Ch 8: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

Grilled cold noodles

“How about making sweet and sour spare ribs, a cabbage and bean curd casserole, stir-fried celery with dried tofu, and a radish and meatball soup?”

Hearing the list of dishes, Liu Douzi’s mouth nearly watered.

“Xia ge, with two big meat dishes in one meal, it’s almost like we’re celebrating the New Year!”

Qin Xia took out the ingredients he had bought from the basket and smiled, “You think this is like the New Year? Just wait until the actual New Year, and I’ll really show you something special.”

Liu Douzi nodded eagerly.

He had no doubts about Qin Xia’s cooking skills now. If the everyday meals were already this good, the New Year’s feast would be even more extraordinary.

His brother-in-law marrying Xia-ge was like falling into a pot of gold!

Meanwhile, inside the house, Fang Rong was sitting opposite Yu Jiuque on the heated brick bed.

“Try this orange, Douzi bought it at the dock. It’s rare to find one that’s not too sour.”

Yu Jiuque took the orange and thanked her.

Seeing how polite he was, Fang Rong couldn’t stop smiling.

As an elder of Qin Xia, Fang Rong knew Qin Xia’s character very well. So, now that they were talking behind closed doors, she felt the need to give Yu Jiuque a few words of advice.

“Qin Xia, that boy, has been a little rascal since he was young, always getting into trouble. His father had to break several canes disciplining him. It’s a pity that both his parents passed away one after the other, leaving him without proper guidance. Over the years, he’s done quite a few foolish things…”

Fang Rong recounted some of the “silly things” Qin Xia had done to Yu Jiuque.

“In short, Jiu Ge’er, you need to be patient with him. If he ever does something to upset you, just come to me, and I’ll straighten him out for you!”

Yu Jiuque held the honey-orange, which looked like a small lantern, feeling rather puzzled.

The things Fang Rong described didn’t sound like something the Qin Xia he knew would do.

But then he thought about the set of dice Qin Xia had pawned off, so he assumed Qin Xia had indeed turned over a new leaf and reformed his ways.

“You’re worrying too much, Auntie. My husband treats me very well.”

Fang Rong had been a widow for many years, but she had once been a young girl herself.

Seeing Yu Jiuque’s expression, she could tell that the couple was indeed getting along well, which eased her mind.

“That’s the best. You two should live a harmonious life together, and soon, bring a child into the Qin family. That way, Qin Xia’s parents can rest in peace.”

Yu Jiuque hadn’t expected the conversation to jump to that topic. After all, he and Qin Xia had yet to consummate their marriage.

But this was something he couldn’t let Fang Rong know, so he stammered a bit. Fang Rong, assuming it was just a case of youthful shyness, didn’t press the issue further.

If Fang Rong had any reservations about Qin Xia’s newfound abilities before dinner, they were completely dispelled after tasting the three dishes and soup he prepared.

The sweet and sour ribs were perfectly coated in a shiny, smooth sauce, cooked just right so that the meat fell off the bone with a gentle suck.

The cabbage and bean curd casserole was filled with sweet, tender cabbage and smooth, silky bean curd, while the stir-fried celery with dried tofu retained its vibrant green color and crisp texture, completely different from the limp appearance it usually had when she made it.

And then there was the large pot of radish and meatball soup, with meatballs freshly minced and prepared by Qin Xia himself. The broth was clear, fragrant, and not at all greasy.

Even after finishing the last sip of soup, Fang Rong couldn’t figure out when Qin Xia had learned such skills.

Whatever Qin Xia had claimed about learning from Mother Qin could fool Liu Douzi, but it couldn’t fool Fang Rong.

After all these years, he would have learned it long ago if that were the case.

Of course, Fang Rong couldn’t imagine that Qin Xia was no longer the same person as before.

Although she was full of doubts, the thought that Qin Xia now had the ability to lead a prosperous life as an adult brought her more comfort than any other worries.

When the moon was high in the sky, Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque returned home together.

They carried a lantern from the Liu family, its dim light illuminating only the ground at their feet.

