Ch 5: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

Trial Opening

Considering the food he planned to sell, Qin Xia spent a full four taels of silver at the blacksmith’s shop, commissioning a craftsman to urgently forge an iron plate. Despite the rush, the work was completed just in time for the temple fair.

The day of the temple fair arrived quickly.

Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque woke up early, dressing in the dim light at the edge of the kang bed.

Once they were properly dressed, Qin Xia got out of bed to boil water, while Yu Jiuque rubbed his eyes and neatly folded the bedding.

The hot water bottles tucked in the bedding were already in the house, but after a night, the water had cooled. Still, it was clean and would be perfect for mixing with hot water for washing up.

The two, still drowsy, washed their faces and brushed their teeth in the main room. Yu Jiuque skillfully tied up his hair with a wooden hairpin, then noticed Qin Xia struggling with his topknot in front of a basin of water.

No matter how hard Qin Xia tried, a few strands of hair still stubbornly stuck out.

Seeing the frustration growing between Qin Xia’s brows, Yu Jiuque offered, “Husband, let me help you.”

Qin Xia, unable to manage the ancient hairstyle, had no choice but to sit down and let Yu Jiuque take over.

The young man’s hands were much more practiced, and in no time, he had neatly gathered Qin Xia’s hair into a smooth topknot, not a single stray hair in sight.

For breakfast, they ate the steamed buns Qin Xia had made the day before, dipped in egg and fried. The old dough buns were soft and chewy, paired with millet porridge and pickled mustard greens. Though simple, the meal warmed them from the inside out.

After finishing their meal, the two quickly packed up everything they needed for the food stall. By the time they were ready, daylight had fully arrived.

With aprons tied and ear warmers in place, Qin Xia pushed the cart while Yu Jiuque helped guide it. The wooden wheels creaked as they slowly made their way through the muddy alley.

…

Wenhua Temple, though not an ancient site, had been built only a few decades ago. Despite this, it had a thriving worship scene, and the temple fair was lively.

As they headed toward the temple in the southern part of the city, they saw many other small vendors pushing carts and carrying poles. Some were city dwellers, while others had come from nearby villages and towns.

It was still early, and the crowds had not yet gathered, making it the perfect time for vendors to stake out good spots.

“Xia Ge! Over here!”

As Qin Xia looked around, he spotted Liu Douzi jumping up and down, waving at him from the side of the street.

When they reached him, they found that Liu Douzi had already secured a spot for them and had been guarding it.

Looking down, they saw two large wooden boxes at his feet, filled to the brim with fresh tofu.

“This spot is sheltered from the wind, and there’s plenty of foot traffic. I walked around and found this to be the best place,” Liu Douzi said.

The Liu family had a fixed tofu stall in the county, not far from this location. Since few people would buy fresh tofu at the temple fair, they didn’t usually participate. However, Fang Rong, hearing that Qin Xia planned to set up a stall, had prepared extra tofu and sent Liu Douzi to deliver it.

“This spot is indeed ideal. Thanks a lot,” Qin Xia thanked Liu Douzi.

“It’s no big deal, Xia Ge, there’s no need to be so polite.”

Liu Douzi couldn’t help but notice that Qin Xia seemed unusually “polite” lately. It was a good thing, but something he still wasn’t used to.

After parking the cart, Qin Xia unloaded the baskets, and the three of them began setting up the stall.

Three condiment jars were lined up, containing sauce, chili powder, and chopped scallions.

The chili powder was Qin Xia’s own secret recipe, guaranteed to taste different from what was available in the market. For those who liked their tofu spicy, they could add a bit on top.

The oil-paper umbrella could shield them from rain or dust, depending on the weather.

Nowadays, many vendors would stick a small umbrella on their carts as decoration, balancing aesthetics and practicality.

Qin Xia’s umbrella was much simpler. After all, he was just selling snacks, and there was no need to buy a fancy one that he’d worry about staining with oil.

“Husband, Douzi, have some ginger tea to warm up.”

Seeing that they were almost ready, Yu Jiuque lifted a pot of ginger tea from home, still warm, and poured it into three bowls.

The ginger tea had been sweetened with dates, balancing the spicy kick of the ginger with a touch of sweetness.

Liu Douzi took a sip and immediately felt the warmth spread through his body.

“This ginger tea isn’t spicy at all, Xia Ge. How did you make it? I’ll ask my mother to learn it.”

Qin Xia explained, “It’s quite simple. Most people boil ginger tea starting with cold water, but if you start with hot water, it reduces the spiciness.”

