Chapter 28

Xu Qinyu wasn’t afraid of such a shrew. Old Woman Luo wasn’t particularly scary but was as annoying as a pest.

Back when Xu Qinyu was in middle and high school, she set up a stall to sell food. Her food was delicious, and her business was booming, often leading to jealousy from other small vendors. One stall owner even deliberately picked a fight with her, overturning her stall. Xu Qinyu, small and agile, fought back fiercely. The other person didn’t gain any advantage and was instead overwhelmed by her. Even when the matter reached the police station, it was clear she hadn’t started the trouble. She was only given a warning, and the police made the other person compensate her for the damage to her stall. After that, no other stall owners dared to mess with her, knowing she was not to be trifled with.

Being an orphan, she couldn’t afford to be timid and weak, or she would be bullied to death. Even after coming here, Xu Qinyu wouldn’t let anyone bully her. Of course, she knew that this ancient society’s hierarchy and power dynamics were oppressive. She would be disadvantaged if she encountered someone with a higher status. She wouldn’t dare to act this way if it were someone else with a higher status. She had thought about setting up a stall on East Street or West Street to see if she could make connections with some minor officials or their families. Knowing a minor official could help her deal with people like Old Woman Luo in the future. Even if there were other powerful people, a minor official’s words would carry some weight in the county.

Yuanbao Town, though called a town, was quite large, almost the size of a county. It used to be a county, but after reorganizing the southwestern territories, it was changed to a town, still following the county’s administrative system. There was a yamen, and the highest official was the county magistrate. Next were the minor officials working in the yamen. There were also some minor officials and branch families of other local nobles in the county, but no higher-ranking officials.

That’s why she wanted to set up a food stall on East Street or West Street to make connections with some officials or their families. Having some connections would always be beneficial.

Even if setting up a food stall on East Street or West Street was tiring, it was necessary. Otherwise, if she encountered someone more powerful and troublesome than Old Woman Luo, she wouldn’t be helpless.

The women around didn’t find Young Lady Xu’s actions inappropriate. Some of their relatives had similarly fierce daughters-in-law. As long as they didn’t bully their own family, who wouldn’t like them?

Moreover, Young Lady Xu could cook and earn money. They wished they could have such a daughter-in-law in the future.

Xu Qinyu glanced at the fleeing Old Woman Luo, raised the kitchen knife in her hand, and smiled brightly at Madam Wen and Pei Jianing, “Mother and Ning Jie’er, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Pei Jianing couldn’t help but laugh at this sight. Somehow, the last bit of gloom in her heart dissipated. She always thought of herself as a princess, lamenting her fate. But her fourth sister-in-law had it worse. She had no connection to their family and was pushed out as a scapegoat by her own family. Wasn’t that even more unjust?

Her fourth sister-in-law had become stronger, no longer the second young lady of the Dechang Marquis Mansion. How could she still act like a princess, unable to deal with an old woman at the door?

When she was a princess, she had never been bullied like this. She should learn from her fourth sister-in-law. If someone came to cause trouble, she should grab a kitchen knife like her fourth sister-in-law.

Xu Qinyu, holding the kitchen knife, returned to the courtyard with the Pei family. After dinner, everyone helped in the kitchen. Those who couldn’t cook did what they could.

After finishing their tasks, the family went to bed.

The next morning, Xu Qinyu started making glutinous rice stuffed in pork intestines.

She drained the soaked glutinous rice, chopped the soaked shiitake mushrooms, and minced the pork belly. She mixed them with the glutinous rice, adding salt, a bit of soy sauce, Sichuan pepper powder, and star anise powder for flavor. She also added ginger and scallion water in three small portions. Then she stuffed the glutinous rice mixture into the pork intestines, filling them about 70% full to prevent them from bursting during cooking. The pork belly and shiitake mushrooms were added sparingly to avoid overpowering the glutinous rice’s flavor.

This dish was all about the fragrant and sticky texture. This was the simplest recipe. Some variations included seafood, peanuts, fish, and other ingredients, each with its own unique flavor.

She cut the pork intestines into one-foot lengths and stuffed them by hand. The intestines retained some fat for extra flavor. She tied the ends with fine hemp rope. She stuffed seven to eight jin of pork intestines. The cost was similar to that of meat buns, though it didn’t require eggs or white flour. It needed pork belly and glutinous rice, but not braised pork intestines, saving on spice costs.

