Dining Establishments

Zheng Shanci looked at Yu Lanyi, and this time he didn’t avoid Yu Lanyi’s gaze. After the two of them finished washing up one after the other, they each lay down in the bedding, both lying flat.

Yu Lanyi tentatively moved closer, and Zheng Shanci didn’t react. He moved bit by bit, resting his head on Zheng Shanci’s shoulder.

Yu Lanyi’s hair tickled Zheng Shanci’s neck, making him feel a bit itchy, and his heart was also tickled. This was the first time they had been so close on this bed. However… Zheng Shanci moved Yu Lanyi’s head back onto the pillow and said, “Be careful not to get a stiff neck.”

Yu Lanyi: “…”

He was furious.

Yu Lanyi turned his back.

Seeing that he seemed angry, Zheng Shanci hesitated for a moment, then placed a hand on Yu Lanyi’s waist, pulling him close. The warmth of Yu Lanyi’s breath spread softly across his neck.

Zheng Shanci’s lips, carrying a gentle heat, landed on the back of Yu Lanyi’s neck. His kisses were tender, like a spring breeze—light, fleeting, soothing. Then, without warning, he nibbled lightly with his teeth.

Honestly, that was even more unbearable than simply biting.

Yu Lanyi’s body stiffened at first, but gradually relaxed. They had never been this close before—not truly. Even on their wedding night, they had only pretended to be intimate under the pressure of being watched. It had been a performance, not a connection.

But this time, there were no eyes watching, no pretense—just a shared, silent understanding.

The heat from Zheng Shanci’s palm stayed on his waist, lingering. Yu Lanyi’s earlobes flushed red. His thoughts scattered, drifting from memory to memory—his father, his dad, his elder brother, Lü Jin…

And eventually, they circled back to Zheng Shanci.

When he and Lü Jin had first reached the age for marriage talks, Yu Lanyi had received many proposals. Because of Yu Fulang’s own history, Yu Lanyi had high standards for choosing a partner.

He wanted someone who would belong only to him. If outsiders entered the household, it wouldn’t feel like a home anymore—it would be filled with strangers.

Many noble sons had been proposed to him, but the moment he voiced that desire for exclusivity, their expressions would turn incredulous. Some scoffed impatiently, saying,

“How can you think like that? We have to spread our branches and leaves. Being with just one person forever? Impossible.”

Part of his poor reputation in the Capital stemmed from this exact mindset.

But now, with Zheng Shanci, he felt different—safe, almost understood. Especially since Zheng Shanci had promised his father not to take concubines before the age of thirty. After spending time together, Yu Lanyi had come to see that Zheng Shanci’s integrity wasn’t a façade. He would keep that promise.

Thinking of this made Yu Lanyi’s heart swell with quiet joy.

If Zheng Shanci didn’t make mistakes during his term, and with a little effort from his family, he might be able to return to the Capital. There was money and a home waiting for them there. They could find a peaceful, leisurely post for Zheng Shanci. A calm, stable life.

Yu Lanyi was daydreaming, completely caught up in the thought.

And for the first time in a long time, he felt genuinely pleased.

…

The next day, when Zheng Shanci woke up, Yu Lanyi was sleeping in his arms, his face rosy and still in a deep sleep. Zheng Shanci didn’t disturb Yu Lanyi’s sleep, quietly getting out of bed and heading to the county office.

In Da Yan, they practiced a five-day workweek. When Zheng Shanci arrived at the county office, he asked Wangfu to find Qi County Deputy.

Qi County Deputy arrived shortly after, first greeting him, “What does Zheng Daren need from this official?”

“The autumn harvest season is upon us, and this is usually under your responsibility, so I wanted to ask you about it. The court has mandated the use of standardized molds for measuring rice. I’ve checked, and the molds meet the court’s standards. However, I’ve heard that there are significant loopholes in the weighing process during the autumn harvest. Sometimes, a yamen runner’s hand might shake, or they might deliberately make things difficult, causing the people to suffer.”

