Chapter 116: The Culinary Tycoon

Past Connections

Grandpa Chang looked at the person in front of him. He was well-dressed and seemed to be of high status. He didn’t recognize him or have any impression of him. He nodded and replied, “My surname is Chang. And who might you be, sir?”

Xue Jingfu’s face lit up with joy, and he asked again, “Is your son named Chang Wu?”

Upon hearing his father’s name, Chang Le turned his head curiously to look at Xue Jingfu. This old man was a companion of Young Master Xue, so how did he know his father?

Grandpa Chang appeared surprised and said, “My eldest son is indeed named Chang Wu. How do you know about him?”

Xue Baizhu also approached, washed his hands, and stood beside his father, listening curiously. Did his father encounter an acquaintance?

Upon hearing this, Xue Jingfu immediately stepped forward and shook hands with Grandpa Chang, excitedly saying, “Uncle, you might not remember, but we met nine years ago.”

They met nine years ago?

Grandpa Chang was confused and couldn’t recall meeting this person at all.

“Father, do you know each other?” Xue Baizhu asked. He observed the expression of the elderly man and it didn’t seem like he knew his father. Could it be that his father mistook him for someone else?

Xue Jingfu turned to his son and said, “Don’t you remember? Nine years ago, when we returned from Qingming Festival to pay respects to our ancestors, our boat was hit by a floating log on the Qing River during the return journey. A big wave tossed us all into the water. Many people couldn’t swim, but it was Brother Chang Wu and his wife who saved us. This is Uncle Chang. Haven’t you met him before? How could you forget? Quickly address him as Grandpa Chang.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Baizhu also remembered the incident nine years ago. If his father hadn’t mentioned it, he wouldn’t have recognized Grandpa Chang. He was still young at that time. However, he respectfully bowed and said, “Grandpa Chang.”

Although Grandpa Chang didn’t recognize them, he understood what they were talking about from what was said.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

“You… You were also on the boat at that time?” Grandpa Chang asked with a complex expression.

Upon hearing this, Chang Le understood what was happening. His expression became somewhat sad and desolate, and his fingers unconsciously clutched his own clothes.

Xue Jingfu, who was initially excited to see the two of them, calmed down when he saw the expressions of Grandpa Chang and Chang Le. He nodded and said, “We were on the boat too, and it was Brother Chang Wu and Madam Chang who saved us. Uncle Chang, I’m sorry. I got a little carried away when I saw you, and I didn’t mean to remind you of sad memories.”

Grandpa Chang shook his head and said, “It’s alright, it’s all in the past.”

Xue Jingfu’s expression became somewhat awkward. He was initially excited to meet his benefactor’s father, but now he felt guilty.

During the Qingming Festival that year, he took his wife and youngest son back to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestors. On the return journey, there was some turbulence on the Qing River, but it was still within the navigable range, so they boarded the boat.

Due to continuous rainfall in the past few days, the river current was faster than usual, and there were occasional tree branches floating in the river. The boat they were on was somewhat old, and while they were in the middle of the river, they accidentally collided with a tree that had drifted downstream. Before the boatman could stabilize the vessel, a large wave struck, tossing all of them into the river.

At that time, there happened to be another boat coming from the opposite direction, not far from them. When they saw the capsized boat, four or five people who knew how to swim immediately jumped into the water to rescue the people. Chang Wu’s wife was among them.

The capsized boat had over twenty people on board, but not many of them knew how to swim, so the situation was chaotic. The rescuers would save one person and bring them to another boat. Each person made multiple trips, which consumed a lot of energy.

Xue Jingfu’s family was among the first group to be rescued. They were all frightened as they watched others struggling in the water. Several people were swept away by the river and eventually drowned.

Later, when Chang Wu’s wife was trying to save a young boy, the boy clung onto him tightly. No matter how much Chang Wu’s wife tried to convince the boy to let go and not be afraid, the boy wouldn’t release his grip, even when his hand was forcefully pried away.

The boy was terrified and overwhelmed by fear. When he realized someone was trying to save him, he instinctively held onto Chang Wu’s wife, unable to hear what the people around him were saying.

Chang Wu’s wife was immobilized by the boy’s hold. He had already exhausted a lot of energy from saving so many people earlier, and now he couldn’t free himself from the boy’s grasp. He could only helplessly watch as both of them were submerged by the water.