A one-foot length of glutinous rice stuffed in pork intestines could be cut into three pieces, sold for eight wen each, or twenty-four wen for a whole piece.

After stuffing, she cooked the glutinous rice stuffed in pork intestines, also known as Jiangmi sausage. She used a large stove to cook them in a clay pot while frying eggs and making pancakes on the iron stove. She continued making meat buns to see if people preferred them or the Jiangmi sausage.

The Jiangmi sausage filled the house with a delicious aroma. After cooking, she kept two pieces, cut into six segments, for everyone to taste. She also saved two pieces for the Xia family. She always shared new dishes with them.

Today, it was Madam Wu, not Zhu Zi, who came to collect the food.

Madam Wu brought two thick jackets for Feng Ge’er and Yuan Jie’er, made from leftover fabric pieces. Though pieced together, they looked good and were large enough to fit the children for several years. The jackets were lined with animal fur for extra warmth.

Xu Qinyu had finished cooking when Madam Wu arrived and thanked her for the jackets.

Madam Wu smiled, “I should thank you, Young Lady Xu. Shao Ge’er has gained over a jin in the past half month from eating your food. His face looks healthier.” She felt sorry for Feng Ge’er and Yuan Jie’er, who were always quiet and scared, so she made jackets for them.

Xu Qinyu accepted the jackets and had Ning Jie’er take the children to try them on. She then cut a piece of Jiangmi sausage for Madam Wu to taste. “Try my new dish, Jiangmi sausage. I was worried people might get tired of meat buns, so I made something new.”

The Jiangmi sausage was fragrant and sticky, and Madam Wu loved it immediately.

“It’s delicious. I’ll buy some later. My husband will love it too.”

Xu Qinyu smiled, “No need to buy. I’ll give you some.”

With only the two of them in the kitchen, Xu Qinyu packed the food while Madam Wu chatted with her. “Your braised fish is also delicious. Every time I cook it, the neighbors ask what it is. I told them I bought it from you. Many people in my alley want to buy fish from you, but I tell them you only have enough for Osmanthus Alley. You should make more fish.”

Madam Wu wasn’t exaggerating. Besides her neighbors, people in Osmanthus Alley loved Xu Qinyu’s fish. Some even bought extra to serve guests or take home to their families. Xu Qinyu’s reputation for delicious and affordable fish had spread.

Xu Qinyu replied, “The large iron pot I ordered will arrive in a few days. I’ll make more fish and fish balls and sell fish head tofu stew, too.”

Though fish didn’t earn as much as meat buns, it added up and helped build her reputation. More people wanted to buy her fish.

Madam Wu then mentioned, “I heard you had some trouble selling fish.”

Xu Qinyu sighed, explaining the incidents with Old Woman Luo, who tried to steal her recipe and caused trouble. Madam Wu agreed that such people needed to be dealt with carefully.

Xu Qinyu added, “I’m not afraid of market shrews, but I’m wary of those with power.”

Madam Wu whispered a few words to her, making Xu Qinyu’s eyes light up. “Really? If it works, I’ll be grateful.”

Madam Wu smiled, “Let’s not talk about it now. Just save some fish and Jiangmi sausage for later. Zhu Zi will come to collect them.”

“Alright,” Xu Qinyu agreed.

After Madam Wu left, Xu Qinyu and Pei Weixuan went to set up their stall at the dock. As usual, people lined up for her food, including officials who secretly bought her new dish, Jiangmi sausage, and were pleasantly surprised by its taste.

When it comes to meat buns, they are filling, satisfying cravings, and deliciously oily. But this Jiangmi sausage is fragrant, making people dizzy with its aromatic and sticky aroma.

Many people immediately exclaimed, “The young lady’s cooking skills are truly exceptional. This Jiangmi sausage is so fragrant and sticky. It’s delicious. Young lady, can I have Jiangmi sausage tomorrow and not meat buns?”

Although the Jiangmi sausage portion seemed smaller than the meat buns, just a palm-length piece, the new food was a refreshing change. After eating meat buns for half a month, people were a bit tired of them. With some oil in their stomachs and the Jiangmi sausage being so fragrant and sticky, they naturally preferred the new food.