Qi County Deputy thought it was something else; this was a tacitly accepted practice in the county office. Going to the countryside to collect grain was considered a good job, with yamen runners competing for it, indicating there were benefits to be had. “Where water is too clear, there are no fish,” he said, “We have to give the yamen runners some perks, or who would follow you to do the work properly in the future?”

Qi County Deputy said, “Daren, I will warn the yamen runners to restrain themselves.”

Zheng Shanci chuckled at this, “Do you think a warning will make them behave? I have a plan. When they go, I’ll have them searched, and when they return, they’ll be searched again. If I find they’ve taken anything from the people, I’ll have them beaten and sent back. Once they take off their official robes, who among the people will fear them?”

Qi County Deputy gasped, realizing Zheng Shanci was serious. This new county magistrate was indeed tough, quick to resort to beatings and dismissals.

Xinfeng County had indeed changed. The previous county magistrate was indifferent, content with his monthly salary and the annual tributes from the city’s wealthy families, acting as a hands-off manager. Now, Zheng Shanci wanted everything, trying to grasp everything in his hands.

Qi County Deputy said, “Since Zheng Daren says so, I will tell it as it is.”

Zheng Shanci waved him off.

He knew the yamen runners in Xinfeng County were used to being lazy, eagerly anticipating the chance to profit during the autumn harvest. Now that he had disrupted and warned them, they would surely curse him in their hearts.

But this practice was inherently wrong; just because it was tacitly accepted didn’t make it right. Zheng Shanci knew he couldn’t completely stop this, but he couldn’t ignore it either.

When Qi County Deputy spread Zheng Shanci’s words, the yamen runners were indeed in an uproar.

“Zheng Daren just arrived and wants to cut off our income!”

“Cutting off someone’s income is like killing their parents; Zheng Daren is too ruthless.”

“As long as we’re careful, it won’t matter. We just can’t be too blatant.”

Some were indignant, but they knew better than to openly curse Zheng Shanci. The timid yamen runners didn’t dare continue, while the bolder ones planned to be more discreet, taking some bribes in private.

Zheng Shanci then sought out Registrar Jiang to inquire about crops that could be grown in sandy soil in Da Yan. Registrar Jiang mentioned a few, and Zheng Shanci took note.

Starting is always the hardest part, but as long as you take it step by step, you can get things done.

The yamen runners didn’t dare oppose Zheng Shanci. On his first day, he had dared to confront the head of the Xia family, making them uneasy. They could only be thoroughly searched before going to the countryside for their duties.

After handling official business, Zheng Shanci had time to deal with his personal matters. He called Wangfu in and said, “Go find a good shop in the county, one suitable for a food business.”

Wangfu acknowledged and left.

Zheng Shanci initially selected a few crops for large-scale planting in the town, so they wouldn’t be scattered. Chili peppers, peanuts, hawthorn, goji berries, licorice, and soybeans. Planting poplar, willow, jujube, and pear trees would not only prevent sand erosion but also produce fruit that could be sold. Chili peppers could be made into chili sauce for sale, peanuts and soybeans could be pressed for oil, and hawthorn, goji berries, and licorice could be used in medicine and sold to herbalists.

Zheng Shanci thought he couldn’t force the people to plant these things, only guide them. He planned for the county office to purchase chili peppers, peanuts, and hawthorn…

Chili peppers were two wen per jin on the market. They weren’t native to Da Yan but were introduced from foreign lands. Not many people had planted them before, but after tasting them, the people dared to plant them.

As for chili sauce, Zheng Shanci planned to price it at twelve wen, and when buying chili peppers from the market, he would pay three wen per jin. He would first use the money earned from the food business to open a chili sauce shop and hire staff.

For the other crops, the county office would pay one wen more than the market price, and this price wouldn’t change for a while. It wasn’t the right time to plant these crops now; they would have to wait until next year. In the meantime, he needed to gather capital.

The county office’s files were categorized, and some tricky cases were sent to Zheng Shanci. Unimportant or trivial matters were usually handled by Qi County Deputy and Registrar Jiang, who often delegated them to their subordinates.

