and her brother.

“This child…” Madam Xue smiled and wiped her eyes. She couldn’t help but mutter, “Can she really earn more than twenty taels a month just by selling food?”

Ma Liu heard this and immediately said, “Madam, you really don’t need to worry about Miss Xu. Her food is incredibly delicious. Honestly, I’ve had the chance to eat at some of the best restaurants in the capital, and they can’t compare to her cooking. She earns more than twenty taels a month just by selling fish and braised intestines. If she opens a restaurant, she’ll definitely earn even more.”

Madam Xue hadn’t seen her daughter making money with her own eyes, so she was still skeptical. She knew her daughter had some cooking skills, but claiming they were better than those of chefs in big restaurants seemed a bit far-fetched.

Her daughter had written a letter to her maternal brothers, including some recipes, suggesting they could change their tea stall. Madam Xue hesitated but decided to visit her family the next day to give them the letter and let her brother decide whether to try her daughter’s suggestions. Naturally, she hadn’t read her daughter’s letter to her maternal brother.

After reading the letter, Madam Xue thanked Ma Liu and tried to give him some silver as a reward.

Ma Liu refused, saying, “Madam, there’s no need for that. Miss Xu gave me a recipe for wooden barrel fermented tofu. I’ll have my mother try making it when I get back. It might turn into a small business and earn us some money. So, if you ever need me to deliver letters to Miss Xu, just let me know, but please don’t give me any reward.”

He thought that if the wooden barrel fermented tofu could bring in an extra one or two taels of silver a month, it would be great. He didn’t feel right accepting a reward from Madam Xue.

After saying this, Ma Liu quickly left, fearing Madam Xue might insist on giving him a reward.

Madam Xue couldn’t help but laugh.

The next day, she visited her family.

Madam Xue’s family lived in the southern part of the capital, a bit far from the Marquis of Dechang’s residence. It took about half an hour by carriage to get there. She had to inform the old lady of the Marquis of Dechang’s household when going out.

The old lady initially wanted to ask why her daughter-in-law was visiting her family, thinking she should visit less often. But remembering that her third son had asked her to be kinder to the second branch, she didn’t say anything and waved her hand, allowing the coachman to take her daughter-in-law to her family. However, she couldn’t help but add, “Come back early.”

Madam Xue acknowledged and left with a young maid. Her family lived in Shangpo Alley in the southern part of the city. The alley was named Shangpo because it was an uphill road once you entered it.

Madam Xue’s maternal brother, Xue Liang, married Madam Shi, and they have two sons and a daughter. Their eldest son, Xue Huai, married Madam Zhang, and they have a daughter named Xue Yuanyuan.

Their daughter, Xue Qing, is only thirteen, and their younger son, Xue Jian, is eight years old this year.

Madam Xue’s parents passed away a few years ago, leaving only Xue Liang, who runs a tea stall. The tea stall is small, just the size of a single shop, left by their father. Xue Liang’s father was a scholar who had hoped his eldest son would succeed in the imperial examinations. However, the eldest son wasn’t academically inclined, so the father set up the tea stall early on to ensure his son could support himself.

When Madam Xue arrived at the Xue family’s home in Shangpo Alley, only Xue Qing was there. Seeing her aunt, Xue Qing greeted her and informed her that her parents, her elder brother and sister-in-law, were at the tea stall, helping with Yuanyuan. Her younger brother, Xue Jian, was still at school.

Madam Xue spoke briefly with Xue Qing before heading to her brother’s tea stall.

Xue Qing had delicate features, and upon closer inspection, her eyes and brows bore a slight resemblance to Xu Qinyu. Watching her aunt leave, Xue Qing sighed. She knew her father had given all their savings to her aunt to send to her cousin at the border. Her cousin used to visit often when they were children, and they had a close relationship. They frequently played house and cooked together. But 100 taels was a lot of money, representing all their savings over the years. She wasn’t unwilling to help, but she worried about her parents working too hard. Her cousin at the border must be having a tough time and needed money. Her mother had been arguing with her father for months and still wasn’t on good terms with him. Her mother wasn’t a bad person; she just thought her father had given too much; it was most of their savings.

Xue Qing sighed again, feeling the burden of earning money. She couldn’t help much, except for cooking decent meals. With her parents and brother-in-law at the stall, she didn’t need to be there, so she stayed home to prepare breakfast and dinner. She wished she could earn money herself to improve their family’s situation and send some to her cousin each year.

…

Madam Xue went to her brother’s tea stall.

Xue Liang’s tea stall was in the market in the southern part of the city, a bustling area. The market wasn’t large but had everything, including tea stalls, eateries, inns, restaurants, fabric shops, jewelry stores, and various food stalls. There was also a night market nearby. With the new emperor and Empress Dowager Fu’s amnesty, there was no curfew, and the market stayed open until late at night.

Xue Liang’s tea stall was small, with three tables inside and two more under an oilcloth canopy outside. Behind the stall was a small courtyard with a kitchen and a well. Though small, it had everything they needed.

