Chapter 75

After reading the two letters, Xu Qinyu felt warm inside. Whether it was the original body’s parents and younger brother or the original body’s uncle, they were all good people. What she could do was to help them live better lives together. Now, her uncle had an income of several hundred taels of silver a year, which could be saved to rent a larger shop and expand the business. In the future, they will earn more and more. Her uncle also gave one-tenth of the profits to her mother, so her mother wouldn’t have to worry about money anymore.

Thinking of this, Xu Qinyu finally felt at ease. She smiled and said, “Brother Liu, are you leaving for the capital tomorrow, just like last time? Then I’ll write two letters tonight and ask you to take them to my mother tomorrow.”

As for the three hundred taels of silver, she definitely wouldn’t accept it. As long as she put two thousand taels of silver notes in the letter, her mother would understand everything and wouldn’t worry about her not having money and keep sending her money.

Ma Liu smiled and said, “Yes, just like last time. I’ll find an inn to stay in tonight, and tomorrow, after you give me the letters, I’ll head back to the capital by water route with my boss.”

Xu Qinyu thanked him and chatted with Ma Liu for a while.

Ma Liu talked about some things in the capital. He didn’t know much about the court affairs, but he mentioned how the court had sent people to kill the disaster victims during the dysentery outbreak. He said that the capital was a bit chaotic during that time, but it got better later, although the people still had some complaints.

Finally, Ma Liu scratched his head and said, “I also want to thank you, Young Lady Xu. When I got back, I handed the recipe for the wooden barrel fermented tofu you gave me to my mother and wife. They started making it, and now we earn at least twenty taels of silver a month.”

When he first brought the recipe back, his mother thought it was just moldy tofu and doubted how much money it could make. His mother could also make moldy tofu, which was very salty and dry, and tasted a bit bitter. It was meant to be eaten with rice, so it was naturally salty. However, the wooden barrel-fermented tofu made by Young Lady Xu was completely different from moldy tofu. It looked different and tasted delicate and delicious.

When Ma Liu told his mother, she was half-believing and half-doubting. In the end, it was Ma Liu who persuaded her for a long time before she decided to try making it according to the recipe.

At first, they sold it to neighbors for one wen per two pieces. Although a large piece of tofu cost only one wen, and one piece of tofu could make thirty or forty pieces of fermented tofu, it required some spices and wine to make, so it was naturally more expensive than other people’s moldy tofu. Other people’s moldy tofu cost one wen for six or seven pieces, but theirs could only be sold for one wen per two pieces.

Although the neighbors thought it was expensive, after tasting it once, they found it really delicious and couldn’t eat the salty and bitter moldy tofu anymore. When they heard it required spices and wine to make, they didn’t complain about the price. If they wanted to eat it, they would buy a few wen worth.

At first, they only earned a few hundred wen or one or two taels of silver. Later, the reputation of the wooden barrel-fermented tofu spread, and people from all the nearby alleys liked their wooden barrel-fermented tofu. They earned two or three taels of silver a month. His mother and wife were very happy and said they must thank Young Lady Xu.

Later, a chef from a restaurant tried their wooden barrel-fermented tofu, used it as a seasoning to develop dishes, and found it particularly delicious. He came to buy the recipe, offering a hundred taels of silver.

He wasn’t foolish, so he didn’t sell the recipe. His mother was tempted, but he explained the pros and cons to her. If they sold the recipe, others would definitely monopolize the entire capital. Then, only the nearby neighbors would continue to buy their wooden barrel-fermented tofu. If they didn’t sell the recipe, even the big restaurants would have to buy the tofu from them.

Moreover, Young Lady Xu gave him this recipe so he wouldn’t sell it to others without her consent. In the end, the chef had no choice but to tell his boss, and they ordered a large amount of wooden barrel fermented tofu from him every month.

The fermented tofu could be used as a seasoning, and the restaurant customers also liked to eat it. During breakfast, they would order a few pieces, which paired well with noodles or porridge.

So the supply was still large. Now, his mother even hired relatives to help with the work. His mother guarded the most critical ingredients, not letting the relatives see them. The wooden barrel-fermented tofu business grew bigger, with two or three restaurants ordering from them, earning at least ten taels of silver a month, sometimes even twenty taels.