Xu Qinyu smiled and said, “Of course.”

Even with the new food, today, each person can only buy one meat bun and one portion of Jiangmi sausage. Those who tried the new food said they only wanted Jiangmi sausage tomorrow. By the end of the day, almost everyone chose Jiangmi sausage for their breakfast the next morning. Because just one piece wasn’t enough, they naturally craved more and would want to eat more the next day.

After closing the stall, Xu Qinyu bought more ingredients today: three jin of ribs, two jin of pork belly, a tender chicken, some winter bamboo shoots, a few sections of lotus root, and yam. Lotus root and yam were quite expensive, about ten wen per jin, and ordinary people wouldn’t eat them often, only buying them for special occasions.

After buying everything, Xu Qinyu started to get busy.

Pei Jianing and Pei Weixuan both came to help wash and pick vegetables. Pei Jianing couldn’t help but ask, “Fourth Sister-in-law, why did you buy so many ingredients today? Are you cooking all of them tonight? It seems like we can’t finish them.”

Xu Qinyu smiled mysteriously, “You’ll find out later, Ning Jie’er.”

…

After Madam Wu returned home in the morning, the food box Young Lady Xu prepared for Shao Ge’er contained bean porridge, a portion of fried tofu, and a portion of steamed meat with egg.

Madam Wu had never eaten steamed meat with egg or heard of it. Even restaurants didn’t have this dish.

Young Lady Xu said it was made with lean meat and eggs, suitable for children as it was easy to digest and nutritious, specially made for the three children. Shao Ge’er indeed ate all the food in the box, including the simplest fried tofu, and said the steamed meat with egg was delicious.

The two Jiangmi sausages Madam Wu brought home were still warm and didn’t need to be steamed again. She simply cut them into pieces. After Shao Ge’er finished his meal, he ate a few pieces of Jiangmi sausage. When she saw his belly was full, she stopped him from eating more, fearing he might overeat.

Not long after, the head of the household, Xia Yuanzhi, woke up. He was busy with the shop’s business every day and sometimes came home late. Madam Wu would let him sleep in a bit in the morning. Seeing the fresh food on the table, Xia Yuanzhi couldn’t help but smile and said, “Young Lady Xu made new food again? What is this?”

He couldn’t resist taking a piece to eat. The fragrant and sticky taste made him exclaim, “Delicious, delicious.”

“Isn’t it?” Madam Wu brought the porridge cooked by Xiao Cui to the table. “Hurry up and eat. I have something to discuss with you after breakfast.”

Xiao Cui had cooked bean porridge and some bean sprouts in the morning, which tasted bland.

Xia Yuanzhi didn’t eat the bean sprouts. He ate half of the Jiangmi sausage with the bean porridge. After finishing, he wiped his mouth and sighed, saying to his wife, “Wouldn’t it be great if Young Lady Xu opened a food shop selling breakfast and dinner? We wouldn’t have to cook and could eat at the shop every day. She is really good at making fish and pork intestines, but I don’t know about other dishes.”

Other foods were only tasted by their son, and he couldn’t compete with his son for food, so he hadn’t tried them. He always thought Young Lady Xu was only good at making fish and pork intestines.

Seeing him eat comfortably, Madam Wu whispered a few words in Xia Yuanzhi’s ear.

Xia Yuanzhi hesitated, “Will this work? After all, we’re inviting Officer Xu for a meal. He usually eats at Donglai Restaurant on East Street. Wouldn’t it seem too casual to invite him to our home? And how good are Young Lady Xu’s other dishes? We can’t afford to offend Officer Xu. If her other dishes are just average…”

“What are you thinking?” Madam Wu chided. “Young Lady Xu can make such delicious dishes from smelly offal and earthy river fish. What are you worried about? Do you really think Donglai Restaurant’s food is better than hers? Besides, Officer Xu and Young Lady Xu, though not sharing the same character, have the same pronunciation. They might have been family five hundred years ago. He might appreciate her. I’ve already talked to her and asked her to prepare several dishes. So let’s invite Officer Xu to our home for dinner tonight.”