Chang Wu was also busy rescuing others. When someone on the boat alerted him that his wife was in trouble, it was already too late. His husband had been overwhelmed by the river. Chang Wu immediately shouted and swam over, diving into the murky and fast-flowing water. He couldn’t see anything due to the rain in the past few days, so he had to feel his way through the water.

The people on the boat witnessed the situation over there and shouted for help. However, by the time someone found them from a distance, all three of them had already lost their breath.

Xue Jingfu didn’t know what happened underwater. He guessed that Chang Wu must have finally found his wife but got pulled down by the boy who had previously been drowning, and in the end, all three of them sank together in the water.

Finally, another boat passed by and transported them to the nearest dock in Qingzhou. There happened to be someone on that boat from the neighboring village of Niutou who knew Chang Wu. Seeing the situation, he immediately returned to Niutou village and brought back Chang Wu’s father. That’s how Xue Jingfu and the others met Chang Wu’s father.

At that time, some of the survivors had some money on them and wanted to pool together some silver taels to give to Chang Wu’s father. However, he refused, and instead, he took the bodies of his son and son-in-law back with him.

Thinking about the past events, Xue Jingfu wiped his eyes. That scene was something he would never forget in his entire life. He regretted bringing it up and making the elderly man remember this sad event.

Xue Baizhu also had vivid memories of the events from nine years ago. Seeing the awkward situation now, he looked at Chang Le and asked, “Grandpa Chang, who is this young boy?”

Chang’s grandfather replied, “This is my eldest grandson, Chang Le, the eldest son of Chang Wu.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Baizhu turned to Chang Le and said, “So you’re Brother Le. I didn’t know it was you earlier. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Chang Le shook his head, indicating that it was not a big deal and there was no need to feel disrespectful.

Xue Baizhu, seeing him gesture, realized that Chang Le couldn’t speak. That’s why the other ger had been doing the talking during their previous encounters.

“So, you’ve met before?” Xue Jingfu asked his son.

“Just…” Xue Baizhu was about to speak but was interrupted by a voice.

“Brother Le, Grandpa, Old Madam Cai is here… Oh, sorry for interrupting your conversation. Grandpa, who are these two?” Yu Qingze came out of the kitchen, intending to have Grandpa Chang share some tomatoes with Old Madam Cai but didn’t expect to see two strangers.

“These two are…” Grandpa Chang began to speak but stumbled halfway through. After all this time, he still didn’t know their names.

Xue Jingfu introduced himself, saying, “I am Xue Jingfu, and this is my son Xue Baizhu. We just returned from the capital a few days ago, and today we came to have a meal with acquaintances, coincidentally running into our benefactor.”

“Benefactor?” Yu Qingze curiously glanced at them and greeted, “Uncle Xue, Brother Xue.”

“This is my grandson’s husband, Yu Qingze.” Grandpa Chang briefly introduced the Xue family father and son to Yu Qingze, then turned to him and said, “I’ll tell you about it later. Is Old Madam Cai here? I’ll give you the things, you can take them over.”

Xue Jingfu, seeing that they were busy, quickly said, “You’re busy then. I’ll visit another day. By the way, where do you live, Uncle?”

Grandpa Chang replied, “The matter of my son and son-in-law saving lives was a voluntary act. It’s all in the past, and you don’t need to worry about it anymore.”

Noticing that Grandpa Chang didn’t mention their address, Xue Jingfu sighed inwardly, understanding that Grandpa Chang didn’t really want to see them. However, they couldn’t disregard the debt of gratitude they owed. They had intended to find their benefactors once they settled down after returning this time, but they didn’t expect to unexpectedly encounter them today.

Xue Jingfu said, “Uncle, the debt of gratitude for saving our lives is unforgettable. I have some medical skills, and I plan to open a pharmacy in the city in the future. Our home is at No. 16 Changning Road in the southern part of the city. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to visit us. We won’t turn you away.”

Yu Qingze pondered upon hearing this.

They had just returned from the capital not long ago, and now there was another doctor, which seemed similar to what Dr. Li had mentioned. However, the doctor Dr. Li mentioned had the surname Ye, while the one in front of him had the surname Xue. Could they be different people?

Grandpa Chang said, “There’s no need for you to do that.”