The alley’s ground was uneven, and as they walked, they occasionally bumped into each other’s arms.

Seeing that it would still be a while before they reached the wider main road, Qin Xia hesitated for a moment but then reached out his hand to Yu Jiuque.

Yu Jiuque paused for a moment but then chose to place his hand over Qin Xia’s.

Qin Xia’s palm was warm, quickly warming Yu Jiuque’s cold fingers.

In the darkness, unseen by anyone, Yu Jiuque quietly tightened his grip, intertwining his fingers with Qin Xia’s.

…

The temple fair was over, but the business had to continue.

Qin Xia rented a long-term stall on Liubao Street in the county town for fifty copper coins a month.

The stall was under the jurisdiction of the county’s street office. After paying the fee, he received a wooden plaque with a number on it. The back of the plaque had the stall owner’s name, business content, and corresponding records filed with the street office.

When setting up a stall, this wooden plaque had to be hung above the stall, making it easier for street office patrolmen to check.

If the street office discovered unlicensed or impersonated operations, the stall would be immediately shut down.

Moreover, if the goods sold were of poor quality, if the food caused illness, or if the stall dirtied the ground and wasn’t cleaned up in time, the punishment could range from fines to being dragged to the county office for a beating or even imprisonment.

So, the ancient people’s management methods were not to be underestimated.

On the first day he received the wooden plaque, Qin Xia tidied up his small cart.

He tied a rope on either side of the oil-paper umbrella, hanging the wooden plaque issued by the street office on one side and a sign reading “Qin’s Food Stall” with the names of the dishes on the other.

At the break of dawn, Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque arrived at their stall’s location.

The ground was marked with white lines by the street office, and each stall had to operate within the lines, not crossing the boundary or occupying too much space.

Most of the neighboring stalls were also occupied; since it was still early, only the stall to the left had someone there—a Ge’er selling fried sugar cakes, who looked older than Qin Xia.

With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he curiously observed his new “neighbor.”

“You’re here so early. Are you also selling breakfast?”

Qin Xia turned his head, smiled, and replied, “You could say that. Since it’s our first day, we wanted to get an early start.”

The Ge’er noticed that they were a young couple who seemed friendly, so he offered some advice.

“You’ve come at the right time; it’s just when customers start arriving. If you come later, those early risers heading to work will have already eaten, and the next rush won’t be until noon.”

Qin Xia had come at this time after some observation, but he still thanked the Ge’er for his kindness. After all, they would see each other regularly since they had fixed stalls, so it was important to maintain a good relationship.

As they say, harmony brings wealth.

With everything set up, the cart was soon fully stocked.

Technically, iron plate tofu wasn’t really a breakfast food. The reason Qin Xia started his stall early was because he had added a new dish starting today—grilled cold noodles.

In modern times, grilled cold noodles are often made from pre-prepared sheets, but Qin Xia didn’t have that luxury, so he used the original method of grilling noodles directly.

The noodles were made from buckwheat flour he bought at the grain store, which had a coarser texture compared to white flour, but Qin Xia believed that cold noodles made from buckwheat flour were the most authentic.

The small portion was priced at six copper coins, and the large portion at twelve copper coins.

If customers wanted to add an egg, it would cost an additional five copper coins.

Winter eggs were expensive, but the price could be lowered a bit when the weather warmed up.

The cold wind dispersed the faint white mist of the early morning streets. Seeing that some passersby had started stopping to buy breakfast, Qin Xia set up the stove, preparing to make a portion of grilled cold noodles as a “sample.”

“Aren’t you the one who was selling tofu at the Wenhua Temple fair a couple of days ago? Are you setting up here regularly now?”

Qin Xia was laying out the noodles in the pan when he looked up at the sound.

He had a good memory, and looking at the middle-aged man in front of him, he recognized a familiar face.

“Yes, I’ve rented a stall here. Would you like to try another portion?”