He had tasted his mother’s wooden barrel-fermented tofu, which wasn’t as good as Young Lady Xu’s, but it was still quite delicious. If the people in the capital tasted Young Lady Xu’s wooden barrel-fermented tofu, they would find it incredibly delicious.

Earning twenty taels of silver a month was something their family couldn’t even imagine. With the money earned, his mother repaired the house and said they shouldn’t flaunt their wealth. They kept the money and planned to make other arrangements after earning more in the future. But he didn’t hide it from Young Lady Xu. Without her recipe, he wouldn’t have earned so much.

Xu Qinyu knew that giving the recipe to Ma Liu would allow him to earn some money every month. Selling it in small quantities might not earn much, but once a chef discovered its deliciousness, it could be used as a seasoning or eaten as a side dish.

Fermented tofu could be used to cook ribs, stew fish, stir-fry vegetables, and make various dishes with great taste.

She also made a lot of wooden barrel-fermented tofu every year, but hers was used as a seasoning and served with porridge and breakfast, which was given to customers for free. Many people liked her wooden barrel-fermented tofu, spicy cabbage, and various pickled vegetables and asked if she sold them.

Naturally, she didn’t sell them. The restaurant had limited staff, and what they made was only enough to supply the customers eating at the restaurant.

Xu Qinyu chatted with Ma Liu for a few more moments, then saw him off, planning to take him to the inn.

Ma Liu didn’t let her see him off and said he would stay at the same inn as last year. He would come back tomorrow to get the letters and asked her to rest early.

Xu Qinyu didn’t insist. After Ma Liu left, she went back to her room to write letters to her parents and younger brother, asking them to take care of themselves. She also mentioned that she no longer lacked money, earning a few hundred taels of silver every month from the restaurant and partnering with others in the winery business, which would earn even more in the future. She wrote a separate letter to Brother Li, telling him she was doing well in the border town and not to worry. She told him he was already a little man and should take care of their parents, especially their mother.

Then she wrote a letter to her uncle, asking him to take good care of her mother and mentioning that she was earning quite a bit. She told him not to send her any more money and to save up to rent a larger shop and expand the business.

After finishing the letters, Xu Qinyu placed the three hundred taels of silver notes along with two thousand taels of silver notes in the letter to her parents, making a thick stack.

With the letters ready, Xu Qinyu went to the kitchen to make some jerky for Ma Liu to take with him on his journey back the next day.

Making jerky requires pork tenderloin. She had two pieces at home, but it wasn’t enough, so she went out to buy more from nearby butchers. She visited several butchers to get enough tenderloin, which wasn’t easy to sell because it was pure lean meat and tender. People preferred fattier pork belly, which had more oil.

Making jerky was simple. She boiled ginger, scallions, Hua Diao wine, star anise, bay leaves, and peppercorns with salt, then added the tenderloin and simmered it for two-quarters of an hour.

After cooking, she took out the meat and cut it into thumb-sized strips. She heated oil in a pan and stir-fried the meat strips until the moisture was gone. Then she added five-spice powder, pepper powder, and Zanthoxylum powder, continued frying for a while, and it was done. The jerky was fragrant and spicy when hot, with a rich texture.

When it cooled, it became drier but chewy, and the more you ate, the more flavorful it became.

Xu Qinyu had made this jerky before. Last year, when Fourth Brother went out, she made jerky for him to take along. Making the jerky reminded her of Fourth Brother.

Where was Fourth Brother at this moment? Could he have met with an accident? But she quickly dismissed the thought. Fourth Brother was skilled in martial arts, proficient in medicine, and could read the stars. She didn’t believe he would be in trouble.

Sighing, Xu Qinyu only hoped Fourth Brother would return safely. She put the jerky away, and Madam Wen came to tidy up the kitchen.

Xu Qinyu was about to wash up and go to bed when she heard someone knocking at the courtyard gate. Thinking Ma Liu had returned for something, she opened the gate and said, “Brother Liu, why are you…”

But when she saw the person outside, she was stunned. She stared at the tall figure in plain clothes, who seemed darker and taller but still handsome, with chiseled features that had become sharper. When he saw her, the sharpness softened.

Xu Qinyu’s shock turned into joy. Without thinking, she instinctively rushed towards the man and hugged him, saying excitedly, “Fourth Brother, you’re finally back.”

