Chapter 21 (Chicken Stewed with Mushrooms)

The mansion was lively for a few days because of Dongdong’s birthday party.

But after the banquet, silence returned.

In addition to Yan Qiushu’s new business, children who tasted her cakes couldn’t forget them. Their wealthy families sent cooks to learn from her.

Naturally, tuition fees were part of the deal. In the past few days, she opened a small class and earned several hundred taels in tuition fees!

Within two days, Xie Qingyun told Yan Qiushu that she was preparing for the fried chicken restaurant she planned.

However, due to the current situation, if they wanted to lower chicken prices so more people would buy, they couldn’t use chickens at current prices. They had to wait until after the New Year to officially open.

Modern high-tech feed allows chickens to grow from birth to table in just over a month, but this wasn’t possible in ancient times. Normal feeding took at least three months.

This time is also costly. Additionally, little edible meat in ancient times wasn’t fishy, so a whole chicken cost around 80 wen. Roosters were cheaper, but not much.

The roasted chicken used in the store is a half-grown chicken, which is cheaper, but still costs fifty cents.

Including processing fees, only those with some money could afford it.

This way, fast food and snacks would be meaningless.

Even if they made money, they wouldn’t get rich as Yan Qiushu planned.

So, they decided to lower chicken prices first.

They discussed it again and decided they had already bought many chicks to raise on the farm. They could open the store in two or three months, reducing costs and prices.

However, Xie Qingyun felt a bit awkward discussing this: “The Xiao family is in a special situation. Over the years, the soldiers have fought alongside them and suffered heavy losses. The resettlement fees for retired veterans aren’t enough, so the Xiao family has to cover it, leaving little spare money.”

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have to wait three months and cut costs before opening.

Now, most funds have gone to the farm, where they are busy buying land, hiring people, and setting up chicken coops.

Yan Qiushu understood this well but wouldn’t say anything.

A few days later, Xie Qingyun invited her out again. The chicken coop on the Xiao family’s farm was ready, and as a technical consultant, Yan Qiushu had to take a look.

So, early in the morning, the Xiao family took two carriages out of the city to the farm.

It was early October, and frost had begun to fall. The temperature was low, making pedestrians hunch their shoulders and wear more clothes.

The carriage stopped at a farm in the suburbs.

As soon as she got off, Yan Qiushu shivered from the cold. Although she wore thick clothes, Shui Yu prepared a heater for her.

The small heater was hidden in her wide sleeves, with closed sleeves to block the cold wind. Outside, she wore a thick red cloak, and her long black hair fluttered in the wind.

Shui Yu said enviously, “Your skin is so fair; this outfit really suits you.”

Yan Qiushu shivered and replied, “Thank you, but let’s move faster.”

It was too cold!

Winter without down jackets and heating was really tough.

Shui Xuan felt embarrassed and hurried his pace.

Once inside the farmhouse, the cold wind couldn’t reach them, and Yan Qiushu felt alive again. She stamped her feet, turned around, and noticed a man sitting next to Xie Qingyun.

The man was in a wheelchair. He resembled Xiao Huaiting but had a softer and paler face. He wore a misty blue suit that made his fair skin look striking.

But when Yan Qiushu looked down, she realized he had no legs.

Her eyebrows raised in surprise, but she quickly recognized him and greeted, “Hello, young master.”

This was Xiao Huaiqi, the eldest son of the Xiao family.

The previous Duke Xiao passed away, and the title should have gone to Xiao Huaiqi.

However, in a war ten years ago, he and his father were injured.

He was wounded in both legs when surrounded by enemies and survived after three days. Sadly, due to delayed treatment, his wounds became slightly infected.

In ancient times, infections were deadly, so Xiao Huaiqi ordered the doctor to amputate his legs.

This operation is very dangerous even today, let alone in ancient times.

But Xiao Huaiqi still survived.

The emperor rewarded him while he was still alive, but unfortunately, his legs were injured, and he could not inherit his father’s title, so Xiao Huaiting inherited it instead.

However, due to issues within the Xiao family, everything feels the same as when General Xiao was alive. Madam Xiao remains Madam Xiao and hasn’t been elevated to Old Madam Xiao.

She had never met him at the Xiao family before and had imagined what he looked like, but she didn’t expect him to be so gentle and elegant. It was hard to believe how he survived with injured legs during the enemy’s attack ten years ago.

