Chapter 49

Xu Qinyu didn’t know who the chubby beauty was, but seeing her with Xu Yunlan, she knew they must be friends. She couldn’t help but ask, “Yunlan, what’s going on with you two?”

One had red eyes, clearly from crying, and the other’s face was still full of anger.

Xu Yunlan pulled Yang Zhizhi into the courtyard and angrily recounted what had happened on the way.

It turned out that her friend Yang Zhizhi had been trying to lose weight for over a month, eating boiled vegetables every day, which made her dizzy and weak. She couldn’t take it anymore and fainted half a month ago. After seeing a doctor, she was told that her body was too starved and weak and couldn’t continue eating like that. Zhizhi’s parents, Madam Wei and the county magistrate, were very worried and stopped giving her boiled vegetables. They let her eat at Donglai Restaurant every day, but after half a month, Zhizhi’s weight had increased by several pounds compared to before she started losing weight.

Yang Zhizhi felt very upset, thinking she was useless. She didn’t want to keep gaining weight, but her body couldn’t handle just eating boiled vegetables; seeing any food made her want to take a bite. But when she ate at Donglai Restaurant, she couldn’t control herself and always overate. Seeing herself ten pounds heavier than before, she felt miserable and came to confide in her good friend Xu Yunlan. Since the last time Yang Zhizhi had the amazing custard bun at her friend’s place, she hadn’t come to see Yunlan again. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but she knew she had no self-control. The custard bun was so delicious that she even sent her maid to ask at Qingfeng Pastry Shop and Donglai Restaurant, but neither of them sold it. She knew she was too fat and was determined to lose weight, so she thought she couldn’t come to Yunlan to ask where the custard bun was sold.

After failing to lose weight again, she wanted to confide in her friend. When she arrived at Yunlan’s place, she complained to her friend and ended up crying. Xu Yunlan felt sorry for her friend and suddenly thought of Young Lady Xu.

Xu Yunlan always felt that Young Lady Xu was different from other cooks because she was so good at making food. She suddenly thought that maybe she could ask her for advice. At just fifteen or sixteen, she already had such a deep understanding of food, and perhaps she could help Zhizhi with her weight loss.

So Xu Yunlan told Yang Zhizhi and also informed her friend that the person she was taking her to meet was the cook who made the custard buns last time.

Upon hearing that such delicious pastries were made by a cook who was about their age, Yang Zhizhi became curious about Young Lady Xu, and the two of them couldn’t wait to go to Osmanthus Alley.

Passing by West Street, Yang Zhizhi felt that suddenly visiting might be a bit abrupt, so she wanted to choose a gift for Young Lady Xu.

So the two got off the carriage, and the driver parked it in an alley to wait for them. Yang Zhizhi thought for a moment and went to a cosmetics shop to pick out the most expensive hand cream, which cost two taels of silver. The hand cream was very effective, moisturizing the skin and preventing cold blisters in cold weather. She thought it would be perfect for Young Lady Xu, who often worked with cold water as a cook.

After buying the hand cream, the two of them headed back to the carriage. As they came out, they encountered a bright-looking girl. The girl was also wearing a begonia-colored dress, similar in style and fabric to Yang Zhizhi’s.

Xu Yunlan and Yang Zhizhi were walking side by side, and since Yang Zhizhi was a bit chubby, they naturally blocked the entrance. Seeing that they were blocking the way, they immediately stepped back. The bright-looking girl saw that Yang Zhizhi was wearing a similar dress and frowned, scolding, “You’re as fat as a pig and still walking side by side. Are you sick? How do you have the face to go out looking like this? If I were this fat, I wouldn’t want to live.”

Although Yang Zhizhi was the daughter of the county magistrate, she never liked to show off, so not everyone in town recognized her.

Being scolded like this, Yang Zhizhi felt aggrieved and wanted to retort, but Xu Yunlan had already pulled her back and stepped forward, blocking the girl’s way. “Do you know how to speak? You look decent, but you can’t say anything nice. Besides, we were at the entrance first, and you were still half a yard away. We immediately stepped back to make way for you, and you started scolding us. You may be thin, but you don’t even have a bit of decency.”

