“In Jiangnan, lotus can be picked, The lotus leaves spread thick and lush…”

It was now the season for harvesting lotus roots.

Seeing the pile of lotus roots by the door, Qin Rong decided to make some honey-glazed stuffed lotus root.

These were sent by Master Bai’s household and were as fresh as could be.

Honey-glazed stuffed lotus root was a favorite among the people of Jiangnan.

Qin Rong selected a few roots and washed them thoroughly.

They had just been dug out from a pond, so they were still caked with mud.

To clean them properly, they had to be soaked in water for a while.

She didn’t need much glutinous rice, so she scooped a bowlful and set it to soak.

Once the lotus roots had soaked long enough, Qin Rong peeled them with a few quick swipes of her knife and cut them into segments.

She then stuffed the cavities with soaked glutinous rice.

After stuffing the rice, she sealed the cut sections by inserting bamboo sticks into the joints.

She placed the filled lotus roots in a pot, added rock sugar and brown sugar, poured in water, and started steaming them.

She kept the fire at a moderate level—neither too strong nor too weak.

As the sweet aroma wafted from the pot, Qin Rong lifted the lid.

The fragrance was delightful.

She removed the steamed lotus roots, took out the bamboo skewers, sliced the roots into neat pieces, and drizzled them with honey.

The honey-glazed lotus root was ready.

The rain outside had eased a little.

Qin Rong placed the lotus root into a basket, took up her umbrella, and headed to the Bai residence.

The Bai family’s courtyard gate wasn’t closed.

Master Bai was painting at the moment, brush in hand.

Upon hearing the movement at the gate, he looked up and smiled. “Miss Qin, what a pleasant surprise. Have you made something new again?”

Qin Rong smiled and said, “Master Bai, it’s honey-glazed stuffed lotus root.”

“Oh? I once tasted this dish in Yuqian Town. The flavor was unforgettable—I’ve longed for it ever since. Sadly, I haven’t had the chance to go back.”

“I don’t know if my version is as authentic,” Qin Rong replied, “but I promise it won’t disappoint you.”

Master Bai raised his brows, intrigued. “Oh? So confident?”

Qin Rong set the lotus root slices on the stone table. “Naturally. I’m a cook—I trust my own dishes.”

“Very well, I shall try it now.” Master Bai picked up a slice with chopsticks, brought it close, and sniffed. “Hmm, did you use honey?”

“Yes, I used wild honey from tree hollows. That’s the key to the flavor,” Qin Rong said.

“Delicious! Absolutely delicious! The sweetness is delicate, not overwhelming. Even better than the one I had in Yuqian! The texture is soft and sticky but not mushy—perfect! If you ever open a restaurant, I fear I’ll visit every day,” he praised joyfully.

“I do plan to open a shop. I’ve already asked an agent to help me find a storefront.”

“Oh? If you need any help, just say the word.”

“Thank you, Master Bai. Everything is fine for now.”

“Well then, when your shop opens, be sure to let me know.”

“Of course,” Qin Rong smiled.

..

Over the past two months, Qin Rong had saved up quite a bit of silver.

She now had close to a hundred taels. It wasn’t enough to buy a storefront, but it was likely enough to rent one.

Recently, she had gone to a broker and asked for help finding a suitable shop to rent.

The rainy season in Lihua Town brought sudden storms, making it difficult to run a street stall.

Summer foods spoiled quickly, and during heavy rains, unsold food couldn’t be kept till the next day—it was all wasted.

This waste convinced Qin Rong to speed up her plan of opening a shop.

Moreover, working in the wind and rain had been tough on her.

That day, another storm poured over the town—it had been raining for days now.

Qin Rong hadn’t set up her stall in a while.

Since she was planning to open a shop anyway, she decided to take a break and focus on preparations.

Just then, a woman’s voice called from outside the courtyard gate: “Excuse me, is Miss Qin home?”

Qin Rong was making honey-glazed lotus root at the time.

She washed her hands, picked up an umbrella, and opened the door.

The visitor was a woman Qin Rong recognized—it was Hongyun, the personal maid of the county magistrate’s wife.

“Miss Qin, the lady hasn’t seen your stall for a while and was a little worried. She sent me to check if everything is alright,” Hongyun said with a friendly smile.

Qin Rong was surprised.

They had only met once, though the lady’s servants had often come by to buy food.

She hadn’t expected the magistrate’s wife to still remember her and send someone to inquire.

She invited Hongyun in: “Sister Hongyun, please come in. The weather’s been bad lately, so I’ve stopped setting up the stall. I’m preparing to open a food shop and have been busy with that.”

“You’re opening a shop? Miss Qin, you’re so capable! I won’t sit—madam is waiting for my report.”

“In that case, please wait a moment—I just finished a batch of honey-glazed lotus root. Let me pack some for the madam and young master.”

“Alright.”

Qin Rong quickly packed three servings of the dish. “Sister Hongyun, this one is for you. The other two are for the lady. But do let her know glutinous rice is hard to digest—it’s best eaten in moderation.”

“Thank you,” Hongyun said, surprised and genuinely pleased to receive a share herself.

…

After the rain cleared, the broker from the official agency came by.

There was a food shop in the West Market that was about to close.

Its owner planned to rent it out and return to farming in the countryside.

The shop had a good location and decent space. It could hold six to eight square tables—larger than Qin Rong had expected.

Since it had been used as a food shop, there wouldn’t be much renovation needed.

“Broker Zhang, how much rent is the owner asking for each month?”

“It’s a great spot, so the owner wants three taels of silver per month,” the broker said.

“Three taels? That’s a bit steep,” Qin Rong said.

Broker Zhang smiled. “Miss Qin, since the sea routes opened, our town has become a hub for merchants. Prices have gone up. Just a few months ago, this place would’ve rented for only two taels. Now, three is standard. But the owner said if you’re using it as a food shop, he’ll leave all the furniture behind.”

Broker Zhang was known for being reliable.

And it was true—the influx of travelers had made Lihua Town busier.

The shop’s location really was ideal. Qin Rong thought for a moment and then said, “Alright, please take me to see it. If it suits me, I’ll rent it.”

“Certainly!” the broker said happily, impressed by her decisiveness.