Xue Jingfu felt somewhat disappointed upon hearing this, but if the other party didn’t want to disclose their address, he couldn’t force them to do so.

Seeing the disappointment on his father’s face, Xue Baizhu whispered in his ear that Chang Le worked as a cook in this restaurant and they could inquire through him.

Upon hearing this, Xue Jingfu said to Grandpa Chang, “Uncle, we apologize for the disturbance. We will visit your residence another day.”

With that, he and Xue Baizhu left the backyard.

After Xue father and son had left, Grandpa Chang gave the bag of vegetables intended for Old Madam Cai to Yu Qingze, and then explained the recent events to him.

Upon hearing the story, Yu Qingze also felt deeply moved. So, that’s how Chang Le’s parents passed away.

“Xiao Le’s mood might be a little down today, so please keep an eye on him,” Yu Qingze remarked.

“I understand.”

On the other side, Xue Baizhu and his father returned to their private room upstairs, their faces wearing complex expressions.

Seeing their strange expressions, Luo Mingda asked curiously.

Xue Jingfu replied, “We encountered a relative of our previous benefactor, and it brought back some emotions.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Mingda asked with curiosity, “Oh, how coincidental! Are they here to eat as well?”

Xue Baizhu answered, “No, it seems like they work here. I saw Brother Le cooking in the kitchen.”

“Brother Le? You mean the one who doesn’t speak?” Luo Mingda asked.

Xue Baizhu nodded.

Luo Mingda smiled and said, “He is the wife of the owner, Yu Qingze. They, along with their sworn brother, are the ones who cook the dishes in this restaurant.”

Xue Baizhu was surprised and asked, “They opened this restaurant?”

Luo Mingda nodded and said, “Yes. The food tastes great, doesn’t it?”

Xue Baizhu nodded and exchanged a glance with his father. Now they didn’t have to worry about finding them.

Luo Mingda continued, “They not only opened this restaurant but also the Yu’s Delicious Delights a few dozen feet north. The dim sum there is delicious too. You must try it when you have the chance.”

Xue Baizhu became even more surprised. “They make the dim sum there as well?” So the past few days, the pastries that Chang Le and the other ger left at their doorstep was actually made by them.

Luo Mingda said, “Not anymore. Apprentices are handling it now, but it’s said that Brother Le used to personally make the dim sum.”

“Oh…”

On the way back home, Xue Baizhu was constantly troubled by Chang Le’s situation.

It would have been fine if he didn’t know that Chang Le was the son of their benefactor, but now that he knew, he couldn’t just let it slide and pretend he didn’t see anything.

When they arrived home, he thought for a moment and then pulled his father into the study.

“What’s the matter? Why are you so urgent?” Xue Jingfu asked.

Xue Baizhu said, “Father, remember the two gers who came to seek treatment in the mornings these past few days?”

“Yes, I sent them away because your mother’s health is not good. What about them?” Xue Jingfu asked.

Xue Baizhu looked at his father with a complicated expression and said, “Father, the one who came for treatment is Brother Le.”

“You mean Chang Le?” Xue Jingfu widened his eyes and asked, “The Chang Le we saw today? The son of our benefactor, Chang Wu?”

Xue Baizhu nodded and said, “Yes, I happened to be outside that day and saw them. It was Brother Le, and he was accompanied by another young ger. However, the other was younger and had a more vibrant birthmark. It’s definitely Chang Le who needs treatment. His birthmark is lighter in color, so he came to seek treatment from mother.”

Xue Jingfu was left speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

After a brief silence, Xue Baizhu asked, “Father, what should we do about this? Mother’s health is not good, and treating Brother Le’s condition will take a long time and require acupuncture, which is both physically and time-consuming. But Brother Le is the son of our benefactor, so…”

Xue Jingfu was also worried. On one hand, it was his wife, and on the other hand, it was the son of their benefactor. It was a difficult situation.

They remained silent for a while longer.

Xue Baizhu asked, “Father, should we keep this a secret from mother?”

“What are you hiding from me?” Before Xue Jingfu could answer, the study door swung open, and Ye Man walked in.

“Hey, wife, why did you come here?” Xue Jingfu saw Ye Man and secretly signaled to his son not to say anything yet and let him think it through first.

“I can’t come? What are you talking about behind my back? What are you hiding from me? Tell me about it,” Ye Man sat down on a chair and leisurely spoke.