She knew that if Zhizhi stepped forward to argue with this girl, it would be just a few weak words. Being called a pig was too much, and if it weren’t for the fact that the other party was a girl, she would have punched her.

The girl probably didn’t expect this tall girl to be so sharp-tongued. Her face turned red, but she couldn’t refute. She was angry because the chubby girl wore a similar dress, but she didn’t expect the other party to be so tough.

The girl could only say, “I don’t want to talk to you. Move aside, I want to go in.”

Another girl was standing beside her, not as well-dressed or good-looking, just staring blankly at them.

Xu Yunlan refused to move, “Apologize to my friend.”

The girl flicked her sleeve, not wanting to argue anymore, and turned to leave, but Xu Yunlan grabbed her, insisting, “Apologize to my friend, or you won’t leave today.”

Seeing the crowd gathering around, many people didn’t recognize Yang Zhizhi, but Xu Yunlan often went out, and her father was a well-known figure in town, so many people recognized her.

Someone said, “Isn’t that Officer Xu’s daughter? What’s going on here?”

Although Officer Xu wasn’t an official, he was respected in Yuanbao Town, almost like an official.

Hearing this, the bright-looking girl immediately changed her expression, lowered her head, and apologized to Yang Zhizhi. Then she shouted at the girl behind her, “Wen Yinxian, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and leave. Don’t you feel ashamed?” After saying that, she turned and left.

The girl behind her bowed to the two of them and slowly followed the bright-looking girl.

Actually, this wouldn’t have made Yang Zhizhi cry. She only cried after getting back on the carriage, feeling sad about her weight.

After Xu Yunlan finished speaking, she introduced Yang Zhizhi to Xu Qinyu, “Young Lady Xu, this is my friend Yang Zhizhi.”

She just wanted to introduce her friend to Young Lady Xu, not thinking about any social status differences, so she didn’t mention that Yang Zhizhi was the county magistrate’s daughter.

Xu Qinyu nodded, moved a few small stools from the hall, and the three of them sat in the courtyard.

Yang Zhizhi gave the hand cream to Xu Qinyu, who thanked her and accepted it without being overly polite.

Having just finished selling fish, Cheng Ge’er was already washing the big pot by the well, and Madam Wen was also helping.

Xu Qinyu had nothing else to do, so she listened to Xu Yunlan talk about Yang Zhizhi’s weight loss journey.

She knew that Yang Zhizhi wasn’t naturally fat. People who were naturally fat found it harder to lose weight. Yang Zhizhi had loved to eat since she was young and couldn’t control her appetite, leading to her weight gain. Losing weight wasn’t difficult for her. Xu Qinyu had a deep understanding of food and often helped people with nutritional and weight-loss meals. Her weight loss meals wouldn’t leave people hungry or make them lose weight too quickly. Most people could lose twenty to thirty pounds in a month.

Her weight loss meals could help someone lose ten pounds in a month, which was quite good. The weight loss speed would slow down over time, but it was easy to maintain, and with exercise, the skin wouldn’t sag. However, for severely obese people, no matter how they lost weight or exercised, there would still be some sagging skin. But Yang Zhizhi wasn’t severely obese yet. If she lost twenty to thirty pounds and exercised, her skin wouldn’t sag.

Xu Qinyu smiled and said, “Losing weight isn’t difficult. Yang Zhizhi’s previous method was wrong. You can’t lose weight by eating less or just eating vegetables. You need a balanced diet with eggs, milk, meat, vegetables, and fruits. You don’t need to starve, and you can lose weight in the early stages. Later, you can add some exercise.”

Xu Yunlan and Yang Zhizhi’s eyes lit up when they heard the first half of Xu Qinyu’s sentence. But when they heard the second half, saying they could eat so much and still lose weight, they felt it was unreliable. How could they lose weight without starving?

Xu Qinyu saw their disbelief and smiled, “Yang Zhizhi, you haven’t had dinner yet, right? How about you and Yunlan stay for dinner today? You probably weighed yourself this morning, right? After dinner, weigh yourself again tomorrow morning, and you’ll see.”