When Pei Weixuan saw Yuniang at the gate, the sharpness around him naturally dissipated. He looked at Yuniang, who seemed unchanged from over a year ago, except she was fairer. Back then, her face was still recovering from frostbite, but now her cheeks were smooth and white like peeled eggs. Her once yellowish hair was now black and shiny, tied into a simple bun with a plain wooden hairpin.

His gaze lingered on the hairpin for a moment. He was about to call her name when she suddenly rushed over and hugged him. She must have been very excited, hugging him tightly, even wrapping his arms around him.

Pei Weixuan hesitated for a moment, then naturally relaxed his body. After a brief pause, he reached out and held her waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace.

Xu Qinyu, realizing Fourth Brother was also hugging her, didn’t think much of it. She assumed he was just as excited to see her after being away for over a year.

“Fourth Brother, you’re finally back,” Xu Qinyu said, looking up at him. She suddenly realized they were still hugging tightly and stepped back, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Pei Weixuan gently released her.

Xu Qinyu, feeling both excited and happy, said, “Fourth Brother, you must not have had dinner yet. Go wash up, and I’ll cook you a bowl of noodles.”

“Okay,” he replied, his voice slightly hoarse, his gaze lingering on her face.

Still in the kitchen, Madam Wen heard Xu Qinyu mention “Fourth Brother” and thought she had misheard. But when she heard it again, she realized it might be true. She hurried out of the kitchen and saw her son standing at the gate, taller and thinner. Tears welled up in her eyes, “Weixuan…”

Pei Weixuan looked at Madam Wen, “Mother, I’m back.”

Madam Wen cried, “It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back.”

Nothing was more important than having her son return safely.

Xu Qinyu didn’t cry, but seeing her mother and Fourth Brother like this made her feel a bit emotional, and her eyes were slightly red. She said, “Mother, you talk to Fourth Brother for a while. I’ll go cook him a bowl of noodles.”

After saying that, she went into the kitchen.

Her mother-in-law had already cleaned the pot. Xu Qinyu fried two eggs, poured water into the pot, and brought it to a boil before adding the handmade noodles. She always kept some at home, and sometimes when Ning Jie’er didn’t go to the restaurant for breakfast, she would make some simple dishes for Feng Ge’er and Yuan Jie’er.

Ning Jie’er could now make some simple meals, though the taste was somewhat ordinary.

While the noodles were cooking, Xu Qinyu planned to prepare the seasoning in a bowl.

Pei Weixuan and Madam Wen had already entered the kitchen. Seeing Xu Qinyu’s actions, Pei Weixuan naturally took a large bowl from the cupboard and handed it to Xu Qinyu.

Xu Qinyu took it and smiled at Fourth Brother, “Fourth Brother, you sit and rest for a while. The noodles will be ready soon.”

She prepared the seasoning in the large bowl: a spoonful of lard, a bit of salt, some soy sauce and vinegar, and finally, a handful of chopped scallions. When the noodles were cooked, she scooped a few ladles of noodle soup into the large bowl, then added the noodles and placed the fried eggs on top.

There were also some pea shoots at home. She cut a handful, blanched them in the pot for a few seconds, and placed them in the bowl, arranging them slightly.

A bowl of delicious and fragrant Yangchun noodles was ready.

Madam Wen didn’t ask her son where he had been for the past year. She was busy boiling water so that after Xuan Ge’er finished eating, he could go back to his room to wash up.

Ning Jie’er, with Feng Ge’er and Yuan Jie’er, heard the fourth brother’s voice and led the two children out. They entered the kitchen and saw Pei Weixuan. The three of them were stunned for a moment before Ning Jie’er excitedly called out, “Fourth Brother.”

Yuan Jie’er also stammered, “Uncle.”

The little girl had experienced a great upheaval in her family, seeing her infant brother killed and her mother hanging herself with a white silk ribbon. She was so frightened that she refused to speak. After nearly two years in the border town, her emotional knot hadn’t completely untied, but in the past two months, she had started to speak, though rarely. The first person she called out to was her aunt, Xu Qinyu, which made Xu Qinyu so excited that she hugged and kissed the little girl.

It all started when Xu Qinyu noticed Yuan Jie’er was unhappy during breakfast on her day off.

