Ch 11: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

Handling Trouble

“Dear customers, I’m afraid we’ve sold out of all our food for today. If you want to try it, you can come back earlier tomorrow.”

Although Yu Jiuque patiently explained this to the men in front of him, it was clear they were deliberately causing trouble.

“I don’t care! You better find a way to get me some! If you don’t…”

The man, looking sleazy, ran his fingers over his lips with a malicious grin directed at Yu Jiuque. “You may be dressed simply, but you’ve got quite the looks. Why not join us for a drink at the tavern across the street? If you come with us, I won’t make a fuss.”

What had initially been a petty disturbance had now escalated into something much worse.

Yu Jiuque silently gripped the handle of the kitchen knife on the counter and coldly asked, “What do you mean by that?”

The man with a mole on his face, who had been standing slightly behind, stepped forward and said, “What do you think we mean? We mean exactly what you’re thinking. You’re just a poor peddler, and you’re giving us attitude? Let me tell you, our boss is doing you a favor by taking an interest in you. If you make him happy, the tip you’ll get could cover a whole day of selling your food!”

As the conversation grew increasingly outrageous, Yu Jiuque, now fuming, gripped the knife tightly and raised it.

“I’m not going to drink with you! If you take another step, don’t blame me for what happens next!”

However, his threat didn’t intimidate the men. The ringleader, “Third Master,” even began clapping.

“Good! I like that spirit! Little beauty, you really won’t come with me? If you do, you’ll never have to expose yourself on the streets again. I’ll make sure you live well and…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the “Third Master” was abruptly silenced, like a rooster being strangled.

Yu Jiuque widened his eyes, realizing that Qin Xia had returned just in time. He had grabbed the man by the collar, yanked him back, and kicked him to the ground before twisting his arm behind his back.

Seeing Yu Jiuque still holding the knife and frozen in place, You Ge’er mustered up some courage, rushed over, and pulled Yu Jiuque to a safer corner behind him.

The knife remained tightly gripped in Yu Jiuque’s hand, leaving deep marks on his palm.

“Stop! Stop! It hurts!”

Whether due to a vital joint being strained or otherwise, the man’s face turned red from the pain.

The two lackeys hesitated, wanting to intervene, but Qin Xia’s threatening gaze made them stop in their tracks. He seemed ready to break the man’s arm further if they approached.

Frightened, the man yelled at them, “You idiots, back off! Back off!”

Seeing no other option, the lackeys retreated several steps. Qin Xia then coldly ordered, “Get lost, and stay away from my stall!”

The man screamed in pain, prompting his lackeys to quickly obey and retreat even further.

This man, who had been causing trouble on the streets for years, was nothing more than a bully who preyed on the weak. He had thought Yu Jiuque was an easy target, but he hadn’t expected his partner to be so fierce!

Now in a tough spot, he pleaded for mercy.

“Please, spare me! It was all a misunderstanding!”

With his other hand, Qin Xia slammed the man’s face into the ground.

“A misunderstanding? I didn’t hear it wrong. You disrespected my husband and spoke so indecently. Was that also a misunderstanding?”

The man felt as though Qin Xia’s hand was a hot iron clamp, pressing him down and leaving him too scared to move. Was every cook this tough nowadays?

Realizing there was no easy way out, he desperately sought to escape.

“Sir, it was truly a misunderstanding. I… I mistook you for someone else! Isn’t that right, boys?”

He shouted at his lackeys for confirmation. The mole-faced one seemed slow to react, but the other, with narrower eyes, quickly caught on and shouted, “Yes, yes! It’s true! Our boss mistook you for someone else! It’s all a big misunderstanding!”

Qin Xia remained silent. The man cursed Qin Xia’s ancestors in his heart but had no choice but to continue groveling.

“Sir, I apologize to you and your husband! Please, be lenient!”

It’s often said that it’s easier to deal with the king of hell than with little devils. Street thugs like these, even if reported to the authorities, would likely get away with just a scolding. But Qin Xia felt he had taught this man a lesson more effective than any official could.

Before letting go, Qin Xia twisted the man’s wrist one last time, then released him.

The man scrambled to his feet, his arm feeling like it was about to break. He glared at Qin Xia, realizing today was just his unlucky day.

As he tried to slink away, Qin Xia called him back with an irritated tone, “Apologize properly.”

With no other choice, the man grudgingly bowed to both Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque, muttering a half-hearted “Sorry,” clearly still resentful.

Just before the man could walk away, Qin Xia warned him, “So you’re called Third Master, right? We’re just small-time peddlers and wouldn’t dare trouble someone like you. Please remember to avoid this spot in the future.”

Liu San’er let out an embarrassed snort and limped away, followed by the mole-faced man and the narrow-eyed one, soon disappearing around the corner.

The crowd gradually dispersed, with some who had enjoyed the spectacle cheering for Qin Xia.

Qin Xia flexed his wrist and nodded in the direction of the departing troublemakers before quickly walking over to Yu Jiuque.

As he looked down, he saw the cold gleam of the kitchen knife.