Xue Baizhu received his father’s subtle eye signal and quickly said, “Mother, we haven’t hidden anything from you. What can escape your discerning eyes? Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, yes, how’s your health? Let me tell you, the food at the restaurant we visited today was really delicious. We brought back two dishes for you to taste later…” Ye Man sat quietly there, watching the father and son pretend as if nothing happened.

Xue Jingfu looked at his wife’s expression and gradually fell silent while speaking. He knew very well how stubborn his wife could be. No one understood it better than him.

He sighed and sat beside his wife, saying, “During our meal today, we ran into our benefactor’s family. Remember Chang Wu who saved us nine years ago on the Qinghe River? We met his father and his son-in-law.”

Ye Man’s eyes lit up at the news and exclaimed, “Really?! That’s wonderful! Why did you keep it from me? Is there something else?”

Sometimes, having a clever wife could also be a headache.

Xue Jingfu held his hand and said, “There’s something I need to tell you. Please don’t get angry.”

As soon as Ye Man heard this, he immediately nodded with a smile and said, “I won’t get angry. Getting angry affects one’s health. So, tell me, what else have you been hiding from me?”

Xue Jingfu felt a chill down his neck when he saw Ye Man’s expression, but he gathered his courage and continued, “These past few days, two young gers came to see you for medical treatment.”

Xue Baizhu touched his nose and secretly thought about preparing a washboard for his father later.

Ye Man raised an eyebrow and asked, “Oh? And then?”

Xue Jingfu paused and said, “…And then, I was worried that you would be too exhausted, so I had Uncle Zheng turn them away and sent them back.”

Ye Man’s temple twitched as he asked, “Oh, and then what happened?”

“…And then, those two young gers have been coming every day these past few days, and they bring two boxes of pastries each day.”

“Pastries?” Ye Man slowly looked up at his son and then said, “And then what happened?”

Sweat streamed down Xue Baizhu’s face: …and he had to prepare a washboard for himself!

Xue Jingfu shrank his neck and said, “One of those two young gers is Chang Wu’s son, Brother Le.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Man couldn’t hold back anymore. He withdrew his hand, stood up, and pointed at Xue Jingfu, saying, “You, Xue Jingfu! You, who is hailed as a compassionate and skilled doctor, where is your compassion? Did your son consume it?!”

Xue Baizhu: …

Xue Jingfu felt very wronged. “Wife, please don’t be angry. I was only worried about your health and didn’t want you to overexert yourself. Besides, I just found out today that he is our benefactor’s son…”

“No matter whether he’s the benefactor’s son or not, you just turned away patients who came to seek medical treatment without even asking me. Do you think this is for my own good? We had an agreement before that you’re not allowed to interfere with my medical consultations. Have you forgotten?” Ye Man said with a pained expression.

“…I haven’t forgotten. I was genuinely worried about your health,” Xue Jingfu replied.

Ye Man felt a pang in his heart and said, “I know you’re concerned about my health, but when you were in discomfort and got up in the middle of the night to set someone’s bones, did I ever stop you? No, I went along with you. I married you at sixteen, and after years of infertility, I understand the pain of not being able to conceive a child. Thanks to my master’s treatment, my body was restored, and I even gained the skill to help others. Yet, you turned away patients who came to me sincerely for treatment. Have you forgotten the joy and excitement you felt when you learned that I was pregnant all those years ago?”

Upon hearing this, Xue Jingfu fell silent.

Ye Man continued, “Tonight, neither of you is allowed to eat. Reflect on your actions in the study. If they come again tomorrow and you still turn them away, don’t expect me to eat with you anymore.”

With that, Ye Man turned and left.

Father and son exchanged a glance, both wearing bitter smiles.

The next morning, Xue Baizhu was waiting by the door. He wanted to make amends and personally bring Chang Le to Ye Man.

However, he waited for a long time, all the way until noon, but there was no sign of Chang Le.

Xue Baizhu: Where is he? Why hasn’t he come?

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Author’s note: Old Xue: Son, let’s share the blame.

Young Xue: …Father!

(By the way, do you remember that Chang Le’s father encountered some trouble when he returned to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors? It was mentioned before, I wonder if everyone remembers?)

Thandar: Now I finally knew how Chang Le’s parents died. I thought it was the war.