“Then we’ll trouble you.” Xu Yunlan agreed without hesitation, knowing that Young Lady Xu’s food was always delicious.

In the evening, they had a pot of bean rice. The dish was spicy snail meat, but Yang Zhizhi couldn’t eat it. Xu Qinyu stir-fried snail meat with celery separately for her, using less oil and salt, but it was still delicious. It wasn’t exactly separate dishes, but the flavors of the stir-fried celery with snail and spicy snail meat were different, so everyone could eat.

Besides the snail meat, Xu Qinyu also made bone soup for lunch, using bones with meat still on them. This filled the courtyard with the aroma of meat and herbs. Finally, she stir-fried some shredded radish, cutting off the spicy white radish, which was just right to eat.

Xu Qinyu also asked Yang Zhizhi what she had eaten in the morning and found out she hadn’t had enough protein, so she fried two eggs for her, removing the yolks and feeding them to Hei Yu.

Hei Yu, a half-grown leopard, was always in the courtyard, looking bigger than an adult cat. Xu Yunlan and Yang Zhizhi weren’t afraid of it.

Bai Yu rarely came out during the day. It didn’t like bright light and was probably sleeping under Xu Qinyu’s bed.

The fried eggs were cooked with a thin layer of vegetable oil, and the yolks were removed. The eggs were then slightly simmered in a prepared sauce for half a minute before being served. The fried eggs were covered in a rich sauce, looking very appetizing.

Xu Qinyu served Yang Zhizhi’s food on a separate plate.

First, there were two fist-sized portions of bean rice, as coarse grains could be eaten a bit more, a small bowl of stir-fried celery with snail meat, three fried eggs, and a small half bowl of shredded radish.

Yang Zhizhi asked, “Can I eat this much?” She had eaten at Donglai Restaurant, and the portion size was similar to what she had in the morning.

Xu Qinyu smiled, “Eat up. You can’t eat the other dishes, but what I prepared for you is low in oil and salt. You can eat until you’re full, and it should taste good.”

People here usually ate only two meals a day, so Xu Qinyu adjusted Yang Zhizhi’s weight loss meals accordingly.

Dinner was eaten around four o’clock, and she could eat until she was about ninety percent full.

Yang Zhizhi, being quite large, couldn’t eat too little, or she wouldn’t be able to sustain it in the early stages, let alone later on.

Yang Zhizhi first tried the snail meat. She thought it would be hard to chew, but it wasn’t at all. It was slightly chewy but not tough, very fresh, and even had a bit of a sweet taste. The chives were also tender and refreshing.

Young Lady Xu made the dish using only a bit of ginger, a little salt, and a tiny bit of soy sauce, yet it turned out to be delicious. It was even better than the heavily seasoned dishes she had at Donglai Restaurant.

The stir-fried radish was also sweet and fresh, and the fried eggs covered in sauce, paired with the bean rice, were extremely satisfying and delicious. She never knew fried eggs could be eaten this way, not dry at all, retaining a bit of the crispy aroma of fried eggs while also being soft and flavorful from the sauce. It was simply a delicacy.

Even the bean rice was fragrant and tasty. Although she couldn’t eat the fragrant lotus root soup or the spicy snail meat, Yang Zhizhi didn’t feel deprived. She was very full.

After eating, Yang Zhizhi was a bit skeptical. Could such delicious food really help her lose weight?

Xu Yunlan was also very satisfied with the meal.

Snail meat, whether stir-fried or spicy, has its own unique flavor. Even after eating the spicy snail meat, the less oily and less salty stir-fried chives with snail meat made for Zhizhi were still amazing, with a bit of sweet crispness and juicy snail meat.

After dinner, Xu Qinyu cut some winter pears for everyone to eat.

Winter pears were almost out of season. There weren’t many fruits available here, and even fewer in winter and early spring.

Yang Zhizhi ate half a pear and heard Young Lady Xu say, “You didn’t eat much salt tonight, so you shouldn’t be thirsty when you get home. But still, drink a cup of plain water, not tea. Don’t drink water after the end of the evening. During the day, it’s best to drink seven or eight cups of plain water. Drink more water.”