One of the county magistrate’s duties was to judge cases. Zheng Shanci rubbed his temples. Being the head of a county, even with so many people in the county office, he felt like he was doing multiple jobs.

Just a seventh-rank civil servant.

Zheng Shanci thought and then focused on reading the files.

…

Yu Lanyi had a good night’s sleep and didn’t get up until the sun was high. As expected, Zheng Shanci wasn’t home. Jin Yun came in to attend to him, and Yu Lanyi remembered that Zheng Shanci had mentioned attending the wedding banquet of the Cheng family’s eldest grandson tonight. He didn’t know that weddings here were held in the evening. The customs in Xinfeng County were different from those in the Capital City. He needed to prepare a gift for the Cheng family.

“Is there anything in the storeroom that’s presentable but not too extravagant?”

Jin Yun thought for a moment, “I remember that on your sixteenth birthday, a court official gifted you a white pearl, of excellent quality, round and full, perfect for a gift.”

Yu Lanyi wasn’t fond of pearls; he preferred gold jewelry. Whenever Yu Changxing received rewards from Emperor Wu Ming, he mostly gave them to Yu Lanyi, or else they were casually stored in the storeroom.

“Then wrap it up.”

Yu Lanyi spent quite a while at the dressing table, looking at himself from different angles, and asked, “How do I look today?”

Jin Yun, though puzzled, replied, “Young Master, you look radiant and noble today.”

“Ahem, that’s it. Going with Zheng Shanci to give a gift requires some formality.” Yu Lanyi stood up and went to the wardrobe to find clothes.

Jin Yun agreed with Yu Lanyi’s idea until he saw him change several outfits in a row, leaving Jin Yun dumbfounded. Even if the young master valued this wedding banquet, he didn’t need to change so many outfits. In his view, Yu Lanyi hadn’t even been this formal for palace banquets.

After much deliberation, Yu Lanyi chose a blue outer robe, put on his black clothes, and found a jade crown. His symptoms of acclimatization had mostly subsided, and after drinking a bowl of medicinal soup, he grimaced and ate a piece of candied fruit.

“Alright, I think I’m almost recovered and don’t need to take medicine anymore,” Yu Lanyi said with annoyance.

“Young Master, you still have some rashes,” Jin Yun reminded him.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Yu Lanyi became obedient and said, “Then I still need to take medicine.”

He thought about how he had spoken to Zheng Shanci yesterday with rashes on his face and wanted to bury himself in the bedding.

…

In the Capital City

Yu Shiyan met with the second son of the Loyal and Righteous Earl’s family, a man who was arrogant and frivolous, with a hint of provocation in his words towards Yu Shiyan. Yu Shiyan’s face turned cold, “If you have nothing else, I’ll be leaving.”

The second son of the Earl’s family was attracted to Yu Shiyan’s good looks, and the colder Yu Shiyan was, the more interested he became. “You’re a concubine’s son from the Marquis’s family, and I’m the legitimate second son of the Earl’s family, with an official position. I know about your background, and marrying you as my main husband is already a blessing for you. Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. I only have concubines and chambermaids, and I need to have an outside mistress. Giving you the dignity of a main husband isn’t good enough?”

The more he spoke, the more he felt that allowing Yu Shiyan to be his main husband was already generous. Some people didn’t even give their main husbands any dignity, but he was willing to give Yu Shiyan dignity. The household needed a main husband to manage the courtyard, and if Yu Shiyan bore a son, that would be the legitimate heir. He was well aware of the dirty affairs in the back courtyard and wouldn’t let a concubine’s son surpass the legitimate heir.

Some people were just satisfying their desires and curiosity, unlike a peaceful household.

He clearly explained his desires to Yu Shiyan, saying that if he accepted, they could spend their lives together. If not, there were plenty of handsome young men in the Capital City.

The second son of the Earl’s family shared his thoughts on legitimate heirs with Yu Shiyan.

“If I die first, your son will inherit my property, and then you and your son can live in the courtyard. I won’t be able to control you, and you can do as you please.”

