Chapter 42: Feeding

Li Feng struggled to restrain himself. He wanted to turn back, to take another glance at that girl and tell her that if it were possible, he would stay by her side. But he knew there was no turning back now.

Cao Xi noticed Qin Zhao’s low spirits, assuming it was caused by giving the gift, and discreetly tugged on his sleeve with a sheepish smile.

“I promise I won’t give him anything again in the future.”

Qin Zhao was momentarily stunned by her seemingly out-of-context remark. Realizing her intent, he pressed his lips together, deciding to go along with the misunderstanding.

“Let this be the last time,” he said, walking straight ahead while sneakily stealing glances at Cao Xi.

Hearing his concession, Cao Xi eagerly clung to his arm and grinned mischievously. “Got it. From now on, no one but you will ever receive a gift from me.”

Feeling her closeness, Qin Zhao’s ears turned red. The bustling street made him uneasy, yet he couldn’t bear to push her away. The affection was both sweet and torturous.

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As days went by, Cao Xi’s pickled vegetables were finally ready. That evening, she bought a fish, planning to make sour fish soup for Qin Zhao as a treat.

Cleaning the fish was quite a challenge. Usually, such messy tasks fell to Qin Zhao, but he had gone to a social gathering that day, leaving Cao Xi to tackle the chore herself.

The pickled vegetables were shredded and set aside, while the brine was reserved for dipping. After slicing the fish and blanching it, Cao Xi heated oil in a wok and expertly prepared the soup. Once done, she reduced the heat, letting the dish stay warm until Qin Zhao returned.

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Qin Zhao hadn’t originally planned to attend the gathering but couldn’t refuse Qi Qige’s enthusiastic invitation. As Qi Qige put it, “Making more friends opens more paths. Even if the road isn’t perfect, having one is better than none.”

The gathering took place in the peach grove of Beishan, a sprawling orchard with blooming peach blossoms stretching as far as the eye could see. At the foot of the mountain stood the Peach Garden Manor, an estate owned entirely by Qi Qige.

The attendees were prominent scholars from the Qingsong Academy, most of whom barely knew Qin Zhao due to his usual aloofness. Even so, none approached him, leaving him a mere part of the scenery until Qi Qige’s efforts brought him into the fold.

Qi Qige ensured the event was lively, offering the group a taste of his finest peach blossom wine.

“This is peach blossom brew aged for years—mellow and smooth, perfect for this occasion,” he announced, pouring each guest a cup personally.

His warm hospitality soon eased the scholars’ initial awkwardness. The group, all talented individuals and key figures in this year’s imperial exams, began engaging in lively discussions.

For Qi Qige, the gathering was more than just merriment—it was an opportunity to identify promising allies worth cultivating.

Qin Zhao, however, spent most of his time listening silently, only speaking when directly asked for his opinions. He refrained from starting conversations or drinking much, his cup remaining untouched most of the night.

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As the evening wound down, the scholars began taking their leave. Qi Qige had two jars of peach blossom brew brought out.

“Take these back. Share them with Cao Xi when you return,” he said, handing Qin Zhao one jar while carrying the other himself.

“She’ll definitely love it,” Qin Zhao replied. He had thought of her as soon as he tasted the wine and hadn’t planned on drinking more, knowing she would appreciate it.

On their way back, Qi Qige asked curiously, “Why didn’t you speak much during the gathering?”

Qin Zhao’s answer was succinct. “I didn’t think it was necessary.”

“But making connections can be a great advantage,” Qi Qige argued.

“It can also be a burden. If one truly enters officialdom without greed or ambition, serving the people sincerely is the right path. When forming connections, one must be cautious. Not everyone is worth befriending,” Qin Zhao said calmly.

Qi Qige shot him a sidelong glance. “Do you take me for a fool?”

When the two returned, Cao Xi had already finished preparing dinner. Upon hearing that the gathering involved little more than drinking and fruit with not even a single pastry served, she couldn’t help but comment on the lack of care.

While Qi Qige excelled in many ways, organizing such events as a grown man inevitably left some details wanting.

“Why don’t you stay and eat here? I tried out a new recipe today, and you can give me some feedback,” Cao Xi offered, placing the wine Qi Qige had brought in the kitchen.