She had no doubts about Young Lady Xu’s cooking skills and was very confident.

In the end, Xia Yuanzhi was persuaded by his wife and decided to invite Officer Xu to their home for dinner.

After a busy day at the shop, Xia Yuanzhi went to the yamen to invite Officer Xu.

Officer Xu, about forty years old, was tall and imposing, with a natural air of authority. He managed the yamen’s various departments and was usually quite busy. Today, he was having dinner with Xia Yuanzhi because of a case.

Recently, there was a theft case in town involving some valuable jewelry stolen from Jin Yin Zai, a jewelry shop near Xia Yuanzhi’s fabric shop. That night, Xia Yuanzhi was busy at his shop until late and saw someone running out of Jin Yin Zai, followed by the shopkeeper shouting that a thief had stolen some jewelry.

Xia Yuanzhi helped the injured shopkeeper and reported the incident to the authorities. The yamen started investigating the case. As a witness who saw the thief’s back, Xia Yuanzhi naturally helped with the investigation. He wanted to invite Officer Xu for dinner to build a good relationship.

In business, having a good relationship with officials is beneficial.

Xia Yuanzhi, not yet thirty, had known Officer Xu, who was forty, for several years. They had a good relationship and often ate together, taking turns paying. Although Officer Xu wasn’t an official, just a clerk without rank, he held the highest position in town after the county magistrate.

To ordinary people, he was still considered an official. Even though they were friends, Xia Yuanzhi respected Officer Xu. This was the first time he invited Officer Xu to his home for dinner, and he was a bit nervous.

He explained briefly, “My wife said there’s a young lady with excellent cooking skills. She invited her to prepare a meal at our home, saying it was even better than Donglai Restaurant’s food. I often eat her braised fish and meat buns, and they are indeed delicious. So I thought her other dishes might be good too. I invited you to taste them together.”

Officer Xu didn’t mind where he ate dinner and nodded, “Then I’ll trouble you at your home tonight.”

“Not at all.”

They soon arrived at Xia’s house.

The front hall was already filled with a table of delicious dishes. Just the aroma made Xia Yuanzhi swallow his saliva. The smell was indeed much better than Donglai Restaurant’s food, but he didn’t know how it tasted.

Even Officer Xu’s gaze lingered on the table of dishes for a moment.

Madam Wu had Zhuzi and Xiao Cui bring the dishes from Young Lady Xu. She took some food for Shao Ge’er and quickly had Zhu Zi set the table in the front hall. She also bought the best Huadiao wine in town to ensure Officer Xu enjoyed the meal and appreciated Young Lady Xu’s cooking. This way, he might buy food from her in the future and build a connection.

Xia Yuanzhi invited Officer Xu to sit, and Zhu Zi served their wine glasses.

Seeing Officer Xu reach for a dish in the middle of the table, its surface red and sprinkled with sesame seeds, Sichuan peppercorns, and prickly ash, it looked incredibly appetizing. He pushed aside the scallions, peppercorns, and prickly ash to reveal fish pieces and pork intestines underneath.

Officer Xu raised an eyebrow and took a piece of pork intestine. As soon as he tasted it, he couldn’t help but hiss. The pork intestine was cut into large pieces, making it very satisfying to eat. It was chewy, fragrant, oily, numbing, and spicy. Although his household didn’t lack food and even had a cook, he had never tasted anything this delicious.

Officer Xu couldn’t help but nod and praise, “Delicious.”

He had never said “delicious” while eating at Donglai Restaurant, so Xia Yuanzhi knew they were on the right track. He also took a piece of pork intestine.

The taste shocked Xia Yuanzhi. Although it was the same pork intestine and fish he usually ate, this new preparation brought a different flavor—spicy, numbing, and incredibly satisfying.

Zhu Zi followed up, “This is pork intestine fish.”

Coming home to such a dish on a cold day was truly comforting, warming both body and stomach.

As Officer Xu picked up each dish, Zhu Zi announced the names.

“Steamed pork ribs with rice flour.”

“Soybean braised pig trotters.”

“Glutinous rice stuffed pork intestines.”

“Winter bamboo shoots braised chicken.”

“Stir-fried pork with mountain mushrooms.”

“Caramelized yam.”

“Stir-fried lotus root slices.”