Yu Shiyan laughed in anger at this, realizing that the second son of the Earl’s family meant he could find a lover after his death.

Yu Shiyan couldn’t accept it, feeling as if their marriage was just for having children or finding someone reliable to bear children.

“Thank you for your kind offer, but I’ll be leaving now.”

Without hesitation, Yu Shiyan left.

The next day, the second son of the Earl’s family got engaged to another young man. Yu Shiyan was just a backup option for him, and he was the same for Yu Shiyan.

One day, while drinking with friends, the second son of the Earl’s family laughed and said, “I thought only Yu Lanyi had this problem, but it turns out even Yu Shiyan, a concubine’s son, is picky. Hasn’t he realized his position yet? Does he think he’s Yu Lanyi?”

Yu Lanyi was well-loved, with the Changyang Marquis Mansion and the Duke of England’s Mansion as his backing, and a brother who was a close minister to the emperor.

They usually referred to Yu Changxing as Yu Daren, rather than the heir of the Changyang Marquis, because Yu Daren’s influence was much greater.

Yu Shiyan was unaware of the second son of the Earl’s family’s words. When Ye Yunchu learned about Yu Shiyan’s search for a husband, he felt a pang of jealousy and went to plead with the Zhen Nan Wang Fei, hoping she would propose to the Changyang Marquis Mansion on his behalf.

The Zhen Nan Wang Fei coldly said, “I can propose for you, but he can only enter through the side door.”

Ye Yunchu was initially happy, but upon hearing the latter part of her words, it was like a bolt from the blue, “Mother, are you saying he should be a side consort?!”

Seeing her excellent son in such a state, the Zhen Nan Wang Fei disliked Yu Shiyan even more, “With his status, being a side consort to the heir of the Wang Mansion is already an elevation. Does he think he can be the main consort? Dream on.”

“If you want me to propose, it can only be as a side consort.”

Ye Yunchu felt a chill in his heart. Yu Shiyan would never want to be his concubine, but if he compromised a little and made Shiyan his concubine, and didn’t marry anyone else, what difference would there be between Shiyan and the main wife?

Moreover, as a noble son, which man didn’t have multiple wives and concubines? He only wanted Yu Shiyan, and Yu Shiyan should understand him.

When Ye Yunchu learned that the Shi family had agreed to marry Yu Shiyan, he couldn’t help but seek out Shi Xuan.

The Shi family led him to the study, where Shi Xuan was copying Buddhist scriptures. Ye Yunchu came with anger, but seeing Shi Xuan’s dazed expression, he didn’t know how to vent his frustration.

After Shi Xuan finished copying, he looked up and greeted Ye Yunchu. They had no prior interactions, so Shi Xuan didn’t know why Ye Yunchu was looking for him.

He invited Ye Yunchu to sit and talk.

Ye Yunchu got straight to the point, “I heard the third young master is engaged to Yu Shiyan?”

Shi Xuan heard Ye Yunchu directly call Yu Shiyan by name and frowned slightly, “My mother arranged it for me. I don’t dislike Young Master Yu, so I didn’t refuse.”

After all, being with someone is being with someone, as long as they don’t interfere with his Buddhist practices.

Shi Xuan’s emotions were very indifferent.

Ye Yunchu didn’t see any excitement on Shi Xuan’s face regarding Yu Shiyan, and he felt relieved, speaking more sincerely, “Since the third young master isn’t particularly attached to Young Master Yu, then don’t get engaged to him.”

Shi Xuan said, “Although I have no feelings for Young Master Yu, Young Master Ye is being a bit presumptuous.” Shi Xuan made a gesture to see him out.

Ye Yunchu hesitated, then apologized with a bow, his eyes showing some regret.

The next morning, the Shi family called off the engagement.

Shi Xuan didn’t want to cause trouble, and since Ye Yunchu had come to him, it was definitely related to Yu Shiyan. If Yu Shiyan already had feelings for Ye Yunchu before marriage, and Ye Yunchu had come to him, Shi Xuan felt he wasn’t that magnanimous.