She had Qin Zhao set the dining table under the jujube tree. Alongside the sauerkraut fish, she had prepared two vegetarian dishes.

Qi Qige eyed the sour aroma wafting from the fish with curiosity. “What’s this dish? Why is it sour?”

“This is sauerkraut, a pickled vegetable we made. Give it a try,” Cao Xi suggested, gesturing for Qi Qige to take a bite.

She served Qin Zhao a piece of the sauerkraut with a smile, watching intently as he tasted it.

It was Qin Zhao’s first time eating sauerkraut. The initial burst of sourness overwhelmed his palate, but after a moment of adjustment, he found it quite appetizing. The tanginess sparked his appetite.

Qi Qige also took a bite and, after some thought, remarked, “Is this made from cabbage?”

Cao Xi explained, “Yes, it’s cabbage turned into sauerkraut through fermentation.”

Qi Qige hesitantly took a sip of the soup and found its tartness surprisingly pleasant. “This is my first time eating a sour dish. It’s quite good,” he praised, raising a thumbs-up to Cao Xi.

Cao Xi chuckled at his dramatic approval and offered him a piece of fish. However, just as she was about to hand it over, she noticed Qin Zhao had placed a deboned piece of fish in her bowl.

“Let him serve himself; otherwise, the food will get cold,” Cao Xi teased. The piece of fish she had originally intended for Qi Qige ended up in Qin Zhao’s bowl instead.

Qi Qige: … He mentally rolled his eyes.

During the meal, Cao Xi felt the gathering was delightful. Qi Qige, on the other hand, was quietly frustrated. His supposed charm seemed ineffective, as Cao Xi’s attention was completely fixed on Qin Zhao.

After clearing the table, the three sat under the jujube tree, chatting casually. Cao Xi often steered the conversation toward sauerkraut, which eventually piqued Qi Qige’s interest enough to ask about its preparation.

Cao Xi put on a difficult expression. “Making sauerkraut is both simple and complex. We plan to sell the recipe along with some dishes.”

Qi Qige immediately saw through her intentions but couldn’t help laughing. “So that’s why you invited me over. Fine, consider me sold.”

Relieved, Cao Xi enthusiastically listed various sauerkraut dishes, fully whetting Qi Qige’s appetite. She then detailed the sauerkraut recipe step by step.

By the end of the discussion, they even drafted a contract. Since Qi Qige didn’t have sufficient funds on him, they agreed he would collect the recipe the next day from Runchang Garden.

As night fell, Qi Qige left alone, fanning himself leisurely on the way back.

Watching the silver about to come into their possession, Cao Xi couldn’t stop grinning.

Qin Zhao, on the other hand, quipped, “Qi Qige must be a fool.”

Cao Xi carefully put away the contract. “He’s not foolish—he’s clever. If this wasn’t profitable, he wouldn’t have played along.”

Qin Zhao scoffed. “He knows it’s a trap and still jumps in. If that’s not foolish, then what is?”

“I think his primary reason is his friendship with you. Secondly, he has the ability to make this a success. With his influence, the sauerkraut will surely be profitable,” Cao Xi concluded.

She wasn’t wrong. After purchasing the sauerkraut recipe, Qi Qige promptly instructed his estate to acquire large quantities of cabbage for pickling. His restaurants started promoting sauerkraut dishes, with Runchang Garden focusing on sauerkraut hot pot as its signature offering.

A batch of sauerkraut caused a craze as soon as it hit the market.

After making money, Qi Qige sold the sauerkraut recipe at a high price, deciding not to deal with sauerkraut production again—a matter that would be discussed later.

Time passed steadily. Occasionally, Cao Xi visited the temple to check on the robust charcoal-burning efforts, or dropped by the spicy hotpot shop to see the buffalo and Xiao Chuan.

Everyone was worried about Li Feng’s safety, but there wasn’t much they could do except wait for news.

Runxiang Garden, managed by Shopkeeper Li and with Qi Qige residing there, thrived. Cao Xi had little to worry about regarding its operations.

Her full attention was now on Qin Zhao, who was about to take the provincial examination—a much more challenging test than the preliminary county exams. As a result, Cao Xi spent nearly every day with Qin Zhao, supporting him in every way possible.