Having spent time in an orphanage, Xu Qinyu was sensitive to children’s emotions. Even though Yuan Jie’er didn’t speak and her behavior wasn’t obvious, Xu Qinyu could still tell the little girl was in a bad mood. After breakfast, she secretly asked Yuan Jie’er what was bothering her, but the little girl just shook her head and said nothing.

It wasn’t until the afternoon that Xu Qinyu figured out what was going on.

Yuan Jie’er, now five years old, had been living in Osmanthus Alley for nearly two years and naturally had her own playmates. She often played house with other girls of the same age from a few nearby families. Occasionally, she would go to find her little playmates because they were all familiar neighbors. During the day, women would sit at their doorsteps, working and chatting, so there was no need to worry.

In the afternoon, a little girl named Xiao Xiao from Osmanthus Alley came to invite Yuan Jie’er to play at her house. But Yuan Jie’er didn’t want to go and just shook her head.

Xu Qinyu remembered that Yuan Jie’er had only recently started playing with Xiao Xiao. Previously, Xiao Xiao had always thought Yuan Jie’er was too young to play with. It was only in the past two months that they started playing together.

Xiao Xiao was taller and two years older than Yuan Jie’er; she was already seven. Seeing Yuan Jie’er refuse, she pleaded, “Yuan Jie’er, come play with me. We’ll play house. This time, you be the daughter, and I’ll be the mother. I’ll take care of you.”

Xu Qinyu felt a bit embarrassed when she heard this. Unexpectedly, whether in ancient times or in the modern era, little girls always loved playing house. When she was a child in the orphanage, she also loved playing house. However, at that time, she was eight or nine years old, and playing house was quite real. They would prepare firewood, hide in a clearing behind the orphanage, and cook fish, corn, and crabs over the fire. The fish and crabs were caught by her little friends in the river using baskets. They would eat happily together. After cooking, they knew they should extinguish the fire.

Seeing Yuan Jie’er and Xiao Xiao wanting to play house, she felt nostalgic.

Playing house was very fun for the children.

Xu Qinyu wondered why Yuan Jie’er would refuse. She occasionally saw Yuan Jie’er happily playing house with other little girls in the alley.

Xiao Xiao, seeing Yuan Jie’er unwilling, reached out to pull her. Then Xu Qinyu noticed a bracelet on Xiao Xiao’s wrist. It looked very familiar—it was the one she had bought for Yuan Jie’er.

Although she was usually busy, sometimes when she had free time at the restaurant, she would stroll around the South Street market, looking at cosmetics and jewelry shops, and naturally buying some. She didn’t buy much for herself, as it was inconvenient to wear jewelry while working. She only bought small silk flower hairpins, not even silver or gold ones.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like gold jewelry, but in her previous life, she had plenty of money and had owned all kinds of jewelry. She preferred unique, simple, or stunningly beautiful pieces.

In ancient times, there were also many beautiful pieces of jewelry, such as those with intricate filigree inlays. These pieces were exquisitely crafted and very expensive, so she didn’t buy them as she had no occasion to wear them.

Although she didn’t buy much for herself, she liked buying for her family, especially for Yuan Jie’er. She bought many cute hair ties, silk flowers, and beautiful bracelets.

Yuan Jie’er, once the daughter of a prince, had lived a life of luxury and didn’t lack jewelry. However, after coming to the border, she had endured hardships. Now that life was better, she enjoyed these pretty little accessories.

The bracelet on Xiao Xiao’s wrist was exactly the same as the one Xu Qinyu had bought for Yuan Jie’er. It wasn’t expensive by her current standards, but it cost a whole string of coins. It was made of copper wire with tiny jade fragments, each the size of a grain of rice, in various shapes but finely polished. The bracelet was strung together with these tiny jade pieces, which came in several colors and looked quite pretty when the sunlight hit them, sparkling. Yuan Jie’er loved this bracelet and wore it every day.

Seeing the identical bracelet on Xiao Xiao’s wrist, Xu Qinyu immediately knew something was wrong. It must be Yuan Jie’er’s bracelet.

It wasn’t surprising she thought this way. Xiao Xiao’s family had low monthly wages, and their meals were mostly bean porridge and bean rice. They wouldn’t buy such an expensive bracelet for a little girl. Moreover, the jewelry shop owner had told her that this bracelet was unique. Even if there were others, the colors would be different. The colors of the tiny jade pieces on Xiao Xiao’s bracelet were exactly the same as Yuan Jie’er’s. But Xu Qinyu didn’t confront Xiao Xiao directly. She just smiled and said, “Xiao Xiao, your bracelet is very pretty. I remember Yuan Jie’er had one just like it. What a coincidence.”