On regular days, there weren’t many people who came just for tea, but Xue Huai was a great storyteller. His engaging stories attracted many customers who enjoyed listening while sipping tea. Xue Liang also made some snacks, selling dried goods like sunflower seeds, peanuts, and dried fruits, which paired well with the tea and stories. As a result, their business was decent, and the family could earn two to three taels of silver a month.

It was noon, and business was slow. The afternoons and evenings were usually busier.

Madam Shi was sitting idly at the tea stall entrance, still upset about the 100 taels of silver. She had argued with her husband several times, not because she didn’t want to give money to Yuniang, but she thought they should have kept at least twenty or thirty taels. Soon, they would need to pay for Jian Ge’er’s school fees again.

Madam Shi had a fiery temper and had been arguing with her husband for almost a month. Her husband had apologized, saying he felt sorry for their niece, who was suffering at the border. He also mentioned that King Shu’s family had been confiscated, and they likely had no money. Without giving Yuniang more, how could she survive?

Madam Shi also felt sorry for her niece. Yuniang used to visit their home often as a child, and she had watched her grow up. In reality, this had happened three or four months ago. A month after Yuniang’s incident, her husband had sent all their savings to his sister. But thinking about it still made her angry. They had earned a few taels in the past three months, but it wasn’t enough to cover Jian Ge’er’s school fees.

As she sat there, lost in thought, Madam Shi looked up and saw her sister-in-law approaching.

Seeing Madam Xue, Madam Shi initially wanted to give her the cold shoulder, but noticing how much thinner Madam Xue had become since Yuniang’s incident, with sunken cheeks and a poor complexion, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She walked over, pulled her to the tea stall, and asked sternly, “What brings you here?”

Madam Shi knew that when Yuniang’s incident first happened, her sister-in-law had fallen seriously ill and almost didn’t make it.

Thinking of this and seeing her sister-in-law’s thin appearance, Madam Shi suddenly understood. The money had been given to Yuniang, and that was that. At least their family was still together and doing well, which was better than the situation of her sister-in-law and Yuniang.

Look at how miserable Yuniang was, a good girl who had been exiled as a substitute bride.

Madam Shi sighed, went inside, and brought out a pot of tea to pour for her sister-in-law.

Madam Xue smiled and asked, “Sister-in-law, is my brother at home?”

Madam Shi replied, “He’s busy in the back.” After a moment, she couldn’t help but ask, “How is Yuniang doing? Did the money reach her? How is she getting along with King Shu’s family at the border? Are they treating her well?”

Madam Xue smiled and said, “The silver note was delivered to Yuniang a few days ago. She even sent a letter back, saying she plans to open a restaurant. Ma Liu, who delivered the letter, said that King Shu’s family treated her very well. Yuniang cooks and her mother-in-law helps with washing dishes and other chores, not letting Yuniang do much. Her sister-in-law is also very affectionate and dependent on her.”

Madam Shi felt much more at ease hearing this. But she couldn’t help but ask, “What kind of restaurant is Yuniang opening?”

Yuniang’s cooking skills were learned from her husband, who wasn’t skilled enough to open a restaurant. Yuniang was being too bold. Wouldn’t she end up losing all the money?

Madam Xue didn’t want to dampen her daughter’s spirits, so she said, “Ma Liu said Yuniang’s cooking is very delicious, even better than the chefs in the big restaurants in the capital.”

Madam Shi gave her sister-in-law a skeptical look, not believing her.

Madam Xue then explained her purpose, “By the way, I’m here to deliver a letter from Yuniang to my brother. She included some recipes for you to try.”

Yuniang’s letter to her uncle was quite thick.

Madam Xue handed the letter to her sister-in-law, who couldn’t read, so she took it to the back to give it to Xue Liang.

Xue Liang was in the back roasting sunflower seeds. Madam Shi handed him the letter, saying, “This is a letter from Yuniang for you. Your sister is here too, sitting in the front.”

Xue Liang quickly set the pot down, as the sunflower seeds were already roasted. He took the letter to the tea stall entrance and saw his sister sitting there, looking thin and frail in her loose clothing.

In fact, she was a bit healthier now than before. When Yuniang’s incident first happened, her face was ashen.

“Brother,” Madam Xue called out.

Xue Liang nodded and sat down on the bench, opening the letter from his niece. He couldn’t help but ask, “Why did Yuniang write me such a thick letter?”

As he read the letter, he saw the contents.

“Uncle, I hope this letter finds you well. Thank you for sending the 100 taels of silver through my mother. It was very timely. I plan to open a restaurant, and your 100 taels are just enough. I’ve developed many recipes, and you can try changing the tea stall’s offerings. You can sell barbecue, paired with beverages. In a few months, when it gets hot, you can also sell ice bowls, cold drinks, and various cold dishes and noodles.”

Below were the recipes Yuniang had written for him.