When asked why he called off the engagement, Shi Xuan simply said they weren’t suitable.

The two marriage proposals Yu Fulang arranged for Yu Shiyan both fell through, and Yu Fulang stopped helping Yu Shiyan find a match for a while. The wife of the Loyal and Righteous Earl complained to him, saying Yu Shiyan’s standards were too high and he looked down on her second son.

On the surface, Yu Fulang comforted the Earl’s wife, but inwardly, he was coldly laughing.

Did Yu Shiyan think he could climb high branches with his status? If he truly understood, he would know that he was using the Earl’s wife to spend his social capital, acting as a matchmaker. By disregarding this, he was damaging the Earl’s family’s reputation, which would inevitably affect him.

When the Changyang Marquis learned of this, his face changed, and he specifically scolded Yu Shiyan.

Yu Shiyan, with a restrained expression, said, “If that’s the case, please allow me to choose my own marriage.”

The Changyang Marquis was taken aback, his anger rising, “Fine, fine, from now on, I won’t interfere in your marriage.”

The Changyang Marquis left in a huff.

“Third Young Master, what will you do? Why are you opposing the Marquis?” the attendant asked worriedly.

Yu Shiyan, pale-faced, shook his head, “I can’t be controlled by others. As for the Shi family, I’ll just consider them dishonorable. We had an agreement, and they turned around and broke it.”

Yu Shiyan had a high fever that night, causing quite a commotion.

…

In the afternoon, Zheng Shanci received a message from Wangfu, who had found a shop with an annual rent of eight taels of silver. Since it was in a good commercial area, the price was higher than usual, but compared to the Capital City, it was a drop in the bucket.

The shop Yu Fulang gave to Yu Lanyi could earn nearly a hundred taels of silver in rent per year, and he had several shops and estates.

After finishing his duties, Zheng Shanci went to see the shop. It was located in a bustling area of Xinfeng County, surrounded by other shops and a school. Zheng Shanci was very satisfied, as students loved to snack, and being near a school meant a steady stream of customers.

“Let’s settle it,” Zheng Shanci said.

Wangfu took the money and completed the transaction with the owner. When Zheng Shanci returned home, Yu Lanyi had gone out and hadn’t returned yet. Zheng Shanci handed his written recipes to the cook.

The cook, named Jin Chang, took the recipes from Zheng Shanci and was surprised at how detailed they were. Every spoonful of salt and amount of water was clearly written. If all recipes were this detailed, anyone could cook, and the taste wouldn’t be too bad.

The recipes included some complex dishes, so Jin Chang asked, “What do you want me to do with these recipes?”

Zheng Shanci replied, “I want to open a food business and would like you to be the head chef. We don’t need to make all these dishes at first; just be prepared. If they sell well, we can add more dishes.”

Jin Chang said, “I was given to the young master by Fulang, so this needs the young master’s approval.”

“I understand. I’ll ask Lanyi when he returns.”

Jin Chang held two recipe sheets, one of which recorded some snack recipes. Jin Chang was interested and asked, “Daren, this grilled sausage on the list, I’d like to make it for you and the young master someday.”

Zheng Shanci said, “If you have time, you can sell grilled sausages outside the shop. One grilled sausage for three wen.”

Jin Chang was intrigued, mainly because he had never seen such a thing. As a cook, he was curious.

“Where did you get these recipes? Some I’ve never heard of, and some dishes are the same, but the methods are different,” Jin Chang asked.

Zheng Shanci simply said, “I found them in ancient books, but I don’t know where that book is now, which is a regret of mine.”

Jin Chang looked disappointed but didn’t dwell on it.

When Yu Lanyi returned, Zheng Shanci told him about it, and Yu Lanyi agreed to let Jin Chang be the head chef of the food business.

“Who will cook at home then?” Yu Lanyi quickly asked.

Jin Chang said, “I brought a few apprentices with me, and they can cook for the young master anytime.”