Hearing this, Xiao Xiao quickly pulled her hand back and covered the bracelet with her sleeve, stammering, “This, this is from my mother.”

Yuan Jie’er looked at her angrily and then turned to Xu Qinyu.

Xu Qinyu understood. Xiao Xiao must have taken the bracelet from Yuan Jie’er while playing or forcibly borrowed it, saying she would wear it for a few days.

Yuan Jie’er loved this bracelet and wouldn’t have given it to Xiao Xiao.

Xu Qinyu felt a bit helpless. They were all little girls and neighbors. She couldn’t just scold a seven-year-old girl. She could only say, “Yuan Jie’er hasn’t worn her bracelet for a few days. Xiao Xiao, your bracelet looks just like hers. That bracelet costs a tael of silver. Xiao Xiao, did your mother really buy it for you?”

The little girl, over seven years old, knew how much a tael of silver was worth. Her mother earned only two or three hundred copper coins a month working for others. A tael of silver was worth much more.

The little girl hesitated and didn’t dare to say the bracelet was from her mother. If Xu Qinyu asked her mother, she would definitely question where it came from. If she found out it was taken from Yuan Jie’er, she would be furious. Actually, she just thought the bracelet looked pretty on Yuan Jie’er and asked to borrow it for a few days. But Yuan Jie’er refused, so she forcibly took it from her wrist. This wasn’t the first time it had happened. A few days ago, she had played with Yuan Jie’er and saw her hair tie, which Xu Qinyu also bought. It was made of silk and very pretty, costing dozens of copper coins for two.

Seeing Yuan Jie’er’s hair tie, Xiao Xiao asked to borrow it, saying she would wear it for a few days.

Yuan Jie’er also disagreed. She directly pulled the hair tie off Yuan Jie’er’s head. When Yuan Jie’er tried to take it back, she pushed her down and ran away. But she didn’t dare to wear the hair tie at home, fearing her mother would see it and ask where it came from. She couldn’t explain, so she only wore it secretly sometimes.

For a long time after that, Yuan Jie’er would reach out to her whenever she saw her, but Yuan Jie’er couldn’t speak, and she wouldn’t say anything either. When other little girls asked what they were doing, Xiao Xiao would say, “How should I know what Yuan Jie’er wants? Let’s ignore her and go play house.”

But the other little girls liked Yuan Jie’er and insisted on playing with her.

Yuan Jie’er was generous and would bring snacks from home to share with the other girls.

On the day she took Yuan Jie’er’s bracelet, Yuan Jie’er wasn’t playing with her but with other friends. When the others were called home, she pulled Yuan Jie’er to continue playing. Yuan Jie’er still refused, and during the struggle, she saw the beautiful bracelet on Yuan Jie’er’s wrist. She couldn’t take her eyes off it, mesmerized by the sparkling bracelet.

Xiao Xiao used the same trick she had used to take Yuan Jie’er’s hair tie, saying she would borrow it for a few days and then return it. In reality, she had no intention of returning it. She hadn’t returned the hair ties after a month. She knew Yuan Jie’er couldn’t speak and wouldn’t tell her family.

Now that Xu Qinyu had discovered the bracelet, Xiao Xiao was flustered and stammered, “I-I lied. I actually found it. It should be Yuan Jie’er’s. I’ll return it to her now.” She took off the bracelet, handed it to Yuan Jie’er, and tried to run home. But Yuan Jie’er grabbed her clothes and reached out again.

Xu Qinyu looked at Xiao Xiao, knowing there must be something else.

Seeing Xu Qinyu staring at her, Xiao Xiao panicked and stammered, “I-I borrowed a hair tie from Yuan Jie’er a few days ago and forgot to return it. I’ll go get it now.”

Yuan Jie’er then let go of Xiao Xiao’s clothes, allowing her to go get the hair tie.

After Xiao Xiao left, Yuan Jie’er went to the wooden basin, washed her bracelet in the water, and put it back on her wrist. She then turned to Xu Qinyu, smiled, and called out, “Aunt.”