Yang Zhizhi nodded. The two of them said goodbye to Young Lady Xu and took the carriage back. Xu Yunlan first had the driver take Zhizhi home, then borrowed the county magistrate’s carriage and driver to take herself back to the Xu family, and finally, the driver returned to the county office.

When Yang Zhizhi returned to the county office, she first went to see her mother, Madam Wei.

Madam Wei had seen her daughter faint from eating boiled vegetables a few days ago and was naturally worried. She had no other options and recently let her daughter eat at Donglai Restaurant, thinking Zhizhi had eaten there again.

Unexpectedly, Zhizhi leaned against her, saying, “Mom, today Yunlan took me to have dinner at the place where the custard buns were made. It turns out the custard buns aren’t from Qingfeng Pastry Shop or Donglai Restaurant, but made by a young cook who is only fifteen or sixteen.”

Madam Wei exclaimed, “A fifteen- or sixteen-year-old cook?” It was the first time she had heard of such a young and skilled pastry chef.

Yang Zhizhi smiled and said, “Yes, I was also very surprised when I saw Young Lady Xu. Later, she told me how to lose weight and made a weight-loss dinner for me. I ate a bowl of bean rice, a bowl of stir-fried chives with snail meat, stir-fried radish, two sauce-covered fried eggs, and finally half a pear. Mom, she is not only good at making pastries, but her dishes are also very delicious. She used very little oil and seasoning, but the taste was better than what I had at Donglai Restaurant. She also said that I should be two pounds lighter after going to the bathroom tomorrow morning.”

Young Lady Xu’s exact words were that she had been eating heavy oil and salt recently, so as long as she continued eating the weight-loss meals, she could lose several pounds in the first few days.

Madam Wei frowned. This young cook must be deceiving people. How could eating so much still result in weight loss? The food and drink must weigh a pound or two. How could she be lighter the next morning?

Good cooking skills shouldn’t be used to deceive people.

Madam Wei naturally didn’t believe it. She said, “Good cooking skills are just good cooking skills. If Zhizhi likes the food this young lady makes, you can buy some from her regularly.”

“Mom!” Yang Zhizhi was a bit angry, “Young Lady Xu is Yunlan’s friend. Don’t say that.”

Madam Wei said, “Alright, alright, I won’t say it.”

The mother and daughter stopped talking about Xu Qinyu. Yang Zhizhi chatted with Madam Wei for a while and then went back to her room to wash up and rest.

After eating Xu Qinyu’s food, Yang Zhizhi was a bit hopeful, but Madam Wei didn’t believe it at all. Having never tasted Xu Qinyu’s food, she didn’t think a fifteen or sixteen-year-old cook could have such amazing skills. She probably just made some new dishes that Zhizhi hadn’t eaten before. Wasn’t it said that the young lady specialized in selling fish, and the taste was good? She probably just had some recipes for river fish.

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The next morning, Yang Zhizhi first went to the bathroom and then washed up.

After washing up, she felt hungry and thought about getting dressed and going to Donglai Restaurant for breakfast.

Looking at her chubby face in the bronze mirror, Yang Zhizhi suddenly remembered her weight-loss dinner at Young Lady Xu’s place yesterday.

Feeling a sudden urge, she went to weigh herself.

Actually, she didn’t weigh herself every day.

There was a large scale specifically for weighing heavy objects, with a chair to place the item to be weighed. Even this large scale could only weigh up to two hundred pounds. Yang Zhizhi’s weight hadn’t reached two hundred pounds, but she didn’t weigh herself regularly because it required help and was a bit troublesome.

She called for her maid to help and weighed herself.

Looking at the scale, she was stunned. Was she two pounds lighter than yesterday?

She had weighed herself yesterday and was exactly 180 pounds. Now she was only 178.

Yang Zhizhi was both surprised and delighted. She hadn’t expected Young Lady Xu to be telling the truth. Despite eating so much, she was actually lighter.