Cooking was a skill, and Jin Chang’s culinary skills were excellent, attracting many apprentices. Once they learned the craft, they could work in wealthy households or, at the very least, find work in a tavern or small restaurant. With cooking skills, they had a way to make a living.

Yu Lanyi had gone out today and bought some pastries. Besides the mung bean cake Zheng Shanci brought yesterday, he also bought osmanthus cake, donkey roll, and tuckahoe cake, and he held a sugar painting in his hand.

Osmanthus cake was made from glutinous rice flour, sugar, and osmanthus honey, and it was fragrant and soft, with the scent of osmanthus wafting from afar. The pastries were sold by a delicate young man and his husband, and Yu Lanyi had Jin Yun buy a few pieces to try. He found them increasingly delicious, which explained the long line at the stall.

Seeing the young man’s skillful hands, Yu Lanyi gradually developed an interest in trying his hand in the kitchen. Back home, Yu Fulang couldn’t even make soup; he would just ladle the cooked chicken soup and present it to the Changyang Marquis, claiming he made it himself.

Yu Lanyi didn’t want to make big dishes, just pastries.

Zheng Shanci said, “Lanyi, have some pastries to fill your stomach. When we get to the Cheng Mansion, you’ll have to talk a lot. If you can’t handle it, just leave it to me.”

“Don’t underestimate me,” Yu Lanyi grumbled.

When the time came, Yu Lanyi had Jin Yun bring the gift. Seeing Zheng Shanci looking a bit dazed, he proudly said, “How can you attend a wedding banquet without a gift? You don’t have to worry about such things at home; I’ve got it covered.”

Zheng Shanci smiled, reached out, and wiped the pastry crumbs from the corner of Yu Lanyi’s mouth, “How did you get your mouth dirty eating a pastry?”

Yu Lanyi didn’t say anything, his face turning red. Zheng Shanci had never been this intimate with him before, but now he was. Yu Lanyi’s heart was pounding. Their marriage was arranged by their parents and matchmakers, and if there were to be feelings, it would be after the engagement, allowing the couple to interact a bit.

As the carriage drove down the street, Yu Lanyi had wind chimes hung at the four corners, and as the wind blew, they made a crisp sound.

Inside the carriage, it was just the two of them. Zheng Shanci looked at Yu Lanyi, feeling a stir in his heart. He tucked a strand of hair behind Yu Lanyi’s ear and gently touched his red earlobe.

He said, “Lanyi, you look like a ripe apple.”

Zheng Shanci didn’t shy away from suggestive words, making his speech quite evocative.

“Daren, we’ve arrived at the Cheng Mansion.”

“Got it.”

Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi got off the carriage together. Zheng Shanci, under the cover of his wide robe, held Yu Lanyi’s hand. Yu Lanyi’s fingertips felt as if they had been scalded. Someone came to greet Zheng Shanci.

Zheng Shanci greeted them formally, but he didn’t let go of Yu Lanyi’s hand.

Seeing Zheng Shanci holding his husband’s hand, some people gave up their thoughts. Yu Lanyi pulled away, glared at Zheng Shanci, and whispered, “With so many people around, are you crazy?”

“Be careful, or I’ll deal with you later,” Yu Lanyi said.

Zheng Shanci was taken aback, only wanting people to see that he already had a husband and that they were deeply in love, with no need to add anyone else to the household. Hearing Yu Lanyi’s serious words, he found it amusing and felt a softness in his heart.

“Alright.”

The Cheng family had three generations living together. Cheng Ru was once a provincial governor, but now he was a commoner. When he saw Zheng Shanci, he wanted to pay his respects, but Zheng Shanci stopped him.

“Old Cheng, you’re too kind. You’re highly respected, and as a junior, how can I accept your courtesy? Please sit down; I should be the one paying my respects to you.”

Cheng Ru insisted on paying his respects, his face kind and gentle, “Now that I’ve retired, how can I still act high and mighty, making it difficult for Zheng Daren? As a commoner, I don’t deserve your respect. Zheng Daren, by giving me some face, shows your good manners.”