“Rest your eyes; reading too much isn’t good for them,” Cao Xi said, placing a bowl of stewed rock sugar pear in front of him.

Qin Zhao smiled, picked up the bowl, and took a sip before speaking.

“It’s delicious; you should try it.”

With that, he handed the bowl to Cao Xi. She lowered her head and took a sip, nodding in agreement at how tasty it was.

Qin Zhao scooped up a piece of pear with a spoon and fed it to her, his gaze full of affection as he watched her eat. After a few bites, Cao Xi finally realized something was off. “This was supposed to be for you!” she exclaimed, laughing.

“Well, let me feed you instead.” She took the bowl from his hands and began to feed him spoonful by spoonful, leaving Qin Zhao slightly flustered, his ears turning red.

The provincial examination was scheduled for June and would be held in the prefectural city, quite a distance away.

Cao Xi began preparing early, gathering dried meat, nuts, noodle strips, dried vegetables, and other necessities. She meticulously mapped out the route, noting towns and counties along the way for restocking supplies.

Qin Zhao wanted to help, but Cao Xi firmly refused, insisting he focus on his studies in these final critical weeks. By mid-May, they were ready to set off.

Since Qi Qige and Qin Zhao were taking the exams at the same time, they decided to travel together. Qi Qige even brought his spacious and luxurious carriage to ensure a comfortable journey.

The sheer opulence of the carriage was overwhelming. Qi Qige joked about how traveling comfortably was the key to success, earning a bemused eye roll from Qin Zhao. “When have I ever suffered hardship?” he retorted.

The three of them set off in the carriage, which was designed for maximum comfort. It felt neither cramped nor stifling. Cao Xi discreetly pressed down on the cushioned seat, marveling at how wonderful it was to have money.

Qin Zhao sat at one end, engrossed in his books. Meanwhile, Qi Qige and Cao Xi leaned out of the windows, chatting nonstop. Their lively banter only subsided when the bustling towns outside gave way to open fields.

Qin Zhao cast a sidelong glance at Qi Qige, who was rummaging through compartments to find snacks for Cao Xi. He sighed inwardly and poured a cup of tea for Cao Xi. “Have some tea to soothe your throat.”

Feeling a bit awkward, Cao Xi took the tea, sipping it to mask her excitement about the journey.

After much effort, Qi Qige finally unearthed a box of nuts from beneath the seat.

“These are top-quality and great for brain health,” he announced, setting the box on the table.

The box contained walnuts, chestnuts, pine nuts, and sunflower seeds—a feast for the mind. Cao Xi popped a chestnut into her mouth, her eyes lighting up. “This is delicious!”

Qi Qige grinned. “Told you! These are sourced from the same place as royal tributes.” He tossed a sunflower seed into his mouth with satisfaction.

Seeing Cao Xi enjoying the snacks, Qin Zhao quietly tried a chestnut himself, memorizing the flavor so he could buy them for her in the future.

The trio made their way leisurely to the next stop, a guesthouse for a meal. It wasn’t until the enthusiastic innkeeper addressed Qi Qige as the owner that Cao Xi and Qin Zhao learned that the place belonged to him.

The innkeeper led them to the top floor, where the rooms were tastefully decorated, embodying understated luxury.

Before they could fully appreciate the surroundings, Qi Qige dragged them downstairs for dinner. Once seated, he gestured grandly. “Order whatever you like; this meal’s on me.”

Seeing his generosity, Qin Zhao didn’t hold back, ordering four signature dishes: crispy roast duck, braised pork knuckle, chilled jellyfish salad, and stir-fried asparagus with yam.

The food arrived promptly and was clearly given special attention. The portions were generous, and the dishes delicious, though they couldn’t finish everything. Feeling it would be a waste, Cao Xi suggested packing the leftovers to give to the homeless outside.

Having once been in similar straits, both Cao Xi and Qin Zhao made it a point to help beggars within their means, ensuring they could at least have a full meal.

After dinner, they strolled the streets to stock up on supplies before returning to the inn, the city lights flickering in the night.

They planned to resume their journey the next morning.