In fact, she hadn’t eaten until she was overly full at dinner yesterday. She was just satisfied, and by the time she went to sleep, she was slightly hungry, but the hunger wasn’t intense and didn’t affect her. She fell asleep with this slight hunger.

Yang Zhizhi was overjoyed and went to the main courtyard.

Madam Wei and County Magistrate Yang Jiarong had just gotten dressed and heard their daughter’s voice outside. Madam Wei hurriedly opened the door and saw her daughter lifting her skirt and rushing towards her.

“Mom, Mom, I’m two pounds lighter!”

Madam Wei was surprised, “Really?”

Yang Zhizhi smiled, “Ask Chun Hong. Chun Hong helped me weigh myself. I’m indeed two pounds lighter than yesterday morning.”

Chun Hong nodded vigorously, “Madam, the Young Lady is really two pounds lighter.”

Madam Wei gasped. That young cook wasn’t deceiving Zhizhi; she was really amazing.

Yang Jiarong, not knowing what had happened, couldn’t help but ask.

Madam Wei then recounted what Zhizhi had told her yesterday.

A young cook? Xu Yunlan also knew her? Yang Jiarong thought this young cook must be the one Officer Xu had invited to cook during the New Year banquet. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be familiar with Xu Yunlan.

Yang Jiarong told the family, and Madam Wei was surprised, “It’s her?”

Her husband had mentioned this to her but hadn’t dared to tell Zhizhi, fearing she would be greedy.

Madam Wei couldn’t help but say, “I heard she’s only fifteen or sixteen, just a bit older than Zhizhi. How can her cooking skills be so impressive?”

Yang Jiarong said, “It’s just talent. Some people are naturally good at studying and have a photographic memory, while others aren’t suited for studying but excel in other areas. In every profession, there are outstanding individuals.”

Since the young cook had real skills, Madam Wei decided to visit her in person. If she could make Zhizhi feel full and help her lose weight, Madam Wei had to take it seriously. She hoped Zhizhi could reach a normal weight and be healthy.

After washing up and changing clothes, Madam Wei went to Osmanthus Alley with Zhizhi.

Zhizhi also sent Chun Hong to the Xu family to inform Yunlan that she was going to Osmanthus Alley.

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Xu Qinyu was watching Cheng Ge’er braise pork intestines. Although she had given Cheng Ge’er the recipe and proportions, she still prepared it herself while Cheng Ge’er watched.

Once the pork intestines were ready, Xu Qinyu asked Cheng Ge’er to deliver them to Butcher Tian.

When Madam Wei and her daughter arrived at Osmanthus Alley, they smelled a particularly rich aroma.

Yang Zhizhi said, “It must be Young Lady Xu cooking.”

When they reached the Pei family’s door, they got off the carriage, and Yang Zhizhi saw the young boy from yesterday carrying a large basket of things out.

Wen Shuncheng recognized Yang Zhizhi and scratched his head, saying, “Sister, are you looking for my fourth sister-in-law? She’s in the courtyard.”

Yang Zhizhi blushed slightly, nodded, and followed Madam Wei into the courtyard.

Sure enough, they saw Young Lady Xu and her mother-in-law busy in the courtyard.

Xu Qinyu heard footsteps and turned to see Yang Zhizhi. She smiled and said, “How are you, Young Lady Yang? Have you lost weight?”

Yang Zhizhi excitedly replied, “Young Lady Xu, you’re amazing. I really lost two pounds.”

Xu Qinyu knew Yang Zhizhi would lose weight.

Yang Zhizhi then introduced her mother to Young Lady Xu, saying, “This is my mother.”

Xu Qinyu nodded slightly to Madam Wei.

Madam Wei approached Xu Qinyu and said warmly, “I came today for Zhizhi’s weight loss. As a mother, my biggest concern is Zhizhi. She has been a foodie since she was young and has always been overweight, often ridiculed by others. Now, she is getting heavier, and her health is deteriorating. The doctor also said she should lose weight. We have tried several times to eat boiled vegetables but always failed. Now that we know she can lose weight while feeling full, I hope Young Lady Xu can prepare breakfast and dinner for Zhizhi. Rest assured, I will not treat you unfairly.”