Xiao Huaiqi nodded slightly: “Miss Yan, there is no need to be polite. You are my sixth brother’s adopted sister, so you are also my adopted sister. We are all family.”

Yan Qiushu laughed dryly.

Xiao Huaiqi handed over a small gift box: “Last time Miss Yan came, I was unwell, so we didn’t meet. I am giving this to you now. I hope Miss Yan doesn’t mind.”

“No, no…” Yan Qiushu was surprised to receive a gift for meeting someone, but she accepted it.

As she keep receiving gifts, she won’t feel panicked anymore.

Don’t worry about having too much debt.

After their brief meeting, Xie Qingyun smiled and said, “Okay, we need to check the chicken coop. Let’s see if there’s anything that needs improving.”

“Well, let’s go.” Xiao Huaiqi raised his hand, adjusted the blanket on his legs, and a servant pushed him out.

Yan Qiushu hurriedly followed.

The manager of the farm led the way. As soon as they went out, a cold wind blew over. Fortunately, everyone walked quickly and soon arrived at the chicken coop.

According to their plan, the chicken coop was very large. Since the first batch of chicks was raised in autumn and winter, to prevent them from freezing, the coop had a special heating system, which was a prototype of a kang. A fire burned in the soil beneath it, keeping the chicken coop warm.

When the fire is lit, the chicks will naturally move toward the warmth.

Besides, the chicks are small and don’t need much space. This coop is sufficient for now.

As they grow and gain more strength, they can start outdoor activities. When they grow a little more, they can be sold and served at tables in spring.

At this time, Yan Qiushu and the others noticed that the chicken coop was clean and odor-free. The manager understood the importance of this and said, “I take good care of these chickens. They are cleaned every day as per the owner’s requirements. The owner can come in and see. The chicks are still small and very interesting.”

Just as the manager said, the chicks were adorable—yellow and fluffy. The house was warm, and it was still daylight, so they were walking around happily. They looked like little yellow and orange balls, chirping softly and cutely.

Yan Qiushu was so excited that she took a few steps inside. Unfortunately, the shy little chick saw her and quickly ran back into the coop, peeking at them with its black eyes.

She stepped back; it was too small, and she didn’t dare touch it.

Xie Qingyun and Xiao Huaiqi were also curious, but they had never touched a live chicken, so they just watched.

After Yan Qiushu left, Xie Qingyun asked, “Is there any problem?”

“No, the manager did a great job,” Yan Qiushu said with a smile.

Xie Qingyun smiled slightly proudly: “Manager Yao was a personal soldier beside my father before. If he hadn’t been injured in the eye, he might still be fighting. Now that he has retired, he has come to help at the manor. He works very hard. We can trust him.”

“Thanks to the master for giving me a job,” Manager Yao smiled, with happy wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

He seemed very satisfied with his life and looked at Xiao Huaiqi with deep respect. Seeing their satisfaction with the chicken coop, he relaxed and invited them, “Master, would you like to stay for lunch? I have prepared two chickens, both raised here. It rained yesterday, and I asked someone to go up the mountain this morning to pick some mushrooms. I will make some mushroom soup. It’s very delicious!”

After watching for a while, the long-awaited sun appeared, and the temperature rose. Yan Qiushu couldn’t even use the heater, so she gave it to Shui Yu and looked around.

Suddenly she heard “chicken and mushrooms”???

This is a perfect match!

What kind of mushroom soup should I make? Wouldn’t it be delicious to stew chicken with mushrooms?

Yan Qiushu couldn’t hold back any longer and eagerly moved closer, quietly watching without saying a word.

Although she felt bad since they were the hosts and she was the guest, she expressed her excitement with her eyes.

Xie Qingyun noticed her looking and suddenly felt speechless; her heart softened, and she playfully nudged her husband.

Following her gesture, Xiao Huaiqi smiled and nodded, saying, “Okay, let’s stay and eat.”

Manager Yao was thrilled: “Great, I’ll ask someone to prepare it right away.”

Yan Qiushu quickly added, “I’ll help too, Manager Yao. I’m a decent cook; leave the cooking to me.”

“This…” Manager Yao looked at Xiao Huaiqi and Xie Qingyun, confused. Isn’t she the master? Why would she go to the kitchen to do a servant’s work?

Xie Qingyun smiled helplessly and said, “Let her go. She enjoys these things.”

Manager Yao understood and said, “Young lady, please follow me.”