The man particularly liked the tofu and had been thinking about it since he first tasted it. He had been disappointed that he hadn’t asked where the vendor usually sold it, and today, he happened to stumble upon it.

“I’ll take a portion. Make it extra spicy.”

Qin Xia smiled; it seemed he hadn’t mistaken the man—he did like spicy food.

“No problem, but please wait a moment. I only have one stove, so I’ll finish this grilled cold noodle first and then make yours.”

Hearing this, the man perked up.

Grilled cold noodles? What was that?

“Isn’t cold noodles supposed to be served cold? Why would you grill them?”

He looked into the pan and saw Qin Xia shaping the noodles into a near-square shape, brushing them with oil on both sides, and sprinkling some water on them midway through cooking.

How was this supposed to be eaten?

Qin Xia was confident in the grilled cold noodles. From the success of the iron plate tofu, he could tell that the tastes of common people had remained consistent over the centuries.

“These are specially made buckwheat noodles, more chewy than white noodles. Grilled noodles have a texture completely different from stir-fried ones. Like iron plate tofu, they’re brushed with sauce, sprinkled with seasonings, cut into small pieces, and eaten with bamboo skewers. You can even add an egg.”

Seeing the man’s hesitant expression, Qin Xia didn’t push too hard.

“This portion is just for display and sampling. When it’s ready, feel free to try it. If you like it, you can buy it; if not, no worries.”

Customers always liked hearing this—no one wanted to waste their money.

“That sounds good.”

The man then stood back, leisurely waiting.

Qin Xia glanced at the middle-aged man out of the corner of his eye, noting that the man’s clothing was of mid-range quality, and he even wore a fur hat with ear flaps for warmth.

Despite getting up early, the man seemed to be in no rush, suggesting that he was likely some sort of minor manager wherever he worked, exactly the type of “customer” Qin Xia had in mind.

Someone who enjoyed street food and didn’t mind eating while walking.

Someone who had spare money to spend on food and cared more about taste than just filling their stomach.

Qin Xia returned his focus to the pan in front of him.

The noodle sheet had mostly set, so Qin Xia brushed another layer of oil on the surface, flipped it over, and sprinkled a bit of water on the bottom.

The purpose of adding water was to generate steam, which would further soften the noodles.

Once the timing was right, Qin Xia began brushing the sauce.

The sauce for the grilled cold noodles was specially made, different from the iron plate tofu, with added tomato for a slightly sweet and sour flavor.

After brushing on the sauce, he sprinkled a layer of minced red onion and chopped scallions, then rolled up the noodle sheet, cutting it into small pieces with a special spatula before placing them into an oiled paper box. Done!

Yu Jiuque picked out a piece with a bamboo skewer, added a bit of garlic chili sauce that Qin Xia had specially made for the grilled cold noodles, and handed it to the man who had been waiting to try it.

“Here you go, sir. Please have a taste.”

Speaking in his gentle voice, the man was quite pleased.

“Is that red stuff chili? Why not use chili powder? I really liked the flavor of that.”

Yu Jiuque had learned some explanations from Qin Xia in advance and immediately responded with a slight smile, “Different dishes require different seasonings. This chili sauce is unique to my husband—just try it and see.”

The man laughed.

“You two have quite the confidence. I’ve traveled around a bit when I was younger, and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

With that, he didn’t hesitate, picking up a piece of grilled cold noodles with the bamboo skewer and popping the whole thing into his mouth.

“This taste…”

He chewed carefully, savoring the taste, and found it remarkably unique.

The way these noodles were prepared completely amplified the “chewy” characteristic of hand-pulled noodles. The sauce combined salty, sour, sweet, and spicy flavors, with the added aromas of red onion and scallions. Every bite was a delightful surprise.

The newly added chili sauce was indeed different from the chili powder on the iron plate tofu, just as the vendor’s husband had said. The only similarity was that both made this spice lover crave more.

Just one taste was nowhere near enough!

The man didn’t even ask the price; he simply took out his money pouch and instructed Qin Xia, “Give me a full serving of this cold noodle, and be quick about it!”