With that, Qin Xia took a small sip himself.

He wasn’t particularly fond of ginger tea; he had brewed this pot entirely for Yu Jiuque, who was still recovering from his injuries.

To suit Yu Jiuque’s taste, he had even added pitted dates.

Seeing Yu Jiuque’s face flush with warmth after downing a small bowl, Qin Xia couldn’t help but feel pleased.

With the ginger tea in their bellies, they no longer felt the cold stiffness in their limbs.

While there were still no customers, Qin Xia wiped down the cutting board and started slicing the tofu, while Yu Jiuque folded the prepped oil-paper boxes.

Unlike other vendors who simply lined their food with a single sheet of oil paper, Qin Xia had taught Yu Jiuque a method to fold paper into small boxes. For the past two nights, they had spent their evenings making these boxes by lamplight.

The folded oil-paper boxes were neat and square, resembling small lidless bowls, with a sturdy base that wouldn’t leak any sauce.

With each person having their own tasks, it soon became apparent that Liu Douzi was an extra hand at the small stall.

Qin Xia was a bit puzzled.

“Aren’t you going home?”

Liu Douzi rubbed his hands together and explained, “Actually, my mother said that with the temple fair today, our stall wouldn’t have many customers, so she asked me to stay and help.”

However, neither Liu Douzi nor Fang Rong had expected Qin Xia to bring Yu Jiuque along to help.

Now, looking at the tiny food stall, what use was there for three people?

Qin Xia, however, understood Fang Rong’s intention.

As an elder who had watched Qin Xia grow up, Fang Rong knew his character very well.

It would be hard to believe that someone like him suddenly wanted to start a business unless it was just a passing whim..

Moreover, the original owner was impulsive and had a history of getting into conflicts and arguments with others on the street. Fang Rong probably asked Liu Douzi to come along for this reason, so that if any trouble arose, he could help mediate.

“If you’re willing, you can stay. Once we open for business, you can help me cut the tofu, I’ll do the frying, and Ah Jiu can handle the money,” Qin Xia said.

Liu Douzi agreed readily, but in his heart, he was nervous. He had tasted the iron plate tofu, and it was certainly delicious, but whether or not it would sell well was another matter. If Qin Xia ended up losing money and his mother found out that the idea of setting up a stall came from an offhand comment of his, he feared his ears might be in for some serious twisting.

As Liu Douzi pondered this, he was already considering going to Wenhua Temple to light an incense stick, praying that Qin Xia’s business would thrive today.

After the si hour (around 9-11 am), the flow of people at the temple fair gradually increased. The vendors who had been waiting there perked up and started calling out to attract customers.

“Sturdy and durable handwoven baskets for sale!”

“Fresh wontons in bone broth, come and get your wontons!”

“Crispy sesame buns! Only two coins each!”

Having sold tofu with his mother since he was a child, Liu Douzi was well-versed in the art of hawking. With nothing else to do, he volunteered to shout for Qin Xia, “Xia Ge, I can help call out! How about ‘Iron Plate Tofu, five coins a serving’?”

But Qin Xia shook his head. “No need to shout just yet.”

When it came to “advertising,” Qin Xia had a more direct approach than shouting about something no one had ever heard of.

It was the winter month, and the weather was getting colder by the day. Unless it was for work, few people were willing to go out in the freezing winter, and even then, it was mostly the temple fair that enticed them to leave their homes.

However, regulars at the temple fair rarely saw anything new. Entertainment options were usually the same: people carrying sedan chairs, puppet shows, or monkey performances. If they got tired and wanted something to eat, those who liked soups would get lamb soup or wontons, while those who preferred something to chew on would buy a hot sesame bun or a steamed bun for a hearty meal. Children who loved sweets would be satisfied with a stick of candied hawthorn, a couple of rice cakes, or a few pieces of sesame candy.

Many people wandered around, warming the copper coins in their hands, unsure which stall to spend them on. That was until they caught a whiff of a new, enticing aroma.

“What’s that smell? It’s so good!”

“It smells like something with soy sauce—maybe someone’s braising meat!”

On this street, there were already several restaurants and eateries. People, drawn by the aroma, assumed it must be a fresh dish from one of the kitchens. But soon, those walking ahead discovered the true source of the fragrance. It wasn’t a restaurant at all but a food stall they’d never seen before!

A food-loving man with a sharp nose was the first to rush over, taking just a few steps to reach the stall. “Boss, what are you selling? How much for a serving?” he asked eagerly.