He placed his hand over Yu Jiuque’s and gently said, “It’s all over now, you can let go.”

Yu Jiuque snapped out of his daze and quickly released his grip.

Qin Xia sighed in relief and put the knife in a safe place.

He then turned to Yu Jiuque and thanked the sugar cake vendor, You Ge’er.

“Thank you for protecting Ah Jiu.”

You Ge’er smiled. “Don’t mention it. I was just looking out for myself, hiding with your husband once you showed up.”

He said this modestly, though it was clear that the vendor selling pickled vegetables on the other side had pretended to see nothing the entire time.

It’s easy to see the difference in people by how they react in situations like these.

As the two returned to the cart, the son of the wonton vendor across the street ran over to deliver the pastries Qin Xia had bought earlier.

In his haste to deal with Liu San’er, Qin Xia had left the pastries at the wonton stall. Fortunately, they were still intact.

After thanking the boy, Qin Xia handed him a couple of sesame candies, making the boy beam with joy as he ran back home.

“Father! Mother! We have candy!”

Qin Xia also shared some with You Ge’er.

“They’re from Ganyuan Zhai. Even though they’re a bit broken, they still taste the same.”

Candy wasn’t cheap, especially from Ganyuan Zhai. A small bag cost several coins, so who would mind if it was broken?

You Ge’er carefully wrapped the candy in oiled paper, saying he would take it home for his children.

“The kids were just asking for candy the other day. We sell sugar cakes, but they never seem to get enough of the sweet stuff!”

With that, he too began packing up to leave.

Afterward, Qin Xia used chopsticks to pick up a piece of sesame candy and handed it to Yu Jiuque.

“You’ve been lost in thought. Here, have something sweet.”

Since the incident, Yu Jiuque had been distracted, his lips pale.

“Are you feeling unwell? Should we visit the clinic?”

Yu Jiuque’s head injury was serious, and since Qin Xia’s arrival had altered the original story’s events, he was worried it might affect Yu Jiuque’s recovery.

Perhaps the recent stress had worsened his condition, like causing a blockage in his circulation—Qin Xia wasn’t sure of the medical details but was concerned about Yu Jiuque’s condition.

Yu Jiuque shook his head.

“I did feel some chest tightness and dizziness earlier, but I’m fine now.”

When Liu San’er and his gang showed up, he was indeed nervous but not as frightened as he expected.

With the knife within reach, he instinctively grabbed it without hesitation.

In that moment, he was certain that if they had attacked, he would have used the knife without hesitation.

He couldn’t understand where he had found the courage.

Taking a deep breath, Yu Jiuque accepted the sesame candy from Qin Xia and took a small bite.

It was crispy and sweet.

“It’s really good. Did you buy pastries from Ganyuan Zhai?”

Qin Xia nodded.

“Yes, I know your mouth gets bitter from the medicine, so I bought some of their famous pastries. They’re known for their quality and fair prices. I hope you don’t mind me spending the money.”

Though they were only nominally “husband and wife,” Yu Jiuque had been working hard at the stall with him. Qin Xia believed that the money they earned should be considered “shared property.” Since he had spent a significant amount, he felt it was right to inform Yu Jiuque.

Looking at the paper package, Yu Jiuque could tell it wasn’t cheap. But knowing Qin Xia had bought it for him made him happy.

“Let’s enjoy them together when we get home.”

Qin Xia popped the remaining half of the sesame candy into his mouth and smiled. “Sure.”

The small incident didn’t significantly affect their mood. Qin Xia could see that Yu Jiuque wasn’t someone who would easily suffer a loss, and Yu Jiuque had witnessed Qin Xia’s abilities firsthand.

If they encountered such people again, they’d deal with them as needed, without letting it bother them too much.

On the way, Yu Jiuque tentatively asked Qin Xia why he knew martial arts, to which Qin Xia smiled.

“It’s nothing much, just some grappling techniques. I used to have a friend who specialized in grappling and combat. I learned a few moves from him. He said that once you master these techniques, you can easily handle most petty thugs.”

Originally, he practiced just for fun, but over time, it became muscle memory.

Besides, as a chef, he had built up considerable strength, making these techniques even more effective.

It’s more than enough to deal with street hooligans.

As they continued walking down the street, they passed by the county’s poultry market.

From a distance, they could already smell the distinctive scent of animals with fur and feathers, mingled with the noisy clucking and chirping sounds.

Qin Xia thought of his empty backyard and unconsciously slowed his pace.

Yu Jiuque followed his gaze and noticed Qin Xia looking at the straw cages on the street, which were filled with chickens and ducks.

Peering through the gaps in the cages, he could see the fluffy little yellow creatures inside.

Qin Xia felt tempted and took a step forward to ask the woman tending the stall.

“Auntie, are you selling chicks?”

Before she could answer, Yu Jiuque chuckled.

“Husband, those are geese, not chickens.”

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thingyan: ALL MALE LEADS MUST KNOW HOW TO FIGHT. PERIOD! And why am I yelling? Hehe

Sandy: It’s one of the MC-must-have skills